“More like arrogant,” Tilly said. She paused. “I’m not proud of this, but I found out the woman’s name and did some poking around. She was an art dealer from New York, and she was in town to sell some paintings to a local businessman. I found them together in her room in a state of undress. He had the nerve to accuse me of impropriety for using my position as manager to catch them.” She shrugged. “And catch them I did.” She tugged her blanket higher. “Well, he was none too pleased and wanted to complain to management. I told him that could be arranged. I’d call Lila and let him complain to her. He shut up real quick.”
“And Momma and Daddy weren’t married?” I asked. “Why didn’t he just break up with her?”
“He had the balls to tell Lila that he loved her and that he’d never cheat on her again.”
“That was a lie,” I said.
She looked surprised. “You found out about Tiffany?”
I gasped. “Tiffany?”
She grimaced. “I guess there was more than one after that.”
“Who was Tiffany?”
“She was the fiancée of one of his younger clients. Tripp Tucker.”
Tripp Tucker. I couldn’t have been more shocked. “The singer who used to look up to Daddy like a father?”
She nodded. “Tripp didn’t take it well, and neither did your mother. She almost left him that time.” Tilly sat back in her seat. “She wasn’t surprised your daddy had betrayed her again, but she was surprised he’d betrayed Tripp. That boy was like a son to him. Out of all those country music boys he used to bring home, he loved Tripp the best.” She gave me a sad smile. “Even though Tripp had filed that lawsuit, your daddy still defended him, saying business was business.”
I shook my head. I didn’t remember any of that, but I’d been a child at the time. There was a lot I didn’t remember from back then. “I wonder if Tiffany was before or after Rowena Rogers.”
“Rowena Rogers? Your mother swore he wasn’t sleepin’ with her. Are you sure?”
It was a relief that Tilly didn’t seem to know Rowena was dead. The names of the victims had been released that morning, but she’d probably been too caught up in the funeral to pay any attention to the outside world. I lifted my glass to my lips and took a slow sip. “Oh, I’m very certain.”
I was struggling to process this new information about my mother. This was so unlike the woman I had known. Granted, Daddy was a completely different man than the version of him who’d existed in my head, but he’d left home when I was fourteen. I’d worshiped him with a childlike innocence. But my mother . . . although I’d lost almost ten years with her, I’d always wholeheartedly believed she was a woman who didn’t take shit from anyone. I found it hard to accept that she’d tolerated so much from the one man whom she was supposed to be able to trust above everyone else.
“I don’t bring this up because I’m trying to paint your momma in a bad light, Maggie Mae,” Tilly said. “I have a purpose.”
I sat up, inching away from Colt. There was no doubt he was a player, although I knew the women he’d slept with had been empty hookups. I wasn’t immune to the pull of that kind of thing—my relationships in New York City had been about as deep as a kiddie pool—so I couldn’t judge. When you felt hollow inside, you were always looking for something to fill the void. Was it foolish of me to think Colt could change when my father, the man Colt had worked for, had made a fool of my momma again and again?
Was this a case of like mother, like daughter?
“I need to hear the truth, Tilly,” I choked out. “No matter how ugly.”
She downed her glass, then held it out for Colt to refill. “When your momma found out about Tiffany, she kicked your father out for a week and hired an attorney to file for divorce.”
“What made her change her mind?” I asked.
“The fact that he was a person of interest in a murder.”
I nearly jumped out of my seat. “What? Who was murdered?”
“Tiffany.”
“Tripp’s fiancée?”
“Yep. Tripp was a person of interest too.”
“What about Tripp suing Daddy for losing all his money?”
“The lawsuit was already underway when she was murdered. All the more reason for your daddy to be a suspect. He actually dropped the suit a few months later, saying Tiffany’s death made him realize he needed to focus on the important things in life.”
“So who killed her?” Belinda asked.
“A drifter. He got life with no parole. But by the time they arrested the drifter, your momma and daddy had worked things out.”
