“I lied.” There really was no reason to keep up the subterfuge. “To be fair, I came here to spy on you by myself, but I needed my grandfather to call in a favor with Max to get your home address. He took it upon himself to follow me.”
“And what did you think you would find?”
“Edward Haugh.”
Jenny’s eyebrows flew up her forehead, making her look younger – if that was even possible. She no longer held on to the edge of innocence that so easily clouded my superior powers of judgment upon first meeting her. She’d slipped right under my radar … and I didn’t like it at all. “You thought you would find Edward here?” She looked almost amused at the suggestion. “May I ask why?”
“You’re in love with him, aren’t you?”
“Love is probably the wrong word for what I feel.”
“What word would you use?”
“Cognizant.”
That was an extremely odd choice, as was Jenny’s cool demeanor. She completely freaked out at the office when she thought we were going to enter Haugh’s office – melting down in spectacular fashion – but now she seemed calmer than humanly possible given the fact that she found me spying in her backyard. That was on top of the fact that my grandfather was suddenly missing.
“Do you want to expand on that?”
“Sure.” Jenny’s tone was breezy as she moved laterally, keeping the same amount of distance between us to ensure she could cut me off should I try to run toward the gate. “I was cognizant of the fact that he was embezzling from the company and that I wanted that money. I discovered it. You might’ve waltzed into Max’s office today and taken the credit, but I did all of the research.”
Something clicked in my mind. “You told Cara what he was up to.”
“What makes you say that?” Jenny was back to acting demure. “I’m just an innocent girl working at a law firm. Why would I do anything of the sort?”
I answered without hesitation, a clear picture finally forming in my head. “Because you wanted to see what would happen. You knew what Haugh was doing, but you didn’t know how to work it to your advantage. Somehow you crossed paths with Cara – maybe at that stupid wine group or something – and you realized what she was doing because she wasn’t shy about admitting it.”
“You mean the blackmail?” Jenny’s smile was smug. “She did have a tendency to run off at the mouth about that. She wasn’t very bright, even though she considered herself a criminal mastermind. Of course, she didn’t see anything wrong with what she was doing. That was her fatal flaw.”
“Do you have that flaw? I mean … do you think what you’re doing is wrong?”
“And what have I done that’s so wrong?” Jenny asked, widening her eyes to comic proportions. “I uncovered embezzlement and told someone I thought could help. She’s older than me, you see, so I thought she’d know what to do. She said she’d handle it, and I trusted her to do what she promised. It’s not my fault things fell apart after that.”
Jenny was clearly nuts. I missed it the first two times I interacted with her, but I couldn’t ignore the fact now. She had a crazed look in her eyes and her hands were gripped into fists at her sides. I still didn’t see a weapon, but the fact that Grandpa hadn’t made his presence known was enough to tilt me into panic mode.
“Where is my grandfather?”
Jenny ignored the question. “I had everything under control until you started sticking your nose into my business.”
“You killed Cara, didn’t you?” It wasn’t really a question. I already knew the answer. “She thought you two were partners. You fed her information on Haugh – and probably others, too – and she used the information to blackmail them.
“You wanted the money Haugh had been hiding, but you needed Cara to figure out how to get it because even you can’t access an overseas account on your own,” I continued. “Somehow things went wrong. You wanted Haugh’s money, but you figured Cara was going to double cross you.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because that’s what she did,” I replied. “She didn’t have the capacity to truly love or care about people. It wasn’t in her makeup. She was probably a sociopath, but I doubt she was ever diagnosed. You recognized that in her. At first you thought you could exploit it, but then you realized she was going to exploit you.
“She was going to take the money for herself and cut you out,” I continued. “I’m still not sure how you thought you were going to get your hands on it. Maybe Haugh was going to pay you off to keep you quiet, but Cara wasn’t going to share. Is that it?”
