by Harte, Jenna
Jack wanted to say no. Not because it might further complicate his life, but because Liv was another issue he needed time away from. But a funeral wasn't something you could just blow off when a friend was in need.
“Yeah, sure.”
He could hear her sigh of relief. “I can't tell you how much that means to me. Charles' son and daughter-in-law just showed up and…well, I don't want to get into it, but Jack, you're the only friend I can trust here and I could really use the support.”
“I'll be there,” Jack promised.
As they hung up, Jack realized that for the most part he was alone in Jefferson Tavern too. The Worthingtons wanted to claim him, but only for the money he could bring them. Tess was the only reason he was still in Jefferson Tavern. In fact, he'd been getting ready to sell his home when he'd run into her again. He had stayed because he wanted to see what they could make together. But now he realized that he needed to rethink his living situation. He still wanted Tess, but he wasn't sure he could build a life in Jefferson Tavern where people either wanted something from him or were suspicious of him. The question was would Tess leave Jefferson Tavern to be with him? As he drove into Manassas and headed towards I-66 to take him to Arlington, he suspected the answer was probably no.
~~~~
“Oh God, did she dump you again?” Cora sat on the couch in Jack's penthouse apartment eating grits with butter and pork sausage and watching a morning news show.
Jack shook his head. He wasn't really surprised that she was in his apartment instead of the one next door that he bought for her. But having just woken up after a long, restless night thinking about Tess, he wasn't ready to deal with Cora. “No.”
“Then why you here?”
“Why are you here?” He grumbled as he headed to the kitchen, hoping Cora had made enough coffee that he could steal a cup.
“Did ya fight? Because you're in a pisser mood.”
Jack was able to get three-quarters of a cup of coffee from the pot. He returned to the living area and sat in the Eames lounge chair he'd bought for Tess. “It's too early and I haven't had nearly enough coffee.” He sipped the piping brew and willed his nerves to settle. He'd known Cora all his life. She'd been good friends with his parents and a surrogate grandmother to him. She'd helped him and his mother when his father was killed in the line of duty as a D.C. police detective. She'd helped his mother when she suffered from terminal cancer. And she tried to help him after his mother died. But he learned several months ago that there was nothing surrogate about Cora. She was, in fact, his biological grandmother who'd whisked him away and placed him for adoption when his birth mother was murdered. It was a lie that still bothered him.
He felt Cora's eyes bore into him. “You haven't taken up with that hussy again, have you?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I saw the news. I saw how her husband was murdered. I bet she did it. No wonder Tess tossed you out.”
“Tess didn't—”
“And now I'm really mad because I don't want to feel bad for Tess and you're putting me in that position.”
“Tess and I are fine,” Jack said, hoping it was true.
“Then why are you here?”
“I thought I'd take you to the spa you like. Maybe some lunch,” he said, hoping distraction would get her off the topic of Tess and Liv.
“I want a pedi and mani.”
He nodded. “Fine.”
Cora was silent, but Jack knew it couldn't last. “You sure you're not with that skank?”
~~~~
Tess was disappointed when Jack didn't show up at her door with breakfast. Disappointment turned to worry when he didn't pick up his phone when she called. She left a message and decided she needed to focus on the work she'd agreed to do for Daniel.
“The son and daughter-in-law are in town. Sam and I were planning on talking to them today and maybe you'd like to join in.”
“I would, but I'd also like to go down to Bucks County to find out about the land Danforth and Wilson were planning to develop.” She left out the part about how the Senator's interest in the land increased her suspicion that there was something more to the Danforth-Wilson partnership.
“How about we meet this afternoon? I have some other cases I need to work on this morning.”
“Perfect.”
~~~~
Tess enjoyed the ride down to Bucks County. May was the reward for surviving winter, Tess decided. Tess hated winter, and in particular, February in Virginia. Everything was cold, dead and dark. March and April were improvements, but it wasn't until May, with its green trees and colorful blooms that gave vibrant life to the world, that Tess felt like winter was finally over. Although, she thought, this last February hadn't been so bad once Jack re-entered her life.
The road south took her through the green horse country and over the James River that ran from the Alleghany Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. As a teen and even in college, Tess, Kate and other friends spent many lazy summer afternoons drifting in inner tubes with a rope tied to a cooler full of whatever alcoholic beverage they'd been able to get their hands on. In Tess' case, she preferred homemade wine coolers. She smiled at the thought. The cliché “Those were the days” came to mind. In those days she'd been outgoing, even a little reckless, not just in life, but in love as well. She knew better now.
When she got to the property, she parked on the side of the road and got out of her car. The land owned by Charles Danforth and Bobby Wilson looked like a giant red clay hole in the ground. Several backhoes and dump trucks stood quiet on the land that had been cleared away like the icing off of a cake. Tess didn't know much about land development, but it seemed to her that more dirt had been moved than was necessary. She wondered what it was about the spot that required so much dirt to be cleared away and if it could be the source of dispute Liv mentioned between Charles and Bobby. Was the land bad? Was the deal falling apart? She snapped a picture with her phone and then got into the car to head to the county office building.
