What She Left (Martina Monroe Book 1)

by H K Christie

  What I had told her was that so far we hadn’t had any luck, but didn’t elaborate. I explained to her it would be helpful to talk to people who knew her, especially people who knew her shortly after she had arrived in California or, with any luck, people who knew her before then. It was starting to look like everything Charlotte had told her daughter about her past was a total fabrication. I’d be surprised if she was even from Pennsylvania. I felt a light touch on my shoulder and I glanced over at an older woman who wore her silver-gray hair up in a bun like a librarian. Wait. Is she the librarian from my high school? “Hello,” I said.

  “Hello dear, you look so familiar. How did you know Charlotte?”

  Here goes. “I went to the high school where she was a volunteer. I was friends with her daughter, Kennedy.”

  A wide smile showed off a little red lipstick on her front teeth. “I thought that was you! Martina?”

  I was nearly stunned. How could she have possibly remembered me? Not that we’d gone to a large school, but it had been so many years. “Yes. My goodness, you have a great memory. I thought you looked familiar. You were the librarian, right?”

  “Oh yes, you can call me Edna now. It would have meant so much to Charlotte that you came. How have you been, dear?”

  “I’ve been all right.”

  “That’s great. Do you have any kids or a husband?”

  I hated this part about running into old friends and family and… librarians. “I have a daughter, she’s almost eight. My husband passed a few years ago but I’m doing well now. Thank you.”

  “Oh dear, I’m so sorry. Oh, I think I see Randy. Well dear, you take care. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  I mustered a tight-lipped grin as she wandered off to meet up with Randy. It hadn’t occurred to me that anybody would know me or recognize me. I continued on through the crowd, trying to listen to people’s conversations as they shared stories about Charlotte. They all seemed to have memories from the past thirty years, but none from as far back as her childhood or teen years.

  My stomach rumbled. I’d forgotten to eat in the rush to get out of the house. Claire had arrived to watch Zoey ten minutes earlier than I needed her to, but I still wasn’t quite ready on time. I had forgotten that I had promised Zoey pancakes for breakfast this morning and, of course, I didn’t have all the ingredients so I had to negotiate with Zoey until she finally agreed to have cold cereal in exchange for a pizza and movie night.

  We took promises seriously in our house. I really should start writing some of these promises and commitments down. At work, I was organized, neat, and put together. I would never forget a detail like the ingredients for pancakes if it had to do with work. I really needed to get my parenting life together. Maybe an all-in-one planner might do the trick, considering my professional and personal lives tended to intersect.

  After a few more awkward, ‘how did you know Charlotte?’, and sharing a few stories that I had created that would align with interactions of a high school student and an office volunteer, I scanned the crowd to get eyes on Kennedy. I spotted her shaking hands with a fit older man with a receding hairline and thick dark eyebrows. The curiosity in Kennedy’s eyes made it appear as if it was the first time they’d ever met. She eyed me, and my gut stirred. I shuffled over to the table of cheeses and crackers directly behind the man. I grabbed a small paper plate and stacked crackers with cheddar cheese and what looked like Monterey Jack. I took a bite and my mouth watered. It was heavenly. I nibbled on my cheese and crackers as I listened in on the conversation.

  “Yes, Charlotte was a delightful girl,” I heard the man say. “All the boys had crushes on her in school.”

  My body stiffened. This was somebody from Charlotte’s past. No wonder Kennedy gave me that look. I slowed my chewing to hear the conversation better.

  “Did she have a lot of boyfriends in high school? Were you a boyfriend of hers?” Kennedy asked. “Mom never liked to talk about her childhood. I would really appreciate anything you can tell me.”

  Nicely done, Kennedy.

  “Oh no, I was a family friend. We never dated. I never had the pleasure. She didn’t have too many boyfriends, but she was a looker. She had a lot of admirers. She was quiet, studious, did well in school, and was a superb tennis player.”

  “Have you been in contact with my mother all these years?”

  The man hesitated for a moment. “No, we lost touch over the years, but I saw the announcement of her passing in the newspaper and wanted to pay my respects.”

  “I’d appreciate anything else you can tell me about my mother. What was it like growing up in Pennsylvania? Did she like the cold weather? Did she ski?”

  Well played, Kennedy. It would be nice to confirm that she was actually from Pennsylvania.

  He chuckled. “It’s funny. She didn’t like the cold much. In our senior year, she told me she wished she could move to California one day. She liked the warmer months, and she swore one day she’d live near the water - it looks like she got what she always wanted. I’m glad to see that she followed her dream. I’m just sad that I hadn’t reconnected with her earlier - before her passing.”

  “You were a family friend? She told me her brother and parents had all died in a fire.”

  The man cleared his throat. “Yeah, that was tragic. It really was. The family were good people.”

  “How long had you known the family?”

  “Her brother and I were good friends in high school. He and Charlotte were only a few years apart. I was close with her brother until the accident.”

  Something was telling me that this guy was putting on a performance and if you asked my opinion, it wasn’t a very good one.

  “Do you still live in Pennsylvania?”

