“Just explain your statement about the fire,” Mary Kate insisted.
“Eternal flames are too good of a fate for Nancy O’Brien. And they are too good for the likes of you. Now, stay off my property, you hussy,” Emily huffed, turned, and walked away, Buster obediently at her heels.
“What was that about?” Steve Anderson demanded of a shaken Mary Kate.
Mary Kate’s gaze stayed on the departing form of the elderly woman. She found herself trembling.
Steve Anderson walked over to her. “Miss Devlin?” He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Miss?”
Mary Kate shook her head as if to clear it. A shuddering sigh escaped from her lips. “God. Tell me about her,” she demanded of Steve.
But it was the officer who answered her. “Don’t go stirring up trouble, Miss Devlin. Leave the past alone. Your mama wasn’t well liked locally, and that’s putting it mildly. There are a few folks who still hold a
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grudge against Miss Nancy, no matter how irrational that sounds. Miss Emily is probably the worst of the bunch. That old woman never forgets anything, and has never forgiven anyone. Still, it wouldn’t take much for some of them to transfer that grudge to you. Especially since your mama is out of their reach. Do yourself a favor and stay away from Miss Emily. She could make more trouble for you than you care to handle. And although you have my sympathy about your mama’s death, I don’t want to hear that you’re stirring up trouble.”
“Do you know how my mother died?” Mary Kate demanded of the officer. “She died in a house fire. It was arson. Your Miss Emily’s comment was entirely too suspicious for my peace of mind.”
“Miss Emily is a cantankerous old woman who has no trouble consigning anyone to burning hell,” Jack stated flatly. “She couldn’t have had anything to do with the fire in which your mama died.”
“Anyone who can harbor that much hate for that long is capable of anything,” Mary Kate responded in a tight voice as she fought for her control. The burst of adrenaline that had sustained her during the dog’s attack was rapidly evaporating. She felt herself beginning to shake.
“Come on, Jack and I will run you back to your father’s house.”
“Planning on staying around long?” The officer asked carefully as they reached the car.
“My plans are in a state of flux at the moment,” she answered. “Not that my plans are of anyone else’s concern.”
“Look, Miss Devlin, I’ve known your father for sixty some odd years,” Jack said. “Since we were both in short pants.”
“Why do I think there is a ‘but’ attached to that statement?” she demanded.
Jack smiled. “Crime is low around here. We have a quiet community. And we would like to keep it that way.”
Mary Kate looked at him. “I’m very glad that your workload is so light. However, why don’t you simply make your point, so there’s no possible misunderstanding?”
“I don’t want any trouble from you. Even as much as a hint of trouble and I’ll run you in so fast that it will make your head spin,” Jack warned. “You as much as jaywalk and I’ll slap you in jail for creating a public nuisance. Do you understand me?”
“That’s clear enough. Silly me, I wasn’t aware that Virginia had adopted Code Napoleon,” Mary Kate replied as she realized that she would be riding in the back seat of the police car. “I’ll forego the ride, thank you very much. I’ll just cut my run down to six miles today and go back to my father’s house now. Good day, gentlemen.”
Jack laughed. “Cut your run down to six miles? How far do you normally run?”
“Ten miles, unless I’m seriously training, then it’s more.”
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“Training for what? A marathon?” Steve Anderson asked. “Yeah. There’s nothing on earth like finishing a marathon.” Steve Anderson shook his head. “Run many?” “That would demand on how you defined many, I suppose. I’ve done two or three a year for the last six
years. Mostly, I do 5 and 10K runs. Marathons are a totally different creature, though. And I do so love overcoming a challenge.” She looked at Jack and added, “Do remember that, Officer Hunter. There’s nothing a Devlin likes more than a challenge. You should know that, being such old friends with my father.”
Jack just looked at her as though she had grown a spare head and sprouted green spots. “Good day, gentlemen,” Mary Kate replied just before she took off running without pacing herself, needing to get away from them as quickly as possible.
