Lullabies & Lies

by Ruby Blaylock

  To her surprise, Devon and his friends were in the sitting room. When did we get a baby? her son asked, reaching out a single finger for the infant to grab.

  We didn’t, Annie replied. We’re just watching her for a few days for Emmett.

  When did Emmett get a baby? Devon asked, never taking his eyes off the youngest houseguest.

  It’s a long story, Annie told him. I’ll explain it to you after breakfast. Your grandmother is cooking, so why don’t you guys go and wash up, then your friends can wait in the dining room while you and I help her bring the food out. She did a quick headcount and noticed that one of Devon’s friends was missing. Who’s not here? she asked.

  Blake had ball practice, remember? Devon rolled his eyes in an exaggerated fashion. Sheesh, mom, you’re getting senile in your old age.

  Annie glared at her son. Don’t insult me if you want to borrow my truck later, she threatened. Even us senile oldies can remember some things, she reminded him. She watched as the teens made their way towards the dining room, then she turned to Rory. He was struggling to get the baby to burp after her bottle, so Annie took the infant and propped her against her shoulder. A few gentle rubs was all it took to relieve the baby’s wind with a comical ‘burp’.

  She did that like a pro, Rory commented. I guess we should be glad she’s not a colicky little thing.

  Annie turned the baby around so that she could see her face. Clear blue eyes, a button nose, and sweet, rosy cheeks framed an innocent smile that melted Annie’s heart. We’ve got to find out this baby’s name, she sighed.

  A voice from behind Annie startled her. It’s Emma.

  Annie turned to see a man standing in the doorway to the sitting room. He wore a tweed jacket and chambray shirt. He also wore the expression of someone who hadn’t slept in a few days.

  I’m sorry, but who are you? Annie asked, cuddling the baby protectively.

  The well-dressed gentleman offered his hand to Rory, who was closest to him. I’m sorry, I should have introduced myself first. My name is Everett Marshall.

  Rory shook the man’s hand cautiously. I’m Rory Jenkins, this is Annie Richards. She owns this inn, he added.

  I’m sorry, but how do you know this baby’s name? Annie felt suddenly very protective of the infant in her arms. The idea that a complete stranger was standing in her home and claiming to know the baby made her nervous, especially since the child’s mother appeared to have been murdered.

  I knew her mother, Everett replied quietly. I saw a news report about a woman who had died here in Coopersville. They showed the car she was driving and mentioned that she was traveling with a baby. I thought I recognized the car, but when the newscaster mentioned the child, well, I knew that I had to come here.

  And how on earth did you know to come here? Annie asked. I think we need to call Emmett, she said to Rory.

  They said on the news that a local inn owner had found the car. Your inn is the only place around here for miles, he explained. I just wanted to… His voice trailed off. I guess I don’t know what I wanted to do. Kim was my friend, he explained. I think she was on her way to see me when she died, he added quietly.

  Annie narrowed her eyes. I’m really not the person you should be speaking to, Annie told him. But if you don’t mind waiting here, he’ll be along shortly.

  Everett looked around the room. This is an inn. You rent rooms? he asked.

  Annie nodded. I do, but—

  He cut her off before she could finish. I’d like to rent the entire house for one week, he said, reaching for his wallet.

  Annie’s eyes grew large. I don’t think you understand. I wasn’t planning on renting any rooms this week. Under the circumstances, she explained, glancing at the baby.

  Mrs. Richards, I’ll be happy to speak with the police or whoever you need me to talk to. But I need to know that I can stay nearby while the police are handling their investigation. I owe it to this baby’s mother to make sure that she is taken care of and I don’t intend to leave this town until the police have finished their investigation and until I see that this child is placed with someone who cares for her the way her mother did.

  Annie was momentarily speechless, which really wasn’t like her at all. Rory broke the awkward silence. You said your last name was Marshall? Are you related to Maxwell Marshall?

  The man hesitated for only a moment before replying. He’s my father.

