Polished Off (10 page)
Authors: Barbara Colley
Charlotte’s hands trembled as she parked the van in the tight space between two vehicles alongside the curb in front of Daniel’s house.
Stop it! Stop it right now You’re letting your imagination get the better of you.
“Or else reading too many mystery novels,” she whispered to herself. Everyone was suspect in a mystery novel.
“Or else reading too many mystery novels,” she whispered to herself. Everyone was suspect in a mystery novel.
For as long as she could remember, she’d always had an active imagination. But having an active imagination could be both a blessing and curse, and Charlotte sometimes en-vied those who could go along life’s merry way, taking things strictly at face value. Right now, having an active imagination was definitely a curse, she decided.
Maybe she should start reading romance novels instead. Most of those were upbeat and, well, romantic. And they always had a happy ending. Maybe she would try one by that local author everyone was always talking about, the one who lived in Daniel’s neighborhood. But what was her name? Rexanne something. Maybe Becnel? Yep, that was it. Rexanne Becnel.
“Aunt Charley?”
Daniel’s voice outside the window of the van gave her a start. She jerked her head to the left just as he opened her door.
“Is something wrong?” He leaned down to peer in at her, his hand on the edge of the door.
“Ah—no, hon. Just wool-gathering. Something I seem to be doing a lot of lately.” She removed the keys from the ignition, collected her purse, and climbed out of the van. Daniel slammed the door shut. After she locked it, she followed him around the front of the van into the yard.
They were halfway to the steps leading up to the porch when Charlotte reached out and took him by the arm. “Daniel—hold up a sec.” He stopped. “On the way here I was thinking. Have you considered that Nadia might not be the only suspect in all of this? What I mean to say is—and not that I would ever think such a thing—but the police might consider you a suspect as well.”
Daniel smiled indulgently. “Oh, Auntie, you’re something else.” He gave her a quick hug. “And, yes, of course I’ve considered that possibility. You forget I’m a lawyer. And as a lawyer, I’ve defended a lot of clients who were suspects, so I do know a bit about such things.”
“Oh, hon, of course you do.” Her cheeks grew hot. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. It’s just that I—I—”
You what, silly woman?
You what, silly woman?
Daniel chuckled. “It’s okay, Auntie. No reason to be embarrassed, and no explanation necessary.” He suddenly sobered. “I’m not worried about me, though. I’m more worried about Nadia and Davy. I have to tell you, Aunt Charley, I’m not looking forward to this, and I’m really glad you’re here.”
Though not nearly as large or as ostentatious as the historical houses found in the Garden District, Daniel’s home was impressive in its own way. The two-story Mediterranean-style house with its salmon-colored stucco and its red-tiled roof had been built in the 1920s and was an elegant example of Spanish architecture.
The house had come on the market when interest rates were down and at a time when Daniel had decided he’d had enough of apartment living. In the two years since he’d bought the house, real estate values had skyrocketed, and his purchase had proved to be an extremely wise investment.
Charlotte followed Daniel to the steps leading up to the porch. They were halfway up the steps when they heard a commotion from inside at the door. Then, even though the little boy’s voice was a bit muffled, they heard him yelling, “Mommy, Daddy Danol! Daddy Danol here!”
Within seconds, the front door abruptly swung open. Like a miniature tornado, the little boy raced onto the porch. When he saw Charlotte he skidded to a sudden halt. Then he spied Daniel just behind her and made a beeline for him.
Daniel scooped Davy up into his arms. “Hey, there, buddy!”
The little boy giggled with delight. “I wait for you,” he chortled. “Just like Mommy said.”
“You did? That’s great!”
“Davy! Come back—” Nadia appeared at the doorway. Her hands were on her hips and her face was a picture of frustration. She froze in the doorway at the sight of Charlotte. “Oh—Hi, Charlotte.” She stepped onto the porch. “This is a nice surprise. I didn’t realize we had company.”
Charlotte smiled and stepped closer. “Not company, hon.” She opened her arms and pulled Nadia into a hug. “We’re family now,” she said as she released her.
Nadia returned Charlotte’s smile, but her smile quickly faded into a frown, and, with eyes narrowed, she turned her attention back to Davy. “You—you little scamp.” She shook her finger at him. “How many times have I told you not to open that front door without me being there? What am I going to do with you?”
