Deadly Valentine (33 page)

"I know."

"But your cops down there think he did."

"I think they hope he did."

"What? What kind of cops are down there?"

"They're police detectives and normally good, but this is a big case involving a prominent family."

"Asa wouldn't give anyone there the time of day, yet they stand by him like he was a saint."

He was preaching to the choir, but Tess declined to interrupt Brad's rant.

"Isn't there a crazy ex-wife and greedy kids?"

"Sort of, but they're family… a distinguished family from a small town. But a good defense lawyer will keep Jack from being arrested unless something more tangible is discovered."

"I'll call Fletcher today."

Tess let out a relieved breath that Brad was going to stop harping on her.

"When he's on board, let me know and I'll send up the files," she said.

"Can you send it up to us now? I think Derek is coming up in a day or two, maybe he can courier it up?"

"These are confidential papers," Tess reminded Brad.

"Jack trusts Derek." Brad paused. "Or you can bring it up personally. I'm sure Jack would like that."

Tess sighed. Brad was going to have to find another way to get his office back. "Let me know about Derek."

"Right."

Tess was about to end the call when Brad said, "Tess, you know I didn't mean to hurt you."

She really didn't want to get into that again. "I don't think-"

"Jack, he's not like me. I don't mean he's not gay. I mean-"

"Brad-"

"I'm just saying, maybe that fairy tale stuff can be true. We always said it was bunk, but maybe –"

"I need to go now." Tess could feel her control slipping. Any minute she was going to blurt out that she was on her way to beg on her hands and knees. But what purpose would that serve?

"Just think about it."

"I can't," she said as she hung up the phone.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Regina's call interrupted Tess as she put the finishing lines into the Goddard's divorce petition. As it turned out, people who were divorcing didn't seem to care very much that Tess had betrayed the Worthington family by representing Jack. She figured she should be pleased that there was work for her after all. But she couldn't imagine spending her life breaking apart families.

"Sarah Robinson and Agnes Beckett are here. They don't have an appointment."

Tess frowned. Why would the Worthington's staff be here? "Send them in."

Tess stood and moved around her desk to greet Sarah and Agnes as they entered her office.

Agnes rushed forward taking Tess' hand. "Ms. Madison. Thank you so much for agreeing to see us. I know you're very busy, and we just burst in like this."

"It's my pleasure. How can I help?" Tess said as she directed them to sit in the two chairs facing her desk.

Agnes sat, crossing her ankles and folding her hands in her lap. It reminded Tess of the manner lessons she used to get from her mother. Sarah sat next to Agnes, but didn't have any of the daintiness. She looked every bit like a sullen teenager slouched in her chair. Clearly she didn't want to be here.

"We hoped you could answer a question for us," Agnes said.

"I can try," Tess answered sitting at her desk. "Is it a legal question?"

"What if-" Agnes started.

"This is one of those made up questions," Sarah said. "What are they called?"

"Hypothetical?" offered Tess.

"Yes. Hypothetical."

"Okay."

"Hypothetically," Agnes started again. "What if a person wasn't completely honest with the police the night Mr. Worthington was killed?"

Tess felt the tingle of excitement. "That would depend on how important that information was to the police and whether or not that person meant to deceive the police."

"Could they go to jail?" Sarah asked. She tried to look nonchalant, but her body had stiffened and leaned forward slightly waiting for Tess' answer.

"It's possible. The police could charge the person with obstruction of justice."

Sarah's breath quickened as she looked to Agnes. "Let's go."

"What if, hypothetically of course, Philip Worthington wasn't where he said he was or with who he said he was?" Agnes said patting Sarah's hand. Sarah was not reassured. She turned away from Agnes, crossing her arms in a huff.

"That would be information the police needed to know. Whether or not Philip went to jail would depend on why he lied and whether it's important to solving the case." Tess decided to pretend they were talking hypothetically about Philip instead of Sarah. "Is Philip changing his story?"

Sarah slumped further in her chair.