  Who is Maxwell Marshall and should I know who he is? Annie asked, shifting the baby onto her shoulder.

  He’s a property developer. I worked construction on one of his sites once. Rory turned to Annie. He’s a pretty big name around here, but probably more so down in Atlanta. He’s had a hand in everything from subdivisions to skyscrapers, from what I’ve heard.

  Annie looked unimpressed. Will he be staying here too? Because I’m going to need to get rooms ready, she said, trying not to glare at Everett.

  I should think he will. Kim worked for my father and he cared for her like a daughter. I told him I was coming here and I expect that he’ll come shortly. I’m sorry if this is an inconvenience, but you have to understand that my family has been deeply impacted by her death. He looked at Annie with eyes that glistened slightly as though he might be on the verge of tears.

  Of course, you can stay. I won’t turn you away, not under these circumstances. But you have to know that the police will need to speak with you first. This baby is our priority right now and we have to know that you and your family aren’t any sort of risk to her.

  Everett looked abashed. Of course, we’re no threat! I just told you that I was friends with Kim, the baby’s mother. I don’t know how you could see me as a threat to that child.

  Annie sighed. Put yourself in my shoes, Mr. Marshall. I don’t know you, but you seem like a perfectly nice gentleman. Let’s just let our police department decide whether it’s appropriate for you to help out with Emma.

  Everett nodded slowly. Fine. I understand. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to call my father and I have some other business that I need to attend to. Do you have Wi-Fi?

  Annie passed the baby to Rory. Come with me, Mr. Everett, and I’ll get you a room key. I’ve got one room that’s ready now and, yes, we do have Wi-Fi. I’ll get your credit card information from you, too, if that’s alright.

  Handling normal business transactions helped her feel a little more settled after the surprise arrival of her new guest, but Annie had a terrible feeling that this wasn’t going to be a typical situation at Rosewood Place. She tried to tell herself that everything would be fine, despite the fact that she’d never rented out the entire house to one guest before. After all, what could possibly go wrong when your guest was mysterious, wealthy, and they knew the dead woman whose baby you were currently fostering? Annie repressed a shudder and got down to the business of showing Everett Marshall to his room.

  7

  Guests and Suspects

  Everett Marshall remained in his room for nearly two hours before he came back down to speak to Annie again. She’d used that time to hurriedly check that every common area in the stately home was fairly spotless, but she needn’t have worried. Between Annie and her mother, the place stayed very organized and tidy even at its busiest of times.

  Bessie and Rory took turns watching the baby, fussing over Emma as though she was the first baby they’d ever seen. It both amused and disturbed Annie to see how natural Rory and her mother acted around the child. Annie still felt a pang of nervousness anytime she picked up the baby. She told herself that this was due to the fact that she hadn’t held a baby for many years, but she realized that the truth was far different.

  Something about the infant made Annie nervous. It wasn’t the baby, per se, but the fact that the baby’s mother seemed to have been murdered. And more importantly, the police had no suspects, which meant that they had no way of knowing if the baby was still in any danger. And if the baby was in danger, well, that certainly meant that Annie and her family could be in dan
ger, too.

  As she carried a basket of linens to the laundry room—dirty sheets simply would not do for houseguests as wealthy and influential as the Marshalls—Annie was surprised to find Everett standing in the doorway of the sitting room once again. He was staring intently at the now-sleeping Emma while Bessie napped in a chair beside her car seat.

  You can go in, if you like, Annie told him. I guess our youngest houseguest just wore my mother out, she said, laughing quietly. I’m sorry if we were rude earlier, but this whole thing has just been so odd. It’s not every day that you stumble upon a dead body and become temporary caregivers for a baby all on the same day, she sighed.

  She looks just like her mother, Everett replied, nodding towards the baby. Same blue eyes, same nose. I can’t believe that she’s really gone. He turned away from the sitting room. I don’t want to wake them. I just wanted to let you know that I spoke to my father. He’ll be arriving shortly with his assistant and I’m afraid that my mother has insisted on coming with him.

