The Last Housekeeper

by Kari Shuey

  Gavin smiled. “Yes, I was hoping you might be able to. I have a friend who took a flight to Texas about a month ago. They can’t seem to find the manifest anywhere and he is being investigated for a crime he didn’t commit. The only person who saw him go out of town during this time was you.”

  She shook her head, confused. “I’m sorry, I don’t know if I will be much help. I can’t remember all the trips I have taken. Maybe if you showed me a picture of your friend?”

  Gavin pulled out his phone and swiped through a few pictures until he found one of him and Windsor together. Turning his phone around to show her, he pointed at Windsor. “This is my friend. Do you remember him? He watched her carefully, using his ability to read others. He saw something like recognition flash in her eyes but then she shook her head.

  “I’m sorry, no. I can’t help you.”

  Gavin put his phone in his pocket. “Ma’am. I spoke with a pilot who only gave me the names of three flight attendants. He distinctly remembers making the flight to Texas for one passenger but couldn’t tell me who helped on the plane. Now, one of those people is you. My friend here remembers a brunette serving him. You are the only one matching that description.” He let that information sink in and continued to study her reaction. “So, let me ask you something. Do you want to answer that question one more time? I have a sense about these things. If I contact the police and they come to question you, you would be lying to law enforcement, not just me.”

  She looked at him and then out into the darkness. “I’m sorry, I can’t help you, sir.” Her eyes pleaded with him not to make her say anything out loud. Gavin recognized the look of anxiety well. This lie was about self-preservation, nothing more.

  Nodding in understanding, Gavin folded his arms. He wanted to be very clear to this woman, so he chose his words carefully. “Ma’am. I have a feeling you aren’t being forthright in order to protect yourself. I don’t know if it’s blackmail or something more sinister. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me, but I also can’t help you if you don’t help my friend. If you agree to go to the station with me, maybe we can figure this out together.”

  He could tell he hit the nail on the head. The expression on her face was one of fear but hope at the same time. She was vulnerable right now and he might be her only chance for help.

  “One man’s life hangs in the balance right now. You can change that.”

  Gavin watched her struggle internally for a moment. Then she nodded. “I’ll get my coat and follow you there. I’ll make a statement.”

  Relieved, Gavin returned to his car and made a call to his lawyer. He shared the good news and let him know both he and the woman were on their way over to make a statement.

  Then Gavin would get to the bottom of why the woman was so nervous about coming forward. What had her so on edge she was willing to let someone take the fall for murder?

  Chapter 20

  Abby heard Gavin leave a few hours later. He said he would likely be gone all day today and possibly into tomorrow. She would have the house and property to herself. There would be no one to cook for, no one to visit with, and no one to hear wandering around in the evening… filling the house with warmth. The place seemed void of life and… love.

  Abby laid in bed looking at the ceiling. She’d unintentionally stayed up until four in the morning stress cleaning and then when Gavin came in to stop her, she lost all energy to keep going. But as she lay there, she couldn’t sleep either. Her body, exhausted… her brain refusing to give in and let her sleep. Her thoughts kept revisiting Gavin’s confession. He’d all but told her he loved her. How could he even know something like that? She certainly didn’t… not so soon.

  There was a secret part of her that absolutely loved the idea of a forbidden romance. That was probably what this whole infatuation for him stemmed from. You couldn’t beat their chemistry. And she absolutely loved feeling wanted. That secret part of her was trying to convince her to get over herself. Everyone has a past, and she needed to respect that. But she wasn’t going to let that unwise part of her give in this time. She would remain Gavin’s friend, she felt she could handle that. They did get along pretty well. She simply couldn’t allow herself to fall for a man who she couldn’t trust – no matter how rich, no matter how good looking, no matter how generous… and no matter how much he cared for her.

