Stratagem

by Robin Caroll

  Brandon nodded. “But if you get anything else, Mrs. Fredericks, you need to call us. Don’t touch anything, don’t give it to anyone else, just call us.”

  She nodded. “I know I should’ve called you when I got the suitcase. Grayson and his little bright-haired friend told me I should have, but it was such a shock. Seeing it. Knowing it was hers and that someone left it here for me.”

  “We’ll do our best to figure out who left it, Mrs. Fredericks.”

  “I appreciate that. By the way, I’ve set the service for Anna Belle for Friday at ten. Back home in Breaux Bridge.”

  “I’m sure it will be lovely.” Brandon stood and slipped his notebook back into his pocket. “When will you head back home?”

  “I plan on leaving early Thursday morning. I have to go to court in the morning to be named administrator of Anna Belle’s estate.”

  Ah, yes. The details around an unexpected death.

  “We’ll keep you updated as we get new information about the case.” Danielle stood and shook Monique’s hand.

  “I appreciate that.” She extended her hand to Brandon, holding his tight in hers. “Just to be clear, I know the ex is always the main suspect, but that’s not so in this case. I know in my heart that Grayson isn’t responsible for Anna Belle’s death.”

  Brandon caught Danielle’s eye. She gave a brief nod, and he resisted letting out a long breath. Finally, they could work together instead of against each other and find out who really killed Anna Belle Thibodeaux.

  TWENTY-TWO

  “Hey.” Colton stuck his head into Grayson’s office.

  “Hey. Come on in.” Grayson stood and moved around the desk. “Sorry I didn’t come see you earlier when I got in, but I’ve been trying to get all my emails answered and calls returned.”

  Colton clapped his shoulder, then plopped down on the couch. “How’re you doing, buddy? You okay?”

  Grayson shrugged. Out of everyone else in the office and Grayson’s close circle of friends, Colton knew his and Anna Belle’s relationship best. “Not gonna lie. It’s been rough.”

  “I know. I mean, I can only imagine.” Colton set up and looked him in the eye. “It was pretty awful. I tried to call you, but then I didn’t want to leave a voice mail message.”

  “Yeah, I saw where you called on my recent calls. Thanks for that.” He ran a hand over his face. Shouldn’t this be getting easier? “Thanks for everything you did. Tried to do. Calling 911, going to the hospital.” Grayson shook his head. “I appreciate it.”

  “Of course. Of course. I’m just so sorry for you.” Colton gave a wobbly smile. “Is there anything I can do for you? You know I’m here for you no matter what.”

  “I appreciate that.” It was during trying times like these that people found out who their real friends were.

  “If you need to take time to plan her funeral or anything…” At least his business partner understood he’d probably need to take time off in the future. Especially if the police kept coming after him like they were.

  “Her mom’s here in town for the time being. She’s going to have the service on Friday back in Breaux Bridge.”

  “You’re going, I assume?”

  Grayson nodded. “You’re welcome to go as well. Anna Belle always liked you. Said you had grit.” He smiled. “She was the one who encouraged me to accept your offer to go into business together when we met that night for dinner.”

  “I always figured it was her.” Colton smiled back. “I liked her too. I mean, I hate what she did to you, but as a person, I thought she was okay.”

  Which was more than most people would say, if they were being honest.

  Silence filled the space, and for the first time since Grayson could remember, it felt awkward. Odd. Must just be the tension of not really knowing what to say to someone who lost an ex.

  “How’s the investigation going?” Colton asked. “Those two cops … I thought one of them was your friend, man.”

  “Brandon’s my friend.” Or he’d thought.

  Colton cocked his head. “They sure seemed to focus on you a lot in their questioning. To be honest, I think they’re centering their investigation on you.”

  “I know.” Sadly, he knew all too well. “I guess they grilled you pretty hard, huh?”

  “Yeah. I mean, first because we even took the job, and then because I was there and all.”

