"Eden, I would have…"
"My turn, please Charlie. I know you would have welcomed us without regard to anything else. I lost track of you when you left college. I was working in Chicago when the Nelson Crown story crossed the news wires. I realized then you were married, but I needed to be closer and find a way to let you experience your daughter. I'm sorry you've missed her first thirteen years."
"Looking back is pointless, but welcoming my daughter into our family brings an incredible amount of joy, and we, Jenny and I don't want to lose a minute more."
"Jenny knows? She must hate me."
"Actually, when I told her today, she told me to can my anger at you for keeping Emily a secret and to see the precious gift we were given."
"I've liked her from the moment I met her, but she is constantly surprising me. There is no wonder why you love her so deeply."
"I do. She is my greatest blessing."
"How did find the truth about Emily?"
"I was holding Emily's photo. Lacy told me it was taken on her thirteenth birthday."
"I've hated deceiving you, but needed more time to find a way to tell you."
He stood up and reached to help her off the couch into a brief hug. Moving a step back he added, "Shall we tell her together or do you want to talk to her alone first."
"No more secrets in this new family. I'll say this once Charlie, loving you like a brother will be very difficult for me also."
Charlie went to the door and made eye contact with Jenny. She said something to Emily sending her walking toward the office. When she reached the office Eden said, "Have a seat, honey." Then Eden walked to the door and called across the room, "Jenny, would you please join us?" They shared an understanding smile and Jenny joined them in the office. Eden and Emily sat on the couch and Charlie pulled two chairs over for him and Jenny.
Emily was glancing from face to face for a clue when Eden spoke, "No Emily, you have done nothing wrong, I have. I hope you can forgive me for keeping the truth from you all these years." Eden glanced at Jenny and then to Charlie and findings smiles there continued, "Charlie and I were not in different grades in high school. We were both seniors and very much in love when your grandfather moved us to Harrisburg. Charlie is your father, Emily."
Emily looked from her mother to Charlie as a smile broke through the confusion. "Really?" she asked.
"Yes, really. No more hiding the truth Emily," Eden said.
Emily's smile grew and changed suddenly when she looked at Jenny."Emily, we couldn't be more pleased, welcome to our … big family," Jenny told her. Seeing confusion in Emily's face she added, "I'm Jenny, beside you is your Mom, "she paused pointing to Charlie, "and this guy is Charlie, Dad, Father, my old man, or whatever you're comfortable with Emily."
Charlie laughed. "I will not answer to my old man, Emily."
"Can I really call you Dad? That would be so great," she said without hesitation.
"I would love to be called your, Dad." He extended his arms and she moved into them. Emily's whole face was smiling when she stepped back and faced Jenny. "Can I call Madison my sister?"
"She is your sister, sweetheart."
Emily sat beside her mother on the couch. "This is the best day of my life, Mom."
"So you forgive me for not telling you sooner?"
"It's kinda hard to be mad when I have a Mom, a new Dad and little sister and Jenny!"
"Emily, I think when your little sister wakes up, this new family is going out for dinner to celebrate," Jenny said.
"Works for me."
"Oh, by the way Emily, your new Dad says that a lot," Jenny told her.
*****
"I was hoping this investigation would have stopped with your Sentinel President's murder. I guess we don't need this evidence to leak out pointing to him anymore," he said tossing the documents into the trash.
"That all changed when that moron, Hansen called and told me Downey was snooping around and instead of blowing her off, his stupid wife goes and sedates her, shit. Nosy reporters keep getting in the way. Then they go off the cliff that I suggested for Downey."
She stood up and moved around the desk in her home office. She turned to look directly at her husband seated in an overstuffed chair and said, "So much for your thoroughly sanitizing the Sentinel office, I saw the damn Union Electric stocks on the wall at Marina PD."
"It wasn't like I left the bags at the front door," he said taking a sip of his scotch.