  Abby rolled over onto her side and hit her pillow. I will not allow myself to be weak, she insisted – not anymore. Thoughts drifted to Windsor and what he was probably going through. She bet it didn’t really phase him. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy who would be bothered by this – getting taken in for questioning. From the sound of it, he’d done it before and survived. He was the strong quiet type – the kind of man who could fold his arms and keep the world at bay.

  Abby sighed with frustration. She’d like to get some sleep today before tackling her to-do list. But it was likely she’d be unable to do so. Getting up off her bed, she opted to stay in her sleepwear for the day. With no one to see her or walk in on her, she could remain comfortable. She did her laundry, washed the windows, and mopped the floors. It was hard finding some other areas of the house to deep clean, but she ended up sanitizing doorknobs, and wiping down doors and baseboards. As she finished up it was nearing lunchtime. Her appetite missing, she slumped on the couch and contemplated whether she should watch some television. She should read a book or do something else productive, but let’s face it… she was running on fumes and a book would just put her to sleep.

  Abby stood up and looked out one of the windows that faced the front of the property. The new landscapers had been doing their due diligence and keeping up on the lawn, but now that it was getting colder, they were done caring for the plants that would soon be going to sleep. Abby enjoyed looking at all the landscaping that Gavin had on his property, and she knew there were plants that could thrive in the cooler climate. She decided she’d add to the exterior of the house now that the interior was shining. There was a nursery not far from where she was, and they advertised having plants for all the seasons – with the exception of full-blown winter. Abby grabbed her sweater and headed out. Maybe Gavin would notice the addition to his front yard – maybe he would think of her whenever he pulled up and saw them. Physically shaking her head, Abby chastised herself. She needed to get that possibility out of her head. Gavin and she would not work and that was that. He had secrets and she needed honesty. It was non-negotiable.

  Abby drove down to the nursery and wandered the isles of different plants. She admired the brightly colored grasses and the curled vines of ivy. Most of the fall selections weren’t actually blooming but rather a hardier option. Picking a couple different plants that caught her eye, she made her way to the checkout. The cashier smiled sweetly at her and asked if she needed anything else. Shaking her head, Abby paid for her plants and headed back out to her car.

  She looked at the time, and realized she’d wasted nearly three hours wandering through the forests and fairy garden type displays. By the time she got home, it would be dinner time. Gavin wouldn’t be home – most likely – and she could fix herself anything she pleased. But again, realizing she wasn’t hungry, she decided she’d plant her finds, and finish the evening with a soothing bubble bath.

  Once back on the property, Abby set to work pruning that which grew during the summertime, and then fit her fall items in beside them. She’d never considered herself one with a green thumb, but as she stood back to admire the finished product, Abby had to admit she picked well. These plants, in particular, should last until the middle to the end of November depending on if it snowed this year. Idaho was funny that way. Sometimes you would get next to no snow and a lot of rain… other years you would get too much and the population would panic

  Dusk had fallen and Abby made her way inside. She washed her hands, watching the dirty water flow down the drain. Her hands, clean again… she thought about the metaphor of starting over fresh. If there was ever a chance that
Gavin could open up to her, would she be able to judge him by who he was now and allow him to start fresh? Or would it be better to let him keep his secrets and accept him for who he was because he was the product of his past?

  Abby shut off the water, deep in thought. If she had a secret that she didn’t want anyone to know, could she share it with Gavin? She didn’t know. And the feeling that she was being absolutely hypocritical was making her uncomfortable. She was the good girl, at least that was what she’d always believed. And part of being good was accepting the person you cared about - for who they were.

  Finishing off her night with a tall glass of ice water and a nice warm bath, Abby relaxed the day away. It had been nice to have the day to herself to think about all the things Gavin had said. But she was no closer to changing her mind on the matter. The warm water and the pure exhaustion she felt worked together to finally overcome her mind. Abby slowly drifted to sleep surrounded by bubbles.

