Brother's Keeper

by Richard Ryker

  He removed the recorder and plugged it into a television hanging from the living room wall.

  It took him a minute to figure out how to play the device.

  Brandon scrolled through the list of recordings, finding only one. Most likely, Todd had deleted the files. The one he did find was dated two days earlier. The same day the couple had appeared, hoping to stay at the home.

  On the recording, a dark screen flashed to life as someone entered the master bedroom. A man passed by the screen. A woman wearing a long skirt followed him. They stood too close to the camera to tell who they were. The couple moved together, embracing.

  “Wow,” Josiah said.

  Todd glanced at the screen and shook his head.

  The couple moved out of view of the camera. A woman’s shirt swooped across the screen, landing on the bed. A moment later, the woman entered the screen again, guiding the obedient man toward her. She settled onto the bed as the man followed her lead. Brandon focused his eyes on the couple. It was Todd.

  And Sabina.

  Josiah gaped at Todd. “You’re sleeping with your aunt’s maid?”

  “Just once,” Todd said.

  “What is she, like twice your age?” Josiah asked.

  “Sabina is only like fifteen years older than me. And she’s nice.”

  “Apparently,” Brandon said, flipping the screen off just as Sabina rolled over on top of Todd.

  Brandon powered the screen back on.

  “What?” Todd asked.

  Brandon rewound the recording a few seconds. Sabina straddled Todd, her hands releasing his belt. Then, she glanced toward the camera. More than a glance, a stare.

  “Does she know you recorded this?” Brandon asked.

  Todd shrugged. “I don’t think so.”

  He obviously hadn’t viewed the video.

  “Who else have you recorded?”

  “No one,” Todd said.

  “We’ll have forensics look over this. They’ll find everything you erased,” Brandon said.

  Todd didn’t reply.

  “Not only are you recording people without their consent, Todd. You’re the number one suspect in the murder of your aunt.”

  “What? How?”

  “We talked to the bank,” Josiah said. “We know you tried to spend her money. You were asking about an inheritance, about her will…”

  “What’s wrong with that?”

  “What’s wrong is you told Officer Jackson that your aunt was broke,” Brandon said. “And that there wasn’t a will.”

  “Okay, maybe I wasn’t sure and didn’t want you poking around my business,” Todd said.

  “Lying about her financial situation and then heading to the bank to capitalize on her death…that makes you look like a bad guy, Todd. Worse than recording people. You’re already looking at spending the rest of your life as a registered sex offender.”

  “But I didn’t record any kids.”

  “Sex offenders come in all shapes and sizes,” Brandon said.

  “Okay, but I didn’t murder my aunt,” Todd said.

  “Take him to the station for booking,” Brandon said. “I’ll call the sheriff and get the tech guys in here to check the house for more devices. In the meantime, I’ll bag the ones I found.”

  As Josiah led Todd to the police cruiser, Todd shouted back at Brandon. “There’s nothing wrong with me checking if I was in my aunt’s will,” he said. “That doesn’t make me a killer.”

  “That’s why I’m not charging you with murder,” Brandon said. “Yet.”

  “I want an attorney,” Todd said.

  You’ll need one, Brandon thought.

  Chapter 20

  Patti Baldwin had been right about Todd recording the guests at Mrs. Dunn’s Airbnb. Patti had said that Mrs. Dunn confided in her about her frustration with Todd’s behavior.

  Had Mrs. Dunn removed his name from the will because he’d continued his antics? That could be a reason for murder. But having been locked out of any inheritance, he’d have nothing to gain from killing her. Unless he hoped to benefit from her life insurance. But according to the bank, Todd seemed genuinely surprised about the will.

  Todd might have assumed he’d inherit the Dunn property. He was next of kin. It could have happened that way, if the new documents hadn’t set aside the property for charity.

  The most significant discovery of the afternoon had been the tryst between Sabina and Todd. It wasn’t the age difference that concerned Brandon. That wasn’t out of the question, and the combination of the reclusive Todd with the sultry Sabina made the affair all the more likely.

  What bothered Brandon was how well Sabina had covered for Todd. Sabina had hidden their relationship. She had to know about Todd’s recordings. She’d stared right at the camera during their lovemaking.

  Sabina had some explaining to do.

  Brandon knocked on the door and Sabina answered almost immediately. She had her coat and shoes on. Quite a contrast from the last visit, when she’d been wearing a bathrobe.

  “Going somewhere?” Brandon asked.

  “I have two houses to clean this afternoon.”

  “This won’t take long,” Brandon said.

  “You want to come in?” She winked at him. “I have lemonade.”

  What was it with her and the lemonade?

  “We can talk here,” Brandon said, unable to shake the vision of Sabina and Todd going at it in the old Dunn house.

  “Fine,” she said, leaning on the doorway. She seemed more relaxed than the last time he’d interviewed her. Was it an act?

  “You didn’t tell me about you and Todd,” Brandon said.

  She squinted at him. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she replied, her accent thick now.

  “Todd told us everything,” Brandon said vaguely, hoping she’d take the bait.

  “About what?”

  “You and him. Your visits to the Dunn farmhouse. What you did there,” Brandon said.

