Deadly Valentine

by Jenna Harte

  "Just think about it."

  "I can't," she said as she hung up the phone.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Regina's call interrupted Tess as she put the finishing lines into the Goddard's divorce petition. As it turned out, people who were divorcing didn't seem to care very much that Tess had betrayed the Worthington family by representing Jack. She figured she should be pleased that there was work for her after all. But she couldn't imagine spending her life breaking apart families.

  "Sarah Robinson and Agnes Beckett are here. They don't have an appointment."

  Tess frowned. Why would the Worthington's staff be here? "Send them in."

  Tess stood and moved around her desk to greet Sarah and Agnes as they entered her office.

  Agnes rushed forward taking Tess' hand. "Ms. Madison. Thank you so much for agreeing to see us. I know you're very busy, and we just burst in like this."

  "It's my pleasure. How can I help?" Tess said as she directed them to sit in the two chairs facing her desk.

  Agnes sat, crossing her ankles and folding her hands in her lap. It reminded Tess of the manner lessons she used to get from her mother. Sarah sat next to Agnes, but didn't have any of the daintiness. She looked every bit like a sullen teenager slouched in her chair. Clearly she didn't want to be here.

  "We hoped you could answer a question for us," Agnes said.

  "I can try," Tess answered sitting at her desk. "Is it a legal question?"

  "What if-" Agnes started.

  "This is one of those made up questions," Sarah said. "What are they called?"

  "Hypothetical?" offered Tess.

  "Yes. Hypothetical."

  "Okay."

  "Hypothetically," Agnes started again. "What if a person wasn't completely honest with the police the night Mr. Worthington was killed?"

  Tess felt the tingle of excitement. "That would depend on how important that information was to the police and whether or not that person meant to deceive the police."

  "Could they go to jail?" Sarah asked. She tried to look nonchalant, but her body had stiffened and leaned forward slightly waiting for Tess' answer.

  "It's possible. The police could charge the person with obstruction of justice."

  Sarah's breath quickened as she looked to Agnes. "Let's go."

  "What if, hypothetically of course, Philip Worthington wasn't where he said he was or with who he said he was?" Agnes said patting Sarah's hand. Sarah was not reassured. She turned away from Agnes, crossing her arms in a huff.

  "That would be information the police needed to know. Whether or not Philip went to jail would depend on why he lied and whether it's important to solving the case." Tess decided to pretend they were talking hypothetically about Philip instead of Sarah. "Is Philip changing his story?"

  Sarah slumped further in her chair.

  "Not exactly," Agnes said. "Sit up girl and act like the lady you want everyone to treat you as," she said with slap to the arm of Sarah's chair. "You made this bed, now you've got to sleep in it."

  "Now she knows," Sarah whined.

  Agnes turned back to Tess who was trying to stay relaxed even though she felt jazzed by what Agnes and Sarah were telling her.

  "Philip will probably deny it, so it will be Sarah's word against his," Agnes said.

  "Not necessarily," Tess said. "Another witness could corroborate Sarah's story."

  "Really?" Agnes looked hopeful.

  "The detectives are going to want to know why Sarah didn't tell the truth sooner and whether or not the new account makes a difference to the case. That would be weighed against whether or not to accept the new story and whether to file charges."

  "It won't make any difference," Sarah said. "I'm a nobody. Let's just go."

  "You're not nobody," Tess said sharply. "And if you're telling the truth now, it could prevent an innocent man from going to jail."

  "She knows it all now anyway…"

  "I suspected before you even showed up here," Tess admitted.

  "You did?"

  Tess nodded. "I understand the difficult situation you're in. I think I can help you. But you have to decide whether or not to do to the right thing."

  "I want to do what's right," Sarah's voice sounded so young. Tess found herself getting angry at Philip for taking advantage of the young woman. Putting her in a position that could land her in jail. Tess determined to not let that happen.

  "Why don't we start by you telling me what really happened that night," Tess suggested.

