Marcy Palmer swung around to give the room a swift, sweeping look, as if expecting the dead body to be stashed somewhere nearby.
“It’s okay. He’s not here. He’s over at Ryder’s office.” I hitched my thumb in the general direction of the suite across the hall.
“Thank God,” Dr. Dick replied. His inside voice sounded a tad shrill. “Not that the poor man is dead. Just that it didn’t happen here.”
Dr. Palmer and I both stared at him.
“Tell me you didn’t kill him, Miss Reynolds,” he added.
“No I didn’t. Why would you think that?” I asked.
“Perhaps because you’re covered in blood.”
“Well, yes, it is his blood. But Daisy shot him, and he kind of fell into me and bled all over the place.” I did a little pantomime in an effort to make the picture clear.
“Daisy, R.J.’s sister Daisy, shot someone?” Marcy asked incredulously. “That little mouse couldn’t harm a fly.”
Well, showed you how much she knew about the human psyche.
“Ancarrow injured my granddad’s cat. Daisy took exception to that. And she shot him.”
Dr. Dick slumped into the Queen Anne chair. “I guess Ryder knows plenty of good defense lawyers.”
I wrinkled my brow before figuring out where Dr. D. was coming from.
“No, no. It’s okay that he’s dead, really. Not only did he try to kill us, he was responsible for the deaths of Anna Blake and Robert O’Malley. I solved the case. Sort of. Too bad it almost got me killed, huh?”
They didn’t jump in and disagree like I’d hoped, so I took that as encouragement to leave. So, I did.
Chapter 37
The ambulance came. But it didn’t come for Higgins. It came for Ancarrow. Yes, he was still alive. But only barely.
Edna would be released since Ancarrow had given a death bed type of confession to the murders of both Anna Blake and Robert O’Malley. According to him, he killed his partner because Robert was embezzling from the business after Edna cut Robert off from her family’s funds. Robert’s reckless behavior was costing the firm both money and clients.
When he wouldn’t listen to reason and continued to gamble and make plans with Anna, Ancarrow realized that O’Malley was no longer an asset to the business but a strict liability.
The morning of the murder, Ancarrow followed Robert to his therapy session and waited until he thought they were alone. They argued. When Ancarrow learned that Robert was planning on selling his half of the business to Dmitri Ivanov, it was the last straw. Enraged, Ancarrow stabbed his partner with Dr. Dick’s letter-opener, the one that had been left on my desk.
Anna Blake had suspected Ancarrow and made the mistake of trying to blackmail him. He decided to eliminate her, too. Only her death was premeditated. If Ancarrow survived, he faced two counts of murder. All I could think of was thank God it wasn’t three or four counts – counts that would have included Daisy and me.
Chapter 38
“It’s a beautiful day, Becca. Makes you glad to be alive,” Granddad said and reached down and stroked Higgins as the cat sat on the homemade cat bed on wheels that Granddad had made for him.
“Martin, here’s a fresh mint julep for you just the way you like.” The widow Smith handed my grandfather a glass that tinkled with ice cubes and had green stuff sticking out the top.
“You are a jewel, Louisa Mae.” He took the glass and smiled at Edna’s mother.
“Oh, Martin, you old sweetie. You make a girl blush.” Her cheeks reddened, and she fanned herself with a lacy fan right out of “Gone with the Wind.”
Edna emerged from the house with a tray full of sandwiches without crusts. Dr. Dick trailed behind. I noticed that he followed her like a love-sick puppy. She passed the tray around and then placed it on a table in the center of the deck. “Anyone need drink refills?” she asked and held up a pitcher of lemonade.
“I think we’re good.” I held up my full glass and pointed to Granddad’s half-full mint julep.
“Mother, did you lace Marty’s drink?” Edna faced Louisa Mae and gave her one of those mother-daughter looks.
“Why, whatever do you mean? I fixed Martin’s drink the way I know he likes it.” And I swear she batted her eyes at my grandfather. Edna and I exchanged a brief glance that conveyed more than words ever could.
