by Krista Davis
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
* * *
We were up early the next day. It was still chilly outside when we left, and I was glad I chose to wear a blazer with a scarf around my neck.
The throng of reporters had grown. “How do you feel now that you’re no longer a suspect, Mars?”
Mars smiled and spoke directly to the camera. No ducking away this time. “I’m relieved that Sergeant Fleishman was able to uncover the truth. It’s always better to let the sun in so the truth can shine.”
Tilly opened the door in full makeup and a Texas girl outfit right down to her boots. She called to the press, “Mornin’ y’all!”
When we were in the foyer and she closed the door behind us, Tilly sagged. “What a relief all this is coming to an end. I’m brokenhearted about Mia and especially about Abby. But I’m glad to be able to move on.”
Tilly had knocked herself out with an assortment of eggs, pancakes, and bacon. Plates, cutlery, and red gingham napkins had been set up on the kitchen island so everyone could help themselves.
“How did the DNA tests go yesterday?” I asked.
“There’s nothing to the tests. It’s waiting for the results that’s scary.”
“I hope you get them soon so you can put this behind you.”
She whispered, “Briley nearly freaked out. I have assured her that I was present at her birth and I know she’s our child, but it’s still frightening for a kid to go through.”
Briley and Schuyler ate breakfast with us. Jericho hung around Mars as though he was afraid to miss a single word.
Schuyler sat down next to me. “I guess you heard that one of us might have been kidnapped?”
Chapter 36
Dear Sophie,
I’m redoing my bathroom and I’m confused about shower floors. What’s the best thing to use: tile, stone, marble, or glass?
Drowning in Options in Bath, New York
Dear Drowning in Options,
I know exactly how you feel. While many flooring options look beautiful, you need to consider three main things. How do you clean them? Do they need to be sealed annually? And what size are they? Installers recommend nothing larger than four-by-four inches so that there’s enough grout for you to have a secure footing when the shower is wet. Don’t forget to consider what hard water might do to the material if that’s an issue at your house.
Sophie
Ihad to tread carefully. “Kind of scary, huh?”
“I hope it’s me!” she said. “It would explain so much. Like why my mom was so weird about things and monitored me all the time. I feel like a traitor for saying this, but I feel so much more relaxed now that it’s just me and my dad. I loved my mom, but I always felt like something wasn’t right.”
“I hope it all works out for you.”
“It will. When Dad heard about it, he promised that I can live with him. We’re a pretty good team. He’s kind of goofy sometimes, but we’re managing. You should have seen the two of us trying to figure out the washing machine!” She laughed at the memory. “Dad wants me to see a psychologist to help me through losing my mom and maybe being kidnapped.”
“That sounds like a good idea. You’ve been through a lot.”
A moment later she asked, “Do you think my mom murdered Abby? That’s what they’re saying.”
Oh no! I didn’t want to make things even worse for her. Her father should be the one telling her about that. But as I looked at her, it dawned on me that she wasn’t sobbing. In fact, I would have said she was thriving. I decided it was best to be honest. She’d had the truth hidden from her for too long, and look how that ended. Mars was right about letting the sun shine in. “It appears that she did. Mia was desperate to keep you. She loved you more than anything. It’s all a horrible tragedy, but I would guess Mia had been mentally unbalanced for a long time if she thought it was okay to steal a baby.”
“That’s a good way of putting it. Mentally unbalanced. That’s what I’ve been living with all my life.”
“Okay, everyone! Here it comes,” said Wesley.
“Good morning, Washington! Congressman Wesley Winthrop is having a good day. He was a person of interest in the murder of Abigail Bergeron, but police have officially announced that Mia Hendrickson of Old Town murdered Bergeron. Hendrickson also died at the scene of the crime. In other news, Congressman Winthrop will hold a press conference this afternoon to announce an initiative against hazing in fraternities.”
Jericho looked sick. “You can’t do that, Wesley. Are you insane? If Mars advised you to take this path, then you’re falling for his revenge plot. He knows this is political suicide.”
“We’re just putting a little sunlight on a dark subject, Jericho,” said Mars.
“Better start looking for another job, Wesley. Although I don’t know who would hire you after the truth comes out.” He cornered Wesley. I could hear him whisper, “Come on, man! What are you thinking? This will ruin you. It will ruin both of us.”
And that had been the problem all along, I thought. Jericho had been worried that his part in the hazing might be revealed.
* * *
Later that afternoon, Nina and I sat in my kitchen and waited for Wesley’s news conference on TV.
Wesley walked out to a podium and waved. Mars stood behind him and off to the side a bit.
“Mars looks so spiffy in his suit. I never see him dressed up like that,” said Nina.
Wesley spoke. “In my younger years, I was a member of a fraternity in which a horrible hazing accident occurred. My classmate and dear friend was severely injured, changing his life forever. I am proud to say that in spite of being a paraplegic, he is a husband, a father of three boys, and a successful psychologist. For me, there is nothing worse than knowing this didn’t have to happen to him. He and countless others have been permanently maimed, and far too many have died because of hazing. My own experience has led me to start a nonprofit foundation to help these individuals move forward in their lives, to give them the financial aid they need for their ongoing medical care, and to rid us of hazing rituals altogether.”