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Chapter Seven
Mary Kate’s mind was full of the conversation with Emily Chase. Peter? The Peter whom Thea had said was Nan’s lover? And why did the old woman accuse Nan of murdering him? Was the woman simply deranged? Or was this why Nan had really left the area?
More importantly, did the old woman actually know anything about the fire? Or was the comment simply Miss Emily’s bitter way of consigning Nan to perdition? Either way, Mary Kate didn’t much care for the comment. But what if it were the former instead of the latter?
I may have really blown it, she thought.
What did Jack Hunter mean about people holding grudges? What had Mother done? Had she actually been involved in a murder? Somehow, Mary Kate doubted it. Her mother had been a gentle soul.
Besides, if there had been real evidence that Nan had been guilty, there would have been a warrant out on her. Murder is a crime for which there is no statute of limitations in any state. Nan had lived openly. Oh, they had moved about some until Mary Kate had been four, but after that they had settled in Danville, Illinois. It would have been easy enough to find Nan, had anyone really cared to look.
These were questions that needed to be answered. But how was she supposed to go about asking them? Her previous plan of patience clearly had to be scuttled, now. She had to have answers. And there was only one person who could give them to her.
“Oh, there you are,” Harry Devlin said as his daughter came back into the house. “Been out running, my dear?”
“Brilliant deduction,” she replied with a laugh as she looked at this man who was her father. “Look, we have to talk.”
Harry nodded affirmatively. “Yes. Come have some breakfast with me.”
Mary Kate followed her father onto the back patio. Harry’s lifestyle still bothered her tremendously. This was a far cry from the modest four-room house in which she had lived for most of her life.
It was even a far cry from the luxury in which Edward had lived. Edward had been a wannabe. But the Devlin family was obviously old money with connections. There was a world of difference, in substance as well as in style.
“No one else will be up yet,” Harry told his daughter. “So we’re free to talk. I imagine that you have questions.”
“That’s an understatement,” Mary Kate said.
The housekeeper, Billie Green, came onto the patio carrying a tray containing a carafe of coffee and a
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small pitcher of juice. “Miss Mary Kate, what would you like for breakfast?” “Don’t go to any trouble. I’m not really very hungry,” Mary Kate replied. Billie Green looked at her questioningly. “You barely picked at your dinner last night. If you don’t eat
something substantial, you’ll blow away with the next strong wind.” Mary Kate laughed. “Mom used to say the same thing to me.” Billie smiled at Mary Kate. “I can hear Nancy using those words.” Mary Kate looked at Billie. “You knew my mother?” Billie looked over at Harry before looking back at Mary Kate. “Yes, I knew your mother. I’ll go get
breakfast now.” Mary Kate looked at her father. “What was that all about?” “Let’s just give it some time. You’re a surprise to all of us. I had no idea that Nancy was pregnant
when she left here. If I had known, I would have never given up on the search for her, or for you.” “I met, if I can use that term, a thoroughly unpleasant old woman named Emily something or other who
lives down the road.” Harry raised an eyebrow. “
Emily Chase is allergic to mornings.” “Her dog isn’t. The beast had me treed. She apparently called the cops, thinking that I was a burglar.” “Damn...That’s all we need.” “It’s okay. I did however learn some interesting things.” Harry shook his head negatively. “Don’t believe most of the things that Emily Chase says. The woman
is dotty.” “Is she? Aside from an almost irrational hatred of my mother and a strong fear of strangers, she seemed
reasonably able to cope with life. Are you honestly telling me that the woman is certifiably crazy?” Harry sighed. “No. I can imagine what she told you.” “Can you imagine that she threatened to shoot me if I ever came on her property? The funny thing is
that I wasn’t even on her property. Unless you count a tree limb as being on her property.” “That is going too far, even for Emily. I’ll have a long talk with her.” “Just let it drop. There was something else. She made a comment which I probably took the wrong
way.” Then she told her father about it. “I see.” “So, I’m afraid that when Emily Chase made that comment, I rather lost my cool.” “That’s quite understandable, given the circumstances.” “If you would rather I leave, I will. I really don’t want to cause you any embarrassment.”
