Not a Happy Family

by Shari Lapena

  “I borrowed these. A couple of weeks ago.”

  “Can anyone confirm that?”

  She looks up at him angrily. “What are you suggesting? That I murdered my parents and kept these earrings?”

  “They’re the only pieces missing from your parents’ home that we’ve found, and we found them in your jewelry box.”

  “Because I borrowed them!”

  “I’ll ask you again, can anyone confirm that you borrowed them?”

  “No, of course not. It was between me and my mother. But I occasionally borrowed things from her.”

  “Did anyone see you wear them, in the week or two before your parents were murdered?”

  Here, the attorney intervenes. “She said she borrowed them. Let’s move on.”

  He can’t tell if Catherine is telling him the truth. She’s a hard one to read. Her attorney, however, is looking increasingly concerned.

  “Why did you leave your cell phone at home that night, when you went back to your parents?”

  She looks startled. She swallows nervously. “I forgot it. I left it behind on the hall table when I picked up my keys. I-I often forget things when I have a lot on my mind.”

  Reyes gives her a disbelieving look. He leans forward. “Here’s the thing, Catherine. You and your siblings stand to gain millions from your parents’ deaths. Your brother says you knew about the protective suits in his garage and that you knew he doesn’t keep the side door to the garage locked, something confirmed by your sister, Jenna. The only recovered pieces of the missing jewelry were found in your house. We know you were there again later that night—you admitted it. But first you lied about it, and had your husband lie about it too. And you left your cell phone at home that night, perhaps so your movements couldn’t be traced.”

  “This is ridiculous,” Catherine exclaims hotly. “I didn’t kill them—they were already dead when I got there!” She stares back at him in the sudden silence; she seems shocked at what she’s just said.

  Her attorney looks stunned.

  After a long moment, Reyes says, “But that doesn’t make sense. If that’s true, why didn’t you call 911?”

  She says miserably, “I think you know why.”

  He simply sits there and waits.

  At last she says it, her voice breaking. “Because I thought Dan did it.”

  42

  Catherine has made an appointment for that afternoon at one o’clock at the lawyer’s office to discuss the wills. She’d arranged it with Walter Temple and let her siblings know. This is what they’ve all been waiting for.

  Ted had left work and picked up Catherine at home. She’d had to Uber it to and from her interview with the detectives that morning, because they’d taken her car away. Now, as they walk into the building in downtown Aylesford that houses the law firm, Catherine finds herself feeling slightly sick. She’s still reeling from the interview with the detectives this morning, and a combination of anticipation and fear is making her stomach churn. Or maybe it’s the beginning of morning sickness. She hugs her secret to herself, her little spark of private joy. She will wait to tell Ted at the right moment. She reminds herself they have nothing to worry about. Their father hadn’t changed his will, despite what Audrey said. Walter had told Dan as much.

  She and Ted are the first to arrive. As they’re sitting in the waiting room, Dan and Lisa come in. Catherine rises and Lisa automatically goes to her for a brief hug, while Dan stands a few feet away. When Jenna arrives, the women manage some small talk while Ted and Dan remain mostly silent.

  Walter comes out to the waiting room promptly at one o’clock and ushers them all into a boardroom, around a long rectangular table. He’s holding a file, which he places on the table.

  “I’m glad you’re all here,” he says, looking at each of them, “although I never dreamed it would be in such tragic circumstances.”

  Catherine can feel the tension in the room. Their father might have changed his will years ago and never told them. She imagines him laughing at them from beyond the grave. She imagines him sitting in that empty chair, preparing to enjoy himself. Catherine glances furtively at each of her siblings, suspecting similar thoughts are running through their minds. Dan is pale and fidgety, and Lisa grabs one of his hands to still it.

  “Your mother’s will is quite straightforward. Years ago, she’d signed documents agreeing to leave her out of your father’s will, in return for the house and a sum of her own. She didn’t want to stand in the way of you children receiving the bulk of your inheritance should your father die first. Her estate is to be divided among the three of you equally. Your father’s will is of greater significance. I’ll begin with his specific bequests, then talk about the remainder of the estate,” Walter says. “There are some minor bequests to various organizations—” He names a local hospital and a few other small charities her parents were involved with. Catherine shifts in her seat with impatience and nerves. Finally he gets to the crux of it.

  “To Irena Dabrowski, one million dollars.”

  That’s a substantial sum. She glances around the table at the others. They’re mildly surprised, too, but they seem pleased for their old nanny.

  “To Audrey Stancik, one million dollars.”

  Catherine allows herself to relax. It’s true then. He hadn’t changed his will to give her half.

  Walter continues. “The remainder of the estate, after tax, expenses, and so on—I’ll spare you the legal language.” He looks up at them. “The remainder of your father’s estate is to be divided equally among his children.” He looks around the table at them.

  Catherine can feel the relief in the room, like an exhalation. She realizes now it’s not just her and her brother and sister who have been tense. Ted beside her visibly relaxes, and she can see a calmness come over Lisa’s face too. They’ve all been on tenterhooks these last few harrowing days. She glances at Ted and squeezes his hand.

