Death Changes Everything

by Linda Crowder

  If she was grieving, Pam hid it well. She was at least five years younger than Steven. Pam had given birth to seven children. Six were girls, with one set of twins. Her oldest was also her only son, Ryan, who was in his mid-twenties. Pam’s youngest was in elementary school.

  “You have a beautiful home,” Emma said wistfully as Pam showed them into a room much like the one they had just left. Pam’s style was more casual than Maddie’s, but Emma found it more comfortable. She didn’t feel like she had to be constantly looking for a coaster or watch for crumbs in Pam’s living room.

  “Thank you. I try to keep this one room looking nice for guests. I won’t show you the rec room, or you’ll think I never clean my house.”

  “You have your hands full, I’m sure.”

  “I have a few quiet hours when the kids are all in school, but I never seem to get completely caught up.”

  “I think you do just fine.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” said Grace. “What a tragedy for your family.”

  Pam’s smile seemed to harden. “It’s a terrible thing for Maddie and her children.”

  “Emma tells me you have six girls.”

  Pam’s smile relaxed and the stress lines softened. “I do. Everyone says girls are harder to raise than boys, but I never have a minute of trouble with mine.”

  “I hear you’re expecting your first grandchild.”

  “My son, Ryan, and his girlfriend, Becca, are expecting a baby girl in January. It’s hard to believe I’m going to be a grandmother. I’m still taking kids to dance class and soccer practice.”

  “You must be excited about it.”

  A shadow passed across Pam’s face. “I am. I just worry, that’s all. Every mother worries about her children, don’t they? Even when they start having children of their own.”

  “Perhaps more when they start having children of their own,” smiled Grace.

  “We were just visiting with Maddie and Melody and they mentioned you used to work at Hill Energy. I never knew that,” said Emma.

  “That was a long time ago.”

  Emma watched as a muscle over Pam’s eye began to tic. “What did you do there?”

  “I helped my father. Anything he needed, I made sure it happened.” Her gaze drifted. “People always took me for his secretary, but my father had a perfectly good secretary. I was more of a personal assistant.”

  “That must have been interesting work.”

  “It was fascinating,” Pam’s voice picked up energy as she spoke and her face transformed. “Hill Energy is a diverse enterprise, involved in almost every aspect of the oil business and we’re continually expanding our investment in natural gas. I was involved in every aspect of the business, from negotiating lease agreements to reviewing bids and making recommendations to our management team.”

  “I’m sure it was nice being able to work so closely with your father and brother.”

  Pam’s voice took on a sharp edge. “They never appreciated the work I did. They treated me like a secretary and because they did, everyone else did too. When they were around, what I said didn’t matter. I didn’t even have my own office. I had to make do with whatever empty corner I could find.”

  “That must have been frustrating,” said Emma.

  Pam took a deep breath, visibly steadying herself. “It was a long time ago.”

  “Why did you decide to leave?” asked Grace.

  “I didn’t decide to leave. My brother couldn’t stand the competition. He tried to get Jeff to make me stay home with the kids, but Jeff wouldn’t do it. He told Steven it was my decision. Steven went crying to my father, who called me into his office and dismissed me, just like that.” Pam snapped her fingers. “Eleven years of slaving for that man and he had the nerve to tell me my place was at home with my children. Even had security standing by in case I became hysterical.”

  “You’re kidding!” exclaimed Emma. “What is this, the Middle Ages?”

  “My dear brother was standing outside my father’s office, drinking it all in. I wish I’d have slapped him, right then and there. God knows, he deserved it.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I gathered up what little dignity I still had and marched out of there, head held high. The next family dinner, I blasted them. I told those two sexist, self-righteous cretins where they could shove their company.”

  She slouched back on the sofa, her emotion spent. “Then I went home to my husband and my children. I couldn’t find another job. Casper’s a small town and the oil business is smaller still. No one was going to go against my father.” She looked up, her gaze going from Emma to Grace. “So I guess they got what they wanted after all.”

