Best Enemies (A Triple Trouble Mystery)

by Lynn Emery

  “Cedric, did you have any reason to think Jack was doing drugs?”

  “You’ve heard that, too?” Cedric sighed as though relieved the news hadn’t come from him. “In the last few months he’d slipped from recreational use toward a serious problem.”

  “His daddy is a heavy drinker.” Willa thought about how the proud Crown family lived in denial.

  “Honestly, I was worried about where we were heading. Not that Jack had a public image problem. He always had it together at business functions.”

  “For sure. His daddy is no falling down sloppy drunk. Just gets quietly soaked and manages to maintain his dignified air.” Willa had endured enough family holiday affairs to know.

  “I just wanted you to be prepared for anything the police might find out.” Cedric seemed ready to drop the subject.

  Willa wasn’t though. “Is there any reason to believe his death wasn’t because of a robbery?”

  “Did Miller say that?” Cedric asked sharply.

  “Not so much in words, but he’s asking questions about who had reasons to harm Jack. He’s even asking about my son.” Worry stabbed into Willa’s gut like a giant sick pin.

  Cedric rubbed his square jaw as he frowned at nothing in particular. “Yeah, Jack told me about Anthony’s strong left hook. But I wouldn’t worry about it. Let me see what I can find out.”

  “You think Miller will tell you something he wouldn’t tell me? You’re probably a person of interest, too, you know. He could say maybe you wanted to take over Crown Protection.” Willa got a surprise when instead of expressing outrage he dismissed the idea with a wave of one large hand.

  He shook his head. “I could have walked off with Jack’s business without killing him. Jack was his own worst enemy.”

  “We definitely agree on that,” Willa said with a nod.

  “Naturally I know Miller won’t be forthcoming, but I have sources.” Cedric gathered up the files he’d brought in. “You just hang tough. Take care of the kids. We’ll get through this.”

  Willa felt a surge of warmth at his protective stance. She hadn’t had a man offer to take care of her for a long time, especially one that didn’t have a hand on her thigh as he was making the offer. So maybe she had misjudged the guy. Today he didn’t seem like a tight-butt who was trying to grab control of the business.

  “Thanks, Cedric. I really appreciate that. I’ve been feeling a little overwhelmed.”

  “Miller is following the usual police procedure. They first have to eliminate the family so they can concentrate on real leads.” Cedric spoke with confidence as he smiled at her.

  “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Willa felt the tension start to ease from her midsection.

  “Look, why don’t you let me handle all these details.” Cedric swept a hand out gesturing to the file folders. “Most of this stuff is routine, day-to-day dull stuff. I do this on auto pilot.”

  “You know what? You’re absolutely right. To be honest I’m still clueless about the details of running this place.” Willa shook her head slowly. “I haven’t had a chance to read the state regs, let alone Jack’s internal procedure manual. Which by the way shocked me. I had no idea Jack could be so meticulous.”

  Cedric laughed. “Jack paid attention to detail up to a point. Actually I wrote the manual. Even have a short pamphlet format to train employees.”

  “Wow, you really do handle your business. Between you and Kay things seem to be rocking along.”

  “We’re committed to Crown Protection, Willa,” Cedric said with a crisp nod. “Not that I want to burden you with one more detail.”

  “No, please. What is it?”

  “As I said I really value this company. So I’m willing to make you a very good offer for the company.” Cedric nodded again and wore a sympathetic smile. “One less complication for you to deal with, Willa.”

  “Buy Crown Protection.”

  Willa turned the idea over in her mind. For weeks she’d had to put up with her snippy, snobby in-laws. Then two of Jack’s former skanks had appeared like twin harpies claiming they should have part of his estate. Everything coming at her had put Willa in no mood to be bossed around by an employee, her employee according to the will. Willa had fought Cedric on general principle. She’d turned her anger toward men in general, and Jack in particular. Silly really now that she thought about it. The man was right. She didn’t know anything about running her own business, much less a private security company.

  “Just think it over.” Cedric smiled at her. “You’ve got plenty of time to decide. Settling the estate will take at least a few months.”

