The Ashford Place

by Jean Copeland

  “Yeah, I guess I did, but I never saw Judy after that. I used to think if he hadn’t sent me away, things would’ve turned out different for her.” His lip quivered ever so perceptibly, and he turned his head.

  Belle touched his shoulder. “Craig, you were a kid yourself then. I’m sure you were there for her in every possible way.”

  “Thanks,” he said, then lowered his voice. “Oh, and let me know about that sample. I would like to know if the child was mine.”

  “I will,” she replied. “Thanks for your help.”

  Once in her car, Belle fired off a polite email to Craig’s sister asking if she wouldn’t mind talking to her about Judy and what she remembered about their childhood together. Hopefully, she would answer the email right away and include her telephone number.

  As she headed up the interstate, confidence fueled her as now it seemed Craig’s involvement would help the case rather than hurt it. Belle decided this latest development was significant enough that she should convey it to Ally in person. She was already visualizing them celebrating the new lead over cocktails.

  Then maybe they’d continue celebrating in private.

  But only if Ally suggested it.

  ***

  By the time Belle arrived back in Danville, Ally’s shift was ending. She drove directly to the station and stormed in, breathless with excitement.

  “Boarders,” she said, sucking wind. “My aunt had boarders at the house.”

  “What? How do you know?” Ally closed the file draw she was standing at and met her at her desk.

  Belle propped a hand on her hip. “Well, how I know isn’t as relevant as the news itself. This breaks the case wide open…doesn’t it?”

  Ally shot her a stern glare. “Please tell me you didn’t talk to Craig Wheeler again.”

  “Okay. Then we’ll skip that part. Marion had a guy and a woman living there at separate times. This boarder guy must’ve been the one who molested Judy. Isn’t this great?”

  Ally sighed, clearly trying to focus on the positives. “You didn’t happen to get the names of either of the boarders, did you?”

  “He didn’t know the woman’s name, but the guy was known as Three-fingers Phil.”

  Ally laughed dryly as she lifted her eyeglasses and massaged the skin on the bridge of her nose. “I guess we can rule out strangulation as a cause of death.”

  “May I continue?” Belle said. “Craig—I mean this person I talked to—didn’t remember the guy’s last name. Don’t I get any points for scoring a nickname?”

  “A nickname might help.” Ally sat in front of her computer. “I can run that in our in-house system right now. But I’ll need a first and last name to run in the nationwide law-enforcement databases. Still, it’s a long shot he’d be in there now if he was a criminal way back then.”

  Ally punched at her keyboard as Belle stood behind her, her face practically brushing Ally’s ear.

  “If you find him, he could be the key to the whole thing,” Belle said. “You could have the daddy and the molester in one shot.”

  “He could’ve been the father, but there’s also the possibility, however slim, that it was your aunt’s baby.”

  “Think so?”

  Ally shrugged. “It’s all open to conjecture at this point. He could’ve impregnated her during consensual sex, but she didn’t keep it for whatever reason, or like I said before, it could’ve been a stillbirth. I’ll call the ME’s office. They should have an official cause of death by now.”

  “I don’t think it was my aunt’s. My money’s on Three-fingers Phil being some young drifter who messed with Judy and knocked her up.”

  “Now that you’ve placed another woman in the house, it also could have been hers. She was pregnant, didn’t want anyone to know, so she travels up to the sticks of Connecticut and has it at some out-of-the-way boarding house. We’re going to need DNA here.”

  “That whole scenario is so creepy. Who would let total strangers sleep in their houses with them?”

  “That’s what they did back then. Hell, some people still don’t lock their doors.”

  “It’s all fun and games until the home invasion. Doesn’t anyone watch Forensic Files?” Belle said with scorn.

  “Nothing is coming up in LInX for that nickname. I’m gonna need a first and last name to run him in our records and CONNECT. I’ll ask Ethel and the Morgans if they recall a boarder named Phil.”