  Annie nodded her head slowly. So, there will be three more people arriving tonight?

  Yes, if that’s alright.

  Of course. We have plenty of room. I’ll put your parents in the large bedroom at the end of the hall and the assistant can take the smaller one beside your room, she said, thinking aloud.

  Actually, my parents will require separate rooms. Everett cleared his throat nervously. They always have separate rooms when traveling. And at home, he added.

  Oh, I see, Annie replied. That’s no problem. All of the rooms are ready for guests, so I guess I’ll just let them pick their own rooms. She glanced at the clock in the foyer. It was mid afternoon and she was feeling the lure of a nap coming. I think I’m going to make some coffee. Would you like a cup?

  Everett’s face relaxed into a smile. I would love one, he admitted. I drove here first thing this morning and didn’t stop for anything. I feel like I’m dead on my feet, he admitted.

  Annie wondered if she should try and track Rory down to see if he wanted a cup, but she decided against it. Everett seemed nice enough, but Annie wanted to spend a few minutes alone with him before everyone else arrived. She was very curious about his relationship to the dead woman. He’d admitted to being her friend. He even said he thought she’d been on her way to see him when she was killed. Annie wanted to know what could have brought Kimberly to see Everett. Could it have had anything to do with her death?

  She invited Everett to sit on the screened in veranda behind the house. I imagine you haven’t had a chance to explore the property yet, she told him. I can give you a quick tour after we drink our coffee, if you like.

  Minutes later, they were sipping coffee outside beneath the lazily turning blades of a ceiling fan. Beautiful place you have here, Everett proclaimed, gesturing to the pond behind the house and its forest just beyond. It’s so peaceful, he added, sipping his coffee thoughtfully.

  I lived in New York City for a long time before I moved back to Coopersville, she told him. Compared to this, well, let’s just say I don’t miss it. She smiled warmly. Is your family from around here?

  Everett shook his head. Ashville, he explained. Though I do have a small apartment in Atlanta. I stay down there sometimes when Dad’s got a project going on. He’s hoping I’ll take over his business projects down there, he added, but I really don’t want the headache. I’m much more interested in property preservation than in developing new ones. Needless to say, my father’s not too impressed.

  Oh, Annie exclaimed, I guess I should be glad you didn’t snap this place up before me. It’s definitely got a lot of history. Did you know that the plantation owners who lived here years ago had a daughter who fell in love with a terrible con man who stole her heart and left her brother holding the bag of ill-gained treasure? She smiled behind her coffee cup. It’s got a fascinating history, she sighed, gesturing to the house. I think that’s why I love it so much.

  Everett nodded. I feel the same way about many old places in the south. That’s why I give so much money to so many different preservation societies, he laughed.

  But you work for a man who buys up old properties and redevelops them into modern monstrosities, she pointed out. Isn’t that a conflict of interest?

  Sometimes, he admitted. In some cases, I have to go against my father’s wishes, but thankfully that hasn’t happened too often. Besides, I think he has a soft spot for historical places like this, he added.

  Annie thought about Everett’s admission to having an apartment in Atlanta. Did you know Kimberly Ashcroft from Atlanta? She knew that she risked coming across as being nosy, but she hoped that Everett would see it more as her being concerned.

  Yes, he replied without hesitation. She was working for my father as his personal assistant. We actually worked very closely together on a couple of projects. My father used to do a lot of business in the city a few years ago, but lately he’s been busy in North Carolina, so I helped out until his biggest projects ended. That’s also when Kimberly left us, he explained.

  Annie realized that Emmett would probably want to speak to the entire Marshall family since Kimberly had been an employee of theirs. Our Chief of Police will be stopping by shortly. I think he may like to talk to your father to see if he can help with the investigation. I believe they’re still looking for a next of kin, someone who can take care of the baby permanently, she added.

  Everett’s face paled. She doesn’t have any. Kim’s parents died when she was small and she lived with her grandparents for a while, but I think they’ve been dead a while now. The last time I talked to her, she mentioned that she was seeing someone, but I have no idea if that was even a serious relationship.

