Vindicated (A Jenny Watkins Mystery Book 6)

by Becky Durfee

  Zack shrugged, and his voice got a little defensive. “I’m not sure what you want me to say. I told you to call her, and you didn’t seem to like that. Now I’m telling you not to, and you don’t like that either. What, exactly, can I say that will make you happy?”

  She looked at him with sad eyes. “You can tell me that Leo Pryzbyck is behind bars.”

  Zack’s brief animosity appeared to subside, and he patted the bed next to him. Jenny slid into her spot and cuddled up into his shoulder. “Why don’t you call Megan first thing in the morning? I doubt at this age she’s having a sleepover, so it should be safe to call her bright and early. Would that make you feel better?”

  Jenny sighed and relaxed a little bit. “It will.” She began to stroke his chest with her hand. After a few moments of silent cuddling, Jenny added, “And I know of a little something else that will make me feel better, too.” She ended the statement with a suggestive giggle.

  “Good Lord, woman. I’m not a piece of meat.”

  Grateful for Zack’s ability to always make her laugh, she smiled and replied, “You’re not? Then why am I with you?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “Oh, dear,” Jenny said, bracing herself for the undoubtedly egotistical response.

  “It’s because I get along so well with my dad. Did you see us tonight? We actually had a civil conversation without any sarcasm or insults or anything.”

  “I did see that,” Jenny said, “and it was very impressive.”

  “Although,” Zack replied with a furrowed brow, “I’m pretty sure he’s still on a high dosage of painkillers. Perhaps tonight’s pleasantness was the product of a little drug-induced euphoria.”

  Jenny rested her chin on Zack’s chest. “Honey, why is it you always seem to end up talking about your father when I’m trying to hit on you?”

  Zack thought for a moment before saying, “Good point.” In one swift motion he rolled over on top of Jenny and began to kiss her.

  “Well, at least I know they’re still alive,” Jenny said as she put on her shirt. “I have plans to meet Megan, Ed and Renee out for breakfast…on the QT, of course.”

  Zack, who had just returned to the bedroom after taking a shower, kissed her on the cheek. “That’s good. See? I told you there was nothing to worry about.”

  Jenny crinkled her nose. “I wouldn’t say that. It just turned out well, that’s all. So, what’s your plan for today?”

  “I think we can finish up the bathroom, and then after that we might be done…or at least, I might be done. If there are any little details left, I think the guys can handle it.”

  “So, does that mean we can head back to Tennessee soon? And get far away from Leo Pryzbyck? Is that what you’re saying?”

  Zack smiled at his wife. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. We can leave as soon as tonight if you want.”

  “You know, I just might want that. I’ll have to see how this breakfast goes before I say for sure, but after the way I felt last night, I think I’ll just want to get the hell out of Dodge.”

  “I kind of want to get out of here, too. I want you safe, obviously, but my dad is also checking out of the hospital today, and he doesn’t need to come home to a house full of company. I’ll help my mom set up a bed for him downstairs, and then after that I think we should get out of their hair.”

  “I agree. Your dad won’t want an audience.”

  Zack let out a sheepish smile. “There’s actually another reason I want to be home, too…I miss Baxter.”

  Jenny laughed. “You’re a big sap, you know that?”

  “Hey, you don’t want to mess with the bond between a man and his dog.”

  She patted him on the chest. “Well, why don’t you go get started on that bathroom, I’ll go have breakfast, and we’ll see if we can’t get you playing fetch by bedtime.”

  Jenny felt relief when she saw Megan, Ed and Renee in the lobby of the restaurant. Although she hadn’t yet shared her concerns with them, she greeted each of them with a hug, delighted that her decision to leave early yesterday hadn’t cost any of them their well-being. They all probably thought she was just being over-friendly, but she didn’t care. They were alive, and that was all she needed.

  Once they got seated, nervousness rose within Jenny. She realized she was about to tell Ed that his cousin had most likely committed a murder; this was not going to be an easy conversation to have, especially considering he and Renee would have to go back to their house that they currently shared with Leo after breakfast was over.

