Manny and Liz kept up a lively travelogue of what they were whizzing by, as well as Florida in general. Several times they exchanged glances as the two men engaged in the conversation, but Louise, other than a nod, a quick hello to Manny, a quick handshake with Liz, had not said a word.
Parking at the back of the bakery per Star’s instructions, Cliff slid out first, offered his hand to Louise, who pulled him aside. She whispered to him that she wanted to speak with Manny after the meeting and that he was to see that Jude went out ahead of them. Cliff nodded that he understood.
Manny pushed the buzzer, opened the door stepping into the bakery’s kitchen with Liz. Louise, Cliff and Jude followed. Manny introduced the three in the Dallas group to the Daytona Beach three lined up on the other side of the mixing counter. Other than Manny’s introduction, no one said anything, simply nodding in turn.
Star broke the ice, looking at Louise, about the age of her own mother. “Dr. Wainwright, I’m sorry for your loss. I never met and did not know your father. Your lawyer, Mr. Stanfield here, gave a letter to Manny when he traveled to your father’s funeral and the next day met with you in his office. The envelope was addressed to me. I made copy for you.”
Star, trying unsuccessfully to keep her hand from shaking, picked up the letter lying face down on the baking island, handing it to Louise.
Louise took the piece of paper, her eyes piercing Star’s eyes, neither woman blinking. Looking at the handwriting she knew so well, Louise read the letter. She then folded it in half, in half again, tucking the letter in her shoulder bag. Turning to Manny, she asked if she might have a word with him and his wife.
“Ah, sure. Star, okay if we go into the shop?”
“Of course.”
Clifford locked eyes with Jude, saying to the group that he and Jude would wait in the car, nudging Jude out ahead of him.
Star, Gran, and Tyler were left standing without a clue as to what had happened, or what was going on with Louise and the two private investigators.
• • •
LOUISE WHIRLED TO Manny and Liz. She spoke in a clipped, hushed voice. “I must say this quickly. I need your professional advice. I believe I have evidence that my husband killed my father.” She outlined what she had found, that she had wondered when she went to the Seattle conference that maybe Jude lied about what he did, where he went.
Manny immediately replied. “Louise, we have an eye witness that your husband was in Daytona Beach the night your father died. And, another eyewitness saw your son-in-law, also in Daytona Beach.”
“Can’t be. Thom?”
“I took pictures at the funeral and forwarded them to my partner here, who in turn forwarded them to Star and Benny Howard—the two eye witnesses. With what you found, there’s enough evidence to have your husband arrested but could still be difficult to prove he committed murder. Evidence, as it stands now, is circumstantial against your son-in-law.”
Manny paced to the front window, turned back to Louise. “My suggestion is that you say whatever you have to say to Jude on your return trip—small talk. You must realize that you are in danger, as are Star and Benny, the two eye witnesses. But the danger is following you, traveling back with you to Dallas. Please call me if Jude or Thom … or anyone close to you, becomes suspicious, threatens you.
“When you return to Dallas, not tonight because you don’t want to let on about what you found, but as soon as you can get away in the morning, go to the Dallas Chief of Police. Talk to no one at the department but the chief. I know him. I’ll call him tonight after I drop you off at the airport. He will be expecting you. Leave the cigar box where you found it in case Jude becomes suspicious and checks to be sure it’s still there. You have the pictures of what’s inside. The chief will handle the investigation. He’ll have to determine if your son-in-law is involved.”
Manny paced again, rubbing his moustache, retracing his steps back to Louise and Liz. “The chief will be adamant about keeping silent. Any information leaking … evidence could be destroyed. Wait, I’ll call the chief now.” Manny pulled his cell from his belt, flipped through the directory, tapped the entry. Turning his back on Louise, he strode to the front window, spoke softly explaining the situation. Nodding, he handed the cell to Louise. The chief wants your permission to put a tap on your phone. He also wants Jude’s and Thom’s cell numbers.”