  Grayson nodded. “I’m sure. They keep asking me the same questions over and over. Like I’m going to change my answer?”

  “I hear you.” Colton stood and moved to peer absently at Grayson’s bookcase. “Oh hey, it’s that time to renew our corporate liability insurance. I’ll get the stack of papers ready and mark them so all you’ll have to do is sign by the red arrows, okay?”

  “Thanks. I’d appreciate it.”

  Colton turned. “Well, I’ll let you get back to it.” He motioned toward the hall. “Pam already left?”

  Grayson nodded. “Her interview was set for three.” He glanced at his watch. “Which is about now.”

  “Good deal. Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

  “Thanks, Colton.”

  Grayson watched his partner leave. There was something he’d meant to ask Colton, but he couldn’t remember what now. He shook his head. Not surprising his mind was all over the place, considering the circumstances.

  He glanced at his bookcase. The pictures he once had there of himself and Anna Belle were in a box in the garage at home. Most of Anna Belle’s things or things that reminded Grayson of her he’d stuck in the garage after the divorce was final. Maybe he should do something to preserve them. For what, he hadn’t a clue. It just seemed wrong to throw them away or leave them in the garage.

  Vvvvvvv!

  His cell phone vibrated on the desk. “Hello.”

  “Hi, Grayson. It’s Monique. Anna Belle’s mother.”

  He grinned into the phone. “Yes, ma’am, how’re you?”

  “Okay. Those police detectives just left. Don’t you worry none. I told them I knew you had nothing to do with Anna Belle’s death.”

  “I appreciate that.” He remembered he had told her he would call her today and set up lunch tomorrow. He’d forgotten. “Are you still interested in lunch tomorrow? After court?”

  “Yes, I am. I’d like to see you again before I head back. I mean, I know I’ll see you Friday at the service, but we won’t get to visit much then with everybody there.”

  His gut tightened thinking about the service—all the stares he’d have to endure. Skipping the service wouldn’t be that big of a deal because ex-spouses weren’t required to attend funerals of former spouses, but it meant a lot to Monique for him to be there, so be there he would. “Yes, ma’am. How about I come to your hotel, say at one? We can go somewhere if you like, but I happen to know the hotel chef is brilliant.”

  “Yes, the food here at the hotel is wonderful. One is fine. I’ll see you then, Grayson.”

  He disconnected the call and leaned back in his chair. Maybe he should give Anna Belle’s things to her mother. After they’d divorced, she was supposed to have changed everything to her mom on all her important documents.

  Beneficiary!

  Even though he’d been as indifferent as possible during the divorce proceedings, he distinctly remembered the attorneys talking about changing the beneficiaries on their respective life insurance policies. He’d removed her from his after he had checked with Ian, who had assured him that the partnership agreement between he and Colton wouldn’t be affected.

  Anna Belle had no claim to Game’s On You, even though she’d tried her best during the divorce, since he’d established the business while they were married. But the partnership agreement was ironclad: in the event of death, divorce, or imprisonment, the full business and all assets would go to the remaining partner. She hadn’t even been able to get alimony because she was the one who committed adultery.

  Right now, Grayson could only pray that she’d actually removed h
im from her life insurance policy as beneficiary and didn’t just do a half job like setting up just the new address for the cell phone account. If she hadn’t removed him, and Grayson was still listed as beneficiary, the police would really think he had a motive to kill her.

  “Now, let’s move on to Monday night.” Brandon stared at Pam Huron in the hot box. She’d held up under his and Danielle’s questions, even managing to refrain from letting her dislike of his partner show too much.

  “Okay.”

  “You said you were the one who spotted the slashed tires on Grayson’s truck. Is that correct?” Brandon stared at his notes.

  “Yes. I had gone outside to get some cardboard from my car, and I saw it. Then I saw the eggs on his house. I went into the house and told Grayson.”

  “You just keep cardboard in your car?” Danielle asked.

  Pam cut her eyes to his partner. “I belong to an art club and sometimes have to ship supplies or pieces, so I had a couple of flat Priority Rate boxes in my trunk.”