Davy ignored her by burying his face against Daniel’s shoulder. With a wink for Charlotte, Daniel tilted his head down and whispered loudly next to Davy’s ear, “Uh oh, buddy, sounds like you’re in trouble.” When the little boy just burrowed his face deeper into Daniel’s shoulder, Daniel chuckled. Then he stepped closer to Nadia, leaned over and kissed her. “Guess I’d better get that security chain put up after all, huh?”
“I put it up myself this morning,” she told him. “For all the good it did,” she added. “I made the mistake of telling him it was time for you to come home, and for the past half hour, he’s been watching out the window for you. I only left the room for a minute, but that’s all it took. The little devil pulled a chair up to the door and unlatched it.”
Davy turned his head and glared at his mother. “I not devil. Devil’s monster.”
“Of course you’re not, darling.” She reached up and patted his back. “Mommy was just being silly.” With an oh-well sigh, she faced Charlotte. “The place is a mess, but come on in.” She motioned for Charlotte to precede her. “I’m still unpacking, but with both of us working, then me being sick ...” She followed Charlotte inside. “I just can’t seem to get it all done.”
“Feeling better?” Charlotte asked.
Nadia nodded. “Better than yesterday.”
Daniel followed them inside and closed the door.
The living room was large, with a high ceiling and two oversized windows that framed a fireplace on one wall. There were several packing boxes stacked in a corner and a small pile of children’s books on the floor near one of the windows, but otherwise the room was orderly and spotless.
“You’ve made quite a few changes since the last time I was here,” Charlotte told Daniel, her gaze lighting on the sofa. “That’s a beautiful sofa. Much nicer than that other one you had. Must be new.”
Daniel nodded. “Yes ma’am, it is. We couldn’t decide whether to use the old one Nadia had or that old one I had, so we figured the best thing was to get rid of both of the old ones and buy a new one.”
“Well, I love it. You both made an excellent choice.”
“Thanks,” Nadia said. “It’s really comfortable.” She motioned toward the sofa. “Have a seat. Try it out. And I’ll get you something to drink. Coffee? Iced tea?”
Charlotte hesitated, unsure of just how Daniel wanted to handle telling her the news about Ricco.
As if he’d read her mind, Daniel shifted Davy in his arms and said, “Why don’t we wait a few minutes on the drinks, honey. I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
Charlotte held out her arms. “Why don’t I take Davy into the kitchen?”
Nadia stared first at Daniel, then at Charlotte. “What’s going on?”
“In a minute,” Daniel told her. “I’ll explain in a minute.” To Charlotte he said, “Maybe that would be best for the moment, Auntie.” He lowered Davy to the floor, then knelt down to the little boy’s level. Gently cupping Davy’s chin, he said, “But Davy’s a big boy, aren’t you, buddy?” When Davy grinned, Daniel released his hold on the little boy.
Davy nodded enthusiastically. “I big boy,” he repeated.
“And big boys walk, don’t they?”
Again Davy nodded.
“So, big fella, why don’t you show Aunt Charley where the kitchen is? And maybe she can find you a cookie—” He glanced up at Nadia. “If that’s okay with your mom.”
“It’s okay,” she said. “He’s already had his supper.”
“Well, then.” Charlotte held out her hand to Davy. “Let’s you and me go find those cookies.”
Davy grabbed her hand. “I show you, Aunt Chardy.” He tugged on Charlotte’s hand, and with a sympathetic but encouraging look for Daniel, she followed Davy out of the room.
“What’s going on?” Charlotte heard Nadia ask as she led Davy down the hallway. But Davy was chattering away, and there was no way she could hear the rest of the conversation.
Charlotte tried to give Daniel and Nadia time, but once Davy got his cookie, it was hard to distract him for very long. The little boy adored Daniel, and since his precious “Daddy Danol” was home, he wanted to be with him.
When Charlotte and Davy returned to the living room, Daniel was seated on the sofa next to Nadia with his arm around her shoulders. Nadia was pale and staring straight forward with unseeing eyes.
Davy went straight to Daniel and crawled up into his lap. Only then did Nadia seem to realize that the little boy and Charlotte had returned from the kitchen. With a lost look, her gaze shifted back and forth between Charlotte and Daniel. “They’re going to think I did it, aren’t they?” she whispered in a strained voice.
