by Diane Weiner
“She could have slipped out her window. Why would anyone remember her leaving the room?”
“The employee rooms aren’t on the ground floor. We didn’t see her on CCTV leaving or entering the inn.”
“What about Sam Benson?”
“His name never came up. What makes you think he was at the inn that night?”
“It’s just…the smugness when he talked to Jessica—like he had something to do with, as he called it, ‘removing the roadblock’.”
“We can’t randomly question someone who was nowhere near the murder scene. I’m sorry.”
“Can you look into his financial records? He’s invested a lot of money in the charter school/construction company partnership.”
“How do you know that?”
“I…um…he said so.” She wasn’t about to admit to having a clandestine spy as a neighbor.
“Sorry, Emily. I can’t do that on a whim.”
“So what do you have so far? Dave Maguire had motive, but he was at an AA meeting at the time. Did you check out his alibi? He lied about when he arrived in town. Dave seemed sincere when he admitted to his drinking issues and Emily had believed him, but just to be thorough…”
“Yes. The husband, or ex-husband is always on the suspect list. He lied because he wasn’t supposed to be near the girls.”
“He’s a father. I guess you can’t blame him for wanting to see his daughters.”
“He violated the custody agreement but he didn’t kill anyone. Half a dozen witnesses placed him at the AA meeting during the time of the murder.”
“And Arturo Rivera turned out to be a saint feeding the homeless people.”
“Rona Smyth? Adding drops of Visine to her opponent’s fondant at a baking competition? Oh, and she smokes. Ashes were found on the window ledge outside Coralee’s dining room window. And she’s missing the metal clasp off her jacket zipper.”
“Emily, we appreciate your insights, and your hunches are often spot on, however, you have to trust us to do our jobs.”
“And what about the red mud on her galoshes? And her boyfriend? Did you check out the motorcycle we saw leaving the Smyth Haven parking lot?”
“Emily, you’re overstepping your bounds. You sound like you don’t trust us at all to do our jobs.”
“I do. I just feel for those poor girls left without their mother.”
“Rest assured, we’re going to find the killer.” Her desk phone lit up. “I’ve got to take this call.”
“Okay, thanks for your time.”
Emily knew exactly where to head next. She stopped at Rebecca and Abby’s.
“Rebecca, I overheard Jessica and Sam talking. They sound like they are in collusion over the murder.”
“The murder? Or the investment scheme?”
“Both. Well, I don’t know yet. That’s why I came to you.”
“Okay. I have a few minutes, but then I have a project I need to finish or I’ll lose my day job.”
“Can you look at Summer Martin’s financials? How much did she invest in the charter school project and where did she get the money? She’s a college student.”
“I suppose she has control over whatever money her parents had before being arrested. Let’s see…” As usual, it took only a few clicks before Rebecca had information. Emily had great admiration for Rebecca’s skills.
“She has a good-sized bank account. Her parents’ accounts list her as a joint owner. Wow. She put a lot of cash into this project. Made two huge withdrawals which were sent to Fielding Construction.”
“And the company is profitable, right?”
“Oh, yeah. They’re cleaning up around the country. This Vermont school, however, is the first expansion into the Northeast.”
“Sam Benson says he quit investment banking to become a teacher. Is that true? I mean, that’s quite a cut in salary, right?”
“Where did you say he lived before coming here?”
“Florida. Miami, I think.”
“Do you know the name of the company he worked for?”
“No, sorry.”
After a few minutes, Rebecca had the information she needed. “Sam Benson worked for Planet Wide Investments. He was fired, he didn’t quit.”
“Fired? Why?”
“He invested his clients’ money into a risky investment without doing his homework. The investment went belly-up and the clients lost tons of money. Planet Wide had no choice but to get rid of him.”
“How long ago was that?”
“Just last year.”
“So he knows he won’t be able to get another banking job and so he becomes a teacher.”
“He did a quick certification program back in Florida. They’re desperate for teachers down there—apparently the pay is one of the lowest in the country.”
“But if he was certified in Florida, how could he teach here in Vermont? Certification is state by state.”
“Vermont allows for a temporary certificate while specific requirements are met.”
“He was lucky to find a job here. Turnover is almost non-existent according to Jessica, Maddy’s sister. She was lucky enough to walk into a position, too.”
“I have a good friend who teaches at the middle school. She said Faith Maguire came with a reputation for cleaning house. She got rid of some veteran teachers before she even took her official position as superintendent.”
“So Sam starts working here and invests in this charter school project. He gets Summer Martin to come aboard, probably others, too.”
“Not anyone who did their research. Your normal investor types wouldn’t touch it if Benson’s name was involved.”
“How about an alibi? The police say there’s no reason to investigate Sam Benson and Summer Martin has witnesses saying she was in her room that night. Plus, she doesn’t show up on CCTV footage.”
“I can’t help you there. Does he live alone?”
“As far as I know.”
“You said Jessica dates him, right? Maybe you can start with her.”
Emily couldn’t help feeling disappointed. She wanted to wrap up this case. What about the motorcycle she and Henry saw at Smyth Haven? It had to be the one that tried to run her over and crash into their car. She had to go back to Smyth Haven.
