by Harte, Jenna
“That was fast,” she said as she made her way to the door.
“Where is he?” Brad pushed his way into her room. He stopped at the sight of Daniel. He turned, giving Tess a look that suggested disapproval.
“Don't look at me like that, you hypocrite,” Tess said.
“I cheated because I'm a jerk. You're not a jerk, Tess.”
“Hey, wait a minute,” Daniel said.
Tess introduced them even though they had met years before when she was engaged to Brad. Daniel had remembered, but Brad, of course, hadn't.
“Where's Jack?” Brad finally asked again. “If he thinks I'm going to stay in this Podunk town where everything closes at eight, he's got another thing coming.”
“He's not here. Did you try his house?” Tess asked.
“Why would he be there when you're here?” Brad asked.
Tess sighed.
“Oh, God. Are you two fighting again? Not only will I be stuck in this town, but he'll take my office. Why can't you keep him happy, Tess?”
“You're out of line,” Daniel said stepping closer to Brad. Tess watched as Brad eyed Daniel from head to toe. She rolled her eyes when she realized that Brad wasn't intimidated by Daniel, but instead attracted to him.
A knock on the door interrupted the odd moment.
“Sorry I took so long, but it sounded like a wine and chocolate night,” Kate said as she entered Tess' room. “Oh. Are we having a party?” she asked when she noticed both Daniel and Brad.
“A pity party,” said Tess, referring more to Brad than herself.
“Fun.”
Tess introduced Kate to Brad, and then Kate went to work to hostess the impromptu party by pulling plastic wine glasses out of her bag.
“Is that boxed wine?” Brad asked. Tess thought for sure he'd leave now. She was pretty sure he'd never had wine that was less than a hundred dollars a bottle.
“Yep. The best to fix what ails you,” Kate said unapologetically. “Want some?”
“I do,” Brad said with an enthusiasm that surprised Tess. He took the wine offered and drank. “Wow, that's really bad.” He held the glass back towards Kate. “Fill 'er up.”
Once they were all served wine and ample amounts of chocolate as they sat around the small hotel table, Kate asked. “So why are we here?”
“Tess pissed Jack off,” Brad said.
“Me? You don't know that!”
Brad shrugged.
“So you and Jack…” Kate let the words hang.
“I think so.”
“Think so? What does that mean?” Brad asked.
“His last words were 'I'm done.'“ Tess could feel the burn of tears, but worked to hold them back.
“That's sounds final,” Kate agreed.
“He'll be back. Is there more of this stuff?” Brad said pointing to the chocolate.
“How do you know?” Daniel asked.
“Because I know Jack.”
“So does Tess and she thinks it's over,” Kate said.
“She doesn't know Jack…” Brad laughed. “Get it? Don't know Jack?”
“Ha ha.”
Brad shook his head, clearly disappointed that his party friends didn't find his play on words funny. “I know Jack better than anyone, except maybe Cora. I know that in his mind, Tess is the One.” He held up his index finger to accentuate 'the One'. “And because of that, Tess must have done something to piss him off. But he'll be back.”
“Me. Maybe he pissed me off.”
“If that were true we wouldn't be having a pity party and you wouldn't look like you are going to crumble any minute.”
This time, the tears did come. Kate moved her chair and put an arm around Tess. “You're a jerk, you know that?”
Brad nodded. “I do. But I also speak the truth. So, what did you do?”
Tess relayed the gist of the conversation she had with Jack to them.
“How can he expect you to respond to an ultimatum?” Daniel asked.
“You all are missing the point,” Brad said. “In Jack's mind, his relationship with Tess is a done deal. He has you two married, with a couple kids, living the dream. This stuff about you moving out or these squabbles, they're just speed bumps on the road to your living happily ever after.”
“So?” Kate asked.
“So. Tess hesitated. She doesn't see their being together as inevitable. She has doubts. When you've invested all that you have into someone who won't invest with you…well, it can piss you off.”
