Murder in North Carolina

by Agnes Alexander

  Vernon went into his office with a smile on his face. Robyn had swallowed the whole story. This was going to work and allow him to get control of the company quicker than he had thought. He only needed to get the right people to believe his lies. Then he could keep adding to them and make them believe Rebecca had gone insane. With enough people on his side, he’d have no trouble having her put away. Then he’d have his revenge and everything he wanted materially.

  He took off his coat and put it on the back of his chair. He might as well start making phone calls to the people who counted. He’d tell the story like he had to Robyn with only a few variations to suit each person. As he dialed the first number, he decided this was not only going to be a lucrative project, but would also provide him with plenty of amusement.

  Chapter 46

  Rebecca came downstairs after dressing in a navy print crinkle skirt and a white knit shell. She had combed her brown hair in a page boy and used a navy headband to hold it back. She wore silver dangle earrings, several silver bangle bracelets on her left arm, and navy sandals. As she reached the bottom step, the doorbell rang.

  “I’ll get it, Wilma,” she called.

  Erica was on the other side. “Why didn’t you ask who it was before you opened the door?”

  “I’m sorry. So shoot me.”

  “If I had been the wrong person, I very well might have done just that.” She stepped inside. “How are you this morning?”

  “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”

  “That no good husband of yours called me earlier. He told me about the threatening call you got. He said he thought it was a prank.”

  “Vernon called you?” Rebecca couldn’t believe it.

  “Unless you have some other no good husband, it was him.”

  “I wonder why he did that. He doesn’t care for you very much, you know.”

  “Yes, I know. I wondered why he had called, too. He said it was because I’d never forgive him for not calling.”

  “I don’t see Vernon caring if you forgave him.”

  “That’s what I thought. I also thought he must have another motive behind the call. He just didn’t tell me what it was.” She changed the subject. “What are you up to this morning?”

  “Justine called and wants me to come over. Why?”

  “I thought I might get you out of here for a little while.”

  “That was nice of you, but I’m already committed to meeting Justine.”

  “Well, if you’ve got business to discuss, I’ll run along.”

  “Why don’t you stay? It may be interesting.”

  “I doubt that.”

  “She insisted I have Nick here. She’s up to something.”

  “Humph. I’ll stay, then. You could be right. It might be interesting.”

  “Thanks. I knew you’d back me up.” Rebecca started across the hall. “I thought we’d meet in the library. That’s a good room for a serious meeting.”

  The doorbell rang again. “Go on into the library, Erica. I’ll get it.”

  Nick stood on the other side this time. “You didn’t ask who it was before you opened the door. That’s not a smart thing to do.”

  Rebecca threw up her hands. “Erica just told me that.”

  “She’s right. You need to listen to her.” He smiled. “How are you?

  “I’m fine.”

  “I’m glad. Wilma told me about the episode last night.”

  “She said you called to check on me. Thank you.”

  “Of course I’m going to check on you. After yesterday, I still feel bad about leaving you alone here.”

  “I didn’t have a problem until the phone call.”

  “Have you had any more calls?”

  “None.” She motioned for him to follow her. “By the way, did Vernon call you, too?”

  “Of course not. Why do you ask?”

  “I don’t know. He called Erica, and she’s on the bottom of his friend list close to the same line as you, I would think.”

  He chuckled. “That’s probably true.”

  “Vernon said the call last night was probably another prank. We’ve had some prank calls.”

  Nick caught her arm and stopped her. “You haven’t told me about that. Why not?”

  “I didn’t think they were important.”

  He put his hands on her shoulders and brought his face was close to hers. “Everything that happens in a murder investigation is important. I thought I’d taught you that by now.”

  “I’m sorry.” She looked at him as a shiver went down her spine because of his nearness. “I’ll try to do better.”

  Erica said, “Whoops! Did I come out of the room at the wrong time? Are you going to kiss her, or what?”