  Brandon nodded. She looked like the artist type, and not just because of her bright hair. It was more of the vibe she gave off. “Then what happened?”

  Pam sighed. “Of course Grayson ran outside to see. He called the police and asked for a report to be taken. He didn’t want the eggs to dry on the house and damage the paint, so he decided to wash it off.”

  “You were in the house when we arrived,” Danielle pointed out.

  “Yes,” Pam grimaced. “I was trying to identify the coat of arms—” Her expression froze with eyes wide and flushed face.

  “What coat of arms?” Brandon pinned her with his stare. This was something…

  “Uh.”

  He could almost see the wheels turning as she struggled to answer him, but not. He wasn’t going to allow that. “What coat of arms?” His tone was harder, his voice louder.

  “When Grayson went to turn on the hose, he found something in the hedge. It was a bracelet charm that has a coat of arms on it.” Her words tumbled on top of each other as she spoke without taking a breath.

  “Where did he find it?” Danielle asked.

  “It was caught in the hedge in front of the broken window.”

  “And no one told us?” Brandon couldn’t believe they hadn’t reported it—after he’d made himself clear about the suitcase.

  “Here.” She reached into her jeans pocket and pulled it out. “This is it. I’ve been trying to find out what coat of arms that is, but I can’t even figure out what kind of fish that is.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us that night when we were there?” Brandon asked.

  “We didn’t know for certain if it had anything to do with anything.”

  Danielle groaned. “Sure.”

  Pam sat up straight in the chair. “We didn’t. I mean, I thought it was probably from someone throwing the eggs or rock, but that’s definitely a charm from a woman’s bracelet, which would mean that whoever did that was a woman.”

  Brandon looked at his partner.

  “What?” Pam caught the look that passed between them.

  “We’re not at liberty to say at this point,” Danielle told her.

  But maybe Pam knew something she wasn’t even aware she knew. “We can tell you that DNA recovered from the paper around the rock has been determined to belong to a female.”

  Danielle sighed heavily and shook her head. She’d chew him out later, but just having another clue, something tangible, gave him hope.

  “Do you have any idea who would want to vandalize Grayson’s house and truck?” Brandon asked.

  Pam chewed her bottom lip. “I can’t think of anyone. Especially not anyone who would do this and take up for Anna Belle at the same time, because the vandalism is definitely connected to her death.”

  Brandon didn’t miss her phrasing. Death, not murder.

  “You know Grayson probably better than anyone else at this point. I know you’re his assistant and his friend, but is there anything you’d like to tell us? Anything, no matter how insignificant it might seem?” Brandon held his pen over his notebook.

  Pam waited a moment before she shook her head. “I know so much points to Grayson, but you have to know, he’s innocent. Me? I’d have ripped into Anna Belle after all she did to him and everything we found out, but he didn’t. He left town to go hang with his friends and relax and just get away from everything. I respect him for not lashing out.” She shook her head. “Do you know what he told me just today?”

  “What?” Danielle asked.

  “That he had to find a way to truly forgive her in his heart.” Pam shook her head again. “I ask you, who does that? A man who has nothing on his conscience, that’s who. A man who is good and honest, that’s who.”

  Brandon couldn’t agree more.

  TWENTY-THREE

  He couldn’t imagine anything of Anna Belle’s he would want at this point.

  Grayson stepped into Monique’s hotel room anyway, not having the heart to decline when she told him she’d found something of Anna Belle’s that she wanted him to have.

  “Just a second and I’ll get it.” Monique disappeared around the corner.

  Grayson waited as lightning flashed through the window. Serious storms were forecast for the afternoon.

  “Here.” Monique handed him a necklace with a round medallion dangling. “It’s not too fancy—it’s just stainless steel, but it’ll hold up forever. I gave this to Anna Belle to celebrate her first communion.”

  He stared at the medallion that was about two inches in diameter. “Saint Jude?”