  “Yes, but I moved out of the area where we grew up. I now live in…”

  Before the man could finish his thought, Theodore stormed over. “How did you know Charlotte?”

  Kennedy placed her hand on her father’s shoulder. “Dad, this is Alonso Davidson - he went to school with Mom. He came out when he heard the news. Alonso, this is my dad, Theo.”

  Theodore’s face turned beet red. “I don’t remember ever hearing about you. Who are you really?”

  My heart raced. Why would Theodore think somebody would impersonate a friend of Charlotte’s? He had to know more about Charlotte’s past than he had told his daughter.

  “Sir, I swear it’s true. It’s so nice to meet you and to meet Kennedy. I hadn’t kept in touch over the years, but we were friends in school. That’s all. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Theodore’s hand shook as he pointed at Alonso. “You. I don’t like you. You need to leave.”

  “Yes, sir. I don’t want to intrude. Kennedy, it was nice meeting you, and to both of you, my deepest sympathy,” Alonso said before he hurried out of the hall.

  I turned around and looked at Kennedy, who eyed me as well. She was clearly suspicious of the entire encounter and her father’s reaction to Alonso.

  I rushed out after Alonso and watched as he got into a blue sedan. He drove off before I could record the license plate number. Frustrated, I watched him drive out of the church parking lot before heading back into the hall.

  Kennedy gently grabbed my arm as I reentered the room and pulled me to the side. “Did you talk to Alonso?”

  She’d clearly seen me go after him. I wasn’t terribly inconspicuous. “No, but we have his name. I’ll try to get his contact information.”

  Kennedy nodded nervously. “What do you think of my dad’s reaction? Strange, right? He must know more than he’s telling me. Do you think I should confront him?”

  I’d love to say I didn’t want to get involved in family matters, but seeing how I was already in it, I figured I’d give her my best advice. “Yes, but not today. He just buried his wife. Give it a day or two before confronting him.”

  “You’re right. I don’t know what I was thinking. Thank you, Martina.”

  “No problem. I’m goi
ng to head out and see what I can find out about Alonso. Maybe he can give us some details about your mother’s hometown.”

  “Okay, but…” Kennedy hesitated. “Would you be willing to come over when I ask my dad about my mom’s past?”

  Oh boy. “Are you sure I should be there?”

  “I was thinking about it, and I don’t like sneaking around behind my dad’s back. Can you come over on Monday and I’ll introduce you and we can ask some questions and let him know what we’re looking for?”

  I was in deep now. “Of course.”

  She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “Thank you.”

  I admitted I was curious why Theodore had gotten so upset by Alonso. What else did Theodore know? He clearly hadn’t told his daughter everything he knew about her mother. There were definitely secrets, and I had the feeling they were about to be revealed.

  10

  Alonso

  He finished his Ceasar salad and threw the container in the waste bin inside the budget hotel room. He reflected on the day. The memorial had been nice. It was obvious Charlotte had lived a good life and had been loved. It was what he had suspected, based on what he’d seen over the years.

  Charlotte and he hadn’t been terribly close in their younger years, but he knew she had been a good girl and that she had been kind toward him. It was true he’d attended school with her and her brother, but most of their interaction was when he was running errands or performing odd jobs for the family. He hadn’t exactly been in the inner circle, not until his job had been elevated to ‘special advisor’. Now, he was the boss’s right-hand man. It was a position he’d enjoyed over the years. Whatever the boss needed, he’d do it. He actually preferred the more clandestine work. You know, the type of things that if they needed to be done quickly and/or quietly, he was the guy. Being on an assignment was kind of fun. The job paid well, and he liked the prestige associated with it. Lately, though, he wondered if he was getting a bit old for the work. Retirement was looking pretty good these days.

  Inspired by Charlotte’s full life, he wondered if he’d missed out on having a family. A person with whom he could come home to or celebrate the holidays. Her daughter, Kennedy, seemed like a smart, sweet gal. He hoped he hadn’t given her too much information. She had seemed so desperate to know more about her mother and he truly wanted to give it to her, but his loyalty was to the family, not just to Charlotte. The information he provided was fairly nondescript and accurate. He hoped it gave Kennedy some comfort. However, he also hoped it was all she knew. If she knew anything more, he would know soon enough.

  He pulled out his phone and called the boss. “Hey, Boss, I just got back from the memorial. It had a real nice turnout. Charlotte had a good life.”

  “Good to hear. Did everything else go smoothly?”

  “Mostly okay. The house is all set.”

  “What do you mean? Do we have anything to worry about?”

  “Maybe, maybe not. The husband was pretty upset by my presence at the memorial. I don’t think he actually knows who I am, but he seemed to know enough to be upset by the fact I was someone from her past. He practically threw me out of the church.”

  There was silence from the boss.

  “That is strange. I wonder how much he knows. It could be problematic if he knows too much.”

  “The Gilmores may not know anything important.”

  “True, maybe he just thought you were some creep.”

  Thanks. “Well, I got my eyes, and my ears to the ground so we’ll know soon enough if there’s anything to be worried about.”

  “That’s what I like to hear. Give me an update tomorrow, okay?”

  He glanced out the window. “You got it.”

