Last Pen Standing

by Vivian Conroy

  Before Jonas could say it was a lousy plan, Delta continued, “He is bound to come out to smoke before dinner. Then we can do our little act. He’ll go out to the birding hut at once to search before nightfall. We’ll catch him, and it’ll be over.”

  Jonas considered her proposition in silence. “And what if he doesn’t come?”

  “Then maybe we’re wrong about him, and he didn’t kill his wife. We’ll have to continue looking for another killer.”

  Jonas played with his phone. “I don’t like it.”

  “I never said I liked it either. I just think it’s a way to try and see if Herb White is our man. Why would he have lied to the police that he had no idea that his wife was looking into divorcing him?”

  “Because it would have given him motive for murder.”

  “Yes, but would he have thought that far ahead if he was truly innocent?”

  “He’s a proud man. Arrogant, full of himself. He’d never admit his wife was about to walk out on him. That doesn’t mean he’s a murderer.”

  “Maybe not, but we can try to find out. What do we have to lose?”

  Jonas put his phone away. “OK. Your way. We’ll see if he pops out to smoke before dinner, and then we’ll let him overhear our conversation. But I doubt he’s going to act on it. Why would he? His fingerprints aren’t on the murder weapon. The police can’t prove he touched it. Or that he was even in the bar.”

  “I know. Oh, look, there’s Ray.” Delta pointed to the tall, ex-footballer appearing with a few teens by his side. He had mentioned earlier that he was taking groups of them boating. They were laughing and talking, then the teens said goodbye. Delta went over to Ray. “Hello there. Had a good time? You look like you’re really great with teens. Maybe you can do something with them, for a new career?”

  Ray tilted his head, studying her from under his baseball cap. “Why would you be thinking about what I should do for a new career?”

  Delta shrugged. “My older brother was a professional athlete. I know how hard it can be to start over when all of the sports commitments are gone. You need a new challenge, and doing something you love is the best start.”

  Ray nodded. “I see. What did your brother do?”

  Delta told him a bit about Greg’s achievements, even showing him some photos online of medal ceremonies. Ray seemed to relax.

  Lowering her phone, Delta said, “You see there is life after the sports career. I could put you in touch with Greg if you want to.”

  “Nah, I don’t see myself turning into a speaker. But something with kids, that would be nice.”

  “I’m sure you can look into ways to do that.” Delta took a deep breath. “If you get out of Rosalyn’s hair, you might also improve your relationship with her. You mentioned to me repeatedly that you used to be great friends and she supported you. Maybe she can support you again?”

  She waited a moment and then added, “Of course, you’d have to clear up the bit about…what happened in France.”

  “France?” Ray echoed.

  “Yes. You met up with her fiancé there, didn’t you? When you were in training camp and he was on a business trip?”

  “How do you know that?” Ray’s expression, which had been relaxed discussing Greg’s sports career, turned tense and guarded. He fidgeted with his cuff link.

  “You were there when he was there. France is of course not exactly a tiny country, but isn’t it logical you would have met? The man was planning on marrying your sister. At the time.”

  Ray’s features were tight. “It’s a good thing it never happened. He wasn’t what Rosalyn believed him to be.”

  “Is that why you helped things along?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Rosalyn thinks you gave him money so he’d stop seeing her. She’s upset about it. Understandably. But if you can prove to her he was no good and…” Delta doubted Rosalyn would be open to hearing this, but she wanted to see how Ray responded.

  Ray sighed and studied the ground. “I can’t tell her what happened. She’d be humiliated.”

  “She already suspects you. It can’t get any worse.”

  “Oh, but it can.” Ray looked up at her. “Yes, I gave him money because he claimed he needed it for the wedding. He didn’t want to admit to Rosalyn that he couldn’t afford all the frills she wanted. I believed him—Rosalyn was kind of a bridezilla, you know—so I gave him some money. Then he broke it off with her and vanished.”

