“You’re right, but he was angry, and Brett’s death occurred because of Keith’s actions toward him. The courts will see that as an act done with a reckless indifference for human life.”
“However”—Marc cleared his throat—“the judge does have the right to take other factors into consideration. Any sentence handed down in a voluntary manslaughter case will depend on the facts particular to that case.”
Simon shifted toward her. “Timing is one element of concern. If a judge feels that the person committed the murder in the heat of passion, as is the case with Keith, then he could be charged with voluntary manslaughter rather than murder. The sentence is generally lighter. Does it make sense?”
“What you’re saying is the judge will consider the special circumstances leading to the incident and death? Is that right?” Addie asked.
Both men nodded.
“That’s good because it’s clear there was provocation on Brett’s part leading up to his death,” Addie said, shifting in her chair. “Will the judge go easier on him given the fact that he turned himself in?”
Marc held her inquisitive gaze. “It might have a bearing on his decision, and I must say, I am impressed that you managed to convince Keith to do that.”
“Yes,” Simon said, clearing his throat. “I’ve seen cases before when the courts were more lenient on a person who showed full remorse for their actions. So, I’m pretty sure, your convincing him to come in of his own accord will have a bearing on his verdict.”
Addie’s gaze darted from one man to the other. “What about the family? Who’s going to tell Mellissa and Martha about what’s happened?”
“Detective Brookes is taking an officer to Martha’s now. According to Keith, Mellissa is there today, babysitting Emma.”
“But Martha won’t be there when she gets the news. She was meeting her lawyer today.”
Marc shook his head. “Through the DA’s office, her lawyer is aware of all this. He canceled the appointment.”
“What about Paige? Somebody has to tell her. She thought of Keith like a father.”
“I’m sure Martha will fill her in.”
“But she’s alone in the store. If she hears about this . . .”
“Go, be with her,” Marc said.
Addie rose, and Marc’s intercom beeped.
“What is it, Jerry?”
“The DA’s on line one.”
“Thanks.” Marc clicked off the speaker. “Sorry, but I have to take this.”
Addie nodded, and Simon placed his hand on her back as they headed toward the door.
“Are you going to be okay?” he whispered.
“Yes, I’m worried about Paige, though. This is going to hit her hard, and she can’t be alone when she hears the news.”
“I agree, come on. Let’s get you back there fast.”
“Will you stay? You’re so good at helping people handle grief.”
“Unfortunately, it goes with my job.”
* * *
They stood in the doorway at the back of the shop. Paige was just finishing up with a customer. Addie leaned into Simon and whispered, “You check down the aisles to see if there’s anyone else in the store. If there is, tell them we have to temporarily close.” Addie straightened, held her head high, and made her way to the front, following the customer to the door. “Thank you for coming.” Addie grinned. “I do hope you’ll come back again.”
“Oh yes, this is one of my favorite stops when I’m in town, and that girl who works here is such a cheery soul. Every time I come in, she really brightens this old woman’s day.”
“Yes, she is something special, isn’t she?” Addie smiled and glanced over at Paige, whose radiant blue eyes twinkled with the woman’s praise.
Simon gave Addie the all-clear nod, and she latched the deadbolt after the woman left and flipped the door sign to CLOSED.
Paige’s eyes filled with questions. “What’s going on? Why did you close?”
“Paige, we have to talk about something, and it’s best you hear it from us rather than someone on the street.” Addie drew in a deep breath. She needed to breathe. Just keep breathing. “Have you talked to your mom recently?”
“Not since she called to tell me her lawyer canceled their appointment without giving her a reason. Why, have they taken my mom in again? Did they find more evidence against her? Are we going to have another witch hunt?”
“Paige”—Simon moved to her side—“I think you’d better sit down to hear what Addie has to say.” He guided her onto a counter stool.
“Now you’re both scaring me. Has something happened to Emma?” She rose to her feet. Her eyes filled with terror. “Where is she?”