  “Thanks. Talk soon.”

  He hung up and placed the phone back down on the desk. He hoped all went well, but if, or more likely when, Kennedy started asking her dad about why he had reacted the way he did when he saw him, they would know if there was anything to worry about. The Gilmore place was good and bugged, so if they had any conversations about Charlotte’s past, he’d have a front-row seat.

  Maybe he could stretch this assignment out to a week or so. He’d like to check out the area more. It seemed like a nice place to spend his golden years. He was thorough. He could simply tell the boss he needed to make sure that there weren’t any stones left unturned.

  He logged into his laptop and opened the software program connected to the listening devices he’d planted inside the Gilmore house. It would likely be at least an hour or two before they were home. It looked like he’d have a couple of hours to kill. Perhaps a stroll along the water would be nice, and so would some mint chocolate chip ice cream. Yes, please.

  11

  Martina

  I gave my best, most non-threatening smile to Theodore Gilmore as he apprehensively shook my hand. He didn’t smile back. He eyed his daughter and then me. “What exactly is it you’re looking for?”

  He wasn’t even pretending to be friendly. Maybe he was grumpy or sad or not feeling well. His skin was pale and his eyes were lined with bags. He could have easily been all three. “Maybe we should sit down at the dining table and discuss this,” I suggested.

  He mumbled something under his breath before shuffling over to the dining table with his fragility on full display. If I had to guess, I’d say he wasn’t well, physically, and not just from the despair over his wife’s passing. I eyed Kennedy. She shrugged and followed behind her father.

  Theodore situated himself at the head of the table. My guess was that was where he always sat. Kennedy pulled out the chair next to him and sat by his side. I took a seat across from Kennedy and next to Theodore. I glanced over at Kennedy. “Do you want me to explain what were looking for or do you?”

  Her hands were shaking, and her eyes were fixed on her father.

  I took the cue. “Why don’t I explain?”

  She looked at me and nodded. I wasn’t sure if she was afraid of her father, or she was just nervous to tell him that she had gone behind his back and continued to investigate the baby in the photo.

  I turned to position myself directly across from Theodore Gilmore. “Mr. Gilmore, your daughter hired me to determine the identity of a baby that is in a photo with your late wife. Do you know which photo I’m talking about?”

  “Yes,” he said without emotion.

  “In order for me to find out the identity of that baby, I have to look into Charlotte’s life. Her life before she met you and before she arrived in California. In that pursuit, I will be able to also provide Kennedy more information about Charlotte’s family and where she’s from.”

  I stared at Theodore Gilmore, who sat quietly now with his head bowed and his wrinkled hands raised to his forehead.

  He clearly didn’t like the fact I was investigating his wife’s past, but I also suspected he held some, if not all, of the answers to his daughter’s questions. I prodded him. “Kennedy has told me that your wife’s maiden name is Jamison, her date of birth, and that she was from Pennsylvania. We also found a class ring from 1966 that we think was Charlotte’s. Charlotte apparently told your daughter that her parents and brother died in a fire many years ago, which was the event that prompted her to move out to California and stay with a relative after she graduated from high school. I was told that relative has since passed.” I gauged his reaction.

  He remained hunched over.

  I continued, “To be honest with you, Mr. Gilmore, that’s not a lot to go by. So far, we have had no luck in confirming any of that information. Is there anything you could share with us about your wife’s past that would help us to learn more about her family and the identity of the child in the photo?” I glanced over at Kennedy. She frowned at her father’s demeanor. I tried to keep my tone even and matter-of-fact, hoping that this information would convince him to say something, maybe something we didn’t already know and that could help the investigation. We sat in silence, as both Kennedy and I watched Mr. Gilmore.
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br />   He lowered his hands and raised his head before staring into Kennedy’s eyes. “I’m so sorry, honey. I hadn’t realized how much this meant to you. I should’ve told you before, but she never wanted you to know. But now that she’s gone and my family is dwindling as well, I think maybe you have a right to know.” He eyed me apologetically. “I can tell you what she told me.” He cleared his throat. “Honey, would you please fetch me a glass of water?”

  “Of course.” Kennedy hurried over to the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder. “Can I get you anything, Martina?”

  “I’m fine.”

  She nodded before pulling a glass from the cupboard and filling it from the tap. She set it down in front of Theodore and quickly retook her seat.

  Theodore took a gulp and placed the glass back down. “I’ll tell you everything she told me when we met. My mind is a bit fuzzy since it was quite a while ago. She didn’t like to talk about her past, and we didn’t discuss it after we were married. She told me she was from Doylestown, Pennsylvania and that she had a brother and parents who died. She…” He stopped and took another sip of water. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed it down, his hands shaking as he placed the glass back down. “She also told me she had been married. They’d been young - married right after high school. Soon after, she’d gotten pregnant, and they had a daughter - Amelia. She died shortly after being born.” He stayed focused on Kennedy, who’s face had gone long and pale.

  Her eyes welled. “Amelia was my sister?”

  Theodore nodded.

  “What happened? How did she die?”

  “Something genetic. I don’t recall exactly what it was.” He explained.