  “I had no idea anyone even thought that way anymore,” Emma said, still stunned.

  “My father has never had any use for women. He set up Hill Energy so that only men can own a stake in the company. Did you know that? I thought if I worked hard and did a good job, he’d come to see how wrong he was. What a fool I was.

  “With Steven, it was more because he was afraid Dad would see through him. Steven knew geology, but he didn’t have a clue about business. He was afraid Dad would realize he didn’t know half of what he pretended to know. After he got rid of me, he started hiding behind that snake, Lewiston.”

  “Bruce Lewiston?” asked Emma.

  “Regular wolf in sheep’s clothing. Promises one thing to your face then turns around and does whatever he feels like doing when he thinks you’re not looking.”

  “Did you warn Steven about him?”

  “Heck no. Steven made his bed, let him lie in it.”

  “Would Lewiston kill Steven?” asked Grace.

  Pam tilted her head in thought. “He might hire someone to do it. I can’t see him pulling the trigger himself. Heck, I’d be more likely to shoot Steven than he would. And no, I didn’t shoot my brother. If I were going to shoot anyone, it would be my father. Steven was an arrogant fool, but my father knew how much I did for that company and he still threw me out.”

  “I’m so sorry, Pam. It’s just wrong.”

  “Now that Steven is gone,” asked Grace, “Will you take his place?”

  “Not if my father has anything to say about it. The old gargoyle hasn’t changed a bit where women are concerned. I hadn’t thought about it, really. Guy is in med school. Dad’ll probably get him to drop out and run the business.”

  “What about your son?”

  “I wouldn’t let him touch that company with a ten-foot pole.” She sighed. “Except it would be a terrible thing for the people who work there. Hundreds of families depend on Hill Energy. I suppose either my father will come out of retirement or he’ll suck it up and make Lewiston CEO.”

  “I thought you said he was a snake,” Emma reminded her.

  “He’s a snake all right, but at least he knows what he’s doing. I’d bet he’s been holding that company together since Dad retired.”

  ***

  Grace and Emma found Kristy’s apartment filled with people. Boxes of Chinese takeout were strewn haphazardly on the bar and Kristy handed each woman a plate and told them to help themselves before the food disappeared. They filled their plates, took bottles of water from a cooler full of iced drinks, and found themselves seats in the crowded living room. Emma tucked in beside Jake, who had finished eating. Grace went to sit beside Jeb Cannon, who had insisted on joining the partnership as soon as Grace told him about it. He’d saved her a seat on the sofa.

  Matt was sitting in an easy chair, dressed in sweat pants and a loose t-shirt. Kristy sat beside him, on a chair she’d dragged over from the dining room. Morty Brugnick sat at the table, jumping up now and then to jot something down on the dry erase board. Captain Danning was also at the table, directing the discussion. It was an electric atmosphere.

  Emma reported what they’d learned from Maddie, Melody and Pam. “If Roger were the victim,” she concluded, “I’d say keep Pam on the list, but Steven? She seemed more annoyed with
him than angry. Maddie said Steven rubbed people the wrong way and I would have to agree. I don’t like to speak ill of the dead, but he always struck me as arrogant.”

  “If Lewiston’s secretary can be believed, we need to be looking for Steven’s mistress. Steven’s secretary clammed up when I asked her about it, so Morty, can you make some calls and check on his travel companion?”

  “Will do.”

  “Captain, do you have someone working on the financials? I want to know who authorized that fund and whether it really is what Lewiston says it is.”

  “If there’s anything to be found, we’ll find it, don’t you worry about that,” said Danning. “So, who do we have so far for suspects? Maddie Hill, who may have been upset if her husband was having an affair and who stands to inherit Steven’s estate. Pam Young, who may or may not have hated her brother enough to kill him, then doubles her inheritance, but only if her father doesn’t change his will. Bruce Lewiston, who may have been playing fast and loose with the company books. Those are the most likely three, correct?” He looked around and heads nodded, some more reluctantly than others.

