Dead Ringer (Silent Partner Series Book 2) Page 4

  When I woke up, I was very disappointed that I was still in Georgia, unmarried, and that all perfection was a dream. However one thing was real – Finn’s profession of love. He did say ‘I love you’ and then he hung up. I didn’t imagine it but I didn’t respond either.

  Phyl would be pleased when she found out. Naturally I couldn’t be the one to tell her – that would be up to Finn. I wonder how long it would take him. He and Phyl were very close.

  15

  Finn’s declaration of love completely threw me. It came from concern and fear for my safety I know but it took my eye off the prize of finding a killer and confirming that the dead Uber driver was or wasn’t my wayward father.

  Chief Harden telephoned and said that a victim had my name and Gmail address on his person. He asked if I would come to the morgue to make identification.

  Without seeing the body in the morgue I already knew that it was Patrick McLachlan – the dad I hadn’t seen in a very long time. My anger overruled my compassion at the moment. Where was he when Maggie died? And where was he when our mother suffered with breast cancer and succumbed? Where was he when I needed him the most?

  Evidently, bad news travels because Natalie and Auntie Lee met me at the door. They embraced me, but the tears wouldn’t come. Arm in arm, we walked up to the viewing station. The attendant waited for Natalie’s signal before he pulled down the sheet covering the corpse. It was my father all right. My heart was too hard for anything but bitterness and anger. Was there any love left in my heart for him? If there was, it escaped me at the moment.

  Anger and parental affection warred in my soul. I wanted to forgive but my spirit screamed “no.” Why did he contact me at this particular time? There must be a reason.

  16

  “Oh Mollie, I had no idea,” Finn enfolded me in his arms. I had exited the morgue and was on the way to my car. I had shooed off Natalie and Auntie Lee. They must have contacted him when he returned from California. Bystanders in the parking lot gawked as we embraced, but neither of us gave a fig. I needed to know that I was important to someone and that someone cared about me. Phyl, Natalie, and Finn filled that role perfectly.

  Finn followed me home. He offered to stay, but I didn’t want any company but my thoughts.

  A good daughter would be grieving and notifying friends and family. We don’t have any family and I don’t know any of his friends. Should I arrange a funeral? A memorial service? A reception? I didn’t want people telling me how sorry they are for my loss. I did all my grieving when my father left me, Maggie, and Mom for no apparent reason – at least I didn’t know of one.

  Phyl telephoned but I let it go to voice mail. Auntie Lee and Natalie promised they’d check in, but I just felt cold and numb. Should I show or rather not show my emotions? I didn’t want to be a hypocrite but neither did I wish to be disrespectful. After all the man did give me life. I have so many questions – with both of my parents gone will they go unanswered forever?

  Could there be any clues in Mom’s things I put in storage? Only one way to find out. What is a respectable time to wait before burying my errant parent and going on with my life? I needed parental guidance and there was only one place to go.

  17

  I rang the bell and Sharif, the butler, answered.

  “Ma’am,” he said and stood aside. I have been a regular visitor so all the staff know me well.

  “Hello,” I said. He offered to take my shawl. It smelled of lavender like Auntie Lee. “No thanks, I’ll keep it for now.”

  Phyl embraced me and we went to my favorite place – the patio. She ordered tea and we sat in silence for a few moments. Only then did I allow the tears.

  “There. There my dear. You’ve been through a lot. Just let it all out. I’m here for you. We all are,” Phyl murmured.

  “I’m such a mess. I don’t know what to do first. I have a funeral to plan for someone I hardly knew,” I sobbed. And for a few moments I just let myself be babied by someone I had learned to trust.

  “I will send Finn to the men’s department at Neiman Marcus. Finn has good taste and will see that your … um Patrick has appropriate apparel. We will get fitting information from the funeral home. Don’t worry, Mollie. Everything will be taken care of. I will handle the reception afterward as well,” Phyl assured me.

