“I forgot about Sarah Graham. It’s weird. Simone never talks about her. It’s like Sadie is her only child.”
“What happened?”
“I honestly forgot all about it, which is weird because it was big news for weeks around here. Sarah was considered the frontrunner for the pageant that year. She was pretty, just like Sadie and her mother, and she could play the piano. In fact, the rumor was that Simone made her take piano lessons just so she would have a proper talent at the pageant.”
“Okay, now we’re getting into some pretty sick territory,” Jack noted. “What is wrong with that woman? I mean … how much did piano lessons cost?”
“The thing is, Sarah is twenty-one and Simone is thirty-nine. I’m sure you can do the math.”
“Simone was eighteen when she had Sarah. Young.”
“She was pregnant when she competed in the pageant,” Ivy clarified. “That was against the rules. Simone won and the other girls in her year found out about the pregnancy and tried to have the title stripped from her.”
“Are you kidding?” Jack was appalled. “It’s a freaking pageant.”
“I told you that people took the pageant seriously.”
“I know but … .”
“Simone swore up and down that she didn’t get pregnant until after the pageant, but no one really believed her,” Ivy said. “In fact, there was a rumor that Scott Graham wasn’t Sarah’s real father. Some of the girls claimed Simone slept with one of the judges – who just happened to be a local grocery store owner at the time – to make sure she won.”
“There’s no way,” Jack scoffed. “No teenager would sleep with an adult to win a pageant.”
Ivy wasn’t so sure. “It doesn’t really matter. Scott took responsibility for Sarah and married Simone. It was an extremely unhappy marriage. They were already separated by the time Simone gave birth to Sadie three and a half years later.”
“So … what does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing. I’m simply laying the groundwork. Simone’s entire life – at least after Scott left, that is – became those girls. In some respects, I think she’s probably a good mother. She’s very involved in their day-to-day activities.”
“But … ?” Jack prodded.
“But she’s also intense and put a lot of pressure on those girls to succeed at everything,” Ivy replied. “Simone was older than me and Sarah was obviously younger than me, but I remember seeing Simone melt down a few times when Sarah didn’t excel the way Simone thought she should.”
“Like at the pageant that Hannah won?”
Ivy bobbed her head. “Exactly. That pageant is the worst we’ve ever had. It still lives in infamy.”
Jack leaned forward, intrigued. “Infamy, huh? Now I have to know. Tell me what happened.”
“You’re going to find it ridiculous. I’m just warning you now.”
“Then you definitely have to tell me.”
“Okay, so it was obvious that the pageant was going to come down to Sarah and Hannah,” Ivy said, rubbing her hands together. Even though she liked to think herself above gossip, she relished telling the story. Jack found her reaction cute. “They were the only two really competing. Most of the girls that year barely showed up.”
“I thought you told me that was uncommon.”
“It is, but it still happens,” Ivy said. “Sometimes it’s obvious that you don’t have a shot so you bow out gracefully. I didn’t until the very end the year I was in the competition, but that’s because Ava and Maisie are evil and I wanted to thwart evil.”
“I think it’s absolutely adorable that you use words like ‘infamy’ and ‘thwart.’ Is it any wonder that I’m endlessly devoted to you?”
Ivy cracked a smile but refused to engage in flirting until she finished her story. “So, it came down to the final interview. They both got stupid questions and essentially answered with ‘world peace’ and cheesy smiles.”
“Okay.”
“The judges deliberated for a long time, which made people suspicious because it usually only takes twenty minutes or so,” Ivy continued. “So there’s all these whispers in the crowd. People thought it might be a tie or something.”
“What happens then? A fight to the death by the two contestants sounds about right.”
“There would be some run-off thing. It’s never happened, but I remember everyone talking about it. Anyway, the host that year was a local radio station guy. He gets on the stage and does this breathless thing at the end … and announces Hannah the winner.
