Let's Play Dead

by Sheila Connolly

“I don’t want to stay here,” Hadley whined. “Can’t we go to a hotel or something?”

  Was I the only person who wanted to strangle the woman? “No, Hadley. Unless you have a helicopter handy, we can’t get out.”

  “Does that fireplace work, Hadley?” Nolan asked.

  “What?” Hadley looked around the room as if she was surprised she had a fireplace. “Oh, I guess so. I know I’ve used it, but not lately. Why?”

  When she didn’t say more, Nolan prompted, “You might like some heat tonight. Would you have any wood for it?”

  “Oh. Maybe in the garage? It’s at the other end of the house-there’s a door leading from the kitchen.”

  “I’m on it. Do you have any more candles or such? Those are almost out”-he pointed to the still-flickering but quickly fading candles on the coffee table-“and I don’t want to leave you all in the dark.”

  Finally Hadley roused herself to action. “Yes, I think there are some in the desk. I’ll get them.”

  In short order she had retrieved more of the same short, squat candles and a lighter. I suppressed the image of Hadley and her man-of-the-moment enjoying an intimate candlelit interlude in front of the dying fire. At least we had light.

  “Grand. I’ll go check out the wood.”

  “I’ll help,” Jason volunteered, disentangling himself from Caitlin. Maybe he’d had enough drama for the moment. The two men disappeared down the hallway, Nolan’s flashlight bobbing in front of them.

  I waited a few moments for Hadley to take charge-it was, as she had pointed out, her house-but she seemed lethargic. Finally I said, “Hadley, we may be in for a long night. We’d better plan to sleep here, preferably in this room, if Nolan finds any wood. You have blankets, pillows?”

  Hadley sniffed. “I guess. I don’t have a lot of guests.”

  Why did that not surprise me? “Well,” I said patiently, “why don’t you go collect what you have? And what about food?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Maybe it would be faster to strangle her now. “Do you have a gas stove?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “Because if it’s gas, we can light it manually, so at least we could have something hot to eat and drink.”

  “Oh. All right. I’ll go get the blankets and stuff.” Hadley picked up a candle and went down the hall, toward the other end of the house.

  When she was out of earshot, I sighed. “Arabella, Caitlin, I do not know how you put up with this woman. She seems to switch between demanding and helpless at the drop of a hat.”

  “I will say it was always difficult to pry a decision out of her. Are we really stuck here, Nell?” Arabella asked.

  “I’m afraid so. I don’t know how long it will be before they send someone out to fix the wires, and even then they’ll still have to get the tree out of the way. So, yes-it looks like we’re having a slumber party.”

  “With s’mores?” Caitlin asked, and I thought I could detect a bit of a giggle in her voice. I think it was the first time I’d heard her say anything remotely funny in the time I’d known her.

  I gave her a smile. “I doubt that Hadley’s larder runs to marshmallows, but maybe we can scrounge up something to eat. Let’s go see.” I picked up another candle and led the way down the hall toward the kitchen.

  There we met Nolan and Jason, emerging from the dark garage, each with an armload of wood. “This is most of it, but it’ll do for now,” Nolan said. “Where’s herself?”

  “She’s looking for blankets. Can you get a fire started?”

  “Not to worry. The first ten years of my life, we had nothing but turf to keep us warm. I’ll see to it.”

  “All right, then-food.”

  Fifteen minutes later we were huddled in a tight half circle in front of the small fire that Nolan had built. Well, most of us were: Hadley maintained a distance, perched on a chair behind us. She had come up with a motley assortment of blankets, and we were noshing on the rather eclectic mix of items we had found in her refrigerator and cupboards-mostly crackers, olives, and cheese, plus a couple of shriveled apples. It would do for now, and since we had all missed dinner, we weren’t complaining.

  “This certainly is an unlikely turn of events, don’t you think? All of us camped out here?” Arabella said.

  “No,” Hadley replied bitterly. “If anything can go wrong, it will, at least if I’m around. This whole mess was my fault. I knew it was a bad idea to keep flogging poor Harriet, but that’s what my publisher wanted, and I couldn’t argue. I am sick unto death of that little rodent.”

