Swindled (23 page)

Chapter 41

Taking her mind off the new range, Beth opened the front door three days later to find Bee, Charlotte and Karin. Clutched in each of their hands was a long list all the things that their rich best friends might want to get for them.

“A Ferrari?!” Beth exclaimed laughing as Vickie giggled next to her on the couch. They were in the living room with the three reprobates perched on the assortment of chairs gleefully explaining why they put what on their list. Beth eyed Charlotte over the top of the list that she had presented.

“Why not?” Charlotte asked sounding hurt. “A red one I think, as it will match more of my outfits.” She was sitting on the edge of the couch swinging one of her jean clad legs. Her cashmere sweater clung elegantly to her curves and she looked deceptively innocent.

“You don’t have a driving licence Charlotte,” Beth pointed out with a laugh. Beth leaned back tucking her multicoloured peasant skirt around the legs she had folded up onto the couch. She played with the long amber bead necklace as she looked back at the list. Next to her Vickie had her feet stretched up on the coffee table. Vickie was wearing a fleece white sweatshirt and navy white cotton draw string trousers. Against her dark auburn hair and dancing blue eyes she looked decidedly soft and motherly. Her skin fairly gleamed as she grinned at Beth. It was nice to have friends around them, ones willing to make fun of their newly wealthy acquaintances. Friends like these can keep a person sane Beth decided.

“Miner hick-up,” Charlotte retorted to Beth’s comment with a shrug and then gave the sisters a grin. “We just wanted to make sure you two weren’t getting weighed down with all the new found wealth. Anyway I can always get you to pay for a chauffeur as well!”

“You are too kind,” Vickie returned with a smile. Nothing fazed them Beth thought. They didn’t care if Beth and Vickie were poor or rich.

“Hey you did disinfect this room after they took Brian’s body away didn’t you,” Bee asked looking around with mock horror. They were sitting, after all, in the room that Brian’s body had been laid out in.

“He was in a coffin the whole time Bee,” Vickie said soothingly, “Except when we accidentally stripped him naked and dragged his carcass around the room of course.”

“Oh, of course,” Bee agreed nodding, pretending to be serious. “I can see how that could happen.”

“So have you two got over that nasty habit of killing people?” Charlotte asked with wide eyed innocents. “Or should we be compiling a list of suggested victims for you to consider next?”

“Don’t joke.” Beth said. “I really wish they would find out who did it. I just want it all put to rest.”

“Actually Joseph is coming around to give you an update.” Karin chimed in. There was a stunned silence as everyone digested this. Karin started to blush and attempted to look nonchalant. “He said he would be around this morning. I figured if we were all here then you wouldn’t have to repeat what he said.”

“And with all of us here you figured he couldn’t try to bully Beth again.” Charlotte astutely added giving Karin an appraising look.

“He’s just doing is job.” Karin said defending him. “Its not like he is doing it just to be mean.” Just as the two of them began to get into a heated discussion the doorbell rang. Beth glared at her friends and told them to behave.

Sure enough, at the door were Joseph and his partner. Never looking the most comfortable when they came by, the detectives looked very uneasy as they were ushered into a room full of people. Beth caught Joseph giving Karin an exasperated look. No doubt he would be having a chat to her about their timing. Karin just smiled at him, nothing like a show of support from your friends.

Joseph asked that Scott and David join them as well so Beth obediently went to fetch them from the back. Sometime over the last three days Vickie had decided to redesign the garden. She had David and Scott, when he wasn’t at work, cutting flower beds and laying garden paths. It would be a masterpiece when done but in the meantime the garden looked like a muddy mess. The two trooped into the kitchen looking like they had been in a mud wrestling competition.

Eventually everyone was somewhat clean and gathered into the living room. Joseph and his partner stood to one side as everyone else found a perch to sit on. Beth ended up leaning against David who had staked out the arm of the couch. With his arms around her and her back against his chest, Beth felt protected. David was on her side.

“Tina was murdered by a blow to the back of the head,” Joseph started. “It is pretty clear from our investigations that she knew something about Brian’s murder. We think that she was trying to blackmail whoever did it which may have lead to her subsequent death.”

“How did you make that connection?” Scott asked.

“We have established that the item of clothing in the closet belonged to Tina.” The detective shot Beth and Karin a look. “From the location of that clothing and other items found in the vicinity, it looked like she left in a hurry. We found a notebook in her home and the indents showed that she had written a note asking to be paid up.”

“Have any of you had dealings with Tina outside of the funeral?” The detective asked and looked up to meet Beth’s eye. “I need to know if any of you have any other information about this case.” David tightened his arms around Beth supporting more of her body weight. She realised that the detective and David both thought she might have stumbled on more information and didn’t tell them. She shook her head.

“At this we are confident that the murders are linked and that both victims were murdered by the same person or persons,” Joseph paused and Beth held her breath. He continued, “We are also firmly of the belief that Brian’s murder is linked to his business. There are too many factors pointing to a business associate or partner.” Beth could almost feel the collective sighs of relief ruffle her hair. Could it be over?