“Not too shabby,” said Nina.
“Mars did a pretty good job turning a negative into something positive,” I said. “I never realized how hard his job is. Everyone has done something stupid in their lives.”
Bernie knocked on the kitchen door and entered. He handed each of us a flyer that read
Are you a fan of
Live with Natasha?
The host of your favorite show about all things
domestic is about to be replaced by someone else!
Help us back up our favorite domestic diva,
Natasha, by joining us in a rally to keep
Live with Natasha!
Monday at Noon
The Laughing Hound
Old Town, Alexandria
I was ashamed to admit that I had forgotten all about Tilly replacing Natasha. “This is great, Bernie! I will definitely be there. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Spread the word.”
“I’ll take Facebook,” said Nina.
“Then I’ll hit Twitter.” I offered.
* * *
Mars moved home that night. The reporters had moved on to other stories, and things calmed down on our street.
* * *
A week later I had chosen bathtubs and shower tile. My dream linen closets were sketched on paper. A painted ceramic sink by a local artist had been ordered for the powder room. My head spun with all the details of mirrors, light fixtures, and faucets. And where exactly did I want electrical outlets? It was turning into a much bigger job than I had anticipated, but I had waited long enough and was thrilled that Cal would begin renovation in October.
It also happened to be the day that Charlene was being released from the hospital. Carrying a bouquet of gladiolas, I crossed the street to Natasha’s house and cut through the side yard to the apartment over the garage. Natasha had left a key under the ma
t. No one would ever think to look there!
The fall sun shone in through large windows. I set the vase on the round dining table. I removed platters from the refrigerator, took off the covers, and placed them on the table. I put on coffee and tea and poured sparkling apple cider into a pitcher. I checked the time. People would start arriving any minute.
Nina rushed in. “Doesn’t Charlene have a broken leg? How is she going to get up those stairs?”
“It’s not ideal. But it’s better than having to live with Natasha.”
“Will Charlene’s mom be staying with her? I thought she had a store in Maryland.”
“Her partner will be running the store until Charlene can get around on her own again.”
Friends of Charlene’s whom I didn’t know began to gather with gifts of flowers, balloons, exquisite chocolates, and culinary mysteries to keep her occupied while she healed.
Suddenly there was a commotion at the stairs. I snuck through the crowd that gathered. Charlene was trying to walk up by herself, one step at a time. I was glad to see Bernie behind her, ready to catch her if she slipped.
A cheer went up when she reached the top. Mars had carried her collapsible wheelchair up the stairs, and Charlene appeared glad to be able to sit down and catch her breath.
She chattered and hugged friends. After a bit, people helped themselves to food, and the roar subsided. Wolf arrived, carrying a beautiful rustic bowl filled with moss and colorful African violets. I suspected his wife, an avid gardener, had put it together for Charlene.
One of her friends began to ask questions about the night she almost died, and Charlene told us her story.
“Gosh, it all began with Fred. For months I’d had some suspicions about him. He was immaculate. I never saw anything odd at his house, but he never wanted me to go upstairs. I knew his parents had come here from Russia, and that they supposedly lived near Brighton Beach. But he didn’t have any pictures of them around, which I thought was odd. In fact, he didn’t like being photographed. One day I sneaked upstairs and saw his computer setup. I guess a lot of people have a number of computers, but it seemed wrong to me.” She took a sip of sparkling apple cider.
“That night, I broke up with Fred. He was very upset and begged me to reconsider. It turned into something of an argument, so I told him I had to pick up Abby’s cat, Oscar, because Abby was going out of town. That was all true, but it gave me a good reason to leave. I dashed down the street. When I got to Abby’s, I went through the passage to the back like I always did. I knocked on the door and looked in through the glass. Oscar was in his carrier, ready to go, and there was a blue suitcase next to it.
“When Abby didn’t appear, I opened the door and went inside. I heard a thump and the sound of someone falling down the stairs. I saw Abby crumpled at the bottom of the stairs with a cord around her neck. I thought she was dead. When I looked up, a woman, whom I now know was Mia, stood at the top of the stairs. I screamed and ran for the door. But Mia was faster than me. She caught up to me and literally threw me against the fireplace. I think that’s when my leg broke. She started beating me like there was a fury inside her. I thought I would die for sure. I really did.” Charlene wiped tears out of her eyes.
“I was in such pain, I tried to drag myself into a standing position, but she kept kicking me. In my head, and my abdomen, and my back. I had almost given up when Fred arrived. He tore her away from me. I could hear them fighting. But I was scared of him. I was afraid of both of them. I knew I couldn’t take much more. I didn’t realize that my leg was broken. It hurt like the dickens, but at that point everything ached and I was in a panic. I knew I had to get out of there to save myself. I scrambled out the door, trying not to put much weight on my leg. I felt woozy, but I knew I would die if I didn’t hide. I managed to make it to the alley but had to keep going. I opened the first gate I saw. The door to the garage was open. I closed it behind me and found a large tarp. I crawled into a corner and pulled it over me in case one of them looked in the garage. And then I passed out.”