  “Ouch!” Delta flinched under the implications of the story. “Was he ever really interested in Rosalyn?”

  “No. Looking back on it, I’m sure he came after her only because he intended to get money out of the Taylor family at some point. Having access to me, abroad, provided him with the perfect opportunity. He looked me up, not vice versa.”

  “But he had money of his own.” Delta was confused. “Terry at Mine Forever mentioned that he breezed through town in a Jaguar, no less.”

  “Rented car. All done to impress us and work his way into our confidence. Once he vanished, I had a PI look into him. Nothing he told us was real.”

  Ray leaned over to her and continued urgently, “But I can’t tell Rosalyn that. She was so upset when it ended. I don’t want her to realize he never loved her.”

  Delta stared at him. “You kept your mouth shut because you wanted to protect her feelings? But she hates you for what happened! She thinks you bought off her fiancé. She stopped supporting you because of that old incident. You lost all the money you gave the fellow for the wedding, and you also lost your sister’s love.”

  Ray shrugged. “I didn’t know Rosalyn believed that until you told me Isabel had said Rosalyn hated me for something from the past.”

  “You have to talk to her. You have to tell her the truth.”

  “Why would she even believe me?”

  “Ray.” Delta put her hand on his arm. “The man in question left your lives years ago. He got his money, which is what he wanted. But you still have each other. You have to clear things up, also for the sake of your father and Isabel. I’m sure deep down inside you all want to be a family again. United, not divided.”

  Ray rubbed his forehead. “This whole thing is such a mess. With the murder and all, the takeover rumors… I don’t want my father to sell the hotel to strangers.”

  “You don’t?” Delta tried to sound super surprised to lead up to her next question. A little lie might help to get him into talking. “Oh, but…after LeDuc Jr. exposed the takeover plans, the town is abuzz that you wanted the takeover and even led the Whites to make an offer.”

  Ray shook his head. “I met with Ralph White to talk about the takeover plans. He wanted to get me on his side so I could put pressure on my father to accept. But I refused to cooperate. Imagine him offering me a role in the daily operation of the hotel by way of a bribe!” Ray scoffed. “The Whites can’t count on me to help them acquire the Lodge. But what if Dad thinks he has to sell because we, his kids, can’t stick together and make it work?”

  “Then you have to talk to him, too, and tell him you will do anything to make it work. Not talking leads to so many problems.” Delta thought of Zach and how he had walked away because he had felt like his family had never acknowledged him. She had to think about a way to make amends, open up a conversation.

  She smiled at Ray. “Think about it. It could be worth it. Now I have to get going.”

  As she turned away, her full focus returned to the plan she had made with Jonas. A plan to lure Herb White into a trap. It relied on him acting on what he overheard, and it might not work at all, but they had to try.

  Delta’s heart beat fast as she realized how precarious Finn’s position still was and how Hazel still sat in the shadow of suspicion. How could her best friend have a decent life in a small town like Tundish if people kept whispering that her brother might have killed someone? />
  They had to clear up the case and prove someone else did it, beyond a doubt.

  * * *

  “I told you he wouldn’t come.” Jonas shifted his weight in the narrow space beside Delta. They had hidden themselves behind a stack of logs near the birding hut. Peeking over or around it, they could keep an eye out for anyone coming to the hut, but their view was half-obstructed by brush. Right behind their backs was brush as well, and the thin twigs pricked painfully between Delta’s shoulder blades.

  Spud, who had come with Jonas as their secret weapon, lay on the ground, relaxed.

  Jonas nodded at the dog. “Even Spud knows it’s a no-go.”

  Delta elbowed him to make him shut up. After they had followed Herb into the garden before dinner started at the hotel and had seen him flick out his pack of cigarettes and his lighter, she had felt incredibly motivated to make this work. While Herb ambled to the wooden plateau, Jonas had led her by way of another path down to the lake and along the bank so they could reach the path to go up again, as innocently as if they weren’t aware of anyone standing over their heads.

