by Liz Turner
“When did you leave?” Victoria asked.
“It was after midnight,” Simon said. “He came to walk me to the elevator, and as we stepped out into the hall, we saw his secretary moving to her room.”
“Oh,” Victoria said.
“Deedee looked very embarrassed to be seen out that late. Leo gave her a glare, but didn’t say anything.” Simon said. He shrugged. “I didn’t care. She’s an adult; she can do as she pleases. I don’t suppose there was much Leo could have said to her.”
“Well, we’ll have to find out,” Jager said.
Simon nodded and was about to add more when the door to the conference room opened, and Tess stepped out. She smoothed her dress around herself, and adjusted her bracelets, before walking over to the three of them.
“I can’t sit in that room anymore.” She said. “I think I’ll get a panic attack if I do.”
“Is everything ok in there?”
“They keep bringing up Matt and Leo,” Tess said. “It’s all they seem to want to talk about; just memories of the two of them. I can’t stand it.”
“Alright.” Corporal Jager escorted her into the room next door. “Simon, maybe you could arrange for a cup of tea for Miss Tess?”
“Mrs.” She said.
Jager raised an eyebrow.
“Mrs. Tess Loams.” She said, in a stronger voice. “I was married to Leo Loams.”
Chapter 18
There was a long, and tense pause. Randolf and Victoria exchanged glances. Victoria could clearly see the disbelief in his eyes. Tess seemed upset by it.
“I’m not lying.” She said defiantly. “Leo loved me.”
Jager gave a little cough. “I see. You were married to Mr. Loams?”
“I was, yes,” Tess said.
Jager looked pointedly at her hand, which had no ring on it. Tess colored.
“Well, Leo was an unorthodox man. So was I.” Tess said. “He and I have been in love for a long time. He was the main man of my life, and I was his main woman.”
“The others lived in the same house as you,” Victoria said. “They didn’t have a clue that you and Leo were together?”
Tess wiped a tear with one eye. “The others have always hated me. They’re a narrow-minded lot. I’m fat. I’ll say it proudly. It’s who I am. None of my diets have ever worked for me. The others are just fatphobic. They thought it’s impossible for a man like Leo, with his fame, and his riches, to fall in love with someone who looks like, well, me.”
“You look good,” Victoria said. “From what I’ve seen of you, you dress better than models in a fashion show.”
Tess beamed at Victoria. “Thanks.” She said.
“Well, you’re saying you were married to Leo,” Jager said, with a slight cough. “What church did you get married in?”
“We… we didn’t do it in a church.” Tess said. “I signed a piece of paper, and Leo and I had our ceremony. It was beautiful. We went to a beach alone and spent time just focussing on each other. Then we walked six miles to the nearest town, and ended the day with a lobster dinner near a bonfire.” She had tears in her eyes. “I loved that man, and he loved me.”
“Well, this piece of paper...” Jager said. “Do you know where it is?”
Tess looked surprised. “I suppose it’s with Leo.” She said. But there was a hint of doubt in her voice.
“You don’t have a copy?” Jager said.
“Why would I, if Leo had it?” Tess asked.
“I ran a check on Leo,” Jager said. “He’s not listed as married in the city council records.”
Tess choked. Then, recovering, she said, “So what? I was still married to him.”
“Leo lived with Deedee in the ranch house.” Jager said, “Isn’t that right?”
“His daughter.” Tess dismissed. “She was sponging off him. The girl’s 25 and never had a job! An altogether nasty piece of work. Clearly took advantage of Leo.”
“Wasn’t she also employed as Leo’s secretary?”
“Well… yes.” Tess didn’t say anything.
“Was Leo paying her for it?”
“He gave her food and board!” Tess exclaimed. “That’s enough payment.”
“Well, you were his wife,” Jager said. “So, did you live with him too?”
She bit her lip. “It was complicated. I had to live in a different city for a while. But I tried to come live with them at least two months of the year. I was very busy with my new venture. It’s doing well. It's an online store for plus size women who want to be fashionable, not just wearing tents.”
