Confer, Lorelei - Deadly Revenge (BookStrand Publishing Romance)

by Lorelei Confer

  “Hi, Trevor, it’s Tory. I’m running late for my ten o’clock appointment with Mr. Whitman. Would you be able to fill in for me?”

  “Sure, no problem. In fact, the paperwork is caught up and we have no more appointments scheduled today, go ahead and take the day off. I’ll see you tomorrow and give you a complete update on Whitman then.”

  “Gee, Trevor, thanks so much. See you tomorrow then.”

  * * * *

  “Dave, I have all day to talk. How about you?” she asked as she fidgeted with her hands.

  “What do you want to do today?” Dave asked.

  “Let’s go for a drive up in the mountains. I’ll take you to a special place my dad used to take me, and we can relax. I can take some pictures. You look like you could take a nap. There is a wooden walking bridge, mountain streams, and small waterfalls. A lot of the trees will be in bloom now and it‘ll be beautiful. We can enjoy the scenery.”

  They both got into Dave’s car and set off toward the mountains. His SUV handled the terrain well and they soon found themselves almost at the top when the single-lane, dirt and stone road ended. Parking the car was easy, just leave it where it was.

  “Come on,” Tory said as she opened her door and quickly jumped out. “This is perfect.”

  “Where are we going?” Dave asked.

  “Just a little farther up the mountain. I’m so glad my dad loved these mountains enough to keep them preserved naturally.” They continued hiking for about twenty minutes before Tory stopped and said, “Listen.”

  “What? I don’t hear anything,” Dave said as he placed his hand at his ear.

  “Exactly my point. It’s so peaceful here. Sit down here on the bench. Dad and I put it here years ago. It’s a great place for meditation and serious thinking.”

  * * * *

  It was exactly what Dave needed. So much more she didn’t know. Should he tell her why he needed a nap and his real reason for being in this area of the North Carolina Mountains and jeopardize their relationship as well as his career? He stretched out on the bench, put his head on her lap, and relaxed. He quickly dozed off.

  Chapter 28

  The next day, Dave and Tory attended the funeral of Carolyn Robison. “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” the minister said while Dave looked around at the crowd in attendance to respect the memory of Carolyn Robison. The sadness on the faces of her family and friends was almost overbearing. A young woman dead before she barely had a chance to live and without any kind of justification.

  He had learned a lot about the victim from the time she died until the funeral. Carolyn Robison was an old high school friend of many of them, including Tory, Chief Carr, and Matt Wilson. Carolyn had worked as a waitress at Ted’s pizza shop where Tory had stopped the night before Carolyn was found hanging. Tory had always resented Carolyn because Matt had cheated on her with Carolyn and loved to rub it in her face.

  Tory remembered passing Carolyn walking out of the pizza shop, along with Matt and some friends, as she was walking in to pick up a pizza for Dave and her to share for dinner just two nights before.

  Matt Wilson and his wife Paige also attended the funeral. After short and formal greetings to everyone, they quickly left. Matt’s eyes were red and swollen, obviously from grieving. Paige’s, not so much.

  * * * *

  “Hi, Pop, what are you up to today?” Dave asked his father as he stepped inside the door and took a seat on the couch.

  “Oh, a little bit of this and a little bit of that. You look like you could use a friend to talk to. What’s wrong?”

  “All these murders. They just won’t quit and we’re not any closer now in finding the murderer than we were in the beginning. I don’t know what to do. We’ve called in the state troopers and we’re getting a lot of cooperation from everyone, you’d think we’d have a suspect by now, wouldn’t you?” Dave had spilled his guts and felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders even though he still had no answers.

  “Son, you know as well as I do that these things take time and a lot of work, hard work, and concentration of every fact in the murder books, looking for similarities, etc. You’ll get there, son, you just may not like where or how it takes you there.”

  “I know you’re right, Dad, I’m just impatient.”

