Deadly Valentine

by Jenna Harte

  “We can't arrest people for arguing,” Daniel said. “But he is a person of interest.” His eyes caught Tess'.

  “Helen, I think maybe I should go.” Tess said rising.

  “Go? You just got here.”

  “I know, but I'm still a little worn out from the flu.”

  “Oh yes of course. Can I send you home with something? Soup maybe? Agnes makes wonderful soup.” Tess smiled. Having Helen mother her did more to help than soup ever could.

  “No. Thank you. And you let me know if you need anything.”

  Helen stood, hugged Tess. “Will you be over tomorrow for dinner?”

  “You're still planning dinner?” Tess asked, about the weekly Monday night dinner she had with Helen and Tom.

  “Oh yes. Now more than ever family needs to be together, don't you think? Life is so fragile.”

  Tess nodded. “I wouldn't miss it.”

  “I'll walk her out,” Daniel said as Tess made her way towards the foyer.

  “Thank you for coming by. It means a lot to her,” Daniel said as they walked towards the front door.

  “I'm just sorry I wasn't able to be here sooner.”

  “She understands. It's nice to see the color back in your face.”

  They stood by the door, but Daniel made no attempt to open it. “Tess, you're an important part of the family.”

  She smiled.

  “But,” he started and Tess' smile faltered. “You can't talk to mom or any of us about Asa's murder.”

  “What?”

  “It's a conflict of interest. Not legally maybe, but surely you can see how awkward it is. You're representing the man that may have killed him.”

  “We were just having a conversation.”

  “I know. But your relationship with Valentine changes things.”

  She knew what he was saying was true, but she also believed they could keep professional and private matters separate.

  “You didn't tell her you were representing him. She could have told you something that you could then use against us.”

  “Against you?” Shock that he'd think she'd do such a thing rocked her system. “I wouldn't ever use anything against you.”

  “How could you not? You have a legal responsibility to him. If anyone in the family said something you could use to help him, you'd have to use it.”

  She didn't need a reminder about her fiduciary responsibility, but she was hurt that he'd think she'd use his family to help her career.

  “Just like I'm off the case because of conflict of interest, maybe you need to be off the case too.”

  Anger stirred deep in her gut. “What?”

  “I can't be on the case because it involves my family, neither should you. Not if you're going to be a part of this family.”

  Hurt mixed with her anger. His parents were the closest thing she had to a family. He knew that. “You're making me choose between my job and your family?”

  “No. I'm asking you to choose between Jack and the people who love you. I know that sounds harsh, but you left him presumably for a good reason. You came here, to your home. I don't see why this would be a difficult decision.”

  To Tess though this wasn't a simple question of loyalty. She'd made a promise to herself when she left Washington that she wouldn't ever let a man get in the way of her career. Now Daniel was doing just that.

  “I see. So I don't represent Jack and we can all go back to being one big happy family?”

  His jaw tightened. “Don't make me out to be the bad guy here. You know what I'm saying is true. If you represent him, it could take years. And during that time we'd never be able to trust that what was said wouldn't be used in his defense.”

  “You're talking like he's been arrested. I don't think he did it. In fact I'm certain he didn't, so I won't need to defend him or use family secrets to do it.”

  “Don't be naive, Tess. Even if he's not arrested, he's a man of interest. He'll be questioned again, and you'll be there to help him.”

  “Daniel, you can't ask me to do this.” Something like panic began to bubble up. His family was important to her, but so was her job.

  “I have to protect my family.”

  “And where will it stop? What if old man Carter wants to contest the survey lines that butt up against the Worthington's property? Will you tell me I can't represent him?”

  “That's different-”

  “Is it? You're telling me who I can and can't do business with. I've already had to start over because a man was able to dictate my career. I won't let that happen again.” She grabbed the handle, jerking the door open. She only made it two steps when Daniel's hand stopped her.

  “Tess. Wait.”

  She turned to him and waited.

  “I don't want to dictate your business. This situation is different.”

  “I need the business, Daniel. And I'm not so shallow that I would use information about people I care about to hurt them.”

  “I know you wouldn't on purpose.”

  “Why can't we just agree to not talk about the case?”

  He let out a deep breath. “I don't see how that can happen.”

  She started to turn away.

  “But,” he said pulling her back. “We can try. If his business is important to you, then we'll try to make it work.”

  His hand cupped her face, his thumb stroked her cheek. It was a gesture Jack had done the evening before that made her skin come alive, like he'd woken dormant nerves. With Daniel it was pleasant, but that was it. It made her realize that he was making a concession because of his feelings for her. It didn't feel right to accept his terms knowing she would never be able to return his feelings.

  “Daniel.” She stepped away from his touch. “I can't-”

  “I know where you stand, Tess.” He said, irritation lacing his tone. “I'm compromising because I care for you, but it's not a ploy or a bribe.”

  She nodded. “Okay.”