  “Let’s hope it won’t take long,” Willa said with a frown.

  “It shouldn’t be a big deal. The will is clear and well executed. No other heirs can put forth a claim that will stand up.” Cedric leaned toward her. “His family might not be thrilled about it, but there’s nothing they can do.”

  “You don’t think?” Willa blinked at him in surprise.

  “We’ve dealt with clients who had estate disputes. Those cases are the most interesting. Anyway, I became fairly familiar with succession law.” Cedric shrugged.

  “I would think the suspicious spouse investigations would be the most interesting.” Willa remembered some of Jack’s extramarital exploits and the fireworks they’d caused between them.

  Cedric waved a hand dismissing her description. “Mostly the same old, same old. Spouse goes on the Internet then meets someone in a newsgroup or some forum. On average two weeks later they meet face to face. The rest is predictable.”

  “Well when you put it like that it does sound downright dull,” Willa said dryly. “Except of course if you’re the wronged spouse.”

  “Ahem, right.” Cedric blushed then changed the subject. “As I was saying though, the succession fights can get really interesting. But since your divorce wasn’t final and you’re the mother of his minor child it’s just a matter of going through the legal process. Parents and siblings have no standing as far as the law is concerned. They might make a lot of noise—”

  “I see you know my in-laws,” Willa quipped.

  “Yes,” was Cedric’s restrained reply. He grinned back at her. “But the bottom line is they can’t do a thing. I’m sure your lawyer will tell you that.”

  “I haven’t gotten around to sitting down with him yet,” Willa said with a sheepish expression. “Not about the succession. There was the funeral, my kids, and Jack’s condo to deal with. He had it on the market. Anyway, I haven’t even been inside. I just handled paying the rent at the office. I can’t bring myself to go in there.”

  “So police say it’s okay to move things?” Cedric looked at her sharply.

  Willa nodded. “They took his notebook, but they must not have found anything on it. Not that Miller has been chatty with me about anything.”

  “Hmm. Well, I’ll find out as much as I can.” Cedric only needed one wide hand to scoop up the files. He stood towering over her, a solid wall of assurance. “In the meantime, don’t worry about the business. I’ve got your back on this.”

  “I appreciate it, too. Thanks again, Cedric.” Willa placed one hand on his muscled forearm. He glanced at her hand then looked into Willa’s eyes.

  “Er, of course. Excuse me. I have to meet with Charles Wilkinson about security for the high school football play-offs.” Cedric fidgeted with the folders as he stepped away from her.

  “Sure.” Willa drew her hand back. She cursed herself for making the guy feel uncomfortable. Lord, she didn’t want to come off like a love-starved widow. The last thing she needed was a sexual harassment complaint. Awkward silence stretched between them as Cedric cleared his throat three times.

  “Listen, I didn’t mean—” Willa broke off unsure what she should say.

  “Not a problem. In fact, I—”

  Cedric turned toward her, his gaze drifting from her mouth down to the top button of Willa’s silk blend blouse. Willa realized that the first two buttons we
re undone. The lacy top of her matching champagne camisole peeped out at him. Had she done that in anticipation of this meeting? Hell, maybe she was a love-starved widow. She hadn’t had a date in three months, and she’d been separated from Jack for over a year. Thankfully Kay chose that moment to interrupt. After one knock the secretary pushed through the door. When Cedric stepped back Kay glanced at him in surprise. Then she looked at Willa.

  “We just finished the meeting.” Willa started to button her blouse up to her neck. She stopped when Kay saw the motion.

  “Right,” Kay replied with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “You need something?” Willa crossed her arms.

  “There’s someone here to see you.” Kay pursed her lips as though sucking something bitter. She looked at Cedric. “MiMi Landry.”

  “Oh crap,” Cedric blurted out. “You tell her.”

  “What is the matter with you two?” Willa looked at him then at Kay. When neither spoke up Willa frowned, started to ask if they’d lost their minds then stopped. “Wait a minute. One of Jack’s women.”

  “And this one is a true blue ribbon b—” Kay bit off the word when Cedric shot her a disapproving scowl. “Sorry, sir.”

