Murderous Secrets: A Shandra Higheagle Mystery #4

by Paty Jager

  Shandra laughed harder.

  “What’s all the noise in here?” Lil hobbled into the kitchen. “You made cinnamon rolls and didn’t tell me.” She hobbled to the pan and plopped two rolls onto a plate and stood at the end of the counter eating them with joy on her face.

  “See. These things are beyond good. You should market them,” Ryan said. He dug into the rest of his breakfast. He still had to get to Warner and grab his work revolver and his work vehicle. He finished the food and put his dishes in the sink.

  “Shandra, do you mind if I use your Jeep to get to work. I don’t want to chance getting the Mustang stuck trying to get out of here. I’ll get here early enough tonight to plow the road and if there isn’t any more snow overnight, I can take the Mustang the next day.” Ryan plucked another cinnamon roll out of the pan.

  “I don’t plan to go anywhere today. Go ahead. It makes more sense than taking your car.” Shandra barely limped as she placed her dishes in the sink. She crossed to the space on the counter where her keys hung from a rack.

  She tossed her keys to Ryan. “It might need gas to get you to Warner.”

  “I can fill up in Huckleberry.” He pulled on his coat then walked over to where Shandra stood. “Thanks. See you tonight.” He kissed her cheek and left through the back door.

  Shandra stared at the door. Part of her was fluttering with happiness over the way Ryan treated her and the other was worried about being stuck at the house with only a tractor, Ryan’s Mustang, and Lil’s old pickup for transportation if there was an emergency. Not a one of the vehicles was reliable.

  “This is like watching the Brady Bunch,” Lil said.

  Shandra spun toward Lil. “What do you mean?”

  “Ryan kissing you on the cheek as he heads off to work leaving the little housewife behind to tend to family things.”

  “I’m beginning to think you did something to your head when you broke that leg.” Shandra headed out of the kitchen. “Put the dishes in the dishwasher, I have a phone call to make.”

  In her small office, she picked up her cell phone and dialed Coop’s phone number.

  “Hey Shandra,” he answered.

  “Hi Coop. Have you had a chance to do any digging on how Charlie Frank could afford his ranch?” Shandra asked.

  “All I could find was that the land had once belonged to Charlie’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side. It looks like he took over the tribal trust.”

  “Then his getting that land after my father died is just coincidental.” Shandra wasn’t sure if that made her happy or upset. She was glad the old man wasn’t part of her father’s death and it ruled out one person, but at the same time it would have made things easier if he had gotten the property some other way.

  “Thanks for looking into it for me.”

  “You’re welcome. I looked up something else. Jessie Lawyer was in a Whiteman’s jail three times for harassing your mother. Your mother filed the complaints with the tribal police, but they sent her to jail outside the reservation because they were both non-tribal members.” Coop cleared his throat. “You want me to try and talk to her some more about your dad?”

  “No. The way she responded the night I talked to her, I think she needs to be talked to by the police. I’ll let Ryan know what you found out. Thanks, again.” Shandra hung up and thought about it a minute. What would Jessie have to do with her father’s death? She seemed to like him. Why would she wish him dead?

  Shandra called Ryan.

  “Anything wrong?” he asked.

  “No. I called my cousin to see what he found out about Charlie Franks. He received his land through his family. Just coincidence about the timing. But Coop did discover that my mom had Jessie Lawyer, the woman who attacked me in the bar, put in jail three times for harassment. She seemed to genuinely like my father, but maybe my mom pushed her too far.”

  “I’ll check into it today,” Ryan said.

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime.”

  Shandra hung up and headed out of the office. The Christmas decorations were out in the studio. Ryan told her not to go out of the house, but she could go out the back door and in the back door of the studio and haul the boxes over with the toboggan she kept to pull Sheba around.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Ryan called dispatch to let them know he was headed home. He’d put in enough overtime to get off a couple hours early. He wanted to plow out Shandra’s driveway while there was still light to see. The forecast called for no more snow until next week. Once the driveway was cleared it should stay that way, and he could take his Mustang home. Luckily, the damage to the pickup was fixable. It would be a couple weeks before he could drive the vehicle, but he wouldn’t have to go out and buy a new one.