Dr. Dick helped Edna to her chair, and then took up a stance directly behind her. “Dickie, please don’t hover. I’m not going anywhere. Have a seat.” She patted the chair next to her and he dutifully took a seat.
“Don’t you have something you’d like to say to Becca?” she prompted.
He cleared his throat. “First, I want to thank you for risking your life to unmask the real killer. That was very stupid.” Edna elbowed him and he continued. “But we’re very grateful.”
Edna smiled and nodded in my direction. “Go on, Dickie,” she urged.
“I realize that you over-heard my comments about your job performance at Daley & Palmer,” he started, and I winced at the memory of his harsh words. “Marcy and I have talked at length and we’ve decided to give you another chance.”
“Dickie has something else to say to you, Becca,” Edna said as she leaned toward me. “Don’t you, Dickie?”
He did that annoying throat clearing thing again. “Yes. We’ve decided to give you a raise. It’ll be in your next paycheck.”
Now it was Edna’s turn to clear her throat.
“What I meant to say is there will be a small bonus in your next check, and your increase will be effective retroactively to the first of last month.”
Granddad clapped his hands together. “It’s about time you people realized all that my Becca does for you. Why that place couldn’t run without her.”
“Granddad!” Sometimes I wished he would keep his thoughts to himself. But secretly I was pleased that he thought so much of my skills.
“Well, while we’re making announcements, I have one I’d like to share.” Louisa Mae stood up like a queen addressing her subjects. “It’s so good to have my dear daughter home, safe and sound, not to mention having her name cleared of any wrong-doing. It’s also good to see Dick back in her life. You know I always thought you two were perfect for each other.”
“Mother!”
“Edna, let me finish. I’ve talked to the other children, and they agree with my decision. With all of the turmoil that Edna’s been through lately, losing a husband, although he was a lying, cheating…”
“Mother!”
“All right, dear. Anyway, I’ve decided to extend my visit here in Richmond. Indefinitely.”
Edna fingered the strand of pearls around her neck and for a split second I thought she’d snap the string holding them. I almost dropped my glass of lemonade, and Dr. Dick appeared to be frozen in place. The only two people who seemed thrilled with the announcement were my Granddad and Louisa Mae, herself. Higgins slept through it, thanks to the pain medication he still needed, but I didn’t think he’d be any more thrilled than the rest of us were at the news.
“Well, don’t everyone speak at once.” Louisa Mae seemed offended at our lack of enthusiasm.
Granddad reacted first. “Atlanta’s loss is certainly Richmond’s gain.”
“Thank you, Martin.”
“I’m fine, Mother. There is no reason for you to extend your stay,” Edna said, hastily adding, “Not that I don’t appreciate the thought.”
“Indefinitely,” I muttered more to myself than to anyone.
Higgins raised his head and whimpered. “Yeah, buddy, I hear your pain.” I reached down and stroked his fur on the side without the broken ribs and legs.
The doorbell rang and before anyone else could move, Edna hurried to answer it. An uneasy quiet hung over the group.
“Nonsense, R.J., you are not interrupting anything.” Edna ushered Ryder and Daisy onto the deck. Ryder appeared solemn, and Daisy seemed like her usual pre-shooting self. She spotted Higgins and rushed to his side.
“Sorry to interrupt your gathering,” Ryder remained standing. “Just wanted to let you all know that Ancarrow passed away this morning.”
I flashed a look at Daisy and then back to Ryder.
“No one will be charged in his death. The shooting was in self-defense. And Mrs. O’Malley, the police have officially exonerated you for both of the murders he perpetrated. An announcement will go out to the media today.”
“My prayers have been answered. May he burn in hell,” Louisa Mae murmured, and we all glanced in her direction.
“Mother, enough!” Edna really was going to break that poor strand of pearls the way she tugged on them. I figured they had no chance of lasting through her mother’s extended stay in Richmond without a good restringing.