The brick structure of the Bucks County Clerk's Office and Court House had been designed by Thomas Jefferson as had many of the buildings throughout central Virginia. The original building had burned in the eighteen hundreds, but was rebuilt using the same plans Jefferson had created. Tess always enjoyed entering historic buildings, walking in the footsteps of lawmakers two hundred years before her. She wondered what they'd think that a woman lawyer was walking in their hallowed halls.
She entered the registrar's office hoping that, despite the old architecture, access to documents was available in a more modern technological form.
“Can I help you?” an older woman with bluish-gray hair in a lime-green polyester suit asked.
“Yes, I was hoping to get some information on a planned development on Route 687 owned by DW Enterprises.”
“What sort of information? Deeds?”
“Yes, I'd like to see a deed. And maybe the plat and building permits.”
“I can look up deed information on the computer, but you'll need to pay for a copy. Plats are housed down the hall and you'll need to visit the planning office for information on permits.”
“I'll start with the deed then.”
The deed didn't offer anything Tess didn't already know. She suspected that Daniel probably had a copy of the deed, but she sprung for a copy of her own then headed down to the building and planning office.
The woman at that counter was probably the same age as the first women, but with her dyed-blond hair and drawn-on eyebrows, she looked older.
Tess explained to the woman what she wanted. “Oh, isn't that the man who was killed recently in Jefferson Tavern?”
“Yes.”
“Is this part of the murder investigation?” the woman asked with enthusiasm. “I've never been questioned about murder before. So little ever happens down here.”
“Actually, I'm a lawyer,” Tess said, knowing that things like probate were boring compared to murder.
“What property?” a weathered man asked as he entered the office. Tess determined he was probably one of the inspectors who spent more time out in the field than in an office.
“Hey, Joe. This woman is asking about that property the man who was killed owned,” she turned to Tess. “This is Joe. He knows everything about everyone around here.”
“Just their land,” Joe corrected. “Are you talking about the land owned by Charles Danforth?”
“Yes, and his partner, Bobby Wilson. I drove by and saw the land was being cleared.”
“Cleared? No. That land is being mined.”
“Mined?” Tess asked. “Is there coal?”
“No. It's cyanite.”
“Cyanite?”
“Pretty little rock,” Joe explained.
The woman behind the counter nodded. “Bright blue when polished.”
“Is it a valuable gem?” Tess asked.
“Some people polish it up for a gem, but its worth is industrial. It’s heat resistant and used in all sorts of things, from auto parts to toilet bowls.”
Toilet bowls? “I was led to believe they were going to build houses there.”
“That was the original plan, until they dug up some cyanite.”
Tess thought a moment. “Did the company own the mineral rights?”
Joe furrowed his brow. “I guess so. Mr. Danforth does anyway. He spent a lot of time down there before he was killed. And he hasn't been protesting the mining as many land owners who suddenly discover that someone else can dig on their land usually do.”
Tess thanked the two and headed to the registrar's office again. “Can I see who owns the mineral rights to the property on 687?”
“Well, didn't I just get that for you?” the woman asked, looking at Tess as if she wasn't right in the head.
“Yes, you showed me the deed to the land, but not the mineral rights. Down the hall I was told they were mining the land. I'm wondering who owns those rights?”
“Charles Danforth LLC,” the woman said. “Do you want a copy?”
“Yes, please.”
~~~~
Tess stopped at the first coffee cafe with a “Free Wi-Fi” sign on the window, which, despite the rural area, wasn't far. She bought a small mocha without whipped cream and powered up her laptop. Once online she headed to the Commonwealth of Virginia's State Corporation Commission's website to do a search on Charles Danforth, LLC.
The entity was listed, but not as a partnership. The results wouldn't let her see if there were any other members of the LLC, but Tess had a nagging feeling that Charles was the sole owner and manager.
“Interesting,” she thought. If Charles owned the mineral rights, his claim to the land would take precedence over the ownership of the land. Tess knew enough about real estate law to know that Charles could stop the housing development to mine the land and his partner wouldn't have any recourse. And if Charles was sole owner of the mining rights, his partner would not reap the benefits of the mining, but would be stuck with part ownership of a property that could be worthless once the mining was done.
Tess sat back in her chair. “That could certainly be a motive for murder.”
Back in her car, Tess headed north toward Jefferson Tavern, rethinking her beliefs about the Danforth murder. When she started working with Daniel, she told herself that she was open-minded about who the killer could be. But now that she had a more viable suspect in Bobby Wilson, Tess realized that despite her best attempts, she had been biased against Liv. That didn't change the fact that Liv was trying to move in on Jack, but it certainly made her less of a suspect in her husband's murder. But she was still bothered by Liv's statements. Her alibi and readied receipts were just too perfect. Tess wondered if maybe Liv and Bobby were involved together.
Tess was so deep in thought that she didn't notice the dark pick-up truck that barreled up behind her until it started to pass her on the narrow two-lane road.
“Jerk,” Tess said, as she applied the brakes to let the truck pass. But the truck didn't pass. It pulled up alongside her. The window lowered halfway.