  Cedric merely lifted a dark eyebrow in response then turned to Willa. “I’ll talk to Ms. Landry and gently show her the front door.”

  “Oh please, let me do it,” Kay blurted out. “I know how to deal with a loud-mouthed, classless woman like her.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “You two have more important things to deal with today. I can take out the trash.”

  “Kay, really,” Cedric admonished. “I know you and Ms. Landry have a history, but—”

  A steady rapping on Willa’s office door interrupted the back and forth. “Hey, Miss Secretary. I meant sometime today, all right? Just give me the files and I’ll be on my way. Thank you.”

  “I told her you weren’t in, but I would check your calendar to see when she could come back,” Kay whispered.

  Willa grunted. “And you thought that sounded like the truth? I’ve had experience dealing with Jack’s women. I got this.”

  “No, I don’t think the office is a good place for…” Cedric seemed to struggle with a way to finish.

  “A bloody cat fight? I wouldn’t break even one fingernail on Jack’s latest bump in the night. He had more miles on him than a Greyhound bus. I’d have spent every waking hour fighting some hoochie if I had tried.” Willa yanked open the door as Cedric and Kay gasped in unison.

  MiMi Landry blinked in surprise then flashed a dazzling perfect white-toothed smile. “You a new secretary? If so, then it’s nice to meet you. I just need one tiny little file then I’ll be on my way and out of your way. Then you can go back to doing… office things.”

  MiMi stood with her right hand on her hip. She wore a royal blue cotton knit tank dress and three-inch strappy white sandals. A white and metallic silver handbag swung from her left shoulder. What looked like two-inch sterling silver hoops gleamed beneath the florescent lights of the office. Willa took a moment to covet the fabulous hobo style purse then she smiled back at her.

  “No, I’m not the secretary. I’m Mrs. Jack Crown.” Willa allowed her smile to freeze in place as she stared at MiMi.

  A kaleidoscope of emotions flashed across her smooth brown face. Shock, uncertainty, anger, calculation all took their turn as MiMi obviously worked out what to say next. She must have finally settled on a strategy because she nodded and sighed.

  “Yes. How horrible for Jack to lose his life over pocket change. I hope the children are okay,” MiMi said with a solicitous expression.

  The heifer had nerve. Willa glanced back at Cedric, who cleared his throat and looked down at the top of his spit shined shoes. Kay muttered something under her breath. Then Willa turned to face MiMi again.

  “They’re holding up as well as can be expected given the circumstances. Thank you for asking. Now how may I help you?” Willa crossed her arms to signal she should bounce on out of there.

  MiMi appeared in no mind to take a hint. She adopted a business-like manner. “Jack and I were seeing each other. Now I know this is awkward, given you two were still married. Though you were estranged.” Seconds ticked by as they studied each other.

  “Hmm,” Willa’s said. She had no intention of giving this woman more information.

  “If we could speak privately,” MiMi said, lowering her voice.

  When Willa turned to Kay, the secretary mouthed the word “No.” Cedric looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. Yet he didn’t move. He put the folders he held down onto the table.

  “Exactly what is it you need, Ms. Landry?” he said and stepped forward to stand beside Willa. Just then two security guards came in laughing loudly. They waved at him.

  “Mornin’ everybody,” one called out with a grin. The other one merely waved good-naturedly.

  “Kay, take the guards to your desk and give them their paychecks and their next assignment. Cedric, I’m sure they want to give you a report of how security went at the art gallery event,” Willa said and nodded for them to leave.

  “Uh, right.” Kay glanced at MiMi once more before she left.

  “I’ve spoken to the event coordinator for the art gallery. Things went fine.” Cedric tugged on his necktie when Willa’s right eyebrow went up at him. “But I can get a report from them as well. I’ll check back with you later to let you know how it went.”

  “Thanks. Close the door, please,” Willa said as he walked out. He paused in the doorway, looked back at the two women then pulled door behind him. When Willa realized he’d left the door open an inch or so she walked past MiMi and shut it firmly.

  “I realize you must be very busy, so I won’t take up more than a few minutes of your time.” MiMi took a seat without waiting for an invitation. She looked around the office as though trying to memorize the new layout.