  Sarah looked to Agnes who nodded. "Philip was with me."

  "When?"

  "After everyone finished dinner. Mr. Worthington went to his office. Philip met me in the pantry."

  "The pantry? Why would you meet with him there?"

  Sarah rolled her eyes and Tess could hear the underlying "duh". "We are together."

  "Together as in –"

  Sarah's expression gave the impression that she thought Tess was a little short on brain function.

  "Sarah, I can guess what you're talking about, but it will be better for everyone if you spell it out for me."

  "Together like in he's my boyfriend."

  "How long have you been in a relationship with Philip Worthington?"

  "A year or so."

  "Is Shelby Worthington aware of this?" Tess discretely reached on her desk to grab a pen so she could take notes.

  "I didn't think so, but then I overheard her telling Philip off about it, and how he needed to back up her story or she'd tell on him."

  "Tell what on him?"

  "I figured it was about me and him. I didn't want to lie, but Philip said I had to or it would cause problems. I'd be fired for being with him. I really need this job."

  "He said you'd be fired?" Tess asked feeling Sarah's case grow stronger.

  "He said I'd be 'let go'."

  "Does that mean anything?" Agnes asked.

  "It could help Sarah's case," Tess explained. "She was coerced. Threatened with her job."

  "See, I told you Ms. Madison could help," Agnes said patting Sarah's hand.

  "After you were in the pantry, where did Philip go?"

  "He left and went through the kitchen."

  "Did you see him?" Tess asked Agnes.

  "No. But when my head is in the refrigerator I can't see or hear a thing. It buzzes something awful. I told Mr. Worthington, rest his soul, it needed fixin' but he said as long as it kept the food cold there was no reason."

  "Why would he go through the kitchen and not the other way, out to the hall and foyer?"

  Sarah shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he wanted to steal some dessert. He does that."

  Agnes nodded. "Now that you say that, I did notice a hole in the tray of tassies. I was sure I filled it, but when I went to serve it, some were missing. He loves the tassies."

  "Do either of you know where the other people in the house where? Not what you've heard people tell you, but what you saw?"

  "I don't," Agnes said.

  "I only saw Philip. And then I went to the kitchen. Sarah and Walter were there."

  "So what should Sarah do?" Agnes asked.

  "I think we need to talk to Detective Johnson."

  Sarah tensed.

  "I'll help you," Tess reassured her. "I can call him now. Do you have time?"

  Agnes checked her watch. "Walter said he'd be back for us in an hour or so. No one is at the house at the moment since Mrs. Showalter is at the hospital with her husband and the Senator is back in Washington."

  "Where are Philip and Shelby?" Tess asked.

  "They're back at their home in Westlake."

  "Packing." Sarah added. "Shelby is sure they'll be getting the house."

  "Sarah!"

  "What? I heard her say that."

