Fatal Inheritance

by Sandra Orchard

  “Is Rowan having trouble at work?”

  “No, they love him at the law firm. In another year they’ll probably make him a partner.”

  “If he’s doing so well, why does he care about scraping a few more dollars out of our grandparents’ estate? He has to know that with what you’ve already received, even if I got top price for this house, you wouldn’t get much more than another fifty thousand. He must make that in less than half a year.”

  Sarah dropped the dish she’d been washing and sudsy water splashed over the lip of the counter. She grabbed a tea towel and sopped it up, then turned her panicked gaze to Becki. “You can’t tell him you’re thinking of selling.”

  “I’m not thinking of selling!”

  Sarah’s shoulders sagged with what seemed like relief, which was bizarre, because she’d spent the last how many weeks begging Becki to sell?

  Becki squinted at her, and suddenly the puzzle pieces dropped into place. “You want more money, but you don’t want him to know?”

  Sarah balled up the tea towel and tossed it onto the counter. “I want to leave him, okay?” She stormed out of the kitchen.

  “Sar-aaahhh,” Becki called after her. “Come back here. Talk to me.” She reached for her crutches, knocked one gliding across the floor and hopped to the doorway instead.

  Sarah sank into Gran’s favorite armchair, her elbows on her knees, her hands over her face. “I can’t believe I said that. You can’t ever tell him.”

  With Sarah’s sleeves pushed up to her elbows, allowing a full view of her yellowing bruises, Becki didn’t need to ask why. “Move in with me. You can live here.” Peace washed over her the instant she said the words. That sense of family, of being with someone she could count on no matter what, that was what she’d been yearning for all along. What Gran and Gramps had always surrounded them with. “I know you never used to like living in the country. But Serenity might grow on you.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t. This would be the first place he’d look for me.”

  “So you tell him you’re through putting up with his abuse. If he refuses to get counseling and act like a civilized human being, demand a divorce. I don’t care how good a lawyer he is. You’ll still be entitled to half his estate and to alimony.”

  Sarah lifted her head and looked at Becki as if she’d just dropped off the turnip truck. “It’s not that easy. Rowan doesn’t believe in divorce.”

  “Neither do you. But, Sarah, your vows didn’t say anything about being his personal punching bag.”

  “He’s under a lot of pressure at work. I shouldn’t have brought up the credit card being denied.”

  “Don’t you dare justify what he did to you.”

  Sarah burrowed her face against the armrest. A moment later she turned her head and met Becki’s gaze. “I can smell Gran’s perfume.”

  “On the armrests.” Becki loved to sit there to read for that very reason. “Gran always dabbed it on her wrists.”

  “I wish she was here. She always knew what was best.”

  “Stay with me, Sarah.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t. I won’t put you in any more danger.”

  ELEVEN

  Josh waited for his sister to drive away, and then, as promised, he headed over to Bec’s to discuss what they’d do next. She stood at the rail of her back porch, watching the sunset, and didn’t seem to hear him approach.

  He quickened his steps, trying not to notice how beautiful she looked against the crimson sky. He’d let his empathy get the better of him earlier when he’d wrapped her in his arms. Or maybe on some level, he’d feared the vandalized trailer would be the final straw to drive her away.

  She shivered.

  He shrugged out of his flannel jacket and dropped it over her shoulders, resisting the urge to let his hands linger. “Better?” he said as he lifted her hair free of the collar and inhaled its fresh scent.

  She burrowed into the jacket with a grateful smile. “Much. Thank you.”

  He forced himself to put another foot between them. “Would you rather talk inside?”

  Bec glanced at Sarah through the patio door. She sat at the kitchen table working on a crossword puzzle. “No, out here is better.”

  Bec seemed to want to say more, but she turned back to the sinking sun and curled her fingers around the porch rail.

  Josh rested his forearms on the rail next to her. “This was your gran’s favorite time of day.”

  “I remember.”

