Dead Ringer (Silent Partner Series Book 2) Read online

  As far as Merry goes, her rage was one of abandonment. I can understand that, but according to the letters between my parents my father didn’t even know about her for years. If he was a good guy, he would have done the right thing but by that time he was fleeing for his life on the other side of the world.

  Who knew my family was so complicated? I could explain all of this to my half-sister but was it too late? If she was the murderer and it looks that way, would it make any difference?

  Finn would hate this, but I felt I needed to try. Maybe I could set up a time to meet Merry, show her the letters and pictures, and perhaps reason with her. If she was out for revenge, would she try and kill me too? She had many chances if that was her goal.

  How much of all of this does she think I know? She never knew me, my sister or my mother. Merry didn’t have access to the storage facility nor to my parents’ letters. Maybe the danger isn’t as great as Finn believes.

  20

  Next morning, I put aside all of the admonitions. It was errand day and I needed to make a list. Where was my favorite pen? It wasn’t just any pen but one that Maggie gave me our last Christmas together. I remember having it at church when Callie and I were going over some details for her wedding. We were measuring aisles and jotting down random items for the florist and caterers. I must have left it on the table in the reception hall.

  I took my keys down from the rack and popped on a baseball cap to cover a bad hair day. It was nice to get out a little early and enjoy the last tones of autumn. Thanksgiving was around the corner. Callie’s wedding was on the 24th of December. It would be a wonderful celebration with the wedding and Christmas with the Andersons. I’d be happy to put all of this behind me and take some time to think over my relationship with Finn.

  The main door of the reception hall was unlocked. Dr. Benson was probably in his study. Although it was just he and his wife, he preferred to prepare his sermons here rather than in his home office. Habits are hard to break.

  I checked the classroom where Callie noted the room size as a possible changing area for the groomsmen. No pen there. Perhaps I laid it down on the kitchen counter in the fellowship area. No not there either.

  I turned when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs – light footsteps not one of a big man like Dr. Benson.

  “Looking for this?” Merry held up my Cross pen.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I was,” I tried to hold my voice steady. I hadn’t seen her since the memorial service where she made a quick exit.

  “I found it while I was sorting the music for Sunday,” she said.

  “Thank you it is a special pen – the last gift my sister gave me,” I said and slowly made a move toward her.

  “I know. You and Maggie were very close weren’t you? I know a lot about you and your family. I’ve been researching you for years. I suppose that you’ve already guessed that you and I are half-sisters,” she twisted the pen in her fingers. Merry’s other hand was behind her back.

  “I surmised as much. My mother had some letters telling of a dalliance he had before they were married. I’m guessing you were the product of such. My father claimed he didn’t know about you for years,” I took a deep breath and tried to steady my trembling hand as I reached for my pen.

  “Not so fast. We need to have a sister to sister talk. I want to know what our father shared with you growing up. I want to know what I missed by not having a father at all. You and Maggie had everything. My mother and I grew up poor. She worked two jobs to help me get my education. Your . . . I mean our father contributed nothing. I was an accident that he was ashamed of,” Merry was getting worked up and I had no idea how to deal with hysteria. Also I was worried about what weapon she might have hidden behind her.

  My purse was still on my shoulder with my cell phone in the front pocket. If I could distract her long enough I might be able to dial 911. There’s a way to record on my cell too but I never took the time to learn how.

  “Merry, you’re overexcited. Why don’t we sit down and talk like you said? Here’s a table and chairs in this classroom. How about it?”

  A kind of wildness was in her demeanor. Perhaps she had thought about this for a long time and when the confrontation came, she was at odds what to do. If so, she wasn’t the only one. I slipped the purse to my other side out of her sight. I blindly punched in some numbers on autodial. I prayed that the sound function was still turned off. I sometimes do that at night when I don’t want to get awakened by a phone call.

  She edged into dining area of the church basement still holding my pen with one hand and with her other hand behind her. I sat down at the table and tried to look relaxed.