  She crossed her arms. “Is it my fault some men like to kiss and tell?”

  “No, but you might want to know we’ve arrested Todd for illegally videotaping residents of Mrs. Dunn’s Airbnb.”

  “I don’t think Todd would do that.”

  “You weren’t aware of the cameras?” Brandon asked.

  “What cameras?”

  “The one in the upstairs bedroom.”

  She waved a hand at him. “I clean all of the rooms. I don’t know about any videos.”

  Even the one you gazed into while straddling Todd, Brandon wondered.

  “Mrs. Dunn knew about Todd’s cameras, didn’t she?”

  “How would I know what that old hag knew?” Sabina snapped.

  Her reaction surprised him.

  “What did you have against Mrs. Dunn?”

  “I liked her fine. Even if she did not treat Todd right.”

  “You want to be more specific?” Brandon asked.

  “No.”

  “Okay, Sabina. Here’s the deal. You didn’t reveal your relationship with Todd the first time we talked—”

  “You didn’t ask me,” she said. “Why does it matter?”

  “It makes a difference, your…connection with him,” Brandon said. “It calls into question everything you’ve told us about Todd.”

  She’d claimed Todd was the sweetest man she’d known.

  “I suppose,” she said, seeming to accept the point.

  “What did Todd tell you about his inheritance?” Brandon asked.

  “He thought Mrs. Dunn would leave him something. Then he found out she didn’t.”

  “Was that before or after she died?”

  “After,” she said.

  It matched what they’d learned from the bank.

  “I need you to be honest,” Brandon said. “Did Todd ever mention plans to hurt his aunt?”

  “No. Of course not.”

  “Does Todd ever lose his temper?” Brandon asked.

  “Never.”
/>   “Okay. And you didn’t know he was recording the residents of the Airbnb.”

  “He would never do that,” she said.

  Sabina believed Todd was a saint. Would she believe he’d been recording her? Probably not, unless she saw the recording herself.

  “We have video that Todd recorded at the house,” Brandon said.

  She blinked.

  “Video he thought had been erased,” he continued. “I’ll ask you again. You had no idea he was filming you?”

  He hadn’t reviewed the entire video, didn’t have any desire to, to be honest. If she were a willing participant in the recording, it weakened their case against Todd. So far, it was the only evidence they had that he’d recorded visitors to the Airbnb.

  “I didn’t,” she insisted. “And I don’t believe you. Todd would not do that to me.”

  “You’d be willing to sign a statement saying so?” Brandon asked.

  “Yes, I would.”

  Brandon returned with an affidavit form and wrote out her statement denying knowledge of the cameras at the Dunn home. She’d insisted on adding a few sentences about her faith in Todd’s innocence. That someone else could have put the cameras in the home. When they’d finished, Sabina signed the form.

  At the very least, they had enough to charge Todd for voyeurism. They had Sabina’s statement that she didn’t know about the recordings and they had the actual videos. Not to mention Todd’s confession. The good news was, no more guests would fall victim to Todd’s perverse obsession. The bad news was, they didn’t have enough to charge him with murder.

  ***

  Emma had already left for work by the time Brandon arrived home. He’d almost forgotten, again, his plans with Lisa for the evening. It was a good thing she’d offered to come down to Forks. Otherwise, it would be another missed date. He’d just pulled his boots off when there was a knock at the door. He checked his watch.

  Brandon had hoped to get a chance to shower.

  He tossed his boots in the corner and opened the front door.

  It was Margot.

  “Hey, got a minute?” she asked.

  He checked behind her. Lisa would be there any minute.

  “What’s up?” he asked, hand still on the door.

  She pushed past him, taking in the living room.

  “Messy. I guess that’s to be expected, considering,” she said.

  “Considering what?”

  And his house wasn’t messy. Sure, there were a few old coffee cups near his chair. Pillows and blankets in front of the couch. It was…lived in.

  “For a single dad,” she said.

  “I do just fine,” he said. “We do just fine. Emma and I.”

  She tapped him on the shoulder. “No offense.”

  Margot bent down next to Brandon and he stumbled back. Then he realized what she was doing.

  “Who’s this little guy?” she asked, scratching behind Caesar’s ear.

  The kitten meowed at her, then rolled over, rubbing his head against her ankles.

  “My daughter’s cat,” he said. “For now.”

  “He’s so cute,” she cooed.

  “I’m expecting someone,” Brandon said.

  Margot stood, smiling. “I’ll get to the point so you can tidy up before she arrives.”

  Brandon sighed away a response. It wasn’t worth it.

  “Did you do what I said?” she asked.

  He’d been working on the Dunn case all afternoon. It took him a second to realize what she meant. The hint she’d given about Marion Perry.

  “Yes. Marion Perry is Judge Gillman’s wife,” Brandon said.

  “Nice work,” she said.

  “Why not just come out and tell me?”

  “Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest, considering I’m representing one of your suspects in the Dunn case?”

  She seemed to miss the point that she’d given him information nonetheless, even if he’d had to work for it.

  “So what does it mean?” Brandon asked.

  “What do you think?”

  “The judge’s wife is part of the Randall family and is somehow connected to the trust that owns the old sawmill where Nygard is staying.”