“You like that word, pissed, don't you?” Kate remarked.
“It accurately expresses the emotion.”
“It still doesn't give Jack the right to push her around,” Kate said.
“He was frustrated,” Brad said, exasperation in his voice. “We all say and do things we don't mean when we're pushed to the limit. Remember, Tess moved out, the papers are reporting he's a lothario, and then there's this crazy Worthington deal. Those people are nuts.”
“Is that why you're here?” Daniel asked.
Tess bit her lip. She didn't need Daniel and Brad duking it out over Brad's tactless, yet accurate description of Daniel's extended family.
“Yes. And it's about time too. They're all leeches. The heir apparent is worthless and as dumb as a doorknob. The ex-wife, oh my God. She has no legal standing and yet she lives to get her diamond-covered grubby hands on Worthington money. And the Senator, he keeps giving some line about a long lost son—”
“Brad!” Tess interrupted. Jack's biological connection to the Worthington family wasn't common news. As much as she loved Kate, Tess knew that she wouldn't be able to sit on a story about the Senator's illegitimate son.
He blinked. “What?”
“Did you know that Daniel is related to the Worthingtons?”
Brad turned and looked at Daniel. “You don't look crazy.”
Tess braced for Daniel’s reaction. He studied Brad, and then he let out a gut-deep laugh. “That's the nicest thing said to me today.”
Tess studied her diverse group of friends and realized that while her first instinct would have been to keep to herself, she was glad they were there. Even Brad, who was a jerk, but could always be counted on to add new insight or at least humor to a situation.
Chapter Fourteen
Tess awoke with a screaming pain in her shoulder and dull thud in her head. It took a moment to orient herself and remember the events of the previous day. That's when the heartache returned. She ignored the pain in her body long enough to pull the covers over her head. There was no place she had to be and nowhere she wanted to go. If it weren't for the knock on the door, and the hope that leapt into her heart, she would have stayed there all day.
When she peered through the peephole of the door, her heart fell. She opened the door. “Daniel.”
The look on his face confirmed her suspicion that she looked dreadful. But he smiled. “Hi, Brat.”
“Hey.” She opened the door and let him in.
“I was on my way to Danforth's funeral, but I thought I'd stop by and let you know what I've learned. I brought you some coffee. You look like you could use it.”
“What time is it?” Tess asked.
“A little after ten.”
Tess didn't usually sleep so late, but she also wasn't usually recovering from a car accident and heartbreak. “Can you hold on for a minute?”
“Sure.”
She left Daniel near the door as she went into the bathroom to splash water on her face, brush her teeth and wrangle her hair into a scrunchie. When she returned, Daniel was sitting at her table.
“Now I recognize you,” he said, holding the coffee he'd brought out to her.
She gave him a smirk, but took the coffee and sat in a chair opposite him. “So what did you find out?”
“I talked with Theresa Cromwell this morning. She confirms that she and Danforth were talking about a more permanent relationship, but she didn't think he'd filed divorce papers.”
“Permanent relationship? Are t
hose her words or yours?” She took a sip of coffee hoping the caffeine would remove the fog in her brain.
“Hers. Actually, I think she and Danforth were probably perfect for each other. She's aloof and awkward, until you get her talking about the horses.”
“What did she say about the horses?”
“Only that they both wanted to breed a great racehorse.”
“What about the money needed to buy horses?”
“She didn't know about the mining in Bucks County. But she did say he was optimistic about getting the money.”
“Did you ask about the pregnancy?”
He nodded. “She says Danforth never said anything about it. And she's not sure he would have. 'He was very private',” Daniel mimicked her voice. “I have Sam talking to Liv's acquaintances to see if they know anything about a baby.”
“It still wouldn't prove she was a murderer.” Tess sat back in her chair and rubbed her hands over her face. It didn't matter if Liv was a home wrecker, cheater and liar, her alibi proved she wasn't Danforth's murderer.
