Fatal Trust (6 page)

“What a surprise,” Lexie said. “Checking into Dylan’s
finances is the first item on my To Do list.”

“I’ll talk to Cecilia,” Ben said.

“Good idea. Do you want paper and a pen?”

“Why?”

“So you can write a To Do list.”

“I think I can remember everything,” Ben said.

“Are you sure?” She grabbed her purse and unzipped it. “I’ve
got another pen.”

“Lexie, I’m not incompetent,” Ben said, sounding offended.
“I run a business. And I hate To Do lists.”

Lexie rezipped her purse and returned it to the rock. “How
do you know what you have to do each day?”

“If it isn’t obvious, it obviously isn’t important. Since
you’re clearly a big fan of lists, what’s item two?”

She looked down. “Checking into whether other beneficiaries
are in desperate need of money. Starting with Cecilia. How did her last divorce
leave her financially?”

“We can skip Cecilia. She’d never hurt Grandfather.”

“We can’t skip her.”

“You only suspect her because she’s been divorced three
times. You figure there’s either something wrong with her or she’s a
gold-digger.” Ben’s voice had an edge.

“Why would I think that?” Lexie asked. “I don’t know her
well, but I like her. It sounds like she makes bad decisions about men and has
mother issues, which are two things we’ve got in common. Max wanted my
objectivity. That means looking into everyone.”

Ben let out a long breath. “Sorry. I guess I’m a little
protective of Cecilia. I can pretty much guarantee she needs money. Cecilia’s
an incurable romantic and always thinks this man is the one she’ll be with
forever, so she signs truly lousy prenuptial agreements. But unfortunately she
also has lousy taste in men.”

“What does she do for a living?”

“She’s pretty much a professional wife,” Ben said. “She’s
never had a paying job in her life. Her mother can’t survive without a man
supporting her, and she’s convinced Cecilia that she’s the same way. Cecilia’s
smart and talented and could succeed at any career she tried, but it’s hard to
overcome years of your mother’s influence.”

Lexie’s lips twisted wryly. “I can relate to that. What
about Seth?”

“Seth is supporting a wife and two little boys on what he
makes videotaping weddings and bar mitzvahs. They also live in California,
which isn’t exactly cheap. I’m sure he could use the money,” Ben said. “But
he’s got a bigger motive. Seth’s share of the trust will allow him to finally
break into films or television. And his wife Joanna will get to act in
something other than local theater and tampon commercials, which I assume is a
big part of why she married Seth.”

Ben tapped his knuckles against his chin. “Actually, Joanna
could be involved, too. She was here with Seth and the kids for Easter. She’s
always struck me as one of those Lady Macbeth types.”

“I take it you don’t like her.”

“Not so much,” Ben said. “I think Joanna is my second
favorite suspect.”

Presumably Jeremy was his first. Lexie made another note.
“How about Muriel?”

“Aunt Muriel inherited quite a bit when her husband died,”
Ben said. “But she contributes to a lot of religions and might have given more
than she can afford. I’ll see what I can find out.”

“That leaves Jeremy. I’d better talk to him, since he
clearly won’t tell you the truth.”

“If he’s having money problems, he’ll lie to you, too, if
only out of pride,” Ben said. “I’ll ask my ex-wife. She isn’t a big fan of
Jeremy’s either.”

“Doesn’t Jeremy live in New York?”

Ben shrugged. “Olivia knows a lot of people.”

Lexie looked down at her list. She’d reached the end, and
every task had been delegated to Ben. “If you’re going to find out all the
money stuff, what am I supposed to do?”

“Once you’re done discussing Grandfather’s ghost with
Dylan?” Ben asked, a corner of his mouth quirking. “Why don’t you ask everyone
about Grandfather? Since he was famous, you’d naturally be curious about him.
Maybe someone will admit resenting him.”

“Wouldn’t I ask you?”

“Tell people I’m too upset to talk about him.”

“I guess I can also ask them about you,” Lexie said.

“Me?”

“I’m not about to take your word for it that you have no
interest in Max’s money.”