  “Good morning, Erica.” Nick let Rebecca go. “I didn’t know you were here. It’s good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you, too, Nick.” She walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “If Rebecca won’t kiss you hello, I will.”

  “Thanks. It’s always nice to be greeted with a kiss from a beautiful woman.”

  “Oh, you charmer, you. You’d better grab him, Rebecca, or some other lucky woman might snatch him up while you’re not looking.”

  Before Rebecca could answer, Wilma came into the hall. “Good morning, everyone.”

  “Good morning, Wilma.” They all greeted her.

  “Shall I bring the refreshments to the library now, Ms. Rebecca?”

  “That’ll be fine.”

  The doorbell rang again. “Let me show you how to answer it,” Nick said. He walked to the door and looked out the peephole. Then he opened the door. “Good morning.”

  “Do you have a new butler here or something?” Justine smiled.

  “Or something is right,” Rebecca mumbled. “Come in, Justine. I’m glad to see you. These two are ganging up on me.”

  “We’ll see if we can’t even the score.” Justine nodded to all of them. “Looks like we’re all here.”

  “I’m an extra.” Erica said. “Hope you don’t mind.”

  “Delighted to have you.”

  “Shall we all go into the library?” Rebecca did a Vanna White wave in that direction.

  Wilma had set up on a table in the corner. Rebecca smiled. She hadn’t seen that table piled with refreshments in a long time. Her father had often served from it when he’d used this room for business meetings. Vernon preferred to have his meetings away from the house.

  “I’m going to have a cup of coffee right away,” Nick said. “Can I get some for anyone?”

  “I’d like a cup.” Justine set a stack of paperwork on the desk. “Just a little cream, please.”

  “I prefer lemonade,” Erica said. “How about you, Rebecca?”

  “I’d like some lemonade also.”

  Wilma poured their drinks and started to leave the room, but Justine called her back.

  “I think you’d better stay for this meeting, too, Wilma. Since you spend most of the time with Rebecca, you need to hear what I’m going to say.”

  “Help yourself to something to drink.” Rebecca smiled at Wilma. “Then find a seat. We’re all informal here this morning.”

  Wilma got herself a cup of coffee and smiled shyly when Nick pulled out a chair for her beside him.

  “Now, I think we’re ready to get started.” Justine picked up a manila folder. “Wilma found these papers and told Rebecca about them. Rebecca thought they were a set of books from the company, and she was right about part of it. They’re a set of books all right, but they only partially concern the company. These books were set up to keep track of the money that has been embezzled from Davidson Industries. It is recorded as a dummy company. Actually the money is funneled into accounts in different banks in different parts of the country and in some offshore accounts.”

  “I’ll be damned,” Erica said. “Sorry Rebecca, but I’ve thought all along that Vernon was a shyster. This proves it.”

  “Aunt Millicent was right,” Rebecca said. “She tol
d me he was only after my money.”

  “You haven’t heard the half of it,” Justine said. She picked up some individual sheets. “Willard Brookmeyer is in it up to his ass. He’s set up most of these accounts and is the co-signer on many of them. I’m sorry, Rebecca, but they’re stealing you blind. At the rate they’re going, the business will be bankrupt in a few years.”

  “What did you say?” Justine asked when Erica muttered something under her breath.

  “I stopped at Ruby Tuesday’s the other afternoon, and Vernon was there with his comptroller and Brookmeyer. They were putting figures on papers that looked just like the ones you’re showing us.”

  “Vernon told me he saw you there.” Rebecca looked at her friend.

  “I thought it was a business meeting. I didn’t mention it to anyone because I didn’t think a lot about it at the time.”

  Justine looked at them all. “They’re making another set of books. That means we need to work fast to stop them. The comptroller must be in on it, too. Do you know her, Rebecca?”

  “Robyn Garvey.”

  “Max Garvey’s wife,” Nick added.

  “What can I do to stop this?” Rebecca looked at both Nick and Justine.

