FORGET ME NOT (Mark Kane Mysteries Book One)
Page 20
“How did you know?”
“From the internet search results on your computer. It wasn’t what I was looking for. It started in March, didn’t it? You were looking for ways to end Gloria’s life. I’ve destroyed the copy disc and the printout.”
Greg was gazing down the lawn again, to the arboretum where Forget-Me-Nots grew and small colorful birds danced and darted in the speckled sunlight filtering through the trees. We sat for a while longer in silence and then I got up quietly. Greg didn’t shift his gaze. I walked through the glass doors and across the living room, past the portrait of Gloria, into the hall and out the front door. I didn’t look back. I preferred to remember him that way. As I walked towards my car it was clouding over, and as I drove slowly down the gently curving driveway spots of rain pitted my windscreen.
Chapter Thirty Two
Fair’s Fair
“It must have been a shock when you found out about Greg.”
Lucy and I were sitting out on my porch. We’d watched a barely visible sunset turn to dusk, and then to darkness. There was no moon so the only illumination now was the porch light. I’d stopped on the way home and bought a bottle of wine. It seemed appropriate somehow. Lucy was sharing it with me. There was no ice bucket or linen cloth, but it tasted alright.
“I don’t remember what I felt. I don’t think I was really surprised. It all made kind of instant sense. Of course I couldn’t prove the searches were made by Greg, but it was fairly obvious; and I was confident that he wouldn’t deny it if he was responsible. I actually wonder whether, subconsciously, he wanted me to find it. But whether he did or not he’s probably glad I did. A burden shared is a burden halved.”
“Why do you think he chose arsenic? You said it would have been an unpleasant way to die.”
“I guess because it is odorless and colorless, and it replicates the symptoms of a natural death – provided it’s administered in small dose over a prolonged period. And it’s relatively easy to obtain as well.”
“Do you think his children knew?”
“No, I’m sure they didn’t.”
“And Susan, or rather Sara, doesn’t know either?”
“Only Greg and I know about it. Let’s hope it stays that way.”
“The whole thing is strange, isn’t it? If not for Sara no-one would ever have known about the murder. Was she shocked when you unveiled her as a fraud?”
“I think she was relieved. I don’t think it was ever about the money. She got caught up in something she couldn’t control. She fulfilled her promise to the real Susan and gave some comfort to Gloria in her final lucid days. She had no reason to stick around when Gloria became incapable of rational thought. I think in a way she really did become a sort of surrogate daughter. Of course, what she told me may be a complete pack of lies; I’m not infallible. But I am used to judging a person’s veracity by carefully watching and listening to them. When Susan told me about her own experiences as an adopted child I didn’t have a shadow of doubt that she was being truthful.”
“Maybe we’ll be invited back to the country club. After all you solved the case.”
“I don’t expect that Greg will be going there again.”
Lucy sat quietly for a while.
“Why didn’t you tell me last night that you knew Greg had done it?”
“I didn’t want to complicate things. I wanted your opinion generally on what you thought I should do.”
She was sad for a while and didn’t speak, but soon I noticed the usual sparkle gradually returning to her eyes.
“In a way – a fairly important way really – I was responsible for solving the case,” she said. “At least the poisoning bit.”
“In what way is that?”
“Well, by making you get the hard drive from Greg to look for deleted stuff, and asking them to include the history searches.”
“More luck than judgment I’d say.”
“But still, don’t you think I deserve some of the credit? I mean fair’s fair.”
“I’m nothing if not fair,” I said.
It was getting late. I got up, opened the front door and we went back inside. I stood for a moment looking at the box of orchids which was still sitting on top of the dining room table.
“So you’re going to give me a raise?”
“We’ll see,” I said, as I took her by the hand and led her past the table and into the bedroom.
***
A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR
If you have enjoyed reading this book perhaps you can recommend it to your friends; positive reviews are always welcome too. You may also enjoy other books in the series: a short synopsis of each book appears below. Feedback from my readers is important to me. If you have any suggestions, comments or observations about this book, or would like to know about future books in the series, or receive a preview of the next work-in-progress, please write to me at johnhemmings.author@gmail.com.
John Hemmings
July 2015
MARK KANE MYSTERIES SERIES
BOOK ONE: FORGET ME NOT
Greg Philips’ wife, Gloria, has recently died after suffering from chronic dementia leaving Susan, her long-lost illegitimate daughter, a large slice of her estate. But is Susan who she claims to be? And was Gloria mentally competent when she made her will or was she manipulated in some way? Boston Investigator Mark Kane is hired to discover the truth; but as the investigation proceeds he soon finds himself embroiled in a murder mystery − and as the suspects mount up he needs all his wits about him to find out the truth and prevent Greg’s adult sons from financial ruin or worse. As usual, Kane’s long-time companion Lucy is there to lend him a helping hand, but will she be able to help him solve the mystery?
BOOK TWO: ICE
Jenny Garcia has returned to Boston from a vacation overseas little knowing that her suitcase contained a valuable haul of illicit drugs hidden inside. When the bag is stolen from her at the airport Boston investigator Mark Kane is given the difficult job of retrieving the suitcase and finding out who is responsible for putting Jenny in such terrible danger. But when the two men who could have provided the answers are found dead Kane has his work cut out for him. As Lucy stumbles upon a vital piece of evidence the case suddenly takes a new turn. Has Kane been looking in all the wrong places? And when a kidnapping puts the whole investigation on a different footing he needs to call on all his experience and cunning to save the victim from harm and bring the culprits to justice.
BOOK THREE: THE BLACK WIDOW
On vacation in Thailand Lucy befriends Dale Porter, a fellow American, but her idyllic break is cut short when Dale is arrested for murder. She enlists Kane’s assistance and they head to the Philippines to look for answers. Kane deputizes Lucy as his temporary assistant investigator and together they set out to solve the mystery of a body found floating in the sea and to try to prove that Dale was not responsible for his death. As they travel from Manila to Subic Bay in their quest for the truth they identify several suspects along the way − including the dead man’s widow. But the victim had many enemies too. And why had Dale disguised the victim’s boat and concealed it in a secret location? As they struggle to unravel the victim’s complicated life Kane is finally driven to an unexpected and shocking conclusion.
BOOK FOUR: TILL DEATH
Don and Lisa Maddox’ idyllic marriage is threatened when Lisa is targeted by blackmailers, and Boston private detective Mark Kane is hired to investigate − but he soon realizes that he is investigating more than just blackmail, and finds himself searching for a serial killer as well − and with trouble at the office too it’s one headache after another. But who is responsible for the bizarre deaths? And what secret is Lisa so desperate to hide from her husband? Kane and his newly appointed assistant investigator Lucy head west to The Twin Cities to look for answers but they are plagued with setbacks and are met with a wall of silence. As Lucy observes, “It’s as if some malign force keeps putting obstacles in our way.” But Kane and Lucy must find
a way forward if they are to thwart the blackmailers and find the killer.
BOOK FIVE: MISSING
Kane and Lucy’s new adventure will be available soon. Release date August 2015.