  “Then we have the dark horses. We have the person who broke into Roger Hill’s home and who may have broken into Steven’s home, thinking no one was there at the time. We have the mystery woman who made a scene at Steven’s funeral and, assuming Hill was having an affair, we have that woman and her jealous husband or boyfriend. Have I left anyone out?”

  “Morty, have you made any progress tracking down the woman from the funeral?” asked Matt.

  “Not yet. We don’t have her plates. We don’t even know if they’re local or out of state. The BOLO has turned up several white Camaros and we’re running the plates of every one of them, but so far, no blonde.”

  They sat in silence. Emma and Grace picked at their food while the others stared at the white board or the ceiling, each person lost in their own thoughts. A loud snore broke the silence and everyone turned to look at Matt. He’d fallen asleep, head flopped backward onto the back of the chair. Stifled giggles followed another snore and the meeting broke up.

  Emma offered to stay behind and help Kristy clean up, but her friend shooed her out. “I’ll see you at the office tomorrow,” Kristy told her.

  “I can fill in for you if you want to take one more day off,” Grace offered.

  “I couldn’t impose on you like that.”

  “No imposition. I’m happy to do it.”

  It was agreed that Grace would fill in for Kristy for the rest of the week. That way, Kristy would be able to take care of Matt until he was strong enough to go back to his own apartment. Grace walked out to the elevator while Emma whispered to Kristy, “Did you tell him?”

  “No, and I’m not going to. I’m still waiting for him to say it first.”

  Emma shook her head, but she didn’t have time to argue. The elevator arrived and she gave Kristy a quick hug, then hurried out to join Grace. As the doors slid closed, Grace turned to Emma, “Is she ever going to tell that boy that she loves him?”

  12

  Matt was healthy enough to go home by Saturday, but after a week of his company, Kristy wasn’t quite ready for him to leave. She grasped the first excuse that came to her mind. “Have you heard from your insurance company? Will they give you enough to buy a new car?”

  “They’re arguing with the other driver’s insurance. Looks like I’m going to be without wheels for a while.”

  “I’m happy to drive you to your appointments.”

  “That would mean driving across town to pick me up though.”

  “Maybe you should stay here for a few more days.”

  “If it would be more convenient for you,” agreed Matt and, from the grin on his face, Kristy realized he’d been looking for an excuse to stick around.

  “We should probably swing by your place and pick up some more clothes.”

  “Yeah, I’m getting tired of sweats. Now that I’ve got the stitches out, I’m looking forward to getting back into my jeans. Let me grab a quick shower and I’ll be ready to go.”

  While Matt was in the bathroom, Kristy folded the sheets and blanket he been using for his bed on the sofa. He’d spent the first night in the bedroom while Kristy’d slept on the sofa but after that, he’d insisted on sleeping in the living room. She’d thought it would be uncomfortable having Matt here, but she was pleasantly surprised by how much she liked it.

  It might be simpler if she could just ask him to move in with her, but Kristy was old fashioned enough to believe some things should wait until after they were married. While she imagined that was a source of frustration to Matt, he had never pressured her. Even with him staying here, he was careful to respect her privacy and unspoken limits.

  She knew he was attracted to her. She suspected the look she sometimes saw in his eyes was mirrored in hers. As he grew stronger, having him close would test her ability to resist taking their relationship to a physical level. She shook her head. Why did it seem so much easier to let her body tell Matt what she was feeling than it was to get the words out?

  She finished cleaning the living room and went into her small kitchen to make coffee and a simple breakfast of eggs and toast. It felt good talking with Matt in the morning and staying up with him late into the night. She was comfortable with him in a way she’d never been in her first marriage.