  “So, Merry. Ask me anything about our mutual parent. Just keep in mind that he was also absent from us for over fifteen years. What I am learning now is the same thing you are just finding out. ”

  Merry thought about what I had just said. “You mean he wasn’t there for you and Maggie when you were teenagers?”

  “No he missed dating, driving, the prom, all the teenage angst multiplied by two. Our mom handled it all. Oh and by the way, she worked two jobs most of our lives, too. Our dad wasn’t in the picture at all.,” I was talking fast and watching to see if Merry was buying it.

  “I dreamed of a father who would take me to a father/daughter dance – a parent who would be proud of me especially when I earned my Ph.D. Mother was there of course but it wasn’t the same. It would have been different if he couldn’t be there, he CHOSE not to be,” Merry took her hand from behind her back. “That’s why I was so angry. For every year that he missed, I gave him one of these,” and she brandished the Taser. “After a few shots he was screaming, I didn’t really mean to kill him but I suppose I didn’t account for a weak heart. It didn’t much matter. I just wanted to make him suffer for all the pain he caused me and my mother over the years.”

  I don’t know what my facial expression was, but the rest of me was rigid with shock. I knew that Merry was capable of doing the same to me. My only thought was to keep her talking until help came – if it came.

  Maybe I could change the subject.

  “How did you pick music as a major? Was your mother musical as well?”

  “Yes, that’s how they met – Patrick and my mother. She worked in a night club as a singer. I believe it was in New York when Patrick was finishing his apprenticeship in marketing. They had a short love affair before he returned home and I guess I’m the booby prize,” Merry smirked a little. “I don’t know why she chose not to tell him that she was pregnant, but she did. From what you said, he didn’t find out until he was married and had you and Maggie.”

  “I can let you read the letters between my parents if you want to go to my house. I only wish you’d let me know before you decided on the Taser incident. All of that could have been avoided,” I tried to sound sympathetic.

  “Oh, that’s okay. I’d already taken care of Dr. Winters so it was too late. The dye was cast so to speak,” she said admiring the Taser in her hand.

  “But why Dr. Winters? Did he know about your past?”

  “No. I don’t think so. He was just a practice run. I was trying to decide on how I wanted to murder Patrick McLachlan. I had no idea he had a pacemaker until we talked, but my plan worked perfectly.”

  “You talked to our father?”

  “Yes, we had coffee. He showed me pictures of you, Maggie, and your mother. He wanted desperately to make up for all of the time lost. I listened to see if he wanted to make up for the time lost with me, but to no avail. He seemed happy to have his ‘legitimate’ family not the one in the closet,” Merry threw the pen at me. I leaned to pick it up. When I did something whizzed by my head. Through the smoke, I saw Merry slump to the floor.

  21

  The next thing I knew people were pouring into the tiny classroom. In the mist, I saw officers scoop up Merry. She was making gurgling sounds. I heard a familiar voice and Finn burst into the room yelling for me.

  �
�Mollie. Are you okay?”

  I nodded. “Did they kill Merry?” I managed to say.

  “No. I think it must have been a rubber bullet and a smoke bomb. She’s lucky they didn’t use a Taser on her,” Finn growled. “I would have.”

  “How did you . . .?”

  “How did I know you were here? I put a tracking device on your phone. When you stayed here a little longer than usual, I drove by and saw Merry’s car in the parking lot. That’s when I called Chief Harden. I was afraid you would try and take her on by yourself even after you promised,” he tried to look stern but I didn’t buy it.

  “Come here, you,” I said trying to look series and kissed him with all the compassion my trembling body could muster. “I love you too and I have for a very long time.”

  “You have?”

  “Yes, I have. Why do you think I fought so hard to get on the staff of the newspaper? I had a crush on you the first time I saw you, but I figured the boss’ son wouldn’t even look at a person like me. I had no experience and was doing anything I could to become a newspaper reporter.”