  “She once told me that sunsets reminded her how God works behind the scenes in ways we can’t always see. The colors are there in the light the whole time, but we don’t see the amazing picture He’s painting until the light is fractured.”

  “Kind of ironic that happens just before night, huh?”

  Maybe it was the coming darkness or maybe the despair in Bec’s voice, but Josh couldn’t help himself. He enfolded her in his arms and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “We’ll get this guy, Bec. I promise. We didn’t pull any prints, but Hunter’s running a more extensive background check on that P.I., and we’ll canvas the neighbors around Pete’s Garage.” His heart ached at the way she melted against him, as if she’d grown too weary of fighting. “I’m afraid we should bow out of this car tour, though,” he murmured.

  She sprang from his arms. “What? We can’t. It’s the only job offer I have.”

  “Your safety is more important.”

  She bristled at his brusque tone.

  He softened his voice. “Bec, we have no idea who this guy is or why he’s targeted you. If he’s connected to the jewelry theft and hears you’re on the tour, there’s no telling what he might try.”

  Bec shook her head. “He’s not.”

  “What do you mean? Do you know who ransacked the trailer?”

  Her gaze slanted to the kitchen door. “I think it was my brother-in-law.”

  “The attorney? For a bigger cut of the inheritance? It’s one thing to launch a legal challenge, but a guy like that isn’t going to risk a criminal charge and tanking his career for a few extra grand.”

  “You’re forgetting that I’m the only person that stands between him and the entire estate.”

  A kick of fear swiped Josh’s breath. Would her brother-in-law murder her for the money?

  Hadn’t the notion crossed his own mind last night?

  Her brother-in-law had the strongest motive of anyone. But... “If Sarah’s husband wanted you dead, he would have taken you out that first night in the barn.”

  “Maybe that wasn’t him. You think Bart Winslow poured sulfur down the well. Maybe he left the note, too. Or...” Bec clutched his arm, her eyes widening. “Maybe Rowan staged the attacks to make it look like I had a stalker. He had to know that if he didn’t divert suspicion and I turned up dead, he and Sarah would be the prime suspects.”

  Josh’s heart thundered. As unlikely as the theory sounded, it was just the kind of elaborate scheme a crooked lawyer might pull. “Do you think Sarah knows? If you’re right, I mean.”

  “She suspects.” Bec wrapped her arms around her waist. “I think I overheard her call him on it. I doubt he’s stupid enough to try anything more now.”

  Josh turned to the door. “I want to talk to her.”

  “No, please.” Bec grabbed his arm. “She’ll deny it. She’s embarrassed and ashamed. But she’s my sister. I trust her.”

  “What if you’re wrong?”

  “I’m not.” Her voice was firm, but even in the deepening shadows, Josh didn’t miss how her gaze blanked, betraying no hint of what she was thinking.

  “What aren’t you telling me?”

  Her fingers tightened around his arm. “I need you to trust me. Okay?”

  His mind flashed to the last woman he
’d trusted, then the string of them, right back to his mother. Bec had no idea what she was asking of him. “I need evidence to put this guy away.”

  “I don’t have any. Believe me, I’d give it to you if I did.”

  He let out a sigh, not sure what to believe. He’d run a background check on Sarah’s husband the same time he’d run Neil’s. Nothing had come up to suggest Rowan would turn psycho on his sister-in-law.

  Josh squinted at the darkening fields. “I don’t like you and Sarah being alone in the house.”

  “We’re not alone. We have Bruiser.” Bec handed him back his jacket. “And as for the car tour, I know that I’ll be perfectly safe with you.”

  There was no use arguing with her. Truth be told, her sincerity swept any words from his lips. So he simply nodded, knowing somewhere down the road she’d change her mind about him, and he’d be right back in the middle of heartache.

