by Rachel Woods
“I’ve got Stevie looking into whether, or not, Skip left the island,” said Leo. “But, he hasn’t come up with anything. Maybe we should get Sophie to help him out.”
Vivian said, “Speaking of Sophie, she just gave me some information about the brunette. The cops think her name is Elizabeth A. Davis.”
“Elizabeth?” Leo frowned. “You think Elizabeth A. Davis might be the Elizabeth that Besi was texting about? The Elizabeth who wasn’t going to stay quiet about what she knew?”
“It’s possible,” said Vivian. “I told Sophie to find out more about Elizabeth A. Davis. So, before we jump to any conclusions, let’s see what she comes up with.”
“Good idea,” Leo said, “By the way, since I accepted your proposal to be open to any possibilities, that means we have an official agreement.”
“That we do,” she said.
“So, we have to ratify the agreement,” he said, slipping his hand beneath her flouncy skirt.
Giggling, Vivian said, “Should we make an announcement? Sign a treaty?”
Sliding his hand between her thighs, Leo kissed her, and said, “I have a better way to seal this deal.”
34
“I want to thank you, Burt, for your gracious hospitality during this very difficult time,” said Jacob before he glanced at Leo, who sat on the edge of the desk in Burt’s spacious home office. “And it was good to see you again, Leo, despite the circumstances.”
Nodding, Leo said, “Yeah, you, too.”
Earlier during breakfast, Jacob had announced his intentions to leave the island, now that the entire wedding party—excluding Derek—had been cleared to depart St. Killian.
Leo didn’t blame the guy. Who wanted to stay in a paradise marred by the death of the bride and the subsequent arrest of the groom? Zeke and Tom York had skipped town yesterday, and Kelsea was jetting off tomorrow when one of the private planes in her father’s fleet would arrive to whisk her away. Melanie, however, had decided to stick around. She claimed she wanted to see if Besi would get the justice she deserved, but Leo suspected, with her employer and best friend dead, Melanie had nowhere to go.
“Of course,” said Burt, “and you are welcome. I’m just so very sorry that such a horrific tragedy ruined your time on this beautiful island.”
Jacob let out a breath. “I still can’t believe that Besi was killed and Derek …”
Though he knew what Jacob had been about to say, Leo stayed quiet, deciding to spare his father any sardonic quips. None of the wedding party could believe that Derek had been arrested for taking out a contract on Besi’s life.
Before Vivian’s article about the announcement of Aaron Jones as the man who’d killed Besi at Derek’s request, Burt had given himself the task of informing the wedding party of Derek’s arrest. Leo was thankful his dad did the honors, considering Tom’s vindictive outburst. Declaring that he’d been right about Derek, Tom expressed no surprise that Derek was accused of putting a hit out on Besi. Kelsea, Jacob, Zeke, and Melanie had been shocked, but solemn.
Clearing his throat, Burt asked, “What time is your flight?”
“Later this afternoon,” said Jacob. “Around six o’clock.”
Three more hours, thought Leo as he glanced at his watch, and then Jacob could put all this trouble in paradise behind him. A spark of envy flared within Leo. What he wouldn’t give to be free of having to deal with the mess Derek had made. Instead of leaving the island, Leo had to search for Skip Taylor. Which reminded him that he needed to call Stevie for an update on Taylor’s whereabouts.
“Well, if there is anything you need before you go,” began Burt, “please let Lemuel know, and—”
“Actually, um, before I go.” Jacob’s shoulders slumped as he glanced at the carpet. “There’s something I need to tell you. Something important, but …”
“But?” Leo prompted.
Jacob sighed and looked up. A hint of panic crossed his features as he said, “I don’t want to get Derek in trouble.”
Leo felt something like alarm bells imploding within him, but he forced himself to remain calm and remember what he’d promised Vivian. They’d made a pact to consider all possibilities and not jump to conclusions. He would wait and hear Jacob out before he automatically assumed the worse.
“Jacob, I think you’d better tell us what you have to say,” said Burt, his tone polite, and yet commanding.
After a shaky breath, Jacob said, “Now that Derek has been implicated in Besi’s murder, I think I need to tell you.”