Louise introduced herself, answered the chief’s questions, closed the cell. Sighing, she handed the phone to Manny.
“You’re doing the right thing, Louise. Be careful. Stay alert. Here’s the chief’s direct line. Use it.” Manny plucked a bakery business card from the holder by the register, wrote the chief’s number giving it to Louise. “By the time you land in Dallas, surveillance will be in place.”
“I understand. Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”
“Are you all right, Louise? Can I do—”
Louise looked at Liz. “I’ll be fine. Thank you both for your help.”
Manny grasped Louise’s arm, locking his eyes with hers. “Not a word will be said here about our conversation. What you told us goes no further.”
Louise nodded, returned to the kitchen, nodded to the three standing by the counter, her eyes once again piercing Star’s, then marched out the door. Manny and Liz followed, saying they were driving Louise and her companions to the airport, wishing Tyler a good visit, and hoped to see him again before he returned to California.
Jude was waiting in the car as Louise stepped out of the bakery. Cliff, leaning against the car, opened the door for her. Louise brushed his arm, moving him back a step. “Two witnesses put Jude and Thom here. Night dad died,” she whispered.
“Who?”
“Star and a Benny Howard.”
Cliff nodded, holding the door wide. Louise slid in next to her husband. Cliff sat next to her pulling the car door shut.
Chapter 42
THE BACKDOOR of the bakery banged shut.
Manny and Liz barely said goodbye. All Star knew was that Manny was driving the threesome back to the airport for their six-thirty flight.
Gran smoothed the skirt on her dress. “Whew. Tyler, can you take me back to Star’s apartment? I’ve had enough excitement. Why don’t you two go have dinner somewhere? I’m sure you have plenty to talk about.”
“Gran, can we bring something back for you?”
“No, I’ll be fine. There’s still some turkey left.”
Star locked up, then Tyler drove the short distance to the apartment and parked. Flanked with Tyler on one side and Star the other, Gran stepped in the front door. Star checked the refrigerator, saw there was plenty of turkey and a small covered dish of sweet potatoes. Kissing Gran’s cheek, a quick hug, she followed Tyler back out to the car.
Leaning against the car door he pulled Star into a quick hug. ”Where would you like to go?”
“It’s warm in the sun. How about we walk the beach … maybe stop at a café or the Crab Shack on the pier.”
Grasping her hand they strolled up the street, crossed at the intersection, then down the path to the ocean.
Neither spoke, mulling over the strange meeting with Louise.
Picking up a small seashell, Star shook her head. “What did you make of the meeting?”
“Meeting? What meeting? Other than a quick introduction, the only meeting that took place was with Manny, Liz, and Louise.”
“What do you suppose Louise told them?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll give you my guess. I think her father was murdered. We know Benny saw Jude in Daytona Beach within minutes of when John Doe left Benny at the bakery opening. Then you identified Louise’s son-in-law during the same timeframe, that day. No resolution on Mr. Wainwright leaving you so much money. No accusations we thought were going to be thrown at you by Louise. She seemed very preoccupied—”
“That’s what I thought, too. Yet … did you catch her look at me?” Star said. “I don’t know what she was thinking. It wasn’t a mean look exactly, b
ut something was going on behind those eyes.”
“I agree. Maybe Manny or Liz will call after they drop them off at the airport.” Tyler stopped, wrapped her in his arms, staring over her head at the ocean. “Star, if Roth calls offering you a job, come to LA, Burbank, Santa Monica, wherever you like, but stay in California. At least think about it. I don’t want to leave here not knowing when we’re going to see each other again.”
Star lifted her head, her blue eyes melting into his big brown eyes, both filled with love—one for the other. What should she do? She wanted to say yes, she’d move to California. But the bakery? All the questions she and Gran had tried to answer were still out there.
“There’s something else,” Tyler said breaking into her thoughts, smoothing her blond curls back under his chin. “You could be in danger. The vibes, the unsaid words as Manny and Liz scooted out the door after Louise, I don’t have a good feeling. And that lawyer—sweaty palms when we shook hands.”