  As she stirred his eggs in the pan, Matt opened the bedroom door. His hair was wet from the shower, but he had dressed before coming out. “Now I feel human.” He kissed her before sliding onto a stool on the other side of the bar. “You have the best shower. I can’t get enough of how the water blasts me from every direction. At my place, I’m lucky to just get wet.”

  Kristy laughed and the romantic moment was broken. “I splurged having it installed but it’s so worth it.” She slid a plate to him and poured him a cup of coffee. Matt scooped his eggs onto the toast to make a sandwich and ate while she scrambled an egg for herself, sautéing diced onions and peppers before pouring the egg and milk mixture over them.

  “Agenda for the day,” said Matt, sipping his coffee. He’d bought her a single-serve coffee maker after they’d been dating for a few weeks. That way he could have what Kristy called “cop coffee” without her having to give up the flavored brews she enjoyed. “I have to get a haircut or people will start mistaking me for the fifth Beatle. Then we can head over to my place and pick up a week’s worth of clothes. What else?”

  “I hate to go to the grocery store on a Saturday, but I’m running out of everything.”

  “Sorry I’m eating you out of house and home.”

  “It’s not you,” said Kristy, coming around to take the barstool next to his. “I was running low before. I just haven’t had any time to shop since your accident. I’ve sure appreciated the department providing food for the team though.”

  “Captain’s glad to do it.”

  “He’s glad I’m riding herd on you so you don’t try to overdo it.”

  “He said that?” Matt looked sheepish, and Kristy nodded.

  “I hate the circumstances, but I kinda like having you around.”

  “I kinda like being around.” Matt reached a hand to her face and gently traced the line of her jaw. Kristy’s breath caught as he kissed her. When he pulled back, her head was spinning and she leaned her forehead against his cheek.

  Tell him! A voice in shouted in her head. Just say the words! Before she could get the words out, the intercom buzzed loudly. The couple jumped apart, startled by the intrusion. Kristy’s face flushed and she got up to see who was downstairs.

  Detective Brugnick seemed not to notice how red Kristy’s face had turned as he lumbered in and dropped a file in front of Matt. “Coffee?” she asked, bustling around the kitchen, cleaning up the breakfast dishes.

  “That’d be great. Cream, no sugar.” Kristy put the cup on the bar in front of him. “Much obliged, Ms. Castle.”

  “When are you gonna start calling me Kristy?”

>   The young detective blushed. “When I can forget my Mamma always drilling it into my head to be respectful.”

  “I had a southern mother of my own, Morty. I declare, I think she spent every waking moment of my childhood impressing upon me the importance of manners.”

  “Sticks with you, doesn’t it?”

  “That it does.”

  “What’ve you got for me, Morty?” asked Matt, picking up the folder and moving to the table.

  “Initial report from the financial expert. Thought you’d want to see it.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” Matt opened the folder and started reading the auditor’s findings. His frown deepened as he read until, finally, he tossed the folder and onto the coffee table and stared up at Brugnick. “Nothing? He’s found nothing?”

  “Gosh, I didn’t even read it yet, Matt. I thought you’d want to see it first.”

  “Be my guest.” Matt walked to the wall of windows and stared out at Casper Mountain. “Lewiston had to have hid that fund from the family. Jake’s sure Roger doesn’t know about it and the more we know about Steven, he didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would have done it, especially not behind his father’s back.”

  “Auditor says everything’s filed open and above board with both the state and the feds,” said Brugnick, looking up from the file.

  “Isn’t that a good thing?” asked Kristy.

  “It means the money is where it’s supposed to be, being used for the purpose for which it was established. He didn’t break the law, but he lied to the family, and they apparently never caught onto it.”

  “Until now,” Brugnick offered. “Maybe they didn’t notice when money was rolling in, but how could they miss it now? Even if Steven Hill didn’t know his way around a balance sheet, he’d notice they hadn’t laid anyone off.”

  “Good point. What if he did? What would he do about it?”

  “Maybe he’d thank Lewiston for taking the initiative.”