“What the hell?” And then she saw the gun. Instinct had her stepping on the brakes and ducking at the same time. She heard the gun fire and felt the glass from her window spray over her. The car dipped on the passenger side and Tess felt the world start to spin. Her body jerked to the side, slamming her head into the steering wheel. She felt a blast and then burning along her shoulders and upper back. Like a rag doll, her body bounced from side to side. She was going to die. The realization terrified her. But her last thought was of Jack and hoping that losing her wouldn't cause him to lose himself.
Chapter Ten
I'm not dead, was Tess’ first thought when her car came to a stop in a field. Somehow the car had landed upright and she was still strapped into her seatbelt. She thought she was turned around and now facing the direction she'd been driving, but couldn't be sure, because the spider web cracks in her windows made it impossible to see out. She started to relax, but then remembered the truck. Her head snapped up, causing every muscle in her body to scream. But it didn't matter. She didn't want to be sitting in her car if the person in the truck was coming back.
She heard yelling and turned to look out the passenger side window. The distorted image of a man ran toward her. Oh God, she thought as she frantically worked to get her seatbelt unclasped. It was no use. It was jammed and the man was too close.
“Jesus, are you alright…wow!”
“No, no, no…” Tess could hear herself chant as she yanked and pulled on the belt.
“Don't move— you might make it worse. I've called nine one one— just sit tight.”
It finally sank in that the man wasn't a would-be murderer, but a Good Samaritan.
“Are you hurt? Stupid…of course you're hurt. But I mean your neck and back...how do they feel? You should just sit still,” he rambled, as he yanked her car door open.
She took a deep breath that hurt like hell and then simply sat. “I think I'm okay.”
“It was the truck, wasn't it? It damn near drove me off the road too.”
“Did you see it? The person? The plate?”
“Are you kidding? It was going way too fast. I've never seen a vehicle move that fast outside of NASCAR.” She got her first good look at the man and thought he looked like the farmer in Grant Wood's American Gothic. Except her would-be hero looked panicked, not stern.
“You know on the outside, you look pretty good,” the man said. “You've got a little cut on your forehead. I guess airbags really do make a difference.”
She supposed she should be glad she looked good on the outside. The inside didn't feel so great, but she decided she was lucky it wasn't worse. In the distance, Tess could hear the sirens.
“Look, look. Here is the rescue squad.”
“Thank you for helping me,” Tess managed. But the man had already moved away so that paramedics could treat her.
~~~~
Could have been worse. The emergency room doctor's words replayed in her mind. Fortunately, after being poked, prodded and tested, it was determined that Tess' injuries consisted of a few superficial cuts and bruises. She gave a statement to a Buck's County deputy sheriff and was finally ready to leave the hospital. Except she didn't have a car. Just her luck. In the last three months, she lost her house and office, and now her car. She wondered if she'd lost her man too, since Jack still hadn't called her back. Pulling her phone from the purse that survived the accident unscathed, she called his cell number again and got his voicemail again. She left a message, again. And worried, again. Was he hurt? Was he done with her? Where was he? She decided to try his office.
“Hi, Mrs. Stauffer. It's Tess. Is Jack available?”
There was a pause. “Mr. Valentine isn't in today. He went up to northern Virginia, I think, to visit Ms. Peterson.”
He'd left town? Tess' heart sank. He'd
gone to visit Cora before, but he'd always told her where he was and when he'd be back. Not wanting Mrs. Stauffer to know she was out of the loop where Jack was concerned, she said, “Oh, that's right. I completely forgot.”
“Mr. Chancellor's here. He might know more about Mr. Valentine's plans.” That was weird too. Why would Brad be in Jefferson Tavern? Had Jack left town for good? Without her?
“No. That's okay.” Tess said, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“I'm going to miss him,” Mrs. Stauffer said. “But I can't blame him. If I had a choice, I'd leave too.”
Tess rubbed the pain in her chest that had nothing to do with her accident. She thanked Mrs. Stauffer and ended the call. She tried not to dwell on the worst-case scenario. Surely Jack would let her know what was going on. She could only hope that when he did talk to her, he would include her in his new plans.
Since Jack couldn't help her, her only choice was to call Daniel. She made the call brief, telling him she'd had an accident, needed a change of clothes to replace the ones the paramedics ruined, and a ride. She hung up before he could interrogate her.
~~~~
“What the hell!” Daniel said when he arrived at the hospital.
“I'm fine. Just a few bumps and bruises.”
“Someone tried to kill you.”
“But he didn't. Did you bring me some clothes?”
He gave her an annoyed look. Before either of them could say more, the hospital door opened and Shelby Worthington breezed in. “I come bearing gifts,” she said.
It was Tess' turn to look annoyed. Married to Daniel's cousin Philip, Shelby was the quintessential trophy wife and the last person Tess needed to deal with.
“I must say, Tess, you have fabulous taste in underwear. Who'd have thought?” Shelby handed a small overnight bag to Tess.
Tess took the bag, but kept her eyes on Daniel. He gave her a sheepish smile. “Mom is working and I wasn't comfortable going through your things.”