by MJ Rodgers
Colin threw back the rest of his Scotch. “You’re demented, old man.”
Louie grasped the gun firmly in his right hand and lowered the barrel until it pointed directly at Colin’s chest. Hot anger snapped through his words. “Why did you kill my grandson? Tell me!”
Heddy stepped forward. “No, no! You don’t understand, Louie. Listen to me! You’re making a terrible mistake!”
“It’s you two who have made the mistake,” Louie said.
“Louie, don’t! David wasn’t—”
Colin grabbed Heddy’s thin arm and swung her around. “Shut up, you fool!”
“Wasn’t what?” Louie demanded.
“I have to tell him, Colin!” Heddy screamed. “Don’t you see? He’s going to kill you—his own flesh and blood—and all over that little bastard!”
“Colin,” Louie said, his voice grown cold, “you’d better explain. Now.”
Colin released his wife’s arm and poured more Scotch into his glass. He downed it in one huge gulp before turning back to face his father.
“You wanted a damn grandchild. My sperm were already dead. And there you were, dangling this house and a half-million dollars a year in front of our faces to produce a kid. I did what I had to do.”
“What you had to do? How did you get David?”
“An American teenager had fooled around with another military brat while their parents were stationed in Guam. Her parents arranged to keep her pregnancy quiet. Heddy just wore a pillow for a few months. A local doctor on Guam did the delivery. We flew in there and flew David back on the next plane to Seattle. It wasn’t hard to dummy up a local birth certificate with Heddy as mother and me as father. All it took was a little hand greasing of a hospital records clerk. We never dreamed David would ever find out.”
“David found out? How?”
“He’d given blood for some woman in an accident, and they told him his blood type was B-negative. He knew Heddy and I both have O-positive. He went snooping. Somehow he found the records clerk we bribed to get the birth certificate, and he bribed her with even more money to tell him the truth. Then he found out about our plane trip to Guam that week he was born. He was going there to talk to the locals to see who remembered what. I knew someone would talk. It was only a matter of time before he’d have the whole story.
“The night before he left, he demanded we tell him about his real parents. We refused. That’s when he got really angry. He told us if we didn’t confess to you, he would tell you everything when he returned from Guam and had the rest of the story.”
“So you decided to prevent him from returning.”
“I slipped LSD into his lucky flask along with the wine, knowing he’d drink it when he flew over the international date line and crash out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I also switched his caffeine pills for some of Heddy’s sedatives. I was taking no chances that he’d disappear out of this house with all his money. You were financially floundering then. That hostile takeover was still in the works. I didn’t know you were going to get back on your feet. I had to protect all our interests. I did it for you, too.”
Marc felt Gavin’s hand grab his shoulder. He whispered back. “Find a phone. Get the police here.”
Gavin nodded and quickly slipped away. Marc turned his attention back to the scene playing out in front of him.
Colin poured himself some more Scotch as he talked. “At least with him gone, you had the chance of getting his sperm to produce another child and holding on to his money. And even when that idea went bust, you got ten million from Bio-Sperm. And there’s still money to be had here, if we’ve got the guts to go for it.”
“Still money to be had? You mean David’s son, don’t you? You attacked Dr. Westbrook, didn’t you?”
“The P.I. kept me informed of her whereabouts, even after Truesdale warned him away. It wasn’t that difficult fiddling with the signs and commandeering that crane. But she was moving so fast, I couldn’t aim too well.
“Of course, descending to her balcony off the condo was the really smart move. If that old broad next door hadn’t butted in, everyone would have thought she’d committed suicide.”
“I can’t believe it. You really did it.”
Colin took a swig of his Scotch. “I’ve always been smarter than you gave me credit for. I got a lab report from Geyser on the kid. Soon as I saw he had B-negative blood, I sent a note to Truesdale telling him about the blood donation. He’s bound to find out about the B-negative blood David had and then he’ll be able to prove Westbrook’s kid is David’s son. The kid will get the money. Then we get the mother out of the way, and it’s smooth sailing. All she has left in her family is a crippled sister. It’s a cinch the court will award us custody. That’s a million a year. And it’s only the beginning.”