  “I can ask Ethel if you want. She said she hopes I come back to the café soon.”

  “Belle, I’m trying to be as polite as I can about this, but you’re gonna have to stand down. You’re not an official investigator. If we ever do nail someone for this, his lawyer will no doubt find a way to use your involvement as a loophole and squeeze the old guy through it, thus ending all hope of justice for Judy. Is that what you want?”

  Belle frowned. “No. But this is exhilarating, way more fun than trying to teach college freshmen in summer English comp the difference between there, their, and they’re.”

  “Then I suggest you join the police academy like the rest of us had to.” Ally picked up her desk phone and pressed the keys.

  Belle plopped in the chair beside Ally’s desk. “Are you always this cranky when you’re working a case?”

  Ally glared at her. “Hi. This is Deputy Yates from the Danville sheriff’s department. I’m checking on the status of an autopsy.” She read off the case numbers, then covered the mouthpiece with her hand and whispered, “I’m only cranky when people jeopardize said case by ignoring my very clear orders.”

  Belle chewed on a strand of hair from her ponytail and gave Ally a dirty smile. “That’s hot, you giving me orders.”

  “Oh, is it? Then you might try following them this time.” She put her hand up. “Yes, I’m here. Go ahead.” She nodded and made notes on a pad as she listened.

  Belle craned her neck to read what she was writing, but the script was cramped and illegible from where she sat.

  “No sign of blunt-force trauma,” Ally said before the phone was back in its cradle.

  “What does that mean?”

  “The ME didn’t find any signs of breaks or fractures in the bones. If the baby was murdered, it wasn’t violent.”

  “A non-violent murder? That’s a thing?”

  “If it was born alive and then killed, the evidence suggests it was probably smothered. But without a body, only undamaged bones, the ME will list the manner of death as undetermined. We’d never get a murder conviction.”

  Belle scoffed at what she was hearing. “So that poor thing’s soul will never rest in peace.”

  Ally grabbed her keys and travel coffee mug off the desk and headed toward the door. “Don’t give up hope yet.” She stopped at the door and squeezed Belle’s arm. “If we can locate an eye witness or the killer, and get a confession out of him, then it’s still possible.”

  “Oh, that sounds easy enough.”

  Ally added a bonus caress to Belle’s back. “Thanks to you, I have a few more leads to follow up.”

  Belle went heavy on the pouty eyes, loving how easy the ploy seemed to trigger Ally’s tender side.

  “Are you hungry?” Ally asked.

  Belle shrugged.

  “How about we head over to Sully’s for some wings and beer? I’ll let you beat me in a few games of pool,” she added with a grin.

  Belle felt her face ease into a smile. “Only if you promise to say good-bye this time.”

  “I think that’s fair.”

  As they drove away in separate cars, Belle exhaled. What was it about Ally that left her breathless?

  Whatever it was, she wanted more.

  Chapter Eight

  Belle marveled at Ally’s efficiency in stripping the meat off the bones of her buffalo wings. She hadn’t allowed even one drop of excess sauce beyond the perimeter of her lips, whereas Belle had surrounded herself with enough crumpled, orangey napkins to torch up a summer bonfire right there at the table.


  “You take the last one,” Ally said with a dainty lick of her thumb.

  “No way. I had more than you.”

  “You did not.” Ally shot her an imperious look. “If I can direct your attention to this pile of bones, you’ll notice I have more on my side.”

  “No, you don’t.” Belle flicked them around with her finger. “You arranged them to look that way.”

  Ally grinned. “Are you accusing me of evidence tampering, Ms. Ashford?”

  Belle laughed. “You’re just defensive now that I’ve figured out how you can eat wings and beer and still maintain your slender, rockin’ bod. You pawn the excess fattening stuff off on your dinner dates.”

  “Rockin’ body, huh?” Ally narrowed her smoky, seductive eyes. “I guess you would know.”

  “I speak with authority on that subject. The memory of it can be quite forceful at times.”