  “How can I help you?” Willa sat at her desk, now thoroughly organized. MiMi seemed to have noticed the lack of clutter as well.

  “This is kind of awkward. Under the circumstances I mean.” Despite her words MiMi did not appear to be all that nervous.

  “You mean the wife meets the mistress kind of circumstance? Yes, I can agree that it’s an ‘awkward’ moment. At least it was the first three times. After that I got used to it.” Willa flashed a big smile at her. “The reason for your visit?”

  MiMi stopped looking around the office and focused on Willa. She exuded attitude as she lifted her nose in the air. “Listen, I’m not looking for drama. I mean the final divorce decree was a formality.”

  “True,” Willa shot back at her then waited.

  “What I mean is—” MiMi affected a congenial expression. “I was saying that there is no reason for us to be angry at each other. I wasn’t with Jack before you two separated.”

  Willa bit off a retort that she only had MiMi’s word for that. Instead she nodded. “Believe me, I moved on emotionally from Jack several years ago. Now you came here for a reason?”

  “Right. Well, this is the truly awkward part. You see Jack owes me money…, owed me money. You see I helped him out in a business deal and I was supposed to get back my investment plus thirty percent. He had a file with the name Strafford, Inc. on it. It has a gold circle around a blue logo. Maybe you’ve seen it.” MiMi leaned forward.

  “No, I haven’t. Cedric didn’t mention any such business deal to me.” Willa gazed back at her, figuring the matter was settled.

  MiMi frowned back. “I doubt Cedric had anything to do with this venture. Jack wouldn’t have shared something so sensitive with a subordinate.”

  “First of all Cedric is chief of operations, much more than a subordinate. Secondly, Jack went into business with you?” Willa crossed her arms and continued to stare at MiMi.

  “Okay, I’m not just here trying to run a game,” MiMi shot back, her upper-class manners slipping. “Now if you let me look for the file, it’s probably in that second cabinet, then I’ll be outta
here.”

  “I’m not going to let you search my office, Ms. Landry,” Willa said in a ‘you must be crazy’ tone.

  MiMi blinked rapidly then smiled. “Of course you’re quite right. What was I thinking? Kay probably knows where the old files are now and can—”

  “And Jack’s estate has to be settled. If you have a claim then have your lawyer send the written agreement you had with Jack to my lawyer. I’ll give you his name.” Willa pulled a note pad toward her and started to write.

  “Written agreement. Well, that’s the thing. Jack and I, well, you know our relationship was close, special. We didn’t need to put things in writing. We were engaged. Practically,” MiMi added when Willa glanced at her left hand looking for a ring.

  “Hmm. Witnesses?” Willa stopped writing and looked up at her again.

  “We were alone. Look, we’re talking about a lot of money. Now things have changed drastically and I need that money. I’m sure he had the details somewhere about the deal and location of the money.”

  “Even if I wanted to, Ms. Landry,” Willa said, making it clear she didn’t want to give MiMi even a nickel. “I can’t just write you out a large check from Jack’s estate. As the executor I have a responsibility to handle things correctly. Not to mention minor children are involved, and both are beneficiaries of the estate.”

  “But—”

  “Just so I can document your claim and discuss it with my attorney, how much money are we talking about?” Willa said.

  “Three hundred thousand dollars. Part of that is the equity in the home Jack and I bought,” MiMi blurted out. “I have to get that money back to pay the mortgage, insurance, the lawn service…” She blew out a gust of air in exasperation.

  “I can see why you’re so anxious to find out about this deal. Did you buy the home in both your names?” Willa affected a sympathetic tone.

  MiMi started to answer then stopped. Her flustered state quickly changed to a wary one. “The home is mine. I really need to have this matter settled. If you just let me copy the file that would help.”

  Willa didn’t believe her. She wondered how to find out about this sweet valuable asset that just might be part of the Jackson P. Crown estate. “I can’t do that, Ms. Landry. However, if you give me information about the house, the loan you took out and any other details it will help. You can document your claim to this estate debt and maybe we can expedite the matter.”