  “I know you are, son, and I also know some of our cases lasted months, sometimes years and years, but we solved them. Sometimes the answer is right under your nose, where you’d least expect it. Everything takes time, son.”

  “Dad, unfortunately time is the one thing we don’t have. I’m afraid for Tory. We have to find the murderer before he strikes again.”

  * * * *

  Dave called Matt to set up a time to interview him. They had things to talk about. They met at Lana’s coffee shop as opposed to the “box” at the local police station. Matt was already at the coffee shop when Dave arrived and parked his car. He was slow getting out, necessary questions mulling around in his mind. He wanted to give the questions the same way he expected to get the answers—straight and forward.

  Matt waved to Dave when he entered the coffee house and Dave joined him along with a waitress to take his order.

  That done, Dave asked Matt, “How have you been holding up, buddy? I understand most of the murder victims were involved with you in one way or another.”

  “I’m holding up okay, I guess. But I think the police think I’m a good suspect when I’m just a ladies’ man. Always have been and probably always will be.”

  “How are you involved in any of the murders?” Dave asked solemnly.

  “What do you mean? I wasn’t involved with any of them in any way. Those girls were my friends and I gave them respect just like I would Tory. I’d take her back in a second if she’d have me back. But she’s so hoity-toity now she wants nothing to do with me.”

  “How are you and your wife getting along through all this?”

  “We’re separated.”

  “What’s that tell you?”

  “The divorce will probably be effective within the month. There’s no going back this time. Although Paige has made it perfectly clear that if she can’t have me nobody can.” Matt took a drink of coffee and made a face. “Strong brew today, huh?”

  Dave nodded. “Where were you when the murders occurred?”

  Matt rolled his eyes.

  “I guess I was either home and asleep or busy elsewhere during most of them, since they were all committed in the early morning hours.”

  “How do you know that?” Dave asked.

  “Know what?”

  “Know what time they were murdered?” Dave rubbed his eyes and shook his head. What a thick head.

  “Because when the police investigators came to question me they told me about the victims, how and when they died. Then I proceeded to tell them where I was when each murder occurred. I have solid alibis and witnesses to vouch for me. When the first two murders happened, I was with my wife. For the last one I have a validated alibi. What else do you want to know?”

  “How do you know it’s the last murder?”

  “I don’t for certain. But I’m hoping this is the last of them,” Matt said with snide grin.

  “Isn’t it true your business is going belly-up and you’re hurting for cash? Lots of cash?”

  “That’s my business, and what’s it got to do with the murders, anyway? So what if I’m short on cash,” Matt answered, moving away from Dave, backing up on the booth seat and crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Okay, what else do you know about the murders?” Dave asked again.

  “I know enough that I want my attorney present for any further questioning, how about that?” Matt said, slapping his hands on the table.

  “Go ahead, lawyer up. But the truth will come out one way or another, it always does. If you have something to hide, just tell me the truth now. I can help you, buddy, with the prosecution not going so hard on you but only if I know the truth now. Did you have anything to do with the murder
s of Mark Montgomery, Carolyn Robison, or Ellen Wells? This is your last chance.”

  “Talk to my attorney,” Matt said stubbornly as he got up and left the coffee house.

  * * * *

  Tory went to her mother’s. As soon as she stepped on the front porch and saw the door with the oval glass etching, she felt relief. Her sister Sue came over a few minutes later, and their family conversation included the murders and the investigations. The one bright arc of light out of the day was that Tory left her mother’s early to go home to prepare dinner for Dave.

  Chapter 29

  Chief of Police Michael Carr was an early riser. Always had been, probably always would be. He enjoyed the quiet in the wee early hours between four and six and did his best thinking then. As an unmarried elected official after many years on the police force, he had worked his way up from the bottom of the ladder and had grown along with the town. He wondered now what had happened to his peaceful little town of Hickoryville with three murders and one attempted murder.