  “You can press charges, and they’ll be arrested.”

  “Justine’s right,” Nick said. “With this much concrete proof, we can have them picked up today.” He looked at Justine. “I’m assuming that’s why I’m here.”

  She nodded. “But there’s still more.”

  “What more could there be?” Rebecca asked, tears filling her eyes.

  “Vernon called me this morning.” She looked at Rebecca. “He told me about the call last night and wanted me to encourage you to draft a new will because he thought you were headed for another breakdown. I told him I wouldn’t be able to do anything until I talked with you.”

  “That son of a bitch,” Nick said.

  “My sentiments exactly,” Erica chimed in.

  “Damn him,” Rebecca said under her breath. “And to think I once thought I loved him, and I trusted him completely with my company.”

  Both Nick and Erica shot her a glance, but neither said anything.

  Justine went on. “He stressed the fact you were having some emotional problems. He even dropped the idea that he might have to have you hospitalized.”

  “That no good… Damn. I can’t think of a name bad enough to call him this morning.” Erica said. “When he called me, he said he’d had to have the doctor over to sedate you last night because you were out of control over a phone call. He told me you said it was a threatening call, but from what he heard from your end of the conversation, it was more like a prank call. I think that scoundrel has concocted a plan to try to convince everyone you’re losing it, Rebecca.”

  Wilma spoke up. “Ms. Rebecca is not losing it, and she was not out of control last night. She went faint after the call. Mr. Armfield didn’t hear her conversation. He had gone to his room and only came downstairs when I called him. He carried her up to bed and told me to call the doctor because he wanted to be sure she was okay. He said he’d inform the police there had been a threatening call. I was standing right beside Ms. Rebecca when it happened. I’d know if she was out of control, and she was not.”

  “Thank you, Wilma,” Rebecca said.

  “What did the caller say?” Nick asked.

  “Something to the effect of ‘I killed Mindy, Millicent, and the detective—and I’m going to kill you next’. I couldn’t even tell if it was a man or a woman, but it sounded a little more like a man.”

  “That definitely was a threat, not a prank.” Nick looked concerned. “Did you recognize the voice?”

  “No. I just remember it was raspy and it scared me.”

  “I’m sure it did. You’ve got to be careful. I’m going to talk with the police. I’ll also get a tap put on your phone, if you don’t mind.”

  “If you think it’ll help.” She looked at Nick. “Do whatever you think is necessary.”

  “Of course.” Nick looked away. “You know, Vernon could have had someone make the call just to scare you.”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him,” Justine offered. “He seemed determined to convince me that Rebecca is teetering on the edge of insanity.”

  “I’ve never trusted him.” Nick looked at the lawyer. “I knew the first time I met him that he wasn’t on the up and up.”

  “I’ve never trusted him, either,” Erica said. “He knows it, too. That’s why he doesn’t like me.”

  “Though I don’t know him as well as you all do, I think Vernon is a greedy and dangerous man. I want to bring him down.” Justine looked at Nick. “I’m pretty sure we have enough evidence to do it, don’t you?”

  “Yes. We can do it today,” Nick said. “But I wonder if it wouldn’t be better to concentrate on the lawyer first. What’s his name?”

  “Willard Brookmeyer.”

  “If we bring his name into it that might force Armfield into showing his hand.” He turned. “I’m sorry, Rebecca, but I have hard evidence that Vernon is deep into the sex ring operating at Mindy’s condo complex. He may not have participated as much as some of the others, but I have an idea he helped produce the DVD you’ve heard so much about.”

  Rebecca stood suddenly, knocking some papers off the table. “Excuse me. I think I’m going to be sick.” She ran out of the room.

  Wilma started to stand, but Nick said, “Let me go.”

  He followed Rebecca to the bathroom behind the staircase and could hear her retching on the other side of the closed door.

  “Feeling okay?” he asked when she finally came out.

