by Jeulia Hesse
Deadly Inheritance
Stone House Inn Series, Volume 1
Jeulia Hesse
Published by Deep Creek Publishers, 2021.
Copyright
First published by Deep Creek Publishers 2021
Copyright ©2021 by Jeulia Hesse
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
First Edition.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Author Connect
Further Reading: Killer Recipe
For my husband, Tom
Prologue
June 2005
She sat in the lawyer’s office and pulled on her necklace, straightening it against her crisp, freshly pressed blouse for the hundredth time that afternoon. The chair felt ancient and scratchy through the thin nylon fabric of her skirt, and a bead of sweat trickled down her back between her shoulder blades. The open window was not helping to move the air. Silently, she wished the assistant would flick the switch to the ceiling fan just over their heads.
She was nervous – guilty to be doing what she was doing, but it was her property. The issue was legally buttoned up, her name on the deed. This was what her husband had wanted. It was what he had told her to do if anything ever happened to him. She had brushed him off then, not taking him seriously. What could possibly happen to him? They were young, healthy and had their lives ahead of them.
But the unthinkable had happened, and now she was sitting in this lawyer’s office making sure his brother and his family would never own the family estate. His father had left it to him. He had left it to her, and now she would leave it to her family. The Stone House Inn would never be owned by a natural member of the Stone family again.
Instead of paying attention to the stifling air in the room, both the attorney and his assistant were engrossed in their notetaking of the conversation. “Ada, we just want to be sure we are capturing the specifics in your will. You are saying everything you own, the house, business, property, and any funds are to be left to your daughter, and her heirs. You are naming your niece Christina, and her heirs as a secondary, if your daughter does not survive you.”
She nodded.
“And you are stipulating that Daniel James Stone and his son Jeremy William Stone, and any heirs, are to be clearly excluded from any claim to the estate, the business, and anything left to you by your late husband William Brant Stone. Essentially, they are to be left out of any inheritance at all. Is that correct?”
Again, she nodded, eyes cast downward. “It’s a family matter...” she began.
“No matter.” The bespectacled attorney waved off her concern. “You are the rightful owner of the property and business. It’s up to you what you wish to do with it upon your death. It’s up to us to advise you in the matter.”
She raised her eyes to meet his over the desk piled with files, folders, and loose papers. He had a look that both peered into her and offered comfort and reassurance. She was surprised, but not put off by the clutter in his office. He had come highly recommended by a trusted friend. She had wanted someone thorough, quick, and private; the orderliness of his office didn’t matter.
The two-hour drive to Burlington was filled with worry as she wondered if her actions would create turmoil where calm currently resided. It was an uncertain and questioning calm, as far as she was concerned. The sense that something would be ripped from beneath plagued her, disrupting the serenity that her life should be. Her husband gone now for a few years, had left her well off; she should have no financial worries. She worried constantly that someone or something would push her and her precious daughter out of their home. After all, her husband had been torn away from her in a stupid and senseless accident. The risk was real.
She steeled herself. She had to be sure that what she was doing would outlast her own life. Under no circumstances should her wishes be disrupted or overturned. “If I did that...put that in the will.... Can anyone come along and turn this over? Could they take the inn away from my daughter?”
“The people you are specifically excluding?”
“Yes. I want to be sure.”
He looked at her carefully. He had seen a lot in the past 20 years; liars, sociopaths, even a murderer or two. Simple estate plans were pretty run-of-the-mill, but they were not in his sphere of expertise any longer. He had taken her case as she was referred by a client and her circumstances intrigued him. The widow wanted to ensure that her will specifically excluded her husband’s only remaining relatives from having any claim to her late husband’s property. It was a property that had been handed down to the oldest son for nearly a century, and this apparently had been the first time the oldest son did not have a son to hand it down to. He had taken the time to review the available documents on the property to validate that this particular filial donation pattern was not a condition of ownership nor had a legal precedence. Apparently, it was a family tradition, and not a condition of inheritance on the estate.
What also had drawn his attention was the adoption paperwork he had come across while doing his research. It appeared that Mrs. Stone’s daughter was adopted by her husband shortly after their marriage. It added a layer of interest to the transaction, but it didn’t cast any legal bearings on her wishes.
“Once we have drawn up the final paperwork and sign with the appropriate witnesses, you can file the will in the probate court for safe keeping. That will ensure clarity.” He nodded to her. “How old are the heirs? Should they also have copies?”
“No,” she answered firmly her tone surprising him, “they are in school.”