“Congratulations,” Jager said drily. “But why did you need to live in a different city if it’s an online venture? Surely, since you’re primarily dealing with the internet, you can work anywhere you please?”
“It’s not that simple,” Tess said. “I needed to be in touch with, distributors and meetings to attend. I…” Her voice trailed off. “Alright, I liked living in the city, and Leo liked living in the ranch house.”
“So you were married, didn’t wear a ring, didn’t have any records filed with the city, and also didn’t bother to live together?” Jager asked.
“Why are you ganging up on me?” Tess asked with a small cry. “You're ridiculous. It was our marriage. We’d decided that we would never step in between each other’s happiness. We might look funny to conventional folk, but I knew in my heart that he loved me, and he knew I loved him. That’s all there was to it.”
“Why didn’t he tell the rest of his so-called “family”?” Jager asked.
“He and I wanted to see if it would work out,” Tess said. “We did have some doubt about how things would be if we had separate living arrangements. We were planning to tell everyone at this retreat.”
“Oh, I see.” There it was again. Complete disbelief on Jager’s face.
Tess had had enough. “I’m going back to the room,” she said. “My room. I’d like to be alone, instead of being surrounded by...”
“I would recommend you not do that,” Jager said. “You may not leave the conference room.”
“Fine!” Tess said. “I’ll sit with those losers!”
“Just one more question,” Jager said. “Jim mentioned that a long time ago, you used to be a patient of Leo’s. Back when he was a psychiatrist.”
Tess shivered a little. “Jim told you that?”
“We can check it up quite easily,” Jager said. “Or you could save us the trouble and tell us yourself.”
Defeated, Tess said, “Yes. I was.”
“What did you suffer from?”
“We aren’t sure what I had. I might have had mild symptoms of schizophrenia.” She said, taking a deep breath. “I believe they were mostly brought about by the emotional abuse my ex-boyfriend put me through. With Leo’s help, I recovered quite well.”
“Do you know that a lot of patients get very attached to their psychiatrists?” Jager asked. “To the point that they believe they are in love?”
“I wasn’t his patient when we married!” Tess exclaimed. “It happened! It did!”
“Hallucinations are a common symptom of schizophrenia, aren’t they?” Jager said.
Tess hefted herself up and banged her hand on the table. “You have a closed mind.” She said. “You’re just a foolish Mountie, with a badge and some authority. What do you know about the real world? Why is it so hard for you to believe that people like me can exist?”
Jager put a hand up. “I’d like you to stay calm, Miss Tess.”
“It’s Mrs!!” She roared. “My name is Mrs. Tess Loams.”
“On your passport, your name is Miss Tess Bowers,” Jager said. “Do you have any documentation proving your name change?”
“I’ve had it.” She shouted. “Instead of going after me why not go after the men who killed Leo?
Clay’s right there! Jim said he even tried to strangle Matt earlier! Why are you ganging up on me, when you should be focussing on Clay?”
Jager said, “I’m so
rry, Tess. I’m not ganging up on you. It’s part of my job to ask questions, and to figure out holes in people’s stories.”
Not pausing to listen, Tess stormed out.
Victoria gave Randolf a look. “What?” He asked, looking defensive. “Victoria she’s got a history of mental illness.”
“She seems fine currently,” Victoria said.
“Victoria, she was obsessed with Loams,” Randolf said. “This woman was not married to him. There would have been records somewhere.”
“Still… you could have been nicer.”
“Victoria, this is a murder investigation, and there’s a very real chance she’s the murderer. Do you realize that?” Randolf said. “She’s got the personality for it, and she’s got the bulk to be able to push Leo out of his window.”
“Even so. I’m going to see if she’s alright.” Victoria said.
Chapter 19
Victoria went outside, where Cara was trying to console a weeping Tess. “Nobody on my side anymore.” She was sobbing.