  He was positive the driver of the semi had wanted to run them off the road. What he couldn’t figure out was how did he know that was Ryan’s pickup? He’d never met Shandra’s stepfather or mother. How would they know the make and license plate of his vehicle?

  Shandra’s Jeep crawled through the snow without a problem. He’d worry less knowing she had a reliable vehicle with the way the snow was piling up this year. Driving out of the trees and into the meadow in front of her house, he couldn’t miss the white lights twinkling inside the house even though it was still light outside. He found Shandra’s childlike enthusiasm for Christmas catching.

  Before pulling the Jeep into the barn, he stopped in front of the house. This was what his soul needed. To come home every night to a house lit up with warmth and love. Shandra hadn’t said she loved him, and he hadn’t said the words to her, but they were growing closer each time they were together. And this scene made him hope there could be a future between them.

  He drove on to the barn. Opening the doors, he noticed the horses chomping away on grain. Someone, most likely Shandra, had been out here treating the horses. And after he’d told her to not go outside.

  He parked the Jeep and strode to the house. He’d have a discussion with Shandra before clearing the road.

  He tried the back door and the knob turned easily in his hand. She was supposed to keep the door locked. Didn’t this woman ever obey when it came to her life?

  Shandra stood on a chair in the great room attaching a garland across the wide stone chimney of the fireplace.

  “What are you doing?” he asked.

  She started and wobbled on the chair. Ryan rushed across the room to catch her if she fell.

  “I’m hanging a garland,” Shandra said when she’d caught her balance. “What are you doing back so early?”

  “Obviously, catching you doing things you were told not to.” He grabbed her around the waist and set her on the floor. “I told you to stay inside, keep the doors locked, and don’t climb around.” He waved his hand to encompass the room, “You’ve done none of the things I asked you to do for your safety.”

  She rammed her hands on her hips. “If I was going to decorate I had to get the decorations. I went out the back door and into the back door of the studio. I used the toboggan to pull the boxes and I locked the door behind me.” She pointed to the garland. “As for the garland, well, I figure climbing up on one chair couldn’t put me in too much danger.”

  Ryan shook his head. “The horses are eating grain and the back door was unlocked when I came in.” The stunned expression on Shandra’s face told him she hadn’t been the one to do those things.

  “Lil!” they said in unison.

  The woman was wrapped in a large purple robe as she hobbled into the room. “What you both calling me for?”

  Shandra walked forward. “Did you go to the barn?”

  “Yes. I missed my robe. It’s cold sitting around in here if I’m not next to the fireplace.” Lil stuck her chin up as if defying Shandra to say something.

  “And you stopped to give the horses grain,” Ryan said.

  “Well, I give them some every day and figured you wouldn’t think of it.” She nodded her head once as if affirming her
own comment.

  “But I told you, we had to stay in the house and keep the doors locked,” Shandra said in a tone that reflected she was talking to a child.

  “You went out and got your Christmas doodads so I figured I could get something to keep me warm.” She sounded like a child defending her actions.

  Ryan ran a hand across the back of his neck. “You both need to stay in the house until we can get a line on the guy who ran us off the road.”

  A jazz tune erupted from Shandra’s phone sitting on the dining room table.

  Shandra walked to the table and picked up the phone. Mother. She glanced at Ryan and decided right now she’d rather deal with her mother.

  “Hello Mother,” she answered.

  “Shandra are you still coming to the dinner Saturday night?” her mother asked, without so much as a hello.

  “Yes. We’re still planning on coming.” She held the phone out a bit when Ryan stepped next to her to listen.

  “Good. Your charming Mr. Pickley means a lot to Adam. I don’t want to disappoint him.”

