Miller took notes. “Not a problem. Research is my business. The library has access to numerous databases—not so much for individuals—but I’ll see what I can do with that and a few other resources I can tap into.”
“Wait,” Hollis said. “Let me send you a printout from our firm’s database. I ran a public records listing. Hopefully it will help speed up the angle you’re working on.”
“Absolutely,” Miller nodded.
“What about me, El Capitan?” Richard mocked her with a false salute.
“I’m hoping Brian will come up with those additional tax records,” Hollis said. “Until then, is there any way you could pull bank records?”
Richard looked thoughtful. “Not easily, but there just might be somebody …. Yeah, there just might be somebody I know who could get the information for me.”
Hollis began packing up her papers. “All right. Let’s meet back here Monday at our regular time to share notes. Miller, I’m going to get you that printout. And then I’m going to pay Frances a visit.”
After trying three times without any luck to reach Frances Wallace by phone, Hollis still chose not to leave a message. She wanted to deal with Mrs. Wallace face to face.
She began to get ready for her meeting with Shelby Patterson.
Shelby arrived on time. Tiffany informed Hollis that she’d already brought her a coffee. When Hollis entered the conference room, Shelby, her body language distressed and penitent, was clutching her cup of coffee with both hands and staring into it. She wore a tweed jacket over jeans and a white turtleneck sweater. Her hair was pulled back in its standard ponytail. She looked well put together. There was nothing to indicate that she had been having a rough time.
“Where have you been?” Hollis asked, taking the chair next to her.
“At a friend’s.”
“Does your friend live at the South Pole, where they don’t have phone service? Because I find it very hard to believe you couldn’t answer any of my calls or receive messages.”
“Look, I know you’re mad. And I don’t blame you.” She rubbed her forehead wearily. “But I knew Dad wouldn’t like me telling him to leave, and Joy and Sonny … well, let’s just say they’re wired tight. I … I’m afraid of them.” She backed her chair away from Hollis.
Hollis propped her elbows on the table and cupped her chin in her hands. “I’m not buying it. You couldn’t text me? I was really worried.” She was trying to contain her anger. “I think it’s best if you find another attorney. Someone was nearly killed trying to assist me so I could help you, and you don’t have the courage to even call.”
“Hollis I—”
“I really don’t want to hear this.”
“Then I don’t have anything to lose by talking,” Shelby said. “I sincerely apologize for being so self-centered, but I was scared. I wanted to hide to protect myself.”
“Do you realize that while you were off with your head in the sand, a locksmith and a process server got shot at on the front porch of your house?”
Shelby hung her head. “I didn’t know. Did they tell the police?”
“Of course they did.” Hollis peered down at her, her exasperation evident.
“I’m a coward. I let other people fight my battles for me,” Shelby said. She looked up at Hollis, her eyes pleading. “But I do need the money from the house to pay for my tuition. My grandmother wanted it for me.” She laid her head down on the table and looked up at Hollis like a woeful Bassett hound. “Where my family is concerned, I don’t have a backbone. I need you to be my backbone. You see what they can get up to? Shooting at people, for God’s sake.”
Hollis said in a calm voice that surprised even her, “I do understand your family situation, but I can’t work with a client I can’t trust—a client who won’t even communicate with me. I’ll find you an attorney who can be a better advocate for you.”
Shelby’s eyes filled with tears. “I understand. But if you give me a second chance, you won’t regret it. Please.” She reached over to touch Hollis’ hand.
Hollis closed her eyes and opened them to look into Shelby’s pleading ones. She closed her eyes again and opened them with resolve.
“Okay, all right. I’ll stick with you.” She held up her hand when Shelby started to reach over to hug her. “But if you pull another act like this again or decide to play some other game, that will be the end.”
“Understood.”
“Be here tomorrow, I’ll text you the time. The locks have been changed, and no one should be living there now. I’ll have the real estate agent meet us here; his name is Kevin Gregg. He needs your signature to take the listing on the house.”
“Understood.”
“Have you called your family? Especially your Aunt Denise.”
“Okay, I will. I—”
“While you’re calling them, I have to call the police and tell them you’ve returned.”
“Can I hug you?”
Hollis stiffened. “No.”
On the drive home Hollis felt the tension in her body ease. She wasn’t surprised at the way the conversation with Shelby had gone. Even though she’d threatened to walk away from Shelby’s case, she was a sucker for giving people second chances. After all, wasn’t that what saved her?
Waiting in commuter traffic was the break she needed to shift her thinking to the evening ahead with John. She loved him, of that she was sure. But the commitment he wanted was too much and too soon given her past experiences with trusting people. She pulled into the driveway and blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the scene in front of her. She got out of the car and walked up the pathway to stand in front of John.
“What are you doing out here on the front steps?” She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Did you forget your key?”
“I don’ need no stinkin’ keys.” He laughed and held her close. “I’m fine. I just wanted to see you drive up. I’m going to be gone a while. This is the picture of you I wanted to keep in my mind.”