“I felt the same. But Louise wasn’t scared … or was she? She has to be a powerful woman, all that money, the charities she’s involved with. I Googled her. She’s a psychiatrist. Has her own practice.”
Star pulled away, dug the toe of her shoe in the sand looking out at the waves rolling to shore. “Ty, when we were in Santa Monica you asked what I wanted to do next, what I dreamed of. I told you my ideas for children’s interactive E-books—cooking, maybe others. Maybe you bringing them to life. With the money … if it happens, we could start a business … a business on one coast … or the other.”
“Star, we aren’t kids. Both of us have turned thirty. We both have started down a path we thought we wanted ... there will be lots of turns in the road, I know that, but we worked hard to get where we are. Our dreams we shared under the stars in Santa Monica are coming true … almost … except that I don’t want to leave you in a few days, I don’t want to leave you ever.”
“I don’t want you to leave, but now is not the right time, is it? There are so many things we have to do first. My bakery is barely surviving, I haven’t heard anything back about the screen test, and you haven’t heard from the producer if he’s interested in The Little Baker Girl.”
“I know. But all of that should become clear in January. Don’t you think?”
By January? Answer the big question that wasn’t asked or answered by January—would Star move to LA or would Ty move back home to Daytona Beach. How could she ask him to leave where the action is, Burbank known for film production?
Tyler turned to the ocean, fists jammed in his trouser pockets. He tamped down the anxiety of going out on his own—where? Was it too soon to even contemplate such a thought? And the other big question—where? East coast? West coast?
Chapter 43
Dallas, Texas
THE AROMA OF FRESH-brewed coffee roused Jude from a sound sleep, drawing him to the kitchen. Louise sat at the kitchen table sorting through some papers, tucking them in folders. She logged off her laptop, closed it, then took her empty coffee mug to the dishwasher.
“Good morning, sweetheart,” Jude said, moving to kiss her cheek but hit thin air. “You’re up early. I thought you might sleep in after yesterday.”
“No, I have an early appointment with a patient and I’m scheduled at a fundraiser for dinner. Don’t wait up for me.” Picking up the folders, her laptop, and shouldering her bag, she walked out closing the door behind her.
Cursing that his leg was a beast today, Jude lit up a cigarette, poured a cup of coffee, limped to the window overlooking the city. If he angled his head just right, he could spot Louise’s red Cadillac at the corner stoplight. He had timed it once—how long it took by elevator from their thirty-first floor penthouse on top of the condo tower to the garage below, out to the street, to the streetlight.
He scrubbed his wiry black scalp with his knuckles … waiting. There she was.
Jude checked his watch. He decided to give Cliff another fifteen minutes to get squared away in his office. He dumped the remnants of the coffee in the sink, took a long draw on the cigarette then doused it under the faucet throwing the butt into the disposal. He limped to their dressing room—time to put himself together for the day. The large walk-in closet door was ajar. He knew he was getting paranoid, but he couldn’t be too careful. He pushed the door wide, entered, skimmed his hand under Louise’s hat checking that the box hadn’t been moved. It was there, right where he put it.
Picking out a blazer, shirt, tie, trousers, he limped back to the bed slumping onto the lilac, quilted-satin bedspread. God, he was tired of waiting for the payoff. What got into Louise yesterday? Maybe she called Cliff this morning, gave him some instructions on contesting the codicil.
Lifting the cordless handset off the bedside table, he punched Cliff’s number.
“About time you called. I didn’t dare call you in case Louise was there.”
“What’s the matter, Cliff. You sound all breathy.”
“You’ve been identified.”
“What do you mean I’ve been identified?”
“A Benny Howard saw you. And Star Bloom saw Thom. That’s all Louise said. You’d better get out of town, and I mean now.”
“Benny Howard? Louise and I met him on our first visit to that silly bakery. He’s in a wheelchair. He certainly didn’t act like he knew me, or had ever seen me before.”