“Tell us what?” asked Burt.
“Derek is going to inherit Besi’s entire fortune,” said Jacob, glancing down.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Leo demanded.
Jacob glanced up, his gaze darting from Burt to Leo, and said, “Five years ago, when Besi turned twenty-one, she came into possession of a five-hundred-million-dollar trust. That money will transfer to Derek, as soon as Besi’s will is probated.”
“How do you know this?” Leo asked.
“My dad is Besi’s attorney,” said Jacob. “A month after Besi and Derek got engaged, Besi went to Dad and told him she wanted to change her will. Dad didn’t think it was a good idea and he asked me to convince Besi not to make any changes.”
“But, you weren’t able to convince Besi,” said Burt, pinching the bridge of his nose.
“What did Besi say when you told her not to change her will?” Leo asked.
“She and Derek had come to some kind of pre-marital agreement,” said Jacob. “The deal was, if Derek signed a prenuptial agreement, then Besi would change her will.”
Leo stared at Jacob. “You’re kidding.”
Jacob shook his head. “Besi told me that she didn’t mind changing her will because Derek signed the prenup, which said that if Derek was caught cheating on her and the allegations were conclusively proven, then Besi could divorce Derek, he would get no spousal support, and the provision in her will for him would be immediately nullified.”
Burt exhaled.
“Unbelievable,” said Leo. “But, wait a minute. Derek and Besi didn’t get married. How can he inherit her money if he’s not her husband?”
“Besi changed her will last year after she and Derek got engaged,” said Jacob. “The beneficiary is Derek Hennessy. There’s no provision in the will that says Derek has to be her husband to inherit her money.”
“Why am I not surprised?” asked Leo, feeling as though he’d just been sucker-punched in the nuts. “That’s why Derek had Besi killed.”
“Leonard, please,” warned Burt.
“He had five hundred million reasons,” said Leo, flabbergasted.
Jacob cleared his throat. “I don’t know if Derek had Besi killed, or not. I just thought you should know about Besi’s will.”
Burt said, “Jacob, thank you for informing us.”
Following Jacob’s departure from the office, Leo stared at his father. “I think you need to come to terms with the possibility that, considering what Jacob told us about Besi’s will, Derek hired Jones to kill her.”
Burt stared back at him, steel blue eyes unyielding and unwavering. “Why should I consider such a ridiculous possibility?”
Leo shook his head. “You still think Derek is innocent?”
Burt exhaled. “Leonard—”
“Why are you so hell-bent on seeing the best in Derek?”
“Because no one else does, or ever has, bothered to see anything worthwhile or redeeming in Derek,” said Burt. “And someone has to.”
Leo frowned. “Dad, get real.”
“I know you don’t think that Derek deserves the benefit of our doubt, let alone our compassion, or sympathy—”
“Sympathy?” Leo snorted. “You want me to feel sorry for Derek? Dad, the guy had his fiancée killed so he could inherit half-a-billion dollars.”
“I don’t believe that,” his father said. “Is Derek a saint? Absolutely not. Far from it, I know that. But, is he a heartless, cold-blooded murderer?”
>
“Yeah, Dad, I think he just might be a heartless, cold-blooded murderer,” Leo said.
Burt exhaled and sat back. “Leonard, despite what you may think, I don’t need you to feel sorry for Derek. What I need are your exemplary investigative skills. Derek is being framed. I need you to find out who had Besi killed.”
“You sure about that?” quipped Leo, crossing his arms. “I didn’t exactly do such a great job finding evidence to prove Winnie’s innocence.”
“Leonard—”
“Forget it,” said Leo, frustrated by his father’s willingness to ignore the truth about Derek. “You want Derek’s name cleared? Do it yourself.”
35
Placing the bottle of red polish on the bedtable, Vivian decided to forget about touching up her toenails and concentrate on her husband, who paced back and forth, his fists clenched, jaw muscles tensed.
Moments ago, Leo entered the guest bedroom and slammed the door behind him. Looking like contents under pressure, ready to explode, he stalked from the bed to the wardrobe and back to the bed.