He nodded unabashed. “Any other relatives or close friends? Anyone you would make power of attorney or executor?”
Surprising him, she shook her head.
He pressed on. “We often create the documents as a package for these items, as part of estate planning.”
“Not now,” she said firmly. “I just want the issue handled. When the time comes, I’ll think about all the other things I need to. For now, I just want this taken care of.”
He nodded. She was the client after all.
Something ate at him about her, but he could not pu
t his finger on what it was exactly.
The outer office intercom signaled his next appointment had arrived; it was time to move on. He would see her briefly for the final signatures of the documents in a few days. Beyond that, Ada Stone and her family drama would be out of his mind.
It wasn’t until much later, while sitting home with a bourbon after a long day, that the seasoned lawyer remembered what was bothering him about the client in his office earlier. There had been strong suspicions of foul play when both parents of the now deceased Mrs. Stone’s spouse had died under suspicious circumstances. He was sure there weren’t any charges in the case, as a murder trial in rural Vermont would have been memorable. He vowed to look it up when he was back in the office the next day, just to settle his own curiosity.
As life goes on, and busy lives fly by, the thought from the evening was not revisited the following day and was left without further consideration.
June 2010
Five Years Later
CHRISTINA WALKED THROUGH the woods with the setting sun shining brightly through the trees behind her. He was up ahead and from the splashing sounds, had already entered the water. She heard his sharp intake of breath as his body hit the icy water of the spring fed pond. She could visualize the chilly water gradually covering his muscular legs, then his belly, and finally reaching his chest. Her mouth went dry.
She abruptly stopped walking the trail, hesitating from exiting the woods. Was she ready for this huge step in their relationship?
Her heart thudded loudly at the thought of him naked in the water. Her body ached for his touch, but she still hesitated, nervous. Everyone was at the party. Everyone in their small circle of friends would all know where they were, and what they were undoubtedly doing.
Her cousin Annie had promised to cover for her, although she seemed slightly reluctant and distracted. She hadn’t been her usual self. Christina had blamed her cousin’s moodiness on her recent breakup with her long-time boyfriend, made more difficult during this busy summertime of social gatherings and activities. They had been having the time of their lives and suddenly, Annie had broken it off with Shawn. They had always had a tumultuous relationship, but this time the breakup felt a bit more serious. The cousins had each been spending more time out with their boyfriends while on break from college, and now Annie was single and on her own.
Ada, Annie’s mother, had stopped closely monitoring their whereabouts since their first school break a few short years ago; instead, she had implored them both to watch over the other. As long as they were being smart and safe, she didn’t demand to hear the details of their whereabouts. They were technically adults after all, even though they were still dependent on her for tuition and room and board until after graduation.
Christina pushed these thoughts aside and concentrated on the man waiting for her in the picturesque pond.
She loved him, and she knew he loved her. He went to a different school but had stayed committed to her throughout the past few years. Their relationship had blossomed from a high school crush into something deeper, into an intense love. She had never felt for anyone what she felt for Kevin. He was steady, calm and patient with her as their relationship matured, never pushing her for more before she was ready.
She stepped from the woods to the water’s edge. It was an idyllic spot; the pond on the mountainside was glinting in the last rays of sun. She could see him swimming toward the far shore. Reaching a spot where he could stand, he turned and looked toward her, their eyes meeting over the length of the water.
All his clothes were tossed casually at her feet on the small beach. As she stared into his eyes, knowing he was naked beneath the water, she felt bolstered. She was ready. She had waited for this moment and was glad to have it now with him and in this beautiful place.
She removed her shirt and shimmied out of her cut offs. He became still, watching her. Slowly and deliberately, she unclasped her bra letting it fall to the ground as she slipped out of her panties. She heard him take a sharp intake of breath and knew it was not from the icy water this time. Her skin tingled as she imagined his eyes moving over her body to places he had not seen altogether bare. She appreciated her build; long legged with a bit of curve to her hip. Encouraged by his reaction. She dove into the water, and quickly met him on the other side.
“You’re beautiful.” He said with his eyes full of wonder.
She smiled at him, knowing she looked at him with love in her heart. “You’re pretty hot yourself.”
His hands trembled slightly as he reached out for her in the clear water. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him deeply. Her tongue darted into his mouth as he deepened the kiss, his tongue meeting hers. Her silky skin burned where it touched his in the chilly water. They had come close to making love many times, but this time they planned to go all the way. Neither had ever been fully naked with the other, so their hands searched and caressed newly revealed skin. Her nipples contracted from the cold and grazed his chest as his hardness grew against her belly.
