by Alex Harris
Chapter 7
Chalcey and Marlowe had finished feeding the livestock and took a languid break with iced tea on the large wraparound porch. Chalcey enjoyed her alone time with her grandmother. The opportunity to learn from all the generations presented itself to her in various forms and Chalcey rarely missed a sit with any one of them.
“Marlowe, why do people have to die? Why can’t we keep them with us forever?”
“Well, sweetie that’s not God’s plan. We come here to do what we’re supposed to and then when it’s our time we leave.”
“But look at Joyce. She was such a good person and what about poor Lisa. Neither one of them ever did anything to hurt another person, and yet they’re both gone. It just doesn’t seem fair.”
“Remember when Puddles died? It didn’t seem fair then either. But she was sick and it wasn’t fair to her to linger in that sickness. The same is true for Joyce. She fought long and hard against cancer. Her body just couldn’t take any more. Now Lisa is another story. Someone shortened her life for reasons we don’t yet know.”
“I don’t think I want to go to Lisa’s funeral. One a year or even a lifetime is enough for me.”
“You don’t have to go when it happens. You can stay home. Funerals aren’t much fun. Maybe we can do something special to remember Lisa by, like we did with Puddles.”
Marlowe heard the crunch of tires on the driveway and looked up to see Fred’s SUV approaching. “Come on girl, let’s get some more glasses. They’ll be thirsty too.” Chalcey ran into the kitchen and grabbed two more glasses for Fred and Oriole.
“Are you two done for the day?” Marlowe asked as they got out of the car.
“No, Marlowe. We’re actually here on business. We have some questions for you about Lisa Wood.” Oriole sat down next to her mother, and poured iced tea for Fred and her.
“Did Lisa update her will recently?” Fred got right down to the questions at hand.
“Fred, I can’t talk about a client. You know that, even if she is deceased.”
“Marlowe, I know she was a friend of the family and a client. I know you’re feeling pain. But there are some things we need to know to solve her murder.” Oriole tried again to soften Fred’s approach.
“Her will is going to be probated because that is what she wanted. Get me a subpoena deuces tecum and I’ll provide the contents. The date on the will can tell you when it was updated. There will be information in the will that will answer some of your questions. I’m sorry that’s the best I can do.”
Fred rose from the rocker and set his glass down of the round patio table next to Chalcey. “So, what you’re telling me is yes, the will was updated and yes there is information that is pertinent to the case. I’m hoping some of that information will help us find who did this to Lisa. It’s supper time, what’s Summer got cooking? Come on Chalcey, I’ll even help set the table.”
Chalcey and Fred moved into the kitchen to help get dinner on the table while Marlowe and Oriole remained in the rocking chairs. “Mom, don’t be mad at Fred or me. We both know how disturbing this is for you, Summer, and for Frances. When someone dies like this, it leaves such a void. It just seems so senseless. There has to be answers in the jumble of confusion. Let’s go get a glass of wine and see what we’re having for dinner.”
“I’ll pass on the wine, I think tonight is a Scotch night, honey.”
Summer fixed a pork loin with homemade applesauce, fresh peas from the garden, tossed salad (lettuce from the garden), raised rolls that Chalcey mixed up and mint iced tea. Dinner conversation consisted of the memorial service for Joyce, the upcoming prospect of Lisa’s funeral, the rodeo and Buttercup’s forthcoming foal.
The subpoena deuces tecum was served on the Sharpe Law Firm. Joan provided the necessary documents. Fred and Oriole returned to the office to pore over the new will.
“Looks like Lisa was tired of Phil’s lack of enthusiasm for the job hunt. This new will says everything goes to the two kids except a small bequest to United We Stand and the Tea Party and a sizeable one to the Humane Society. He gets nothing, not even the condo. That is her sole property even though they were married for 12 years. The condo was to go to the estate, be sold, and the proceeds divided between her son and daughter. The next question is did he know about the new will and if he did, did he know it was done or did he think it was in the process. After Joyce’s memorial service, let’s ask Marlowe if she knows. Then let’s go back to talk to Phil. Based on the addendum, she had a safe deposit box at State Bank and three bank accounts. You get the subpoenas started for those too. I’ll see what I can find out about Phil, see if there’s any skirts involved with him, see if he owes anyone money, etc.” Fred put the will down, marked it as evidence, put it in an evidence envelope and took it down to the locker. Oriole started the process for yet another batch of subpoenas.