“Close enough.” Jenny looked as if she was growing bored with the conversation. “Cara was supposed to get the payout and split the money with me. Then I found out she was going to keep the money. Let’s face it, it’s not as if I could go to the police and file a complaint about her stealing stolen money from me.”
“How did you find out?”
“She had a big mouth and never thought better about who she should confide in.”
“One of the wine girls,” I deduced. “She told one of the wine girls, and that woman passed the information to you. Whoever it was conveniently left that part out when I questioned them the other night.”
“That’s why she and I are smarter than Cara ever was,” Jenny said. “I confronted Cara about what was happening. She was working a job and insisted I meet her at the aquarium. She wanted to ensure that we weren’t overheard, so I turned off the cameras. She was fine with that because she didn’t want proof of our meeting on the record.”
“But … how?”
“I know a little bit about a great deal of things,” Jenny replied. “I know how the cameras at the law office work. They use the same cameras at the aquarium. It wasn’t hard to reboot the system. I lucked out when the reboot didn’t take and it looked like a mechanical error.”
“So you strangled her and dumped her in the pool,” I said, licking my lips. “Did you know she was still alive when you dumped her in there?”
“Of course.” Jenny was blasé. “I was hoping people would assume it was an accidental drowning. I didn’t get that lucky.”
“The medical examiner isn’t an idiot. You left bruises around her throat.”
“Hey, I thought the stingrays would eat her and leave no evidence behind. That’s hardly my fault.”
I felt sick to my stomach. “What happened this morning? You told Haugh we were there so he would flee. Why? Wouldn’t trying to frame him for Cara’s death benefit you?”
“In theory, yes, but I haven’t ruled out the possibility of getting that money. I can’t if Edward is in jail or dead,” Jenny said. “I gave him a heads up and told him to run. I’m hopeful he’ll give me a reward of sorts once he’s clear of the area.”
“Do you really think that will happen?”
“No, but when I contact him and threaten to tell the authorities his location, he’ll give in and hand over some money. I know his travel plans. He kept a file in his bottom drawer. I made copies of everything. I know exactly where he’ll be … and when.”
Jenny sounded proud of herself. She was definitely a sick little monkey. “Where is my grandfather?”
“You’ve asked that question so many times I’m tired of hearing it,” Jenny noted. “Why do you care?”
“He’s my grandfather. He was supposed to distract you while I looked through the back windows. We were looking for Haugh, not you.”
“I guess that’s an error that’s going to haunt all of us,” Jenny said. “I assumed he was here because you figured out what was going on. I knew you were spying. By the way, I saw you in your car when I drove by. You weren’t hiding yourself from anyone.”
Oh, well, great. Apparently I need to work on my surveillance skills on top of everything else. “Where is my grandfather?”
“He’s dead.” Jenny’s words sent a chill down my spine, as did the expression she delivered them with. She looked almost exalted to see my distress. “Oh, that’s c
ute. You really do love him, don’t you?”
“I do,” I confirmed, fighting back tears. “He’s bigger than life.”
“Yes. The outfit was a nice touch. No one would ever suspect him of being a spy wearing that concoction.”
“He’s bigger than life,” I repeated, fighting to control my emotions. “He’s smart … and strong … and too stubborn to let you win. You didn’t kill him. Where is he?”
“Honey, I already told you.” Jenny was enjoying her moment. “I killed him. I pointed to a spot across the street and said I believed Edward was standing there, and then I slammed a vase into his head. He dropped like a sack of rocks in a pond.”
“You hit him in the head. That doesn’t mean he’s dead.”
“He’s old. His bones are fragile.”
“He’s also related to me, which means his head is harder than average.” I moved to start in that direction, finding Grandpa and offering help the only thing on my mind. Jenny let me take three steps before shifting her body in my direction.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I didn’t answer, doing my best to ignore Jenny even though I knew she was a cold-blooded murderer.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Jenny bellowed the question this time, and she was close enough behind me to cause worry.