“Jude, I don’t know what Louise is going to do. She talked to those two investigators. Did Louise do anything suspicious when you got home?”
“No, just the same silent treatment. Did she call you this morning?”
“No. Nothing after she got in the car yesterday when we left the bakery, nothing at the airport, nothing during the flight. You would have heard her. You were sitting next to her for God’s sake.”
“Well, Cliff, I’m not running scared because two dummies think they saw something. They have no proof, but I can’t take any chances. I’ll take care of it, talk to Thom. We’ll take a quick trip to Daytona Beach tomorrow, or the next day. We can’t let those two idiots upset our plans. They have to go.”
“What are you going to do?”
“What do you think we’re going to do? Make it so they can’t talk … ever. I was just there with Louise. They’ll never suspect. It will be a total surprise. Probably arrange a little get-together with the two—the seducer and the wheelchair stoolie, meet at the bakery.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Details, Clifford, details. Come to think of it, maybe you’re just the man to make the call. The seducer met you, so it will be a natural conversation … about the money. But you say you want the wheelchair guy at the meeting because he was mentioned in the codicil along with Star. Yeah, that should do it. If Louise Wainwright was going to honor her father’s codicil, then the pair had to comply with her request. I’ll let you know when Thom and I are leaving. All you have to do is keep your cell phone charged.”
“I don’t like this, Jude. I didn’t like it from the first—bad feeling.”
“Yeah? Well, you liked the idea of managing the money for Louise, no problem there, Cliffy.”
“That letter, Jude.”
“What about the letter?”
“We don’t know what Dale wrote, but from Louise’s reaction, make that non-reaction, we can’t take a chance.”
“Don’t you think I know that? That’s why we have to move fast. You’re sure you have Louise’s will. She didn’t pick it up … change it. It’s been awhile since I checked that with you.”
“Yes, I have the original. It hasn’t been changed since way before Dale’s death—twenty percent to Lou, thirty percent to charity, the rest to you upon her death.”
Jude hung up the phone.
Snatched the receiver again, punching in Lou and Thom’s number.
Thom answered the phone. “Hey, thought you might call after you landed. What happened? Did Louise read the riot act to the seducer?”
“Who’s with you?”
“J
ust Lou.”
“Good morning, Daddy,” Lou said. “Quick trip, huh? I’m putting you on speaker.”
“Yeah, very quick.”
“Go ahead, Jude. You can talk. So what happened?” Thom asked.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And, Louise hasn’t said a word to me since we left home for the airport yesterday morning. Not a peep the whole trip. I just talked with Cliff. Those creep investigators must have filled her head with some cockamamie stories. Unfortunately, I think she believed them, but I can’t be sure. Louise told Cliff you and I were identified, seen in Daytona Beach when Dale died. Right now I’d like to be rid of all three.”
“Louise, too?”
“Daddy—”
“Just kidding, Lou. Your mother doesn’t have any proof we’re involved in your grandfather’s death. Thom, start plans for a quick trip to Daytona Beach. The two people who identified us have to go. And, they have to go soon. Next couple of days. You and Lou start figuring out our alibi to be out of town—two days. Check flights. This time we can’t drive. We have to fly. Use the new credit cards—new names, no chance of being traced.”
“Yeah, okay.”
• • •
LIGHTING UP A CIGARETTE, Jude limped to the closet, felt under his Stetson, a hat he rarely wore, but once in awhile it seemed to please his father-in-law’s oil buddies. The cigar box wasn’t there. Panic gripped his chest, and then he remembered the box was under one of his wife’s hats, one he knew she hated. He felt the box. His heart returning to normal, he slid the box to the back of the shelf piling several old sweaters on top.
Satisfied, he limped to the kitchen, sat at the desk to make a list of what he had to take to Daytona Beach. Top of the list was his gun. He wasn’t going to let anyone get in his way of inheriting the Wainwright fortune.
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