Murder in a Basket (An India Hayes Mystery) (22 page)

Chapter
Thirty-Nine

Not even the chance to catch a killer could keep Ina from one of her weekly Irish-American Club meetings. The club was having a potluck lunch at noon at my mother’s church, so Ina and I headed back home.

If I asked Mains about
Welch’s death, he would know I was still meddling in his case, and I would rather not get a lecture. My next best option was to talk to David Berring. Since he was Victor’s executive assistant at the time, perhaps he would know why Victor had a copy of the police report or why he left Tess the dog and money.

After eating a
peanut butter sandwich over my sink, I left for the co-op.

It was the first time
I had been to the co-op in the daytime, and the pines lining the drive, which had looked so sinister at night, looked like Christmas tree standins in the daylight. The small lot in the back only held a few cars, all of which had seen better days. Being an artist was not glamorous.

The large barn
door was closed, so I entered through the smaller side door. The sound of power tools immediately accosted my ears. Ansel Levi was sipping from a bottle of soda when I walked in. He asked if he could be of any help, so I told him that I wanted to speak to David.

“
He’s in his stall, making paper. He won’t mind. Do you know the way?”

I nodded.

David lifted a soaking wet piece of blue and white paper out of a large plastic tub. He smiled at me, but didn’t say anything until he hung the piece with a clothespin on a line next to five other identical pieces. He dried his large hand on a tea towel. “What brings you here?”

“
I was wondering if you had a minute to talk.”

“
Sure. I’m at a good stopping place anyway.” He unlatched the stall door that came up to his waist. “Let’s go outside.”

The air outside was
cool, and I reached into my pocket for a thin pair of cotton gloves.

David apparently was made of strong
er stuff because he was without a coat. There was a small patio behind the barn that overlooked the parking lot and the back portion of the property, including Jerry’s forge, which had crime scene tape encircling it.

“
What can I do for you?”

“
I’ve just had an interesting conversation with Debra, Tess’s sister.”

“
Oh?”

“
And she told me you used to work for her uncle.”

His
forehead smoothed. “Yes, I was Victor Lepcheck’s executive assistant for fifteen years. It was my day job while I was building my art career. Many artists have other jobs. You yourself said you work for the college.”

“
Since you worked so closely with Victor, maybe you know why he wrote his will the way he did.”

“
I worked for Victor, but he did not confide in me that way.”

“
You don’t even have a guess?”

“
No.”

“
Do you think it was because he knew Tess would give some of the money to the co-op?”

“
If that is what he wanted, why didn’t he bequest some of the money to the co-op in the first place? I can tell you he did not.”

He had a good point.

“But Victor bought this land for the co-op?”

“
He was a generous man.”

“
Debra gave me the impression the donation was out of character.”

“
Debra might not have known her uncle as well as she thinks she did.”

“
She cared for him in his illness.”

He shrugge
d. “Sickness changes a person. Most likely, she spent time with a different man than I worked for.”

“
I learned Victor had a police report of the hit-and-run that killed Tess’s first husband.”

He started.
“How’d you hear that?”

It was my turn to shrug.
“Why do you think he’d have a copy and keep it for all this time?”

“
How should I know? I didn’t even know he had a copy.”

“
But you were working for him at the time of the accident.”

He gritted his teeth.
“Yes. I really don’t know where you’re planning to go with these questions.”

Truthfully, I didn’t either.
It seemed as if I was getting nowhere. Realistically, the only one who knew why Victor did those things was Victor himself, and he wasn’t available to ask.

He put his hand on my shoulder. It was heavy.
“I can see you love a mystery, but the truth is there is no real mystery here.” He shook his head sadly. “It’s hard for me to imagine Celeste doing what she did, but I have to accept it.” He removed his hand. “Now, let’s talk about something much more pleasant. I’ve looked at your website and some of your pieces, and I think there might be a place for you in the co-op.”

“
Really?” I was pleased and surprised.

“
Really. You have a good eye, and I think you would be a great addition. We need some young blood in our group, and you’ll be our first painter.”

“
I’m flattered.”

“
It’s not a done deal of course. The co-op members have to vote, and it has to be unanimous.”

“
Makes sense.”

“
The co-op is meeting here tonight at nine. I’d like you to come and see what we are all about.”

