There was an uncomfortable silence as Annie passed through the doorway leading to the veranda. Maxwell and Marlena were glaring sullenly at each other and Gareth looked as though he’d been scolded for something, his face mildly red and his jaw clenched tight.
Everett remained in his seat by the window, his gaze peering through the screen and across the peaceful pond. He seemed surprised when Emmett called his name.
Yes? How can I help you, Officer Barnes?
It was Cameron Johnson who replied. Actually, we need for you to come with us, Mr. Marshall. He stepped forward and stood between Everett and the door that led out of the veranda and into the yard. We have some questions that we’re going to need you to answer down at the police station.
Everett looked from Cameron to Emmett, then to Annie. Is this some sort of joke? I’ve answered all your questions just fine right here at the inn. Is there a reason why you can’t just talk to me here?
Maxwell rose from his chair. Is there a problem, Officer?
No problem, Emmett assured him. As long as Everett here comes with us for a little bit. We’ve had some new information come to light and we need to speak to him alone at the station.
Everett stood. Am I being arrested?
Marlena gasped. For what? This is harassment, Maxwell! Call our lawyer!
Emmett put his hands up in a placating gesture. No one is being arrested. We just need Everett to come to the station for some questions regarding some new information we have about Miss Ashcroft’s death.
What new information? Everett looked confused. Have you determined how she died? Are there any suspects?
Emmett twirled one end of his mustache. We’ve found a personal item belonging to Miss Ashcroft, her cell phone.
Everett’s confusion deepened. What has that got to do with me? he asked. I told you that I’d sent Kim several messages and even called her, but she only ever returned one of my calls, and that was to arrange to meet with me at my family’s home.
Mr. Marshall, Emmett addressed Everett. Did you ever threaten Kimberly Ashcroft?
Everett looked appalled by Emmett’s question. Of course I didn’t.
Then can you explain why Miss Ashcroft’s phone had a voicemail message from your phone number threatening to kill her if she didn’t leave your family alone?
Everett’s face paled. I have no idea why a message like that would be on her phone, he replied. He glanced around the veranda, pausing long enough to get his father’s attention. "Go ahead and call the lawyer. But I’m
going to the station. I have nothing to hide. You’ll see that this…whatever it is…is a terrible mix-up."
Emmett nodded. I don’t think we’ll need those, he said to Cameron, who had pulled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.
The younger officer blushed. Sorry, Chief. Habit.
Marlena wailed and put her hand across her forehead dramatically. Oh, Maxwell, do something!
Shut up, Mother, Everett said, rolling his eyes. He stalked along behind Emmett, looking both embarrassed and impatient. Annie was sure whether to feel shock or sorry for him. She followed the two policemen and Everett to the front door and watched as they drove away. She knew that Emmett would eventually tell her what the message on Kim’s phone said, but in the meantime, her curiosity would eat her alive.
Someone had threatened Kim Ashcroft from Everett’s phone. Could Annie be housing a vicious murderer under her roof, or did Emmett already have Kimberly’s killer in the back of his police cruiser?
16
Secret Desires
The Marshalls disappeared to their separate rooms just after the policemen took Everett away. Bessie took the baby upstairs for an afternoon nap, though Annie wasn’t sure if her mother meant that the baby needed sleep or Bessie did. Annie found herself wandering down to the pond and its wooden dock. She had a notebook and pen with her, fully intending to make a thorough ‘to do’ list while she had a quiet five minutes, but her mind was busy with other things.
She wondered about Everett and the mysterious call to Kimberly. She pondered Marlena’s wildly changing moods towards her family members. And she considered what she might do if her mother actually did marry Emmett and move away from Rosewood Place.
Her phone chirped in her pocket, alerting her to an incoming text message. She pulled it out and read Devon’s brief message.
Financial aid papers are due soon. Can you help me with the application?