“I’m going after my grandfather,” I gritted out. “If you even think of following … .”
“You’re such an idiot,” Jenny said, ignoring the abandoned threat. “I thought you were smart the first day you came to the office. I loved the way you played Edward. He was completely agitated when you left. He thought you were trying to frame him for Cara’s murder to save yourself.”
“And you wouldn’t have even been a suspect in Cara’s death if you’d kept your mouth shut,” I snapped. “You weren’t even on my radar screen for that. I thought Haugh was manipulating you. You’re the one who turned this around on yourself.”
“Yes, well, I blame myself for that, too.” Jenny sounded vaguely disappointed in herself. “When you kill someone, there’s a part of you that wants to brag about it. You probably don’t know anything about that.”
“I definitely don’t,” I agreed. “Of course, I’m sane. I don’t think we see the same colors most days.”
“Probably not.”
I was already at the gate, my shaking hand on the metal frame when Jenny spoke again.
“Um, Avery?”
“What?” I was about to explode. “What do you want?” I turned around, my eyes flashing as I readied myself for a fight. It was only then that I saw the knife in Jenny’s hand. She’d pulled it from her clothing at some point.
“I can’t let you go,” Jenny said, flashing a pretty smile as my stomach churned. “If it’s any consolation, I’ll make you famous. I’ll tell the police that you confessed to killing Cara out of jealousy. You’ll lead every news cycle for a good week. Doesn’t that sound fair?”
That sounded like a complete and total clown show. “I won’t let you take me down.”
“That’s a pretty bold statement considering I’m the one with the knife.”
“It is, but bigger and badder foes have tried. I’m not afraid of you.” The statement was true. The only thing that frightened me at the moment was Grandpa’s condition. If he was hurt … my mother would never let me live it down. I didn’t even let the possibility of him being dead enter my mind.
“I guess we’ll just have to see, won’t we?”
I sidestepped Jenny’s lunge, wildly waving my hands when I realized I’d stepped into some sort of hole and was about to lose my balance. It was kind of like a cartoon moment, because I managed to stay upright for what felt like forever, my arms flailing so hard that I almost believed I might take flight. I thought for a second I would maintain my balance, but that’s not how my life goes.
I knew I was going over, so I tried to contort my body in a way that would absorb minimal damage. Instead I overcompensated when I tried to swivel, twisting my ankle in such a way that it caused me to cry out. I hit the ground hard, tears springing to my eyes.
I didn’t give myself a chance to absorb the blow. I was afraid that if I did Jenny would be on me. I tried to stand, but my ankle wouldn’t allow it, sending a jolt of pain up my leg and causing me to collapse again. I fell to my side, gasping as I rolled to my back and cradled my ankle.
Jenny watched the entire display with a mixture of mirth and bloodthirsty mayhem on her face, gripping the knife tightly as she advanced. “That was kind of funny. I have to admit it. You missed your calling. You should’ve been an actress in one of those wacky romantic comedies.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for next year.”
“Oh, you’re not going to have a next year.” Jenny raised the knife.
I was out of plays, and I knew it. That didn’t stop me from lashing out with my good foot and kicking her in the stomach. She staggered back, surprised, and that’s when the cavalry arrived.
“I don’t generally hit women, but I’ll make an exception in your case,” Grandpa announced, blood running down the side of his head. He had a shovel in his hand. I had no idea where he found it, but I was thankful. He gripped the wooden handle tightly and swung out, the metal edge smacking Jenny in the head before she had a chance to register what was happening.
She toppled to the side, releasing the knife as she hit the ground. I had no way of knowing if she was dead. Her eyes were closed, but it looked as if her chest rose and fell with regularity. I raised my eyes to Grandpa, relief and thanks flooding me.
“You’re alive.”
“Of course I’m alive.” Grandpa’s chest heaved as he rested the shovel head on the ground and leaned on it. “Do you think I’d let you have all of the glory?”