  Jenny clasped her hands together at the table, sucking in a deep breath before speaking. “I’m so glad you all could come out here this morning,” she began. “I think I may have made a break in the case.”

  “Oh my God,” Megan said, putting her hand over her mouth. “Was it my cousin?”

  Shaking her head, Jenny replied, “As it turns out, no.” She gathered herself for a moment and said with a wince, “Ed, I actually think it was your cousin.”

  He looked shocked. “My cousin? You mean Leo?”

  Jenny nodded solemnly. “I’m afraid so.”

  “I didn’t even know he was a suspect,” Ed proclaimed.

  “Neither did I, until yesterday.” Jenny explained the connection about the sun. “It wasn’t until I saw his disfigured tattoo that I realized I may have been misinterpreting Stella’s message all along. The scary part is I think he saw me eyeing his tattoo, and he may know that I’m on to him.”

  “Oh my God,” Renee exclaimed as she turned to Ed. “So, it wasn’t because he overheard me yesterday.”

  Confused, Jenny asked, “What are you talking about.”

  “Oh my God,” Renee said again, causing Jenny to become frightened.

  Ed sighed before he began, “When we woke up this morning, Leo’s car wasn’t in the driveway. When we looked into his room, we noticed it was empty.”

  “Empty?” Jenny cried.

  “I’m afraid so,” Ed said with a reluctant nod. Glancing up at Jenny, he added, “It appears your new prime suspect may have skipped town.”

  Chapter 19

  Jenny felt her heart practically beat out of her chest. “He left?”

  Renee’s expression showed she was just as unsettled as Jenny. “I thought it was because he had overheard me saying I wanted him gone, but I guess he left because he knew he’d been found out.”

  Ed shook his head and raised his hand. “I’m not defending my cousin in any way…but do you know for sure it was him?”

  “As sure as I can be. Ironically, Leo got his stab wound stitched up at the hospital where Stella worked.” Jenny looked at Megan, who would understand the significance. “It turns out Doctor Burke was the one who had worked on him. He remembered that case because it was what he was doing when Stella got killed…just like you all remember you had spent that afternoon watching Rainman.” She turned back to face Ed. “I think it would be a little too much of a coincidence that Leo happened to get an injury to his sun at the same time Stella was killed. Especially since a bloody handprint was found on the back door…the back door that led to the apartments where Leo lived at the time.”

  Megan shook her head. “But I don’t get it. What motive would he have had? We had never even met Leo.”

  Ed closed his eyes, looking as if he might be sick. “Oh, God. I think I can answer that.”

  The others waited for him to elaborate.

  He hung his head in shame before saying, “After that cookout we had at Megan and Stella’s the weekend before, I remember telling my cousin that Stella had slept with two different guys in the same day. I made some kind of crass comment that if ever he wanted to, you know…” He covered his face with his hands, wiping them down to his chin. He sighed and continued. “...he probably could do it if he paid that house a visit.” He quickly held up his hands. “But I was just kidding… I never thought in a million years he’d actually go there, let alone harm her in any way.” Ed looked sick again. “I can�
�t believe I played a hand in this. I feel positively awful.”

  “Nobody’s blaming you,” Jenny assured him. “Every young guy has made crass comments at some point in his life…in no way does that make you even remotely responsible for what happened to her.”

  Ed ran his fingers through his hair. “But why would I say something like that to a guy with a drug habit? That was just stupid.”

  Jenny looked at Ed. “What kind of drugs did he do?”

  “Back then? PCP.”

  “I don’t know what that would do,” Jenny admitted. “Would that potentially cause him to commit murder?”

  Ed nodded. “Absolutely. It’s known for inducing mood swings and hallucinations. He would have been capable of anything if he was having a bad trip.”

  Megan looked at Ed. “Do you happen to know if Leo used to have a switch blade?”