  “I can’t afford all of that and I don’t want you to foot the bill,” I blubbered.

  “We can settle all of that later. Right now, time is not on our side. I want to do this for you, my dear.”

  Before I could argue any more, she was on her cell and it was done. Knowing the first lady of the newspaper world indeed has its advantages. She could handle any situation without breaking a sweat. No wonder Phineas and Finn adored her. And I did too.

  **********

  Phyl and I went shopping for a suitable dress for the events to come. I picked a dark sheath and wore my mother’s pearls. Finn escorted me to the viewing at Barton & Barton Funeral Home that afternoon. I balked at viewing my father in a casket.

  “You don’t have to look if you don’t want to, but I think at least a cursory glance is needed here. It will erase your vision of him in the morgue,” Finn advised.

  I approached my father’s coffin alone. His body did look much better than before. Finn had selected a navy pin stripe suit with a pristine white shirt and a silk tie. I really appreciated his shopping expertise. Even in death my dad was a handsome man. I regret that Maggie and I didn’t know him better.

  I took a seat on a sofa intended for the family. Those who paid their respects would sign in and view the body and give me their comforting words. It would indeed be a small crowd. Dr. Benson agreed to say a few words at the memorial Merry Bell volunteered to do the music. It was to be simple and short.

  If it were up to me, I’d have him cremated and stowed away somewhere. There was that anger again. I’m told it is a natural part of grief and I had a double portion.

  Phyl and Phineas paid their respects. Phyl seated herself next to me – partly for support and partly to introduce those she brought with her. Chief and Mrs. Harden, the mayor and his wife, along with members of city hall, and some of the church members I had met. There were a couple of members of the bell choir who probably came because of Phyl’s urging. She was determined that we should have a respectable number of people at the service.

  Merry came in late. I figured she came for me to approve the music. I was searching for a mint when I overheard her whisper, “you always were a dead ringer for Cary Grant.”

  I kept rambling through my purse as I filtered what I had just heard. Could that mean what I thought it did? Were Merry and I related? Did she know my dad? If so, how?

  Phyl had excused herself to the ladies’ room so there were no witnesses. Did Merry say that for my benefit? The only way to know was to confront her, but this was neither the time nor the place. When Dr. Bell moved on I noticed that she dropped a tissue in front of the casket. I carefully squirrelled it away. I had one more favor to ask of Natalie.

  Throughout the service I couldn’t shake the idea that somehow Merry Bell knew my dad. She was older than me but not old enough to be a girlfriend. Gross!

  Without a will or a burial plot, I decided on cremation so the proper authorities picked up the body. I would be receiving the ashes at a later time or I could pick them up whichever I preferred. What I preferred was not dealing with this at all.

  The reception was held at the community center adjoining the community theatre. The Andersons had everything catered by Gordon’s Gourmet. This family had probably purchased Gordon’s Mini Cooper with all the functions they host. People I didn’t know came by and shook my hand expressing their sorrow for my loss. I remained civil and contorted my face into a permanent smile. I only hoped that I didn’t resemble the Joker. When my face hurt from too much smiling I would dab my eyes in pretend grief and relax my cheek muscles.

  I sipped a glass of Chardonnay and found a comfortable chair. Callie and I
made plans to visit the storage facility where all of our father’s belongings had been taken. It was the same one that I moved Mom’s memorabilia to. I pondered a headstone for dad’s resting place, Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, is what it should be. He lived by that motto. Why did my father’s words seem important? I shook it off to grief, shock, lack of sleep, and anger – lots of anger.

  Natalie agreed to do a DNA test on the tissue I gave her. She knew better to question me in my present state of mind. The funeral director had presented me with the few valuables found on the body – a wedding ring, gold no inscription and his billfold with his driver’s license, a picture of me and Maggie, and a picture of a blond girl about ten years old. Now the wheels were turning. A can of worms had been opened and I was about to find out what my father had been up to all these years. I stopped Natalie and asked her to also conduct a DNA test on my father’s wedding band. Something was nagging at me. Perhaps this would provide some answers.