“Right now all they want to do is question you,” Charlotte told her firmly.
“B-but th-they’ll think I did it!” her voice rose.
“Nadia, honey, don’t—” Daniel reached out, but Nadia shrugged away his hand and abruptly stood.
“Why?” she cried. Wringing her hands, she began pacing between the door and the sofa. “All I ever wanted was a little happiness for me and my son. And now this!” She suddenly stopped and whirled to face Charlotte. “Oh, Charlotte, what if they arrest me? What if they take Davy away from me?”
Charlotte quickly closed the distance between them. “Nadia, stop it,” she told her and took a firm hold of both her upper arms. Slowly and forcefully for emphasis, she said, “All they want is to question you. Don’t borrow trouble, hon. Panicking will only make things worse. And
nobody
is going to take Davy from you,” she added.
nobody
is going to take Davy from you,” she added.
“You’re right, Nadia murmured. ”I know you’re right, but—” Tears filled her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks.
Charlotte drew her into her arms and held her while she shook with silent sobs.
“Why Mommy cryin’?” Davy’s wide eyes were focused on his mother, and his lower lip began to quiver.
“Mommy’s just sad,” Daniel told him. “Grown-ups get sad sometimes and need a hug.”
“I hug Mommy.”
“In a minute, buddy. In a minute we’ll both hug Mommy.”
Charlotte patted Nadia on the back. “Try and calm down now, hon,” she murmured. “For Davy’s sake if nothing else. It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”
But even as Charlotte spoke the soothing, reassuring words, she couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that settled in her stomach like a chunk of lead.
When Charlotte left a few minutes later, Nadia seemed more in control of her emotions. Yet, as Daniel, Davy, and Nadia waved good-bye from the porch and Charlotte drove away, the uneasy feeling she’d had returned.
What if they arrest me? What if they take Davy away from me?
Nadia’s plaintive words stayed in her mind. Contrary to the assurances she’d given the young woman, and no matter how much she tried to convince herself that Nadia’s fears were unfounded, the ominous feeling of doom just simply wouldn’t go away.
Nadia’s plaintive words stayed in her mind. Contrary to the assurances she’d given the young woman, and no matter how much she tried to convince herself that Nadia’s fears were unfounded, the ominous feeling of doom just simply wouldn’t go away.
Chapter Seven
C
harlotte slept fitfully that night and awakened much earlier than normal on Saturday morning. Though she tried to blame her restlessness on the spicy tacos she’d picked up when she’d left Daniel’s and on the fact that she’d eaten much later than usual, she knew the real reason was her worry about Daniel and Nadia.
harlotte slept fitfully that night and awakened much earlier than normal on Saturday morning. Though she tried to blame her restlessness on the spicy tacos she’d picked up when she’d left Daniel’s and on the fact that she’d eaten much later than usual, she knew the real reason was her worry about Daniel and Nadia.
Wondering if anything would be written up in the newspaper yet about the discovery of the skeleton, she took only enough time to go to the bathroom before grabbing her robe and heading for the kitchen. After she’d switched on the coffeepot, she made a beeline for the front porch to get the newspaper.
Though it should have been daylight outside, the sky was so overcast with dark clouds that it seemed as if it were still nighttime. The air was sticky-warm, and there was a smell of impending rain.
Charlotte spotted the newspaper on the bottom step. Just as she bent down to pick it up, the Doberman across the street growled and began barking and jumping on the fence.
“Aggravating mutt, isn’t he?”
With a yelp of surprise, Charlotte whirled around to see Louis standing in the doorway of his half of the double. He was wearing a thick terry robe, and, from the looks of his bare, hairy legs, that was all he was wearing.
“I hope you know you just scared the daylights out of me. Again,” she added, thinking of the ladder incident.
“Well, I didn’t do it on purpose. And why so jumpy lately? Didn’t you hear the door opening?”
She waved vaguely toward the house across the street. “How could I, with Prince over there making such a racket? Besides, you’ve oiled everything and anything around here that even thought about squeaking.” And it was true. One of the first things he’d done after he’d moved in was to oil all of the noisy hinges on the doors.
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