Joseph took a deep breath. “I don’t need to tell you that this is a serious situation. We are following some very hot leads. Don’t do anything that can jeopardise the investigation.” After a few more comments he and his partner left the house.

“So it’s over?” Vickie asked looking relieved.

“For us at least,” David agreed nodding. He was looking relaxed in a dirty pair of worn jeans and an old sweatshirt. There was a smudge of mud on his cheek which Beth had to restrain herself from rubbing off. She really loved him dirt and all.

Beth looked around thinking through what Joseph had just said.

“What was the last comment about? Does he think we might warn the people at Brian’s office?” she asked. Vickie and Scott shrugged. Everyone else looked puzzled as well.

“He knows that none of us were involved,” Karin said quietly from the window seat watching everyone as they mulled everything through. “I think they have figured out who did it and don’t want us to stumble into it.”

“So we’re clear?” Beth asked to clarify the point. “They know we had nothing to do with it. We’re really clear of it all?”

“Yes,” Karin said responding to Beth’s comments with a smile. “Joe told me this morning that they were close so I think it’s safe to say we’re all in the clear.”

The relief was palatable. It felt like a weight was being lifted from their shoulders. There was nothing left but to steer clear of Brian’s affairs and spend time together. To celebrate the seven of them raided the kitchen and ate lunch on the terrace overlooking the muddy patches. One day soon those muddy patches would be filled with every flower imaginable, knowing Vickie. Actually Beth mused to herself as they ate, at the moment it looked a bit like someone had been out back burying bodies. She shook her head. What was she thinking? Dead bodies??

Chapter 42

By early afternoon the friends had departed and Vickie had retired to the sitting room. David and Brian were in the back digging up more holes while trying to figure out the plan that Vickie had drawn for them. Beth didn’t think the garden was going to survive the invasion.

She was putting the last of the clean dishes away when the doorbell rang again. Putting down the dish towel she answered it and was surprised to find Brian’s ultra efficient secretary.

“Anne! Come in please,” Beth beckoned her in and opened the door wider. They walked toward the living room, she noticed that Anne looked almost… well haggard. Vickie waved as they entered the living room and met Beth’s eyes. She wasn’t the only one to notice that the impenetrable Anne was looking far from her usual efficient self.

Leaving the two to exchange greetings, Beth made a pot of tea and told the hardworking men that they were welcome to take a break and say hello to Anne. They declined, determined it seemed to sort out the mess of a garden. By the time she went back into the living room Vickie was sunk into one of the couches with her eyes closed and Anne was sitting silently staring off into space. Vickie opened her eyes as Beth placed the tray down and the two of them looked at the pale vacant Anne.

Vickie leaned forward and asked gently, “Anne, are you okay?” Beth figured that Anne had come by because she missed Brian. The last few days had obviously been too much for her. Being close to Brian’s sisters was probably the only way she could get a bit of closure on the murder. It might be the only way Anne felt she could get closer to Brian now that he was gone.

Anne shook her head and visibly looked like she was bringing herself back to the surroundings. “Oh. Yes. Yes I am. Things have just got a bit … confusing these last few days.” She said as she took her cup of tea from Beth.

“I can imagine you’re trying to sort out things after Brian's death. It must be very hard,” Beth said softly. She really didn’t know how to make Anne feel better. “How are things at the office? “

Anne looked at Beth and then at Vickie. She pulled herself up, straightening her back and put her tea cup down on the table between them. She took a deep breath and said, “Yes that’s what I wanted to talk to the two of you about. The business is not going at all well. With Brian gone and the funds all frozen by the government we are in dire straights. It looks like the business is going to fold.”

“I’m so sorry,” said Beth. The sisters already knew all this of course, but it seemed like the news had finally been shared with Brian’s colleagues.

“Is there anything we can do for you? It must be very hard,” Vickie asked

“No – and we were so close to making it.” Anne said as she clenched the handbag that sat in her lap.

“Why couldn’t you just leave it?” She asked suddenly looking at the two sisters.

“All you had to do was use the Trust money to pay off your creditors. Why did you have to go through that paperwork? Why didn’t you just transfer enough money back into your business accounts and leave well enough alone? All we needed was a week and it would have all been cleared up.”

“What?” Beth said leaning away from Anne. “What are you talking about?” What was going on here? Anne didn’t look like the lost soul from mere minutes ago. She looked angry. In fact, she looked deranged.

“No I guess you couldn’t leave it could you?” Anne asked glaring at Beth. “You wanted it all didn’t you? You knew that if you handed over that account information earlier that they would freeze the funds of Brian’s business before we could fix it. You knew that if you just sat back that his business would fold. It couldn’t have been easier for you to ruin Brian’s business could it?” Anne was getting irate. She rose from the couch and was walking around in choppy motions. She waved the handbag she had clutched toward them every now and then to extenuate a point.

Beth stood up and moved closer to Anne. “I’m sorry I still don’t know what you’re talking about.” She said. In the back of her mind she knew that there was something wrong with Anne. She just couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was that was so worrying. Vickie was sitting on the couch watching Anne as if she were insane. Obviously Beth wasn’t the only one worried.