  Phyl insisted on putting together a basket of “goodies” for me to take home. Finn, Phyl, and Phineas had been life savers once more. As usual, Mr. A didn’t say a lot but he was willing to finance all of this. I tried to arrange payment but he wouldn’t hear of it. The caterer’s employees took care of clean up. Finn took me home. He placed the goodie basket and a bottle of wine in the back seat ‘for later.’ I was physical, mentally, spiritually, and every other way exhausted.

  Natalie, Callie, and I set an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. We would meet at the storage unit. Tonight all I wanted was a hot bath, comfy pajamas, and a waiting bed.

  18

  My checklist was growing smaller. I had respectfully done my duty for an errant father by giving him a Christian burial/cremation.

  After our final fittings, the bridesmaid dress was perfect. I had shoes and pearls so I was set when the big day rolled around.

  I finished the required classes to be a bell ringer and was now officially the ringer of C above middle C. Fortunately, I rarely was needed and would stand in my token Christmas sweater wearing white gloves and look pleasant.

  Dr. Winters’ case had been reopened. Natalie’s new findings led to another autopsy of the body where burns and trauma to the brain were discovered. It was to the horror of his elderly sister that his body would not be released until after the holidays because of the new homicide ruling.

  On nights that I couldn’t sleep I investigated Taser deaths and found that repeated shocks of high voltage could indeed kill someone especially if they had a weakness of some kind like a pace maker. I didn’t even know that much about my own father and realizing that just made me angrier.

  One loose end I needed to tie up before I could make a confrontation of any kind and I believe I will find the answers I seek at the storage unit downtown.

  I arrived a little early. We agreed on 4:00 p.m. I went ahead and opened the unit. Those who helped me clear out Mom’s things just stacked the boxes. Dad’s belongings were in a barrel container.

  I found an old kitchen chair and began to sort. Some of this stuff was usable and could be donated. No doubt I would want to retain the bigger items here and take a few mementos back to the apartment.

  Forty year old clothes and shoes – the theatre might want these for wardrobe. I found trinkets and costume jewelry. I knew there would be nothing of value. Mom had already given those items to me and my sister years ago. Digging to the bottom, I came across a decorated stationery box which appeared to be filled with letters – letters dated more than thirty years ago from my dad.

  My love. I want so to be with you and the girls, but it is too dangerous. I guess you could say that I played with fire and got burned. My charm and good looks only got me so far. If I can find a way, I’ll be with you over the holidays. Love Patrick

  But of course, he never came. Mom knew he was running from something or someone. That’s why she never spoke of him in a harsh way. Whatever took him away was beyond his control. I suppose as the years went by it seemed useless to bring it up. She probably assumed he was dead.

  A letter dated a year later than the first:

  Marlene, I have only just found out that I have another child – a daughter. She looks so much like the twins. I swear that I didn’t know until now. Her mother is a girlfriend long before you and she kept the pregnancy a secret. Merry is five years older than Maggie and Mollie. I hope you can forgive me. I love all of you. The powers that be are unwilling to let me go for now. Please don’t speak too harshly of me to the girls. I love you, Patrick

  Callie and Natalie arrived together. They were laughing and talking until they saw my face. Finn parked his car and came up behind them.

  “Mollie whatever is wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” Callie shrieked.

  “I think I have,” I said. The tears began to flow and my throat was closed. I couldn’t say more so I gave the letters I’d found to them.

  “Merry?” they said in unison.

  “Your half-sister?”

  “It appears so,” I finally managed to say after drinking a bottle of water.

  “I wasn’t going to bring this up just now, but the DNA tests I ran on your father’s wedding band and the tissue are a match,” Natalie said. “I assumed the tissue was yours and you were double checking, but now I’m not so sure.”