  Jonas had tapped her arm and gestured for her to sniff the air, and as she had also smelled the sharp sting of cigarette smoke, she had felt excitement rush through her veins. They were actually going to pull it off. They had to.

  Their discussion had been brief and charged as it would have been had they really been exchanging new, vital information in the case. Jonas had said he’d look in the hut later that night, since he first had to pick up some guests who were arriving at the train station.

  “Halliday would have done it,” he had said in an annoyed tone, “but he’s having dinner with the Whites, again. I think he fancies Amanda.”

  That would have struck Herb as the truth, probably, and as a reason why Jonas would have to play chauffeur for the hotel.

  As they had walked away, Delta had thought anyone could hear her heart drum in the silence, just as it was doing now. It didn’t matter that Jonas said Herb wasn’t coming. She willed him to come. She needed this to work.

  A twig snapped in the forest. In the silence, it sounded as loud as a gunshot.

  Spud raised his head, his ears turning forward.

  Jonas put a hand on his head to keep him quiet. The dog didn’t make a peep but kept looking in the direction of the sound.

  Jonas carefully stretched his neck to peek around the stacked logs. “Someone just went inside,” he said. “I couldn’t see who it was.”

  Delta’s breath caught. What if Herb White was innocent? What if he had mentioned as dinner began what he had overheard while he had been smoking? Maybe scoffing at those “armchair detectives” who were poking into his wife’s murder, messing it all up with their amateur actions? And what if someone else at that table had taken the hint? Who was waiting in there for them?

  Could it be Ralph? The brother-in-law who had become a little too cozy with his dancing partner and had then realized that Vera wasn’t just quick on her feet, but also rather poisonous in what she might do to his marriage? Had he become tired of the callous way in which she treated people? Had they argued in the bar, and had Ralph stabbed Vera?

  Or was the figure who had just entered the hut Fred Halliday, the secret lover of Amanda White who had stabbed Vera to keep their affair a secret? But Fred and Amanda showed themselves together around the hotel, without caring who saw them or thought something of it. That made no sense at all.

  Delta’s mouth went dry. Could it be Amanda, who had taken her dress to the dry cleaners right after the party? Had there been blood on the dress? Was she her sister-in-law’s killer?

  Jonas rose to his feet. “I’m going to see what he’s doing.”

  “He or she,” Delta whispered. “I’m coming too.”

  Jonas motioned for her to stay, but she followed him on tiptoe, careful to avoid stepping on anything that could create a loud noise in the quiet forest.

  A few birds sang in the distance and a mouse rustled away, but otherwise it was still, as if even the forest knew something was up and held its breath, waiting for the showdown.

  Inside the birding hut, tapping resounded, muffled dragging.

  Delta stopped beside Jonas and glanced at him. His expression betrayed concentration, an attempt to visualize what was happening inside.

  Spud, pressed close to Jonas’s side, held his head up, muzzle moving to sniff the air, inhaling the intruder’s scent.

  A muttered curse rang out. The voice was low, probably male.

  Delta wished they could just go in there, but Jonas had said in advance the room inside the birding hut was too small for a confrontation, and they’d have to wait outside. Delta had no idea how whoever was in there would respond to being discovered, but she did know she’d have felt a lot better if Jonas had still been in active service and carrying a gun.

  Red streaked the skies above as the sun began to set, and some geese flew over, the dark silhouettes outlined against the skies in that distinctive V shape.

  Then, all of a sudden, a figure emerged from the hut. The man stopped and stared at them, his hands halfway up as though about to grab at something.

  It was Herb White. A fleece jacket was slung over his suit, a baseball cap drawn deep over his eyes. He watched them a moment, then he began to laugh. “Oh boy. You really think you’re cops, don’t you?” He slapped his knee. “You tell a story, and now I came up here, and you’re looking at me like it somehow makes me guilty. Well, I’ll tell you what. I lost something here. A gold lighter. Worth a pretty penny. So when I heard you talking about the hut, I figured it might be here and I’d better find it before you did.”

