It Cannoli Be Murder (Bread and Batter Cozy Mysteries Book 3)

by Karoline Barrett

  “Wow!” I couldn’t help but react. “What did you say back?”

  “He was posturing, trying to scare me, but I saw through it. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me. Obviously, something was up and I wanted to know what. Instinctively I knew it was something my mother, Dena, didn’t know about, and my father didn’t want her to know about. I threatened to tell her what I’d heard, and then go to Mrs. Rydell if he didn’t tell me.”

  “Where was your mother that day?” Alex asked. “Do you remember?”

  “Oh, I remember. In the hospital. She suffers from depression and she’s bipolar. She’s been hospitalized four times that I know of. Twice before I was born, and twice afterward.”

  “I’m so sorry,” I told her, and I meant it. That couldn’t have been easy on the family; Edward’s apparent affair with Zoe notwithstanding.

  She dismissed my apology. “It is what it is, right? We deal with it.”

  “So, your father told you everything?” Alex’s eyes were riveted on her.

  As for myself, I could hardly wait to hear what he’d said to Meg about it all.

  “He had no choice unless he wanted me to talk to my mom or Zoe Rydell. You see, Dena is bipolar, as I just said. She’s a wonderful mother and wife, but she kind of walks this thin line between real life and illusion. My father and I are all she has.” She jumped up and stretched. “Do you mind if I get some water? Can I get you guys anything? I missed my yoga class this morning, I’m stiff.”

  “Water would be great,” I answered for both of us.

  “I don’t know about you,” I whispered to Alex, “but I’m glad we made this trip.”

  He gave me a sly grin. “And to think, you could be at the bakery instead. But I think we’re wasting our time listening to her life story, interesting as it is.”

  I had no chance to volley back a brilliant reply since Meg was back with our water.

  She didn’t sit, but started back up with her story. “So anyway, my father and I are all my mother has, but I think, at times, my father feels stifled by his life. Not that he doesn’t love her, but as much as I don’t want to, I can see what his attraction to Zoe was all about. A chance to breathe, a chance to be free. My mother is hard to be around, sometimes. It’s been a lot worse in the last few years. But I don’t think my father ever wanted to hurt her. He loves her in his own way.”

  “Can we get back to what your father told you?” I asked.

  “We sat at the kitchen table, my father and I. He explained that he and Zoe became close when my mother had been hospitalized the first time. Graeme was away a lot and my father would check up on Zoe. They... they began a . . . relationship. He called it a one-night stand, which resulted in me.”

  Neither Alex or I said anything and she continued, as if she’d forgotten we were there with her.

  “When she told him she was pregnant, he didn’t believe the baby was his at first. She told him that Graeme had had a vasectomy. He never wanted any more children.”

  “Did you ever end up talking to Mrs. Rydell?” I wanted to know.

  She examined her nails then picked at one. When she looked up her eyes were bright with tears. “No. I never did. She never approached me, either. Maybe she changed her mind about wanting a relationship with me. I don’t know if my father ever told Zoe that I knew she’d given birth to me. He’s not a talkative man.

  “Plus, I was afraid. Afraid that she would welcome me to her family, but on the other hand, I wanted to shield Dena. Then I was afraid Zoe wouldn’t welcome me. I had so many emotions. In the end, I let everything be. I sure didn’t want Dena involved. It would kill her, emotionally, I mean. I never wanted her to know about Zoe and my father. Neither did he.”

  “I don’t understand something,” Alex jumped in. “How did your father and Dena end up with you? Surely Dena wondered where you came from.”

  “That took a little work on the part of Zoe and my father,” she admitted, with the barest of smiles. “According to my father, he told Dena that the Rydell’s had friends whose teenage daughter was pregnant and wanted a good home for their baby. They didn’t want to go through an adoption agency. Mrs. R. gave me to my father and Dena.”

  “She didn’t notice that Mrs. Rydell was pregnant? Didn’t she work for your mother in her home?”

  “Yeah. She did. I have no idea how that was handled. Maybe she was one of those women who barely showed when they were pregnant.”

  “And Graeme was okay with all this?” I couldn’t believe he would be and I’d only met him once.

  “I don’t know what Zoe told Graeme. Whatever it was, he stayed married to her. He never approached my father about any of it. He was cordial when he saw me.”

  I thought about what she’d told us. It was a lot to take in. “Did Rachael and Melanie really not know that you were their half-sister?”

  “I don’t think so. I sure didn’t tell them. As I said, we hadn’t been in contact for years, what would have been the point?”

  “So.” Alex took a last swig from his water bottle. “You expect us to believe that your father tells you that you have two incredibly rich half-sisters, a rich biological mother, and you just accepted it? No anger, no questions?”

  “It was an emotional time for me, of course. Part of me was angry, yes. But murder? No. Absolutely not.”

  “One more thing,” he said. “Didn’t you wonder why Zoe Rydell was paying your tuition?”

  “My parents told me she wanted to. I didn’t question it.”