  “But, if you're going to worry about how a man might impact your career, you might want to add Jack into the mix. His business could help or hurt your career depending on how this investigation goes.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Standing outside the police station in the dark bitter cold was not how Tess wanted to end her weekend. She should be reviewing her schedule for tomorrow and maybe reading the latest mystery her book club sent.

  Instead, her settled quiet life had been turned upside down. She had one man who was bound and determined to be back in her life and another telling her that doing so could ruin the relationships she already had. She'd considered Daniel's argument, even going so far to make a list of defense attorneys she knew in D.C. to refer Jack to. The Jack she remembered was a reasonable guy. She suspected if he knew the difficult situation her representing him put her in, he'd be okay with finding a new lawyer. But she didn't think he'd go away entirely. She didn't know his intentions, but it was clear that he wanted to be in her life again. And, despite her pledge to live man-free, she found herself wanting to explore that option even though she knew that would continue to cause a problem for Daniel. So she stood in the cold, waiting for Jack to show up for another round of questions by the detective assigned to the case.

  He pulled up in a dark sedan, parking across the street from the police station.

  "I wonder what it means that there is an open space for me in front of the police station," he said good-naturedly.

  “What happened to the sports car?” she asked.

  “The Camry's better on the ice,” he said.

  “Not quite the car you'd expect a guy like you to have.”

  He grinned. “Ruins the image, I know. But Cora has a hard time getting in and out of the Tesla.”

  “Cora?”

  “I don't think you met her before, but I'm sure I've mentioned her. She's a friend of the family. A surrogate grandmother of sorts. At least she likes to think so.”

  “She's the one you had to confiscate a weapon from?”


  He laughed. “Yes, among other things. She's down here with me attending a yoga retreat at the University.”

  “Yoga retreat?”

  “I hope it brings her some inner peace. I could use it." He draped an arm around her shoulder. "So, how much trouble am I in?”

  How could he be so calm and relaxed, she wondered. It was one of the things she'd admired about him when she originally met him. While he could be intense or driven, most of the time he went through life with a lazy grin and glass half-full attitude.

  “Unless they have something new, you're not in any more trouble than you were yesterday." She looked up at him to make sure he was looking at her. "Or maybe they found the laptop. Either way, don't answer any questions unless I give you the okay.”

  “Why am I here if there's nothing new?”

  “They've reassigned the case and Detective Johnson wants to talk to you himself. The fact that he wants to do it here suggests you're the top guy on the list. He's going to try and make you slip up. So when you do talk, make sure you tell them the same thing you told Daniel and Sam.”

  "You mean tell the truth."

  Tess saw the irritation in his eyes. "People can mess up the truth too, Jack. If you forget a detail that was mentioned before, they'll use it to try and break your story."

  He nodded.

  “I mean it Jack. Not a word.”

  “I got it. Not a word.”

  They checked in at the information window and a uniformed officer brought them to an interrogation room. The police station was one of the oldest buildings in town, but on the inside, its 1970's renovation with the puke green walls ruined whatever architectural charm it once had.

  “When we're done here,” Jack said as they sat waiting for the detective, “How about dinner?”

  Tess was surprised at how fast Jack could let his annoyance go. He was like a duck, the way he could let minor inconveniences like a murder investigation roll off of him. His tone and his expression belied the fact that they were in a police station where he was about to be interrogated. She worried that he was overly confident, even arrogant. He wasn't under arrest, yet. But the situation was serious.

  “We're working here, Jack. Stay focused.”

  The door opened and a plain clothed detective walked in.

  “Thank you for coming in Ms. Madison, Mr. Valentine. I'm Detective Johnson."

  “Mr. Valentine has already given two statements to two different detectives. Is there something new?” Tess asked.

  “I like to ask my own questions. Make my own impressions.” He sat down across from them and opened a file. “I know this will be redundant, Mr. Valentine, but could you please go over again your movements the night of the murder.”

  Jack looked to Tess.

  “Is there something you want to know specifically,” she asked, hoping to avoid having Jack give a narrative that could too easily differ from his original statement.

  “Your statement indicates that after dinner, you followed Mr. Worthington to his office. Is that correct?”

  Tess nodded to Jack. “Yes.”

  “What did the two of you talk about?”

  “I believe that is covered in his statement,” Tess reminded the detective. “Perhaps you could have Mr. Valentine read the statement and he can verify its accuracy.”

  Detective Johnson ignored her comment. "You were overheard arguing with Mr. Worthington. What was that about?"

  With a nod from Tess, Jack answered. "It was a business discussion."

  The interview went on with Detective Johnson asking questions and Tess working to insure Jack didn't say anything not already shared in the statement. The interview revealed to Tess that the police didn't have anything new, nor had they found the missing laptop. At the same time, it confirmed that the focus was on Jack as Asa's killer.

  “Did you take Mr. Worthington's computer?” Detective Johnson asked.

  “No.”

  “But you stole information off of it.”

  Tess put a hand on Jack's knee. “If it weren't for Mr. Valentine, you wouldn't have known about the missing computer.”

  “Not necessarily. We'd have looked into email correspondence and known that an email was sent to Mr. Valentine around the time of Mr. Worthington's murder.”