"Shutting down Marina press wasn't in the plan, but Marina PD discovering the stock printing plates there makes the Hansen's good scapegoats. We can be grateful we pulled the plates out of there for printing the hundred dollar bills, in the event we need to bring in more help from out of state," she said.
"We can't let your Jensen Press go to the Hansen's estate, darling. We've more than made up for its cost over the two year run, but it would be a real waste to lose it."
"Have you found any heirs for the Hansen's?" she asked.
"No children or family here. Maybe out of state, I'll keep looking. I think the government will seize all their assets anyway."
"Let's draft a final notice from the bank. They are six months behind in payments on the Jensen, and the bank is repossessing it."
"That could work. Those Union plates are worthless to us now anyway. I'll get moving on leasing a warehouse for it. Let's avoid another newspaper, this time. I thought you were nuts, playing the scared victim to save Sandra Jenkins' life. If there was a dramatic acting award, it'd be yours," he told her.
"Your booming voice in the conference room was very convincing, honey. Mitchell has always been in the dark. I knew it was too late for Sandra and the DA has overlooked my minor infraction that pulled me into 'That Evil' Sentinel. I just wish with this major setback that we would have moved faster with redeeming the Tuttle stocks. We lost some serious cash there, but all-in-all Union Electric was still a good run," she said.
"Do we have any loose ends?"
"Chief Walker closed the trail between us and the Sea Cliff when he silenced Max. I don't really mind losing our investment there. Thought you, darling, were taking too much interest it that operation, maybe a desire to sample the product?"
He got up and went to the bar to freshen his drink. Without turning back to face her, he said, "With you in my life, I have no need to stray, my dear. You're keeping an eye on Walker?"
"It's only natural as a victim, for me to stay close to him and the investigation. Downey is so frightened she may never go after another story. The Watsons are ready to believe it's over."
"Money trails? Do we need to create some pointing to the Hansen's?"
"All our cash is off shore. The same would be true if it really was the Hansen's so that’s a dead end."
"Well boss, what's next?"
"Reynolds Corporation is going through a face lift on their stock. We need to get our hands on their old scrap plates, like we did with Union, before they are destroyed," she told him.
"Reynolds is bigger than Union, I see retirement coming," he said smiling.
"I have a year left as Mayor. Don't think I'll run again."
"What? Too much of a commute from our Caribbean island, darling."
"Right, I don't want to lose that property Cinemagic Theaters is interested in. Maybe I can convince Christine Hodges that for the growth of the community it's important for her to reconsider selling the property on Reservation."
"I think you should let that go. It's linked to your old Sentinel and why take a chance with the good fortune you've been dealt?"
"Didn't you know, darling. Mayor Laurie Gayle can walk on water."
Chapter 28
The weekend had been filled with adjustment, planning and family celebration at Watson Manor. Julia greeted a new guest the following Monday morning. "Hello I'm Julia and welcome to Watson Manor."
"Hello Julia, Charlene Dale. I'll be in town a few days. Do you have a vacancy?"
"Yes, will a single on the secon
d floor work for you, Ms. Dale?"
"That will be fine," she said.
"I hope its pleasure and not business that brings you here," Julia asked.
"My brother just passed. I need to handle his affairs."
"Oh, I am so sorry. Let's get you checked in." Charlene filled out the registration forms and offered her credit card. When Julia handed her the key, Charlene took her bag up the flight of stairs to her room. She unpacked her things and headed back down stairs to the reception desk.
"Can you give me directions to the Marina Police Department?" Charlene asked.
Julia pulled out the city map they offered guests and circled Marina PD. "Breakfast is still being served if you'd like some, Ms. Dale," Julia offered handing her the map.
"Thanks, this will do for now." She smiled and headed to her rental car.
It had been five years since she last saw her younger brother, Steve Hansen. The call from Detective Edwards Saturday morning had been an immeasurable shock that she was still trying to resolve. Their father brought them up in a midsized town in Wisconsin. He owned a newspaper that she took over when he passed.