  Dan actually sits back in his chair and closes his eyes, the very picture of relief. Catherine catches Walter looking at him with distaste. She wonders what he’s thinking. Walter was at the funeral, and he was one of their father’s closest friends.

  Catherine speaks up. “And can you tell us what the estate is worth, roughly?” She watches Dan’s eyes snap open as he sits up and directs his attention back to the attorney.

  “Just a moment,” Walter says heavily.

  They all look back at him expectantly.

  “This may come as a bit of a surprise, but the three of you are not Fred’s only children.”

  * * *

  • • •

  reyes reviews dan merton’s finances again, taking a closer look. They know that about six months ago, just before his father sold his company, Dan withdrew the majority of his money from his investment firm to loan half a million dollars to one Amir Ghorbani, secured by a first mortgage on his home in Brecken Hill. This is why Dan has no ready money. But what jumps out to Reyes this time is the name of the attorney on the document. Rose Cutter. He stares at the name. Rose Cutter is the illegitimate half sibling of the Mertons, who is inheriting an equal share under Fred’s will. The one that the legitimate siblings don’t know about. He says to Barr, “Take a look at this.”

  * * *

  • • •

  catherine gapes at walter and then looks around the table; there is dismay on all their faces. “What?” Catherine says. “We don’t know about any other children.”

  “I don’t believe it! Dad had some bastard child, is that it?” Dan says. “And now they get a share? No fucking way.”

  “Who is it?” Catherine asks.

  “A young woman,” the attorney says, “by the name of Rose Cutter.”

  Catherine immediately turns to Dan and he stares back at her, in shock. Lisa, beside him, has also gone suddenly still.

  “Do you know her?” Walter ask
s, clearly surprised.

  “She’s a close friend of mine,” Catherine says in disbelief. She feels like the breath has been sucked out of her.

  After a moment, Dan says, “She persuaded me to make an investment with her and tied up most of my savings. She’s the reason I needed money.” Now everyone stares at Dan. For long seconds, the room is quiet. Then Dan says, raising his voice, “It’s because of her that the police think I killed our parents.” He turns to Catherine. “This is your fault. You’re the one who suggested she talk to me.”

  At first Catherine has no response. But then she snaps back, “I didn’t realize you were going to commit almost all your money to her. And I didn’t know Dad would sell the business and you’d be out of a job.”

  “Yeah, well, neither did I,” Dan says.

  Walter clears his throat. “I didn’t realize you were acquainted with her. No one knew that Rose Cutter was in the will except your father. Not even your mother knew. Certainly Rose Cutter does not know.”

  “I guess he wanted it to be a surprise,” Jenna says sarcastically.

  “But does she know that we have the same father?” Catherine asks. She wonders if Rose has known all along. All these years they’ve been friends, and Catherine had no idea. But maybe Rose did.

  “That I don’t know,” Walter says. “Her mother might have told her. But her mother would not have known about the will, I’m certain of that.”

  If Rose has known all along, Catherine thinks, she can’t help feeling betrayed, used, even spied upon. “Can we fight it?” Catherine asks.

  “I wouldn’t advise it,” Walter says. “Fred acknowledged to me long ago that she was his daughter. Her mother, Ellen Cutter, worked for your father at one time. He paid her for Rose’s upkeep for over twenty years. And then there’s DNA testing.” He adds, “It would be expensive to fight it and you would lose.”

  Catherine thinks bitterly, Maybe Rose knows exactly who she is. And maybe she expects Catherine and the others to welcome her into the family as a sister and happily share their money.

  She doesn’t know them very well.

  “How much is the estate worth?” Dan asks now.

  “After tax, about twenty-six million,” Walter says. “Your mother’s property adds about another six.” His face takes on a look of thinly veiled disgust. “Congratulations. Even with your half sibling, you are all now very wealthy.”

  Catherine stares at the attorney, reading his expression. She realizes that he thinks one of them is a murderer. Maybe, Catherine thinks, when this is all over, they should find a new lawyer.

  They leave the attorney’s office and stop to talk in the parking lot afterward. The ice seems to have broken between Dan and the rest of them. They are united now against a common enemy, a usurper.

  “I don’t fucking believe it,” Jenna says.

  “I don’t know why we didn’t see this coming,” Dan says. “He was so shitty to Mom.” He grimaces. “I suppose we’re lucky there aren’t more.”

  “As executor, I have to call Audrey and tell her she’s getting a million dollars,” Catherine says. “But I’m not going to be the one to tell her about us having to split the rest with Rose—I don’t want to give her the satisfaction. I’m happy for Irena, though.” The others nod their heads in agreement.

  They talk for a little while longer. Before they disperse to their various cars, Catherine says to Dan and Jenna, “We have to stick together. Don’t tell the police anything. This is all going to blow over, and we’ll all be rich.”

  43

  Number 22 Brecken Hill Drive is a massive property—complete with a lavish Italian fountain in front.

  “Jeez,” Barr says as they approach. “A bit much, don’t you think?”

