by Vikki Walton
“I don’t know. Hearts of gold, those two have.”
Christie snorted into the phone. “Tell me what you really think.”
Trish continued, “In simple terms, if it isn’t making them money, they don’t care. It’s close to the end of the month, so I’m sure they want the house ready for renting on the first of next month, is my guess.”
Christie thought for a moment. “Let’s think about this. Didn’t Marie say it was rumored that Hector was having an affair with a married woman?”
“Yeah.” She heard Trish whisper to someone, “Not that one. The one in the fridge.”
“Do you need to get off the phone?”
“No. My bad. I hate when people do that. Ya know? Two conversations at once. But I’ve got Jess on dinner tonight.”
“Good for you, having him cook.”
“He loves it. Plus, it won’t be long before he’s out on his own. It’s a basic skill all kiddos should learn.”
“You’re a great mom, Trish.”
“Ahhh, that’s so sweet, Christie.” Pans clanging interrupted her. “Hold on. I’m going in the other room so I can put you on speaker while I fold some laundry.”
Christie waited as she heard Trish move through the house, then say, “Guess what? It’s now the talk of the town that Kimberly’s been having an affair with Hector.”
“Do you remember the old telephone game?”
“You mean, one person tells something to start, and at the end, it’s completely different? Yeah, sort of. I think we played that in, like, third grade.”
“Ugh. You’re making me feel old now.” Christie switched the phone to her other ear. “What if…just conjecture here…but what if someone heard from someone else that Hector was having an affair? They probably wouldn’t spill names because they wouldn’t want the rumors getting back to them. But what if they ‘hinted’ that it was a petite blonde?”
“Whoa.” She heard Trish plop down onto her bed. “That makes so much sense. We only found a woman’s things at Hector’s. The Websters came and got everything out of that house like it was on fire. Let’s think about this.”
“I thought that was what we were doing.”
“Ha, ha. Okay, so maybe Hector was having an affair with Emma, not Kimberly. Tyler finds out and puts antifreeze in his electrolyte drink. Then, he lures Hector out to y’all’s place because there’s no phone service in that area. Done. Revenge.”
“Okay. Good thoughts. But how did Tyler get my phone? And, why would he try to implicate me in Hector’s crime? He doesn’t even know me.”
“Hmmmm.” Trish squealed. “I am so good. I got it. He changes his mind, but it’s too late. He confides in Emma and says they have to get the drink away from Hector. Emma, who’s been caught out, knows which side of her bed—I mean, bread, is buttered. Tyler owns the company. She’d lose everything. So she tries to get the drinks out of Hector’s truck. He sees her, and they have that knock-down, drag-out at the café. It could have been her and not Kimberly he had been speaking to right before Hector left.”
Christie interjected. “Interesting. But what you’re implying is that she went along with covering up an attempted murder. Plus, remember at this point, nothing had happened. Hector hadn’t drunk any of the drink. Or at least that we know of. Well, maybe he had, but it only made him ill. Remember how he’d not been feeling well. Plus, I hate to say it, but what about Cole?”
“Cole? What’s he got to do with this!” Trish’s voice jumped with emotion.
“What if he wanted Hector out of the way so he could get the commission on our place? Or for that matter, the Altgelt place.”
“No way. Not Cole. But if Kimberly had been having an affair—”
Christie responded, “I think we’re just going in circles. Nothing makes sense.”
“On another note, heard you met Curtis’s stepsons.”
“How—”
“Small town. They were at Mary’s Taco’s in one of the little rooms, but Marie said she heard them talking. Seems they’re not too happy with your Pop.”
“They’re a piece of work, for sure. I wouldn’t put it past them to have burned down the barn to get Curtis to move. They had a map like the one in Hector’s office. I wish I could have gotten a better look before Cole, or whoever, came and got it.
“Well…” Trish sighed.
“Spill it.”
“Maybe someone just borrowed it and a few other things from Hector’s desk.”
“You stole the map?”