  He once again looked like he could be ill. With sunken shoulders, he announced, “He carried one with him at all times. Was that the murder weapon?”

  With a nod, Megan said, “Afraid so. And I don’t remember us having one at the house, so the killer must have brought it with him.”

  Ed closed his eyes. “That sounds about right. Like I said, he never left home without it.”

  Turning to Jenny, Renee asked, “Do the authorities know about this? We need to let them know that Leo is gone. The sooner they can start looking for him, the less of a head start he will have.”

  Jenny reached into her purse for her phone. As she searched for Dante Wilks’ phone number, she glanced up at Ed and posed, “Do you have any idea where he may have gone?”

  Ed thought for a moment and shook his head. “Not off the top of my head. Nothing strikes me as obvious.”

  Jenny pressed the button to call the detective. “Wilks,” he said when he picked up.

  “Hi, detective Wilks, it’s Jenny Larrabee again. I need to talk to you about Leo Pryzbyck.”

  “Uh oh,” Wilks said. “He didn’t carry through on his threats, did he?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that,” Jenny said, “but it appears he did skip town.”

  “He skipped town?”

  “Afraid so.” Jenny explained the revelations that had come to light over the past few minutes. “And did you get a call from Doctor Burke last night?”

  “I did,” Detective Wilks replied. “Well, it looks to me like we may be on to something here. I think at this point it might be worth officially re-opening the case and taking a long, hard look a certain Mr. Leo Pryzbyck.”

  Jenny was as relieved as she could be under the circumstances. “Thank you so much, detective. This will mean a lot to both Stella’s family and the Minnicks.”

  Wilks’ tone was serious. “It’ll mean even more if we can get him into custody.”

  Jenny drove straight to Rob’s house after breakfast, finding Zack having a conversation with Willy in the Sanders’ driveway as she pulled up. When she got out of the car, Zack greeted her with a huge smile, announcing, “And there she is.”

  “Were your ears burning?” Willy asked.

  With an apprehensive smile, Jenny asked, “No…should they have been?”

  “Well, we were just talking about you. I was telling Zack, here, that Rob wanted me to take a picture of the two of you for his wall. I’m sure you noticed the hall of fame he had going on in there.”

  “The hall of fame,” Jenny repeated with a laugh. “Is that what he calls it?”

  “Yup,” Willy confirmed. “Sure is.”

  Once Jenny got past the name, she realized the implications of the request. “He really wants a picture of me and Zack on his wall?”

  “You’ve changed his life,” Willy said, “and he wants to remember you.”

  Zack chimed in, “He also wants us to see if we can get a picture of Nate from the Minnicks. He believes that Nate is that guardian angel he’s been talking about for years, and he wants him on the wall, too.”

  Jenny placed her hand on her heart as she felt breathless for a moment. Nate had gone from being regarded as a villain to being seen as a guardian angel; she felt like her mission in Mumford Springs was complete.

  “I’ll see what I can do,” Jenny said. “Lord knows Nate’s mother had no shortage of pictures of him.” Turning to Willy, she added, “Did you hear that we may have gotten the case solved?”

  “That’s what Zack was saying. It was someone who lived in the apartments?”

  “It looks that way,” Jenny replied. “And now, apparently, he’s skipped town.”

  “Skipped town?” Zack asked with dismay.

  Jenny explained the story, adding, “And that’s one more reason why I want to get the hell out of here.”

  “He’s probably long gone by now,” Willy reasoned. “I bet he’s more concerned with staying one step ahead of the law than he is with getting revenge on you.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Jenny said. “But it will still be hard to sleep at night with him out there.”

  “Had I known they had the wrong person in jail back in ’88, I wouldn’t have slept for decades,” Willy replied. “I had five kids running around this cul-de-sac…and a lunatic living a few hundred yards away. You can even see the apartments from here in the winter time.”

  Guilt surged through Jenny’s veins; she felt it would only be alleviated through honesty. “Willy, I do have a confession to make. I did have an investigation into Marcus going on.”