Ben narrowed his eyes at her. “Grandfather trusted me enough
to appoint me a co-investigator. You’re just trying to get back at me for
making you ride on my motorcycle.”

That sparked Lexie’s temper, and she lifted her chin. “I’m
not that petty. I’m trying to be thorough. I can’t exclude one beneficiary from
the investigation.”

“Fine. Ask all you want. But—” He pointed at the path.
“Quiet,” he whispered.

Lexie heard a couple of footsteps, then silence.

Ben walked over to the path and started back through the
woods. “What the hell are you doing spying on us?”

Lexie rushed to the path. Ben had a tight grip on one of
Seth’s arms.

“I’m not spying on you,” Seth said. “I didn’t even know you
were there.” He waved his camera the best he could since Ben was holding his
arm. “I’m taking photos of Grandfather’s land. Nevermore is probably going to
be sold, and this might be my last time here. It’s been such an important part
of my growing up that I want to make sure I’ve got photos of it. For myself and
to show the boys.”

Ben stared at Seth for a moment. After last night’s car
discussion, Lexie braced herself for a loud argument and maybe even a few
thrown punches.

Instead, Ben dropped his cousin’s arm, smiling faintly. “You
really have gotten sentimental, haven’t you?”

“Fatherhood will do it to you. You should try it,” Seth
said, and then he grimaced. “Sorry.”

“No big deal,” Ben said.

“You know, I have a feeling that Grandfather got
sentimental, too,” Seth said. “That’s why he wanted us to spend two weeks here,
both so we’ll appreciate Nevermore and so we’ll start to appreciate each
other.”

“You honestly think that was Grandfather’s motivation?”

“It makes sense.”

Ben rolled his eyes. “I think you’ve been in California too
long.”

It was almost nine that evening when Ben knocked on Lexie’s
bedroom door. “Sorry I missed sherry hour and dinner, but I got stuck at work.
How was your day?”

“Wonderful,” Lexie said, giving him a saccharine smile. “I
spent several hours reading and memorizing everything I could about Lexington,
Kentucky, in case Seth or someone else decides to quiz me about it. Which
wouldn’t be a problem if you’d made me from a city I’d actually spent some time
in.”

“Too late now,” Ben said. “How was sherry hour?”

“I didn’t show up until the end,” Lexie said. “I told
everyone I felt uncomfortable about intruding on the family when you aren’t
around, which is true. But I was there for dinner, and it was lovely. Seth kept
taking pictures of everything and everyone. Dylan and Muriel got into a heated
argument about whether God exists and Buddha’s role in the creation of the
universe, since Muriel seems to think he had one. Then Jeremy and Cecilia
argued over whether the fact she keeps signing bad prenups indicates she’s an
incurable romantic or just stupid. Trey tried to keep peace and change the
subject, which didn’t work. And despite my research, no one asked me a single
damn question about Lexington. At least the food was good.”

“I think I prefer the burger and fries I ate by myself at
Dairy Queen before I came home.” Ben took Lexie’s arm. “You deserve a break. Let’s
go.”

“Go where?” she asked.

“Trust me.”

“
Right.
The last time I did that, I
ended up riding a motorcycle and dodging a cop.”

Ben grinned. “Relax. I’m just going to introduce you to a
Rockville institution.” He opened the door. “We’ll take my truck.”

Walt’s Tavern was a dive located a mile outside Rockville.
Lexie and Ben walked through a cloud of smoke thick enough to slice, courtesy
of a dozen men and women with drinks and cigarettes milling around the
entrance. Although smoking inside was prohibited by state law, the front door
was propped wide open, so a smoky haze encompassed a room packed with men
wearing T-shirts, jeans, and swaggers, and women with shrill laughs and too
much eye shadow. In a khaki skirt and navy silk T-shirt, Lexie felt
overdressed—literally. Every other woman seemed to be wearing a cropped top,
paired with either a miniskirt or jeans so tight they were superfluous as a
body covering.

Ben put his hand on Lexie’s back and directed her to the
bar, an expanse of light wood covered with scratches and smoke burns. “What can
I get you?” he asked, his voice barely loud enough to be heard over the blaring
jukebox and alcohol-loudened conversations.