“Hannah screeches and dances around like she’s just won a trip to Disney World – or free groceries for a year – and Sarah is outright sobbing as she watches,” she continued. “That’s normal stuff. Out of nowhere, though, Simone rushed the stage and snatched the crown from Hannah’s head. She was ranting and raving like a lunatic.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Jack said. “What happened?”
“She tried to put the crown on Sarah’s head, but that poor girl was mortified,” Ivy replied. “Simone kept screaming that the fix was in and Hannah did something to sway the judges.”
Jack arched an eyebrow. “Like paid them off?”
“More like gave them … um … sexual favors.”
“I love that you’re a prude when it comes to talking about stuff like that in public.” Jack squeezed Ivy’s knee under the table. “Is that true? Is that how she won?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t there. Simone was convinced of it. After the town council managed to wrestle the crown away from her and give it back to Hannah, Simone was escorted from the barn and Sarah was forced to go with her.”
“That sounds like a rough night. It also sounds mildly hilarious.”
“It was for the people watching,” Ivy confirmed. “It wasn’t for Simone and Sarah. There was a bake sale that night and Aunt Felicity had a lot of baked goods in it. We stayed late to help clean up, and when we were packing up the car I happened to see Simone and Sarah in the parking lot.”
Jack was intrigued despite himself. “What did you see?”
“I honestly forgot about it until Hannah reminded me, but Simone pulled Sarah’s hair and smacked her across the face,” Ivy said. “She screamed that Sarah let her down and should be ashamed of herself. She didn’t care who saw or heard.”
“That sounds … extreme.”
“It was. It was embarrassing for them both and yet Simone didn’t seem to understand that. Sarah did, though. I saw the look in her eyes.”
“And right after that she moved away from town,” Jack noted. “She doesn’t have anything to do with her mother.”
“Which is how I forgot her.”
“You didn’t forget her. You just … forgot to remember.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“No, but it gives me food for thought,” Jack said. “If Simone was crazy enough to do what she did back then, what is she crazy enough to do now that Sadie is her last shot at getting that crown for one of her kids?”
“That’s a very good question.”
“It’s also a frightening one. I’m starting to think that Simone Graham is off her rocker. That only makes her more dangerous. You need to be careful.”
“I’m always careful.”
“Be a lot more careful than that. I mean it.”
Fourteen
Jack’s mind was busy as he followed Ivy home. They drove to town separately so he had to drop Ivy back at the barn so she could reclaim her vehicle. Given the circumstances – and Simone’s fury – Jack made sure to watch while Ivy got in her car and then followed to make sure she didn’t have any trouble on the ride home. He doubted very much anyone would tamper with her vehicle, but he refused to be complacent.
He was lost in thought when they pulled in to the driveway, only paying attention when Ivy flew out of her vehicle and let loose with a loud exclamation. He dragged his eyes to the front of the house, frowning when he saw the toilet paper ha
nging from the trees and what looked to be spray paint on the front door.
“What the … ?”
Jack pocketed his keys as he hopped out of the truck, his eyes wide.
Most women would be scared or upset to find their home vandalized. Ivy was absolutely furious. “I can’t believe this!”
She raced toward the front door, her hands balled into fists. Jack was alert as he turned to his left and slowly scanned the entire area for hints of movement. While Ivy stomped her feet and cursed a blue streak on the front porch, Jack took a moment to study the driveway. It was hard to tell if anyone else drove over the packed snow because no fresh powder fell throughout the day. Still, the house was isolated enough that someone could be hiding in the thick trees that surrounded the house.
“I’m going to kill her,” Ivy exclaimed, finally getting Jack’s attention. “I’m going to rip every hair out of her head – every single one! – and then I’m going to give her a big, fat lip to go with her big, fat ego.”
“Who?”
Ivy met Jack’s gaze with an incredulous stare. “Who do you think? This has Simone written all over it. I mean … look at what she wrote.”
Jack moved closer, his eyebrows drawing together as he read the insults on the front door. There was nothing odd or overtly threatening about the words – most were just derogatory, calling Ivy things like “slut” and “witch,” amongst others – but he understood her anger. “Honey, we don’t know that she did this.”