  “Hedgehogs aren’t rodents,” Caitlin commented. “Didn’t you do any research?”

  “Ha! Market research, more like it. My editor wanted something small and cute but that hadn’t been done to death, and, presto, a hedgehog was what I got.”

  “But you’ve done so well with Harriet,” Arabella said. “This house, renown, book tours.”

  “This house is mortgaged to the hilt, and my royalties are down to four figures a year. Unless Harriet becomes the first animated hedgehog vampire rock star, preferably with psychic powers, I’m broke.” She stood up abruptly. “I’m tired, and I want to sleep in my own bed. Everybody’s got enough blankets and pillows and all?”

  “We’ll be all right,” Arabella said. “I guess we’ll have to wait until morning to see what our options are for getting back to Philadelphia.”

  “Fine. Good night.” Hadley picked up a candle and disappeared toward the other end of the house. The rest of us tried to make nests with the quilts and pillows we had. Since the floor was carpeted, it wasn’t too uncomfortable, although I certainly wasn’t used to sleeping on the ground-or with a crowd. Jason stayed close to Caitlin, while Arabella and Nolan staked out opposite sides of the room.

  I was dozing off when Caitlin said quietly, “I’m sorry, Mother.”

  “For what?” her mother responded.

  “For getting in touch with Dad, behind your back. I just wanted a chance to get to know him.”

  Arabella sighed. “I shouldn’t have kept you apart for so long. Whatever our problems were, he’s still your father.” She paused for several beats. “Was your reunion what you expected?”

  Caitlin laughed quietly. “No. Sorry, Dad-that’s not your fault. I guess I’d built you up into some kind of hero. You know-revolutionary, misunderstood by my petty bourgeois mother. And, Mother, I thought you had driven him away.”

  “It wasn’t like that, love,” Nolan said. “I’ll take my share of the blame. And I could have tried harder to see you.”

  “I know. It’s just that I was angry for so long, and Mother was the most convenient target. Mother, I really felt like you were too busy to bother with me, so you shipped me off to boarding school.”

  “I know it sounds awful when you put it that way, Caitlin, but I had to make a living, to support us, since your father wouldn’t. And I did think it was the right thing for you.”

  “I think it was. They’re good at what they do there at Bishop’s Gate, and they really helped me with the Asperger’s.”

  I lay still, trying not to intrude on this belated family truth-telling. Caitlin was still speaking, in a near whisper. “In the beginning I hated you for it. I mean, there you were, playing Mommy to half the snot-nosed kids of Philadelphia, but you sent me away and then couldn’t take the time to visit me. It took me a long time to get over that.”

  “I’ m sorry. I can see how it must have looked to you.” A pause. “Are you past it now?”

  “I’m here, aren’t I? I’m working with you, and for you, which I never would have imagined. And you were right-the school helped me deal with my problems. There were some good kids there, and I could make friends. I couldn’t do what you do, but I’m doing an okay job at Let’s Play, aren’t I?”

  “You’re doing a fine job, darling. And I’d say that even if I weren’t your mother. If we ever get past this nonsense, the exhibit should be a big hit. In spite of Hadley.”

  “Y
ou still awake, Dad?’

  Nolan spoke from the opposite corner. “I am. I’m sorry I missed all those years, but I hope we can do better in the future. Maybe you’d like to plan a trip to Ireland, meet your half brother and sister?”

  “I’d like that,” Caitlin said. “Maybe in the spring-Let’s Play is pretty busy in the summer. And not during spring breaks. But I’m sure I could work out something.”

  The voices faded. The low fire crackled and spit. Outside it was quiet, except for the occasional crack as a branch fell from the weight of the ice. I fell asleep.

  I awoke to full daylight. Checking my watch, I saw that it was nearly nine o’ clock. The fire was long dead, and three out of my four companions were still lumps under mounds of blankets-Nolan was snoring in an armchair, and Jason and Caitlin were snuggled together like puppies. The fourth, Arabella, I could hear down the hall, talking with Hadley. I disentangled myself from my own wrappings and, after a quick stop at the bathroom, I stumbled down the hall. Halfway there I encountered the smell of coffee and picked up my pace.