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“I’m sorry, Mary Katherine. I probably should have had this talk with you last night, or even before you came here. I just didn’t think you would hear the ancient gossip before I would have a chance to explain things to you.”
“I would like to know the situation.”
“I have to tell you that I never did believe half the allegations that surrounded your mother. I did love her, and I believe she loved me.”
Mary Kate nodded. “I believe you. I know that Mother loved you.”
“You said last night that she had kept a picture. I have a hard time believing that. Nancy really kept my picture?”
“Yes, a photo of the two of you on your wedding day. She told me how much she had loved you.”
Something like anguish passed over Harry’s face. “I loved her. Dearly. When I discovered that she had left me, I wanted to die.”
Mary Kate nodded. “She told me that you had died in an auto accident.”
Harry closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. “So that was why she left. She was scared. I always wondered why she really left. Thank you for telling me.”
“There was an accident?”
“Yes. She was driving us.”
“Was it her fault?” Mary Kate demanded.
“No. There was a mechanical failure in the steering linkages. It was just an unavoidable accident. It was a new car. But the steering went out as she was driving. It was only a stroke of fortune that both of us weren’t killed. Well that, and Nancy’s well honed reflexes.”
Mary Kate shook her head. “She told me that you had died. I know that she believed that.”
“I was in a coma for almost a week. When I woke up, she was gone. I tried to find her. But it was almost impossible twenty-five years ago to track someone who didn’t want to be found. Your mother definitely didn’t want to be found. Through my attorney, I hired private investigators to search for her. I kept the men on the payroll for almost two years, before I decided that I would never find her. Things are a little easier these days, I understand.”
“Did you have your marriage annulled?”
“No, I divorced her. There were no grounds for annulment,” Harry told her after a moment’s hesitation.
“On what grounds did you divorce her?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Oh, yes, Harry, I do. I don’t like the feeling that everyone is keeping things from me. I’ve walked into
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a situation where I have become a focus for old animosity. I have a right to know why people feel this way. I
have a need to know.” “I wouldn’t like not knowing, either, were I in your shoes.” “You know I can find out the grounds that you used for the divorce, rather easily. That should be a
matter of public record. It should be a small matter to find out. A visit to the local courthouse should do it. Either you can tell me, or I can do some digging. Of course, if I start asking questions, I can imagine the local gossip. Surely you don’t want that.”
“Adultery. I divorced your mother because of her adultery.” “I don’t believe this. My mother loved you. She would have never been unfaithful to you!” Harry looked at her, compassion in his eyes. “Mary Katherine,” he said gently, “I have good reason to
believe otherwise.” “What reason?” Mary Kate asked. “What reason could be good enough to make you believe that?” “She was seen.” “Doing what, with who, and by whom?” “I don’t want to disillusion you about your mother,” Harry said. “Please don’t put me in a position
where I must. Nancy raised you. From what I can see, she did a good job. It couldn’t have been easy by
herself.” “It wasn’t,” Mary Kate agreed. “This is important. Please. I need to know.” Harry only shook his head negatively. “Don’t ask, Mary Katherine. It still hurts. Even after all these
years, it still hurts.” “I don’t really understand any of this.” Harry smiled sadly at his daughter. “I’ve never understood it, either. I’ve just had to accept the fact that
your mother and I weren’t meant to be together. You’re a redeeming feature to an otherwise short and tragic episode in our lives.” “She never dated,” Mary Kate offered by way of explanation. “There were always men interested in
her, but she never gave any of them a second look. She said that her heart belonged to you, and always would.” Another wave of pain crossed over Harry’s face. “Are you okay?” Mary Kate asked in concern. “Yeah, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” “What time is the doctor supposed to arrive to take the blood samples?” Mary Kate asked. “Maybe we
ought to have him take a look at you? I don’t at all like how pale you are this morning.” “I’m fine. Don’t worry. I’m too mean to die. Ask anyone who works for me. About the blood tests,
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you really don’t mind?”