  “Well then you were wrong, weren’t you?” Finn replied and started to kiss me again when he locked eyes with Chief Harden.

  “I think we’re through here Finn. Would you escort Ms. McLachlan to the ambulance outside and let the paramedics check her out? Then if everything is okay, how about taking her home – either yours or hers? I don’t care just get her out of my crime scene. I’ll get her statement later,” Chief Harden tried hard to look stern. He wasn’t fooling anyone.

  While Finn waited the paramedics checked my lungs for smoke inhalation. The first tranquilizer dart whizzed by me, thankfully but the 2nd one found its target in Merry. When I asked about her, I was told she’d be out for a few hours and was being transported to the local incarceration facility.

  Poor Merry! If she hadn’t been so consumed with hate, we could have been friends maybe even close – after all she was my half-sister. It would have been a comfort to have family again. Alas it was not to be. With two murders on her rap sheet, she’d be lucky to get life imprisonment on an insanity plea. I didn’t want to deal with that now. A tear strayed down my cheek.

  Finn handed me his handkerchief.

  “I know I know. Spare me the GWTW line,” I said trying to smile as more tears rolled down my cheek.

  “I wasn’t going to say anything except that I love you and want you to marry me. I would get down on my knee and offer a ring, but my knee is tricky from an old football injury and I don’t have a ring on me at the moment,” he said.

  “Well, then perhaps we should wait until a more appropriate time,” I said. “I’m not going anywhere right now. How about you?”

  “Just home. Mom already has ordered a late dinner and she requests that you stay the night. It’s unanimous – my parents adore you and so do I,” Finn said and placed a kiss on my cheek. We walked to his car hand in hand.

  “Oh. I need to let Callie and Natalie know,” I said and reached for my cell.

  “Taken care of,” Finn said.

  22

  I recovered from the trauma of the confrontation with a half-sister I didn’t know I had and a marriage proposal that went south – at least for now. Callie and Beau’s wedding was coming up fast. I tried on the dress for yet another time just to make sure. I didn’t know what accessories to wear with it. My shoes were a kind of clear glass slipper type and I was thinking of pearls. I’m so predictable.

  Turns out that marine is sort of a light turquoise or aqua – a blue/green blend that works with Natalie’s Italian features and my pale skin. The reception was set for the Mannix Country Club and catered by the local galloping gourmet – Gordon. I didn’t have any responsibilities except to not trip as I made my way down the aisle. I even got out of doing a formal toast, so I was feeling pretty good.

  The group was small as compared to some weddings I’ve attended. About one hundred of our town’s finest turned out. Callie’s family were pretty prominent. Beau was from South Carolina and I didn’t know much about him. His real name was William Beaufort Huntington – no wonder he preferred Beau. Together they looked like models from the pages of Vogue or GQ. Their progeny would be the envy of the neighborhood. I was thrilled Callie had found someone who loved her and wanted to be with her forever.

  For a few moments I daydreamed about my perfect wedding – if I ever had one. It would be in a small chapel somewhere tucked away in a splendid garden with flowers – lots of flowers. I’d wear my mother’s dress altered to fit and my bridesmaid would be Natalie and Callie, of course. I wonder if it will ever come to pass – meanwhile I checked back into reality.

  Beau and Callie’s ceremony was gorgeous. I don’t think there was a dry eye. Dr. Benson, our minister, had the part of the service where the bride and groom take communion for the first time. The candles highlighted the Christmas decorations. I felt like I was in dreamland. All the more reason to take care walking so that I didn’t trip in my wedding shoes.

  Finn joined me after the photographer released us. We exited through the back stairs to form a reception line and greet the guests. Finn’s mom and Callie’s Wedding Planner made sure that we all towed the line and did things properly. Callie beamed and Beau was so proud that I thought his buttons might pop.

  We toasted the bride and groom, ate appetizers, and then had a sit down dinner fit for royalty. Prime rib, sweet potato casserole, rolls swimming in butter, vegetables, salads galore, and pecan pie. The men in the south don’t have heart attacks for nothing.