If Rona saw her, it’d look suspicious. She carefully made her way to the inn, listening and watching. It was cold and the guests weren’t gathered on the porch as they might have been on a milder day. The motorcycle wasn’t in the parking lot so she inched her way around the back of the inn, careful to avoid the CCTV cameras. She noticed a garden shed at the back of the property and looking to make sure she wasn’t being watched, she ran to it.
A rusty chain lock secured the door, however, the lock hung open. Around Sugarbury Falls, most people left their garages, sheds…even homes unlocked. She carefully freed the chain and pulled the shed ajar with a loud creak.
The damp, musty air made her cough. The rusty door had been difficult to open but she wished she’d pulled it a bit more so she could better see what was in here. A small stream of sunlight was all she had. Why had she left her phone in the car? The flashlight app would have helped.
The usual rakes and shovels leaned against one wall. Toward the back, burlap sacks and canvas sheets protected items from rust. Squinting, she walked toward a covered object that looked from its silhouette, exactly like a motorcycle! Her heart raced. If she could get the license number, maybe…
Emily screamed when the shed door creaked shut. The sliver of outside light was now gone. She heard the chain slam against the outside of the shed.
Chapter 23
“Who’s there? Hello?” She groped her way to the door and pounded. “Help! Let me out of here!” Had Rona seen her come in here? Had she followed her?
“Help, somebody. Let me out!” She pounded on the door, then kicked at it, slammed against it with all her body weight. No one was coming. No one knew she was here. No one knew the shed existed, in all likelihood.<
br />
She groped her way back to the covered object and peeked underneath. A small stream of sunlight filtered through the space between the roof and the wall and her eyes adjusted to where she could kind of see. She ripped off the cover. A motorcycle––just as she thought. It had to be the one that chased her. Why else would someone hide it in here rather than leave it in the parking lot? She bent down and squinted at the license plate, trying to memorize the number. The wheels were caked in dirt, just as the galoshes had been.
How was she going to get out? She banged the walls. Thin metal. She needed something capable of cutting through them—hedge clippers? A machete? She stood on the frozen dirt which served as the shed floor. The shovel! She grabbed it, stepped on it, pushed with her foot. Using all the might and determination she could muster, she couldn’t penetrate the cold ground. She tried a second time with the same result.
She looked around the shed and spotted a crate. She pulled it over and stood on it to get more leverage, then pushed against the top of the shovel. She felt the shovel crack through the ground. Excited, she did it again. And again.
After three attempts, she’d hardly made a dent in it. It was like trying to scoop sand off a beach with a cup. Discouraged, she sat on the crate to think.
The toolbox! She opened the lid. A hammer! She banged it against the metal door trying to break through the metal but found it impossible. She rummaged through the toolbox for a screwdriver and tried to pry open the locked door. Fruitless. She felt like crying.
The chain clanged against the shed. Had someone heard her hammering the metal walls? She jumped to her feet.
The door creaked open as it slid in the rusty track. “Going somewhere?”
Emily squinted. Then she realized who it was. Kyle. Rona’s boyfriend.
“You have to let me out of here. I have friends on the police force and they know I’m here. Do you want to be arrested for kidnapping?”
“You’re not going anywhere.” In the sliver of light, she saw a glint of metal. He was holding a shotgun. She felt as if her heart would burst through her chest.
“All I wanted was to see if the motorcycle was in here. Was it you who tried to kill me? Did you throw the rock through my window and try to run my husband and me off the road?”
“I warned you. You should have listened. Not too smart for a college professor, or worse—a reporter.”
“If you let me go, I won’t press charges. In fact, I’m writing the book which could prove your girlfriend is innocent.”
“My girlfriend?”
The door creaked open further and a flood of sunlight illuminated the interior of the shed. Emily rubbed her eyes. “Rona? Please tell your boyfriend to let me go.” She prayed they weren’t in this together.
“My boyfriend? Kyle what are you doing in here?”
“I’ll take care of her, Mom. Don’t worry.”
“Mom? She’s your mother?” Emily tried to digest the words.
“Yeah, and I won’t let her go to jail.”
Rona said, “What are you talking about, Kyle? Why would I go to jail?”
“I’ll always have your back, Mom. I won’t let this reporter ruin your reputation. I did it for you. That’s why I rigged up the car that night.”
“What car? What are you talking about?”
“The car Grandpa was driving. You know––the night of the accident.”
Rona’s hands flew to her mouth. “You? No. Tell me you didn’t.”
“I love you, Mom. I’d do anything for you.”
Rona shook her head. “Tell me you didn’t kill your own grandparents. How…”
“I had to. I heard you arguing with Grandpa. He refused to turn the house into a bed and breakfast. You told him we’d be out on the street if he didn’t but he still said no.”
“But I would have…”
“And the insurance money didn’t cover the cost of buying a new restaurant.”
“But they were my parents! My flesh and blood!”
“Then you know how I feel about you. I knew you’d be successful if you could just start over. I was right.”
“Kyle, put down the gun.”