"May I help you?" Jacque greeted her when she entered Marina PD.
"Detective Edwards please."
Jacque turned and waved to Edwards at his desk in the back. He jumped up and headed to the front.
"I'm Detective Edwards, how may I help you?"
"We spoke on the phone, Detective. I'm Charlene Dale."
"Of course, we are sorry for your loss. Please come on back to my desk so we can talk."
Charlene Dale was dressed casually, but her short well groomed hair and just a hint of makeup spoke of a professional woman. Edwards knew her age to be forty six from his research and was surprised when he saw her and would have guessed she was in her mid-thirties as she sat down at his desk.
"I realize, Ms. Dale, from our conversation on the phone this has all been very difficult for you. We've confirmed your brother's identify. However, his wife, known to us as Debbie Hansen, is actually Marsha Turner, a convicted felon who escaped during transporting to CCWF three years ago. That's a woman's prison here in California."
"I've never met her. Steve and I had a falling out and we didn't communicate often. He sent a photo, maybe two years back, the two of them at a wedding chapel in Las Vegas. The note sounded like he was extremely happy, he'd finally had it all."
"There's not a mark against Steve Hansen anywhere. Could she have influenced him into, how do I say this …"
"The Monterey Times said he was caught in the act of attempted murder and under investigation for additional deaths and major fraud," she said without breaking eye contact. "My brother was the definition of 'a follower'. Whoever she was, Debbie or Marsha, she was attractive and if she had any strength at all, that would be enough for him. But, I love my brother, detective."
"I didn't intend for this to be an interrogation, how can I help you?" Edwards asked.
"Do you know when the Coroner will release their bodies? I want to take their ashes back to Wisconsin with me, and attend to his affairs here."
"I'll give you the Coroner's number. Your brother's home was rented and the Marina Press, his business, is in a leased building," he said and jotted down the information and gave it to her. "The residence is sealed now for the investigation. I don't know at this time what the disposition will be for his personal assets."
"I came here to bury my brother and his wife. Assets weren't even a thought, squaring debts was my thought in attending to his affairs. I know five years ago when he took over the Marina Press he loved it. Then finding his wife, I had great hopes that he had finally found his dream."
"Again, we're sorry for your need to be here and feel free to call me if needed," he said, handing her his card.
"Thank you Detective Edwards." She stood up, shook his hand and left. She went directly to her car and called the County Coroner. He indicated the bodies would be released the following day and gave her the address of a funeral home in town. She drove over there to set up the arrangement for pick up and cremation. Studying the map Julia had given to her; she located Marina Press and pulled into the parking lot. Yellow tape "Police Don't Cross" was across the door. She retrieved the card and punched in the numbers.
"Detective Edwards."
"Do you know when I can get into the Marina Press Building?"
"Ms. Dale, hold on, I'll check with Chief Walker," he said and walked to his office. "Chief, Ms. Dale, Steve Hansen's sister, is asking about access into the Marina Press Building?" He held up his muted phone to indicate she was calling.
"I thought we were done there. We have the plates and files here. The residence is still in need of our completion. What's your take on her?"
"Grieving sister, I felt sincerity there. I think she needs to feel closer to him. I don't have a problem contacting the owner and releasing the building."
"Gauging people, even with the evidence and Charlie as an eye witness, I never figured Steve was capable of this. It might be a good idea for you to walk through with them."
"I got it."
Detective Edwards parked in the front lot at Marina Press. He got out of his car and met Charlene Dale and the building owner, Tom Green at the front door. "Sorry for the intrusion, Chief Walker suggested I join you," he said pulling the three yellow strips from the door.
Tom Green unlocked the door and switched on the lights. He bent down and picked up the mail that was slid through the door slot. He started handing it to Charlene and stopped. "Detective?"
Edwards reached for the bundle and quickly scanned them. When he was done and noticed the letter stamped "Final Notice" in red ink from a bank he handed them to her. "Sorry," he said.