  “Better.”

  “Let’s step outside and get some fresh air.” Nick took her arm.

  They went through the living room and out onto the terrace. “I can’t believe what’s happening.” She dropped into the swing.

  He sat beside her. “It’s a nightmare, isn’t it?”

  “I lose my sister, then my aunt, and it seems I lost my husband a long time ago—or maybe I never really had him.”

  Nick took her hand. “You still have some good friends left.”

  “A few.”

  “When they’re good friends, a few are all you need.”

  “Nick…” She looked up at him.

  He dropped her hand and slid his arm around her shoulders. “Yes?”

  “Never mind.”

  “Don’t say that. What did you want to ask?”

  “I’ve got what I wanted. I was going to ask you to hold me, but you already are.” She snuggled against him. “What will they do to Vernon?”

  “White collar crime. He’ll probably be sent to one of those federal prisons where they play golf and tennis all the time.”

  “What will happen to Davidson Industries?”

  “I know a Davidson who’s smart enough to run the company if she wants to.”

  “Do you think I can?”

  “I know you can.”

  “Thank you for having confidence in me.”

  “I’ve always had confidence in you. Remember how you made some of us upperclassmen feel when you’d snap out the answers to math problems we were still grappling with?”

  She smiled. “I never knew you noticed.”

  “Oh, I noticed, all right. So did a lot of other people.”

  She sighed. “I wish we’d gotten to know each other better then.”

  He tightened his arm around her. “I know you’re a married woman, but there’s nothing saying we can’t get to know each other better now.”

  She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’ve already decided I’m not going to be a married woman for much longer.”

  “That’s good to know.”

  They sat quietly for a few minutes, and then she said. “I guess we’d better get back in there. Vernon may have done something else Justine wants to report to me.”

  Nick chuckled. “Are you sure you want to go back inside?”

  �
��Not really. But I have to.”

  “We’ll go, but first let me ask you something.”

  “What?”

  “Did you say that you once loved Vernon?”

  “Yes. Or at least I thought I did. Why do you ask?”

  He smiled at her, stood, and reached down for her hand. “I just wanted to be sure your love for him is in the past.” Before she could say anything, he said, “I think we’d better go back in now.”

  She didn’t say anything, but they went back into the library hand-in-hand.

  Before anyone could say anything, Rebecca announced, “I’m sorry I interrupted. I feel better now. As soon as I pour myself a Coke, we’ll go on.”

  “Let me get it for you,” Wilma jumped up and reached the table before Rebecca could protest.

  “While you were out,” Justine began, “we decided you’re right, Nick. The police should arrest Brookmeyer first. I have a two o’clock appointment with him. Would you like to have them keep my appointment? That way, we’ll be sure he’s there.”

  “Yes. I’ll see that the department gets the evidence they need to get a warrant.”

  “When Vernon hears about it, he may panic. You’ll have someone with you at all times, won’t you Rebecca?” Justine looked at her.

  “I’ll come over as soon as everything is under control,” Nick said. “I want to question Armfield. By then Brookmeyer will probably have spilled his guts and the police will be ready to make the other arrest.” Nick looked at Justine. “I’m sorry to say this in front of you, but attorneys don’t hold up well in jail.”

  “Probably because we see the inside of them too often, don’t you think?”

  Nick nodded. “I agree with that.”

  “I’ll be with Ms. Rebecca,” Wilma said. “I won’t let anyone near her.”

  “I’ll come over, too,” Erica said.

  “So…” Rebecca looked at all of them. “Looks like I’m going to be well protected. I appreciate it, my friends.” She took a deep breath. “It also looks like I’m going to be in charge of Davidson Industries before too long. I hope each of you will help me out in that area, too.”

  “I’ll help in any way I can,” Justine said.

  “All right. Will you accept the job as the company attorney?”

  “I’d be happy to, but don’t feel obligated to hire me because of what I’m doing now.”