  "Let me call Detective Johnson," Tess said.

  ~~~~

  Detective Johnson wasn't thrilled about Tess' request, but he came to her office within twenty minutes. Tess had moved the ladies to the sofa and asked Reg
ina to bring them some coffee. She moved the chairs near her desk to face the sofa so she and Detective Johnson would have a place to sit as well.

  When he arrived he listened to Sarah's story, every now and then casting a glance at Tess with a "do you believe this" look. Even so, he was gentle with Sarah even when he challenged her statements.

  "This is very different from the statement you gave the night of the murder or when I talked to you again this morning," he said. Tess was surprised. He'd be questioning her that morning? She wanted to know what prompted that, but decided to wait until later to ask.

  Sarah cast a worried glance to Tess who nodded. "I was doing what Philip asked me to do, but then you said I had no alibi. I didn't want you to think I did it."

  "So you changed your story?" he asked.

  Sarah's worry made a turn towards panic as her voice went up an octave. "I’m not making it up."

  "What if I told you that even without an alibi, I wasn't thinking that you had anything to do with the murder?" he asked.

  Sarah relaxed only slightly. "I'm telling the truth now."

  He nodded. "I'll need to compare your statement to those of the other witnesses."

  "There's another witness who's statement supports Sarah's," Tess reminded him.

  His eyes darkened. "I'll still need to check it out.

  "They'll fire me!" Sarah dropped her face into her hands.

  "They can try," Tess said. "But I think you have a good case for wrongful termination if they do."

  "Case?" Agnes asked.

  "I can explain when Detective Johnson leaves. But if you're fired, I think we can get you a pretty good severance package to help you out until you find another job." Tess turned to the detective. "I'll see you out."

  Once they were outside the office and out of earshot of Agnes and Sarah, Tess asked, "So you believe her?"

  "Yes. But that doesn't mean Mr. Valentine is off the hook."

  Tess swallowed back the pain that stabbed at the mention of his name. "It's not looking too good for Shelby though."

  "I thought you wanted out of this case. Why are they here?" So Daniel had talked to him.

  "They just showed up. I couldn't not help."

  He nodded that he understood. "I'll be in touch."

  Back in Tess's office, Agnes was reassuring Sarah that she'd made the right decision. Tess reached on her desk to pick up her business card.

  "If you need me," she said moving to Sarah and handing her the card, "or if you have questions, give me a call."

  Sarah's eyes looked bleak.

  Tess smiled. "If they let you go, you may have a lawsuit." Her comment didn't do much to reassure Sarah. She must really be in love with Philip, Tess thought.

  "And I'll help you find a new job," Agnes said.

  The intercom buzzed. "Mr. Jamison is here," Regina's voice said.

  "Let him in please," Tess responded. "Does Walter know why you're here?"

  "Yes."

  "Any chance he saw you and Philip Worthington in the pantry?"

  "I don't think so. He was bringing Mr. Worthington, a drink and preparing the parlor," Sarah said.

  And checking on a sick guest, Tess remembered. "Do you mind if I ask him about it?"

  "If you think it will help," Agnes said.

  "Mr. Jamison," Tess held out her hand. He looked a little surprised as if he never was treated as anything more than a butler no matter where he was. But he took her hand.

  "Ms. Madison."

  "Would you mind if I asked you some questions about the night Mr. Worthington was killed?"

  He looked to Agnes and Sarah. "I don't know anything but what I already told the police."

  "I understand, but it could help me in representing Sarah."

  "I guess that would be alright."

  "Do you want some coffee?" Tess asked as she directed him to a chair vacated earlier by Detective Johnson.

  "No thank you."

  "I'm just trying to get a sense of where everyone was in the house at the time of Mr. Worthington's murder," Tess explained. "Can you tell me what you saw that night?"

  "Well, after dinner, Mr. Worthington went to his office. I went to the parlor to fetch him a drink."

  "Do you know where everyone else headed?"

  He shook his head. "No. But I did hear him and Mr. Valentine arguin' in his office."

  "Do you know about what?" Tess asked.

  "Mr. Valentine was real angry about something. I figured it wasn't my place to butt in, so instead of going in, I went to check on you."

  Tess nodded that she remembered he'd checked on her.

  "After that, I went to the kitchen. Ms. Agnes and Sarah were there."

  Both ladies nodded in agreement.

  "After that Mr. Valentine was in the foyer talking with Mr. Philip, saying someone had killed Mr. Asa."

  "Do you know where Shelby was?" Tess asked.

  "I heard she was upstairs."

  "Did you see her?"

  "No ma'am."

  "What about Mr. Showalter?"