I stared at Tilly in disbelief. “Last week, Momma told me all about Tripp suing Daddy, but she never said anything about him being a person of interest in a murder.”
“Years from now, I doubt Colt or Belinda will mention that you were a person of interest in two murders,” she said defensively. “Your daddy didn’t do it, so why would she? It was something they tried to put behind them.”
It made sense, but I still found it alarming.
“How did she die?” Colt asked, his voice tight.
“Stabbing,” Tilly said. “He mutilated her.”
I sank back into the loveseat as the blood rushed from my head.
Colt turned to me and took my hand as he looked me in the eyes. “Slow, steady breaths, Maggie.”
“What’s goin’ on?” Tilly asked.
Belinda released a strangled sound and said, “Emily . . . she was stabbed to death.”
“Oh dear . . .” Tilly’s voice trailed off, and I could tell she felt guilty.
I leaned forward, my elbows on my knees. “Tilly, you didn’t realize, and it doesn’t matter if I’m upset—I want to know. I need to know.” I took a shaky breath. Momma had no doubt worried my opinion of her would change once I found out the dirty truths about our family’s past. The proud, strong woman I’d known would surely have hated that thought. There was only one reason she would have insisted on this show of honesty . . . “I think you’re right. Momma knew that keeping everything from me was putting me in danger.”
“What?”
Damn my internal censor, or lack thereof. “Tilly, I’m fine.”
“I thought Geraldo Lopez was your only danger.”
“And Geraldo Lopez is dead,” I hedged. “So I’m safe, but I still need to know what you know about Daddy’s business partners.”
She hesitated, then said, “Not much. He and Bill James were partners before you were born. Lila was sure Bill had killed his first wife while she and your daddy were away on a trip. They were having work done in the basement while they were gone, and her gut told her that Bill had buried her under the concrete floor. Your momma even made an anonymous call to the police, but nothing came of it.”
Momma had told me this same story last week when she’d taken me to the very house, which was now owned by Bill James himself. The filing cabinet in the basement had been full of paperwork about his past business venture with my father, a failed land project called the Jackson Project. During our somewhat break-in—my mother still had a key since she’d lived in the house—my mother had brought up a good point: Why would Bill James buy a house that had never been his if he didn’t want to live there or rent it out? It was definitely suspicious. Especially since the house had burned down that very night, and the news had called it arson. “And did you believe her? Do you think his wife was buried under the basement floor?”
“I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Belinda shivered.
I remained silent. I’d thought so too until I’d talked to Bill at his house last Saturday. I wasn’t willing to bet my life that he hadn’t done it, but I was far from sure.
“Who else did he work with?” I asked.
“Your daddy got a lot of clients through Max Goodwin. His high-end ones anyway.”
Momma had told me that too.
“When he started the Jackson Project, he acquired a bunch of new cronies. That’s where he pic
ked up Geraldo Lopez and the elder Christopher Merritt, the accountant. Also Walter Frey, the real estate attorney, and Steve Morrissey.”
“And Rowena Rogers and her husband,” I added. Except for Bill and my father, all of them were dead now. “That’s it? No one else?”
“That’s not enough?” Colt asked.
Tilly was quiet for a moment. “There was one other. In the beginning.”
That caught my attention. “In the beginning? Who?”
“Eric Duncan. He was the one who introduced your daddy to Bill James. Your parents were hosting a barbecue, and Eric brought Bill. Eric and your daddy were friends from college, and Eric was working with Bill at Merrill Lynch. Well, Bill and your daddy hit it off right at the start, but your momma didn’t like Bill or his wife one bit. Nevertheless, your daddy decided he was gonna go into business with Bill. Or rather, with Bill and Eric.”
I stared at her in disbelief. “Why haven’t I ever heard of him before?”
“He didn’t last long. In the end, your daddy and Eric had a falling-out.”
“What happened to him?” Colt asked, perking up.
“I don’t know. He left around the time your parents were married, and I never heard what happened to him after that.”