“You didn’t worry about someone following drops of blood?” asked one of her friends.
“Most of my injuries were internal. The only place that I bled was on my head, and most of that was caught in my hair. For the next few days, I would come to and try to get up, but the pain all over my body was so excruciating that I would pass out again. I had no concept of time passing. I didn’t know if it was day or night. One time, I thought I heard voices. I was determined to get help. I was finally able to get up on my one good leg without passing out. That was the day I limped to Natasha’s house in the dark. By the time I made it through her gate, I was too weak to continue. I collapsed and just lay there in her grass, hoping she would see me.”
“I don’t understand. Why were you so afraid of Fred at that point?” asked her friend.
“He had followed me! I didn’t know what he had in mind. I only knew that Mia had killed Abby and tried to kill me, too. I didn’t know who to trust, other than Natasha, a sister I had never met.”
Tears streamed down Natasha’s face. She hugged Charlene and Griselda. A few minutes later, Natasha sidled up to me. “I probably won’t see as much of you now that I have a sister. But I’m always here for you if you need me.”
“Thank you, Natasha. I’m here for you, too.” I embraced her in a big hug. “I’m so relieved that Charlene survived.”
I had a feeling there would be a lot of adjustments ahead. And a lot of arguing. But that went along with being sisters. I suspected I might end up hearing more from Natasha than she expected.
Bernie and Mars caught my eye. Bernie cocked his head to the side, and I knew we needed to leave for the Laughing Hound. Bernie and I snuck away, leaving Mars to coax Natasha to the restaurant.
Chapter 37
Dear Natasha,
I was devastated when I heard your show would be taken over by a new host. I watch you every day. No one is more elegant or classy. Could you do some shows on how to dress? I know it’s not a domestic diva thing, but your wardrobe is to die for!
Plain Old Milly in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia
Dear Plain Old Milly,
If the show continues, I will certainly do that. What fun!
Natasha
The Laughing Hound was packed. “Who knew Natasha had so many fans?” I asked Bernie.
Across one wall, a huge banner said SAVE LIVE WITH NATASHA!
I could see people taking selfies, and someone yelled, “We’re trending!”
“Bernie, you outdid yourself.”
He just smiled.
A chant went up. “Natasha! Natasha! Natasha!”
Mars timed it perfectly. Natasha walked into the restaurant and broke into sobs. She walked among her fans, hugging them and posing for selfies. She was in her element.
Bernie handed her a microphone, and she stepped onto a podium he had set up.
Everyone applauded. There were more cheers of “Natasha!”
“Thank you. Thank you each and every one. I love you all. I can’t believe that you have gathered here today for me! I’m having a serious Sally Field moment right now. You like me!”
Someone yelled, “We love you!”
Natasha clasped her free hand to her chest. “This is truly the best day of my life.”
A gentleman I had never seen before walked up to the podium, and Natasha’s smile faded. Covering the microphone, she said, “Please don’t ruin this for me, Jack.”
Jack joined her on the podium. He reached for the microphone. “May I?”
Natasha handed it to him, but she didn’t look happy about it.
The voices faded, and the room became silent.
“This week has been an interesting one for us at the TV station. We have received thousands of letters and e-mails regarding Natasha’s show. Frankly, I have read enough tweets to last me a lifetime. In light of the public support for Live with Natasha! We have decided to continue the show.”
Confetti ra
ined from the ceiling while helium balloons rose from the floor. It looked like a New Year’s Eve celebration. The cheers nearly drowned out Natasha’s thanks.
I gazed at Bernie. “I believe you might like Natasha after all.”
“She can grow on a person,” he said.
Instead of hugging Natasha, I hugged Bernie.
Jack stepped down and let Natasha enjoy the limelight.
“Excuse me,” I said. “What will happen to Tilly’s show?”
He looked surprised. “I didn’t know word was out about that yet. Not to worry, I think there’s room for two domestic divas in this town.”
I didn’t tell him there were a whole lot more than two.
I left the restaurant and ran into Wolf.
“What’s going on in there?” he asked.
I explained what had happened.
“Bernie to the rescue,” said Wolf. “He’s a good guy.”
“I wanted to talk with you. Have you got a minute?”
Wolf grinned. “I figured you would want a few more answers.”
“I know Fred released Abby’s cat and threw his collar in the tree. But I don’t know why he threw the collar.”
“I asked him about that. He said if people saw the cat with a collar on, they would assume the cat had a home and that the cat would go back. But Abby was dead. So he reasoned not having a collar would increase Oscar’s chances of being taken in by someone, and he threw it in the air.”
“What about the suitcase?”
“He thought he should clean up the place. If nothing else, to buy time. So he hid the bodies and threw the suitcase, computer, and telephone in the river. He didn’t know what had transpired or why Mia was intent on killing Charlene. And yes, he stole the bags of lime and poured them over Abby’s body to keep it from smelling bad. Anything else?”
“Not today.”
“See you around, Sophie.”
I walked home slowly, considering all the things that had happened. As I approached my house, I saw someone sitting on my stoop. Not a reporter! I thought they all left.