“No, she’s fine. Your mom and sister are with her.”
“Then what is it? What’s happened to make you both act this way?” Her voice teetered on hysteria.
Addie sat on the stool beside Paige, clasped both her hands, and relayed the events of the morning.
“That’s impossible!” Paige leapt to her feet. “Keith isn’t a killer. He couldn’t hurt a fly. You must have gotten it all wrong.”
“I’m sorry, Paige.” Addie gently placed her hand on Paige’s shoulder. “He confessed.”
“Then he did it for a good reason. What did you say . . . that Brett was planning on kidnapping Emma?” Her eyes searched Simon’s. “See, he did it to stop another crime. They can’t find him guilty. He was helping us. He’s a hero, not a murderer.”
“That’s for the courts to decide, not us.” Addie didn’t know what to say. Paige was right in one way. But was taking a life ever justified? At this point, she didn’t know.
“Simon, tell me he won’t be charged. As soon as Marc hears why he did it, they’ll let him go.”
“Marc knows, and Keith is in custody.”
“No, not Keith!” she wailed. Her face went deathly white, and her knees buckled. Simon made a grab for her and settled with her on the floor. She clung to him like a rag doll and sobbed uncontrollably in his arms.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Simon shot Addie a side glance. “Have you ever been invited to have dinner at Martha’s before?”
“No,” Addie said with a chuckle. “I can’t say as I have, and I’m curious to see what she’s got planned.”
“Why? She strikes me as a woman who is very capable in the kitchen.”
“The bakery, yes . . . but a dinner party? Somehow, I don’t think that’s her style, do you?”
“Now that you mention it, no.” Simon laughed and pulled his truck alongside the curb in front of the two-story Dutch Colonial. “Although, with five daughters, surely one of them is capable of cohosting a large event.”
“The two that come to mind who would make sure it was an actual dinner party don’t live in town. Ashley, who is an event planner, lives on the West Coast, and Jennifer, a mother of five, who I imagine is fairly good at whipping a dinner together, lives in Chicago. Of course, there’s Mellissa, but after what she’s been through recently with Keith, I doubt she’s functioning on all cylinders right now.” She opened her door and jumped out into a knee-high snowdrift. “Great place to park, Doc.” She laughed and hobbled onto the sidewalk.
“Doesn’t her other sister—what’s her name?”
“Brianna.”
“Yeah, doesn’t she live around here?”
“She lives in Pen Harbor with husband, Darren. He’s with the State Highway Patrol. She might be able to help put on a dinner party, but my best guess is . . . don’t expect too much.”
“As long as Martha has some of those amazing strawberry scones she makes, I’ll be a happy camper.”
Addie stood in the doorway and was struck by the scents that wafted past her nose. If she didn’t know better, she’d have sworn she smelled roast chicken, a hint of cloves, and something delightfully cinnamony.
Paige let out a high-pitched squeal, dashed out of the living room into the hallway, and threw her arms around Addie’s neck. “I’m
so glad you came, both of you. We couldn’t have made it through this ordeal without your help and support.”
Martha stood sentry in the living room doorway and wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Come in, come in. Close the door. We’re not heating up the whole darned neighborhood.” She gestured toward the room behind her. “I think you know most everyone here.”
Addie glanced around the corner into the large room at all the beaming faces and halted briefly when she got to Keith and Mellissa, his arm draped over his wife’s shoulder. With her pixieish face, there was no mistaking her family resemblance to Martha and Paige. She also had the identical petite stature. Albeit, with maturity and having had two babies, she was a little more rounded like her mother than her youngest sibling. However, when Mellissa acknowledged Addie and Simon, she noted that behind the woman’s eyes, which were etched in dark circles, Mellissa had the same endearing smile as her baby sister.
“Yes, hi everyone!” Addie gave a wave, took off her jacket, handed it to Paige, and stepped into the lively room. “It’s so wonderful to be included in your family dinner.”