  Reyes doesn’t give an opinion. The owner, Amir Ghorbani, is expecting them. Reyes rings the doorbell, and an elaborate trilling can be heard echoing from inside. Barr rolls her eyes.

  The door opens and a man about forty years of age greets them. He looks closely at their identification. “Please, come in,” he says and directs them into a large living room, where they sit down beneath an ornate crystal chandelier.

  The house feels empty, quiet; Reyes doesn’t think there’s anyone else there.

  As if reading his mind, Ghorbani says, “My wife and children are visiting family in Dubai.”

  “As I mentioned on the phone,” Reyes begins, “we’re investigating the murders of Fred and Sheila Merton.”

  The man nods. “It’s terrible. Everyone in Brecken Hill is upset about it. I’m fairly new here, but as far as I understand, nothing like this has ever happened here.”

  “We understand you have some business with their son, Dan Merton,” Reyes says.

  The man goes still. “Business? No, I don’t have any business with him.”

  Reyes pulls out a folder and hands him the document that shows Dan Merton advancing five hundred thousand dollars to Amir Ghorbani, secured by a first mortgage on the house they’re sitting in. The other man reads it, clearly astonished.

  “I’ve never seen this before in my life,” he says. “I have never borrowed money from Dan Merton. The only mortgage on this house is with the bank. That can’t have been registered. The bank would never allow this to happen.” Ghorbani looks at the paper again. “I’ve never heard of Rose Cutter. She is not my lawyer.” He sits back. “But I’ll tell you something else. I’ve seen Dan Merton sitting outside this house, at night, on several occasions. He’d sit out there in his car, watching the house.”

  Reyes is surprised to hear this. It’s rather strange behavior. “So you’d met him?” Reyes asks.

  “No. I hired a private detective to find out who he was.” He adds, “It worried me; I didn’t know what he was doing there.” He shakes his head, looking nervous now. “Someone got his money, but it wasn’t me.”

  Reyes shares a glance with Barr. Rose Cutter has pulled a fast one on her half brother, Dan.

  Ghorbani says, “Do you think he murdered his parents? He was here that night, Easter Sunday. Outside my house.”

  “What time?” Reyes asks.

  “I noticed him probably around ten thirty, maybe a bit earlier. He usually stayed for an hour or so, but he was gone that night after only ten or fifteen minutes. I remember looking out the window and noticing he’d left, because I would never go to bed until he was gone.”

  * * *

  • • •

  even with the surprise sibling, Ted thinks, as he drives them home, Catherine’s share of the estate will still be roughly eight million. Worth celebrating. But Catherine seems to be deeply distressed at finding out that Rose Cutter, who she’s always considered a close friend, is her half sister. He has to admit, it startled him too. It will change things between them, and he can tell Catherine doesn’t like it.

  “Well,” Catherine says, leaning back in her seat, “now we know.”

  Ted doesn’t want to bring it up, but he has to know. He asks, “What happened at the police station this morning?”

  She turns to him. “They found a pair of my mother’s earrings in my jewelry box.”

  “So?” But his mind is already racing ahead.

  “So—they’re saying it’s a pair that went missing from Mom’s the night of the murder. They have some kind of inventory from the insurance company. But I borrowed those earrings a couple of weeks earlier. And after what Dan said at the funeral . . .”

  “You can’t mean they seriously suspect you?” Ted asks in dismay, glancing at her.

  “I honestly don’t know, but it feels that way.”

  Ted stares at the road ahead of him, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. He feels like he’s in some surreal movie, driving down a familiar road while his life reels around him.

  They drive the rest of the way in silence. Ted is thinking about the earrings. He doesn’t rem
ember her borrowing any jewelry from her mother. But why would he?

  Just before they pull into the driveway, Catherine says, “Ted, maybe you could back me up on the earrings? Say you knew I borrowed them?”

  He parks the car and looks at her, worried. He’d decided he wasn’t going to lie to the police anymore. How can he be in this position? But Catherine didn’t murder her parents. It’s simply impossible. And Catherine just inherited eight million dollars. More, if Dan is convicted, because he’d forfeit his share.

  “Sure,” he says.

  * * *

  • • •

  lisa was surprised by the revelation about Rose Cutter. She doesn’t know her. But she doesn’t see the problem. Eight million is plenty. They can share. But her satisfaction with the contents of the wills is marred by the way the attorney had looked at her husband. He obviously thinks Dan did it; he could barely hide his revulsion. She is overwhelmed with shame. She can’t bear for people to think of them that way. But the worst is the fear.

  Dan sulks in the passenger seat beside her as she drives them home in her car.

  “It’s okay,” Lisa says. “It’s still a lot of money.”

  Dan snorts and says, “Too bad we can’t enjoy it.” She remains silent. “We should be popping champagne, planning a trip to Italy. Buying a new house. But we can’t. How would it look? People are already saying I killed them.”

  “It will take time to settle the estate anyway,” Lisa says. “And once they find out who did it, then we will be able to enjoy it,” she says, trying to soothe him. Or maybe she’s trying to soothe herself.

  He stares out the window, nervously gnawing on a thumbnail.