“Only the beginning?”
“We become the kid’s family then, don’t you see? A year or two down the road, he has an accident. Then all the money comes to us.”
Louie’s eyes flashed to Heddy. “You knew all this? You went along with it?”
Heddy moved closer to Colin’s side, once again resting her hand on his arm. “I’m a Demerchant, too. I want what’s good for our family.”
Marc watched Louie Demerchant age before his eyes as the man shook his head sadly at his only son and daughter-in-law.
“Colin, I always blamed myself for what you became, because I wasn’t here to show you the right way. But your mother was here. You haven’t even one ounce of the kindness and goodness that she poured over you. Why is that?”
“Look, you’re not my idea of an ideal father, either. But no matter what I do or you think, remember I’m your family. Your only family.”
“Family? You two don’t have even the vaguest idea of what that word means. I realize now that David knew I wasn’t his biological grandfather on his last night here. Yet he handed me a check for fifteen million dollars. Then he gave me a hug and told me he loved me and always would, no matter where he lived.”
Louie had started to cry bright, shiny tears. The gun in his hand started to wobble.
“David knew what being family really meant. He was my grandson in the real sense of that word. But that’s not something you will ever understand. You killed him. Just as you would kill Dr. Westbrook and her child—without thought, without remorse. Money is all that means anything to you. That I had any part in bringing you into the world sickens me to my very soul!”
As Louie broke apart beneath the emotions racking his body, Colin jumped for the gun, grabbed it out of his father’s hands and shoved him to the floor.
“You weak, pathetic old fool! I should have gotten rid of you long ago.”
As Colin pointed the gun at Louie, Marc leaped out from behind the door and charged across the room, desperate to stop him from pulling the trigger.
But he knew he was too far away. He knew he would never be in time. He knew Louie was going to die.
Suddenly, as though possessed of an avenging spirit, the beautiful tapestry lying across the couch rose up and threw itself over Colin, knocking him soundly to the floor.
The scene wavered with a surreal quality before Marc’s eyes, passing like sticking frames clicking through an old movie reel. Everything happened in an eerie slow motion. The roar of the gun exploded in Marc’s ears. He could actually see the bullet fly by Louie on its way to the display case. As it struck, the glass shelves shattered, the eighteenth-century English enamel boxes blowing apart into a billion microscopic particles.
Then, as though the projector had unstuck, the action sped up and it was all over. The display case crumpled to the floor. Heddy screamed. The sting of gunpowder flew up Marc’s nose. But still Marc had a hard time believing his eyes.
For there was Remy, splayed steadfastly on top of the thrown tapestry, pinning Colin where he lay beneath it to the carpet.
“Got you!” she cried, a look of determined triumph bringing the golden flames to her cinnamon eyes.
Marc w
as at her side in an instant, lifting her into his arms, hugging her to him fiercely, kissing her soundly.
* * *
REMY COULD STILL HEAR the traces of Marc’s fear for her in his voice as they lay together that night in each other’s arms.
“When Louie lied about Gavin being in the drawing room after dinner, I thought he had done it, Remy. I thought I had left you in the hands of a killer.”
He brushed his lips across her palm, licking fires of both lust and love inside her heart. She sighed, filled with the sweet and painful longing his touch always brought.
“Marc, I think when you told Louie about the wine, he must have known Colin was responsible for David’s death. I think he deliberately misled you about Gavin to give himself time to confront Colin.”
“Yes. Facing his own son was probably the hardest thing Louie has ever had to do.”
He pulled her closer, as though he couldn’t get her close enough. “You never explained what you were doing hiding under that tapestry on the couch. Had Louie put you there to be a witness?”