“I borrowed it, thank you very much. Plus, they’ve got to have copies.”
Christie moaned. “Ugh, I can’t believe—”
“Hey, do you want to see it or not? I am trying to help you and Pop out, ya know?”
“I know. I appreciate it. But I also don’t want my friend ending up in jail for theft.”
“Least of my worries. Anyway, borrowed.”
“Okay. Borrowed. But how do you plan to give it back?” Christie grabbed a piece of paper and started a to-do list.
“Yeah, them cleaning out the place put a bit of a kink in my plans.”
Christie laughed. “Ya think?”
“I’ll figure it out. I always do.”
“Okay, so back to our theory. Tyler either decides to warn Hector off or kill him. But how did he get my phone to text Hector?” Christie jotted down a reminder.
“We don’t know if he did. So, what we need to figure out is when the phone disappeared. Think back. When was the last time you saw your phone?”
Christie thought about it. “Um, I had it at Pop’s. The last time I remember seeing it was after I had finished a call with a mechanic about bringing my Jeep in for some work next week or so. Dad was getting in his truck. I dropped my phone in the console and went over and told him I’d see him later. Then, I forgot it when we were inside eating lunch.”
“Did you lock your car that day?”
“I never lock it. It’s an old car. I have nothing in it anyone would want.” Christie added ‘tires’ to her list.
“Except your phone.”
“Yeah, there’s that. But you saw it. It wasn’t even a smart phone. It was an old flip style phone—basically calls and texts only. I used my work phone for almost everything, and I left it there when I came out here.”
Trish answered her, “Okay, you left your car unlocked and you’ve been in all kinds of parking lots, where anyone in the entire Kendall county area could have taken it.”
Christie moaned. “True. Bummer. I guess anyone—Hector, Kimberly, anyone really—could have taken it. Then, when the truck hit Pop, I totally forgot about it until later.”
“So, that means, once Emma or Tyler heard about the accident, they could have come out to your place after Jess returned your car. They could have taken it to look at and forgot to put it back. It would be easy to go there while you all are at the doctor’s. They may have wanted to see if you’d contacted a lawyer.”
“A lawyer? My Pop was injured. I couldn’t have cared less about money.”
“But you forget. Their hearts are made of gold. Oh, geez, smoke alarm. Gotta run!”
Christie set down her new smartphone she’d bought when her old phone got lost.
I can’t believe I spent that much money on a stupid phone.
Her mind wandered. If Hector had planned to leave the company, maybe Emma was afraid he would tell Tyler about their affair. She couldn’t have that. While Tyler could have found out and gone after Hector, it didn’t add up. Unfortunately, it didn’t put Cole free and clear, either. They were just assuming the affair was with Kimberly and not with Emma.
A knock on the front door startled Christie. She’d been deep in thought and hadn’t even heard the truck approaching. Where were Mutt and Jeffrey when she needed them? She wondered if she could pretend she wasn’t home.
“I know you’re in there, Christie!” Kimberly shouted as the knocking intensified. “Please open the door. I need to speak to you.”
Christie opened the door and stepped outside.
Kimberly wore cut-off jeans, a halter top with a ripped t-shirt on top that said ‘Diva-Queen,’ and flip flops with rhinestones. Her newly highlighted blonde hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun. Her makeup looked fresh.
“I’m sorry I look like such a mess.”
Again with the fishing for compliments. Now that she thought about it, Kimberly had been like that her entire life. What did Cole see in her? Well, duh, she was cute and hot at the same time, something Christie knew she would never, ever be.
“Can we sit?” Kimberly smiled, showing her expensive, straight pearly whites.
Christie motioned to a rocker and took the farthest chair. Where were Mutt and Jeffrey? It wasn’t like them to not jump at the chance for pets or treats. “What can I help you with, Kimberly?”
Kimberly remained standing after looking at the old, worn rocker. She pushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “Listen, I came over to apologize.” She smiled.
