“But why?” Missy Hightower asked.
It was the first time that I’d heard her speak. Her voice was meek but strident at the same time in her insistence on receiving an answer.
“I’d like to have a word with my lawyer now,” Hillary announced.
“Not until we’re done here,” Phillips informed him.
“I believe that Hillary intended on releasing his sister after control of the estate had been passed to him. He was just trying to keep her out of the way so she wouldn’t be able to make any trouble. Miss Hightower herself suspected his involvement in the doping incident and wanted to tell me about it. Rather than being directly involved, Hillary instructed his daughter, Sissy Hightower, to lure her aunt to a location where she could be kidnapped.”
Sissy looked stunned. I would be too, betrayed by both a boyfriend and my father.
“Sissy! Don’t say a word!” Wayne Harrigan exclaimed.
“Unfortunately, Hillary made a terrible mistake by resorting to these illegal deeds. Perhaps Mr. Hightower’s lawyer, Mr. Samuels, can explain.”
“Yes, of course,” said the lawyer from his seat. “I’m afraid that any involvement in the doping of the horse before the race to determine proprietorship of the Hightower properties would postpone any transfer. Additionally, kidnapping is a federal offense, punishable by a lengthy stay in prison. While in prison, control of the estate would be held in proxy.”
“Repeat that in plain English, man,” Hillary demanded.
“Yes, of course. Control of the Hightower estate will remain with Miss Hightower until you are released from prison in approximately fifteen years’ time.”
“You can’t be serious,” Hillary replied. “My own sister would never send me to prison simply for keeping her locked in her own home for a few days.”
“I’m sure that the two of you can work out some sort of deal,” I told him.
I winked at Miss Hightower who flashed me a smile in return. Yes, I was sure the two of them would be working out quite a deal in the days to come.
“Furthermore, I’d like to add that I disapprove of my client’s actions in these cases and at no time did I have knowledge of his involvement in the horse drugging incident or the kidnapping of Miss Hightower,” Samuels added.
“I’m certain of it,” Phillips assured him.
Emotions reached a critical mass and the room burst into shouted arguments and accusations.
“Cases closed,” I said more to myself than anyone else who might be able to hear me.
I walked over to Detective Phillips to shake his hand.
“Good job,” he told me. “I guess you really are as good as your reputation.”
That made me smile a little ruefully. The praise was obviously reluctant.
“Thanks.”
I would have said more, but I was eager to welcome Miss Hightower back from the land of the lost. The moment I approached, her arms were outstretched to receive me. We hugged for several moments.
“Welcome back. I missed you,” I said.
“I missed you too, and thanks for finding me.”
“It sounds to me that after all is said and done you’ll be retaining control of the Hightower estate.”
“Trust me when I say that within a year under Hillary’s mismanagement we would have lost everything. It’s much better that I retain control and continue to pay him a salary instead. Still, I would have liked to have seen Soft Spoken Hal run in that race.”
“Me too,” I replied, seeing the race in my mind. “But don’t fret. You’ll have your day in the sun again.”
“Thanks to you,” she added, giving my hand a squeeze.
“Pardon the interruption, ladies,” a voice said. It was Charles, who had come from his place by the door to stand at attention beside us. “I wonder if I might have a word with the madam.”
“Go right ahead, Charles,” Miss Hightower said. “Surely we have nothing to hide from Chloe.”
“I have no objection to the young lady hearing what I have to say.”
“Then please, say it?”
“I’d like to announce that I am resigning from your employ, effective immediately,” he said solemnly.
“But Charles, you can’t do that,” Miss Hightower replied in dismay. “You’ve been with the family for decades.”
“And during that time I’ve managed to amass a tidy sum, more than enough for the likes of me to live a thousand lifetimes.”
“Oh,” was all Miss Hightower could think to say.
“I have another related announcement.”
“Yes?”
“Now that I’m no longer in the madam’s employ, I’d like to announce my intention to court Miss Hightower with the aim of someday marrying her.”
