Be Mine, Dead Valentine, page 18
part #2 of Crescent Falls Series
Daniel shot a glance over his shoulder at his mother, who looked stricken. “How did my mother set the wheels in motion?”
Mary Ellen’s expression softened. “That day at Susan Hatfield’s, after Jerry’s funeral. Remember, Adelaide? You sent me over to keep Mark occupied so you could talk to Susan alone. I was so nervous. I’d never approached a man out of blue like that before, but he was so kind, and seemed so interested in learning about me. We discussed Shakespeare and Chaucer. He was so well read and intelligent. I knew right then and there that he was the one for me.”
“Oh my God,” Adelaide moaned.
“Things didn’t go well tonight at Mark’s, did they, Mary Ellen?” Daniel said, hoping to bring her back to the present.
“I told him the coast was clear now for us to be together. He called me crazy. He knew then that I was the one who had killed that barmaid and Gayle and attacked Janet. He said he was going to call the police. I had to stop him.” She took another step back. “He should have been grateful. Instead he threw my love back in my face.”
Daniel could tell he needed to make a move when Mary Ellen’s body tensed and she started to turn around.
“She’s going to jump,” Luke shouted.
Daniel flung himself forward just as Mary Ellen toppled over the precipice. Landing on his stomach, he winced as pain shot up from the area of his December surgery, but he was able to grab onto her hand. “I can’t hold her much longer,” he cried.
Luke was there in a heartbeat, holding onto Daniel to keep him from falling over the edge. Daniel looked sideways to find Dennis lying beside him grabbing for Mary Ellen. Daniel’s gaze locked onto the librarian’s and he saw resignation there. “I’m sorry,” she whispered just before she wrenched her hand out of his grasp and fell into the dark void below.
Luke pulled Daniel back from the edge and helped him to his feet. He could hear his mother yelling from somewhere behind him. A quick look around confirmed that Vernon was holding her back as she was fighting to get free.
“I’m all right, Mother. Vernon, get her out of here now. I’ll talk to you two later,” Daniel demanded.
Chapter Twenty-two
By Sunday morning the snow had stopped, and although the temperatures had dipped into the low twenties, the sky was a clear, bright azure.
Adelaide decided to forego church, something she rarely did. Instead she puttered around the house in her pajamas and robe, playing with her expanded cat family. Oscar seemed to enjoy having Misty and Ashley around. She’d put a warm blanket on the kitchen floor next to Oscar’s bed last night for her guests. To her surprise when she came down to make coffee, she discovered Oscar had joined the girls on that blanket.
She studied the felines as she nibbled at some of the cake that hadn’t been eaten last night. In fact, she now had a refrigerator full of cabbage rolls, too. She studied the special edition of the Crescent Fall Tribune. The headline was as dramatic as ever. The Librarian Did It! The article, written by Julie Buckner Simpson, was as full of detail as usual, proving once again that the reporter had received inside information.
The search for Mary Ellen’s body in the river continued, according to a TV news cast she’d watched earlier. She wondered if they’d ever find it. The current in the area below the falls was very swift.
A knock on the front door jarred Adelaide out of her reverie. She glanced up at the clock on the wall. It read eleven-forty-five. She got up and tightened the sash around her robe then went to the front door.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Carl and Ethel Henshaw standing on her front porch. She’d been afraid it might be Vernon, and she really didn’t want to talk to him this morning.
Ethel preceded Carl into the foyer. Her long tweed coat was unbuttoned down the front, revealing a navy blue dress. A stand of cultured pearls with matching earrings were her accessories. “We came to invite you to have brunch with us at the Dovetail Inn,” Ethel said. Her tone indicated that refusing was not an option.
Carl shut the door behind them and took off his black leather gloves. His topcoat was buttoned up and a gray woolen scarf was wrapped around his neck. “We were worried when you weren’t in church this morning.”
“Reverend Wallace gave the sermon. He’s quite good.” Ethel added.
“Where was James?” Adelaide asked before she could stop herself.
Carl replied, “He was there. I guess he’s just trying to give Andrew a chance to get his feet wet.”
“Get dressed, Adelaide. You shouldn’t be moping around the house alone. We are all shocked about Mary Ellen, but we have to move on. Daniel did a wonderful job of solving this case. Carl’s going to see he gets a mayor’s proclamation for outstanding service to the community.”
Adelaide felt tears sting her eyes. With everything that had happened over the past twenty-four hours she hadn’t even thought about what a boost solving this case would be to Daniel’s career.
Oscar came running into the foyer, followed by the two Russian Blues. “Oh, those are Mary Ellen’s cats,” Ethel exclaimed. “Are you going to keep them?” She leaned down and gave each cat some generous attention.