  Do you know who the baby’s father could be? Annie asked. Did Kimberly ever tell you that?

  Everett shook his head. No. I had no idea she was pregnant when she quit her job as my father’s assistant, but a few months after she left I tracked her down to give her some paperwork from my dad. She was just starting to show then. I asked if she needed anything, any financial help or anything, but she said she didn’t. Kim was always very independent like that, he added.

  Annie thought that quitting a reliable job while you were pregnant sounded a lot more irresponsible than independent, but she kept this thought to herself. Do you remember who she was dating last before she got pregnant?

  Everett cleared his throat. I’m not sure that we should be discussing my dead friend’s love life. I told you I don’t know who the baby’s father is and I’ll tell the police the same thing. His tone had sharpened considerably.

  Annie held up her hands defensively. Whoa, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just really hope that a family member can be found to take baby Emma in. I promise you that I don’t normally sit and talk about my guests’ friend’s love lives five minutes after I’ve met them.

  Everett relaxed his shoulders, slumping forward a little. I’m sorry. I haven’t slept well in days, then this whole thing with Kim…I’m just overtired and grieving. I really can’t believe that this has happened to someone that I know. He shook his head and picked up his phone from the table, where it had started buzzing. Excuse me, please.

  Annie leaned away from the table slightly, trying to ignore Everett’s conversation with whoever was on the other end of the call. Whoever it was, they seemed to be eliciting more of his anger. You have already made this way more difficult than it needs to be, he hissed. I told you to deal with both of them. Now I am going to have to clean up your mess and maybe even more.

  He stood and stepped away from the table, gripping his phone tightly in one hand while his other knotted into

  a fist. She couldn’t hear what he said next, but his low, growling voice told her that he wasn’t complimenting the person on the phone on their work ethic.

  Her heart skipped a beat. Deal with both of what, or who? She glanced at Everett, who had practically turned his back to her. She wished she could hear the other half of the conversation, and sh
e was pretty sure it would be rude to ask him about it.

  Annie tried to imagine what type of conversation could possibly sound like the script from some sort of mobster movie, but she couldn’t think of anything that didn’t end with a dead body in it. Or two. Everett was definitely agitated with the caller, but she reminded herself that he could have been discussing a work project or even something family-related.

  When he finally ended the call, he took a few seconds to regain his composure and then he was back to being the same charming man who’d been drinking coffee with her. Like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Everett Marshall had flipped his personality around, just like that.

  I’m sorry for that, he apologized. Sometimes I think I have to do everything myself if I want things done correctly, he complained. I’m afraid I’ll have to go back to my room now and make some calls. Please let your chief of police know that I’m happy to answer any of his questions and I’m sure my father will do the same. If you’ll excuse me…

  He rose from his seat and gave Annie a curt nod, then went back inside the house. She sighed as she realized that he’d left his coffee cup on the table. She picked it up and noticed a piece of paper on the ground beside his chair. Annie reached down to pick it up and almost crumpled the slip of paper out of habit, but stopped herself at the last second.

  Turning the small slip of paper over, Annie realized that it was actually a business card. It had very little text on it, just a name—AJ Preminger—and a telephone number. Curious about her find, Annie pulled out her own cell phone and snapped a photo of the card for safekeeping, then she slipped both the phone and the business card into her pocket and retrieved the empty coffee mugs from the table.

  8

  Meeting the Marshalls

  Emmett arrived at roughly the same time as the Marshalls and their assistant. Annie watched as an older version of Everett Marshall exited a shiny black Lexus. Maxwell Marshall was tall and handsome, with dark hair touched with silver in places. He had kind eyes, like his son, but a hard line for a mouth. Annie didn’t think he was the kind of man who smiled too often. He unloaded a single suitcase and an overnight bag, depositing them in the hallway just inside the front door of Rosewood Place. Annie wondered if he expected her to carry them up to his room for him.