Annie groaned. College. It was coming too quickly, the years were flying by and her little boy who used to talk for hours and hours about pirates and spaceships was now throwing around phrases like financial aid and scholarships. Her heart sunk. If her mother did marry and move away, and if Devon went away to college, Annie would be left on her own. Well, except for Rory, but that thought terrified her as much as anything else.
She moved her finger to reply to her son’s text, accidentally brushing the ‘add photo’ button on the screen. An image of a business card popped up. It was the one that Everett had dropped the day he’d had coffee with Annie. Something about the cryptically plain card made Annie’s brain crank into action. She’d wondered about the card since she’d found it, but she still had no idea who AJ Preminger was.
On a whim, she pulled up the numerical keypad on her phone and typed in the number. Then she hit the call button and waited for someone to answer.
It rang one time. Hello, AJ Preminger speaking.
Annie hesitated. The voice on the other end spoke again. Hello?
Clearing her throat, Annie decided to press on. Hello, is this Preminger’s dry cleaning? The words had barely formed in her mind before she’d spoken them. There’d been a Derringer’s Dry Cleaning on 42nd street when she’d lived in New York. She hoped that she sounded like she was genuinely looking for a dry cleaner instead of snooping on her guests.
I’m sorry, ma’am, but I think you have the wrong number. He offered no other information and Annie was worried that she’d just wasted her time calling him.
Oh, you’re not a dry cleaner? She asked, smiling through the phone to make herself sound more cheerful.
No, ma’am. I am not. I am a private detective, but I’m afraid I don’t track down lost dry cleaning, he chuckled. Sorry I couldn’t help.
Annie thanked him and ended the call. She sat by the water for a few minutes, wondering about the nature of Preminger’s and Everett’s relationship. Of course, men like Everett probably used men like Preminger every day to research their employees and their competition, but something in Annie’s gut told her that AJ Preminger wasn’t running background checks on Everett’s employees.
The sound of footsteps on the wood behind her made Annie turn suddenly. Gareth, the Marshall family’s personal assistant, was making his way over to where Annie sat on one of several oversized Adirondack chairs.
Mrs. Richards, I’m sorry to bother you, but Mrs. Marshall has requested something from the kitchen and I didn’t want to trouble your mother. I know she has her hands full with the baby—
Annie held up a hand to cut him off. Say no more. I’m happy to help with whatever you need.
Gareth eyed her notebook and pen. I’m not pulling you away from your work, am I?
Annie smiled. "Helping my guests is my job, she reminded him. But it’s sweet of you to be concerned. She stood and started towards the house, motioning for Gareth to follow her. What was it that Mrs. Marshall needed?" she asked.
Gareth blushed slightly. "She was hoping for some more of that pie your mother served at lunchtime today. And she was wondering if you had any headache tablets. She normally keeps a bottle in her purse but apparently
she ran out yesterday. Of course, she couldn’t have possibly told me that this morning when she sent me out for… he let his sentence melt away unfinished. Well, nevermind."
Annie shook her head. Oh, no, it’s no problem. I buy headache pills in bulk, she laughed. Honestly, they should just give every parent a lifetime supply.
Gareth smiled and nodded. I used to think that I wanted kids someday. You know, people like me used to not have that option, but it’s becoming a lot more common for gay men to have children nowadays. But then I got this job and, well, let’s just say that working for the Marshalls is like babysitting two very large children sometimes.
Annie laughed. I have noticed that they keep you rather busy.
A beeping sound came from the pocket of Gareth’s shirt. He pulled a phone from the pocket and glanced at the screen, rolling his eyes. It’s Mr. Marshall, he sighed. He needs me urgently. His words, not mine, he added.
Annie nodded sympathetically. Why don’t I just take up the pie and headache tablets to Mrs. Marshall for you? I can let her know that you had to help Mr. Marshall. I’m sure she won’t care who brings it to her, Annie added.
