by Sonia Parin
“Everyone. Come into the kitchen and see this,” Mira said.
Oh, Mira... No.
Jill, Abby and Jordan hurried in.
“This is interesting,” Jordan said.
To everyone’s credit, they all remained calm.
Jill murmured, “We outnumber her, Eve. We’ve got this.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened. She made a threatening gesture with her revolver. “Everyone listen up. Make a false move and I will fire.”
Mira tilted her head. “How did she get in?”
Jill shrugged. “Eve and I let her in earlier. You must have been busy talking with Jordan. Then we got busy and forgot about her. She tricked us saying she needed to look for a pair of earrings. A likely story. I actually frisked her. Where did that revolver come from?”
Eve wished they’d stop moving. She could see Elizabeth’s revolver wavering between one person and another.
“Earrings?” Mira asked. “So does she think we stole them?” Mira’s chin lifted in defiance. “We would never sink so low.”
Eve rolled her eyes. Either Mira was playing a deliberate game of innocent or she had no way of gauging the dangerous situation they’d all landed themselves in.
“I want everyone to just be quiet.” Elizabeth pointed her revolver at each person.
“How did she get that revolver?” Jill asked. “Honestly, I did a thorough job frisking her.”
“Maybe it was in the house all along,” Mira suggested.
Elizabeth pointed the revolver straight at Eve. “Control them or I will.”
“Hey guys. Let’s do as she says.”
“You know as well as I do she can only shoot one of us,” Jill said.
“Are you volunteering?” Abby asked.
“Actually,” Jill said, “I think Jordan is the largest target. He’s taking the bigger risk. I hope he’s light on his feet. If we all disperse at once, she won’t know where to point and shoot.”
Mira cleared her throat. “Should you be saying all that out loud? Now she knows our plan.”
“What do you want?” Eve asked, her tone puzzled. Elizabeth Rogue? A killer? “You’re obviously looking for something. You didn’t come here to kill us. Let us help you.”
Elizabeth appeared to be thinking about it.
“Whatever you’re planning, keep in mind this is an island. There’s only one way out and the bridge is it. Detective Bradford has a patrol car stationed at the other end.”
“Why did you kill Stew Peters?” Mira asked.
“Mira!” Eve warned.
“Well, we’re just standing here. She might as well tell us. Especially if she’s going to shoot us. If I’m going to die any time soon, I wish to know.”
Elizabeth gave a brisk shake of her head. “I didn’t kill him.”
Jill whispered. “That’s what they all say.”
“Hang on. Let’s hear her out,” Mira said.
“She’s threatening to kill us. Of course, she killed Stew Peters.”
“I want the information you have,” Elizabeth said. “Everything you’ve found. I want it. Now.”
“Why?” Mira asked.
“Because we’re obviously onto something,” Jill said. “She probably thinks she can get rid of the evidence and then do away with us. She might even set the inn on fire to get rid of any DNA proof.”
“Jill. Don’t give her ideas,” Abby said.
“You found proof. I want it.” Elizabeth pointed the revolver at Jordan. “And you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Your author friend has information too.”
“She was eavesdropping,” Jill growled.
“And once you have the information, what do you plan on doing with it?” Mira asked. “You’ll have to forgive my curiosity, I’m an author.”
Elizabeth paled. Her eyes shimmered. “I need that information,” she screeched. “Now.”
“Wait a minute. There’s something wrong here.” Eve’s cell phone beeped a message.
Everyone shifted slightly.
Eve looked at Elizabeth steadily. “That’s Detective Jack Bradford. He’s headed this way. If you leave now, you’ll have a head start.”
“I’m not going anywhere without that information. I can’t believe it. All these years spent trawling through every archive...”
“She’s crumbling,” Jill murmured. “Here’s our chance.”
“What information is that, dear?” Mira asked. “We’d love to help, but you need to tell us more.”
Elizabeth sagged slightly.
Eve frowned and whispered, “I don’t think she’s the killer.”
“What makes you say that?” Abby asked.
“She’s looking for a lead. She’s on a trail for information. Why does she need it?”
“Because she’s somehow linked to that woman,” Jill suggested.
They all looked at Elizabeth.
Her eyes flinched. Eve couldn’t help thinking it would have been a perfect opportunity to throw something at her but she had nothing handy. For once, keeping a tidy kitchen worked against her.
Elizabeth looked about her as if suddenly snapping out of a reverie. “She was my mother and they killed her.”
“Oh,” they all said in unison.
“So you then sought your revenge by killing Stew Peters,” Mira mused.
“No!” Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “I didn’t kill him.”
“Oh, really?” again, they spoke in unison.
They all exchanged looks and finally Mira asked, “Then who did?”
Elizabeth’s lips pressed together, her eyes narrowed and her voice sharpened. “One of them. All of them. I don’t know.”
Mira gave her a warm, understanding smile. “You have our sympathies, my dear. We’re in the same boat. We suspect them, but we can’t put our finger on which one did it and why. Now, why don’t you put that silly gun down and we can all sit down and talk this through. If we all put our heads together, I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”
Jill nudged Eve and whispered, “Can you believe Mira has taken the spotlight away from you?”