“Well, Edna, the man got what he deserved. The idea of your name being connected to this scandalous situation is almost too much for a mother to bear.” Granddad patted Louisa Mae’s hand, and there was a momentary look that passed between the two of them that made my stomach clench. I so did not want Edna’s mother to be my step-grandmother. Maybe I’d have to get a string of pearls of my own to finger.
Ryder helped his sister to her feet. “Time to go, Daisy.”
“Kitty better.” She smiled.
“Higgins is tough. He might have used up one of his lives, but he’s got eight more,” Granddad proclaimed proudly. I wasn’t sure if Daisy understood the concept or not.
“Stay out of trouble, Becca,” Ryder winked at me and my stomach clenched in an entirely different way. “See ya around.”
“Sooner than you think,” I replied. “I’ll be back at work on Monday.”
He flashed a smile that could have melted the coldest heart. “Good. I’m looking forward to it.”
Not half as much as I was. I had plans. Big plans. Daley & Palmer was giving me a second chance. And I was going to make the most of it.
I’d also managed to look up the words Max said to me in Ryder’s office. Turns out moya lyubov meant my love in Russian. Maybe he’d meant it when he’d said it, or maybe he’d said it because he was frightened I was hurt. It was going to be interesting to figure out which it was.
I was done with famine and into the feast. Two hunky men were interested in me. And I planned on getting to know both of them better. Each had secrets. Secrets I wanted to uncover. Because nothing intrigued me more than a secret.
Unless it was murder.
* * *
Thank you so much for reading Your Eight O’clock is Dead. If you’ve enjoyed it, please leave a review for me on the site where you purchased the book. I really appreciate it.
* * *
Want to read more of Becca’s misadventures? Discover what happens when Becca becomes involved in the world of ice skating and murder in the second book in The River City Mysteries, Your Time is Up. An excerpt follows.
Excerpt from Your Time is Up
I owed Daisy. Big time. Several months ago she’d saved my life. Literally. Two grisly murders had been connected to Daley & Palmer, the psychiatric practice where I work here in Richmond, Virginia. In a flash of brilliance, or so I thought at the time, I’d set myself up as a target to draw out the murderer. What was I thinking? My plan worked all too well, and I’d almost been killed. But thanks to Daisy, the killer hadn’t succeeded in making me, Becca Reynolds, Victim Number Three. Hallelujah! Like I said, I owed her.
Since that awful day, I’d made a pledge to find ways to repay Daisy for the gift of life. So far my repayment consisted of visits and small outings. I know it doesn’t sound like much based on all she did for me. But I had to tread carefully. Daisy’s brother, R.J. Ryder, hunky ex-cop turned CPA (not that I really believed he was a CPA, but that was his story, and he was sticking to it), seemed equally determined to keep Daisy safe from as he called it, “my insane ideas” - his word choice, not mine.
You see, things seem to happen to me that don’t happen to ordinary people. I don’t look for trouble. But it has a bad habit of finding me.
As Daisy’s big brother, Ryder appointed himself her guardian and formed a super protective bubble around her. He took a dim view of anyone trying to insinuate themselves into his sister’s life. Even me. No, especially me. But I kind of understand that, too. My track record speaks for itself. And not in a good way.
Daisy isn’t like other people. Several years ago, she’d been in some sort of horrific accident, the details of which remain a mystery to me. Since then she’s been in and out of rehab and therapy, leaving her with physical, mental and emotional damage. Ryder vowed no further harm would come to his fragile sister. Not on his watch, as he often put it to me. And I had a feeling he considered his watch ran 24/7/365, 366 if it was a leap year.
Initially, I’d met Daisy when she sought treatment with our practice for her post-accident emotional and mental scars. After my little event with the deranged killer, Ryder had removed Daisy from Daley & Palmer in an effort to keep her safe. But the other therapists he selected bombed out. And Daisy, in an uncharacteristic show of defiance, had insisted Dr. Dick Daley resume her therapy. Good for her! Part of Daisy reclaiming her life meant she had to be able to stand up to others every now and then, her big brother included. At least I thought so. But what did I know? Ryder often pointed out to me that just because I worked for therapists, it didn’t make me one. Kill joy.