Gareth bit his bottom lip. I hate to ask you to do that. Besides, she may be in a terribly foul mood since the police took Everett away. Maybe I’d better just do it and then go see to Mr. Marshall. His phone beeped again. He’s asking what’s taking me so long, he groaned. I need a vacation, he sighed dramatically. I suppose it won’t hurt if you take them to her after all, he relented. Before he turned to walk away, he reached out a hand and patted Annie’s arm sympathetically. Good luck, he told her, then bounded away towards Mr. Marshall’s room.
Annie plated two slices of leftover apple pie and placed two headache tablets on the tray beside the plate. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and added it to the tray, hoping to save herself another trip to the kitchen in case Marlena needed a drink to wash down the medication.
Slipping up the stairs, Annie approached Marlena’s room quietly, listening for any sounds of arguing or other drama. Thankfully, she heard only silence. Annie knocked on the door, quietly at first, then again a bit louder. For a long moment, she got no reply. Fearing that Marlena had simply changed her mind or even fallen asleep, Annie considered just leaving the tray outside the room and walking away. Before she could set the tray down, she heard footsteps on the other side of the door.
Straightening back up, Annie plastered a smile to her face in time for Marlena to open the door. It took everything Annie had not to gasp at the sight of the woman. She was wearing crumpled pajamas and had obviously been crying because her eye makeup now raced her lipstick for first place at the bottom of her face. Her previously impeccable updo was down around her shoulders, making her look tired instead of relaxed.
I told Gareth to get that, she mumbled. Where is he?
Annie followed the woman into her room. Your husband needed his help with something, Annie explained, so I offered to bring this up to you instead. She glanced around, looking for somewhere to sit the tray, but Marlena had covered every surface with her clothing and beauty products.
Here, Marlena said, patting the bed. Sit it here. She raised one smudged eyebrow quizzically. Two pieces? You must join me, she stated matter-of-factly.
Annie shook her head and smiled kindly. I couldn’t.
Please, Marlena asked, almost pleading this time. Just sit with me for a minute. I get so lonely and Gareth isn’t always the best companion, she admitted. She patted the bed again. Reluctantly, Annie sat and placed the tray between them.
Marlena attacked the pie with her fork and ate it greedily, taking in big bites with hardly a breath between them. She blushed and wiped her mouth with a paper napkin Annie had placed on the tray. I’m sorry. It’s a bad habit, eating like this when I’m stressed. It’s just, well, with everything that’s going on, I don’t know what to do with myself.
Annie nodded. Oh, I can completely understand that. I eat when I’m stressed, too. I put on ten pounds when my husband died, but thankfully this place keeps me busy so I haven’t put any more weight on.
Marlena sighed. I don’t care if I get fat. Who do I have to impress? Maxwell wouldn’t notice me if I turned purple and took off all my clothes in front of our friends, she lamented. He’s always so busy with his work. He never has time for me anymore.
Annie could sympathize with Marlena’s complaint. Her own husband had been neglectful of their marriage
and had been having an affair when he died. Annie only found out this latter fact when the mistress showed up at the funeral, grieving the man Annie thought had been her one true love.
Has Everett come back yet? Marlena asked, the end of her fork flirting with the second piece of pie.
Not yet, Annie replied. But I wouldn’t worry. The police around here are thorough, but slow. I’m sure Everett’s fine, just tired of hearing Emmett’s fishing stories, she said, hoping to ease Marlena’s worries.
He’s our only child, Marlena sighed. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to him. He is the only thing that keeps me going some days, but even he doesn’t have time for me lately.
They grow up so fast, then they have their own lives to live, Annie commiserated. My son graduates high school this year. He’s already talking about college and moving away. I guess it’s harder on us mothers than it is on our kids.
Marlena bit her bottom lip. Annie cringed—it looked like she bit it hard enough to break the skin—but luckily it didn’t. Have you ever thought about having another child?
Annie shook her head. Not at my age. I mean, I know that women are having kids later in life and I’m still young enough biologically, I guess, but I don’t know if I could put myself through the sleepless nights again. Not to mention the fact that I’d be nearly sixty with a teenager. No thanks, Annie chuckled.