Adelaide sighed. “I think that decision has been taken out of my hands,” she said, eyeing Oscar, who was now licking Misty’s head affectionately.
A half hour later they were seated at a cozy table at the Dovetail Inn. Adelaide welcomed the warmth provided by the large fireplace along one wall. The smell of burning wood along with the rich aromas emanating from the kitchen actually elevated her gloomy mood.
“Are we all taking the brunch?” Carl asked.
He was dapper as ever in a black suit and white dress shirt. The maroon and white striped tie created the perfect contrast. “I’ll have the brunch,” Adelaide said.
“We always have the brunch, Carl, why do you always ask?” Ethel said.
Adelaide was used to the way Ethel and Carl communicated, which could be called bickering, she supposed. But she knew how much they loved each other. As happened on many occasions, she felt that tug in her heart as thoughts of Albert sprang forth. Oh, how she missed being with him, sharing just the simple things in life.
“Have you spoken to Daniel this morning?” Carl asked Adelaide.
“No. I’m sure he’s busy finishing up reports,” Adelaide replied absently.
“You must have been terrified. The article in the paper says you tried to talk her into surrendering,” Ethel said.
Adelaide remembered all too well those awful moments on the cliff overlooking the falls. She didn’t want to rehash them over brunch, so she decided to change the subject. “I got a voicemail message from Tina Engler yesterday saying they’ve cancelled the Historical Society meeting tomorrow night.”
Carl and Ethel exchanged glances. “In memory of Gayle. She was the president, after all. Did you notice the nice arrangement from the society at her funeral? Brie ordered it from a florist in Rosewood. They’re going to bill the society. I hate to mention this so soon, but we will need to get the society’s ledgers from Mary Ellen’s house, since she was the treasurer,” Ethel said.
The waitress came for their drink order, after which they got up to help themselves to the buffet. As Adelaide approached the salad bar, she glanced into the other dining room and noticed something that made her nearly drop her plate.
From behind Adelaide, Ethel said, “Isn’t that Reverend Preston over there, with Rita Nelson?”
Carl passed them and headed for the table where a man in a white uniform and chef’s hat was slicing prime rib.
Adelaide stood transfixed for a moment, watching as James and Rita laughed and talked. Taking in the side view of the couple, she watched as he reached across the table and put a hand on Rita’s forearm, which was conveniently lying across the table top. She was wearing an emerald green silky looking dress with a plunging neckline. Dangling gemstone earrings bounced from her lobes, catching the candlelight from the candle in the middle of the table.
James was wearing a dark gray suit and light blue shirt. His tie was slightly loosened. He looked relaxed, as though he was completely at ease with his companion.
Ethel nudged Adelaide. “We need to keep the line moving.” She patted Adelaide’s shoulder as though consoling her.
Her appetite completely gone, Adelaide moved like a robot from one buffet table to the next, randomly putting small amounts of food on her plate. When she finally made it back to their table, she sat down and breathed a sigh of relief that she couldn’t see James and Rita’s table from here.
“Well, I see Rita Nelson making herself at home very quickly in Crescent Falls,” Ethel said, once she was seated.
Carl glanced at his wife, a look of confusion on his face. “I know she’s reopening the shop and living in Gayle’s old apartment. I suppose it gives her comfort to be close to where her daughter spent her last days.”
Ethel scoffed. “Oh, that’s not all the comfort she’s getting.”
Carl frowned.
“Honestly, Carl, a UFO could land in the parking lot out there, and as long as you smelled food, you wouldn’t notice. Rita Nelson is sitting in the other room with James Preston.” She speared a forkful of potato salad and put it in her mouth.
Adelaide, who was pretending to eat in spite of the waves of nausea pulsing through her stomach, could feel Carl’s gaze on her. She looked up, unsure of what to say. Fortunately, she was spared having to make conversation by the appearance of Elaine Rausch, part owner of the inn.
Adelaide got up and tossed her linen napkin on the table. ”I’ll be right back.” She didn’t wait for Carl or Ethel to question her, but hurried after Elaine, who was heading for the hallway leading to the restrooms and office.
She caught up with the woman just as she was going into the women’s restroom. “Elaine. Could I talk to you a moment?”
Elaine Rausch looked like she’d aged ten years since Christmas. Her vibrant green eyes looked sunken and she’d lost weight. Her brown hair, usually cut stylishly, was now shaggy and limp.
“I know what you want to talk about Adelaide, but I can’t help you or your group,” Elaine said. Her voice was shaky, as though she was about to cry.
