Murder After Midnight

by Dianne Harman

  “I…I’m not sure what you mean,” Jerry stuttered.

  “Oh, come on now Jerry, you can tell us,” Dana said, reaching out for his hand, but Jerry pulled it back. “How you grew up in a ghetto with a drug addicted mother, and a father you never saw, because he was in prison most of your childhood, isn’t that right?”

  Dana stared back at the camera. “Folks, Jerry’s story is amazing, because it’s one of inspiration and hope for all of you out there in unfortunate circumstances. There’s a lot of suffering that goes on close to home, and I know Jerry does a lot of charity work to help members of underprivileged communities.”

  Turning back to Jerry, she went on, “Would you like to tell us more about the support you give to disadvantaged teens with mental health issues, so they don’t have to suffer like your sister who was abused by a family friend and was too afraid to speak out?”

  Dana’s words were ringing in Jerry’s ears. He couldn’t even begin to guess how many millions of people were watching his humiliation at the hands of Dana Donnelly. It never occurred to Jerry she had a team of several people working for her who did nothing but research the guests she would be interviewing. He didn’t know they could find out where a person was born, where they’d gone to school, what kind of grades they’d had, and everything else that had gone on in their lives. The past he’d worked so hard to hide, to get away from, was being exposed by Dana in the blink of an eye. He wondered just how much she did know. Did she know about all of it…about his brother Gordon’s auto accident? Jerry couldn’t take the risk.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, pulling off his microphone and flinging it to the floor. “I’m not feeling well. If you’ll excuse me, I need to leave.”

  Dana had called after him as he strode across the studio, a cameraman running alongside. When he roughly pushed the cameraman out of his way, the guy had fallen and broken his ankle. Without stopping to help or apologize, Jerry had stormed off the set. Unfortunately for him, the whole thing was captured by the other cameras on the set and broadcast live to a hungry television audience. It had been on every news show across the United States that evening.

  Jerry knew he hadn’t come out of it looking very good, but it could have been worse. If Dana knew about the joyriding incident, he could be looking at a prison sentence rather than losing his job.

  As he sat on the ferry, he made up his mind. Waiting for Laura to discredit Dana was a waste of time. Dana disappearing from television screens wasn’t enough for Jerry. He needed her to disappear forever. Only then could he put the secret about Gordon’s death to rest once and for all.

  Another nagging thought occurred to him. It was possible Laura also knew his secret, and that was what she’d been referring to earlier. That he’d stolen a car as a drunken youth and was driving with his brother Gordon in the passenger seat when the car spun out of control and crashed into a river. Jerry had made it safely out of the vehicle, but Gordon had drowned. Jerry told the police Gordon was the one who had stolen the car and was driving, and Jerry had escaped not only with his life, but also with a hundred hours of community service by a judge who’d told him he really didn’t believe Jerry’s version of what happened on that fateful night.

  He’d deal with Dana first. Then he could start thinking about Laura.

  CHAPTER 6

  DeeDee stared at the gun nestled on the kitchen table between her plate of cold unfinished toast and a jar of homemade blackberry jam. She’d picked the blackberries one August day with Jake when they came across the wild fruit in bushes along a country trail they were walking on with Balto. Picking up the jar of jam, DeeDee pushed it to the back of the shelf in her kitchen cupboard, figuring that a reminder of Jake with her breakfast every morning was too much for her to deal with right now.

  Her gaze moved through the open doorway to Balto who was in the hallway, eagerly waiting for her to open the front door to go for their regular morning walk. His tail wagged impatiently, his leash hanging from his mouth.

  “Don’t give me those come-to-the-beach-eyes, Balto,” she sighed, lifting the gun and turning it over in her palm. “You’ve been standing there ever since Chief Hewson left, and it’s making me nervous.”

  The cold metal of the gun sent a shiver down her spine. Jake had shown her how to use it, and he’d insisted that she keep it in the house with her, because of a previous murder investigation in which they’d been involved. Keeping it hidden under a loose floorboard in the hallway was one thing, but using it to shoot someone was something else altogether. Her hand was trembling so much she had to set it down, afraid it would go off by accident and she’d injure herself, or worse, her beloved Balto.