“Not intentionally. I think he had decided to tell me the truth about Colin and Heddy, but before he could, I nodded off on him. When Colin and Heddy came home unexpectedly, I’m sure Louie covered me so Colin couldn’t see me.”
“How much did you hear of Louie and Colin’s confrontation?”
“Right from the point when Colin asked Louie what he was doing with the gun. I lifted the edge of the tapestry and watched everything from then on. When I saw Colin grab the gun, I knew I had to stop him.”
“It’s a good thing you did, Remy. I would have been too late. Louie owes you his life.”
“It’s almost impossible to comprehend how evil those two are. When I think of what Colin planned to do to Nicholas after he got rid of me and how that woman would have let him, I...”
Remy shivered uncontrollably.
Marc drew her closer, kissing her hair, circling her within the warmth of his strong arms.
“They’ve charged Colin with David’s murder?” Remy asked after a while.
“Yes. And for his attempts on your life. They’ve charged Heddy as an accessory, too. It’s all going to make the news big-time tomorrow. It might even eclipse the trial.”
Remy stiffened. “The trial. With everything else, I’d almost forgotten about the trial.”
“At least you can forget about the custody battle. Colin and Heddy couldn’t get custody of a clam after this.”
Remy was silent for a moment. “Marc, if Chief Shelmacher’s testimony stands as it is, the jury is going to have to find in favor of Lyton and his clients, aren’t they?”
“Yes. If David actually died on June 25, it doesn’t matter that we can prove he’s Nicholas’s father. The terms of David’s trust will still invalidate Nicholas’s claim to his father’s fortune.”
“Then Nicholas and I will be free of a tremendous burden.”
Marc quickly leaned on his elbow in order to face her. “Remy, you know Nicholas is David’s child. You know he is entitled to his birthright.”
She looked at him directly. “I know Nicholas and I are entitled to live our lives in peace and with a real chance for happiness.”
“Remy, money is neither good nor evil by itself. It’s what we do with it that counts. We’ll be there to teach Nicholas how to handle his money so that it will bring happiness to him and others.”
“We?”
His arms tightened around her, strong and possessive. “I didn’t mean to ask you this way. I wanted to give you candlelight and champagne and roses. Remy, I love you. I want to marry you. I want you and Nicholas and I to be a family.”
There was no polish in his tone, no sophisticated, charming smile on his lips. Just a warm, earnest light in his blue eyes that crept into Remy’s chest and stole her breath away.
She wanted more than anything to believe him. If it had just been her, she would have taken the chance. But it wasn’t just her. She couldn’t allow her child to bond to a man who might someday forget all his promises and walk out on them. Better Nicholas never know a father than to know one like she had known.
She knew what she had to do. “Marc, you say you love me. Do you love me enough not to challenge Chief Shelmacher’s testimony tomorrow?”
Remy felt the immediate jolt of her words through his body. His voice was suddenly hoarse in her ear. “Remy, I must go into that courtroom tomorrow and fight for Nicholas’s rights. I gave my word. My word is who I am.”
“And this is who I am,” Remy said as she slipped out of the warmth of his arms and rose to her feet next to his bed. “Good night, Marc.”
And with that, Remy calmly and coolly walked out of the bedroom.
* * *
THE COURTROOM WAS overflowing the next morning. Remy watched Judge Swellen take the bench and immediately admonish the jury. “Despite the sensational events surrounding the death of David Demerchant that have hit the news, ladies and gentlemen, do not let your focus waver. The question before you is whether Nicholas Westbrook is David Demerchant’s beneficiary according to the terms of David Demerchant’s trust. That, and only that question, is what you must decide. Now, Mr. Truesdale, are you ready to resume your examination of Chief Shelmacher?”
Marc rose slowly and paused. Remy held her breath. “Defense has no further questions of Chief Shelmacher.”
The air rushed out of Remy’s lungs as she stared up at Marc. He did not look at her.
Lyton grinned. “We rest our case, Your Honor.”
Swellen nodded. “Your first witness, Mr. Truesdale.”