“Charles!”
“Please think it over before saying no. As I say, my finances are in order so I can assure you that this has nothing to do with money. Instead, it regards my fondness for a fine woman who deserves better than the likes of yon Harrigan.”
“Excuse me,” Detective Phillips interrupted, “but I never finished taking Miss Hightower’s statement.”
“Do you mind if I accompany ma’ lady?” Charles asked.
“Why?”
“I have no intention of letting this woman out of my sight ever again,” Charles explained.
“Why, Charles,” Miss Hightower said, beginning to blush.
“I suppose that would be alright,” the detective said with a slight smile. I had a feeling that he was feeling like Alice down the rabbit hole.
Charles offered Miss Hightower his arm. Miss Hightower and I exchanged a wink before the detective led her and Charles out of the room in search of a quieter place to take her statement. I looked around and saw Hillary in a heated discussion with his lawyer. The ass didn’t seem to understand that he was probably going to be spending time in prison, even if his sister didn’t press charges for the kidnapping. Missy Hightower sat watching.
Wayne Harrigan was just starting to work out his difficulties with a still crying Sissy in the corner. Angus Harrigan remained in his seat, staring into space, dumbfounded by the evening’s revelations. Jose had already been led from the room in cuffs. That left Alex standing alone by the window. I joined him and he slipped an arm around my shoulders.
“So, what do you think? Are there going to be any more arrests this evening?” he asked.
“In the end, I doubt that anyone will be pressing charges for kidnapping. Not sure about the doping. Phillips will arrest someone if he can.”
“You know that you saved the day again.”
“Yeah, I guess I did, didn’t I?” I admitted. “I just wish we’d been able to nab Simms.”
“You and I both.”
As if on cue, the window beside us shattered inward, the brick that had crashed through it narrowly missing my head. Alex and I ducked for cover from the flying glass. Through the open window I heard tires peel out in the gravel of the drive as a car sped away. All attention turned our way as Detective Phillips and Officer Collins dashed back into the room.
“What was that?” the detective demanded.
“A brick,” I said, bending down to pluck the projectile from the glass scattered across the carpet. “And there’s a note attached to it.”
I untied the string securing the note to the brick and started to read. It was a short note, written in a neat hand.
I’ll be in touch.
That’s all it said.
“Melodramatic,” I said, but was shaken. Throwing that brick through the window was audacious and insane.
I handed the note to Phillips when he arrived and he read it while Alex read over his shoulder. I walked to the window and looked out into the dark and stormy night, knowing that until Gordon Simms was captured I would never truly feel safe again.
About the Author
Melanie Jackson is the author of over 50 novels. If you enjoyed this story, please visit Melanie’s author web site at www.melaniejackson.com.
eBooks by Melanie Jackson:
The Chloe Boston Mystery Series:
Moving Violation
The Pumpkin Thief
Death in a Turkey Town
Murder on Parade
Cupid’s Revenge
Viva Lost Vegas
Death of a Dumb Bunny
Red, White and a Dog Named Blue
Haunted
The Great Pumpkin Caper
Beast of a Feast
Snow Angel
Lucky Thirteen
The Butterscotch Jones Mystery Series
Due North
Big Bones
Gone South
Home Fires
Points West (Coming Soon)
The Wendover House Mystery Series
The Secret Staircase
Twelfth Night
Wildside Series
Outsiders
Courier
Still Life
The Book of Dreams Series:
The First Book of Dreams: Metropolis
The Second Book of Dreams: Meridian
The Third Book of Dreams: Destiny
Medicine Trilogy
Bad Medicine
Medicine Man
Knave of Hearts
Club Valhalla
Devil of Bodmin Moor
Devil of the Highlands
Devil in a Red Coat
Halloween
The Curiosity Shoppe (Sequel to A Curious Affair)
Timeless
Nevermore: The Last Divine Book
Lucky Thirteen Page 11