Eve’s cell phone rang. “That’s Detective Jack Bradford. He’s actually calling so he means business. If I don’t answer, he’ll worry and head straight here.”
Elizabeth scooped in a breath. She took a step forward and gesture to the cell. “Answer it, but remember I’m holding a gun. Tell him you’re busy.”
Eve nodded and answered the call. “Jack. What’s up?”
“Josh followed Elizabeth Rogue to the inn. He says she’s still there.”
Eve gave Elizabeth a told you so look. “Yes. She’s looking for a pair of earrings,” she said trying to gain Elizabeth’s confidence. “Should I be worried?”
“We don’t think so. She’s been working for William for five years. I don’t think a killer would wait that long to strike. But she could set a precedent. I’ll feel better when I know she’s left the inn.”
“Have you followed the cigar trail?”
“We’re close. I’ve spoken with the water delivery guy and his supervisor. The cigars were couriered to them, which in itself is odd.”
Hearing that, Elizabeth frowned. Eve made a mental note to ask her about it.
“What about you? Have you come up with anything?” Jack asked.
“Yes. I think so. Mira had a hand in unearthing some information you’ll be interested in. In fact, you need to get onto it straightaway.” Elizabeth took a warning step toward her.
“Look into an unsolved murder case. It happened twenty-eight years ago in Rhode Island.”
“I think I know the one you mean. Give me a minute.”
Eve hummed under her breath and ignored Elizabeth’s gun.
“Alicia Bennington,” Jack said. “She drowned. The police closed the case saying it was an accidental drowning. Her family insisted there was foul play, saying she never went into the water because she couldn’t swim. The police didn’t find any evidence to co
nvince them to re-open the case.”
“Is there mention of a daughter?” Eve asked.
“She’d recently had a baby. Alison Bennington.”
Eve looked at Elizabeth Rogue. A splotch of deep crimson spread across her cheeks.
Had she changed her name in order to infiltrate the group and find out the truth?
“Eve? Is something going on there?”
Eve smiled and, keeping her tone cheerful, said, “There’s always something happening here. You know me, Jack. I’m a magnet for trouble with a capital T.” She hoped he caught on to the message. So far, she’d been grumbling about always being labeled a suspect. Surely Jack would find it odd that she should suddenly sound cheerful about it.
Elizabeth made a wind it up motion with her gun.
“I have to go, Jack. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Eve decided Jack couldn’t possibly miss that underlying message.
Elizabeth snatched the cell away from her. “Into the living room.”
“What a good idea,” Mira said. “We should all get comfortable and talk. Get to know each other better...”
They all started moving with Elizabeth bringing up the rear.
Despite what Eve had learned, she didn’t care to have a gun pointed at her. The situation could get out of control at any moment. If she didn’t do something...
In that split second, Eve swung her arms and yelled, “My quiche is burning.”
Chapter Fifteen
In the next second, Eve wished she’d had a better idea.
Her elbow connected with Jill’s nose.
Fortunately, not all was lost.
Clutching her nose, Jill reacted by falling back and colliding with Elizabeth. Caught by surprise, Elizabeth fell back and her hip connected with Eve’s new stove.
Mira, bless her soul, snatched the revolver from Elizabeth’s hand. “I’m sorry, dear, but you have no business pointing that thing at us.”
Still clutching her nose, Jill nodded and mumbled, “Well done, Mira.”
“I wasn’t going to shoot you,” Elizabeth wailed.
Surprised by the uncharacteristic emotion spilling out of the young woman, Eve helped her up and said, “We know, but we really don’t react well to having guns pointed at us. Now sit down and we’ll talk.”
“Should we tie her up?” Jill asked.
“She won’t go anywhere. We have information she wants.” Or, at least, Eve thought they did.
“I’m sorry about... about the gun. It just happened. I really did come here looking for Martha’s earrings but then I found her revolver.”
Elizabeth continued by explaining she’d come down the back stairs and had heard them talking. Eve had then gone into the kitchen and she’d panicked.
Jill leaned forward. “Have you actually been working under cover all this time?”
Elizabeth nodded. “It took me a year to land the job. My persistence paid off. I spent all that time learning all I could about William Hunter and his friends.” She shook her head. “I could never find anything to incriminate them.”
Eve showed her the magazines and asked, “Do you recognize any of these people?”
Elizabeth gave a stiff nod and then she saw the photo with her mom in it. Her eyes shimmered. “All these years... They’ve been getting away with it. I had to do something.”
“Did that involve killing Stew Peters?” Mira asked again.
“No.” Her gaze remained on the photos. “Where did you get these from? I’ve been trawling the Internet and libraries for any sort of image that could connect my mom to them.”
Elizabeth had probably done a thorough job of it, but with so much information out there, it would have taken a small army to go through years of magazines. Even if the search was narrowed down to that timeframe. There was simply too much to trawl through.
Instead of answering her, Eve said, “Detective Bradford mentioned other family members.”
Elizabeth nodded. “An aunt and an uncle. They gave up hope a long time ago. That’s when I took up the search.”
“What do they remember of that time? Was your mom in contact with them?”
