The Locked Room

by Marti Talbott

  “Me,” Steven admitted. “I’m the one born out of wedlock and who knows who my birth father is. I don’t care anyway, the man who raised me is my real father.”

  Margot nodded and then said the names, “Steven was the oldest, then Diane, Caroline, Oliver, and you. Although Paige swore she knew nothing about the money her husband embezzled, she...”

  “Sorry for interrupting, but are we talking about my father here?” Colette asked.

  “Yes, Mace Fowler was your father,” Margot answered.

  “The guy in the newspaper, the one her dad...grandfather testified against?” an incredulous Artie asked, “Because it didn’t say a thing about Fowler being his son-in-law.”

  “How did he embezzle the money?” Emma Rose asked.

  Margot answered, “Like the article says, he found a way to get kickbacks for placing expensive ads with various agencies. Paige knew all along. She also knew he was being investigated by the airlines and was about to be arrested. She knew because a detective came to the door, flashed his badge, and asked where Mace was. Paige said she didn’t know.”

  Margot paused to take another sip of tea before she continued. “When Mace came home, Paige told him about the cop. He hurried upstairs, set an airline bag next to the bed and started to pack a suitcase. He was leaving her and she knew it. He swore he would send for her and the children as soon as he was settled, but this time she didn’t believe him. She grabbed his jacket, found a one-way ticket to Japan in the pocket and her worst fear had come true. She couldn’t live without him – or his income. I suspect his income was the larger concern.”

  “I didn’t know all this,” said Oliver.

  Margot smiled at her grandnephew and then went on, “Paige called her father in a panic, demanded he come over and persuade Mace not to leave.”

  “Which he did,” Ben guessed.

  “Right,” Steven answered. “I was seven and used to the fighting. Mother often went into a rage over nothing at all, even when dad wasn’t there. I sometimes wonder if Paige was on drugs, or maybe she drank too much.”

  Margot added, “Or she had brain damage from the accident that killed her mother.”

  “Do you think so?” Oliver asked.

  “I have always wondered,” Margot answered. “Something drove her to do what no sane person could have done.”

  “What did she do?” Colette asked.

  “I know this is taking a long time,” said Margot, “but it is important for you to know the whole story.”

  “I understand,” said Colette. “I didn’t mean to rush you.”

  Margot helped herself to another sip of tea. “Like I said, Paige called Davet in a panic and insisted he stop Mace from leaving. My brother only lived a few blocks away and came right over. In the bedroom, Mace was all packed, and when he grabbed the airline bag, it wasn’t locked and it flopped open. Inside were stacks and stacks of bills. Davet lunged for it and there was a struggle, but when Paige screamed Mace feared the neighbors would call the police, so he let go of the bag.

  Mace laughed at Paige, said something about there being plenty more where that came from, and ran out the door. Paige tried to stop him, but he shoved her away, got in his car and left. After he was gone, Davet got her calmed down enough to tell him about the airline ticket she found in Mace’s jacket. Davet called the police and turned his son-in-law in.”

  Andy Tucker wrinkled his brow. To the detective, everything Margot said rang true except the part about the money. “So he left the money behind? Davet testified that Mace took it with him. We thought Fowler stashed it somewhere on the way to the airport.”

  Margo smiled. “Yes he did say Mace took it with him, and Davet was relieved when Mace refused to take the stand to contradict him.”

  Andy was completely taken aback. “He lied on the stand?”

  “Yes he did. He lied to protect Paige,” said Margot.

  “Then what did happen to the money?” Artie asked.

  “How much money?” Colette asked.

  “The airline guessed it was around three million dollars,” Margot answered. “Yet, that’s not the end of the story. Davet knew once they caught Mace, they would search the house, so he took the money home with him to keep Paige from being arrested too. He loved his daughter enough to protect her no matter the cost. Besides, he could not imagine raising five grandchildren by himself. What else could he do?”

