“Why not just call?”
“I don’t think you get the same results from a phone call that you do in person. I’m willing to beg a little. I really want to get my degree now.
“What about our homework? And I’d be leaving Stevie again.”
“I have a plan. Why don’t we alternate driving and then we can study in the car. I think Rob might volunteer to take Stevie out for the day somewhere.”
“You seem to have thought all this out. I guess you really are the organized one in the family.”
“So, what do you think?”
“OK, all right, I’ll go for it. Now I have to leave. I’ll talk to you later.”
Lee hung up and Cassie replaced the cordless phone in its charger.
Her next call was to Rob, who came through again. She was very grateful for that. He even said he would take Stevie to Chucky Cheese which Cassie thought was over and above the call of duty.
The following day, Cassie gassed up her car and drove over to pick up Lee. Lee appeared looking bleary-eyed with a pile of books in her arms. She dumped them into the back sea and leaned back, closing her eyes. Cassie eyed the books and said, “Aren’t you going to read them?”
Lee shook her head. “Not before two cups of coffee I’m not. I got stuck helping close the restaurant last night”
Cassie looked over sympathetically. “Well, why don’t you go ahead and catch a nap. We should be near a Highway rest area in about 45 minutes. Then we’ll get coffee. Lee didn’t need any urging. Cassie thought her sister’s face looked fragile and pale. But she knew Lee was tough. She’d been a single mother raising her son for four years now. After her boyfriend, Stevie’s father, had disappeared. They both felt it was good riddance. Possibly he was dead since he was a heavy drug user. Lee had been a trusting soul. Cassie hoped she had learned some caution now. As she drove, Cassie reflected that she herself, was maybe too cautious and unable to trust anyone. Watching the situations that Lee got into had horrified her. Work had become her refuge from the world. And now what, she thought. Maybe this degree is my way to a better life? Dad seems so much better in the new place. Maybe it’s time for me to do more for myself. It gave her some hope.
She stopped at the Highway Rest area and they got something to eat and drink. When they got back in the car, Lee looked brighter. She reached in and pulled out a book. “OK, here goes.” She read for a few minutes, and then commented, “It’s not easy, but I really love the idea of being a nurse.”
Cassie glanced at her. “You would make a good one. How about if I stop in another hour or so and you can take the wheel?”
“OK, I’ll get down to this textbook and finish the reading for this assignment.
They took turns driving and studying and it didn’t seem long before the signs for Boston started appearing by the side of the highway.
Cassie had looked up a parking garage in case she couldn’t find anything on the street, but she did in fact end up at a parking meter. “I hope the two hours is enough,” she said to Lee.
They entered the building and gave the security guard their names. He buzzed them in and they went upstairs to Clifton Montville’s office. Cassie had called ahead to make sure they were expected. Klara had answered and seemed delighted to hear from her.
She came out to meet them in the waiting room. “Come into my office,” she invited them. “I’ve got some fresh coffee made. Or would you like something else?”
They chose Cokes instead and sat down in chairs in front of her desk.
Klara beamed at them. “How can I help you?”
Cassie said, “We came to see Mr. Montville, really. Is he around?”
Klara looked apologetic. “I’m afraid not. He travels a lot. But he gave me instructions to do anything I can for you.”
Cassie said, “Well, here is the problem. We did bow out of the challenge but we’re enrolled in school. Will our current classes be paid for?”
“Oh, is that all you’re concerned about? Of course. You don’t have to worry about that. The $10,000 and the tuition is yours to keep,” She opened a drawer in her desk and took out a piece of paper “Here’s our bank information and all phone numbers you will need. Just contact Ms. Barker who is listed there and it will be taken care of.”
Cassie relaxed. She didn’t have to beg. She went on, “Is there any chance he would pay for our whole tuition? I know that wasn’t part of the deal, but it means a lot to us.”
Klara looked sad. “Well, I’ll ask Mr. Montville, of course, but I can tell you that this was not part of the will. So I don’t see how it can be done. We are just the instruments that help the will to be executed. Do you see?”
Lee slumped in her chair. “I thought so. Well, it was worth a try.”
Cassie said, “But doesn’t Mr. Montville have the discretion to make some decisions?”
Klara said, “I’m not at liberty to say.”
Lee sat up straight. “Say, I just thought of something. If we don’t get the last payment, who does it go to?”
Klara said again, “I’m afraid I can’t divulge that. The challenge time period is not over yet. Mr. Dougall will let you know at the end.”
Cassie and Lee looked at each other. “Well, that seems to settle that. Why don’t we go down to see Derek while we’re here?” Lee turned to Klara. “How far is it from here?”
Klara looked impatient. “No more than an hour.”
Cassie said, “All right, Ms. Voss. Thanks for your time. Please let Mr. Montville know we were here.”
They left the building, then sat in the car and looked at their area map.
Cassie thought she could find her way. They had the address and phone. She got back onto the highway and headed towards Route 3 and Cape Cod. After they made it out of Boston traffic, it really didn’t take any time at all. They flew by the signs for Plymouth where Lee exclaimed she wished she could take the time to bring Stevie to see the Mayflower, and then there was the bridge over the Cape Cod Canal. They bore to the right and it seemed only a few minutes later that they were driving down the Main Street of Bournemouth. Lee looked at the address. “Turn here!” She exclaimed. Cassie turned and they rolled to a stop in front of a tiny Cape Cod cottage with a white picket fence.