  Ally downed the last of her beer. “So can the dream of it.”

  Belle stared at her for a moment, allowing the thought of Ally having dirty dreams about her soak in.

  “Should we get the check and shoot some pool?” Ally asked.

  “You’re not having a second drink?” Belle was suddenly worried Ally was trying to cut the evening short. “C’mon. You can’t fly on one wing.”

  “You know how many calories are in craft beer?”

  “There are ways of working off an extra two hundred calories.”

  “I’m aware of that. And with every alcoholic beverage I drink, I come that much closer to suggesting one to you.”

  “I’m always open to suggestions.” She took Ally’s hand. “From you.”

  She squeezed Belle’s fingers as her brow crinkled in concern. “I’m picking up Chloe Friday.”

  Belle smiled, still holding her hand. “Good. I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  “Have you ever dated a woman with a kid before?”

  “A couple, but their kids were in college.”

  Ally didn’t seem convinced. Belle signaled their waitress over and gave her the two-finger point for another round of beer.

  “For what it’s worth, I like kids,” she added. “I teach young adults for a living, and although I’ve never pursued having my own children, I also never ruled out having them in my life.”

  “Okay.” Ally’s smile gleamed with relief. “Thanks for clarifying.”

  The waitress brought their beers, and Ally took a slow sip of hers, savoring the flavor with an “ahhhhhh.”

  “Is everything okay?” Belle asked.

  Ally paused as if what she’d say next would irrevocably change the course of their relationship. Belle froze in anticipation.

  “I like you, Belle. A lot,” she said finally, issuing forth a breath she’d seemed to be holding for centuries. “And I’m not quite sure what to do with all the emotion you’re stirring in me.”

  “I like you, too, Ally. My heart hasn’t had a minute’s peace since we made love. And the fact that our lives are crowded with people and things demanding our attention hasn’t deterred my feelings in the least.”

  Ally sat back in her chair and folded her arms. “I know. I keep trying to reason with myself that I shouldn’t get involved with you right now, but like you said, it doesn’t matter. I can’t stop thinking about you.”

  “What do you think about?”

  Ally looked down as a blush tinted her caramel cheeks crimson. “Um, lots of things—but mainly your inviting smile, your determination, your passion for justice for a troubled teen and an infant you didn’t even know. Those are rare, remarkable qualities.”

  “That’s so sweet.” Belle’s throat lumped at the sincerity in Ally’s eyes. “When you think about it, you and I have something major in common.”

  “Great sex and a love of craft beer?” Ally said.

  She giggled. “Besides that. We both have careers that involve looking out for the welfare of kids. I think that’s a perfect place to start.”

  Ally raised her glass to Belle’s.

  “And the sex was great, wasn’t it?” Belle said.

  Ally whistled her agreement. “But you know, that could’ve been beginner’s luck. I don’t think you can define the state of anything after one experience.”

  “How about we take a rain check on pool and go back to my place…you know, to verify?”

  “Fantastic idea,” Ally said.

  ***

  After they made love, they lay in Belle’s bed draped in moonlight shining through the naked window. Ally cuddled close, her head resting on Belle’s shoulder. They said nothing for a while, stroking each other’s arms with the tips of their fingers, Belle drinking in the scent and texture of Ally’s soft skin.

  Holding her in peaceful silence erased any doubt Belle might have had as to the authenticity of her feelings. Once again, the words I love you wrestled to be free, but she reminded herself that even though they’d met more than six weeks ago, it had been an even shorter time since they’d crossed the threshold and become more than friends.

  “I love how the trees are making crazy shapes in the moonlight,” Ally whispered.

  “When it comes to this house, a full moon and craziness are part of the ambience. I should have the realtor showcase that feature.”

  Ally pointed to her nose in agreement. “It’s funny how many times I came here on wellness checks for Marion and never noticed anything out of the ordinary.”

  “Not that I’m doubting your intuition as an officer, but I find that so hard to believe, given what I’ve discovered after being here only two months.”