  “Which would prove nothing,” Tess said. “In fact, if Mr. Valentine had taken the computer, he'd have been better off not to say anything. The email could have just as easily been sent by Mr. Worthington as your trace of the email would have shown Mr. Worthington was still alive when it was sent.” Tess wasn't so sure that was true. Forensic science was good, but she wasn't sure it would have been able to pinpoint Asa's murder to a time that was a few minutes after the email's date and time stamp.

  “Except the fingerprints.”

  “Fingerprints you don't actually have,” she said.

  "His fingerprints on are on the glass,"

  "You mean the glass he used to douse the fire? I wonder who else's prints were on the glass."

  Detective Johnson didn't flinch, but neither did he respond, giving Tess the impression that another set of prints were on the glass. “Detective Johnson, Mr. Valentine has been over this before. Do you have anything new to ask?”

  “Look Mr. Valentine," Detective Johnson said directing his cool steel eyes on Jack. "There's a lot here that looks bad for you. You fought with the deceased minutes before he was found dead. You stole information off of his computer, a computer that is conveniently missing.”

  “But there is no evidence." Tess pointed out. "You don't have his prints on the murder weapon. You don't have the computer in question. You don't have a motive. In fact, there is more motive in Mr. Worthington's family. He embarrassed and belittled his son in a room full of guests and nearly manhandled his ex-wife out of the house.”

  “But they both have alibis,” Detective Johnson cut in. “Philip was with his wife and the ex-Mrs. Worthington was getting a speeding ticket on Marshall Street.”

  Tess considered challenging Philip and Shelby's alibi, but determined it wasn't the time. “The point is, you don't have enough to arrest Mr. Valentine otherwise you would have done so already. Do you have something new you'd like to ask or are you going to continue to rehash a statement that Mr. Valentine has given twice and not wavered on?”

  “Who is Delia Jackson,” Detective Johnson pressed on.

  “I don't know any more than what the article says. She worked for Senator Worthington and was killed along with her baby in a fire over thirty years ago.”

  “An article about her is in the file you stole from Mr. Worthington's computer.”

  Jack shrugged. “I don't know her. How could I? She died when I was an infant.”

  “You have no idea why the article about her death would be filed with your information?”

  “No.”

  “It could have been a mistake on Mr. Worthington's part,” Tess said. “He must have had many files on people. It was probably meant for one of them.”

  "We don't know that of course because the computer is missing," Detective Johnson said.

  Tess stopped herself from rolling her eyes. She understood his suspicion.

  Detective Johnson sat back, studied Jack and then Tess. “You're free to go, but I'd like you to stay in town.”

  “Mr. Valentine has business that takes him to Washington,” Tess said.

  “Stay available.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  “That wasn't so bad,” Jack said once they'd left the station.

  “It was bad enough.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Tess rubbed her gloved hands together. “It's freezing. Let's get some coffee.”

  His eyes lit up. “How about dinner?”

  “We're still working. How about coffee?”

  “How about ice cream? There's place just up the street.”

  “It's 10 degrees and you want ice cream?”

  “Ice cream is 32 degrees. It will warm us up. Come on. I'll bu
y you ooey gooey chocolate chunky decadence.”

  She did like chocolate. “Two scoops?”

  “Two scoops,” he agreed slinging his arm around her shoulders and guiding her up the street.

  Tess sat in the ice creamery with a double scoop of chocolaty ice cream on a cone. The place was empty except for Mr. Sorenson, the owner who was busy wiping off the counter. Tess figured that everyone else was having a hot chocolate in the java joint across the street. The ice cream was cold, but Tess had to admit, it was good.

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.”

  “Must be disconcerting to be out talked, considering you're a lawyer.”

  She looked up at him over her ice cream. “It would be different if we were in court.”

  “After what I saw today, I don’t doubt it. But now I know where you are vulnerable.”

  Tess shivered, not from the cold ice cream, but from his use of the word “vulnerable”. She didn't like being vulnerable. She hated even more that he was right. Somehow with him, she was very much at risk.

  “The way to your heart is through chocolate.” He grinned and then bit into his own ice cream. Chocolate was her Achilles' heel. But she wasn't about to let it become the way to her heart.

  "Maybe we can get to the business at hand," she said.

  “So what did you see that I missed in that interview?”

  “It's not something you missed. They didn't have anything new except that Lauren didn't do it. Getting a ticket is a pretty good alibi. But there is no doubt that you're at the top of the list."

  “That I figured out yesterday. Do you think I'm the only one they're looking at?”

  “Officially, no." She lapped up a drip of ice cream before it could land on her hand. "But unofficially, I think they're focused on you and only you. There is strong circumstantial evidence. They just need proof to back it up.”

  "There is no proof. I didn't do it."

  "Jack, proof comes in all forms. Innocent people go to jail all the time."

  Again there was that flash of heat that came to his eyes when irritated. "So what do I do? I'm not going to sit around while they take evidence and skew it to make me a murderer."