No Place to Deceive

by Jaden Skye

  Olivia refused to respond to that.

  “So, Nate took pictures of me and showed them to you?” Andrea was quickly putting all the pieces together herself.

  “It doesn’t look good for you, Andrea,” Olivia warned.

  “This is crazy, it’s nuts,” Andrea finally yelled out into the early evening. “Nate took all kinds of pictures of everyone and left them everywhere. Mort had a lot of the photos and carried them with him. From time to time I even saw a few of them myself. There were photos all kinds of people. Naturally I wondered who the people were. Then one night in the office I saw Mort sitting there, staring at them. Suddenly it hit me that Mort could have had a whole life somewhere else.”

  “Did you ask him about it?” Olivia was mesmerized.

  “No, I didn’t ask him, I told him! I said Mort, I know you have a whole other life.” Andrea began trembling violently then. “To my horror he just looked at me and started crying.”

  “Crying?” Olivia was amazed.

  “He sat there crying like a baby and kept saying I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Andrea breathed.

  “What was he sorry for? Were you sleeping with him? Was he betraying you, too?” Olivia was aghast.

  “No, never! That’s not it!” Andrea insisted. “I was not his girlfriend. I just wanted to be his daughter. I wanted him to treat me like he treated the other women in his life.”

  “So you got him to give you Christine’s necklace?”

  “It wasn’t her necklace, it was one just like hers.” Andrea’s voice got shaky. “Why shouldn’t I have one, too?”

  Olivia had Andrea in a corner now, and Andrea knew it. There was no backing out either; things had gone too far. Olivia went back to the heart of the matter.

  “What happened after Mort started crying?” Olivia asked.

  “Finally, he told me he had another family in Nashville, so that’s how I know about Nate,” Andrea barely whispered.

  “Why would he tell you that?” Olivia was outraged.

  “He had to. It was obvious.” Andrea suddenly began to smirk. “I knew I had him then. Another family? And he had another daughter as well. Right on the spot I decided it was time for me.”

  “Now he’d have to give you your just due, wouldn’t he?” asked Olivia, horrified.

  “What are you talking about?” Andrea’s eyes glistened.

  “You tell me!” Olivia threatened. “And if you don’t, it’s all over for you.”

  “You’re right,” Andrea breathed. “It was time for Mort to pay up. I decided to blackmail him.”

  “Blackmail him?” Olivia could have been knocked over with a feather. This was more than she ever expected.

  “That’s right.” Andrea seemed triumphant now. “I told him he’d have to pay up if he wanted me to keep this quiet. When I said that he didn’t even look surprised. And pay up, he did. He paid me a hefty check each month so no one would find out.”

  That had to account for the money that was missing, Olivia realized now.

  Now Andrea was on a roll. “He paid up for a long time, but then all of a sudden, the money stopped.” She grimaced.

  “That didn’t feel good, did it?” Olivia zeroed in.

  “You can say that again,” Andrea hissed.

  “So you’re the one who called Christine and threatened her life?” asked Olivia.

  “No, I didn’t threaten Christine at all.” Andrea began smiling oddly. “I had no reason to. I did her one better. I went and told Christine about Mort’s second family. It was the sweetest conversation I ever had. Maybe Nate made the call, or Calia? After all, they just found out that their father had another wife!”

  “Christine knew about Mort’s second family?” Olivia couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  “Yes, she did.” Andrea seemed delighted. “All along she thought that it was only her who was so important, so when I told her, it was wonderful to see her cringe in front of my eyes.”

  So, Christine had been lying to them, as well! Somehow Olivia wasn’t surprised. “What did Christine do after you told her?”

  “That was none of my business,” Andrea exclaimed. “But believe me, she wasn’t the same person again. Penny told me her mother was different, harder to be with. She was upset with Mort all the time. Penny didn’t know why, but I did. So, you see, I had no need to make that threatening call. Go find out who did!”

  Olivia felt sickened by the story. Clearly, Andrea had no reason for calling Christine. But someone else certainly had. But why? And who?