“Did you set fire to the Silver Spoon, too?” asked Emily.
“I thought the insurance money would be more. Mom knew about it.”
“Only after the fact.” She turned to Emily. “I used the bulk of that money to bribe the insurance adjuster so Kyle wouldn’t go back to jail.”
“Back to jail?”
“He’s had his share of trouble. Growing up without a father in the picture is tough.”
“Tough enough to justify murder? He killed his own grandparents. Rona, you have to turn him in. To top it off, he killed Faith Maguire.”
Kyle said, “Who?”
“The woman who died from eating the tainted cheesecake. You wanted to make sure your mother’s business would be a success so you tried to get rid of the competition. After all, who’d chose to eat at the Outside Inn after a woman ate there and died?”
“Kyle, is that true?” Rona sounded shocked.
Emily said, “We found ashes on the ledge, and a piece of a broken zipper. Rona, I know you were there, looking in the dining room window. You knew about this.”
Rona said, “Whoa! I did do a bit of spying to see why the Outside Inn was so successful. Yes, I peeked in the window, but murder? How dare you accuse me.”
“Mom’s not a killer,” said Kyle.
“But you are. If you don’t go to the police it’ll be worse. You killed three people already and if you kill me, too…” Her legs felt like Jell-O, but she managed to keep her voice steady.
Kyle took a step closer, still aiming the shotgun at Emily’s head. “I admit to killing my grandparents but this Faith woman? I don’t know what you’re talking about. You ain’t gonna pin that on me.”
“Someone snuck into Coralee’s place and injected her cheesecake with a diabetes medication. A common one. Your mother said she had issues with sugar. Was she on medication by any chance?”
Rona said, “I never said I’m diabetic. Overweight, maybe, but diabetic?”
“Then Kyle, you had access to all the guests at Smyth Haven. It wouldn’t have been too difficult to find enough medication to do the deed.”
“What deed? You’d better shut up. Yes, I killed my grandparents, but I had nothing to do with poisoning cheesecake. That’s just crazy.” He took a step closer. “Mom, go back to the inn. You don’t need to see this.”
Rona pleaded, “Kyle, you need help. I’ll hire a lawyer. We’ll show the court you’re ill and get you the help you need.”
“Mom, go away. I don’t want you to see this. Go. Now!” He stepped closer to Emily and cocked the gun.
Emily’s heart raced. She watched Rona turn toward the shed door. Hope exhausted, Emily said a quick prayer and begged for her life. “I’m a mother. I have a daughter.”
Kyle took another step closer. She held her breath, terrified that this would be her last moment. Then… Rona turned around wielding the shovel and whacked Kyle over the head. He slumped into a heap on the dirt floor. Emily shook. She was paralyzed for a moment, then ran to Rona. “You saved my life.”
“And my life is over. My parents are dead, my own son killed them…he’ll be in jail for the rest of his life.” She took out her phone and called the police.
Chapter 24
“Emily, are you all right?” said Megan. “What happened here?”
“Kyle had me hostage and was about to kill me. Rona saved my life. Kyle is Rona’s son. He’s responsible for killing his grandparents.”
“Do you need medical attention?”
“No, I’m fine.”
“Come down to the station. We’ll need a statement. Rona, you have to come with us also.”
“But my son…he’s mentally ill. Don’t throw him in jail, he needs help.”
“We’ll iron everything out later. I know for sure he kidnapped Emily and was holding her against her wi
ll.”
“He held a shotgun to my head, Megan. If Rona hadn’t incapacitated him and called the police, you’d be looking at another murder.”
Kyle was arrested, and Emily rode to the station with Megan. Henry and Maddy were waiting outside when the patrol car pulled in front of the station.
“Emily, we were worried sick, Maddy and I. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just want to get this over with and go home.”
“You told Henry you’d be more careful. I heard you say it. Don’t I matter enough for you to make sure you stay alive?”
“Maddy, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“Maddy, we have to get your mother’s statement. It shouldn’t take long,” said Megan.
Back at home, Henry immediately started a fire. Emily sat on her sofa wrapped in an afghan.
“You could have been killed. When you didn’t answer your phone and didn’t come home, I knew something was wrong. I thought you promised not to take chances like that? You heard how upset you made Maddy.”
Mad at herself, especially after finding out she’d escaped a cancer diagnosis, she said, “I’m so sorry.”
Maddy came in with a cup of tea. “Are you warm enough? I can get another blanket from the closet.”
“I’m fine.” She took the tea and set it on the coffee table. “Come here.” She hugged Maddy, tightly. She never wanted to let go. “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have taken a chance like that. I’ll be here for you, always.”
“It’s okay. I know you were trying to help Ava and find out who killed her mother.”
Now that her mind had a chance to clear, it dawned on Emily. If Kyle didn’t kill Faith, the killer was still at large! If Kyle was telling the truth.
“Henry, Kyle freely admitted to killing his grandparents and setting fire to the Silver Spoon, but he swore he didn’t kill Faith.”
“The guy’s sick in the head. I wouldn’t believe him.”
“He had no problem admitting to the other murders.”