  Balto whined and DeeDee walked into the hallway. “I know I said we could go for a walk, Balto, but I’m not sure it’s such a good idea. I’m not feeling quite as brave as I was earlier.”

  Balto’s eyes fell, and he dropped the leash.

  “Now you’re making me feel guilty, Balto.” DeeDee said, as she placed her hands on her hips. “It’s not my fault I’m scared of my own shadow right now, but I guess it’s not yours either.”

  DeeDee considered going outside to the garden. There was a good view out front where she could see the road leading to the house, so anyone approaching would be visible which would give her plenty of warning. But somehow, she didn’t think the garden would keep Balto happy for long. He’d be down the path to the beach before she could say ‘rabbit frisbee.’

  The sound of the telephone ringing on the hallway table caused both of them to startle.

  DeeDee gingerly reached for the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Hey, Sis, Happy New Year!”

  The sound of Roz’s voice on the other end of the line caused DeeDee to begin to sob.

  “DeeDee, are you all right?” There was silence while Roz waited for DeeDee to respond. “Please answer me, DeeDee. All I can hear are big, raspy breaths and it sounds like you’re blubbering like a baby. What’s wrong?”

  “I…I’m just so happy to hear your voice,” DeeDee said when her body had stopped shuddering, and she’d gotten her tears under control.

  “Hmm, you have a funny way of showing it,” Roz muttered. “Do you burst into tears every time you’re happy, or just when your baby sister gets back from her honeymoon? I tried calling you last night, but your cell phone was switched off. It still is, by the way.”

  With the handset pressed to her ear, DeeDee walked into the great room and curled up on the sofa. She tucked a wool throw around her legs. Despite the fact the furnace was on and she was dressed in warm clothes, she still had the shivers.

  “Happy New Year to you too,” DeeDee mumbled. “I forgot I turned my phone off after midnight. So much has happened since then I forgot to switch it on again. I can hardly think straight right now.”

  “Too much information,” Roz said, laughing. “Whatever you and Jake did on New Year’s Eve is no business of mine. Did you guys have a nice evening? He told me he had something special planned. I thought you might have some news for me.”

  DeeDee groaned. “I do, but not the kind you’re thinking. I didn’t see Jake last night, I was working.”

  “You were what?” Roz said, practically screaming into the phone.

  Balto jumped up on the couch beside DeeDee. “Stop shrieking, Roz, you’re scaring Balto.” She stroked his warm fur and let him nestle in her lap. “I was catering a party for Dana Donnelly.”

  It was Roz’s turn to gasp. “Dana D? As in—dead as a dodo, Dana D? It was all over the news networks this morning. Oh, DeeDee. I can’t even go away for ten days without you getting involved in a murder, can I? What’s Jake got to say about all of this?”

  “Jake has nothing to say about it, since we broke up a few days ago,” DeeDee said tightly, the words catching in her throat. “And I don’t suppose he would care, even if I told him.” She heard a muffled conversation taking place at the other end of the line. “And will you stop whispering to Clark? Don’t think I can’t
hear you two talking about me. ”

  The receiver rattled, and Roz came back on the line. “I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding. Why don’t you start by telling me what happened last night, and then you can tell me about your little lover’s tiff.”

  “Roz, stop patronizing me,” DeeDee warned her, “or I’m going to hang up right now. It wasn’t a tiff, it was much worse.”

  “Sure,” Roz said. “Whatever you say. First, I need you to tell me about Dana’s party, and don’t leave anything out.”

  DeeDee recounted the events of the previous few hours, from her final conversation with Dana, to when the police had left her home that morning.

  “That’s it, Clark and I are coming over,” Roz said, her voice rising. “If some lunatic thinks they’re going to get you, they’re going to have to get past me first.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” DeeDee said. “There’s no way you’re putting yourself in danger.”

  “Okay then.” A nervous giggle came from Roz. “Clark first, then me. We may as well all go down together.”