“I don’t suppose they have a decent cabernet,” Lexie said.

“I wouldn’t try it.”

“I assume the mixed drinks are watered down.”

Ben grinned. “How else is Walt supposed to make a living?”

“I’ll try a gin and tonic.”

Lexie surveyed the room as she waited for her drink. From
the minute she’d stepped into the place, she’d felt as if every eye was on her,
and from the way people were unabashedly staring now, she wasn’t just being
paranoid. She shouldn’t have been surprised—from what she knew of small towns,
gossip was a major form of entertainment. She’d bet everyone had heard all
about Ben’s girlfriend from Kentucky.

“Here’s your drink,” Ben said, handing her a tall glass
filled with a reddish-orange liquid and a few bobbing ice cubes. “It’s Walt’s
specialty. He insisted. Don’t drink it too fast.”

“Since you won’t buy me another one?”

“I didn’t have to pay for this one.”

Lexie took a sip. The drink was fruity but not overly sweet.
She could barely taste the alcohol—hopefully it contained enough to kill any germs
lurking in the glass or water supply.

In contrast to everyone else’s interest in Lexie, Ben
ignored her, instead scanning the crowd. “I’ve got to talk to someone,” he said
after a moment. Then he took off, heading for a blonde who was leaning against the
back wall, probably because otherwise her oversized bust would make her fall
flat on her face. Ben took the woman’s arm and led her to a corner table.

That’s why he’d come here, Lexie realized—to meet another
woman. Although she had no idea why he’d brought her along. The probability
she’d pick up any clues as to Max’s killer seemed about as likely as the
blonde’s boobs being gifts of nature. People certainly wouldn’t mention any
gossip they’d heard about Ben or his family to his girlfriend. She turned
around and set her empty glass on the bar.

“Can I get you another?” the bartender asked immediately.

“I’d love one,” she said. “Put it on Ben’s tab.” After
dragging her here and then deserting her, he could damn well pay for her
drinks. While she waited, she looked for Ben. He was still at the back table in
deep conversation with the blonde, assuming any woman he found attractive was
capable of deep conversation.

She turned to the bar just as Walt handed her another drink.
She was halfway through it when a man sidled up beside her. “I thought I saw
you come in with Ben Gallagher.”

“I did, but he’s obviously forgotten me.”

“That’s hard to believe.”

“It seems to have happened,” she said, giving the man a warm
smile. He was good looking, with dark hair and a thick mustache on his deeply
tanned face. No wedding ring either, not that he was any more likely to be her
type than Ben was.

He pressed his hand over his heart. “My mother would turn
over in her grave if I left a lady unattended. I’m in the middle of a game of
pool, and I’d be honored if you’d be my good-luck charm.”

She glanced at Ben again. She might not care what he did or
with whom, but his behavior was starting to piss her off. He’d come up with the
girlfriend charade in the first place, then he drags her to a place she’d never
have ventured within smelling distance of otherwise and immediately dumps her
for another woman?

“I’d love to,” she told the man with another smile.

“Get the lady a refill, Walt,” the man said. “My name’s Sam
Harris.”

“I’m Lexie.”

He took her hand. “I’m delighted to meet you, Lexie. Thanks,
Walt,” he said as Walt set another drink and a beer on the counter. “The pool
tables are in the back room.” Sam picked up both the beer and Lexie’s glass.

The table in the corner was empty now, and Lexie couldn’t
see Ben anywhere, making her even happier she’d decided to go with Sam. She
followed him through the crowd to a separate room with four busy pool tables.

“I thought you chickened out about finishing, Sam.” The
speaker, a man with thinning sandy hair and a thickening waistline, waved a
pool cue.

“Not when I’m winning. I got distracted. Lexie, this is
Eddie.”

Eddie gave Lexie a friendly smile. “Pleased to meet you,
Lexie.” Unlike Sam, he was wearing a gold wedding band. “Where do you hail
from?”

“Kentucky. I’m here visiting Ben Gallagher.”