  Shandra glanced at Ryan. He shook his head. If her mother only knew they were coming early and Mr. Pickley and Adam were going to be disappointed when they left early.

  “I hope Adam wouldn’t do anything illegal to get Mr. Pickley’s contract.” Shandra said.

  Ryan bumped her with his shoulder. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head.

  She must have said too much or something she shouldn’t have said.

  “Adam only does what he must to get what he wants. See you Saturday.”

  Silence. “Did you hear that last part? The one about Adam always gets what he wants?” Shandra said as a shiver raced down her spine.

  “I heard it. You shouldn’t antagonize them. They may figure out we know what they’re up to.” Ryan said. He pivoted to the kitchen. “I’m headed to clean the drive. I want to get it done before it gets dark.” He peered straight in her eyes. “That’s why I’m here early.”

  Shandra smiled. “Not because you were checking up on us?”

  He shook his head and left the room and the house.

  Shandra stared at the phone in her hand. Why had mother called to confirm Saturday? Is she that nervous about making Adam happy? Or is she making sure we’re coming for another reason?

  “What’s that about? You look like you ate a sour pickle,” Lil said, sitting down on the couch.

  “That’s how I feel,” she replied and wandered into the kitchen to see what she could whip up for their dinner.

  ***

  Saturday morning, Shandra was up making waffles for breakfast when Ryan came in from feeding the horses.

  “Smells delicious in here.” He left his coat and boots by the back door and poured a cup of coffee.

  Having Ryan spend the night all week, even with Lil in the house, had been a pleasant experience. She enjoyed making his breakfast in the morning while he did the chores.

  “I bet you’ll be ready to get Lil back to her room in the barn so you can sleep on a bed instead of that couch,” Shandra said, seeing him twist his torso.

  “I don’t want to kick her out when we still haven’t a lead on who ran us off the road, but I did get an interesting call while I was out in the barn.” He sipped his coffee.

  “Just a minute, let me get this last waffle out.” Shandra placed the last waffle on a plate and placed them in front of Ryan. She filled her cup with tea from a pot and sat next to him at the counter.

  “Okay, what was your interesting call?” Shandra started buttering her waffle.

  “I said I would find out more about Melody Dean Harmond?”

  “Yes.” Shandra stopped buttering to pay close attention to what Ryan had to say.

  “I said that was a pricey nursing home. Her monthly payment is being paid by M Ranch Rough Stock Company.” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Adam? It has to be because he knows she knows what he did?” Shandra shoved her plate to the middle of the counter. “Do you think it’s blackmail? I mean, really I can’t see Melody blackmailing him. But why would he pay for her nursing home?”

  “You’re correct about the blackmail. But it isn’t Melody. It’s her niece.”

  “The one who threw us out of the room?” This was making more sense. Melody, during one of her more lucid days, like when they visited her, must have mentioned the events of the day Edward Higheagle died and how it had been improper protocol. Perhaps the niece decided to get money for her aunt with the information.

  “Yes. When a deputy I sent to the nursing home talked with the manager, she said Marsha Smith secured the room with her money and said the rest would be coming from the M Ranch Rough Stock Company.” Ryan pushed her plate back in front of her. “Looks like we have one more question to ask your stepfather today.”

  Shandra had trouble swallowing her sip of tea. She could already feel the tension building in her shoulders and neck. The feeling she lived with most of her life in Adam Malcolm’s home.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Shandra sat in the passenger seat of her Jeep as Ryan drove up the winding paved road that led them onto the M Ranch. Once she’d turned eighteen, she rarely came here. She couldn’t even call it home. It had never felt like home to her. She had felt like an outsider here for fourteen years.

  Ryan reached over, grasped her hand, and squeezed. “I’m here.”

  She smiled. “I know. I wouldn’t have agreed to this visit if you hadn’t been able to come with me.” She glanced at him. “But arriving now instead of for the dinner will send Mother into a tizzy along with the questions we’re going to ask...” She wrapped her free hand and arm around her middle. “My stomach is tied in knots.”

