by Maeve Hart
I nodded, having sensed the tension between the two men. “And I notice there are more men here that women.”
“I hope that’ll change very shortly soon too.” He chuckled.
I was finding out that Lewis was nice and not at all like his brother, Seamus.
Lewis turned around and I noticed he was looking over at Jacques, who was engrossed in a conversation. “How about a game of pool?” he asked.
“I haven’t played for years, not since college.”
“Good. I might have found someone I can beat.” He nodded toward my drink. “Bring that with you.”
While we played pool, Seamus was talking to one of the few single women. They were looking at his tattoo, so I listened hard.
“The circle represents family,” Seamus said. “The tree is the tree of life—no surprises there—and the eye is the all-knowing one who watches over us.”
“And by ‘us’ you mean shifters?” the woman asked.
I wondered if the all-knowing one was the presence I had always felt watching me. Family—did that mean he was somehow related to Detective Andrews since they shared the tattoo? It was too much of a coincidence that two people had the exact same tattoo in the exact same place. Then it hit me—family. Flora’s divination had told her Don was killed by someone from the same side. That could mean that Jennifer had killed Don with the poison. Even though she’d confessed, I’d still doubted that she’d done it, but I must’ve been wrong.
Peter must’ve known Jennifer was guilty even though she’d denied it and the stress of that and looking after his demanding mother-in-law had caused his heart attack. But none of that answered the question about how the snake venom got into Don’s system.
Lewis broke the triangle of balls and then missed the next shot. “Your turn.”
I had my turn and hit the white ball, which hit another ball and just missed the hole it was in front of. It had been an easy shot and I’d missed it.
“This is going to be a long game,” Lewis said with a laugh.
“I tried to warn you.” I took another mouthful of my drink.
Jacques came up beside me. “Need a hand?”
“Not fair,” Lewis said. “This wasn’t what I signed up for.”
“You need more practice,” Jacques said to Lewis. “I won’t play for Destiny; I’ll instruct her in what to do.”
“Fair enough, I guess,” Lewis said.
For the next half hour Jacques showed me how to hold the cue properly and exactly where on the ball to aim if I wanted the ball to go in certain directions. It was nice to have so much of his attention in the same room as the pack.
Chapter 18
I never thought I’d be at another funeral so soon. Don’s funeral was just weeks ago and now here we were at his brother-in-law’s funeral. I had made sure Abbie and I weren’t the first ones to arrive.
Maggie and Jennifer were sitting in the front row along with Jennifer’s two teenage children. I wondered what would become of the children after Jennifer went to jail.
I’d already told Abbie that we would sit in the back row and hopefully we would not be seen. I’d liked Peter, and he was mostly nice to me. He was certainly trying to do the right thing by me the day he died when we were both at Don’s house.
As we shuffled our way into the back row, I glanced out and caught sight of Detective Andrews.
When we sat down, Abbie leaned towards me and said, “I have plenty of tissues if you need them.”
I whispered back, “I think I’ll be alright.”
The service was at the same church as Don’s funeral. The difference was that this time the casket was open.
As the minister was speaking, Abbie whispered, “Isn’t that the detective over there?”
I whispered back, “That’s him, Detective Andrews.”
We sat there and listened to the minister and then to Peter’s friends who said some nice and amusing things about him. I had to fight back tears when Peter’s daughter got up and sang a song just as she’d done at Don’s funeral. It seemed so sad for the young girl to be singing at her father’s funeral.
When the service was over, we tried to get out the door before we were seen, but there were people on the end of the row ahead of Abbie and she couldn’t get through. When we eventually made it outside, someone tapped me on the shoulder.
I turned around to see Andrews.
“Good morning, Ms. Stephens. I didn’t expect to see you here today.”
“Peter and I always got along.” I looked over his shoulder and just as I did so I saw Jennifer step outside the church. She looked directly at me.
I looked away, but by then she was striding over towards me.
“Destiny, it was nice of you to come.”
I had expected her to be rude or mean to me.
“I’m very sorry for your loss, Jennifer. I’m sorry I haven’t called—I wasn’t sure what to say.”
“I’m sorry about Don too. I never said that to you. I suppose you hate me.”
“That’s in the past,” I said, not knowing what else to say. It was awkward with the detective standing right by us.
“Peter said you wanted to go to the house to look for some paperwork that was lost. Did you find it?”
The detective looked very interested in that and he stared at me.
“No, I didn’t. I had a look but I couldn’t find it, and then Peter asked me to help him clean up the place. Well, I offered, actually, since I had nothing to do for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, we didn’t get far in the cleaning.” I noticed Maggie walking out of the church with a group of people. “How is your mother?”
“She’s a mess. I have to make arrangements for the children. Since I’ll be in jail soon.” She gave a sideways glance to the detective who up until now she had totally ignored.
I looked over at Abbie who was standing well back, obviously not wanting to talk to Jennifer. Then I looked back at Jennifer. “I hope everything works out.”