“What’s the matter?” asked Vivian, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
Leo stopped pacing and stared at her. “Derek has a motive for killing Besi.”
Standing, Vivian frowned as she walked toward him. “He does?”
Dropping down on the settee at the foot of the bed, Leo shook his head. “You’re not going to believe this.”
Joining him on the settee, Vivian listened in rapt attention as Leo revealed the details of a conversation between himself, Burt, and Jacob concerning the last will and testament of Besi Beaumont.
“I’m more convinced than ever that Derek hired Jones to kill Besi,” said Leo. “Dad doesn’t believe it, of course. He wants me to clear Derek’s name. Can you believe him? How the hell am I supposed to do that when I don’t believe that Derek is innocent? This crap Derek told us about being blackmailed by Aaron Jones is bullshit.”
“Are you sure it’s bullshit?” asked Vivian.
Dragging a hand down the side of his face, Leo said, “Let’s say it’s true. What does Jones have on Derek?”
“Maybe something to do with Derek’s gambling,” suggested Vivian. “Or, maybe Jones knew why Derek was fired from Hennessy Capital.”
Leo shook his head. “Why would Derek pay a guy to stay quiet about why he was fired? Losing his job is embarrassing, but who cares if someone finds out why?”
Turning toward Leo, Vivian tucked one leg beneath the other. “Derek said his life would be ruined if people knew why he was let go. Hennessy Capital is an investment firm. Maybe he mismanaged one of their client’s money? Or, what if Derek used client money to gamble?”
Still unconvinced, Leo asked, “How could Jones have found out why Derek was fired?”
“Someone must have told him,” said Vivian. “Derek isn’t the only one who knows why he was fired.”
“David Hennessy knows why,” said Leo. “But, I doubt he told Jones. I’m sure he doesn’t know the guy.”
“Someone at the company might have known Derek was fired for mismanaging funds,” said Vivian. “That someone might be Elizabeth A. Davis.”
“The brunette in the sunglasses?”
Picking up on the doubt in her husband’s tone, Vivian said, “Hear me out first before you shoot down my theories.”
Leo exhaled. “I’m listening.”
“What if Elizabeth A. Davis works at Hennessy Capital. Maybe in HR or Legal. A department where she might get wind of why Derek was fired,” said Vivian. “Maybe she wants to expose Derek, or embarrass him or, just cash in on his misfortune.”
“Derek didn’t say anything about being blackmailed by Elizabeth Davis,” said Leo.
“Elizabeth can’t risk contacting Derek herself with a blackmail demand. So, maybe she gets her friend Aaron Jones to help her,” said Vivian. “Jones contacts Derek and tells him that he wants money, or he’ll expose what Derek did to get himself fired.”
“If Elizabeth Davis was secretly blackmailing Derek,” said Leo, “then maybe she’s not the Elizabeth that Besi was texting about not staying quiet.”
“Maybe Jones let it slip that Elizabeth was involved,” said Vivian, though she worried her theory had loose ends which were starting to unravel. “So then maybe Skip, and Besi were involved at that point. The fiancée and the fixer arranged to pay off Elizabeth, but maybe Elizabeth wasn’t going to stay quiet unless they gave her more money.”
Leo asked, “You think the mystery burner phone belongs to Skip and Besi was texting him when she was in the Aerie Islands? And the problem with Elizabeth is that she wanted a bigger payout?”
Vivian nodded. “Just when Besi and Skip think they’ve fixed the situation, Elizabeth wants a larger payout. Jones might have convinced Elizabeth to ask for more cash.”
“Okay, let’s go with your theory that Derek did something that would be considered a crime, Elizabeth Davis found out, and got Jones to help her blackmail Derek,” said Leo. “If Derek paid Jones and Elizabeth, then why would Jones kill Besi?”
“Maybe because Jones and Elizabeth didn’t get what they wanted,” said Vivian. “Jones and Elizabeth might have threatened to kill Besi if they didn’t get more cash. Maybe they made good on that threat.”
36
“Tell me again why I hired Stevie,” requested Leo, closing the door after he crossed the threshold into Vivian’s office.
Turning from her computer, Vivian grabbed the cup of coffee sitting on her desk calendar and took a sip. “What’s he done now?”