  Hadley and Arabella were seated across from each other at a small table. There was a window behind them, and through it I could see a glittering array of ice-coated trees and shrubs-and an alarming number of broken branches dangling. “Morning,” I said. “Is there more of that?” I nodded toward their mugs.

  “On the stove. Nolan showed me how to light the burner last night. I can manage to boil water,” Hadley replied.

  I helped myself and sat down. “Any word from the outside world?”

  “The power’s still out, but I think I saw a utility truck.”

  “I hope so!” Arabella said. “There’s a lot to be done, and we have to talk to the police before we move forward.”

  The idea of meeting with the law didn’t appear to bother Hadley now. She stirred her coffee idly and stared into space. I definitely preferred this resigned Hadley to the bitchy and demanding one, although I wondered if this mood would last.

  “Hadley, do you have flour and eggs and sugar?” Arabella asked. “Maybe I can put together a meal.”

  “I don’t know. Try that cupboard over there.” Hadley gestured vaguely.

  I fled the scene of unlikely domesticity and retreated down the hall, away from the living room, where there were sounds of stirring. I retrieved my cell phone from my bag and punched in the number to my office. Eric answered promptly. “President’s office.”

  “Eric, it’s me.”

  “Nell! I was worried about you-it sounds like a real mess out there in the burbs.”

  “You’ve got that right. I’m not even home-I’m still at Hadley’s house. Long story, but we’re all good. How’s it look there?”

  “Roads are clear, so it’s business as usual. Do you think you’ll make it in?”

  “I hope so, but we’ve got to get a tree out of the way first.” As we spoke, I could hear the welcome sound of chain saws in the lane in front of Hadley’s house. I peered out the window in the front and could see that the morning sun was well on its way to dissolving the layer of ice on the windshield of my car. “I think it’s happening as we speak, so I can probably make it by noon.” Then I was struck by a sudden thought. “Eric, can you ask Shelby to get in touch with Barney Hogan and have him call me this afternoon?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I can do that. Everything okay?”

  “I think so, or at least it will be. Thanks, Eric-see you later.” I hung up and thought a moment. There were five of us to transport back to the city, and three cars: mine, Hadley’s, and Caitlin’s. I wasn’t sure if the police wanted me to have any part of the coming discussion, but it might be best to be available, just in case-which meant we should all head for the city.

  “I think they’re working on that tree now,” I said to the others. “We can head for town as soon as the road is clear. Do you need a ride, Hadley?”

  There was a flash of the old Hadley, and I could almost hear her saying, As if I’d ride with any of you. “I’ll follow you in, in my car. Although we should speak to the authorities together, don’t you think?” Hadley said to Arabella, who nodded.

  “I agree,” I said. “But I don’t think you need me. I’ll go in to work and be available if the police want to talk to me, but I think between all of you, you’ve got it covered. Oh, and don’t forget to take the Willy heads with you.”

  CHAPTER 33

  A tow truck had hauled the trunk of the fallen oak to the side of the road in under half an hour, and I managed to beat my estimated deadline and arrived at the office by eleven. I made a mental note to keep a change of clothes at the office in the future, not that I expected occasions like this to come around too often. At least, I hoped not. Caitlin had taken her parents and Jason in her car, and Hadley had promised to follow shortly, as soon as she checked her property for any storm damage. I wasn’t sure I trusted Hadley to follow through with making a statement without some encouragement, but I couldn’t exactly hog-tie her and throw her in my trunk, appealing though that idea was. Even by the light of day, I thought the scenario we had worked out the night before still made as much sense as anything else. I hoped the police would agree.

  Eric was hovering anxiously at his desk, waiting for me. “Thank goodness! The news reports made it sound like a battle zone out there in the burbs.”

  “A lot of tree damage,” I told him, “but once we reached a main road, things were fine. Did I miss anything here?”

  “Nothing worth mentioning. So, tell me what went on last night?”

  I checked my messages: nothing urgent. “Go get Shelby. She should hear it, too.”