  Then, as wind gusts from the ocean got stronger, Andrea spun around and left, just as quickly as she’d come.

  *

  Olivia stood alone at the beach and let the breeze wash over her. She could certainly see why Andrea would be the main suspect. But with this new information, Christine was in the woods as well. She’d also lied. If Christine actually knew about Mort’s second family, that was also plenty of motive for the crime.

  Olivia thought of Nate and the photo album then. What else might be hiding on the pages she’d not yet seen? She decided to return to his hotel room and see if she could look at it.

  The wind grew higher and stronger as Olivia stood looking out into the ocean. She wondered what progress Wayne and the police were making tracing the call. Probably not much. If there was more news, Wayne would have let her know immediately. He was good that way, very good.

  Olivia paused. Wayne was good in so many ways. He was honest, dedicated, and straightforward. He could also be passionate when he let himself. Olivia missed him and suddenly wished he was here right beside her now.

  *

  By the time Olivia arrived at Nate’s hotel, it was dark out. She went straight upstairs and knocked on the door, fully expecting Nate to be inside.

  At first there was no answer. Olivia knocked again, more strongly this time.

  In a little while she heard a thin, female voice calling, “I’ll be right there. Take it easy.”

  That had to be Heidi, thought Olivia. Olivia hadn’t interviewed her alone yet, maybe this was the time?

  “What is it? What is it?” The voice came closer as the door opened, and Heidi stood there in a long pale blue velvet robe.

  “I hope I didn’t disturb you.” Olivia took a step back.

  “People do usually call before they come to the door.” Heidi looked at Olivia, dismayed.

  “I’m so sorry,” Olivia repeated. “Is Nate here, by any chance?”

  “No, he’s not.” Heidi stood in place without inviting Olivia in. “Haven’t you spoke to him enough?”

  “We’ve had some conversations,” said Olivia, “and there are just one or two more things I wanted to ask him.”

  “Well, he’s out with his sister having dinner,” said Heidi.

  Olivia looked past Heidi into the room as if indicating that she’d like to enter. “May I come in for just a little while?” Olivia took the liberty of asking.

  Looking almost afraid to say no, Heidi edged to the side, making room for Olivia to walk in.

  “Thank you,” said Olivia. “I won’t stay long.”

  “What do you want?” Heidi ran her fine hands nervously through her hair.

  “I wanted to tell you how sorry I am about your loss,” Olivia started, noticing a half full bottle of wine and a glass on the table nearby.

  “Thank you.” Heidi walked more deeply into the room. “Mort’s death is beyond imagination.”

  “Of course it is,” Olivia replied.

  “I have no idea how I’ll go on without him,” Heidi continued. “My life is forever altered. Nothing will ever be the same. I didn’t deserve this.”

  “You’ll be okay financially?” Olivia felt concerned.

  “Of course.” Heidi seemed startled by the question. “Mort provided beautifully for all of us.”

  “Are you all right down here, now?” Olivia continued, struck by how helpless Heidi seemed to feel.

  “Here? You mean in Key Biscayne?” He
idi’s eyes fluttered. “It’s awful. We’re all returning to Nashville in the morning. There’s no reason to stay here any longer at all.”

  “What’s awful?” Olivia was interested.

  “Everything.” Heidi gazed at Olivia strangely.

  “You’ve never been here before?” Olivia repeated the question, just to be sure.

  “I told you I hadn’t,” Heidi said. “Why do you ask again? What difference does it make?”

  Olivia didn’t know why she was asking. She was struck that Heidi and her family were leaving so quickly, before Mort’s body had been released.

  “I’d have thought you’d wait until arrangements had been made for Mort,” Olivia replied.

  “Mort will be cremated shortly and we’ve decided that half his ashes will stay here and half sent up to us in Nashville.” Heidi shivered as she spoke. “There’s no reason for our family to be here any longer.”

  “It must be painful to be around Mort’s other family,” Olivia remarked.

  “Painful’s not the word for it,” said Heidi. “It’s disgraceful, that’s what it is.”