  He got up. “I think we’ve taken up enough of your time. You’ve been very forthright with everything and we appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome. Do you think you’ll find the killer, or killers? I feel horrible about their deaths. I feel so bad for the Rydells, I really do.”

  I smiled at her. “I’m sure you do.”

  “Thanks,” added Alex. “Good luck on your next dig. If we have any further questions, we’ll be in touch.”

  “I hope never to see you two again. Please don’t take that personally.” She walked us to the door. She stayed there as we pulled out of the driveway. I wondered what she was thinking about.

  CHAPTER 27

  * * *

  “I never knew you had such an interest in archaeology,” I told my cousin when we had driven a couple of blocks.

  “I’ve always been fascinated by it. It was just fortuitous that she’s an archaeologist, but it worked to our advantage. I think she trusted me more once I started talking about archaeology.”

  “She has a fascinating story. I was riveted, really. Do you believe her?”

  “I do. Or, she’s a total sociopath who has us fooled, and her whole story is a lie, and she really did kill her half-sisters.”

  “Well, yes, there’s always that,” I said dryly. “I think I get the fancy wagon.”

  He shot me a quizzical look.

  “Zoe has an affair with Edward,” I explained. “Unless she’s a monster, on some level she must have felt guilty. Not so guilty that she gives Edward up, but guilty enough so she hands Dena the keys to a brand-new car.”

  “Ah, I got it. You’re a smart cookie. Must come from owning a bakery.

  I rolled my eyes at his weak humor and swatted his arm lightly.

  “We need to go see Mrs. Rydell,” he said.

  “Are you going to call first?”

  He shook his head. “Not this time. I’m going for the element of surprise. Keep your fingers crossed that she’s home.” He pulled his phone from the console where he’d just put it. “First a call to Professor Friedrich.”

  “Why? And how are you going to find him?”

  “Just to make sure Meg was telling the truth about her handgun. He’s got his own website. I take it you’ve never visited it?”

  “Um, you’d be right. I was never into fossils or dinosaurs.”

  “First time for everything,” he laughed. “Here’s my phone, look for his contact information. Since he’s not on a dig, maybe we’ll get lu
cky.”

  I found the number and handed the phone to Alex.

  “Professor Friedrich? My name is Alex Britton. I’m with the Destiny Police Department in upstate New York. I’m calling about a member of your team. Meg Halliday. She mentioned that you’re cleaning your gun. I want to verify that that’s true.”

  He listened for a few minutes then explained why exactly he wanted to know. “No, nothing’s wrong. I see. Okay, thanks. You’ve been a huge help. Have a good day.”

  “So, what did he say?”

  “She was telling the truth. I had to check.”

  “I agree. To the Rydells?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  About an hour later we pulled back into the Rydells driveway. I turned to Alex. “At this rate, you’re going to have to buy me dinner tonight. I’m tired. This stuff is harder than cupcakes, that’s for sure.”

  “I’ll be glad to. I think after this, we’re done for the day.”

  We knocked on the front door and seconds later it was opened by Mrs. Rydell who looked less than thrilled with our visit, but reluctantly let us in. I supposed good breeding precluded her from slamming the door in our faces.

  We followed the clickety-clack of her high heels on the parquet foyer into a dark paneled room with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on three of the walls.

  “I don’t know why you’re here. I don’t know what else I can tell you,” she huffed without preamble. She moved to a heavy brocade curtain and stared out the window. It struck me how much staring out the window seemed to help people collect their thoughts, myself included. “So, why are you here?”

  “We’re sorry to bother you, Mrs. Rydell. It’s about Rachael and Melanie’s death. Is Mr. Rydell at home?” I asked.

  “No. He’s not. What more do you think I can tell you about my girls’ deaths?”

  “You can tell us why you never told us Meg was Rachael and Melanie’s half-sister,” Alex dove right in.

  Her mouth opened and closed. She reminded me of the large sturgeon fish in the aquarium at my favorite Chinese restaurant. “Who told you that? Was it Edward? No, he wouldn’t say that. I know him. Who then?”

  “Meg. We just left her.” I waited for her reaction.

  She laughed. “You’re bluffing. She doesn’t know. How would she know?”

  Alex inclined his head toward the landline phone on one of the end tables. “Edward told her. Call her, she’ll confirm it.”

  “I don’t have her number. Why would she tell you that? I can’t believe Edward would say anything to her. Why would he?”

  “Maybe because it’s true?” I asked. “We have her phone number if you’d like to call. You can also take a DNA test.”

  She sighed. “I don’t know what this has to do with finding my daughters’ killer. Or killers. I suppose it’s of no consequence now. We aren’t living in the dark ages after all. Yes, I gave birth to Meg, but she isn’t my daughter. She belongs to Edward and Dena. I barely know her. I kept my distance from her on purpose. This is why you came over?”

  She waited a second and when we didn’t answer, she continued. “Are you suggesting that she murdered my girls? You do think that, don’t you? Did you arrest her? Did she confess?”