  Eric was gone in a flash and returned in moments with Shelby in tow. I wondered if she’d been waiting for my arrival. “Sounds like you had an interesting evening, lady,” she said, sitting in a chair opposite the desk. “So, spill it!”

  “Shut the door and sit down, Eric. And I trust you won’t mention this to anyone else yet. Arabella, Caitlin, and Hadley should be on their way to police headquarters as we speak.”

  “So who did it?” Shelby demanded.

  “Apparently nobody,” I said, and watched their expressions with amusement. “Seriously, it looks as though the whole thing was a stupid accident. This is how we worked it out last night. Hadley was more or less ordered to go along with this exhibit by her publisher, because her sales were way off, along with her income. She wasn’t happy, and I gather she made life miserable for everyone, but she didn’t have a choice.” I paused before adding, “Hadley also has a taste for well-muscled young men, as Chloe informed us.”

  “Do tell,” Sheryl said drily, and winked at Eric.

  “Yes, and Hadley connected with one of the electricians who was working on the exhibit-the late Joe Murphy.”

  “No!” Eric said. “But she didn’t kill him? Did he reject her?”

  “She says she dumped him, but I wondered if she might have had a hand in his death. It seems unlikely, though-she doesn’t have the skills, and she does have a pretty good alibi. Maybe being accused of murder would have been a great way to get some publicity, but definitely the wrong kind. In any case, I think she’s used to discarding the, uh, objects of her attentions rather quickly, and nobody’s ever cried foul, before now.”

  “Did Hadley volunteer all this delightful information?” Shelby asked.

  “Not at first. But when Nolan went down to the basement to retrieve the Willy heads they didn’t use in the exhibit, he saw the house’s wiring and told us it was a mess-the worst combination of original old wiring combined with some recent shoddy patches and quick fixes. Apparently Hadley asked Joe to do a little work for her, and he did a lousy job. Which led us all to conclude that it was his sloppy work on the Willy the Weasel head that killed him.”

  “Wait, I don’t understand,” Eric said. “What did Hadley know about this?”

  “That part she didn’t want to share. My take is, Hadley had a fling with Joe and got bored with him-which she did with a lot of guys, accordi
ng to Chloe-and told him it was over. Apparently he wasn’t too thrilled about that. I’m guessing he tinkered with the exhibit to get back at Hadley.”

  “By killing someone?”

  “I don’t think that he meant to go that far-he was aiming for an accident. I think he wanted to discredit Hadley’s exhibit. He probably thought that Hadley would be the one to suffer most if there were an accident with the exhibit-the museum might pull the plug on it. I don’t know if he had anyone in mind, but it was Jason who got shocked and ended up in the hospital.”

  “That wasn’t enough?” Eric asked.

  “No, because there wasn’t any publicity, and that’s what he was looking for. After Arabella had everything inspected up one side and down the other, he tried again. He was probably in a hurry, and working in the dark, so the most likely scenario is that he screwed it up and it killed him.”

  “Wow,” Shelby said. “So Hadley didn’t know anything about all this?”

  “So she says,” I replied. “Once she’d sent Joe on his way, she didn’t give him another thought-she had no idea how he felt. She is possibly the most self-centered woman I have ever met.”

  “And Arabella and Caitlin had nothing to do with any of it?” Eric asked.

  “I think Caitlin figured out that Hadley was involved, once she put together the time line, with Jason’s help, and that’s why she went out to her house to confront her and asked her mother to join her. Hadley was eager to blame anybody else, and Caitlin was upset about that. But instead of just Arabella, we all showed up and then we got stuck there, so we had plenty of time to work it out.” I decided to leave out the part about Caitlin’s threatening Hadley with a Taser. “After all that, there was no murder involved, just stupidity.”

  “How’s Let’s Play going to come out of this? Aren’t people going to wonder what else might not have been done right?” Shelby asked.

  I sighed. “It’s a problem, but there’s not much that can be done about it. But I did have an idea…”

  A slow grin spread over Shelby’s face. “And that’s why you wanted to call Barney? He’s downstairs now.”