"Not exactly," Agnes said. "Sit up girl and act like the lady you want everyone to treat you as," she said with slap to the arm of Sarah's chair. "You made this bed, now you've got to sleep in it."

"Now she knows," Sarah whined.

Agnes turned back to Tess who was trying to stay relaxed even though she felt jazzed by what Agnes and Sarah were telling her.

"Philip will probably deny it, so it will be Sarah's word against his," Agnes said.

"Not necessarily," Tess said. "Another witness could corroborate Sarah's story."

"Really?" Agnes looked hopeful.

"The detectives are going to want to know why Sarah didn't tell the truth sooner and whether or not the new account makes a difference to the case. That would be weighed against whether or not to accept the new story and whether to file charges."

"It won't make any difference," Sarah said. "I'm a nobody. Let's just go."

"You're not nobody," Tess said sharply. "And if you're telling the truth now, it could prevent an innocent man from going to jail."

"She knows it all now anyway…"

"I suspected before you even showed up here," Tess admitted.

"You did?"

Tess nodded. "I understand the difficult situation you're in. I think I can help you. But you have to decide whether or not to do to the right thing."

"I want to do what's right," Sarah's voice sounded so young. Tess found herself getting angry at Philip for taking advantage of the young woman. Putting her in a position that could land her in jail. Tess determined to not let that happen.

"Why don't we start by you telling me what really happened that night," Tess suggested.

Sarah looked to Agnes who nodded. "Philip was with me."

"When?"

"After everyone finished dinner. Mr. Worthington went to his office. Philip met me in the pantry."

"The pantry? Why would you meet with him there?"

Sarah rolled her eyes and Tess could hear the underlying "duh". "We are together."

"Together as in –"

Sarah's expression gave the impression that she thought Tess was a little short on brain function.

"Sarah, I can guess what you're talking about, but it will be better for everyone if you spell it out for me."

"Together like in he's my boyfriend."

"How long have you been in a relationship with Philip Worthington?"

"A year or so."

"Is Shelby Worthington aware of this?" Tess discretely reached on her desk to grab a pen so she could take notes.

"I didn't think so, but then I overheard her telling Philip off about it, and how he needed to back up her story or she'd tell on him."

"Tell what on him?"

"I figured it was about me and him. I didn't want to lie, but Philip said I had to or it would cause problems. I'd be fired for being with him. I really need this job."

"He said you'd be fired?" Tess asked feeling Sarah's case grow stronger.

"He said I'd be 'let go'."

"Does that mean anything?" Agnes asked.

"It could help Sarah's case," Tess explained. "She was coerced. Threatened with her job."

"See, I told you Ms. Madison could help," Agnes said patting Sarah's hand.

"After you were in the pantry, where did Philip go?"

"He left and went through the kitchen."

"Did you see him?" Tess asked Agnes.

"No. But when my head is in the refrigerator I can't see or hear a thing. It buzzes something awful. I told Mr. Worthington, rest his soul, it needed fixin' but he said as long as it kept the food cold there was no reason."

"Why would he go through the kitchen and not the other way, out to the hall and foyer?"

Sarah shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he wanted to steal some dessert. He does that."

Agnes nodded. "Now that you say that, I did notice a hole in the tray of tassies. I was sure I filled it, but when I went to serve it, some were missing. He loves the tassies."

"Do either of you know where the other people in the house where? Not what you've heard people tell you, but what you saw?"

"I don't," Agnes said.

"I only saw Philip. And then I went to the kitchen. Sarah and Walter were there."

"So what should Sarah do?" Agnes asked.

"I think we need to talk to Detective Johnson."

Sarah tensed.

"I'll help you," Tess reassured her. "I can call him now. Do you have time?"

Agnes checked her watch. "Walter said he'd be back for us in an hour or so. No one is at the house at the moment since Mrs. Showalter is at the hospital with her husband and the Senator is back in Washington."

"Where are Philip and Shelby?" Tess asked.

"They're back at their home in Westlake."

"Packing." Sarah added. "Shelby is sure they'll be getting the house."

"Sarah!"

"What? I heard her say that."