  “No, we didn’t arrest her. She didn’t confess to anything. Is there any reason that we should think Meg killed Rachael and Melanie?” Alex asked.

  “I’m sure she was jealous of my twins. It’s not beyond the realm of possibility that she did kill them once she found out that I gave birth to her. This is a nightmare. I never wanted her to know!”

  Alex continued. “We just want to know why you never mentioned that she was your biological daughter.”

  She lowered herself to the couch. We were still standing, which was fine with me. I’d had enough sitting for the day. I wasn’t used to sitting at the bakery. “It wasn’t relevant. But now that you’ve discovered the truth, I’m afraid that maybe Meg did kill them. I should have seen it coming. Of course, she would be jealous. Who wouldn’t be? I paid for her education at Harvard. Did she tell you that?”

  “Yes, she did,” I said.

  “I should have reached out to her. I was going to, you know. Then I didn’t. You positively must question her further. How…how much did she tell you?”

  “Enough,” I replied. “Why don’t you tell us everything about Edward and yourself.” I was beginning to think Alex and I were on a wild goose chase. Meg being Zoe’s daughter seemed to have nothing to do with the murders. Or murder, if Melanie actually did commit suicide. I felt like we were on a merry-go-round and couldn’t hop off.

  “I suppose you’ll dig until you find out. What a mess! I had an affair with our chauffeur. Edward.” She gave a cheerless laugh. “How commonly cliché, right?”

  No one I knew had a chauffeur, and I’d certainly never had one, so I had no idea how common, or cliché, having an affair with one’s chauffeur was. Apparently, it wasn’t cliché enough to stop Zoe from becoming involved with Edward. “Did your husband, Graeme, find out about the affair?”

  “Not at first. But when I became pregnant with Meg, I confessed that it was Edward’s baby. It was…a very difficult time. I’m not going into details. They’re private.”

  “He didn’t divorce you?” I asked, surprised he would’ve wanted the marriage to continue.

  “Initially, yes, Graeme wanted to throw me out and get rid of Edward and Dena. I told him I knew about all his mistresses over the years, and unless he wanted me to go public with their names then he would do exactly as I said. He wouldn’t have divorced me. Not really. Appearances are everything to him.” A cackling sound escaped her lips. “How old fashioned. But then, Graeme is very old fashioned. Stiff upper lip and all that rot,” She mimicked a British accent. “Divorce would guarantee his family would have disowned him. Did you know his family is somehow related to Great Britain’s royal family?”

  “No, I had no idea,” I said.

  “Anyway, better to be rich and have a philandering wife, then have a perfect wife and be penniless. Graeme’s money is all from trust funds. Oh, he plays office at the family business, but that’s just play money. The real money is in the bank, collecting interest. Lots and lots of it.”

  Alex and I waited for more. Finally, Alex spoke. “Did you consider just telling him the baby was his?”

  “Ever hear of a vasectomy, Detective? Once I had the twins, Graeme declared it enough and had himself fixed.”

  “So, he went along with you,” I put two and two together. “He agreed to let you have the baby and give it to the Hallidays.”

  “Yes.”

  “How did you hide your pregnancy?”

  “Meg was a small baby. It was easy really. A lot of bulky clothing and no one suspected.”

  Alex and I were content to let her ramble. We were getting a lot more than we expected.

  “Falling in love with Edward was the last thing I wanted.” She rose, her movements fluid like a panther’s. She covered her face with her hands. Alex and I waited her out. When she looked up, tears were tracking down her cheeks. “I still can’t believe my girls are dead.”

  “We’re very sorry, Mrs. Rydell,” Alex said, his voice laden with sympathy. “Is it true Dena doesn’t know Meg is your daughter?”

  She fiddled with her gold necklace. “Yes. I’m not heartless. She thinks Meg came from friends whose teenage daughter got pregnant. You have to understand that I never wanted to take Edward from Dena, but there was this attraction between us. I loved Edward. I may as well tell you both. In the back of my mind, I knew Meg killed my girls. At least Rachael. I’m positive she’s the killer.”

  “But you never came forth,” I said, a little stunned at her proclamation. “When we talked to you and Mr. Rydell, you never even mentioned Meg. What makes you so sure now?”

  “When I talked to you and Detective Britton, I had no idea Meg knew that I’d given birth to her. But now it all makes sense, doesn’t it? If she knows I’m really her mother, you m
ust see how resentment would’ve built up inside her. She didn’t want to share me.”

  It sounded to me that Zoe Rydell was trying to pin the murder on Meg. Could Meg actually be the real killer? “Share you?” I burst out. “That makes no sense. She didn’t even know you! Rachael and Melanie have their own lives, so I don’t see not wanting to share you as a motive. She may want a relationship with you as an adult, but she’s past the stage of needing a ‘mommy’ in her life. Besides, she considers Dena her mother.”

  “Jealousy then.” She stabbed her index finger into the air. “She realized everything she missed and took out her rage on my girls.” Another tear made its way down her cheek and she wiped it away. “How could she do such a thing? Why haven’t you arrested her?”