  “Nothing, I guess,” the detective said. “We never thought to search his house.”

  “You wouldn’t have found it anyway,” Margot said. “I don’t know where he hid it, but you wouldn’t have found it.” She took another sip of tea and set the cup back down. “Davet struggled with that lie for a long time before he testified. He was also amazed at how his daughter could appear to be perfectly normal when she had to be. She was a much better liar than he was. Over and over, she swore she had no idea what her husband was up to, and never once changed her story. All she ever saw was his paychecks, she claimed. In the end, the authorities believed her and she wasn’t charged.”

  “In the end, she was crazier than even Grandfather guessed,” said Steven.

  “Yes, and she had Davet right where she wanted him. After the trial and the sentencing, he moved her and the children to Breckenridge, a town high in the Colorado mountains, where the press couldn’t find her. He rented an apartment nearby and intended to drive back and forth to take care of his business in Denver. Two weeks after they got settled in, Paige saw on the news that Mace had hung himself in his jail cell.”

  Once more, the room fell silent until Colette said, “So my real father is dead.”

  “Yes, dear, I’m sorry to say.”

  “I’m not,” Colette said. “He intended to leave us. What a coward.”

  “Funny thing is,” the detective added, “He was only sentenced to ten years. With time off for good behavior, he would have gotten out of prison long ago.”

  “I agree,” said Oliver, “he was a coward.”

  “Didn’t he tell people Dave had the money?” Artie asked.

  “Sure,” said the detective. “Paige went to see her husband every day in the jail and she must have told him, but Fowler was convicted of a felony and no one believed him.”

  “So what about the fire?” Colette asked.

  “Yes,” Margot answered, “Now we come to the fire.” She took a long deep breath and slowly let it out.

  “Would you like me to tell it?” Steven asked.

  “No, dear. I have not spoken of it in years and I find it to be good therapy.” She took a moment more to shift her position and make herself comfortable. “Paige got worse. Her husband was dead, she blamed her father, and now she wanted the money. Davet said he would take care of her bills and give her spending money, but he refused to give her the embezzlement money. He wanted to give it back to the airlines somehow, but that would mean prison for both he and Paige. If he gave it to Paige, he knew she would go on a spree. Spending that much all at once in a small town would draw attention. He worked too hard and lied too much to let her squander her freedom away. She asked, he refused. She pleaded, he refused. She threatened, and he still refused...until.”

  “Dad bought me a little red pony,” Oliver said out of the blue.

  “It was a rocking horse,” Steven corrected.

  Oliver smiled. “Yes, it was. I remember that now.”

  “I have a picture of it,” said Margot to Colette. “Someday I’ll bring all the pictures and show them to you.”

  Artie couldn’t stand it. “Until what?”

  “I would love to see the pictures,” Colette said.

  Margot smiled. “Good, then I’ll bring them next time I come.”

  “You can’t do that,” said Artie.

  “Yes I can,” Colette argued. “They’re just pictures.”

  “I mean, she can’t stop telling the story now,” Artie said.

  Margot nodded, “Let’s see, where was I?”

  “Before you begin
again,” the detective interrupted, “the sheriff had Colette’s power turned off. It should be back on by now.”

  Colette wrinkled her brow. “Why did he have it shut off?”

  “Because we were afraid Paige would come to your house,” Steven answered, “and we didn’t want you in it when she did.”

  “Did she?” Colette asked.

  “No,” Steven answered. “We caught her at the hotel.”

  Colette was shocked. “She’s here – in Lost Bell?”

  “She’s in jail, Sweetheart,” Margot answered. “Shall I tell you why?”

  “Please.”

  “Very well. You see, Paige blamed her father for Mace’s death, although she stood right there and let Davet call the police. Now that Mace was dead, she convinced herself that her husband wanted her to have the money. Davet refused to give it to her until she swore if he didn’t, she would make him pay in the worst way. Her rages had become so out of control he was no longer sure what she was capable of. He hoped that giving her some of the money might calm her down. He offered, but that wasn’t good enough. She wanted it all.”