“Why wouldn’t Momma have told me about him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she didn’t think it was important.”
I doubted that was true. Momma had told me about the barbeque, but she’d failed to mention that the friend who’d introduced Daddy to Bill had been in their original partnership. That seemed like a purposeful omission.
Tilly shifted, and I could see that she was still holding back.
“There’s something you’re not telling me, Tilly,” I said.
Colt leaned his elbows on his knees. “Why did Eric really leave?”
She grimaced.
“I’m gonna find out, Tilly,” Colt said in an ominous tone. “So save me the effort and just tell me.”
I couldn’t help wondering how he’d find out. By contacting my father? One of his other sources?
Tilly pushed out a breath. “He sexually harassed your mother.”
“What?” Belinda said.
Tilly took another drink. “Your momma had quit her job at the hotel to work for your daddy’s business with Bill and Eric. One day it was just your momma and Eric in the office, and he nearly raped her. She kneed him in the balls and got away, but your daddy nearly beat him to death. Bill pulled your daddy off him and kicked Eric out.”
“Did they press charges?” Belinda asked.
“No,” Tilly said, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a generous gulp. “Bill convinced your father it would be in the best interest of the company to keep it quiet.”
“And Momma agreed to that?” I asked.
“Not at first, but Bill finally convinced your daddy—and your daddy could convince her of anything.” Her mouth tilted up on one side. “Well, after an argument. But your momma had been wanting to buy a house—this house—and Brian promised to put in an offer if she’d agree.”
I shook my head. “I can’t believe any of this. This is not the woman who raised me.”
Tilly stared at me with sad eyes. “Your momma became the woman she is now after that day.” She took another drink. “Well, I guess the woman she was.” Tears filled her eyes. “She swore no man would ever hurt her again.”
“And yet he did,” I said. “And she kept forgiving him.”
She nodded. “But part of her died every time.” She paused. “Your momma was upset when he disappeared, but I suspect part of her felt relieved. That’s why she remained distant toward you, Maggie. You were hurting so much, and your momma felt so guilty for feeling relieved that she could hardly look at you.” She took another drink. “And Roy, he always felt like your daddy loved you more, and he was probably right. When Brian disappeared, I think he took it as proof that your daddy didn’t love him enough to stay. Maybe he even felt a little guilty for the enjoyment he took in watching you suffer. Especially after you insisted your daddy was dead when everyone else was sure he’d run off with Shannon Morrissey.”
“And what did Momma believe?” I asked. Tears clogged my throat, which pissed me off. My father didn’t deserve any more of my tears.
“In the beginning, she was sure he was dead. She knew how much he loved you—more than his own life—so she knew he’d never leave you.”
And yet he had. He was probably still in Franklin, waiting for God knew what. But Tilly didn’t need to know that. “They’re both dead now, and I’m an orphan. Even Roy doesn’t want me.” But I couldn’t help thinking how alone my brother must feel. I had Colt and Tilly, but as far as I knew, he had no one. Even his wife was here with me instead of being with him.
But then again, that was his doing, and nothing could condone the way he’d treated Belinda.
As if she could read my thoughts, Belinda reached over and took my hand. “You’re not alone, Magnolia. You have me. I promise.”
“I’m here too, girlie,” Tilly said. “I’ve known you since you were minutes old. Now that you’re back, you aren’t getting rid of me that easily.”
Colt put his hand on my shoulder but remained silent.
I wiped a tear from my cheek. “Sorry for my moment of self-indulgence, Belinda. I know my father was to blame for your parents’ deaths.”
Her parents had invested their life savings in the Jackson Project, and they’d lost everything. The car accident they’d died in had been deemed a murder-suicide.
“I never really knew any better,” she said with a small shrug. “Most of my memories of them have faded. You just lost your momma. Give yourself a break. Let yourself grieve.”
I gave her a sad smile and Colt pulled me close again, stroking my arm. Fool that I was, I leaned into him and took the comfort he offered.