  "I guess he went outside. He came through the front door while we was in the foyer."

  "And the Senator."

  Walter's eyes darkened as he jumped from his seat. "You don't think he had anything to do with the murder?"

  Tess jerked back, surprised by his vehemence, until she remembered he'd witnessed the scene between her, Helen and the Senator just a few days earlier. "No. I'm just wondering where he was. Maybe he saw something."

  "If he did he would have told the police." He gave a terse nod to Agnes and Sarah. "We need to be getting back."

  Both ladies stood, wary of Walter's outburst.

  "I'm sorry Mr. Jamison." Tess offered. "I was in no way implying the Senator had something to do with Mr. Worthington's murder."

  "The Senator is a good man," he said.

  "Yes." Tess agreed. "Thank you for talking with me."

  Tess extended her hand, which Walter reluctantly took. "We need to be goin'" he said as he moved past Tess towards the door.

  "Thank you Ms. Madison," Agnes said.

  "You're welcome. Call me if you need me."

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Tess busied herself with notes from the meeting with Sarah and Agnes. She wanted desperately to call Jack and share the news, but even if she hadn't cruelly shoved him out of her life, she was legally bound to keep Sarah's information to herself.

  "Tess?" Regina peeked her head in the door.

  "Yes."

  Regina entered the office, but remained standing in front of Tess' desk.

  "I wanted to know if I could take tomorrow afternoon off. If I stay an extra hour tonight I'll be able to finish up everything that needs to get done."

  "You have something planned?"

  "Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Lamar has a surprise for me and I want to have a surprise for him."

  Tess supposed the word Valentine would always be painful. Worse still was that it was associated with love and romance.

  "Yes, that's fine. But before you go tonight, can you pull together Mr. Valentine's files? I've entered his billing on the computer. Can you prepare a refund for the part that hasn't been used?"

  Regina nodded, but didn't say anything. Neither did she move to get back to work.

  "Is there something else?" Tess asked.

  “Do you love your job?”

  Tess tilted her head as her brows grew together. “It's alright.”

  “But do you love it? Like when you were little, did you dream about being a lawyer?”

  Tess couldn't remember dreaming about anything except getting out of her parents' home. “I didn't decide to be a lawyer until I was in college.”

  “Why?”

  “Why did I decide on law?”

  Regina nodded.

  “I don't know. I suppose because my dad is a lawyer. And Tom," she added preferring to believe she chose the legal profession because of Tom and not as an attempt to win her father's approval. "Why do you
ask?”

  “I'm just wondering if it's worth it.”

  “Are you thinking of going to law school?” Tess was pleased that Regina believed she could achieve big goals despite the many challenges she'd faced in her past.

  “No. I mean is it worth it to you?" Regina plopped down in the chair in front of the desk. "Your work has made your friends mad and then you had to break up with Mr. Valentine and I wonder if it's worth it.”

  Tess hoped it was worth it. Otherwise why was she working so hard to salvage it? “You think I should quit my career to be with Mr. Valentine?”

  Regina shrugged. “You seemed happier when he was around.”

  “We can't always have everything we think we want.”

  “All I know is that we've got one go around in this life. Sure there may be a heaven and all that, but in this body, this time, it's just what we've got now and I don't think we should waste it on things that make us miserable.”

  “You think I'm miserable?”

  “I know you are.”

  “What about my commitment to you, to the few clients we have left?” Tess asked more intrigued than bothered by Regina's inquiries.

  “I told you that I have other options. And well, it's not like you're the only lawyer in town.”

  True. Lawyers were a dime a dozen in Jefferson Tavern. That's why the loss of clientele was so disastrous.

  “What about all the work I've done to build what I have? You think I should do something to jeopardize that?”

  “If it hurts you then, yes. I'd give up any job that separated me from those that I love.”

  "Except you have children. It’s a little different," Tess said.

  "I have Lamar too," Regina said.

  "You'd quit this job for him? You've only known him a few months." Tess began to worry that Regina was once again getting involved too quickly with a man. Tess had met Lamar only once and he seemed nice, but Tess knew first hand that it was difficult to really know a man.

  "If you turned on me and I had to choose, I might choose him."

  Her job had done that Tess acknowledged. It created a wedge between her and the Showalters, and led her to end things with Jack. “Do you like your job?”

  Regina smiled. “I love that I have a cool boss, two kids that are awesome and boyfriend who respects me.”