  “No it wasn’t mine. Merry dropped it when she was paying her respects at the casket. She also said something about my dad. . . I guess her dad . . . being a dead ringer. My mom used to say that all the time. I don’t believe that’s a coincidence. It all makes sense in some crazy distorted way.” I tossed the keys to the unit to Callie.

  “Lock everything up please,” I said. I picked up the box containing the letters and proceeded to exit the building with Finn trailing behind.

  “Think about this,” he pleaded. “If you confront her and she is indeed a murderer then you’re on dangerous ground. She has weapons and isn’t afraid to use them. Don’t make the mistake of going off half-cocked and unprepared.”

  “You’re right,” I said and turned around. “We need more proof. Besides Callie’s wedding is coming up and I don’t want to be dead for that.”

  Finn gave me a look of horror.

  “Right,” he said and put his arm around my waist. “Bide your time and it will all add up. I’m on your side.”

  “You’re probably right. I’ve got that Irish temper that comes out. I’ve got to rational and methodical. Just because my father worked for some kind of mafia outfit and got himself banned from the country and in the meantime had another family, there’s no need to get upset. Right?”

  “Now I didn’t say that,” Finn began to back pedal. “I just want you to be safe. We don’t know what we’re up against.”

  “Oh I think we do. She’s my half-sister with a grudge against someone who abandoned her. Come to think of it we have a lot in common.”

  “So why kill Dr. Winters? How does that fit with her plan?” Callie argued.

  “Still working on that one. Maybe she wanted his position to get closer to me and thus to my father. Maybe she just likes killing people in strange ways. Who knows? Maybe she has an accomplice. OMG do you think that’s possible?”

  “Anything is possible, “ Natalie said, “You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen. “That’s why we are urging you to use caution.”

  “Okay I’m convinced I’ll use caution. I don’t think I’ll be seeing much of her after this. I look for her to head out of Dodge once the coroner’s report hits Chief Harden’s desk. That and along with the DNA evidence that Natalie has uncovered,” I said and yawned. “Besides I’m too tired to deal with this. Believe it or not it was an emotional day for me.”

  “I know,” Finn took me in his arms and planted a big kiss. “I meant what I said the other night on the telephone.”

  “Why sir? Whatever do you mean?” I said in my best Southern drawl.

  “I love you, Mollie. I think I loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you. I didn�
�t want to, but dammit I do,” Finn said the last part with a lot of emphasis.

  “Finn. I don’t know what to say. I think that I love you too, but I’m in such an emotional upheaval. I need time to sort things out. Will you be patient with me? Please,” I saw the light in his gorgeous blue eyes dim a little. He nodded, turned, and left me on the doorstep.

  19

  My mind’s eye envisioned an impatient Maggie tapping her foot and saying

  Well that went well. You have a gorgeous guy from a dream family crazy about you and you put him off! What’s wrong with you sis? You’re letting this thing with our dad push you into a shell. He had secrets – lots of them. You don’t have to be like that.

  My twin was right but I had to delve deeper into that box of letters and find out what drove my father into a life of crime. What was it that made him abandon us? Was it fear? His own selfishness? Or something else?

  It was late but I wasn’t sleepy. The thought of rebuffing Finn made me miserable. I placed the box from the storage facility on the dining room table. I looked through the box before but now I emptied the entire contents. If there were any explanations in here I would find them.

  After a glass of Merlot I happened upon a clipping from the Northeast Georgia Banner dated back in the 70s. This was before they put everything on the internet and made for easy searching. The headline was about some election but my mother kept it for some reason. I scanned every column until I found one entitled ‘local businessman goes missing.’ The dates matched his letters to my mom. Another clipping announced that a local crime boss was arrested for incriminating evidence turned over to the police.

  If the evidence turned over to the cops was why my father left the country, the crime ring would naturally put a price on his head. And it follows that our family would be in danger, so maybe my father was a good guy after all and he made a deal that would protect us.