  “They can’t do anything to you. You’re an adult and you have a lawman with you. They’d be stupid to try anything.” He parked the Jeep at the front walk that lead to the porch that spanned the length of the centuries-old, log house. It reminded Shandra of lodges she’d seen in magazines.

  “Come on.” Ryan climbed out his side and came around to open her door. “I’m here,” he repeated and took her hand. Leading her up the steps.

  She didn’t know why her knees were jelly. Maybe because she’d always felt something was off between her and Adam, and knowing it could be because he killed her father, she wasn’t sure if she could control her emotions.

  They walked up the steps and Ryan grasped the large, brass ring in the bull-head knocker. He whacked it three times and grinned at her.

  The door opened and Agnes, the housekeeper who’d spent more time with Shandra than her mother, stared at her. “Shandra, you were to come for the party, not now.”

  “I don’t plan to stay for the party. Are mother and Adam around? I’d like to speak to them.” Seeing the one friendly face had bolstered her courage.

  “Yes. Your mother is finishing the decorating in the great room, and your stepfather is in his office.”

  “Agnes? Agnes, who’s here?” Mother called.

  Her mother emerged from the great room into the entryway. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth pursed. “What are you doing here so early?” She plucked at Shandra’s coat and tsked at her blue jeans. “And not even dressed for a party.”

  “We aren’t here for the party. We have some things we would like to ask you and Mr. Malcolm,” Ryan said.

  “Questions? You? We’ve never met you before. I don’t understand.” Then her eyes lit up. “Oh, you want to ask Adam.” She smiled. “Take off your coats. Agnes! Agnes, bring some hot tea into the study, please.”

  Shandra wasn’t sure why her mother was so cooperative, but she’d go with it. She handed her coat over, as did Ryan.

  “Come along. Adam will be so happy to hear this,” Shandra’s mother said, leading them down the hall to the one room in the house Shandra had been forbidden to enter. Ever.

  Mother opened the door wide. “Adam, look who’s here, and they have a question for you.”

  Adam looked up from the paperwork on his d
esk. The look of disbelief didn’t get wiped away fast enough. When he caught himself, his look turned to disdain.

  “I thought you were coming to the party tonight. Your mother specifically asked you if you were coming and you said yes.” His deep gruff voice started Shandra’s body moving backwards.

  Ryan’s hand pressed against the small of her back. His strength would get her through this.

  “Mr. Malcolm, we have several questions we’d like to ask you pertaining to Shandra’s father,” Ryan started.

  “Her father? Why would I know anything about her father?” He sat back down and stared imperiously at them.

  “Her father?” Her mother shrilled. “I thought you were going to ask—”

  “I met Phil Seeton.” Shandra cut off her mother.

  “That old drunk. You can’t believe a word he says,” Adam huffed.

  “That’s true. He was a drunk,” her mother piped in as she took a stand behind Adam and placed her hands on his shoulders.

  Shandra had known deep down her mother would side with Adam, but it still hurt to see her striking such a pose of solidarity with the man.

  “He told me there was no way Father should have fallen off that horse. He said Loco wasn’t good at bucking, but he was known to stomp a rider when he was down.” Shandra watched the pair. Neither one flinched. “The autopsy said Father had benzodiazepine in his system, and someone told the coroner that Father had fallen off a horse and was taking them.” She stared at her mother. “Were you the one who told the coroner that Father was taking painkillers?”

  Her mother looked perplexed. “No, I didn’t talk to anyone. As soon as they said he was dead, I hurried to your Aunt Jo’s to get you, and then I went to our house and packed everything up and begged my father to let me stay with them until I figured out what to do.”

  “So the police never contacted you about your husband?” Ryan asked.

  “Never.”

  Shandra stared at Adam. “Did you say he was on painkillers?”

  “No, but that explains why he didn’t ride that horse very well.” Adam’s expression was thoughtful.