“Yes, I mind. Terribly. This is a slap in the face to my mother. She was a good woman. She wouldn’t have betrayed you, and I resent the implication. But I see the necessity, in order to convince others of the truth of my heritage. Especially in light of what you’ve told me. I really can’t believe that Mother was unfaithful to you. That’s not something I can accept.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that you’re my daughter,” Harry said. “Don’t think that there is. I am ready to openly claim you.”
“Perhaps, you should wait on that until the tests come back.”
“No, you’re my daughter. Both of us know that.”
“We know that. Audra seems to accept that. But none of the other people in this house are seemingly disposed to believe it. With the test results, there will be no doubt. Beyond that, I’m at a loss on how to handle this.”
“It’s not easy, I know that. But Devlins never run from a challenge.”
“And that’s a challenge in and of itself,” Mary Kate said as she rubbed her neck.
Billie Green returned. She carried a tray containing homemade buttermilk biscuits, fresh butter, assorted jams, scrambled eggs, grits, melon, strawberries, and a bowl of hot oatmeal and two pieces of dry whole wheat toast.
“Looks delicious, Billie,” Harry told the housekeeper.
“You just keep your hands off those eggs and biscuits and butter, Harry Devlin. You can have your cereal, toast, jam and fruit. But if you touch those eggs or the butter, I’ll tell Doctor Summers, and then I’ll tell Mrs. Devlin.”
Harry looked at his daughter. “I swear, good help is so hard to find,” he said dryly with a twinkle in his eye.
Billie hmmmphhhed as she left.
Over breakfast, Mary Kate and her father talked freely. But the subject of Nan was studiously evaded by Harry.
As the two of them were finishing breakfast, Ja
se walked out onto the patio. “Good morning, Harry, Mary Katherine.”
“Jase,” Harry replied.
“You’re up early, Mary Katherine, considering that you had an extremely long drive yesterday,” Jase said.
“I never sleep more than six hours a night,” she replied seemingly easily, hoping that she was the only
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person who was aware of just how nervous he made her feel. Letting him know just how deeply he affected her was not wise. This was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of any weakness. “Often, much less.”
“I was going to have some breakfast then take a ride. Would you like to join me? It would give us some time to talk and to get to know one another,” Jase offered. “I’m sure that we could find a mount tame enough for you.”
Mary Kate laughed, but the sound wasn’t really pleasant. “You mean that your investigation didn’t come up with the fact that I’ve taught riding as a camp counselor at Girl Scout Camp during each of the last six summers,” Mary Kate answered. “I’ll have to decline your offer, however. I don’t have any boots with me. My riding boots burned up in the fire that took our house. I really don’t want to ride in running shoes, or dress shoes. That wouldn’t be safe.”
“What size boot do you wear?” Harry asked.
“Seven and a half, medium width,” she answered automatically before asking, “Why?”
“There will be new boots delivered here by the time that Jase finishes his breakfast,” her father informed her as he reached for his cell phone.
“Please, no. I really can’t afford new boots right now.”
Harry smiled at his daughter. “No one asked you to purchase them.”
“I know what new boots cost. That’s too expensive of a gift. I can’t accept them,” she said as she met her father’s eyes. “I don’t want anyone to be able to say that I’m attempting to extort expensive gifts from you. I won’t have it!” There was pain in her voice when she continued. “In fact, if it wouldn’t cause more gossip, I would move into a hotel, or rent a small apartment. As things stand, people are apt to say that I’m trying to ingratiate myself into the family.”
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