  “He took the money back?” the amazed detective asked.

  “Yes,” Margot answered. “He put it in the hall closet and left. Every day since, he regretted not telling Paige before he left the house. Instead, he decided to call and tell her when he got home. He walked all the way to his house and started to open the door when he heard the fire engines. He had a feeling it was her house and ran, but he was too late. By then, the entire house was engulfed in flames.”

  “But we got out?” Colette asked.

  “Steven got you and me out, but not the other two,” Oliver answered. “They were upstairs and he went back for them, but the fire was too hot. That’s how he burned his arm.”

  Steven sadly nodded. “When Grandpa got there, I told him Mommy burned the curtains.”

  Colette’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped. “She burned my sisters alive?”

  No one answered – there was no need.

  As soon as Colette got her wits about her she asked, “So Paige tried to kill all of us, but she didn’t die in the fire? Is that what you’re telling me?”

  Margot sighed. “After the fire was out, they couldn’t find her remains. We knew she didn’t die, but we didn’t know where she was, or if she still intended to hurt the three of you.”

  Colette was so devastated – she couldn’t think what to say or ask next.

  It was a long time before Steven said, “When I came here, I thought she still wanted to kill us, but I’m not so sure now. She was so shocked when I called her mother at the hotel, I don’t think it ever occurred to her any of us survived.”

  “How did Paige get out?” Emma Rose asked.

  “She must have gone out the back door,” Steven answered.

  Oliver added, “Aunt Margot was sure that when Grandpa died, and it was in the newspapers, Paige would come to claim his estate.”

  “Then I truly was in danger?” Colette asked.

  “If she saw you, she would have known you survived,” Steven said. “We couldn’t be sure what she would do if that happened.”

  “So all three...four of you came here to catch her,” Ben muttered.

  “As fast as we could,” said Steven. “Luckily, we got here in time.”

  Again no one spoke. Artie took Emma Rose’s hand, Ben watched the expressions change on Colette’s face and Colette stared at the blank page of the notebook in her lap.

  Margot’s next words brought tears to Colette’s eyes. “I suspect you need to hear something more, Colette, so I will tell you. My brother loved you very much. He was secretive and too overprotective, but everything he did, he did for his grandchildren.”

  “I know he loved me,” Colette managed to say, “I just didn’t know how much.”

  Artie watched the tears stream down Colette’s face for a moment, saw Emma Rose hand her a tissue and then frowned. “Well, he didn’t love me much. He yelled at me every time I let the screen door slam.” Just as he hoped, he made Colette and the others laugh.

  The detective was astounded. “You mean Paige burned the money up and didn’t know it?”

  “Yes,” Margot answered.

  “Now that’s what I call justice,” said Emma Rose.

  “What will happen to Paige now?” Ben asked.

  “She’ll face murder charges and I’ll make sure they stick,” Andy answered.

  “Can I see her?” Colette asked.

  “Are you sure you want to?” Ben asked.

  “I’m sure. I need to know what she looks like in case she finds a way to escape.”

  “You want to see her now?” Steven asked.

  “I’d like to see her again too,” said Oliver. “I have something I’d like to say to her.”

  “Well then, I’ll call the sheriff,” said Artie as he direct dialed.

  Colette smiled at the confused expression on Margot’s face. “He’s the sheriff’s son.”

  “Oh,” said Margot. When she stood up, so did all the others. “I think I’ll pass on the visit and go back to the hotel. I have no desire to see Paige ever again, even if she is my only niece.”

  “May I escort you back, Mrs. Allen?” asked the detective. “I’ve always liked the French.”

  The others softly chuckled as the detective walked Margot out the door.

  “The Sheriff said he’ll meet us there,” Artie announced after he hung up.

  “You want to go too?” Colette asked.

  “No,” Emma Rose said. “We have interfered enough.