"Only one is what surprised me, detective," Charlene said looking around the room. She walked past the few desks in the open area with drawers pulled open and pushed chairs out of her way as she headed to the large desk in the back. She glanced at the bulletin board behind the desk and saw a paper "Burger King" hat with EDITOR written on it. She pushed the empty drawers back into the desk and sat down.
Charlene stood up a few minutes later. "I don't want to hold you gentlemen up, let's look in back." She walked to the production room door and opened it. "What the hell were you thinking, Steve," she said to herself and walked around the Jensen Press. The smaller newspaper offset press was behind it.
"Ms. Dale, that monster is not in the lease and I have no idea where it came from," Tom told her.
She looked at the mail still in her hand and opened the one stamped 'Final Notice'. She scanned it and turned back to where both Tom and Edwards were standing. "It seems it won't be here long. This is a six months past due final notice from the bank on it." Charlene walked around the back room then slowly through the front area. "Mr. Green, may I call you tomorrow?"
"Just Tom, tomorrow will be fine."
"Thank you for letting us in Detective Edwards," she said, grabbing a copy of the last edition of the Marina Press. She went to her car and drove back to Watson Manor.
"Hello Ms. Dale," Julia greeted her as she walked through the lobby. "In addition to the included breakfast, we offer a dinner menu."
"You're a sweetheart. My friends call me Char. What time is dinner available?"
"In an hour, six to eight Ms. … Char."
"Thanks Julia," she said and took the newspaper and mail to her room. She read the newspaper completely to the back page. She was proud of her brother for that accomplishment; the newspaper had been very well done. Then she felt the loss, and more gripping, the charges against her brother.
Charlie had taken Eden into town first thing that morning to get her a rental car to get back to Salinas and her newspaper. A few hours with his insurance agent and a trip to Monterey Salvage he was holding a check. Jenny dropped Charlie and his new daughter, Emily, off at the GMC Dealer in San Jose about three in the afternoon.
Jenny walked through the lobby of Watson Manor with Madison in her arms and a
big smile on her face.
"I think its adorable Emily was so excited to help DAD pick out a new truck," Julia said.
Jenny laughed, "It felt like dropping two teenagers off. All the way there it was, cool stripes, far out paint jobs and do they make convertible trucks…Dad? I'm afraid to see what they come home with."
"That's priceless! Is Emily coming back here?"
"No, he's dropping her at home. I wanted to give them some bonding time."
"Jenny, Steve Hansen's sister, Charlene Dale checked in for a few days this morning." Julia's face showed her concern.
"That could be very awkward to say the least."
"She seems nice, but I don't know if she knows… about Charlie's involvement. She spoke with Stan today. It didn't come up, but he said she had read the Monterey Newspaper."
"I haven't seen it. I don't know if his name was in the story," Jenny said.
"I'll call Stan and have him check. I'll let you know right away. She might be down for dinner tonight if you want to be scarce."
"We were, well Madison and I, the two older kids are in San Jose, were planning to eat down stairs… we'll see, thanks Julia."
"I'll let you know before I leave tonight," Julia said as Jenny headed up stairs.
Julia called Jenny a half an hour later and told her she was leaving and that the Monterey Times had mentioned both Charlie's name and Watson Investigations in the news article.
Jenny and Madison had dinner upstairs, but the awkwardness of having Charlene Dale at Watson Manor kept gnawing at her. She envisioned Charlie walking in pleased with his new truck and running right into a vindictive sister and heated debate. Jenny cleaned up Madison and they went downstairs to the dining area. She spotted Charlene right away quietly eating dinner by herself at a far table and didn't seem vindictive. She saw a woman mourning the loss of a family member and it tugged at her heart. Pulling the playpen over to the open doorway in their office she put Madison in it able to keep an eye on her. Jenny took a deep breath and walked over to the table Charlene had to herself. "I am truly sorry for your loss, Ms Dale."
Watson Manor Investigations (Watson Manor Mystery Series Book 3) Page 17