  * * *

  Becki nestled in the passenger seat of her sister’s BMW and laughed at Sarah’s imitation of the heroine in the movie they’d just watched. After a week with no more incidents, she finally felt able to relax. Maybe Sarah had brought Rowan to his senses or Josh had spooked the guy off—whoever the guy was. Becki was just glad that the trouble seemed to be past. Of course, it helped that her ankle finally felt better, too. “This feels like old times. Remember when Gran and Gramps used to take us out on Tuesday nights to watch the latest movie?”

  Sarah chuckled. “The movies were never exactly the latest. I think Serenity brought films in only days before they released on DVD.”

  “I never cared. I just loved going out like a family.” Becki turned in her seat to face her sister. “I wish you’d reconsider moving in with me. Maybe if you separate from Rowan for a while it will smarten him up, make him figure out what he stands to lose.”

  Sarah threw her a wry look. “Let’s not spoil the evening by talking about Rowan, okay?”

  Becki released a sigh. The more she’d tried to coax her sister into facing her marital problems, the more Sarah had closed off. She’d even denied that Rowan had ever hit her or that her cryptic I don’t want to put you in any more danger had been a reference to what he might do to Becki if she interfered.

  Becki turned her attention to the side window and the black night beyond. She couldn’t understand her sister’s loyalty to the man. Becki would rather live the rest of her life alone than stay married to a man who hurt her.

  Her thoughts skittered to Josh. How not alone he’d made her feel since moving here. How safe she felt in his arms. How that would change if he ever up and married.

  Piercing blue headlights skirted across the side mirror.

  Becki squinted against the blinding light. “Learn to drive,” she muttered under her breath. Nothing irked her more than people who drove on her bumper, especially with their high beams glaring into her mirrors.

  At least they’d be turning off on the next road.

  Sarah made the left. But a moment later, their tailgater did, too.

  Becki spun in her seat to look out the rear window. The car had an unusual shape. Nothing like those of any of her neighbors.

  A hundred yards from their driveway, Sarah started to slow.

  “Keep going. Don’t turn in,” Becki ordered.

  “What? Why?” Sarah shot back. Thankfully she pressed the gas anyway.

  “There’s someone following us, and the last thing I want is to give him the chance to corner us in our own driveway.” She whipped out her phone and punched Josh’s name.

  He answered on the first ring. “Hey, Bec, what’s up?”

  “Someone’s following my sister’s car.”

  His tone instantly turned urgent. “Where are you?”

  “We just passed the house. It could be nothing, but he’s riding our bumper and I don’t recognize the car.”

  “I’m on my way. Turn right at Spiece Road. If you see lights on in the Spieces’ house, pull in there. If not, keep driving. I’ll—”

  “Josh? Josh, are you there?” Becki glanced at her screen. “Lost reception.”

  “Is he coming?” Sarah demanded.

  “Yes. He said to turn right on Spiece.”

  Sarah’s attention jerked to the rearview mirror. “Oh, no!”

  Becki whipped around as blinding headlights swept the car. An instant later, the car pulled alongside theirs.

  “He’s trying to push us off the road!” Sarah screamed, fighting to hold the wheel steady.

  The car kept pace with theirs, edging dangerously close.

  Sarah eased off the gas.

  Becki grabbed the dash. “Don’t stop!”

  The guy in the other car motioned for them to pull over.

  Sarah gasped. Touched the brake.

  Becki braced for impact. “Don’t stop, Sarah!”

  Her cell phone rang.

  Becki snapped it on. “Josh, he’s trying to push us off the road.”

  “I’m on Spiece. Where are you?”

  “Still on Elm.” Becki glanced over her shoulder. “We missed the turn. Hurry!” To Sarah she yelled, “Why are you slowing down?”

  “It’s Rowan,” Sarah whispered.

  Her husband whipped his car ahead of theirs and touched his brakes.

  “Go around him,” Becki ordered, terrified he’d kill them both.

  “I can’t.” Sarah jerked the car to a stop.

  Ahead of them, Rowan burst from his car.