  “This is no laughing matter,” DeeDee scolded. “I don’t want you coming over, and that’s final. I have a gun, and Balto won’t let anything happen to me without a fight. The only thing I ask is that you don’t say anything to Mitch and Tink. You know how children are about their mother. There’s no point in them worrying as well.”

  “In that case, I’m calling Jake,” Roz declared. “I know he’d be there in a heartbeat in spite of whatever this supposed breakup you had was about. Do you want to tell me about it?”

  “No, I don’t,” DeeDee said, “and I don’t want you to tell Jake. I’d never forgive you. I don’t want to talk about what happened, it’s private.” DeeDee had a feeling if she told Roz the full story, her sister would probably side with Jake .

  “Sorry, Sis. No dice. You’re going to have to spill the beans, or I’m calling Jake right now.”

  DeeDee knew Roz wasn’t kidding. “Fine. What do you want to know?”

  “All of it. You already told me you were spending Christmas with Mitch and Tink. When did you see Jake, and how did this turn of events come about?”

  DeeDee sighed. She knew she had no option but to tell Roz everything. “Jake came over a couple of nights after Christmas. We’d swapped gifts on Christmas Eve, then he was spending time with his daughter, and Mitch and Tink were with me for a couple of days.”

  “Right,” Roz said. “So, what were the gifts that you bought each other?”

  “That’s not important,” DeeDee said. “You know, this and that.”

  “You’re not getting off that lightly, DeeDee. Of course it’s important. It’s the first Christmas since you’ve been dating, and I want to know if he got you something nice, because Jake strikes me as the kind of guy that probably put a lot of thought into it.”

  DeeDee felt a pang of guilt. “Yes, it was nice,” she said as lightly as she could.

  “What was? Quit stalling, or do I have to come over there and drag it out of you?”

  “Um, no,” DeeDee conceded. “You’re right. Jake bought me a beautiful present. It was an antique gold eternity ring.”

  Roz let out a low whistle. “I knew that guy was crazy about you. And what did you get him?”

  “Roz, I really don’t see what that has to do with anything. ”

  “Clark is beside me, DeeDee. His finger is hovering on Jake’s number. All I have to do is give him the nod…”

  “A drill,” DeeDee blurted out. “I bought him an electric drill.”

  Roz was silent, and DeeDee grimaced at Balto. She knew Roz’s scathing reply was a certainty.

  “Ah,” Roz said at last. “This, from the woman who didn’t speak to her ex-husband for two weeks when he bought her a leather luggage set as a birthday gift one year. And a very expensive, designer luggage set, as I recall.”

  “That’s different,” DeeDee argued. “I thought Lyle bought me the luggage because he was taking me on a secret trip somewhere. Except the trip never materialized. It was just the luggage. What sort of gift is that?”

  “Better than a drill,” Roz pointed out.

  “If you must know, Jake was delighted. There were no complaints from him, I can assure you.”

  “That’s because he’s far too polite,” Roz said. “Anyway, I can’t wait to see the ring. Can you text me a picture of it? I know Clark and I just got married, but he’s dying to buy me an eternity ring, isn’t that right, darling?”

  DeeDee heard Clark protest.

  “I don’t have it,” DeeDee said. “I threw it… I mean gave it back to him.”

  And then it all came out. Tears trickled down her face as she told Roz about the argument caused by her working on New Year’s Eve, culminating in her throwing the ring in the darkness at Jake.

  Roz squealed. “But you went out and got it afterwards, right? ”

  DeeDee looked at Balto, who was looking sadly at her. “I was too angry that night,” she said, “but I did look for it the next day, so I could return it to him.”

  If Roz sensed her distress, she didn’t acknowledge it. “Go on, DeeDee. Please tell me you found the ring.”

  “Roz, I was on my hands and knees in the grass out in the front yard for hours. It’s lost. I looked everywhere,” she said quietly. “If I could turn back the clock, believe me, I would. You don’t need to tell me how badly I messed up. I’m doing a pretty good job of that myself. Can you humor me and change the subject to talk about something happier, like how amazing your honeymoon was?”