  “She seemed like your typical elderly woman who’d outlived her family. After she retired from working as a visiting nurse, it seemed like she spent her remaining days with pets and pictures of Judy all over the house. It was actually rather sad. My official wellness checks became more like visits with an old friend. She’d always have a pot of tea and something baked from scratch waiting for me.”

  “Really? How often would you check in on her?”

  “It got to be a standing date, once a week for at least that year before she died. Then she fell, so we put her in a home to rehab, but she passed a week later.”

  When Ally suddenly became silent in the semi-darkness, Belle hugged her tighter.

  “She wasn’t supposed to be there permanently. I told her it was only until she got better.” Ally’s voice was somber, almost in rhythm with the shadows of tree branches slow-dancing against the wall.

  “I didn’t realize you had an actual friendship with her.”

  “She was a kind woman, but aloof,” Ally said. “Her personality seemed almost muted, like losing her daughter shut down her ability to connect with anyone after that. I suppose I could’ve asked her more about herself, but I felt like I was prying. I just listened to whatever she had to say.” She laughed softly. “But she did love my arrest stories from my days in patrol.”

  “I’m glad she had you to talk to in her last days. That must’ve made her feel good. And safe.”

  “I enjoyed having tea with her. But I must say, never once did I imagine one day I’d be back in this house in bed with her gorgeous great-niece. Or investigating long-dormant crimes.”

  Belle laughed. “That must be a bit of a mind-freak.”

  “Yeah, a little bit.” Ally giggled, then added, “But I can’t imagine any place I’d rather be right now…as macabre as that may seem.”

  Belle kissed her head. “I’ll take macabre if it’s with you.”

  “You and I should go into business writing wedding vows.”

  Belle guffawed at the suggestion and locked Ally in a bear hug. They jostled each other under the covers until their silliness ebbed. Belle then pulled Ally up, and they began kissing tenderly, exploring each other as if they were discovering their desires for the first time.

  Soon their hands were exploring each other in other places.

  Ally’s kisses and caresses swept over her like passionate winds, and she swayed and bowed li
ke a palm tree under her masterful touch. No other woman had ever taken her on such a sensual journey.

  Nothing could pull her out of it—except for the sound of…thunder?

  No, wait. That wasn’t thunder pounding on the front door.

  “I think someone’s at your door,” Ally said.

  “Who the hell could be here at this hour?” Belle glanced at her phone on the nightstand. Almost eleven p.m.

  “Let’s go see.” Ally jumped up and gathered her pants and shirt.

  Belle sat up and bunched the sheet up to her chin. “Um, no. I didn’t invite anyone over. Let’s ignore it.”

  The pounding was louder and more persistent this time.

  “I don’t think your guest cares what time it is.”

  Belle flung the covers aside and grabbed her clothes, begrudging whoever had the gall to keep knocking at such an inopportune moment.

  As they walked downstairs together, a voice emanated from the front porch.

  “Open the door, Belle. I know you’re in there.”

  Belle skidded to a stop at the bottom of the stairs, causing Ally to rear-end her. “For the love of Christ,” she whispered.

  “I’m guessing you know her.”

  “It’s fucking Mary.”

  Ally jerked Belle toward her by the shoulders. “Your ex, Mary? The one who lives in your condo? And probably believes you’re still a couple?”

  “Correction. Who used to live in my condo. She got the eviction notice. That explains why she kept blowing up my phone with texts and calls.”

  “Didn’t you answer her?”

  “She was already served. I didn’t think it was necessary.”

  “Clearly an oversight on your part.”

  “I didn’t think she’d stalk me up here.”

  “You have her listed as ‘Crazy Mary’ in your phone contacts. How could you have missed this?”

  “I thought I was just being clever. Perhaps I underestimated her.”

  “Ya think? Please answer the door and see what she wants. Do you want me to go upstairs or stay with you while you answer it?”