“But maybe it would show Jack that she's not worthy of his loyalty,” Daniel offered.
Tess shook her head. “You can't tell him I told you about the baby or Danforth's inability to have a child.”
“I won't tell him anything. But odds are he'll be at Liv's today when I question her and I'm not going to screen my words just to protect his feelings.”
She nodded. Jack had accused her of using information he'd given her against Liv. She'd been offended at the time, but in the end, that was exactly what she was doing.
“If there is any way I can keep your involvement out, I will,” Daniel said.
“Thanks.”
“When I'm done, I'll stop by to check on you again. You should get some more rest because you look terrible.”
“Thanks, again.”
“Then we can talk about your trip to New York.”
~~~~
Jack hadn't wanted to go to Charles Danforth's funeral or the reception following it. Not because it would be improper given his past association with Liv or that it would give the police and gossips more fuel for the fire. It was because he'd experienced enough funerals to last a lifetime. He attended his first funeral when he was twelve years old and watched as his father's casket was lowered into the ground. Two years ago he buried his mother. As he thought about her, he realized it had been a while since he'd visited her grave. If there was ever a time he needed the wisdom and support of his mother, it was now. He had no doubt that his mother would love Tess and would likely scold him for losing her. Christ, what had he been thinking to give her an ultimatum? His anger and pride had once again cost him the only woman he'd ever wanted to give his life to. He'd promised himself he wouldn't push her, so what did he do? He gave her a shove. Even though he knew she wouldn't respond to it. He'd gambled and lost.
It was why he'd nearly gone to see her when he left Liv's hotel room. It was ironic how Liv spent much of the night telling him to return to Tess since Tess seemed to think Liv had ulterior motives. He'd gone so far as to drive to Tess' hotel. But he didn't trust himself to keep his feelings in check. Or maybe he couldn't bring himself to beg.
Then, on the way to the funeral, he nearly stopped at Starbucks to get her favorite skinny, no-whip mocha. He could show up as usual and pretend he hadn't pressured her. But he couldn't get past the fact that she hadn't made any move to stop him from leaving or to contact him. That must be her answer.
So instead, he stood alone, in the corner of the Danforth's living room watching as the final guests paid their respects and left. Whose idea was it that the grieving had to throw a party after burying a loved one? He remembered his mother putting on a brave face as friends came to their home after his father died. He too had people at his home, serving them canapés as they brought him lasagna to help him through his difficult time after his mother died.
Liv and the stepson seemed to be faring better than he had. Kevin's wife was the only one having difficulty, but that was the result of way too much alcohol. As Liv thanked the last of her guests, Jack noticed an unmarked police car through the window. He'd seen Daniel at the funeral, but he hadn't expected him to show up at the reception. He shook his head, wondering if Daniel had any sense of decorum.
Daniel exited the car and headed up the front steps. Jack met him at the door. “Have a little respect, Daniel. Today is not a good day.”
Daniel's look was even more contemptuous than usual. No doubt he'd talked to Tess. “I waited until the guests left. And besides, I'm sure the grieving widow would like us to solve this case as soon as possible.”
Jack wanted to physically stop Daniel as he made his way inside. Instead, he followed him into the living room.
“This is a private —” Daniel started to say.
“No, that's okay Detective,” Liv said. “I trust Jack. He's a family friend.”
Daniel gave Jack an accusatory glance and then proceeded with his interview.
“You should probably contact your lawyer,” Jack suggested to her.
She waved the idea away. “No. Let's just get this over with so I can move on.”
“I appreciate your time, Mrs. Danforth,” Daniel said. “I know this is a difficult day, but the sooner we solve this case, the sooner you can move on.”
“Yes.” She took a seat on the couch, not offering one to Daniel. Not caring, Daniel took a seat in a chair. Kevin headed to the bar clearly hoping to find the same escape as his wife who was snoring on the love seat. Jack decided to stay standing.
“We just have a few things to ask about. We got a report that Mr. Danforth was bothered by something back in March.”