Even though I was interested in joining the co-op
, or at least seeing how it could help my painting career, I had no desire to visit the place at night so close to my gruesome discovery earlier in the week. Then I remembered my out. The school board meeting was that evening, and my parents were planning on being there to make the case for saving the bell tower. They’d asked me to join them. At the time, I’d said I couldn’t make it. They would be happy, thrilled even, if I changed my mind. I told David about the bell tower and the school board meeting.

He nodded.
“Oh, right. The school board meeting is tonight. It completely slipped my mind. I’ll be there, too. I’m presenting a new arts program for the district using co-op space.”

“
Really? That sounds like a wonderful plan. The arts have been cut a lot since I was in a kid.”

David
touched his Santa-like beard and smiled. “We do what we can here for the community. Since you’re here, let me show you around. I know you got to see a bit of the co-op at Tess’s party, but I want you to have a clearer picture of what we do before joining.”

I agreed and followed
him in back inside the barn.

Chapter
Forty

After getting home from the co-op, I reluctantly called Mains.

“
Hi. How’s it going?” he asked. I heard a smile in his voice and told myself not to be happy about it. My stomach did an involuntary little flip. Traitor.

I cut to the chase.
“What can you tell me about the hit-and-run that killed Seth Welch ten years ago?”

“
Seth Welch?”

“
Yes, he’s Derek’s dad, Tess’s first husband.”

“
I know who he is.” His tone was guarded.

“
Do you remember the case? You were the reporting officer on the scene.”

“
Yes, I remember the case.” The smile was no longer in his voice. “I’m not even going to ask how you know I was the officer on the case.”

“
I’ll gladly you tell you. I found the police report at Victor Lepcheck’s house.”

“
And what were you doing there?”

I bit my lip.
“Helping Lew.”

“
This is about Tess’s case, isn’t it? That’s what you are really after.”

“
The two cases might be connected.”

“
That’s a stretch even for you.” There was a pause, and it sounded like Mains was talking to someone else. “India, I’m going to have to let you go.” He rang off.

A second later, my cell rang.
I looked at the screen hoping it was Mains calling me back and hating myself for that hope. It was a number I didn’t recognize.

“
India, I need to talk to you,” Derek said, with the sound of tears in his voice.

“
Is something wrong?” I asked.

“
I found something, and I think it’s important, but I’m not sure.”

“
Important for what?”

“
It’s about my dad.”

I blinked.
“Where are you?”

“
I’m at mom’s house.”

“
Where’s that?”

He gave me the address.
“Can you come?”

I chewed on my lip
. With how Derek felt about me, it probably was a really bad idea to meet him alone. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”

Tess and Jerry’s house was in a small subdivision on the outskirts of town.
There was a nice large park nearby, and it was the perfect neighborhood to raise a family. To me, the community seemed too suburban for Tess and Jerry’s artistic sensibilities.

Derek
waited for me in the drive.

“
What did you find?”

“
Come inside, and I’ll show you.”

We sat at the kitchen table.
“What is it?” I asked.

“
Let me tell you. I decided to take your advice and get off campus, but the only place I could think to come was here. I asked Uncle Sam if I could crash at his place, but he said no, and I didn’t want to go to Aunt Debra’s. She would fuss over me the entire time, and I didn’t want that. I wanted to be alone.”

“
That’s understandable.”

“
So I came back here, and I couldn’t sit still. Everything reminds me of Mom.” He closed his eyes for a second. “I thought it might help if I looked through some of her things, so I went up to her room. I opened the drawer to her nightstand at random, just thinking about her, you know. I didn’t really have a plan. I wasn’t looking for anything. But I found something.”

“
What did you find?”

He reached into his back pocket and pulled out an ivory stationary envelope.
“It’s a letter to my mom from my great uncle Victor.”

“
What does it say?”

“
You can read it.”

Dear Tess,

How I wish I had the strength to give you this letter in my lifetime. How I wish I wasn’t a coward. But I am. Even though I’ll be gone when you read this, it doesn’t make it any easier to write.