Marlena’s face tensed. I have. I’m not young enough to have one naturally, of course, but we have money. There are ways. If you have money, you can have almost anything, you know.
Annie was shocked by Marlena’s statement. Marlena reached her hand under her pillow and pulled out a brochure. She passed it to Annie. Maxwell would kill me if he knew that I’d been talking to these people, she said quietly.
Annie flipped the brochure over. Smiling children stared back at her. Cresswell Adoption Services claimed to service the entire United States, organizing adoptions all across the country.
Oh, she exclaimed. Well, have you spoken with him about it? Maybe he wouldn’t be opposed to the idea.
Marlena laughed, but it was a hollow sound, like dry corn husks rubbing together. He would never agree to it. He wouldn’t want his fortune to go to someone else’s child and he certainly wouldn’t ever accept an adopted child as his own. This, she began, taking the brochure back from Annie, was just a pipe dream. But I’m not giving up, she added, stashing the brochure under her pillow again. There are other ways, she murmured.
Annie shuddered involuntarily. I think I’d better go, she said, rising from the bed. I promised Devon I’d help him with something for school. You just let me know if you need anything else, she added, heading for the door.
Mrs. Richards, I trust you’ll keep my little secret. Marlena had followed Annie to the doorway. Us mothers have to stick together, after all. We’ll do whatever we have to for our children, won’t we, Annie?
Annie smiled weakly and nodded. Marlena closed the door between them, leaving Annie to wonder what exactly Marlena would do for her child. No doubt she’d die for Everett, but would she kill for him, too?
17
Too Close For Comfort
By nine o’clock in the evening, Everett still had not returned to Rosewood Place. He must have at least called his parents, since neither of them bothered Annie demanding that she call the police and command them to release their son. She wondered if they actually thought she had that sort of power over the local police department. Of course, her mother was potentially engaged to the Chief of Police, but that certainly didn’t give Annie any special pardoning abilities.
While the elder Marshalls sulked in their respective rooms and their beleaguered assistant presumably hid in his own room, Annie sent her own mother to bed early with a sleeping Emma in tow. Devon was in his own room, most likely playing video games online with his friends. An
nie knew that, for all intents and purposes, she and Rory would have the house to themselves, at least the downstairs part.
The weather had been unseasonably warm all September long, but now as October days began to fill the calendar, the nights began to gather a pleasant chill. Portable heaters meant that porch evenings didn’t have to disappear completely, but Annie knew that they would come at a cost. No more lingering sunsets for a few months. Winter’s chill would come, taking the long days and replacing them with longer nights.
Tonight, Annie and Rory opted to relax in the downstairs sitting room, as far away from everyone else as they could get without actually leaving the house. It was still too warm for a fire in the fireplace, but Annie made mugs of cocoa and popped some popcorn. They could watch a movie on the small flatscreen television, they mused, or they could just sit and fill the silence with friendly conversation. They opted for the second option. Annie had far too much to tell Rory to waste time in front of a movie.
You won’t believe what that woman told me, Annie said, rubbing her temples before sipping the still-too-hot cocoa.
Who? The Marshall woman? Rory poked at the marshmallows floating in his own cocoa.
Yes, Annie sighed. She told me that she wants a baby. She wants to adopt a baby, but she thinks her husband will say no.
Rory laughed. And rightly so. That woman is a nutcase.
Annie frowned. I think mostly she’s just lonely. But she should get a dog, not a child. No child deserves to have two parents who barely even speak to each other.
Maybe they’ll get Gareth to be their Manny, Rory joked.
They’d probably try, Annie admitted. But she said something else, something that made me feel really uneasy.
Rory’s smile disappeared. What?
She said that mothers will do anything for their kids.
Rory shrugged. Well, that’s true, isn’t it? I mean, you’d do anything for Devon, right?
Well, I wouldn’t kill for him.
Rory’s eyes grew large. Whoa! Where did that come from? Do you think Marlena killed somebody for her son?
Lullabies & Lies Page 9