  “Heidi.” Olivia took a step closer. “You had absolutely no idea about Mort’s other family?”

  Heidi’s eyes flashed wide open. “Any idea that it was real? None!”

  “What do you mean real?” Olivia jumped in.

  “You know Nate makes up crazy stories. He always has and always will. The past few months he’s been telling me crazy things about his dad. But Nate lives in fantasy, so I never believed him.”

  “What did Nate tell you?”

  “I told you, crazy things.”

  “Like what?” Olivia pressed harder.

  “Nate said he thought his father had a whole different life.” Heidi could barely get the words out. “I said that’s ridiculous, Nate. Your father loves me. Nate said if it’s true, prove it, Mom. Prove it.”

  “What did he mean by that?” asked Olivia.

  Heidi suddenly turned into a helpless southern belle and threw her hands up into the air. “How do I know what he meant? I didn’t spend my time trying to figure what Nate meant. If I did I would go crazy, just like he is.”

  “Nate’s not crazy.” Olivia urgently felt the need to defend him. “I find him inspiring, actually.”

  Heidi stared at her. “Inspiring? Nate’s taken you on a mind trip with him. He does that to people sometimes. Don’t let him grab you. Don’t believe a word he says.”

  Was Heidi pointing the finger at her very own son? Olivia was chilled.

  “I’m warning you, don’t believe him!” Heidi repeated harshly.

  But Olivia didn’t have to just believe him. She’d seen the photos he’d collected with her very own eyes.

  “Okay, it’s enough, I have to rest now.” Heidi was practically pushing Olivia out the door.

  “Thanks for your time.” Olivia backed away herself. She wanted to get to her hotel as soon as possible now and talk everything over with Wayne immediately.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Olivia called Wayne from the cab telling him she’d be at the hotel in a little while.

  “I’m on my way back now,” she spoke quickly into the phone. “I’ve so much to tell you.”

  “Great.” Wayne sounded delighted to hear from her. “I’ll make a reservation for dinner in the little restaurant in the back, overlooking the waterfall.”

  “Perfect.” Olivia was excited. “I’ll be there in just a little while.”

  When the cab pulled up to the hotel, Olivia was eager to get to the restaurant, see Wayne, and debrief. Not only was she hungry, but it always calmed her and gave her a larger perspective when they had a chance to talk.

  The way to the restaurant was through the lobby. After she got out of the cab, Olivia quickly walked into the lobby. But as soon as she entered, to her surprise. she suddenly saw Penny rushing toward her.

  “Oh my God, I’ve been sitting here waiting for you.” Penny’s eyes were red and swollen.

  “What happened?” Olivia got scared.

  “It’s my mom.” Penny was beside herself.

  Olivia gasped, fearing that Christine had come to harm. “Did the caller get her? Is she safe?”

  “Yes, yes.” Penny calmed Olivia. “No one has come near her. She’s under police protection. There are police officers stationed outside our home. But my mom’s definitely become paranoid since that crazy call. It’s affected her. She thinks she’s next to die and sits at home looking out the window, muttering loudly about my dad. The entire family is freaking out.”

  “What is she saying?” Olivia felt alarmed.

  “It’s hard to believe this, but she keeps saying she knew my father had something going on.” Penny looked dazed.

  Olivia felt a sense of weakness come over her. So, it was true, all true. This turned everything completely around. “Your mother admitted that?”

  “My mother says that she told my father that she knew about his second family! And that she couldn’t and wouldn’t put up with it, either! She warned him there would be hell to pay!”

  “When did she tell him that?” Olivia was horrified.

  Penny continued uncontrollably. “We had no idea, none of us did. She also said she withdrew money from his private account a few days before he was killed.”

  Olivia shook her head, as if shaking cobwebs away. She knew this happened at times, that cases unraveled by themselves. Once one thread was pulled, the entire fabric could come undone.

  “What should we do about this?” Penny was frantic. “Should we take my mother away and hide her somewhere?”

  “Penny,” Olivia responded, putting her hand on Penny’s arm. “What we have to do is clear as day.”