  In a dream that was both real and frightening, Abby found herself running from someone in the shadows. They were voiceless, and fast. Abby tried to run faster and discovered her legs sluggish and crippling. The shadow was getting closer and closer, a knife’s sharp blade winking at her, as if to tease her… torture her. Attempting to cry out for help, she was terrified to discover she had no voice. The scene developed around her and she looked from side to side, recognizing the Saxe property. Pounding on the front doors, they remained shut and locked.

  She tripped around to the guest house and though the lights were on, and she could see Windsor, he wouldn’t open the door for her. Abby ran to the back entrance, and finding one door slightly ajar, she entered, slammed it shut, and locked it. Breathing heavily, she tried to see the shadowy figure in the darkness of the night but to no avail. Had she evaded the threat? Would she be safe, now that she was within the walls of her current home? There was a pounding on the windowpane beside her and she screamed. The glass was cracking with each additional hit. The windows on the French doors would not last much longer and her legs could hardly carry her further.

  For a reason she didn’t quite understand, Abby stumbled to the office, where Gavin usually worked. The door creaked when she opened it and she slipped in, her gaze darting around the room for some kind of place to hide. The glass door broke and pieces shattered to the ground. Heavy footsteps crushed the small pieces and Abby checked the knob to lock it. There was no lock, so acting quickly, Abby shoved a chair under the knob, hoping that what was shown in the movies would save her. She picked up the phone on the desk, to dial 911 but got no dial tone. Shaking, Abby waited for the intruder to find the room she was hiding in and break down the door.

  As if her thoughts had conjured the madman, there was a pounding on the door. Her voice finally returning, Abby shouted, “What do you want! I’ve done nothing!”

  The door splintered with such force, Abby flinched and dove under the desk. The tall figure, holding the knife slowly approached her. Tears sliding down her cheeks, Abby knew this was the end. There was so much she’d wanted to do and now she never would. The murderer stood in front of the desk and with one swift motion, grabbed her ankle and dragged her out. The knife raised, poised for the kill, glinted once again. Abby squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for the blow.

  Abby woke with a start. Gasping, she sat up in the bathtub and clutched at her chest. The water, now tepid from sitting so long, only added to the chills coursing through her body. The nightmare still vivid in her mind, Abby slunk back into the bathtub despite the temperature. She allowed herself to peek over the edge of the tub, seeing her bedroom with one lone lamp still on. The clock on the bedside table said it was now the middle of the night.

  Unnerved, she didn’t feel confident to get out and go to bed. She jumped as the house creaked and made odd sounds. There was no one home, but there was something about this house that was telling her she needed to stay vigilant. Abby turned the water back on hoping the hot water would ward off the chills. Despite warming up, Abby noticed she was still on edge. She quickly dried off and got into her robe. Her step was light and quick as she made her way back to her bed. Feeling like a child who refused to look under the bed for monsters, Abby rationalized she didn’t need to open her door to check on the house. It was protected by a wall after all.

  Daylight would come soon enough, but sadly sleep would not. Abby prepared herself for yet another restless night.

  Chapter 21

  Gavin arrived at the police station, having watched his rear-view mirror the whole way. He wanted to make sure the woman behind him didn’t change her mind and return home. He waited for her to find parking and they entered the station together. Gavin led her to the front desk and announced that he had an alibi witness for a Mr. Windsor. A few of the late-night cops lifted their heads but went back to work.

  Ms. Clark was directed to sit with an officer to have her statement taken. Surprisingly it didn’t take long, and they said it shouldn’t be terribly difficult to verify. Once she was done, she approached Gavin with an apologetic look on her face. “I’m really sorry I didn’t come forward sooner.”

  “You don’t have to confide in me… but I might be able to help if you tell me what is going on. You seemed nervous to come in tonight.” Gavin watched for any tell-tale signs that she might give away.