  “Right. But why would Judge Gillman and his wife allow Nygard to live on their land?”

  “I have no idea,” Brandon said. “But it might explain why the judge refused to give me a search warrant for the property.”

  “Why not ask him yourself?”

  He scoffed. “I’m sure that would go over well.”

  “Meet him on his home turf,” she said. “He’s usually in chambers between eleven thirty in the morning until the one o’clock hearing calendar starts.”

  Brandon shook his head. “I’m all for being direct. But I’ve made enough enemies.”

  “And I’m sure your lady friend isn’t too happy about you spending so much time on Eli’s case,” Margot said.

  It was like she could read his mind.

  “That has nothing to do with my reluctance,” he said.

  She put a hand on his arm. “Just know this, Brandon. I get it. I remember Eli, and I know this is something you have to do. If there’s anything you need…”

  “Thanks,” he said.

  She grinned up at him. “So, who’s the lucky lady?”

  He was about to answer when she said, “Oh, yeah, the coroner.”

  “How’d you know that?”

  “This is Forks,” she said.

  “Right.”

  She slid a finger across his chest. “Don’t forget, Brandon. It’s never good to mix business and pleasure.”

  The front door creaked. Lisa stood there, arms stacked with takeout boxes.

  “I don’t think Brandon needs any education on mixing business and pleasure,” Lisa said. She considered Margot for a second. “At least that’s what I thought.”

  Margot let go of Brandon’s arm.

  Here we go, Brandon thought.

  It was going to be a very long—or short—evening.

  “Lisa, this is Margot. She’s ah…”

  “I’m an attorney here in town,” Margot said with a wide smile. “Brandon and I have known each other for, well, most of my life.”

  “Nice,” she replied, letting the coolness of her words hang in the air.

  “Well, I’d best be on my way,” Margot said.

  “That’s a great idea,” Lisa said.

  When Margot had gone, Lisa unwrapped the Pad Thai and Teriyaki in silence.

  “They’re cold,” she said, sliding Brandon’s on a plate and tossing it in the microwave.

  “Lisa. I had no idea she was coming over,” Brandon said.

  “She come over often?” Lisa asked.

  “No.”

  “Because I was beginning to wonder why you’d never had time for me. I thought it was work, or Eli’s case.”

  “That’s not fair,” Brandon said.

  She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “I feel like we’ve had this conversation too many times, Brandon. You’re not interested in a real relationship.” She glanced toward the front door. “At least not with me.”

  He pulled the plate of teriyaki out of the microwave. The heat seared his hand and he nearly dropped the plate.

  Brandon stifled a curse, running cold water over his hand for a few seconds. He twisted the tap off and faced Lisa.

  “I’ve been working my ass off on the Dunn homicide, on Eli’s case, being a dad, trying to spend time with you…”

  “I’m glad I made it on your list,” she said. “Even if I’m just an obligation.”

  Maybe Lisa was right. He had no time for a relationship. Things had been easier when they were friends and nothing more. But then he’d wanted more.

  But that was then.

  What really pissed him off, though, was the accusation that he’d somehow been involved with Margot behind Lisa’s back.

  Sure, Margot was attractive and smart. And in his living room when Lisa h
ad arrived.

  He put himself in Lisa’s position. Would he be jealous if the tables were turned?

  Possibly. And that was it: maybe he didn’t care as much as Lisa.

  But he wasn’t ready for the relationship to end. He wanted it to stay the same. Committed, but not taking up all of his time. That’s all he could give her, and it wasn’t enough.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I haven’t been fair to you.”

  She grimaced. “So you and that lady…”

  “No, of course not. She’s an old friend who wants to help with Eli’s case.”

  “Then, why?” Lisa asked.

  “I haven’t been there for you. You’re right. And I don’t think now is a good time for me…for us.”

  She stared at the floor, arms still crossed. Brandon waited. Maybe she needed more time to think of a response. He lifted another dish from the cupboard, arranging her teriyaki and rice neatly on the plate. He slid it into the microwave.

  Brandon turned.

  “Lisa…”

  She was gone.

  He raced to the front door. Lisa was almost to her car.

  “Lisa!” he called out.

  By the time he reached the sidewalk, she was half a block away.

  Brandon pulled out his cellphone. He should call her.

  No.

  Nothing he could say to Lisa would change the way things were.

  When this was all over, when Eli’s case was solved, then she might understand why this was so important to him. Why, besides Emma, nothing else mattered as much as this one thing.

  He slid his phone into his pocket and headed back to the house.

  Chapter 21

  Brandon awoke with a start. The honk of a car alarm being set. His truck.

  Emma was home.

  He was in his recliner and reached for his phone to check the time. Caesar was on top of him, head nestled on his shoulder.

  He lifted the cat off, but its claws latched on, unwilling to abandon Brandon’s warmth.

  “Enough,” he said, setting the cat down and shooing it away. He peered through the front window in time to notice Emma jogging toward the front door. She wasn’t alone.

  He opened the door.

  “Dad,” Emma said, catching her breath. “I…was…followed.”

  Brandon eyed the young man that had followed her in.