  “What?”

  “We have to give the police this information,” said Olivia.

  Penny looked totally shocked. “We can’t, we mustn’t!” she cried out. “I’ve hired you to work for us! I’m telling you this in confidence because I don’t know what else to do.”

  “But that’s what we have to do,” Olivia repeated softly.

  “You’ve got to be crazy! Don’t you dare even think that. If you tell them what I’ve told you, I’ll immediately deny every word it!” Penny insisted. “You have no proof. Ultimately, it’s your word against mine.”

  “Do you want someone else to get locked up for something they didn’t do?” Olivia looked at Penny squarely.

  “Oh my God, my God.” Penny started sobbing. “Contact Andrea immediately. She’ll know what to do. She always does.”

  “Why don’t you contact her yourself?” asked Olivia.

  “I can’t, I don’t want to! That’s why I hired you, isn’t it?” Penny seemed frozen with fear. “Just do what I say and call Andrea! Or I’m firing you from the case on the spot. And remember who you’re working for. You’re not working for the police, you’re working for us. And you can be out of here, one, two, three!”

  Olivia felt punched in the gut. “We’re all working to find the truth, aren’t we?” she finally responded.

  “You call Andrea and let her tell you what to do!” Penny was growing irate. “And you do what I say. Or before you know it, you’ll be back down in Key West with your slippery partner.”

  “Slippery?” Olivia was stunned. There was absolutely nothing in the world slippery about Wayne. That was the last word anyone would use to describe him. Could be Penny was the one who was becoming paranoid and not her mother?

  Penny stormed out then and Olivia stood in the lobby, horrified. Thankfully, in a few moments, her phone buzzed, and she looked down at it nervously.

  I’m here in the restaurant. It was Wayne texting. Where are you?

  I’m in the lobby, Olivia texted back. Will be there in a second.

  Olivia immediately dashed through the lobby to the restaurant at full throttle.

  “What’s wrong?” Wayne stood up the second she raced over to the table.

  “I’ve just had a horrible meeting with Penny,”
Olivia whispered, so glad she and Wayne were finally together.

  “Sit down and tell me.” Wayne tried to calm her.

  Olivia sat down quickly. “Christine’s telling everyone that she knew about Mort’s second family. She says she fought with him about it and even warned him there would be hell to pay.”

  Wayne looked startled. “This is incredible news.”

  Olivia ran her hand through her hair hurriedly, trying to settle down. “I also heard the same thing from Andrea,” Olivia continued. “Andrea told me that she found out about Mort a while ago.”

  “This changes everything,” Wayne murmured.

  “Not only that”—Olivia’s words tripped over one another—“Andrea said that she actually blackmailed Mort to keep the news quiet.”

  “Wait a minute!” Wayne began to look agitated. “Blackmail is a crime itself.”

  “Mort paid up for a while,” Olivia continued, “and when the checks stopped coming, Andrea got back at him and told Christine.”

  Wayne was transfixed. “Andrea actually admitted to a crime?”

  “Yes, she did,” said Olivia.

  “Both Andrea and Christine look guilty as hell now,” Wayne continued. “We’ve got to take this to the police.”

  “I told Penny that,” Olivia continued, “and she said we were working for her! We’d be fired immediately if we went to the police. She plans to deny everything she said.”

  “Did you tell Penny that Andrea corroborated the information?” Wayne’s jaw clenched.

  “No, I didn’t get a chance to,” said Olivia. “But Penny wants me to contact Andrea again immediately and find out what to do. She said that Andrea knows that.”

  “I’m sure she does,” said Wayne. “Penny must realize that Andrea’s more deeply involved than any of us believed. And just because Christine knew about the second family doesn’t mean she actually harmed Mort. If you asked me, the evidence leans more heavily towards Andrea, right now. Hell, she’s admitted to blackmail.”

  “But both of them could deny everything,” Olivia went on. “Penny did say that her mother withdrew money from Mort’s private account a few days before he died, too. That’s on record, at least.”