“Thank you, Destiny. It would’ve been nice if Don had married you and divorced that old cow.”
I nodded. “She’s not here, is she?”
“No. And she wouldn’t want to come here either. She probably caused Peter’s heart attack, going there to the house like that. I hope you don’t mind, Destiny, but it’s only immediate family at the gravesite,” Jennifer said.
I nodded. “I hadn’t intended to go. I didn’t want your mother to see me here. I thought it might make her too upset and bring back memories of Don and everything.”
Jennifer glanced back at her mother. “Yes, you’re right. Everything seems to make her upset these days.”
“We should go. I hope everything goes well for you, Jennifer.”
“Destiny, can I have a word with you in private?” She pulled on my arm before I had a chance to respond. When we were away from the detective and Abbie, she said, “I’m sorry I killed Don. I regret what I did, but I can’t change it. I’m surprised you’re still talking to me and being nice.”
I nodded. Was I supposed to forgive her? I was going to end the engagement and the relationship because Don had been abusive, but I didn’t want him to die.
In the next breath, she asked, “What were Peter’s last words?”
I thought back. It was something like, There are some rubber gloves—can you clean out the stinky fridge? I didn’t want to tell her that. And she probably wouldn’t believe that his last words were, Tell my wife I love her and I forgive her for murdering her brother. “I honestly can’t remember. We were just talking about cleaning the house. It must have been quick. I’m sure he didn’t suffer or anything. He didn’t even call out.”
She nodded. “I never expected things to end this way. It’s always been all about the money and now with Peter gone, what use is it?” She looked into my face.
She was right about money being no good without the people you love to share it with. I hoped she wasn’t looking to me for any intelligent or philosophical words
because I had none. “I better go before Maggie sees me here.”
I didn’t mention her sentencing because she hadn’t mentioned it. It wasn’t the best place to discuss such things.
Jennifer nodded, backed away, and headed to a crowd of people.
The detective walked over to me. “I told you I wasn’t her favorite person,” he said.
“It seems nothing’s changed.” Smiling at him, I said goodbye, and then joined Abbie, who was waiting by the car.
Chapter 19
Abbie had invited Jacques and me to dinner the night before Jennifer’s sentencing. I said we’d bring the dessert and we brought cheesecake and ice cream.
It was as though Jacques and I were a real couple. Sometimes it seemed too good to be true, but tonight, having dinner with friends, it was real. As I walked up to Abbie’s front door, I could see candlelight in the dining room. Steve opened the door and I introduced the men before following Steve through to the kitchen where Abbie was busy whisking something on the stove. Abbie had already met Jacques.
“Look at you, looking like a real housewife,” I said.
Abbie spun around. “Stop it. Hello, Jacques.”
“Hello. Thank you for inviting us,” he said.
“Well, I hope you like my cooking. I haven’t done much of it, I’m afraid.”
“She’s a good cook,” Steve said, sounding like he was trying to score points.
I glanced over at the table with the candles alight. “The table looks so good.”
“Yes, I thought you deserved something nice to take your mind off tomorrow.”
Pulling a face, I said, “Thanks for coming with me. I’d hate to be going alone.”
“Have a seat,” Steve said. “Can I get you both a drink?”
“Just water for me, please. I need a clear head for tomorrow.” I sat on the stool next to the kitchen counter.
“I’ll have whatever you’ve got,” Jacques answered.
“You don’t have to testify about anything, do you?” Abbie asked.
I gulped. “I hope not. They haven’t said anything.”
“I’m certain these things are over pretty quickly. If someone’s pleading guilty, it’s usually only the person on charges who has to answer anything,” Jacques said.
“I’ll be glad if I never see another police station or court room again,” I said. “It would be my worst nightmare to have to speak in court.”
“I’d say they would’ve told you by now,” Steve said, handing me a glass of sparkling water and Jacques a scotch. “Besides,” Steve continued, “she’s copped a plea bargain, so there’s no trial; it’s just the sentencing part.”
I sipped the water. “I hope she doesn’t get too long.”
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Abbie said.
“The food smells lovely. What is it?” Jacques asked.
“It’s an Italian vegetarian dish that Steve’s mother gave him.”
“Vegetables?” I asked.
“Yes, my mother’s into that kind of thing,” Steve said. “She grows her own.”
It wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I had to admit it smelled nice.
“Can you take a minute to sit and have a drink with us, Abbie?” Steve said.
“Okay. I’ll just turn the stove down.”
We all sat in the living room. There was an awkward silence for a moment and I knew Abbie and Steve were wondering what to talk about with Jacques. I’d told Jacques not to mention his house in the woods in case they’d expect to be invited there when they were at Steve’s hunting cabin.
I started the conversation, “Steve is a scientist.”
Steve laughed. “Not technically, but I work for a research laboratory.”
Abbie and I exchanged smiles as Steve launched into his long explanation of what his job entailed. We’d both heard it many times before. I knew Jacques would be bored, but it was better to keep the conversation off Jacques and the compound.