  “Besides,” Ben said, “She has a ton of phone calls to make.”

  “Me?” Emma Rose balked. “Well yes, unless Colette wants it to be a secret.”

  “It’ll be in the newspaper anyway,” said Steven. “Margot said a reporter from LA is here and will know by morning that Paige Fowler has been arrested.”

  “Wait, you can’t go to the jail,” said Artie “I think I might have forgotten to sweep it.”

  Emma Rose, slipped her arm around her almost intended. “You won’t forget that at our house, I assure you.”

  “I’ll come back here, okay?” Colette said giving Ben a hug.

  “Know what I want to know?” Artie asked.

  “What?” Colette answered.

  “Who’s going to finish painting the house?”

  “Lucky for you,” Colette said, “I can afford to hire real painters.”

  Colette looked at Steven and Oliver. “Unless you still want the job?”

  “I’m dying here,” said Oliver. He put his arm around his little sister and walked her out the door. Boy have we got a lot to tell you. I was...”

  THEY HAD NOT BEEN IN Oliver’s car long before Steven tried to reach his wife again. Finally, she answered.

  “Julianna, did I ever tell you I have a brother and a sister you have not yet met?”

  “Where are you?” she demanded.

  “Julianna, did I ever tell you that our mother tried to burn us alive when we were little?”

  Steven’s wife caught her breath and covered her mouth. “Oh, honey, I had no idea. Is the fire out now?”

  “Yes, finally. We caught her and she has been arrested. I miss you so much it hurts. Can I come home, or would you rather I...”

  “Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

  He was so relieved he blew out the breath he’d been holding. “I’m in a little town called Lost Bell and I can’t wait to see you.” I’ll email you the directions.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I will be as soon as you are in my arms again,” said Steven.

  “Honeymoon in Colorado? It sounds divine. I’ll be on the morning plane to Denver.”

  “I’ll have a rental car waiting.” He paused before he finally asked. “Do you forgive me?”

  “Well, the wedding cake is a little dry and my flowers died, but I guess I can overlook a few little things like that.”

  “I have on
e more thing to do and then I’ll call you and tell you all about it, okay?”

  “Okay. I love you, Steven.”

  “I am so happy to hear that.”

  THE TOWN JAIL IN LOST Bell only had two cells and just now, only one had a resident – Paige Flower. “You have visitors,” said Sheriff Steele as he unlocked the door.

  “Who?”

  “You’ll see.” He cuffed one of her hands and hung on to the other cuff as he escorted her to the small visitor’s room. “Have a seat.” He put the other handcuff around the arm of the chair, locked it and then left the room.

  A moment later, the door opened again and the man she had seen in the hotel hallway came in. “Who are you?”

  “We’ve waited a long time to see you again,” said Steven.

  “We?”

  He held the door open until Oliver and Colette came in. None of them bothered to sit down. Paige seemed not to recognize the boys, but when she looked at Colette, her mouth dropped. “Are you...Caroline?”

  “No,” said Steven, “you murdered Diane and Caroline. This is Colette.”

  “Who?”

  Steven ignored her question. “Oliver has something he would like to say to you.” He nodded for his little brother to take the floor.

  “You are not Oliver?” she asked.

  “I am Oliver. I have seen pictures of Mace Fowler and I look just like him.”

  Paige finally lowered her eyes. “Do you? I don’t remember what Mace looked like.” Her expression was one of distain when she looked at Oliver again. “What could you possibly have to say to me?”

  Oliver looked at his mother with repulsion. “Did you hear your daughters scream while they were burning alive in the fire? Do you hear them still?”

  “What fire? I have no idea what you are talking about.”

  Oliver shook his head in disgust. “It doesn’t matter. I see now you are not worth it.” He put his arm around Colette. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Paige glared at Colette, “I suppose you have something to say to me too.”

  “No,” Colette answered. “I just came to see what a monster looks like.”