Eddie snorted. “Yet another reason the guy’s a lucky
bastard. Not that Ben had any trouble getting women before, but I’ll bet he’s
got his pick now that he’s going to be a multimillionaire. Not that you’re with
him for his money,” he added.

“I was sorry to hear about Ben’s grandfather’s death,” Sam
said. “And in an accident like that. It’s a damn shame.”

“Max was a great guy,” Lexie agreed.

“You met him?”

She recovered quickly. “No, but everyone I’ve talked to says
that.”

“Well, they’re right,” Sam said. “He was one of the best.”

“Which is high praise considering Max didn’t trust Sam with
his legal business,” Eddie said, sinking a ball in the corner pocket.

“You’re a lawyer?” Lexie asked.

Sam nodded. “But Max used some hotshot firm from out east
where all the lawyers are specialists. Good thing, since as a small-town
general practitioner, I probably would have screwed up the trust provision that
makes everyone spend two weeks together to inherit.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t do it,” Eddie told Sam. “Everyone
in that house would hate you for making them stick together for two weeks,
especially Ben and Jeremy. And what if one of them lost out on a fortune
because of it? I heard Dylan’s in debt to the mob, who’d be happy to break a
few of your bones. The rest could probably take you out themselves. ’Cept maybe
Muriel.”

“I came here because Ben was so upset about his
grandfather’s death,” Lexie said, shifting the conversation to a more comfortable
subject than her potential future bodily harm. “Even though it was a major
hassle to get time off. Then he runs out on me.”

“His loss is our gain,” Sam said. “Like I said, I have a
feeling you’re going to be my good-luck charm.”

“Maybe you should come over to my side so you can back a
winner.” Eddie took another shot, missed.

“In your dreams, Eddie,” Sam said, picking up a cue.

Lexie leaned against the wall. She felt as if she’d stepped
into a bad movie—city girl gets stuck in the country, drinks too much, watches
a couple of locals play pool, and finds true love with one of them. The only
differences were she wasn’t drinking too much or falling in love. Actually,
most of those movies also had a bar fight scene—she’d prefer to skip that part,
too.

“I assume Ben plans to go ahead and expand his garage the
way he wanted. Now that he’s inheriting a fortune,” Sam said.

“He’s planning to expand?” Lexie asked.

“Double it in size. Last winter he had the plans drawn up
and hired me to handle the legal issues. Everyone knew about it, so it’s not
like I’m violating any attorney-client privilege talking about it.” Sam took a
shot. “Ben planned to do it this spring, but then decided to delay
indefinitely.”

“Why?”

“He said he needed to resolve a few things first,” Sam said.

“Sam’s using his attorney double-talk,” Eddie said.
“Everyone knows Ben had to drop it because he couldn’t come up with the cash.
That won’t be a problem anymore, if he’s even gonna work at all now that he’s
filthy rich. I sure as hell wouldn’t.”

So she’d found out something useful tonight after all. Of
course, Ben’s business must be good if he was considering doubling it in size,
and how much money did you need to live well in a place like Rockville? But
living in Rockville gave Ben opportunity, and he now had a possible motive. She
wasn’t about to accept he was innocent just because Max had made him her
co-investigator. Maybe Max had done that because he suspected Ben and assumed
that if he and Lexie spent enough time together, Ben would inevitably give
himself away.

Sam knocked in another ball. “How’s Nevermore, Lexie? Seen
any ghosts?”

“Not yet, although I wouldn’t be surprised. The place is
spooky.”

Sam shot again. “You got that right. Damn,” he said when the
ball skimmed the side of the pocket but stayed on the table.

“You’ve been there?” Lexie asked.

“I think everyone in town has driven up there to look at
least once, though I’ve never been inside,” Sam said. “Eddie has.”

“Just on the first floor. I do glass repair, and Max called
me in to fix his front window after some kooks shot it out.”

That’s right. “You’re a friend of Seth’s, right? He
mentioned you.”

“Yeah, we were tight back in high school,” Eddie said. “I
haven’t talked to him in a few years, though.” His shot bounced off the side,
landing a few inches from the pocket.