Lee stared. “Oh, I love it!”
Cassie had called ahead and found that Derek was at home, although he sounded sleepy. It was 11 AM and she wondered if he had just got up.
They knocked on the door and Derek opened it. Cassie noted the rumpled clothing and knew her surmise was right. They had wakened Derek up.
He noticed her look. “Oh, fell asleep in my clothes last night. I was tired. I got a job playing in a local pub and it ran late. Come in, come in.”
They went in and found the interior just as charming as the outside except for the clutter of empty pizza boxes, beer cans, soda bottles and dirty clothes.
Derek began gathering them up so they could sit down somewhere. Then they wanted to see the whole cottage, so he took them around. His bedroom and the kitchen were just as cluttered as the living room.
“Sorry, I’m not a housekeeper.” He explained.
Cassie bit her tongue and didn’t say anything except to admire the cottage itself. “So, how are you getting on with the challenge?” she asked.
Derek said, airily, “Oh, fine. I’m sorry to hear that you guys bowed out. What happened?”
Lee looked at Cassie. “We just thought it better.”
Derek put his head on one side, like an intelligent parrot, Cassie thought.
“That doesn’t ring right to me. What really happened? You can tell me.”
Lee sat down suddenly, her face draining of all color. “We can tell you but you mustn’t say anything to anybody.”
Derek nodded, intrigued. He held up two fingers.
“I’ll never tell. Scout’s honor.”
The women broke up in laughter at the vision of Derek as a Boy Scout and the tension was broken a little. He pretended to be offend
ed.
Then Lee took a deep breath and described what had happened, Stevie’s kidnapping and return, their Dad’s kidnapping and return, the message to get out of the challenge, and finished up by mentioning Jay’s murder.
“So, you see, I really don’t want to get involved in something that might bring harm to Stevie. He’s OK now, but I don’t want to do anything that might mean whoever it is will come after him again. It isn’t worth it.”
Cassie added, “Dad’s in a place where he will be protected, but all of us aren’t. Whoever did this was sending us a message that someone might be harmed if we persisted. There’s no knowing what they will think of next. Whoever they are.”
Derek looked at her. “But why?”
“Why would someone be harmed?”
“Actually, why would anyone care if any of us completed the challenge?”
“Yes, that’s the problem. There’s something missing here, something we don’t know, because the whole thing makes no sense. It’s probably some nut who found out about the challenge somehow. You know how some people are dying to get into the limelight? But all we care about is keeping our loved ones safe.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but maybe you should call the police.”
Cassie said, “They’re already looking into Jay’s murder but they haven’t come up with anything. We were warned not to tell anybody about the challenge. And we haven’t. We’re afraid the murderer may be still out there and he’s the one who’s sending these messages.” She stared at Derek.
“Have you told anybody about it?”
“No, I would have been embarrassed to go telling the world about this whole crazy thing that I’m somehow involved in.”
“It’s making me crazy just thinking about it. Let’s talk about something else.” Lee said. “How’s Colleen?”
Derek looked embarrassed. “Actually, we had a fight. I’ve kind of been seeing Klara lately.”
Cassie and Lee exclaimed together, “Klara!”
Derek said, defensively, “Well, I know she’s a little older than I am but she seemed to want to get together. What’s wrong with that?”
Lee said, “Eeeuw, that’s what’s wrong.”
Cassie said, “Don’t be rude, Lee.” She tried to suppress her own laughter.
Derek said, angrily, “I don’t comment on your love lives. If you have any, that is.”
Cassie said, “Ouch!” But she laughed aloud.
Derek said, huffily, “Well, I’m glad I’ve given you ladies such fun. So what are you doing here today, anyway?”?
Lee said, “We were just at Clifton Montville’s office and we decided to come down here.”
“And torment me?” Derek was still annoyed.
“We thought we’d compare notes. After all, we all started out together. It might help to try to look at this whole thing together. Getting back to the Challenge, what have you written so far? You’re the only one left in it now.”
Derek said, throwing a pillow onto the couch. “Why does everybody ask me about the Challenge? We’ve got a month or so until the end. So I’ve got plenty of time.”
Cassie said, “So that means you haven’t done anything, right?”
Derek was really angry, now, his blue eyes sparking. “You can just get out. You’ve paid me a visit and that’s it. Nice to see you. Just go home.” He went to the door and opened it.
Cassie and Lee silently left and got into the car again. Cassie said, “Let’s find a motel and stay overnight. I don’t feel like trying to drive back again tonight.” They drove along the highway and Cassie pulled in at a small motel that looked like one of the old Mom and Pop ones out of a fifties movie. However, it had a Triple A sign on it. They had just entered the office when Cassie’s cell phone rang.
Derek said, “Cassie, I’m sorry I lost my temper. Why don’t both of you come back and spend the night before you go home.”
“Are you sure you can stand us?”