Victoria put a hand on her shoulder, and Tess looked at her with malice in her eyes. “What?” She spat out. “Come to ask me about my marriage some more?”
“No,” Victoria said. “I think the corporal treated you badly. I’m sorry.”
With a dramatic sniff, Tess’ eyes cleared up. “Well, what do you want?”
“I wanted to ask you about what you saw or heard last night,” Victoria said. “You mentioned you heard people yelling.”
Tess nodded. A sly look came into her face. “You think it was the murderer?”
“Yes,” Victoria said simply.
“Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but it wasn’t. It was Matt who was fighting with Leo last night.” Tess said. “He certainly didn’t kill Leo, did he? Given that he's dead now too.”
“Oh.” Taken aback, Victoria asked. “Did you see him?”
“No. But I heard him.” Tess said. “I recognized Matt’s voice. He was saying something about Leo being unfair to the others. “You can’t play favorites like this.” Matt was saying. “I refuse to let you do that.” Leo started yelling back about how it was his way or the highway, and that Matt owed him his life.”
Tess shuddered. “I should have gone out. I should have seen what was happening. Oh, how I wish I had. But I didn’t.”
“Why not?” Victoria asked.
Tess fumbled. “Well...”
“You fought with him that day, didn’t you?” Victoria said. When Tess puffed up, Victoria hurriedly added, “I was there when you were talking to him about how the weather was intolerable and that he should punish Deedee for scheduling the retreat badly.”
“Well, he should have,” Tess said angrily. “But Deedee was always his favorite, so of course he didn’t.”
“How did that make you feel?”
“Terrible,” Tess said. “I had a fight with him about it that day. You’re right about that. It’s why I didn’t go to him.” She shuddered and then burst into tears. “I didn’t know I’d never be able to go to him again!”
Unwilling to let the tears get in her way, Victoria asked. “Tess, when did you wake up today? Did you see or hear anything unusual in the morning?”
“I didn’t wake up until the commotion started,” Tess said. “When I woke up, Leo was dead!
Afterward, I came to the conference room, had lunch with the group, and then I was in my room weeping all day. Oh, Leo!” She cried. “I was sure either Matt or Clay had killed him, and now I know it has to be Clay!”
Cara said, “Don’t talk like that, Tess.”
“But it has to be,” Tess said. “Think about it, Cara. I’ve been in my room all day, and you’ve been in your room with Deedee. Who could have killed Matt? It can either be Jim or Gray or Clay. Now, why would Jim or Gray kill Matt? I bet Clay is not in Leo’s will. He’d already gotten angry and tried to strangle Matt. Clay hated Leo and yet he showed up unexpectedly at this hotel. Why? Clay intended to kill Leo.”
Cara didn’t say anything. “You never know,” she said suddenly. “It could be Victoria who killed Matt.”
Tess looked up wonderingly, as this new thought filtered into her brain.
“Why are you so interested?” Tess asked. “This isn’t part of your job as the caterer.”
“It isn’t,” Victoria said. “I’m overstepping; you’re right about that.”
“So why are you doing it?”
“I used to be a true crime writer,” Victoria said.
She heard Cara give a gasp.
“I guess some habits die hard. When I encounter a crime, I’m always interested in talking to the people around it and finding out how it affected them. Then I like to speculate why someone would kill.”
“Victoria Pelletier?” Cara gasped. “You’re the Victoria Pelletier, Michael Pelletier’s wife, and co-author? How did I not recognize you sooner! I’ve read all your books including Blue Moon, Red River, and Tied To His Home!”
Tess gave a dismissive grunt. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“Well, I’ve been a fan of your work since you wore the emerald green Indian-inspired dress in Wallenbacher’s Fall 2003 collection,” Victoria said, smiling at Cara.
Cara waved her hand. “I got lucky.”
“You were a vision in that dress!”
Cara’s smile broadened. “It’s a pleasure to talk to you, Victoria. It’s unfortunate that we met under these unusual circumstances.”
Bored now that attention wasn’t on her, Tess walked away, heading into the conference room.