Then words evaded her. Were her eyes deceiving her?
Addie blinked . . . twice . . . to be certain. There in the far corner of the living room was a somewhat familiar face, but Addie still couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was Old Bill, who at this moment didn’t look old, or grizzled and world-worn, but more like a shy teenage boy. His mop of graying-blond hair was neatly trimmed to above his collar, and he was wearing a brand-new pair of well-fitting jeans and a blue dress shirt that made his once-faded blue eyes sparkle in the lights.
She grabbed Paige’s arm and whispered, “Is that really Bill?”
Paige nodded with a grin. “Yes, Mom offered him one of the spare rooms but he refused, so Dad put an old heater and a bed out in the garage for him.”
Addie’s heart grew two sizes as she studied his beaming face. “At least he’ll be safe and warm this winter,” she said, returning his head nod.
“Thank you for inviting us,” Simon said as he stepped into the living room behind Addie and shook Keith’s outstretched hand when Keith crossed the room to greet them.
Addie returned Keith’s genuine smile and ignored the piercing glare that Martha fixed on the back of his head during his welcoming gesture. As wonderful as it was to see Bill being brought back into the fold with his high school friends after all these years, it appeared that not all was forgiven on all accounts, and having been on the receiving end of her old adversary’s wrath in the past, Addie knew forgiveness for an indiscretion didn’t come fast or easy for Martha. Never mind for someone who framed the cactus woman for murder.
Addie sensed that this might prove to be an interesting evening. Because it was clear by the venomous look in Martha’s eyes when she glanced at Keith that not all was as perfect in this household as was being portrayed by this cozy gathering.
“Everyone, get your glasses. It’s time to celebrate!” Ken called out as the cork popped off a champagne bottle. He made a round of the room, filling each crystal flute with some of the bubbly. “To the Stringer family, their significant others, and our dear friends.” He nodded at Addie and Simon and then turned to Bill and raised his glass. “May we all live long and prosperous lives, together, as it should be.” He drew Martha close to his side and planted a kiss on her flushed cheek.
Addie raised her glass in the toast. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Paige’s beaming face.
“Dad’s going to be staying around awhile,” Paige whispered under the commotion of cheers and well wishes. “After being apart for twenty years he said he wants to try to work things out with Mom again.” She laughed when her mother pulled away from Ken and swatted him with a kitchen towel. “Although, that might be a bit of a job because I’m not sure she can be that forgiving of him for up and leaving her to raise five little girls on her own.”
Addie smiled warily at Ken. She couldn’t shake the feeling that his words of reconciliation didn’t ring entirely true. His sticking around probably had nothing to do with the family being reunited. Her gut told her it was more than likely because a book that was valued at twenty-five thousand dollars was still missing, and he was looking for an excuse to stay in town to try to find it. Then she looked at Paige’s radiant face and hoped she was wrong. “Judging by how close Keith and Mellissa are tonight, it appears this tragedy did bring your family back together.”
Paige took a sip. “Yes, it’s too bad that we all learned a lesson about family the hard way. But in the end, I guess what Keith did, was . . .”
“Was what?”
“Nothing.” Paige shook her head. “If I say it, you’ll think me a horrible person.”
“Never!” Addie placed her arm around Paige’s shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “In my eyes, you’re one of the best people I’ve ever met.”
“Thank you. That means a lot since I think of you as a sister.”
“You’ll always be the sister I never had.”
Paige’s grin activated her dimples, and tears formed in her big, round blue eyes. She squeezed Addie’s hand, and then wove her way across the room to her mother’s side and whispered in her ear.
Martha bellowed over the high-spirited chorus of voices. “Paige has just reminded me that the chicken isn’t going to eat itself. So, everyone into the dining room.”
Addie and Simon filed in behind everyone else. She knew in her heart it was difficult for Marc to arrest Keith, and by law he had no choice. A life had been taken. But as she witnessed this family gathering, she couldn’t help but pray that the courts would see the other side of their personal misfortunes before casting judgment. The tragedy that had occurred with Brett’s death had definitely brought this family together again.