  He was to the point where he trusted no one, especially someone new in town like Dave Miller or even Victoria, for that matter. But the background check he ran on Dave was outstanding, years on the police force, just like himself, and then on a special Federal Task Force. He was honored to have him in his town, especially now.

  Murders were happening too fast. They hadn’t been able to solve any of them so far, even with the assistance of the state police and Dave’s expertise. But they would. The murderer would slip up eventually, and they would catch him, but they needed him now! Before any more deaths. Dave had been appointed as agent in charge of the murder investigations, but Michael had to sort things out for himself.

  He rubbed his chin and ran his hands across his face as he sat down at his desk. He had studied the murder books of each victim thoroughly from one end to the other. He started to work on a white board to lay everything out. He listed all the victims, their method of death, place of death, and any known affiliations or commonalities.

  Mark Montgomery, Shot in head with small caliber weapon, new tenant of Braedden Properties, initially ruled a suicide but no powder burns on hands or fingerprints on gun left at scene. Set up to look like suicide, owned a pizza place downtown, divorced and had a new girlfriend, previously worked for and was owed money from Matt Wilson Land Development Company. Common with other victims was Mark’s ex-wife was an ex-girlfriend of Matt Wilson, found by Victoria Richards, on Braedden property

  Carolyn Robison, Hanging, Braedden Property rental. Initially looked like a suicide but rope fibers found on back of dress as well as on wrists. Common with other victims was that it was set up to look like suicide, ex-girlfriend of Matt Wilson, found by Victoria Richards, on Braedden property.

  Ellen Wells, Head Trauma, Braedden Property rental. Initially looked like suicide by drowning but Coroner’s report indicated no water in lungs, died of fractured skull from blunt instrument. Head trauma was inconsistent with falling in the tub. The injury didn’t match the evidence. Paid the rent on time. Common with other victims was that she was an ex-girlfriend of Matt Wilson, found by Victoria Richards, on Braedden properties.

  Suspects:

  Victoria Richards—is run off the road on her first day coming in to town, shot at while out riding horses with Dave Miller, Sue and Brandon Mitchell, found all three murder victims. No solid alibis, left town about two years ago after leaving Matt Wilson at the altar. Was she back for revenge and killing off all love interests of Matt? If so, why hasn’t she attempted to kill Matt’s current wife? (No known motive)

  Dave Miller—ex cop and current detective for Federal Task Force, spotless career, seeing or involved with Victoria Richards. (No known motive)

  Matt Wilson—rumored to be separated from wife, always a ladies’ man, had affairs with every female victim and associated with male victim through affair with ex-wife, money problems, owed money to a lot of people in town that he refused to pay.

  Mary Montgomery, ex-wife of victim Mark Montgomery—rumored to have had an affair with Matt Wilson, could she be thinking and acting upon revenge?

  Trevor Braedden—all victims were his tenants or would-be tenants since he was the owner of all the properties where all the victims were found. (No known motive)

  * * * *

  Chief Carr continued to study his work board until he heard a knock on his door. He looked up at the time—almost five am. He looked toward the door and saw Dave. He motioned for Dave to enter his office. “Good morning, Dave, you’re here early. How are you?”

  “I’m fine, Chief. Gave it a shot you’d be here.”

  “Take a seat. I’ve been making some notes and I want to hear what you think.”

  “Figured we might be able to compare notes. I want to set up a meeting with the State Troopers and your troopers, as well, to go over all the evidence we‘ve gathered so far. I’m having the neighborhoods canvassed, and all associates interviewed.”

  “I’ve been doing some thinking, Dave. And I’ve come to the conclusion there are a number of common threads connecting the dots.”

  “What do you have?”

  Chief Carr took out his work board and referred to it as he spoke. “All the victims died on Braedden Properties. Another common thread is they all had the same MO—all of the deaths initially looked like suicides but turned out to be homicides. Also, the female victims were ex-mistresses of Matt Wilson. The male victim’s ex-wife was an ex-girlfriend of Matt Wilson. A lot of evidence points to Matt and his soon to be ex-wife.”