“Who else?”
“Well … .” In truth, Jack’s first inclination was to blame Simone. Given the story he heard over dinner, this almost seemed like a tame reaction. “You’re probably right, but we need evidence to prove it.”
“What do you want her to do?” Ivy asked, planting her hands on her narrow hips. “Should she sign her name to the insult about me being a witch? She’s been saying that for days, by the way. It has to be her.”
“I get that and I don’t disagree with you.” Jack forced himself to remain calm. The idea that someone would come to their home, their sanctuary, and do something petty like this over a pageant irked him to no end. Even more than that, though, he worried that Ivy would somehow become a target for violence. So far, no one had died. That didn’t mean the culprit wouldn’t step up his or her game now that Ivy was in charge. “I’m going to call Brian and get him out here.”
Ivy balked. “You’re going to call him out here for vandalism?”
“I am,” Jack confirmed. “I want you to take photos with your phone right away and then try to wash off that front door. If we’re lucky, the paint won’t be dry and we won’t have much of an issue getting it off. You need to take photos for documentation first, though.”
“Oh.” Ivy felt mildly foolish. “That’s a good idea.”
“Then get on it,” Jack instructed. “I’ll start handling the toilet paper after. We need Brian as an independent third party, though.” What Jack didn’t say out loud was that he also wanted Brian to immediately track down Simone and see if he could catch her with the supplies on her person. “I’ll be over to help in five minutes. Just … give me a minute. It’s going to be okay.”
JACK FILLED TWO GARBAGE bags with toilet paper by the time Brian pulled in the driveway. Jack recognized his official vehicle right away – and the woman sitting in the passenger seat. He wasn’t surprised that Brian insisted on bringing Simone out to the scene of the crime. What did surprise him was the vehicle that pulled in behind Brian. He recognized that truck, too. It belonged to Max.
“Great,” Jack muttered under his breath, running a gloved hand over the back of his head. “This isn’t going to end well.”
Ivy, a bucket of soapy water on the porch next to her, toiled over the door. Jack believed she got all the paint off long ago, but she still plugged away to make absolutely certain. He figured having something to do calmed her fury. He realized he was wrong when she caught sight of Simone.
“You are un-freaking-believable!” Ivy yelled as she bounded down the steps and strode toward the car. “What is the matter with you? Why do you insist on acting like a teenager?”
Jack caught Ivy around the waist before she could launch herself at Simone. Under normal circumstances, Jack would trust Ivy to conduct herself with a modicum of maturity and respect. For some reason, Simone irritated Ivy to the point where she became deranged. The last thing Jack needed was for Ivy to physically assault Simone in front of Brian. She could end up in jail if she wasn’t careful.
“I found Simone,” Brian offered, pursing his lips as he surveyed the cleanup efforts. “She was just pulling into her driveway. She had Sadie with her.”
Jack struggled against Ivy’s wriggling body, working overtime to keep her close. “Did you find any vandalism supplies?”
“I didn’t, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t dump them while out,” Brian said, his expression mild. “Simone didn’t seem surprised when I told her why I was there.”
“I see.” Jack flicked his eyes to Max’s truck, but the older Morgan sibling showed no signs of getting out. Coward, Jack internally cursed. He was about to make things ten times worse and he didn’t have the courage to face his sister’s wrath. “Well, Simone, would you like to account for your whereabouts over the past three hours or so?”
“Not really.” Simone folded her arms over her chest, defiant. “I don’t believe I have to account for my whereabouts because I’m not guilty and you can’t arrest me without proof.”
“Wow. Did you get a law degree when no one was looking?” Brian drawled.
Simone ignored the dig. “I had nothing to do with this. Why would I do something like this?”
“Why would you do anything?” Ivy challenged as she fought Jack’s strong arms. “Why did you rush the stage when Hannah Landry won the title? Why have you alienated Sarah? Why are you so desperate to keep your claws in that pageant?”