“Continue.” Christie sat back in the chair and tried not to be distracted but kept scanning the property for the two dogs.
Kimberly huffed. “Don’t you think you owe me an apology, too? After all, I wouldn’t have reacted the way I did if you—”
“Wait a cotton-picking minute.” Christie bristled. “Basically, you’re not apologizing for your atrocious behavior, then?”
“I said I was sorry I got mad after you—”
“No, that’s a ‘but’ apology. It’s not if I wouldn’t have done something to cause your reaction. That’s not a real apology. That’s a deflection back onto me.”
Kimberly bristled and took a step back. “Well, I’m sorry that you seem to have a problem with saying you’re sorry.”
“I don’t have a problem with it. I’m not sorry. Therefore, no apology.”
“Well, I never.”
“I bet that’s true. Or not. Depending on what we’re talking about.”
Kimberly harrumphed, “You’ve changed, Christie. You used to be so nice in high school.”
“I guess you could say that. I grew up. I look at things as an adult now.”
Kimberly crossed her arms. “I can’t help you if—”
“What gives you the impression that I need help?” She turned from Kimberly and yelled out, “Mutt! Jeffrey! Here boys!”
Kimberly hissed, “Just stay away from Cole.”
That blindsided Christie, and she turned back to Kimberly. “I beg your pardon?”
“You heard me.” She thrust her chin out. “High school crushes are over, and he’s mine now.”
“Wow. Just…wow.” Christie crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head, a laugh escaping her lips. “I’m not going after Cole, so you can rest your airless brain. I think this conversation is over.” She stood and towered over Kimberly, who took a step back.
Kimberly smiled up at Christie. “Okay. Well, I hope we can be friends during the time you’re here.”
What a nutty woman. An idea came to Christie.
Christie turned on the ‘I’m dealing with horrible people’ charm she’d often used while working with hospice patients or their family members. She sat down and started her act. “I’m sorry. I’m just dealing with Pop’s accident and Hector’s death on our property. It’s a lot, ya know?”
After wiping off the other rocker seat, Kimberly sat. “Ahh, come here.” She reached over and hugged Christie, who stuck out her tongue behind the woman’s back. Drama class had come in handy.
“I knew, deep down, you wanted to say sorry and make up.”
A moment from eighth grade flashed through Christie’s mind. Kimberly had a cat who loved Christie but stayed away from Kimberly most of the time. It had irritated Kimberly that the cat had liked Christie more than her. One weekend, Kimberly invited Trish and Christie and a couple of other classmates to her house for a sleepover. When Kimberly tried to pull the cat away from Christie, the cat had scratched Kimberly’s hand. At the time she’d blamed Christie and said she thought she should apologize for the cat scratching her. A few days later at school, Kimberly told the girls about how her poor Fife had died and gone to heaven. She had lapped up the attention, and to Christie’s knowledge, she never had a cat again.
Attention. That was it. Kimberly craved it. Had to have it. Christie knew she had to use that to find out what she needed.
As they pulled away from their embrace, Christie feigned wiping tears from her eyes, and Kimberly patted her hand. “Ahh, honey. No need to cry. We can still be friends.”
This woman was truly something. Vanity poured from her veins. Christie leaned back and thought of her next question. “Hey, Kimberly, are you good friends with Emma Webster?”
“Oh, yes. We’re like this.” She crossed her fingers. “We often go out to eat with Emma and Tyler over at Perry’s. Their food is delicious. Why?”
Appeal to the vanity.
“Sounds like y’all are the power couples around these parts.”
Kimberly beamed. “After Daddy died and left me the ranch, it helped me to do some investing on my own. I helped Tyler get started, and he agreed to bring Cole on. I’ve financed quite a few of the Websters projects.”
“So, you’re friends with Tyler?”
Kimberly shifted in her seat and licked her lips. “Mainly Emma. She and I go way back. From college days.”