  Meanwhile, the band serenaded us during dinner and saved their dance tunes for afterward. Finn took me in his arms as we waltzed. He whispered sweet nothings in my ear. Who knew my boss could be so romantic?

  What was I thinking? With Merry and the murder investigation and the wedding festivities, I had almost forgotten it was nearly Christmas and I hadn’t bought even one present. An insane thought when you consider that the handsomest man in the room is nibbling my ear and whispering to me. I couldn’t show up at the mansion in tomorrow empty handed. In the meantime, Finn was asking me something and my mind was a thousand miles away.

  “Hey are you listening?” Finn said and looked me in the eye.

  “Sorry I was thinking that with all that’s been happening, I haven’t done any Christmas shopping. Usually I don’t have anyone to buy for, but this year is different,” I said.

  “That’s right this year you have a family, a big one.” Finn teased. “By the way you haven’t told me what you want for Christmas.”

  “I already have it. Your parents are so generous and they have welcomed me unconditionally. And of course, I wanted a big brother like you,” I said and tweaked his cheek.

  “I’m serious. What do you really want? And it has to be something obtainable. I know you’d want your sister and your mother to be with you, but I don’t have that power. It has to be something within my reach,” Finn looked serious.

  “I don’t know. Let me think about it,” I said putting him off again. “I wonder if they’ll let me visit Merry,” I said thinking out loud.

  Finn looked puzzled.

  23

  “Merry Christmas, Ma’am.”

  “Merry Christmas to you,” I replied.

  Sharif, escorted me into the family room after taking my Christmas packages. I managed to find that Macys’ was open late and grabbed a few gifts for the Andersons.

  Sharif set the gifts on a corner table for me to place under the Christmas tree. And what a tree it was. If Macys and Tiffany’s collaborated on a Christmas décor, this would be their centerpiece. It was a magnificent spruce which must have been within the 8 foot range. Phyl and Phineas had placed it just in front of the rounded windows that faced the gardens. It must have taken hours to decorate with crystal beads, lilac bows, snowflakes, and iridescent bulbs containing tiny figures of ballerinas and toy soldiers. The star at the top slowly blinked pale lights while the ropes of lights surrounding its girth twinkled.
It was marvelous.

  Phyl came into the room as Sharif took my cape. She hugged me and asked for coffee to be served.

  “Isn’t it marvelous?” she asked glancing at the masterpiece in our midst.

  “Gorgeous,” I answered.

  “We’ve only just finished decorating it. It took hours and hours, but I loved it. I’ll ask Finn to put his toy train at the bottom and then we’ll surround it all with gifts.”

  “Sounds perfect,” I said and sipped my coffee. “When will Finn and his father be down to join us?”

  “Oh, I don’t know for sure. They had an errand or two to run. Christmas Eve last minute stuff you know. I never ask. They like their little secrets,” and Phyl giggled like a little girl.

  She was wearing a lounging outfit – silvery pink with slippers to match. If I had to guess I would say it was silk. I had packed a few casual things and some dress up – not sure what the Andersons wore for Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day brunch. If I had to bet, I’d say there would be cameras at each event.

  “Just so you know the Anderson traditions, we will have tonight’s dinner with just the family. It’s very casual and after dessert we will open our gifts. Tomorrow some of our closest friends will come for a drop-in brunch. We usually have a dozen or so with some light finger foods, champagne, and some chamber music. It’s a little dressier but not formal. The Hardens will be here – you know them. Callie’s dad is coming – the kids are still on their honeymoon cruise. Of course if there’s anyone you’d like to invite, feel free,” Phyl said this with such ease. She rearranged her crystal necklace which matched the glittering orbs on her ears.

  “Thank you. The only ones I would invite would be Natalie and Auntie Lee but they are still out of town. It seems weird to be anywhere for Christmas. I usually don’t celebrate. It just seems like too much work with no one to share it with,” I said and regretted the whining tone I probably added.