  Roz relented. “Okay. But don’t blame me when you’re green with envy. I could talk about it all day.”

  DeeDee lay back and closed her eyes, imagining the sandy beaches and water villas on stilts that Roz was describing, her mouth watering for the delicious food and her cold skin craving the warmth of the Caribbean sun.

  Eventually, Roz had talked enough about paradise to calm DeeDee and almost put her to sleep. “Promise me you’ll keep both the gun and Balto beside you, and that you’ll call us if there’s anything you need,” her sister said gently.

  “I promise,” DeeDee said, ending the call and hugging Balto closer to her.

  CHAPTER 7

  Jake raised his ax high in the air before slamming it down in a series of vicious strikes against the log sitting upright on the outdoor chopping block in his backyard. When he was done, he pushed the split pieces of wood into the crate lying beside the chopping block, lifted another log, and repeated the procedure. There was something calming about the process, the satisfying crack of the log as it split in two, then each piece into two again. Jake chopped to the rhythm of the music that was coming from his CD player. It wasn’t the usual classical music he preferred for relaxing, as the task at hand and his somber mood called for something heavy with lots of bass notes.

  Instead, Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” blasted from the tinny speakers. He’d cut enough wood the past couple of days to see him through several winters, but that was no excuse for him to stop. Otherwise, he might have to think about the real reason that he was unable to go about his normal day-to-day routine.

  The ringtone coming from his cell phone on the patio table disturbed his concentration, and he rested the ax on the ground, making his way around the corner of the house to where the natural stone patio nestled between the house and the garden. Wiping the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, he squinted at the screen of the device, which was hard to see without his reading glasses .

  “Hello. This is Jake.”

  “Jake, Dan Hewson here. Have I caught you at a bad time?”

  Jake looked at the angry water frothing in the Sound just beyond the end of his garden, and along with the dark and threatening sky, it indicated he’d need to lay a tarp over the firewood before the heavens opened. He smiled. “Is there such a thing, when you’re outdoors on Bainbridge Island? I could think of plenty worse places to be. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call, Chief?”

&
nbsp; Dan cleared his throat. “Jake, I hope you don’t mind me calling like this. I’ll get straight to the point. I have a little situation I think you should be aware of.”

  “Shoot Dan, and Happy New Year. Are you going to watch the football games today?” Jake sat down in a chair, and checked the time on his wristwatch. He had just enough time to go for a walk before the weather closed in, and then he could hunker down to a quiet afternoon of the games on television and a couple of beers in front of a roaring fire. It wasn’t like he had anything else planned.

  “I wish,” Dan said. “I doubt that I’ll even be near a television set for the rest of the day. I’m not sure if you’re aware of it, but there was a high-profile murder on the island last night. That’s the reason I’m calling. It kind of has to do with you.”

  Jake motioned to his dog, Yukon, who came over and sat down beside him.

  “Sorry, Chief, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’ve been outside all morning, and I haven’t seen the television or listened to the radio, so I don’t know anything about a murder. I was home by myself last night, and the only thing I was aware of were illegal firecrackers being shot off and bothering my dog.”

  Dan let out a heavy sigh. “Jake, this is none of my business. I understand you’re no longer seeing DeeDee Wilson, but she’s involved in this incident, and I’m concerned about her safety. ”

  Jake bolted upright onto his feet and Yukon, sensing his master’s change of mood, stood on alert. “What happened, Dan? Is DeeDee alright, did someone hurt her?” Jake asked as he began pacing back and forth on the patio.

  “Dana Donnelly was murdered at her home last night. Have you heard the name?”

  Jake frowned. “Yes, I’ve seen her show once or twice. She’s not my cup of tea, but I heard that DeeDee was catering the event. We kind of…let’s just say we had words about it, which is how I know. You’d better fill me in, Dan.”

  Jake headed in the direction of the beach with Yukon, the wind rising, as the Chief told him DeeDee’s version of what happened after everyone had left the party.