“March? Why would that be relevant?” Liv asked.
“I don't know. That's why I'm asking.” Jack could see that Daniel was being nonchalant, but he knew Daniel had a purpose and a destination for his questions. “Maybe the reason he was upset then is why he's dead now.”
She gave a disinterested sigh. “His father died in January. Maybe he was still upset about that.”
“Anything else?”
“That isn't cause enough to be upset?”
“I'm just asking.”
“I mentioned to you already that he and Mr. Wilson had a falling out.”
Jack figured Daniel already investigated the land deal and for some reason had ruled it out as a motive. He wondered why and he wanted to know what Daniel knew that made whatever happened in March relevant.
“But that was more recent, wasn't it?”
Liv gave Daniel a hard, scathing look. “I lost our baby in March. Perhaps that bothered him.”
“You were pregnant?” Daniel asked. There was something about Daniel's tone and slight gleam in his eye that caught Jack's attention. Had Daniel known about the baby? He knew he'd made an offhand comment about it to Tess. Had she told him? But why? She'd berated him for suggesting she'd betray his confidence. It didn't make sense.
“Yes.”
“Was Charles the father?”
“Now wait a damn minute,” Jack said, moving towards Daniel. “That's out of line.”
Daniel turned toward him with those same dark, accusing eyes while his voice remained calm, dismissing. “Let me remind you, Mr. Valentine, that you're here as a courtesy to Mrs. Danforth. I would be well within my right to have her and her stepson and daughter-in-law to come to the station to do this interview.”
Jack didn't step back, but said nothing further. Daniel turned back to Liv. “The baby? Was it Charles’?”
“Of course it was,” she spat.
“You have admitted to affairs in the past.”
“And I told you that I haven't had one for over a year.”
“Was your husband happy about the baby?”
Jack heard the drop of ice cubes on the hardwood floor and looked to see Kevin picking up several pieces of ice that had scattered. He threw the ice back in the bucket and downed the glass of amber liquid he'd poured.
“To be honest Detective, I don't think my husband cared much one way or the other.”
“But you just said that he may have been upset in March over the loss of the baby.”
“Is this line of questioning really necessary?” Jack asked surprised by Daniel's doggedness.
“I know this is sensitive information, but in a case like this we need to look at everything.”
“And losing a baby could be a cause for murder?” Jack asked.
“I don't know if I don't investigate,” Daniel said in a clipped voice. “Was Mr. Danforth upset or not about the baby?”
She shrugged, but Jack could see worry in her eyes. “I don't know. I'm sure I'm not the only person to tell you that Charles wasn't a person prone to sharing his feelings.”
“What about you?” Daniel said acknowledging Kevin's presence in the room. “Was your dad upset about losing the baby?”
Kevin downed another glass of potent liquid. “Just like Liv said, he was pretty much indifferent to everything and everyone.”
“And you were in New York at the time of your father's murder?” Daniel asked.
New York? Jack thought.
“I was in the mountains. On a retreat.”
“Retreat. Right. We've been unable to verify that. Is there anyone who saw you there? Gas receipts? Anything?”
“The purpose of a retreat is to not be bothered by people,” Kevin said calmly. “You don't think I killed my father. I wasn't even here.”
“I don't think anything. It’s a routine question. What about your wife?”
Everyone turned to his wife, passed out on the couch. Kevin laughed. “She couldn't kill anyone. She doesn't have the coordination.”
Jack considered telling Kevin not to say anything without a lawyer, but he found himself not caring anymore. How did he get so enmeshed in this situation? He considered leaving, but he'd brought Liv over from the hotel and was her ride back.
“With your father and grandfather gone, you stand to inherit quite bit.”
Instead of being offended, Kevin looked worried. “I'm already rich.”
“And now you'll be richer.”
“I guess.”
Daniel closed his notebook. He looked up at Jack, his eyes dark and piercing. “I'd like to speak with you. Alone.”