Christie’s mind whirled. If Kimberly and Emma were close—and who knew exactly how close—she could have easily known if they were having an affair. But were they true friends? In the Websters quest for building up their property holdings, did Kimberly feel threatened by Emma and Hector’s relationship? Plus, with Hector out of the way, Cole would take his place and get a huge commission on the sales.
“Hey, Christie, how about we go horseback riding this week?”
That was the last thing she wanted to do, but she consented. Kimberly hugged her again before flouncing off toward her truck. “I’m glad we got everything straightened out, ” she called out then air-kissed her hand and blew it toward Christie.
Christie returned the gesture with a wave and smile. She hated the idea of spending more time with Kimberly, but she had to get to the bottom of this. Right now, it looked like she had four clear suspects—Tyler, Emma, Cole, and Kimberly. Each had a strong motive. Emma could have a lot more to lose if she had been having an affair with Hector and was discovered. It was terrible what greed could do to a person. Yet jealousy could have caused Tyler or Cole to want revenge. Emma and Kimberly were friends but had one been envious of the other’s relationship with Hector? One of them was a cold and calculating murderer, but which one?
So much to think about but for now, she needed to find Mutt and Jeffrey.
Chapter Ten
Christie walked out to the stables to see if her father was there and the dogs had tagged along with him. But no signs of either. She looked out toward a large oak tree back behind the tool shed. It was set up with a wooden table and chairs, and she smiled as she remembered playing with other children, while the parents played dominos. Those were certainly simpler times. But her father wasn’t there, either. Nor were the dogs.
Now worried, Christie hurried back to the house. Had her father taken ill? She burst through the back door, the screen door slamming behind her. She looked in his bedroom, then the bathroom. Then, she saw the other room with the door ajar. Her father sat in a chair; his head cradled in his left hand. It was at that moment Christie saw how frail her father had become.
She knocked softly on the door and entered. Kneeling in front of him, she spoke soothingly. “Pop, are you okay?”
He wiped his face to show that it wasn’t tears that streaked his cheeks. He raked his hand across his grizzly beard, making a sound like sandpaper.
She gingerly grasped the hand in the sling as he smiled down at her. “Baby girl, I think it’s ‘bout time we got rid of some of mom’s stuff. But I just can’t throw it away.” He shook his head. “I
can’t.”
“Of course not, Pop. I know that the Pass It On thrift store would be happy to receive some of this stuff. I think they help kids get scholarships.”
“You think they would?” He looked into her eyes to judge the sincerity.
“Yes.” She smiled. “I know they would.” She stood up and stretched. “I can help you with it, if you’d like.”
“That’d be great.” He sighed. “I’m worthless with this gimp arm.”
“No you’re not. Just think about how you showed Curtis’s boy.”
“Not one of Curtis’s boys. Never will be. Glad when they left to go live with their Pa.”
“On another subject, I can’t find Mutt and Jeffrey. I’ve looked out at the stables, under the oak, by the vehicles.”
“Hmm, did ya call’em?”
“I was surprised they didn’t come running when Kimberly came over, or you, for that matter.”
He shook his head and stood. “I couldn’t handle that woman today. I knew I was gonna say something that would’ve made your poor Ma ashamed of me, so I just came in here.” He walked through the kitchen, opened the back door, and whistled. No dogs.
“Nope. “He strode to the front and whistled again. The boys didn’t come running. “Some-thing ain’t right.”
“Where do you think they could have gone, Pop?”
“I reckon they been out further on the property. But they normally come a-running when I whistle. We need to go check on them.” He headed for his truck. “We’ll take the back track that runs through the meadow.”
Christie helped Pop settle and went over and climbed up into the cab. She started the truck, and they headed out past the stables. Heat from the sun beat down on them, but they kept the windows down as she called to the dogs along the way. Every once in a while, Pop would whistle, but no happy dogs came running.
“While we’re out here, we should stop by the broken fence area. I can show you what I was talking about.”
“Good idea.” He adjusted his old felt hat lower on his head.