She gazed at him in surprise. His sentimentality caught her off guard. “I didn’t know you were such a romantic. Let’s go inside before my neighbors bring out their cameras to make a YouTube video.”
“What’s for dinner?” he asked as he followed her upstairs to the bedroom.
“John, I know I said we would have a quiet dinner here, but I had a really hectic day. Can we eat out and come back here?”
“Sure, that works for me.” He sat down at the top of the steps and waited for her to change shoes and check her phone. He raised his voice so she could hear him. “What made your day so hectic?”
“Oh, you don’t want to listen to the dull details of my little day,” she called back. “Your day has got to be more interesting than mine.”
“You can stop playing the sweet little partner.” He leaned back against the wall, a smile playing on his lips. “I know Brian Wallace is out on bail. Mosley told me about your meeting.”
Hollis stood next to him, hands on hips. “I hope he told you that once again I shared some critical information and didn’t press him for any of his.”
“He did indeed.” John pulled her into his lap and kissed her. “Let’s go before we forget we’re hungry.”
They chose a favorite neighborhood restaurant. It wasn’t crowded, just a few familiar regulars. They settled into a booth and ordered quickly.
“Are you all packed and ready to leave?” Hollis asked, playing with the stem of her wine glass.
“Not really. I have some last-minute running around to do. My flight leaves at seven in the morning on Monday. There’s a layover in Chicago. I’ll get into DC early evening.”
“Will you give me a call when you get in?”
“Yeah, if you want me to.” He looked over his shoulder then back at Hollis. “Look, I don’t know what phase we’re going through. I’m not sure I like it. I think we need this little break—not for me, but for you.”
She dropped her gaze to her hands. “John I—”
Hollis smiled slowly. “So am I.” Her face turned somber. “I really do love you.”
He looked at her. “I know.”
The next day, Hollis prepared for the meeting with Shelby and the real estate agent. Listings were income for Kevin, and a listing for a home in the desirable hills of San Lucian was rare. She was able to get a hold of Shelby without any problem, and she agreed to be there on time to sign the papers. Hollis had ordered two more sets of keys made. She gave one to Shelby, another to the agent, and kept the third.
Kevin came with the papers for Shelby to sign and left with the understanding he would do whatever it took to get the house sold quickly. He promised to be at Hollis’ beck and call and left them like a man on a mission.
“Shelby, you and I need to check out the house before it goes on the market,” Hollis said. “When are you going back to LA?”
“I’m not—not until the week before classes start. I’ve decided to stay with my girlfriend in San Lucian. Her place is where I … I was before. Rosa and I went to school together. The location is more convenient than Rena’s and hopefully my house will sell quickly. I’ll go back to Rena’s later on to get my things.”
“When can you go to the house for a walk-through?”
“Can we make it next week? I want to go to Santa Cruz this weekend. I’ll be back late Monday. I can meet you there on Tuesday morning.”
“Okay. See you there at eleven o’clock.”
Hollis gathered her papers and went back to her office.
She punched the number for Frances Wallace, who answered before the first ring ended.
Her voice was warm. “Yes, Ms. Morgan, I remember you from the memorial and from my husband talking about you.”
“I was hoping to speak with you sometime in the next couple of days about Jeffrey.” Hollis had chosen her words with care. “He started our book club—”
“Yes, I know. It was an achievement he was proud of.” She paused. “I’m going out of town for a few days. I know tomorrow is a Saturday, but I’m available to speak with you then.”
Hollis took her address and agreed to see her mid-morning.
She spent the rest of the day preparing briefs on cases George had left for her assessment. She found herself warming to the task. It was satisfying handling matters that could be resolved quickly and unemotionally.
It was a few minutes before five when Hollis gathered her things to go home. John was making final preparations to leave for his training program. She felt an ache in her chest. She was going to miss him.
She pushed the down button on the elevator. If she timed it right, she could go downstairs and check on Vince before he left for the day. She hadn’t seen him since he started his GED prep classes.
“Vince, are you down here?”
The layout of the firm’s mailroom defied logic. It was a small maze of open white-plastic boxes along a series of tables that twisted in adjoining L-shapes next to a large bin where the mail was dropped off by the postal service.
“Hey Hollis.” Vince came from a small hallway with his jacket in hand. “I was just getting ready to leave. Is everything okay?”
She reached out to give him a hug, but at the last moment remembered his aversion to being touched. Instead she held out her hand and he grazed it with his own.
“Everything is fine. I came down to see how things were going with you. We’re getting great mail service upstairs and I wanted to see the man in charge.”
Vince blushed.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’m really trying. I like it here.”
“How’s your mom?”
He frowned. “She was doin’ real good until a couple of days ago. She was real happy we was gettin’ an apartment. I found this one near the airport. It’s only a converted motel room and it’s a little noisy, but it’s better than the shelter. I’ll have the money for it with this next paycheck. Anyways … anyways, one of the people at the shelter made her mad and she … she used a little.”