“Side pocket,” Sam said, then sank the eight ball. “I told
you that you didn’t have a prayer, not with Lexie on my side. Another game?”

Eddie shook his head, handing Sam a folded bill. “I’d better
get home or Miranda will have my ass. It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Lexie.”

“Do you play pool?” Sam asked as Eddie walked away.

Lexie shook her head. Technically she played billiards, so
it wasn’t exactly a lie. She certainly couldn’t play anything in a bar like
Walt’s.

“Do you want me to teach you?”

On the other hand, Lexie the cocktail waitress would
definitely play pool in a bar, and she needed something to do while she waited
for Ben’s return. “I’d love to learn.“

After Sam had instructed her in the basics, Lexie awkwardly
positioned the cue behind the ball. “Now what do I do?” she asked.

“Slide the cue so it hits the ball. Try it.”

She intentionally missed the ball and jabbed the table, then
turned and made a face. “I don’t think that’s exactly right.”

His smile made him even more attractive. “Not exactly. Let
me help you.” He moved behind her and leaned over her, putting his hands on
hers. His body was warm, his scent of beer and spice. With his help, her shot
landed in a corner pocket.

“I think I’ve got it,” she said, moving away from him. She
positioned herself and shot. This time she topped the ball, propelling it only
a few inches.

“Try again. This time focus.”

She hit the ball, landing it exactly where she intended—a
couple of inches from the pocket. She was getting tired of being pathetic, but
she couldn’t suddenly become Minnesota Fats.

She turned toward him. “I did it. Almost.”

“You’re a natural.”

“What the hell are you doing?” Ben was suddenly beside her
and glowering as if someone had scratched his precious motorcycle.

“Sam’s teaching me to play pool,” Lexie said.

“Not anymore he isn’t.”

She raised her chin. Where did he get off, telling her what
to do? “I’m not quitting right when I’m getting the hang of it.”

“If you want to learn how to play pool, I’ll teach you,” Ben
said.

She didn’t want to do anything with Ben, but if he wasn’t
going to leave her alone, she might as well enjoy herself. “I don’t need any
more lessons. Sam’s an excellent teacher. But I’ll play against you.”

“I don’t think so,” Ben said.

“Afraid I’ll beat you?”

“
Right
.
”
Ben took down a
cue. “I’ll spot you two balls and let you break.”

Lexie picked up her cue, and then remembered. “You have to
break. I haven’t had that lesson yet.”

Ben broke. “Since I spotted you two balls, you can take them
off the table before you take your shot.”

“I need more to aim at.” Lexie positioned her cue and took
her first shot. A solid-colored ball went into a side pocket. She didn’t stop
until she’d cleared the solids and shot the eight ball into the corner pocket.

“Beginner’s luck, I guess,” Lexie said, giving Sam a warm
smile. “I told you Sam was an excellent teacher.”

“I’m not
that
good,” Sam said. “Where did you
learn to play?”

“In my parents’ billiard room, of course.”

Sam chuckled, clearly thinking she was joking. “Why did you
pretend you didn’t know how?”

“Because I was enjoying my lesson.” She returned her
attention to Ben. “I assume you came to tell me I need to find my own way back
to Nevermore.”

“I’ll be happy to drive you there,” Sam said.

“For God’s sake, I’m driving you,” Ben said.

“I’d rather go with Sam,” Lexie said. Especially since Ben
now looked as if his motorcycle had not just been scratched but totaled. “He
was nice enough to entertain me while you were busy with another woman.”

“I’ll entertain you now,” Ben said.

Ben being entertaining was about as likely as her becoming a
professional pool shark. But she couldn’t see any way to avoid going with him,
short of making a scene, and Barringtons never made scenes. Rule Number 14. Who
knows, Ben’s ego might even demand one of those damn bar fights.

Lexie gave Sam a rueful look. “Sorry, but I think Ben and I
need to talk.” She picked her drink off the wooden table she’d left it on when
she’d started her pool lessons and took a sip. The ice had melted, and the
small amount of liquid remaining tasted like warm Kool-Aid. She returned the
glass to the table.