  “And did you?” Jonas asked, his voice deceptively calm.

  “Yep.” Herb dug into his pocket and held up a lighter. “All’s well that ends well, huh?”

  “Not quite,” Jonas said, still leaning back on his heels as if relaxed and enjoying a little chat during an evening walk. “You see, we know that you knew. About your wife planning to divorce you. About the money she’d demand to settle the divorce. About the trouble you’d be in with the business.”

  Herb White stood motionless, his eyes flickering over them as he waited for more.

  Jonas said, “You love your business. You built it with your own hands, your hard work. You were away for long days on end while your wife just spent your money. It would hardly be fair if you had to share with her. But she had gone to a good lawyer and…well, maybe it’s unfair to say now, but once upon a time it was true: you were in love with her and you were blinded as to her real motives for coming into your life. You wanted her to have money. You’d never divorce her anyway. So you actually agreed to some settlements…”

  “You have no idea what kind of bitch that woman was.” Herb White’s voice was low and threatening. “She smiled at me and wrapped me around her little finger. I was a wreck after my wife’s death. I never went anywhere, I never did anything. I just worked. Then I met her. She came over, she talked to me. She even got me to dance with her. I felt her warmth and I…was alive again. After years of being dead, I was alive again.”

  Delta’s heart clenched for the heartfelt emotion in the man’s features as he spoke. As if just saying this out loud wrenched his gut.

  Herb continued, “She listened to me talk about my wife. She didn’t say I should be over it by now. She was so kind and understanding. Until she had me right where she wanted me. I was married to her. She had access to my money.”

  He wrung his hands into fists. “I loved her,” he hissed. “I wouldn’t have denied her anything. But still she complained. She pouted, she sulked. It was never enough, what I did for her. If I took her away for the weekend to Orlando, she had wanted to go to Venice. If I gave her a silver necklace, it should have been gold. She told me I had enough money in the bank but I was stingy. I was cheap.”

  His features conto
rted. “She was the one who was cheap! Flinging herself at every man, even my own brother. I couldn’t bear to look at it. But I wasn’t going to divorce her either. Give her half of what I had worked for? Never.” He bit down hard.

  “Over my dead body, is the appropriate thing to say in such cases,” Jonas supplied. “But it turned out to be her dead body, not yours.”

  “You have no idea what it’s like to feel people look at you. See the pity in their eyes when they see your wife flirting with other men. That young little wife while you’re older, graying, carrying too many pounds. No wonder she’s looking elsewhere. No wonder? No wonder?! She married me!”

  He was screaming now, the forest echoing with his anger. “She married me, and she had to live with that. In exchange for access to the beloved money. The thing she married me for. Not for me. Never for me.”

  Delta stood motionless, wondering how they’d ever get this frantic man into the hands of the police. He seemed ready to lash out at them.

  Herb said, “I couldn’t take it anymore. The people watching, whispering. The looks on their faces, half-sorry, half-smirking. Especially later in the night when Vera was drunk. I followed her into the bar. I wanted to stop her from drinking even more. I wanted to tell her enough was enough and… She just laughed at me. She held out something gold to me, waving it in my face. She said she could get from others what she had never gotten from me. I saw her through a red haze. I picked up something. It was cold in my grasp. It was sharp, and it sparkled in the light.”

  Herb sucked in a breath. “I had to stop her from laughing at me. Laughing at the foolish little man I had been, dying for her warmth and her tenderness while all she had ever wanted was my money.”

  He stared at the ground. “It was so easy to kill her. One little stab, and she slipped to the floor. I didn’t even try to revive her. I wasn’t sorry either. Just cold inside like that thing in my hand. I cleaned it and put it back in the ice bucket. She was like ice. Her heart, her soul. If she even had one.”