  “I’ll do the interrogation of Matt myself. I think I’ll even enjoy it especially in the box. I already talked to him at Lana’s and got nowhere. He threatened to lawyer up so maybe the box will work its usual magic.”

  “Here we call it the ‘pen’ because it’s the last place they go before they go to the penitentiary. It’s pretty bleak. Not a lot of furniture and has a two-way mirror and one door in and out.”

  “That’s pretty classic. I bet it still does the job though, doesn’t it?” Dave laughed.

  “It sure does,” Chief Carr said as he rubbed his chin.

  “We’ll get some concrete answers this time around, I’m sure.” Dave stood to leave along with Chief Carr.

  They shook hands and Chief Carr turned back to his paperwork. There had to be another piece to the puzzle, something they were missing.

  Chapter 30

  Dave had made his own study board, and if he had made a comparison to Michael’s study board he would have seen the distinct similarities. They were definitely remarkable.

  He knew he had his work cut out for him and he was eager to get started, but first there was the funeral for Ellen Wells.

  He picked up Tory at her place and then they met Sue and Brandon at Tory’s mother’s house and they all rode together to the cemetery. As the large crowd was singing “Amazing Grace,” Dave looked around at the stoic faces of the people in attendance. Since Ellen had been born and raised in Hickoryville, her friends and family amounted to almost the entire town. Another community loss left everyone in shock. People were locking their doors day and night for the first time in their lives. Single girls started traveling as couples or in a group.

  Dave remembered the notes he had made. There were five days between the first and second murders but only two days between the second and third murders. Today was the third day from the third murder. Unfortunately, that suggested another murder was imminent any day now. How could he prevent the next murder?

  Dave, with great relief, called Chief Carr and told him he had put tails on both Matt Wilson and Tory for safety reasons only. He welcomed any safety measures they could enforce.

  * * * *

  “How’ve you been, Tory?” Matt asked as he stopped in front of her as everyone began filing out of the cemetery on their way to their cars.

  “I’ve been doing good, considering. How about you?”

  “These funerals are beginning to get to me. They were all my friends and your
s, too. Remember Carolyn from high school? It’s really a shame.”

  “Yes it is, Matt, it’s a real shame.”

  “Would you ever want to go back there, to when we were in high school, before you went away to college?”

  “We did have some good times, didn’t we? But we can never go back. It wouldn’t be the same.”

  “We can try it again, at least.”

  “I can’t believe you’re even suggesting something like this? Have you forgotten our dinner conversation when I returned the ring? What about your wife? Have you forgotten about her?”

  “I haven’t forgotten. We’re separated and probably getting a divorce. It should be final in another month or so. You and I were supposed to be together. There hasn’t been anyone to take your place, Tory.”

  “I can’t believe you…”

  “Is everything okay over here?” Dave asked as he joined them and interrupted Tory’s response.

  She hadn’t noticed him watching them talk and didn’t hear him as he made his way to them slowly.

  “No, no, everything’s fine. We were, um, just reminiscing about high school and how things used to be, right, Matt?”

  “That’s right,” Matt said. “No need to get your boxers in a wad. I was on my way out anyway. Tory, think about what I said and give me a call.” Matt swaggered down the slight hill to his car, leaving Tory staring after him astonished, speechless at his audacity.

  “Let’s go. I’ve had enough for one day.” She turned from Dave and headed toward the car. Dave motioned to Brandon who gathered Anne and Sue together, and they soon followed Tory and Dave to the car, out of the cemetery, and back to Anne’s home.

  Chapter 31

  Heather Hall was so excited—so excited she couldn’t sleep during the night and got up earlier to make sure everything was in order. Today she was leaving to take a Caribbean cruise she had dreamed about, thanks to her father. He came to house and cat sit for her so she could fulfill her dream. Once the word was out that she was leaving, she had so many friends and neighbors coming by in the last few days to wish her bon voyage. She couldn’t help herself but to become as excited as them.