  Monique nodded. “He is the patron saint of hope and impossible causes. He was also one of Jesus’ original twelve apostles. He preached the Gospel passionately, sometimes in very difficult circumstances.”

  Grayson couldn’t speak as he held the necklace. Hope and impossible causes, that seemed to sum up Anna Belle perfectly. He’d been wrong—he did want something of Anna Belle’s after all.

  He slipped it into his front shirt pocket, not wanting to risk tangling the chain by putting it in the pocket of his pants. “Thank you, Monique.”

  She smiled and rested her warm, worn hand against his face. “She would want you to have it, Grayson.”

  He nodded. “I’ll see you day after tomorrow. Have a safe trip home.” Grayson gave Monique a final hug and waited in the Darkwater Inn hall until she’d shut the door before heading back to the elevator.

  “Lobby, sir?” The elevator attendant had been courteous to Monique when Grayson had escorted her back to her room. The level of security in the hotel impressed him, considering the bad publicity they’d experienced lately.

  Grayson nodded, letting himself get lost in his own thoughts on the ride. He’d finally just come out and asked Monique if Anna Belle had changed her life insurance beneficiary. Anna Belle hadn’t informed Monique of any policy, so Grayson had called the agent they’d purchased their policies from years ago. With Monique on speakerphone to verify her information, they confirmed Anna Belle had done as the divorce decree had warranted and changed her life insurance beneficiary to Monique. While Monique had been shocked over hearing she was about to receive two hundred fifty thousand dollars, Grayson was relieved that this would help remove him as a suspect.

  The elevator dinged, and he nodded at the attendant before striding across the lobby. Wednesday’s earlier spotty clouds had developed into massive thunderheads as the afternoon hours had replaced the morning. What had been a steady breeze when he’d entered the hotel to meet Monique for lunch was now straight-line winds. A storm was definitely coming to New Orleans. Considering the F3 tornado that had been unleashed not too many Februarys ago, residents of the Crescent City were definitely cautious about storm warnings.

  He could beat the storm back to Game’s On You if he hurried. He and Colton were supposed to meet at four thirty to go over their upcoming schedules as well as the direction of the company. Grayson hated to admit it, but the possibility of him being arrested was ver
y real, and more than a little scary. The partnership papers for Game’s On You covered the company in such an event. Everything would automatically default to Colton, but the media attention could hurt the company’s reputation.

  Anna Belle had said many times that there was no such thing as bad publicity, only bad choices in spinning the publicity. He faced bad publicity because of the death of a PR account representative—the universe sure seemed to have a sick sense of humor.

  It was too much for Grayson to compartmentalize at the moment. Shaking his head, he ducked out the front door of the hotel and kept his head down against the wind as he turned the corner and headed into the almost empty parking lot. If he could just figure out who’d really killed Anna Belle, then he—

  A woman rammed into him. Or him into her.

  “I’m sorry.” He spoke at the same time she did as he reached out to steady her. They both froze at the same time as they looked at each other.

  Laure Comeau stood before him wearing the familiar blazer of the Darkwater Inn that served as a uniform. The wind shoved a curly tendril that had escaped from the brightly designed head wrap covering her natural hair.

  “Get your hands off me.” She snatched her arm from him. “Don’t touch me.”

  He jerked his hands back to his side. “I only meant to steady you.”

  Stormy eyes looked him up and down, then settled on his face. “What are you doing here? Come to stalk me now?”

  “Stalk you? What?” She wasn’t making any sense. “What’re you talking about?”

  “You may have everybody else fooled, Grayson Thibodeaux, but not me. Anna Belle told me about the mind games you played.” She took a step back from him. “She called me the morning of the day you killed her. She knew what you’d done, what you were doing. She knew you’d put her in a game, you twisted piece of—”

  “Whoa. Wait a minute. First off, I didn’t kill Anna Belle. I know you want to believe I’m some horrible monster, but that’s not true.”

  “Yes it is. You had her in a game, right?”