Through the dinner, Steve asked about Jacques’ helicopter and we learned that Steve had always wanted to be a pilot. I was pleased the conversation was flowing easily after the initial awkward beginning.
As we made our way through dessert, my thoughts turned to the next day. “I hope it’s not going to be too awful tomorrow.” At least I knew she was guilty and that eased my mind. I would’ve felt worse if someone else had done it and Jennifer had been framed as her mother had claimed.
“I don’t think it will take long. I think the judge just looks at what the DA gives him. She’s taking the plea, or whatever they call it. There won’t be a jury or anything. The judge will look at the evidence before him and he’ll set whatever he thinks is appropriate,” Steve said.
“Thanks for coming with me to court, Abbie,” I said again.
Abbie pulled a face. “I hope this is the last thing like this I’ll have to go to.”
“Me too. On account of me, anyway.”
Jacques and I didn’t stay much longer after dinner because I wanted an early night.
Jacques left early that morning for another meeting while I got ready for the sentencing. I found a black skirt and white blouse amongst my clothing and hoped like hell the skirt still fitted. I was surprised when it did and I noticed that I’d lost a little weight. Eating had slipped down a notch on my list of priorities with Don’s murder and all that surrounded it. I did up the buttons of the white blouse and then stood in front of the full-length mirror. I looked passable, but businesslike. It would have to do because I didn’t have much choice with my limited range of clothing. I’d buy new items when I lost more weight.
I headed to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. It was nice having Jacques around to look after me and make me breakfast and coffee of a morning. He was certainly missed when he wasn’t there.
Abbie wasn’t collecting me for another couple of hours, but I’d gotten up and ready early, thinking I might have to make a mad dash to the store to buy something to wear. Now I’d have to fill in some time.
In the courtroom Maggie was sitting in the very front row with an older lady next to her, most likely her sister from Baltimore who she didn’t like. Her sister was probably her closest relation now that her son and son-in-law were dead and her daughter was possibly going to spend life in prison for killing Don.
Just like at Peter’s funeral, Abbie and I slipped into the back row. There were eight rows of seats and then tables and chairs where I guessed the lawyers and barristers would sit. Front and center was an elevated stage with a huge desk and chair behind it for the presiding judge. The whole place was intimidating.
Several minutes later, Jennifer came in with her legal team and she was directed to sit in a seat to the side of the room. Two policemen sat behind her. Jennifer looked calm, but Maggie was crying into a handkerchief.
When the judge walked in, everyone stood and once the judge sat, everyone was directed to sit.
The judge made a speech and then Jennifer acknowledged what she was pleading guilty to. The judge said a few more words, about the evidence, and about how by pleading guilty Jennifer had saved the court time, and that was taken into consideration regarding the sentence. Finally, he announced Jennifer would have a sentence of fifteen years with ten of those years suspended. I was shocked. It didn’t seem much for killing someone, but then again, the judge must’ve seen the evidence was flimsy. In my eyes, I could see no other reason for such a lenient sentence.
The officers led Jennifer away through a side door and Maggie howled.
“Let’s get out of here before Maggie sees us,” I said. I’d been sure to have us sit at the end of the aisle so no one could hold up our exit as they had at the funeral.
Abbie drove me back to the loft. We had planned to go out for a bite to eat afterward but suddenly I wasn’t in the mood, preferring to be by myself.
Flopping onto the couch, I thought the whole thing through. Jennifer had admitted to killing Don, but I had to find out who had used the snake venom. It ha
d to be either Granny or the people Don was working undercover for. Remembering it was Granny’s bridge night, I figured I’d go to her place and have a snoop around. If she’d purchased snake venom, surely she’d have some kind of a receipt. I’d eliminate her in my mind as a suspect and then I’d find out whom Don had been working for and who sent me Don’s information about the shifters, Jacques, and Granny.
Chapter 20
My mother had given me Granny’s key some time ago and I was sure that everybody had forgotten I had it. Granny’s bridge night started at seven and now it was seven thirty. I had the taxi take me a couple of streets away from her house.
Using the spare key I slipped through her front door, glad she didn’t have any barking dogs that might have eaten me or alerted the neighbors—although I was sure the neighbors would’ve been used to strange goings on at Granny’s house.
I’d sneaked into Granny’s house undetected once before and I hoped this time wouldn’t be any different. I used the light on my phone to find my way around. The first thing I wanted to find was some kind of evidence she’d been in contact with the snake venom dealer—some kind of receipt would be good. The logical room to look in was her office.
I got in and closed the door behind me. I turned on the computer and then Granny’s emails came onto the screen. I searched through the ‘sent’ folder and there was nothing I could see regarding venom. Next, I looked in her deleted folder and there was nothing. Then, I checked her Internet search history and found she’d researched snake venom. The dates of the searches were prior to Don’s death. That wasn’t good.
Then I started looking at the individual searches. I didn’t know the name of the dealer that had been killed but there was one name that kept coming up—Milton Franklin. I took a photo of the name on the screen in case I forgot it.