“My mom wouldn’t talk about my father or the people she socialized with.”
Had Elizabeth joined the dots? Could they assume William was her father? Eve looked up at the ceiling and hoped it hadn’t been Stew Peters.
“How did she meet them?”
“She’d been working as a waitress. My aunt only knew she’d taken up with the wrong crowd. All those parties and wild weekends, she knew it would all end badly.” Her hand shook as she traced the outline of her mom’s image.
“Why did she say that?”
“My mom was an outsider. She didn’t belong with them. My aunt knew the man she’d become involved with had only been toying with her.”
Mira discreetly moved one of the magazines out of Elizabeth’s way. Eve guessed it was the one with the photo of William with Elizabeth’s mom.
“My aunt finally convinced her to stay away from them. One weekend she said she was going to work at a function to earn extra money. She never came back.”
Had Alicia Bennington confronted her baby’s father?
Or had she confided in someone?
Eve shot to her feet.
“What?” Jill asked.
“My quiche. I forgot again.” She rushed to the kitchen with Jill following on her heels.
“What do you make of all that?” Jill asked.
“Can you picture any of them welcoming an outsider?”
Jill shook her head.
Eve took the quiche out of the oven and set it on a cooling rack. “Jill? When did William marry his first wife?”
Jill’s mouth gaped open. “No. Really?”
Eve nodded. “How do you think she would have reacted to the news of another woman snatching William away from her?”
“Not very well. She’s well known for having a bad temper.”
Eve played around with the idea of Alicia Bennington confronting her baby’s father, but it didn’t stick. Despite her negative impressions of William, she suspected he would have acknowledged paternity and taken care of Alicia. She then tried to imagine someone else in the group as the father.
The author?
No. He too would have acknowledged the baby.
Stew Peters?
She hoped not.
Deciding it had to be William, she wondered what his then fiancée would have thought if she’d found out.
Valentine.
A killer.
Yes, Eve could see her pushing Alicia Bennington off a jetty or a boat. But what about Stew Peters?
Eve looked at Jill. “Stew Peters must have witnessed her doing the deed.”
Jill gave a vigorous nod.
“Bravo.”
They both turned.
“For heaven’s sake. Really? I’m getting tired of having guns pointed at me,” Jill muttered.
Valentine stood by the kitchen back door.
“Hey, where did you get that gun from?” Jill demanded. “That’s one gun too many.”
“Shut up. I knew you were trouble when I saw you taking photos of us.”
“For heaven’s sake. What do you think you’re going to do?” Eve asked. “There are too many of us here. Are you going to shoot us all? Or is this your way of working up to a plea of temporary insanity?”
Valentine stood firm for a second. Then she bit the edge of her lip.
Eve laughed. “Yeah, I can tell you didn’t think this through.”
“You killed Alicia Bennington. Admit it,” Jill demanded.
“The next person who opens her mouth gets a bullet,” Valentine warned. “And—”
She didn’t get a chance to finish.
A vase flew across the kitchen and hit her on the nose.
Eve and Jill lunged for her and grabbed hold of the gun. To their surprise, Valentine fought back.
They all rolled around screaming at each other until Jordan put a stop to
it all.
“Stop or I’ll shoot you in the face.”
Valentine immediately covered her face.
Jill groaned. “She barely flinched when the vase hit her nose and now she cowers?”
“She’s probably had nose jobs done,” Eve said as she straightened. “I’m told they’re quite painful. She must have developed a resistance to pain.” Turning, she saw Mira and Elizabeth standing by the door. “Who threw the vase?”
Mira smiled. “My editor. Isn’t he good? He played high school football.”
The next few moments were chaotic as Jack stormed in with his officers who’d all responded to a call from Josh.
* * *
“I think your inn has experienced a baptism by fire,” Jack said the next day.
“Oh, Jack. Please don’t mention fire. That’s the one thing we haven’t had here.”
“That’s not entirely true,” Jill said. “Surely you remember the mad woman who threatened to get rid of all the evidence by setting fire to the inn?”
Oh, yes. Eve had forgotten about her. “Let me get this straight,” Eve said, “William cheated on Valentine and then she found out Alicia Bennington had a baby and killed her.”
Jack nodded. “Valentine forced Alicia Bennington into a rowing boat. She rowed them out and then pushed her off.”
“She must be mad. What sort of woman makes a child an orphan?” Eve slumped back on the couch. A vain and selfish one, she supposed. “We guessed Stew Peters must have witnessed it all. Were we right?”
Jack nodded. “The others were witnesses too, but they were too far away to do anything to help. Apparently, the author tried but he was too late. Stew Peters convinced them it didn’t look good for any of them, so they all decided to stick to one story. Complete silence. None of them had seen her in weeks.”
Fear of discovery had kept them together. With each passing year, they knew their continuing silence made it impossible to come forward with information.
“Did none of them think of her daughter?” Eve asked. “Or her relatives.”
“They didn’t know about her. Valentine was the only one who knew of her existence.”
“I can’t believe William went ahead and married her,” Eve remarked.
Jack smiled.
“What?”
“I really don’t want to rain on your parade. You seem intent on pinning something negative on him.”