“Of course not. What was I thinking?”
31 Thirty-One
Grandpa used my phone to call the police and paramedics. They arrived before Eliot, who brought Jake along for the ride. Eliot looked panicked when he saw the melee on the front lawn, but his expression shifted to anger when he realized I was alive.
“What were you thinking?”
I was in no mood for a diatribe. “You can’t yell at me. I solved the case and saved the day.”
“I saved the day,” Grandpa corrected, smiling at the pretty paramedic as she tended to his head wound. “I’m the hero.”
I couldn’t really argue with that. “You’re my hero today, that’s for sure.”
“I guess that means you’re my hero, too.” Eliot smiled at Grandpa and shook his head. “You can swim naked in the pool whenever you want.”
Grandpa beamed. “Oh, I think I’m done with that. If it doesn’t bother you it won’t be any fun.”
“I wish I’d known that a week ago,” Eliot muttered, lowering himself to the ground so he could watch a different paramedic work on my ankle. “What’s the damage?”
“She has a high ankle sprain.” The paramedic was young and handsome. He seemed excited to be called to the scene of a high-profile crime. “She’ll have to take it easy for the next few days. She should probably walk on crutches.”
“Okay.” Eliot nodded in thanks, shifting his eyes to the street when he heard a loud voice. His smile slipped when he caught sight of the figure joining the party. “Oh, well, great. This is all this day needs to go down in the record books as one of the worst ever.”
“Speak for yourself,” I said, brightly waving at Fraser as he approached. “I get to tell the state police ‘I told you so.’ I can’t do my little dance when delivering my verbal smackdown this time, but it’s still a good day.”
“Don’t make things worse,” Jake ordered, squaring his shoulders as he stepped up to greet Fraser. “Let me do the talking.”
“That sounds like a terrible idea.”
Eliot rubbed my shoulders to console me and watched as Jake took on the man who had made our lives a living hell for an extended period of time. “This is going to get ugly.”
&
nbsp; That was a simplistic way to put it. “You think?”
“What is going on here?” Fraser barked, his gaze bouncing from face to face. “Does someone want to tell me what happened?”
I raised my hand, but Jake started talking before I could make things worse. I hate it when that happens.
“Avery and her grandfather found the killer,” Jake supplied.
“Her?” Fraser looked dubious as he watched several of Royal Oak’s finest police officers usher Jenny toward a patrol unit. She woke not long after the police arrived, spun a fantastical story in which we attacked her and then clammed up when she realized it wasn’t going to work. She hadn’t said a word since, not even when they slapped her in cuffs and began navigating her toward a police cruiser. “She looks like she’s twelve.”
“Don’t let her looks fool you,” I warned, making a face. “I did, and it was a mistake.”
“I thought your primary suspect was Edward Haugh?” Fraser challenged. “What happened to him?”
“That’s why we were here,” I replied, ignoring the dark look Jake shot in my direction. “I thought Jenny was hiding Haugh. It turns out she’s the one who fed blackmail information to Cara – at least on Haugh, that is. Cara was going to cut her out of any financial deal by keeping the embezzlement information to herself. That’s why she killed her.”
“Why did she do it at the aquarium?” Jake asked.
“Because that’s where Cara wanted to meet. She was working hard toward making sure the opening would be perfect, and she didn’t want an audience. Jenny lost her cool. She knew how to turn off the cameras because she learned at the law office. She said there was some mechanical error after the fact that helped her out.”
“That explains why we couldn’t find a software fault,” Eliot mused. “What about the other blackmail items?”
“What blackmail items?” Fraser interjected, frustrated. “Why don’t I know anything about these blackmail items?”
“Because they fell into our lap earlier in the day,” Jake lied. “I was going to turn them over to you, but now that I’m no longer a suspect in Cara’s death I figured we’d just take over the investigation to make things easier.”
[Avery Shaw 11.0] Unwritten & Underwater Page 28