We sat in silence for a half minute before Tilly said, “One of the mourners at the funeral told me that Bill James is missing. I bet he ran off with all that missing money.”
“You mean the million Daddy supposedly stole when he ran off with Shannon Morrissey?” I asked. I was pretty sure Daddy had stolen that from the Savannah House basement last Saturday night.
“No. The millions from the Jackson Project.”
I stared at her in confusion. “Wait. I thought they went bankrupt.”
“They did, but your momma was sure your daddy and Bill hid away several million before it did.”
“Why didn’t Bill take the money before now?” I asked. “Or why didn’t Daddy take it when he left fourteen years ago?”
“Your momma heard your father talking to Bill on the phone late one night, a few months before he disappeared. He was talking about ten million dollars they’d squirrelled away in an annuity they’d hidden from the investors and the partners in the Jackson Project. Your daddy was arguing with Bill that he had a right to the annuity even though he’d given up his partnership and Bill was the sole owner. He disappeared soon after that.” She gave me a stern look. “It’s been twenty years. That annuity’s ready to cash in.”
My mouth dropped open. Was that the real reason my father was back?
Colt’s hand shifted to the back of my neck, and he began to gently rub.
“Did you make an appointment with your momma’s attorney tomorrow?” Belinda asked.
“I have to work tomorrow.”
Tilly gave me a sympathetic look. “You don’t have to work tomorrow, Maggie. I’ve still got the catering school helping out.”
“No, at Alvin’s shop.”
All three of them looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
“You know Alvin doesn’t expect you to go back to work tomorrow,” Belinda said.
“He’ll be pumping you for information, Mags,” Colt said. “You know what a gossip he is. I think you should call him and tell him you need more time off.”
I sat up and turned to look at him. “Just because you’ve kissed me a dozen times doesn�
��t mean you have the right to tell me what to do, Colt Austin.”
His eyes went round and his body stiffened. “You’re right, Magnolia. I don’t have any right to tell you what to do, but I’m worried about you.”
What was wrong with me? My emotions were ping-ponging back and forth over him, and I was giving him—and myself—whiplash. Tears filled my eyes. “I’m sorry I’m such a bitch right now.”
The guarded look in his eyes dropped. “Maggie, your momma just died, and you’ve had a lot happen in a very short period of time. Maybe you should take a few days to grieve.”
Tilly and Belinda nodded their agreement.
“Magnolia, why don’t you go fill your momma’s big tub and take a long bath?” Belinda suggested. “That might help you relax.”
“And stare at her shampoo and conditioner in her shower?” I pushed through my tear-clogged throat. “It will just drive home the fact I wasted ten years I could have had with her—ten years I’ll never get back.”
“Magnolia . . .” Belinda got up and perched on the edge of the loveseat I was on, reaching her arms out to me.
I hesitated. If I let her hold me, I’d fall apart—and I was pretty sure I wouldn’t go back together the way I had been. Then again, maybe that was a good thing. The old Magnolia Mae Steele was a mess. I needed a stronger Magnolia to face the rest of my quest. But what if the pieces fit together wrong and I ended up a shattered, spineless fool?
But my tears had started, and there was no stopping them. My first sob hiccupped out, and I reached for my sister-in-law, terrified of what would happen when the dust settled. But I couldn’t think about that now. She wrapped her arms around me and held tight as I sobbed and sobbed until I was light-headed, and there weren’t any tears left.
As I settled down, I realized that Colt was now sitting in Belinda’s chair. I rested my head on her shoulder as she rubbed soft circles into my back.
“I’m sorry,” I said when I realized her shoulder was wet.
“Magnolia,” she gently chided. “You buried your mother today. There’s no reason to apologize.”
I glanced over at Tilly. “How are you doing?”
She slugged back the rest of her whiskey. “I’ve had more time to come to peace with it than you. I’ve known this was a possibility for over a year.”
Curtain Call: Magnolia Steele Mystery #4 Page 3