Victoria said to Cara. “It was hard for you, I’m sure. A big shock, to have two people you considered family ripped away like that.”
“Oh, I think I was the least close to the family,” Cara said. “Even when Leo most influenced me, I only lived about one month a year in that house. My modeling career kept me on the road eleven months of the year.”
“Did you see either Leo or Matt yesterday?”
“Me? No. I was fairly tired. I’d flown in all the way from Australia where I was shooting an ad for Prada. My work is drying up now, so when I get an offer like that, I jump! Models have expiry dates on them just like bottles of milk do!” She laughed at the end of the last sentence.
“So you stayed in your room?”
“Yes. I stayed in my room yesterday, sleeping away. If there was a fight in the corridor, I didn’t see it. I was pretty jet-lagged, so I slept some fifteen hours straight. I woke up at about 7:30 a.m. and went to the gym. It’s nice to be up so early. An empty gym is one of my life’s biggest pleasures.”
“I don’t go to the gym much, myself,” Victoria said. “I’d rather take long walks than go on the treadmill.”
“Oh, I run outside when the weather permits me to,” Cara said. “But I also lift weights regularly. My doctor told me that cardio is good for endurance and a long life. Weightlifting, though, is what keeps you looking young. Your jawline stays more defined, and your skin stays clearer because of oxygenation.”
“Nice,” Victoria said.
“Yes. I love lifting weights. I had a nice peaceful session by myself and then, well, the whole fracas began.”
“Well, when you came back, did you see anything?” Victoria asked.
Cara shook her head. “I came back at about 8:30 a.m. I think you were in the room with Leo then, weren’t you? The corridor was empty, except for the maid. I went to my room, took a long shower, changed into comfy sweats. I was ready to head for breakfast, but next thing I know, Gray’s there, telling me about what’s happened. It was unbelievable.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Victoria said.
Cara shrugged. “It’s just… it’s difficult. But I’m not devastated like some of the others. Someone’s got to stay strong in situations like this. I can’t fall apart. Poor Deedee was very miserable today.”
“You took Deedee to your room after that little scene with Clay in the hallway?” Victoria asked.
“Yes.”
Cara’s face twisted. “Clay is an idiot. Of all the times to come back into her life!”
“What happened between them?”
“Teenage love,” Cara said, with an exasperated sigh. “First love swept them both away. But Clay was a nomad. He wanted to travel the world. He wanted to go to Brazil and start his company. Deedee was too timid to leave Leo. She was also too comfortable. She liked living in the Ranch; she liked the sense of home. They were bound to split eventually. The sad thing is, the baby happened before they could.”
“Deedee didn’t deliver, did she?”
Cara shook her head. “She had a miscarriage. Poor girl.It was a bad year for her. Leo was furious at her for so long. It took her a long time to work herself back into his good graces. I think things were never the same. Still, Leo cared about her.”
Victoria nodded. “Poor Deedee. But tell me, Cara are you sure neither of you left that room today?”
“Oh positive,” Cara said. “Once we went inside my room, I ordered some soup for lunch and then made Deedee lie down. We just spent the day lying in bed watching cartoons and talking. She was in a strange, blank sort of mood. Poor girl. I think the shock of it… it just unhinged her a little bit. We came out only when Corporal Jager came to escort us to the conference room. We’ve been here ever since.”
Chapter 20
The last person Corporal Jager needed to interview was Deedee. He was a lot more sensitive to her than he’d been with Tess perhaps because of the look Victoria had given him.
Cara insisted on accompanying Deedee to the small room next door and invited Victoria to come as well. Deedee accompanied them passively, following along like a puppet.
“Well, I don’t want to cause you further grief.” Corporal Jager said. “I just want to ascertain a few things, and you can go back to the conference room with your… friends? Family?”
“They’re both,” Deedee said blankly. “Ask me any questions you like, officer. Don’t be afraid to cause me hurt. No matter how painful your questions are, they can’t possibly equal what’s happened.”