"Let me call Detective Johnson," Tess said.

~~~~

Detective Johnson wasn't thrilled about Tess' request, but he came to her office within twenty minutes. Tess had moved the ladies to the sofa and asked Regina to bring them some coffee. She moved the chairs near her desk to face the sofa so she and Detective Johnson would have a place to sit as well.

When he arrived he listened to Sarah's story, every now and then casting a glance at Tess with a "do you believe this" look. Even so, he was gentle with Sarah even when he challenged her statements.

"This is very different from the statement you gave the night of the murder or when I talked to you again this morning," he said. Tess was surprised. He'd be questioning her that morning? She wanted to know what prompted that, but decided to wait until later to ask.

Sarah cast a worried glance to Tess who nodded. "I was doing what Philip asked me to do, but then you said I had no alibi. I didn't want you to think I did it."

"So you changed your story?" he asked.

Sarah's worry made a turn towards panic as her voice went up an octave. "I’m not making it up."

"What if I told you that even without an alibi, I wasn't thinking that you had anything to do with the murder?" he asked.

Sarah relaxed only slightly. "I'm telling the truth now."

He nodded. "I'll need to compare your statement to those of the other witnesses."

"There's another witness who's statement supports Sarah's," Tess reminded him.

His eyes darkened. "I'll still need to check it out.

"They'll fire me!" Sarah dropped her face into her hands.

"They can try," Tess said. "But I think you have a good case for wrongful termination if they do."

"Case?" Agnes asked.

"I can explain when Detective Johnson leaves. But if you're fired, I think we can get you a pretty good severance package to help you out until you find another job." Tess turned to the detective. "I'll see you out."

Once they were outside the office and out of earshot of Agnes and Sarah, Tess asked, "So you believe her?"

"Yes. But that doesn't mean Mr. Valentine is off the hook."

Tess swallowed back the pain that stabbed at the mention of his name. "It's not looking too good for Shelby though."

"I thought you wanted out of this case. Why are they here?" So Daniel had talked to him.

"They just showed up. I couldn't not help."

He nodded that he understood. "I'll be in touch."

Back in Tess's office, Agnes was reassuring Sarah that she'd made the right decision. Tess reached on her desk to pick up her business card.

"If you need me," she said moving to Sarah and handing her the card, "or if you have questions, give me a call."

Sarah's eyes looked bleak.

Tess smiled. "If they let you go, you may have a lawsuit." Her comment didn't do much to reassure Sarah. She must really be in love with Philip, Tess thought.

"And I'll help you find a new job," Agnes said.

The intercom buzzed. "Mr. Jamison is here," Regina's voice said.

"Let him in please," Tess responded. "Does Walter know why you're here?"

"Yes."

"Any chance he saw you and Philip Worthington in the pantry?"

"I don't think so. He was bringing Mr. Worthington, a drink and preparing the parlor," Sarah said.

And checking on a sick guest, Tess remembered. "Do you mind if I ask him about it?"

"If you think it will help," Agnes said.

"Mr. Jamison," Tess held out her hand. He looked a little surprised as if he never was treated as anything more than a butler no matter where he was. But he took her hand.

"Ms. Madison."

"Would you mind if I asked you some questions about the night Mr. Worthington was killed?"

He looked to Agnes and Sarah. "I don't know anything but what I already told the police."

"I understand, but it could help me in representing Sarah."

"I guess that would be alright."

"Do you want some coffee?" Tess asked as she directed him to a chair vacated earlier by Detective Johnson.

"No thank you."

"I'm just trying to get a sense of where everyone was in the house at the time of Mr. Worthington's murder," Tess explained. "Can you tell me what you saw that night?"

"Well, after dinner, Mr. Worthington went to his office. I went to the parlor to fetch him a drink."

"Do you know where everyone else headed?"

He shook his head. "No. But I did hear him and Mr. Valentine arguin' in his office."

"Do you know about what?" Tess asked.

"Mr. Valentine was real angry about something. I figured it wasn't my place to butt in, so instead of going in, I went to check on you."