Keith slid up to her side. “I wanted to thank you personally for convincing me to turn myself in. I really don’t know what I was thinking at the time.”
“It was the right thing to do, Keith.” She glanced at Mellissa, who placed a tray of steaming fresh-baked dinner rolls on the table. “Plus, it seemed to be the right thing to save your marriage by the look of it.”
“It did that. We’re finally talking, and we are even going to start another business together. Provided I’m not in prison too long.”
“I thought after she sold the dress shop, she was going to take some time off.”
“That was the plan but since I have to resign my position as fire chief, because the town can’t have a murderer running the fire hall, right? We’ve decided to open a bed-and-breakfast—together.”
“That’s wonderful! Congratulations.”
“Now, if I can only get Martha to forgive me for the things I’ve done, I’d feel much better about it all. She still won’t even look at me.”
“I’m sure all she needs is a little time, and then she’ll come around.”
“I hope so, because I have a feeling that she won’t be happy until I’m locked up.”
“You made bail, obviously. So I’m sure the courts can see that what you did was for family and show some leniency in your final verdict.” She squeezed his arm. “I’m sure eventually Martha will, too.”
“Yeah, I hope so, for the sake of Mellissa and the kids. Even though the charge is voluntary manslaughter and not murder because the death occurred in a fit of rage after I discovered what Brett planned to do with Emma, the fact still remains that I did take the time to move the body and stage the scene behind Martha’s shop to punish her for disowning me.” He ran his hand over his ginger hair. “That’s the part of the case my lawyer is afraid the prosecutor will focus on, which means I could do some hefty prison time.”
“Yes, but can’t a doctor testify to your state of mind at the time? After all, you and your wife were separating. You weren’t thinking clearly, and your anger with Martha, whom you thought of like a mother, when she rejected you after being so close for so long, you just snapped.”
“You should be a defense lawyer.�
��
“No thanks.” Addie chuckled. “I think I’ll stick to my books and solving the mysteries in them and leave the real-life work up to the professionals.”
“Did I hear right?” Simon asked. “You’re going to quit this amateur sleuthing business?”
“I’m going to have to as it appears. I’m not very good at it. I didn’t solve the mystery of Paige’s missing book, and when it comes to rare books, that’s one I should have been able to figure out.”
“So, the answer to my question is no? Because you can’t stay away from a challenge, and we’ll spend all our free time together hunting down this book, right?” He gave her a teasing smile as they took their seats at the long dining table.
She glanced across the table at Ken sharing a good-natured laugh with his son-in-law Darren, and whispered to Simon, “He’s going to be the first one we investigate. He’s hung around after he was cleared of the murder, and there must have been a reason for it.”
“You’re not buying the whole family together thing?”
“I’m having trouble with it, especially after all these years. I think it’s more like twenty-five thousand reasons he’s still hanging around.”
“Peanut!” Paige yelled up the staircase. “Dinner’s ready!”
“I’m coming,” the little girl’s small voice called back, and before long Emma thudded down the stairs into the dining room.
“You can sit beside Addie over there.”
“Addie,” she squealed. “Look at the book I got for my birthday.” She grinned and held the duck book in front of Addie’s face.
“I know, pumpkin. I gave it to you.”
“Oh right.” She giggled, climbed onto her chair, and looked at Addie with wide blue eyes. “You called me pumpkin?”
“Pumpkin is the name my grandmother used to call me, I guess—”
“Addie called you that because you’re as yummy as the pumpkin pie we’re having for dessert.” Martha set a bowl of mashed potatoes in front of Emma.
“That’s funny,” giggled Emma. “Everybody has a different name for me.”
“Oh, what else do people call you?” Paige tucked a napkin under Emma’s chin.
A Page Marked for Murder Page 24