Where Daisy was light itself, with her white-blonde hair, pale coloring and petite frame, Ryder was the exact opposite. Tall. Tan. Broad-shouldered. Shaved head that made him appear edgy and not to be messed with. Muscled without looking like some steroid gym rat. Fit. Really fit. Hot. Oh mama, hot! But I digress.
The one thing that showed their kinship was their incredible blue eyes. Eyes you could easily get lost in. Eyes that had seen too much and still hid a lot from the rest of the world. Both Ryder and Daisy harbored secrets. That much I knew for sure. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever learn what either one of them kept private, but I’d come to terms with that. Sort of. My main goal, as always, was to be a part of Daisy’s life and get her out and about. Get her back in the world of the living - with Ryder’s somewhat reluctant blessings.
Tonight I’d decided to take Daisy out for dinner. Just a fast-food meal. Nothing fancy. Ryder claimed he needed to work late. Whatever. The man sure didn’t keep normal 9-5 business hours. When we’d talked briefly, he’d actually mentioned he was glad Daisy wouldn’t be alone tonight. That kind of shook me up. Whenever Ryder praised me, even in his offhand manner, the full alert gong sounded in my brain. No screw-ups tonight. Everything must go perfectly. Or my ass would be grass with Ryder. And that mattered to me. I respected R.J., and I wanted to earn his respect in return.
On the way to Daisy’s, I pulled out my cell phone at a stop light and checked for missed messages and voice mails. But there were none. Crap.
No word from Max. Or “my Max” as I’d preferred to think of him.
Max Chernov, sexy Russian bad boy with connections to the local mob. We’d met at the police station during the murder investigation. Not the best way to meet a guy, as my Granddad pointed out to me whenever the subject came up.
Max made my skin prickle and my body hum in the best way possible. Two months ago, the last time I’d seen him, he’d hugged me in a moment when I’d needed it most and whispered moya lyubov to me, which I’d later found out from Daisy means my love in Russian.
And that was the last time I’d seen or heard from Max.
So much for my love life.
But tonight wasn’t about me. It was about Daisy. As soon as my trusty, rusty, ancient Honda pulled up in front of the home she shared with Ryder, she rushed outside.
“Becca!”
My heart melted. Daisy could sometimes be
exasperating. She seemed to view the world through the eyes of a child. And often displayed the temperament of a child. But who could stay angry at Daisy? Not me. Just seeing her made me smile. A smile that started deep inside of me and radiated outward. “Daisy, what’s shaking?”
She appeared confused as she hopped in my car and checked herself to see what I saw shaking on her that she didn’t see or probably feel.
“No, no. Nothing is shaking. It’s a figure of speech,” I tried to explain. Her brow remained creased. I tried again. “It’s a different way to say hello.” Her forehead relaxed as she took it in and tried to process it.
“We go,” she commanded in that imperial royal way she often assumed.
“Yep.” I made sure she put her seat belt on and snugged it up.
“Where?” she asked starting straight ahead as if I were her servant or hired driver. Driving Miss Daisy indeed.
I was used to her one and two word sentences. She’d come a long way from the silent world she’d once inhabited after the accident. Dr. Daley was doing a great job helping her to communicate. I suspected it was no longer a matter of her not being able to talk, as much as an emotional/mental issue of choosing not to speak. Something held her back. And I longed to unlock the mystery and free her from her prison - whether self-imposed or not.
“Where?” she turned to me and repeated.
“Arby’s up in Short Pump.” I replied. It seemed to satisfy her, because a smile formed on her lips and curved upwards. “So, you like Arby’s,” I stated, happy I’d picked a place she would enjoy. But her smile disappeared. Hmmm, wonder what that was about.
“We’re eating inside. Not just going through the drive through,” I said, hoping that would perk her up. But I saw no change in her expression. Oh well. I knew crowds made Daisy nervous. I tried to expose her to more people - a little at a time. For that reason, I’d picked an early dinner time for us in hopes the workday crowds wouldn’t be out in force yet.
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