“Defense calls Dr. Sara Stein to the stand.”
Dr. Stein was blondish, sixtyish, lanky and fit. She swore to tell the truth and listed her credentials as a King County forensic toxicologist in a slightly gruff voice that betrayed a faint foreignness.
“Dr. Stein,” Marc began, “are you familiar with the drug that Colin Demerchant has now admitted he slipped into David Demerchant’s wine prior to his fatal flight?”
“Your Honor, I object,” Lyton said. “How David died is totally irrelevant to this case.”
“Your Honor,” Marc countered, “the drug used to kill David and the symptoms that resulted are crucial to this case.”
“Make me a believer, Mr. Truesdale. And soon,” Swellen said. “Objection overruled.”
Marc turned back to Dr. Stein. “Do you remember the question?”
“Yes. Colin Demerchant put lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, a potent hallucinogenic compound, into David’s wine. It was a popular drug in the sixties, which is, unfortunately, seeing a resurgence with today’s teen population. I’ve treated many patients who have taken it. The results are often deadly.”
“Why is this drug still around, Doctor?”
“Officially, researchers are still hoping to find some beneficial use for it. The latest is as a possible pain reliever in terminal cancer cases, where conventional pain relievers are no longer effective. Even that research is controversial.”
“Dr. Stein, if David Demerchant ingested this drug orally with a swig of wine as he crossed the international date line, how long, in your expert opinion, would it have been before he felt its effects?”
“Approximately thirty minutes.”
“So he would have been thirty minutes on the western side of the date line before he began to suffer hallucinations?”
“Yes.”
“How do you explain his giving his position to the Midway Islands air traffic controller as only about five minutes on the other side of the international date line?”
“David was clearly already too much under the influence of LSD to compute or estimate his position correctly.”
“So he was thirty minutes on the western side, not five, when he called the tower at Midway Island?”
“Yes.”
“Your Honor, I object! This witness is not an expert in aviation.”
“Your Honor,” Marc said, “Dr. Stein does not have to be an
expert in aviation to make a doctor’s judgment on the effects of a drug with which she is familiar.”
“I’m going to allow it, Mr. Lyton. Proceed, Mr. Truesdale.”
“Thank you, Your Honor. Dr. Stein, once David had begun to experience these hallucinations, how long would it take him before he totally lost touch with reality?”
“Within minutes of the drug taking effect, most subjects lose all reliance on their senses.”
“Did it surprise you to learn that David’s call to the air traffic controller only lasted five minutes before he broke off communication?”
“No, it did not surprise me. He could not fly a plane for long under the influence of LSD. He would no longer even know which way was up.”
“Then you believe he broke off communication with the air traffic controller at Midway because he crashed?”
“Absolutely.”
“But that would mean he crashed a full fifteen minutes on the western side of the international date line, where it was June 26, wouldn’t it, Doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Objection!” Lyton yelled too tardily. “Calls for a conclusion!”
“Only the logical one,” Marc said. “I have no further questions.”
Remy knew then that it didn’t matter whether Lyton’s objection was sustained or not. With Dr. Stein’s testimony and the evidence of Nicholas’s blood tie to David, and the way Marc would present Louie Demerchant’s tape of David, then Nicholas himself, Remy could feel the preponderance of evidence weighing on the defense side.
Marc had done what he said he would. He had proved Nicholas was David’s beneficiary.
When Marc had completed the presentation of his case and rested that afternoon, it took all of twenty minutes for the jury to return with their verdict.
“We find for the defendant, Nicholas Demerchant,” the lady foreman said, smiling.
The courtroom erupted in happy exclamations and clapping. Except for a sour-faced Lyton and his two clients, Remy noticed that the verdict appeared to be very popular with the spectators.
Marc turned to Remy, looking nearly as sad as those he had defeated, despite his victory. He hustled her quickly away from the ubiquitous reporters, out through the judge’s chambers, where Louie Demerchant and Phil Moore waited for them with Nicholas.