“Oh, don’t mind my bad temper. My bark is worse than my bite.”
“I hope so. Do you turn into a werewolf at the full of the moon, though?”
“Don’t worry, the full moon is not for a couple of weeks.”
They got in the car and went back again. Derek was picking up and the place looked even better than before. They helped him put the place in order and then decided to go to the diner where Derek had eaten so many times. The waitress batted her eyes at Derek. “The ladies love you, you dog.”
“How about the meatloaf? They make it good here.”
They ordered the meatloaf and the food put everyone in a better humor. Derek wiped his mouth and put down his napkin, finally.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. I’ve been fooling around with a few songs lately.”
Lee was excited. “Oh, super! Are you going to play them for us?”
“I’m not sure. I’m not really finished.”
“Well, why not run them by us? We’re here for the night anyway.”
“I’ll think about it.”
They walked down the street and Derek suggested a walk to the beach. Cassie and Lee admired the pretty houses and exclaimed when they came out to the silver sands of the beach.
“This is nice, here, Derek.” Lee said.
“Yeah, I was lucky to get this place for the Winter.”
“How did you find it?”
Derek flushed red. “It was Colleen who told me about it.”
Cassie looked at him curiously. “Are you still in touch with her?”
Derek shook his head. “She’s in Boston for the Winter, teaching.”
“You could go up and visit her.”
“As I said, we parted on bad terms.”
“She’s a nice girl. If I were you, I wouldn’t lose touch with her.” Lee said.
Derek glared at her. “Pardon me, but I don’t think it’s any of your business.”
Lee shrugged. “I guess not. But take it from one who had lots of bad choices in men, when you find a good one, you keep him.”
She noticed Cassie staring at her and said, “Me too. I just haven’t found him yet.”
Derek frowned. “It’s still my life, not yours.”
Cassie said, “All right, let’s not get into that again. I’m tired now. Would you mind if we turned in early, Derek?”
Derek smiled. “Not at all. You might hear me practicing and working out my song”
Lee grinned. “That would be fine. We’ll eavesdrop on your work without bothering you, then.”
CHAPTER 30
Cassie and Lee climbed the stairs to the guest room which was neat and clean. Derek had left it untouched. It was under the eaves of the house, with two nooks for the front windows, with window seats under them. Lee exclaimed, “Oh, this house is so charming! I wish it was mine.”
She went over to a window seat and sat down, looking into the street below. Cassie turned back the coverlet on one of the twin beds. “I guess these sheets were clean when they were put on. If they’re a little cold or even damp, I don’t care. The price is right, as Dad always used to say.”
“I hope Dad isn’t missing us. One of us is usually there every few days at least. And Stevie. I wonder if I should call him.”
“Do you think it would upset him by reminding him you’re not there?”
“Hmmm. Yes, it might not be a good idea and anyway, it’s really too late. I’ll call him tomorrow instead.”
Lee opened her suitcase and took out pajamas. She took off her clothes and hung them neatly in the small closet. Cassie was already in bed, turning the light on beside it. She examined a book on the table beside it and put it down.
“It’s been a long time since we shared a room. Almost like when we were growing up.” Cassie smiled reminiscently.
The sounds of an acoustic guitar being strummed rose from the living room below.
Lee said, as she got into the bed, “That’s a nice sound. I hope he doesn’t play too late, though. I would like to get some res
t.”
Cassie said, “Actually, music like that would be very restful. I like the sound of it. I wonder if that’s his new song?”
Lee said, “Maybe part of it. I don’t think, though, that a song that puts people to sleep would be what he was aiming at, do you?”
“No, you’re right there. But I’m no musical expert and I don’t think you are either.”
“You’re right, it’s not my expertise. I guess you would say I’m more interested in bedpans and binding up wounds.”
“Well, don’t get huffy. What do you think about Derek dating Klara?”
Lee looked over at Cassie. “My first thought was, why is Klara dating Derek?”
“Well, he’s good looking I’ll give him that. But she’s not like us, Lee. She’s …I don’t know, sophisticated? Maybe people like her think differently from us.”
“Not my idea of sophistication. If she came into my restaurant I wouldn’t expect a big tip! But this whole thing is just strange. I kind of feel sometimes we’re in over our heads. I’m starting to wonder about a lot of things, Cass.”
“Such as what?”
“Well, who’s behind this whole thing. Don’t you think it’s weird?”
“Be more specific. Or, come to think of it, you’re right. And I think we should put it all behind us and be glad we’re out of it.”
“Well, sure. Leave it behind and move on. But something tells me it’s not over yet.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Maybe I don’t either, but that’s just it. I just have a feeling about it.”
Cassie shook her head. “You’re talking about emotions. What we need is facts.”
“Before we go home, let’s go back to Boston and try to find out more from Klara. She probably knows more than she’s telling.”
“I’m sure she does, but is it any of our business now? And would she tell us anything more?”
They heard the phone ring downstairs and Derek answering. He talked for a long time in a low voice. Then the music started up again.
“I wonder if that was Colleen?”
“It seems like that ship has sailed.”
“Oh, well, Derek’s love life is not our business.”
Dangerous Inheritance Page 17