  Ms. Clark looked away. “I probably shouldn’t say anything, but at this rate it might all come out anyway. A few nights ago, someone called me and told me that I might be brought in for questioning regarding a criminal investigation. They told me that if I confirmed the alibi for the man in question, there would be consequences. I laughed at their threat and said there wasn’t anything they could do. Then they told me the authorities would be tipped off about something illegal my husband was doing. I told them that was ridiculous, and my husband was the absolute opposite of a criminal. That’s when they told me to ask him about an illegal drug distribution he was running. I hung up on them, but my curiosity got the better of me… and I asked him. He admitted to it right away. My husband left the state and I haven’t heard from him since.” Ms. Clark shrugged her shoulders absentmindedly, as if the motion would help her let go of everything she had been holding inside.

  Blackmail? Gavin was putting the pieces together. Amara had been murdered for a purpose. And that the purpose was darker than he had anticipated. If there was someone out there investigating his life and those close to him, who would be next? Why was this happening now? Gavin tried to rack his brain for anything that could shed light on why someone was coming after him but could think of nothing.

  “I’m so sorry you got pulled into this.” Gavin’s attempt at empathy sounded hollow. He regretted saying it the moment it escaped his lips. “You have no idea how much you are appreciated for coming down to the station and clearing Windsor from suspicion. He wouldn’t have his whole future ahead of him if it weren’t for you.”

  Ms. Clark nodded slightly and pulled her purse over her shoulder. “I better get going. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Saxe.”

  Gavin offered to walk her to her car, but she declined. Instead he found an officer and asked when Windsor would be released. He didn’t get a straight answer. They wanted to verify his alibi and make sure the timelines matched up. It would likely take place tomorrow if all went well. They were allowed to hold him as it seemed he was more involved with the victim than anyone else.

  Exasperated but not knowing why, Gavin debated whether he wanted to stay put until Windsor was released or go home and get a few hours of shuteye. And then there was the very real threat to his life and the lives of the people around him. He needed to start focusing some manpower on whomever it was threatening him.

  As he mulled over all the revelations he’d had tonight, he got the inkling he needed to be near Abby. She didn’t know about this new development, and it wouldn’t do her any good to keep her in the dark. Abby might even be in some danger herself.

  Gavin pulled his keys out of his pocket and headed
back out to his car. Going home was the right thing to do. He would need to talk with Abby and inform her of what he thought was going on. If she chose to quit, he’d have to understand. His stomach lurched. Gavin didn’t want to think about losing Abby – even as a housekeeper. But he knew what he needed to do.

  Gavin pulled up to his darkened house. Of course, Abby wouldn’t still be up. It was about ten at night. He himself was exhausted and couldn’t imagine that Abby would have stayed up late after the night before.

  After parking his car, Gavin lumbered into the house and slumped on the couch. His energy had tanked, and he didn’t have any desire to get ready for bed or wander off to his room. Before he knew it, Gavin had begun to doze.

  Startled awake, disoriented, Gavin looked around the living room. It was still dark, which meant he hadn’t slept through the night. He looked at his watch and found it was only three in the morning. Aching from being so overworked, Gavin deliberated the pros and cons of staying put on the couch for the remainder of the night. He was comfortable despite being in less casual wear. The front room wasn’t too cold, and he could simply roll over and fall back asleep easily.

  That was when he heard something. A sound was coming from Abby’s part of the house. He didn’t know what it was, but it was definitely movement. His heart beating faster, Gavin thought about all the worst-case scenarios. Amara was killed in his house – a place he thought had been safe. His head of security wasn’t on-site and no one was monitoring his property… what if the murderer had returned? Instantly regretting he didn’t think to hire a temporary replacement, he hoped that mistake wouldn’t cost him.

  Gavin slipped into the kitchen and grabbed a knife. Abby would be asleep right now. If there was someone else in there, she wouldn’t be able to defend herself. Not everyone was as light a sleeper as he was.

  Approaching the door to her bedroom, he reached out to the knob, ready to grasp it. As he turned it quietly, and pushed the door open, he peered inside the room. It was dark except for the moonlight filtering into the bedroom. There was a mound on Abby’s bed, just as he’d predicted… she was asleep. So what made the noise?