“Ivy, knock it off,” Jack warned, his arms threatening to give way. Ivy wasn’t overly tall or muscular, but she was unbelievably strong. She was also tenacious, which meant she would probably outlast Jack over the long haul. “You can’t go after her.”
“Oh, I can go after her,” Ivy gritted out.
“No, you can’t.” Jack lowered his mouth so it was next to Ivy’s ear. “You could end up in jail if you’re not careful. I know you’re upset. I’m upset, too. I need you to calm yourself, though. Please.”
It was the “please” that did her in. Defeated, utterly exhausted and annoyed, Ivy ceased fighting and let her hands fall to her sides. “Fine. I’m done.”
Jack was leery as he relinquished his grip. Thankfully Ivy didn’t throw herself at Simone. She merely stood next to Jack and rubbed her hands together to warm them. Instinctively, Jack grabbed her hands and gripped them between his.
“You have motive,” Brian pointed out to Simone, doing his best to ignore the potential domestic situation across the way. “You were removed from your position as pageant coordinator several hours ago. Ivy was handed the reins. You’ve never gotten along.”
“That’s because she’s a witch and I like to fight evil beings,” Simone said with false bravado.
“That’s funny,” Jack said, collecting Ivy’s phone from her pocket and scanning through the photos. He held up the phone when he found the snapshot he was looking for. “That’s the exact word someone used when they painted the door.”
For the first time since arriving, Simone looked uncomfortable. She rubbed her cheek as she leaned forward and stared at the writing, her eyes temporarily flashing with something Jack couldn’t identify. After a few moments of quiet contemplation, Simone recovered.
“I didn’t write that. Why would I? It’s just … ridiculous.”
“It is ridiculous,” Jack agreed. “You still haven’t answered the question. Where were you over the past three hours?”
“It’s really none of your concern, but since it’s cold and I’m sick of being here – this place is straight out
of a horror movie, by the way – I’ll tell you.” Simone looked smug, which worried Jack to no end. “After leaving the barn, Sadie took off with some of her friends and I ran to the grocery store.”
“That’s your alibi?” Ivy was understandably dubious. “You spent three hours at the grocery store?”
“I’m not finished,” Simone growled. “I spent twenty-five minutes at the grocery store and then I drove out to M-88. I had a date and went to his house to fix him dinner.”
Understanding clicked into place inside Ivy’s head and she darted her eyes to Max’s truck. As if sensing he was needed, Max opened the door and hopped out. His expression was sheepish when he glanced at Jack, and while Jack felt genuine sympathy for the man, he was loyal to Ivy. Wisely, Max avoided meeting Ivy’s murderous stare.
“She was with you?” Jack asked, his hand instinctively moving to Ivy’s hip in case she decided to scrap with her brother once she heard the answer.
“She was,” Max confirmed. “I ran into her in the parking lot and she was upset … crying really … and she suggested cooking me dinner.”
“And you’re never one to turn your nose up to a free meal,” Ivy groused.
Max ignored the snark. “She made steak and potatoes. She was at my house from about five until seven. Then she left.”
“I was just returning to my house when you found me, Detective Nixon,” Simone said sweetly. The look she shot Ivy was full of giddy triumph. “I picked up Sadie because she was done with her friends and we headed straight home. I called Max when I realized you wanted me to come out here and I would need him to verify my whereabouts. Does that serve as an alibi?”
“I guess,” Brian said, shifting from one foot to the other. The tension in the yard was palpable. “You’re not completely off the hook, though. We’re going to want to talk to Sadie, too.”
“Sadie?” Simone’s smile faded. “Why?”
“Because if you didn’t do this, that means one of the girls in the pageant probably did,” Brian replied, not missing a beat. “I’ll question her tomorrow. If you want to get back in the car, I’ll take you home now.”
Wicked Fun: An Ivy Morgan Mystery Books 7-9 Page 51