Hollis hoped her face didn’t reveal her disappointment.
“That’s why I’ve got to get back to her now. Nighttime is really rough for her. If I’m with her, she’s stays straight. She wants to stay clean.”
Vince turned off the lights and they walked toward the elevators.
“What about you?” Hollis asked. “How’s the GED going?”
“I knew you were going to ask me that,” he said, shaking his head with an almost-smile.
Hollis realized that when he finally let himself smile, he was going to be a good looking young man.
“Yeah, and so? What have you got to say for yourself?”
“I’m taking these classes at the adult school over in Oakland. Well, just one class right now until we move. There’re five subject areas, you know: math, social studies, writing, science, and reading.” Vince was walking backwards, waving his arms with animation. “The test for all five is about six hours. But they said it shouldn’t take me too long because I have a lot of high school credits. I can take the test at any time; I just need to brush up.”
They’d reached the lobby, and Hollis walked with him to the doors leading to the street.
“Vince, I’m glad for you. If you get stuck, just get in touch with me. Don’t forget to let me know how things are going.” Hollis left it at that and waved as he hurried away.
She continued to watch him. Halfway down the block, Vince turned and looked at her over his shoulder. He gave her a wave, with another almost-smile.
Chapter 15
Hollis didn’t know what she expected to see when she drove up to Jeffrey’s home. His office at work was decorated simply, with minimum furniture, no family pictures, and the only adornment being a single plastic-encased poster of a cat clinging to a tree branch.
His home was completely different. Located in a modest but gated community, the Mediterranean single-story house was nestled in a cul de sac of similar style homes. Lush green lawns and boxwood shrubs marked the boundaries of each property. The Wallace house was a soothing ochre color with climbing purple and red bougainvillea. The curved walkway to the wooden front door was cobbled and interspersed with small mounds of moss. A ‘for sale’ sign stood solidly next to the walkway.
Very nice.
Frances Wallace greeted her at the door. Her sleek white-on-white jersey pants outfit suited her perfectly. She was a striking woman, and Hollis couldn’t help but wonder what had attracted her to the rather ordinary and not at all flashy Jeffrey. A great guy, but one who few would describe as handsome or charming.
“Thank you for coming out on a Saturday.” Frances directed Hollis toward the living room.
Hollis declined her offer of coffee or tea. “But water would be nice.”
Frances quickly returned with a pitcher of water and two glasses containing ice cubes and lemon slices.
“You have a lovely home,” Hollis said, looking around at the tastefully decorated open space living and dining room.
She smiled. “Thank you. I did it myself. Jeffrey didn’t care for … for ….” She dabbed at her eyes with the sides of her hands.
“I’m sorry,” Hollis said, looking around for a box of tissues.
Frances pulled one from her sleeve.
“No, I’m sorry. Usually I’m okay, but every once in a while …. Anyway, how can I help you?”
Hollis poured a glass of water. “Your stepson Brian asked my firm to help him get your trust processed. He was concerned that his … his suspect status might cause a delay.” She paused. “So I agreed to assist.”
Frances straightened her back. Tears dried, she put on eyeglasses and from behind a sofa pillow pulled out a tablet and pen. “Good. I want the trust filed with th
e death certificate as soon as possible. I have the numbers of our bank accounts and the policy numbers from the insurance.” She handed Hollis a sheet of paper.
The transformation in five seconds from grieving widow to business administrator threw Hollis, but for only a moment. Her years as a paralegal had prepared her for a wide range of reactions from family members. Frances had run the whole emotional gamut right before her eyes.
Hollis looked down at the paper. “We have a hearing date within three weeks.”
“No sooner?” Frances asked.
Hollis ignored her question. “Do the police really think Brian killed his father?”
The question had the effect she’d been aiming for. Frances looked as if the cold water had been poured over her head.
“Why … why I … I know. It’s crazy, isn’t’ it? Brian couldn’t have killed Jeffrey. They always argued. I told the police. I mean the police seemed to think it was done with violent intent. But Brian couldn’t have, don’t you think? I try not to think about how Jeffrey died.” She used her tissue to dab her forehead and reached for a glass of water.
Interesting.
Hollis took a sip.
“I don’t think this will be an issue, but I understand you filed for divorce about three months ago,” Hollis said quietly.
“Er … yes. That doesn’t affect the trust, does it? I mean timing wise.” She took a long drink of water and appeared to gaze out the bay window overlooking the backyard. “We loved each other, but we were different people. He helped me during a bad time and I fell in love with his sincerity. But it wasn’t enough for the long game.”
Hollis pretended to look at the file she brought with her. Her thoughts focused on speculating why Frances felt the need to lie, especially since she was so bad at it. “So, you’ve put the house up for sale?”
“Yes …. I did put it on the market. It’s way too much house just for me. I might move to Nevada. It’s cheaper to live there and your money goes further.”
The Return of the Fallen Angels Book Club (A Hollis Morgan Mystery 3) Page 11