“Nothing,” said Leo, dropping down onto the couch. “That’s the problem. He still hasn’t found Skip Taylor, and I don’t think he’s giving it his all. Although, admittedly, his all isn’t much. Are you sure Sophie doesn’t have time to help him?”
“Speaking of Sophie,” said Vivian, sitting the coffee cup down. “I was right about hiring her. She’s shaping up to be a pretty good investigator.”
“What’s she done now?”
“Sophie talked to Officer Fields last night,” said Vivian, anxious to share the news Sophie had been champing at the bit to tell her. When Vivian arrived at the paper around eight that morning, the junior reporter had been waiting outside her office, barely unable to contain the news.
“Last night?” asked Leo. “She doesn’t expect overtime, does she?”
“Since when is journalism a nine-to-five job,” said Vivian, rolling her eyes. “Anyway, Sophie saw Fields at a bar, and they started talking. Fields was off duty and on his third Felipe beer, according to Sophie, when he told her that the AR-15 used to kill Besi is a PC-5 ghost gun.”
“A ghost gun,” said Leo. “Unregistered and untraceable.”
Nodding, Vivian said, “Some of the lower level members make extra money selling illegal guns. They buy the rifle parts unfinished online to avoid attracting law enforcement, then make the guns in machine shops.”
Leo shook his head. “The PC-5 is indirectly responsible for Besi’s death.”
“The gang is indirectly responsible for most of the crime in the Palmchat Islands, which is a shame,” opined Vivian. “Most people don’t even realize that the PC-5 was originally a civil rights organization. The five founders wanted independence. They wanted clean drinking water, access to better schools, decent hospitals. They weren’t about killing people and trafficking drugs and selling ghost guns.”
“I think you’re giving the O.G.’s too much credit,” said Leo. “They used civil disobedience in their fight for those civil rights.”
“And so what if they did?” challenged Vivian. “The way I see it, they had no other choice.”
“They did what they had to do, I agree,” said Leo. “But, you know, the founders made deals with drug cartels for guns that they used to hold the island hostage until they got independence.”
“Be that as it may,” said Vivian, irritated by her husband’s unwillingness to sympathize with the plight of the marginalized and disenfranchis
ed. “My point was that the PC-5 was not created to be a violent, ruthless island gang but that’s what they’ve become, unfortunately.”
“True, but when you decide that a certain goal must be accomplished no matter the cost,” said Leo, “then you have to be prepared to pay the price when the goal is accomplished.”
Feeling her blood pressure rising, Vivian said, “So, you’re saying the price for independence was what? Illegal enterprise?”
Shrugging, Leo said, “They won independence with violence, so …”
“So?” demanded Vivian.
Leo cleared his throat. “Well—”
A quick knock on the door interrupted him.
“Come in,” called out Leo.
Seconds later, when the door opened, Vivian took note of the relief on her husband’s face as Roland “Beanie” Bean, a senior reporter at the Palmchat Gazette walked into her office. Vivian was glad Beanie’s interruption had brought it to an abrupt end before their debate turned into an argument.
“Don’t mean to bother you,” said Beanie.
“It’s no bother,” said Leo. “What do you need?”
“I have information about the ghost gun that killed Besi Beaumont,” said Beanie. “Sophie sent me a text about it last night, so I decided to reach out to one of my Handweg contacts, find out if he knew anything.”
“And did he?” asked Vivian, her irritation with Leo subsiding as her interest in the ghost gun reignited.
“The gun used to kill Besi was bought by a white guy,” said Beanie. “My contact didn’t know the buyer’s name, but the guy paid for the gun with a six-figure Rolex watch. The PC-5 thug who accepted the watch as payment fenced it to a shady jeweler who runs a gold and diamond exchange.”
“Aaron Jones must be the guy who bought the gun from the PC-5 member,” said Vivian.
“Where did he get the Rolex to pay for it?” Leo asked.
Beanie said, “Maybe he got it from Derek Hennessy.”
“Why do you say that?” Leo asked.
“According to my contact,” said Beanie. “There was a name engraved on the watch.”