I am the reason
you no longer have your beloved husband Seth. It was late, and I shouldn’t have been driving. The doctor advised me not to drive at night because of my poor eyesight. But I was stubborn and didn’t listen. You don’t know how many nights I lie awake at night wishing I heeded the doctor’s advice. I was driving back from a meeting with my shareholders in Akron. I told them I had a buyer for the company and planned to sell. It was an emotional meeting for all, and I was upset. Summit Polymer was my entire life, but I knew I couldn’t care for the company as I once had. I saw an out, an out that would make me a lot of money, and I took it.

The shareholders were not pleased with the announcement.
The company I was selling to was located in North Carolina, and my local shareholders knew they would lose what little control they had.

It was dark and late as I drove home, and I decided to come home th
rough backstreets. I was no longer confident driving on the highways. As I came around the square, I thought I was home free. I didn’t see Seth crossing the street. It was so dark. I felt the bump when I hit him. I stumbled out of the car and saw him lying there. I cannot express the horror that washed over me at that moment. He was dead. There was nothing I could do to save him, and I knew it was Seth, which made it so much worse.

I know I should have called the police then and confessed and received the
punishment I so justly deserved. But I was selfish. I knew my deal to sell Summit Polymer would fall through with the bad press this would create. I would lose my money, the company, everything.

I swear to you, Tess, if he had still been alive, I would have called for help.
I would have, but since he was gone, I’m so ashamed to say I went home and used my money to make it go away.

I have thought of that night every minute of every day for the rest of my life.
The pain was especially acute whenever I saw you or your son Derek. All I can say is that I am truly, truly sorry. I know that isn’t enough.

I take a risk in telling you this even after my own demise. Someone will want this to remain a secret
, but now that I am gone you deserve to know the truth. I hope the money I have left in your care will provide for you and for your son.

My deepest regret
s,
Victor H. Lepcheck

I set the letter on the table between us. Derek watched me. I didn’t say anything but picked up my phone to call Mains. This time I called his cell number. “I have the answer to the question I asked you.”

“
What are you talking about?”

“
Can you get away for a little bit? I have something very important to show you about Seth Welch’s murder.”

“
I—where are you?”

I told him.
Mains must have been nearby because he was at the Ross-Welch home within five minutes. He came into the kitchen. “What’s this about?”

I pointed to the letter in the middle of the table.
Mains sat down and used a pen to pull the letter toward him. Anxiously, Derek and I watched Mains read the letter. Finally, he looked up. “I’m glad this solves your father’s case.”

“
What about Tess and Jerry’s death?” I asked.

“
This doesn’t change anything for Celeste, if that’s what you are getting at.”

“
But the letter says someone won’t want her to know this. Maybe Tess took it upon herself to find out who that person was and was killed for it?”

Mains arched an eyebrow at me.
He slipped the letter into a clear evidence bag. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll have this checked for fingerprints. Did you both touch it?”

We
nodded guiltily. He put the bag in his inside jacket pocket. “I’ll take it to the station right now.” He stood. “India, can I talk to you a minute outside?”

I walked Mains to his
car. “I want you to cut this out.” His tone was fierce.

“
Don’t you think Derek has a right to know what happened to both of his parents?”

“
Of course I do.” He ran a hand through his thick dark hair. “Don’t you realize you’re making yourself a target? Two people.” He showed me two fingers for emphasis. “Two people have been murdered in the last week. If you’re right and the killer is still out there, you’re in some serious danger.”

“
What do you want me to do? Nothing?”

“
I want you to go home, lock yourself in, and let me do my job.”

“
Can’t tonight. I’m going to the school board meeting. The bell tower issue is on the agenda, you know.”

“
Fine. Just promise me you will stay with your parents the whole time.” He laughed. “No one’s going to get to you with Reverend Hayes in the way.”

I grinned.
“Nope.”

Mains looked at me, and I felt my chest tighten.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” He kissed me on the cheek before jumping into the sedan and driving away with lights flashing.

I touched my cheek before going back inside the house
, not knowing how I felt.

I returned to the house, relieved to find Derek
in the kitchen. I hoped that meant he hadn’t seen the exchange between Mains and me.

“
I know Celeste isn’t the one who killed my mom. It’s the person Uncle Victor mentioned in this letter.” His eyes gleamed with tears.

“
Derek, don’t get any ideas. Whoever it is could be dangerous,” I said, essentially repeating the same warning Mains had given me.

“
They killed my mom.” His voice quavered.

Professional distance
be darned. I pulled the weeping child into a hug.