  “Marcus?”

  Jenny sighed. “I didn’t think it was him, but since Stella’s last words were to look for the son, I had to consider every possibility.”

  “Well, I could have told you it wasn’t him right off the bat. He wasn’t even around that weekend. He was at baseball camp in Kentucky.”

  “Wow,” Jenny said. “You have a great memory if you can remember that.”

  Willy laughed. “I was getting ready to mow the lawn when I saw Nate running out of the house. Now, why would I be mowing my own lawn if I had a seventeen-year-old son at home? I raised my kids better than that.”

  “I’m sure you did,” Jenny said with a smile. “I’m sure you did.”

  Three weeks later

  Jenny sat at the kitchen table of her mother’s downstairs apartment. “The DNA came back a match,” she told Isabelle. “Now they know for sure it was Leo.”

  A look of worry gripped Isabelle’s face. “Is he still on the lam?”

  There was something funny about hearing her mother say on the lam. “Afraid so. But now there’s an official APB for him, so they should be able to find him.” Jenny’s words were designed to comfort her mother; she only wished she could believe them herself.

  “You said he only had a few hundred dollars to his name when he disappeared,” Isabelle noted. “How long can he stay in hiding with just that much money?”

  “Unfortunately, criminals don’t need their own money. He will just use someone else’s.”

  At that point, Jenny’s phone rang with a number she didn’t recognize. “I’m going to get this, ma. I don’t know what it’s about.” She stood up from the table and took a few steps into the living room. “Hello?”

  “Hello, my name is Andrew Parker; I’m looking for Jenny Watkins-Larrabee.”

  Jenny was curious who this stranger could have been if he knew both her previous and current names. “This is.”

  “Miss Watkins-Larrabee, I don’t know if you remember me, but I am the lawyer representing Elanor Whitby’s estate.”

  Now that he said that, she did recall the name. “Oh, yes, hi Mr. Parker.”

  Although, now she was even more curious about the reason for the call.

  “Well, I’m pleased to inform you that Ms. Whitby had set up a trust.”

  “A trust?”

  “Yes. While she’d left you a sizable chunk of her estate, she did keep some of it set aside with the instructions that you were to get the money when one of two things happened: either ten years passed, or your divorce became final. I’ve been che
cking periodically, and I see you not only have gotten divorced, but you’ve been remarried. Congratulations.”

  His words stopped having meaning as she tried to contemplate what was being said. “Wait a minute. Elanor had more money set aside that I would only get after my divorce?”

  The lawyer laughed. “It seems Ms. Whitby didn’t have too much affinity for your ex-husband. She wanted to make sure that you would receive some money that he couldn’t touch in the event of a divorce. Or, she figured, if you survived another ten years as a married couple, that meant you had ironed out your differences and you were presumably happy with him.”

  The shock wore off just enough for Jenny to laugh out loud. “That woman was a genius.”

  “You don’t reach her level of success without a good deal of intelligence.”

  “Indeed you don’t,” Jenny replied. “Okay, so just how much money are we talking?”

  “What you had received was two-thirds of her estate. The other third is sitting in the trust, waiting for you to claim it.”

  Having been a teacher, Jenny knew her fractions. “Wait a minute…a third? That means I’m getting back the same amount that my ex-husband just took.”

  She could tell Mr. Parker was smiling when he said, “It’s as if your ex-husband never got a dime.”

  The July air felt heavy around Jenny as she sat next to the birdhouse that hung in her backyard. Yellowed pine needles stuck out of the hole, evidence that the family of Chickadees was making itself comfortable in their new home. “You are a very cunning woman,” Jenny said out loud as she waved her finger. “I still have so much to learn from you.”

  Jenny paused as if waiting for a response.

  With a sigh, she glanced over at the birdhouse. “I’m so happy to have you back here, where you belong. I’m sorry about the way Greg treated you.” A sinister smile graced Jenny’s lips as she added, “Although, I guess you got the last laugh on that one, didn’t you?”