“Anne why don’t you sit down and we can talk through this?” She asked.

“No,” Anne stopped pacing and turned to face Beth. “I’ve sat still enough. Don’t you understand? I had it all planned. With Brian gone, I could fix the company. I knew that once he was out of the picture the other partners would be able to salvage the mess he had made of things. We would be able to run the business properly. Successfully,” she said. “Brian was ruining things. Every time we had everything running smoothly, every time we had money coming in, he would invest in some crackpot scheme or be making a divorce settlement. He kept taking the money. The business was going under. He was destroying the business.” The last comment was made in a screech.

Beth felt her stomach sink lower and lower as Anne raved on. She had a sick feeling. She had an idea where this was heading and didn’t think that she or Vickie wanted to be there when Anne reached the end of her tether.

Scott was in the back garden with David. They would make Anne leave or at least keep her busy until help arrived. She could make an excuse and fetch them. She stepped toward the door, torn. Vickie was too big to move and Beth was determined to make sure Anne was kept away from her. Tucked into the corner of the couch Vickie was at least out of focus.

“Where are you going?” Anne suddenly asked focusing on Beth. “Where are you going?”

“I thought I would just pop to the kitchen to refresh the tea,” Beth replied thinking quickly. “I won’t be more then a minute.” Surely Anne, the calm efficient Anne would be content to rave on until Beth managed to alert the men.

“No.” Anne said fiddling with her bag. “No, you stay here until we sort this out.” Anne fumbled and suddenly pulled a gun from her handbag. It was tiny but solid. It was pointing at Beth.

Beth always thought seeing a real gun would be more dramatic somehow. On television guns are always larger then life and when they appear on the screen. The appearance of a gun was usually preempted by ominous music. Nothing in the seconds it had taken Anne to pull out the gun had prepared Beth. It was hard to believe that such a tiny metal thing could end her life. The pounding of her heart in her ears, however, was warning that her body believed this was a life threatening situation. Anne did not look stable or lucid. Her stance was strong though and the gun didn’t quiver in her grip. This woman was serious and had a gun trained on Beth.

As long as the gun stayed on Beth and didn’t turn toward Vickie, Beth felt okay. Deep down, she really wanted to run screaming from the room. She wanted to pull the gun out of Anne’s hands and throw it out the window. But mostly Beth wanted to run in front of her sister. Her sister, who couldn’t move quickly, couldn’t shift out of the couch without help. Her sister who was incredibly pale and panting as she watched the gun.

Beth said quietly, “Anne please calm down. I don’t know what you are talking about but I am sure that we can sort it out. If there is a way to save Brian’s business with money then maybe we can do that. Just calm down and we can talk about this.”

“No,” Anne said. “No. I thought about it and this is the only way. Without the two of you there isn’t anyone to inherit the trust and they will then turn it over to the company. There will be more then enough money to put back in the business. All of the money, not just some little hand out and … and from there the business will be fine.” Anne was trembling although the gun stayed steady. It seemed like she was talking to herself more then to Beth.

“Everything will be fine – I just need the two of you gone and it will all be fine.” Anne took a deep breath and her whole body stilled. She stared into Beth’s eyes. Beth could hear the blood pounding in her ears and everything else in the room blurred as she focused on the gun and Anne. She could see the pitch black hole at the centre of the gun barrel, the grey circle that surrounded it and the minuet detail of Anne’s finger as it started to tighten on the trigger.

There was an explosion of noise and Beth felt a huge impact as her body flew back and crashed onto the floor. She felt incredibly heavy and struggled desperately to draw in a breath. The room had darkened and she couldn’t get her gaze to focus. Her hearing went fuzzy and she couldn’t get a grip on what was happening around her. Had she been hit? Was it not hurting because she was fatally injured? Had the bullet just gone through some fat and she was oblivious?

Just as Beth was getting ready to slip into full on panic, the heavy weight on her shifted and air flooded her longs as she gasped. The world came back in a scattering of voices shouting with the sound of struggle. Her ears ringing Beth lifted her head. Staring back at her was David. He was half sprawled over her, his hair tussled and face lined with worry.

“Are you okay?” He asked cupping her face with his hand. Beth could feel his body shaking slightly from the shock and pulled him closer. She closed her eyes as she hugged him to her. She couldn’t believe she was still alive.

“I’m okay,” she said softly to him. “I’m great,” she amended.

“Good,” he replied. “Because it would just be wrong to be this hard if you were hurt.” He moved his hips a fraction to illustrate his point then dropped his head into her shoulder. “Shock reaction,” he explained and they lay there laughing in one another’s arms.

Above them they could hear Scott speaking over the voices of the detectives.

“You don’t need to hyperventilate, love, they're fine. No, I’m not just saying that. They wouldn’t be laughing if everything weren’t fine.” There was a pause. Even the detectives grew quiet and then Scott’s voice said “Vickie, what’s wrong? The baby? NOW?” he ended in a note of panic as the ambulance crew on the scene moved forward to assist with the onset of labour. Beth and David looked at one another and kept laughing. Safe.