Without a word, Kevin lifted her into his arms, continuing to kiss her eager mouth as he brought her to the shoreline. A few steps away, an old hunting cabin stood empty and waiting for the two lovers. He had prepared the cabin earlier that day with sleeping bags in keeping with their plan for the night.
He ended the kiss looking intently into her eyes. “I love you.”
She pulled his mouth to hers kissing him again. “I love you too,” she breathed as the kiss ended.
He carried her to the cabin, pushing the door open with his broad shoulder. He lay her gently on the bed of sleeping bags, pausing to admire her. With his hands shaking he retrieved a foil packet nearby and ripped it open, applying the condom with clumsy fingers.
She giggled as he joined her on the bed. He kissed her neck and her nervous giggles turned to soft moans.
His dark head moved from her neck to her breasts. Taking a nipple in his mouth, he sucked and gently grazed his teeth across the soft skin. His hands moved down her body and found her hot wetness. They both moaned breathlessly as he shifted and took her in his mouth, she cried out surprised by the sensation. It was glorious, and she wanted him desperately. She had for some time, but was scared and uncertain about having sex. Now she was so very sure, as he gently pushed his hardness into her. He thrust his hips forward as she called out. He stiffened, looking at her face, sweetly afraid that he had hurt her. He held himself still. “Chrissy,” he whispered in her ear, “You ok?”
Slowly, she relaxed her face as he watched. She opened her eyes. Passion clouded her vision as she reached for him. “Don’t stop,” she begged, “Oh Kevin, don’t stop.”
A thrill rushed through her as he gently and slowly moved his hips. She moaned, wrapping her legs around him. She shuddered beneath him as she called his name. He could hold himself no longer and he shuddered and collapsed on top of her.
Long moments passed as they lay on the sleeping bags entangled in each other’s arms. “You brought me flowers,” she said, pointing to an old beer bottle with daisies jammed into its neck. It was truly a sweet gesture as the flowers were her favorite, he had picked them for her on their first ‘official’ date.
“Everything for my girl,” he said, spooning her on the makeshift bed.
They dozed, holding each other, and listening to the night fall outside of the cabin. Bull frogs croaked outside in the pond and crickets chirped, filling the night with sound. He rolled from the makeshift bed and fumbled around, finally locating the candle he had brought. He lit it, brightening the small space and creating a gentle light for the lovers to see each other.
He moved back to the bed, kissing her face. “You ok?” he asked with some concern.
She blushed deeply. “Yes,” she replied, reaching for him. She surprised herself with her need for more of him.
They kissed deeply as she pulled him onto her again.
“Now you’ve had me, you can’t get enough of me?” he laughe
d, kissing her neck, overjoyed at her reaction to him.
The hours that followed were as passionate and sweet as the two new lovers discovered and enjoyed each other. Dawn crept into the decrepit cabin and birds began singing loudly, stirring them from their post sex dozes. The air had remained warm throughout the night and a mist rose off the pond as the predawn light filled the sky with pinks and light blues. The young pair marveled at the sky, holding each other closely. “We better get back before everyone wakes up,” she said reluctantly, holding him close.
He pulled her on top of him. “Oh no,” she giggled and kissed his ear, “no more sex.”
“Ever? Maybe a little dip would change your mind.”
He rose from the bed, taking her with him. His strong arms and broad chest easily lifted her with him as he ran out of the cabin and directly into the chilly water. She giggled and screamed while teasing her by dropping her into the icy pond. Finally, he submerged her completely, sliding her suggestively down the length of his body. They kissed deeply.
“I love you so much.” He said, holding her in his arms as they stood hip deep in the icy water. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
She kissed him back. They had had this conversation multiple times. He wanted to remain in Vermont after he was done with school and had begun searching for jobs for the start of the following year. Her career choice in hospitality management opened more opportunities for travel. She would need to build experience which would come if she could get a start in a more metropolitan area. “I wish you would come to New York with me.”
“No cities for me. I’d die.”
She grinned, knowing full well he would enjoy a visit but would never leave his woods. He loved the undeveloped land and the quiet found in the outdoors. “You’ll still come visit me?”
He nodded, grinning. “As long as I don’t have to stay.”
Kevin loved being out in nature, where he was happiest and most at ease. It suited him that his career choice was biology, forestry, and education. She had been studying hospitality management in the city. They’d known each other for years as friends from her summers spent on the mountain, but it was not until the past few years that their relationship had blossomed.