  Becki reached across her sister and slammed the door-lock button.

  “What are you doing?” Sarah hit the button again. “That’ll only make him more angry.”

  Becki slapped the button a second time. “Better out there than in here. Josh will be here any minute.”

  “Oh, that’ll go over real well—bringing a cop to the scene.” Sarah unlocked the door and pushed it open before Becki could stop her.

  Rowan yanked the door wide. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out that you lied to me?”

  Sarah shrank against the side of the car. “What are you talking about? I told you I was coming to help my sister.”

  Becki burst out the passenger side. “Don’t you dare touch her!”

  “This is none of your business,” Rowan seethed.

  “Stay out of this, Becki, please,” Sarah pleaded.

  “I won’t.” Becki rounded the front of the car, wishing she still had her crutches to take a swing at him if he laid a hand on Sarah.

  Josh’s patrol car swung onto the road and barreled toward them.

  “What lies has she told you, huh?” Rowan ranted. “She told me she was coming here to find out what was taking so long for the inheritance to come through.”

  “But—” Becki stopped. He wasn’t after her share? She shot her sister a questioning look.

  “Yeah.” Rowan leaned his face into Sarah’s and sneered. “Why do you think my pretty little wife let me think she didn’t have it?”

  “Freeze!” Josh crouched behind his car door, gun—no Taser—aimed at Rowan.

  The red-and-blue lights strobed over Rowan’s face, turning his sneer into something uglier. “You called the cops on me?”

  “Hands in the air,” Josh ordered, stepping from behind his door and taking a cautious step forward.

  Becki’s breath caught at the sight of a red dot painted on Rowan’s chest.

  He looked down at his chest, and his hands instantly shot into the air. “This is a misunderstanding, Officer. My wife didn’t realize I was looking for her and got scared when I drove up behind her.”

  Josh drew closer. “Step away, Sarah.”

  “You know this cop?” Rowan hissed, his hands still in the air, but looking as if he wanted to give her a good shake.

  “From
childhood.” Sarah’s voice came out small and scared.

  “Sarah, step away,” Josh repeated more forcefully.

  She inhaled, regaining a couple of inches, and after an apologetic glance in Becki’s direction, she turned toward Josh. “I’m sorry. Becki called you for nothing, Officer Rayne. Like my husband said, it was a misunderstanding.”

  Josh’s gaze narrowed. “Did he lay a hand on you?”

  “No! What do you think I am?” Rowan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Look, Officer...Rayne, was it? I’ve done nothing wrong. I’m a lawyer and am fully aware of my rights.”

  “Well, I suggest you use your right to remain silent.” Now that Sarah had stepped out of Rowan’s reach, Josh holstered his gun. “Sarah?”

  “What?” Sarah’s gaze skittered from Rowan to Becki before returning to Josh. “No, he didn’t touch me. This was nothing.”

  Becki started toward her sister. “Sarah, those bruises weren’t nothing. Maybe—”

  “It was nothing,” Sarah repeated more adamantly. “My husband was understandably worried about me.” She offered Josh an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry we troubled you.”

  Josh’s concerned gaze shifted to Becki. “Did you see anything different?”

  Becki almost wished Rowan had grabbed Sarah’s arm. Josh was obviously looking for a reason to haul him in. But she couldn’t lie.

  They’d clearly overreacted when they thought he wanted to push them off the road. Not to mention it’d be his word against theirs, and she suspected Sarah would side with him.

  After hearing that Rowan didn’t know the estate had already been settled, Becki wasn’t so sure he was even her prowler.

  She shook her head. “He didn’t touch her.”

  “On the phone you said he tried to push you off the road.”

  “I just pulled alongside them,” Rowan said, lowering his hands. “So she could see it was me.” He turned to Sarah and brought her hand to his lips. “Babe, I’m sorry I scared you. You know I love you.”

  Josh returned his attention to Becki. “Is that the way it looked to you?”