“I know you’re in a bad position, Elaine—”
“We’re not going to the council meeting Tuesday night. We’re not going to speak up in favor of the casino idea but we’re not going to speak against it, either. We aren’t going to speak at all. We can’t afford to get involved in this, you know that. The casino owns half of our business now. The best thing for us to do under the circumstances is to just stay away. And that’s what we intend to do.” She shot Adelaide a look of defiance.
“Where is Jeremy?” Adelaide wondered if he was drinking at Marty’s again, as he had been the day Daniel saw him.
“He’s at a meeting. Gamblers’ Anonymous. And he’s agreed to counseling. He’s trying to get his life back.” Her bottom lip was trembling. “I know he’s drinking, too. I can see by the look on your face you are aware of that. I’m so scared, Adelaide. I’m so afraid I’ll lose him.” She began to cry.
Adelaide went to the woman and hugged her. “What can I do to help?”
Elaine pulled away and wiped the tears off of her cheeks. “I need to make some calls.” She opened the door and left.
Adelaide splashed some cold water on her face before returning to her table. Carl and Ethel had moved on to dessert. “I was about to come looking for you,” Ethel told her. “He’s still over there with Rita.”
“No need to rub it in, Ethel,” Carl snapped.
Adelaide jabbed at a piece of fruit and put it in her mouth. “James and I are just friends. I don’t know why you think him being with Rita would bother me.”
Ethel huffed. “It’s all over town, Adelaide, about what happened in front of the church the other day. James could hardly keep his hands off of you from what I was told. And I also heard that he kissed you on your front porch on Friday morning.”
Adelaide felt he cheeks heat up. Who had been spying on her?
As though anticipating that exact question, Ethel added, “Zelda Jackson was at the historic house across the street from you and saw the whole thing. She says he kissed you.”
Adelaide felt anger well up inside of her as she recalled the way James pursued her, then seemed to so easily fall into a relationship with Rita Nelson. Another thought struck her. If Ethel had heard the rumors of what was going on between her and James, then perhaps Vernon had heard them also. That could explain his coolness toward her lately.
Zelda would have no problem marching into the pharmacy and telling him she saw me and the preacher kissing, even if I was an unwilling participant who was taken by surprise. And the same could be true of that day outside the church when James and I had that intense conversation.
Adelaide could still almost feel the way his finger had stroked her cheek. Shaking herself back to reality, she saw that both Carl and Ethel were staring at her with worried looks on their faces.
On the way out of the restaurant, as they passed through the front dining area, Adelaide noticed that James and Rita were still at their table. On impulse, she headed that way, aware that Ethel and Carl were still walking toward the front door.
“Well, hello, you two,” Adelaide said once she reached their table. She forced a smile. “It looks like you’re settling in nicely here, Rita. Making friends.” She turned her attention to James, who had a deer-caught-in-the-headlight look on his flushed face. “James, sorry I missed Reverend Wallace’s first solo sermon this morning. I hear he’s quite good. And, I understand he’s got some wonderful ideas for the youth program and recruiting new members. At the rate he’s going, it might not be long before you can get back to your retirement in Columbus.” She quickly wished them a nice day and left.
“Where did you disappear to?” Ethel asked the minute Adelaide exited the restaurant. “Carl’s gone to get the car.”
“I just stopped to wish James and Rita a nice day. Thank you both for inviting me along. Sorry I wasn’t better company.” Adelaide suddenly felt better, and now wished she’d eaten more.
Once Carl and Ethel dropped her off at home, she got in her car and drove to the police station, where she found Daniel and Luke in Daniel’s office. As she suspected, they were working on the final reports associated with the recent murders.
Daniel motioned her inside. “So, you’re speaking to me again?”
Adelaide sat down opposite his desk. “I was never not speaking to you, Daniel. I’m your mother. You’ll never get that lucky.”
Luke laughed and then took the seat beside Adelaide.
Daniel smiled. “In that case, you might be interested in an update. Before the chase through the woods last night, we found what I like to call case clinchers in Mary Ellen’s basement. An ice pick like the ones she used on her victims, the rest of the Valentine cards, and the clothing and glasses we think she was wearing when she murdered the woman in Mosely. She also had the walls in a little room off her bedroom covered with pictures of Cardosa and a few snapshots of the victims with their faces obliterated.”
Adelaide felt her stomach turn. “How could she have been this sick, and none of us noticed?”
“It happens more often than you think,” Luke said.
Another thought struck Adelaide. “You know, I went to talk to her at the library on Thursday about computer classes, but she’d taken a personal day so I went by her house. She took a long time answering the door. When she did, she said she was in the basement doing laundry. The basement door was partly open, and when we walked by she pushed it shut. But, before she did that, I didn’t hear any sounds of a washer or dryer running down there.”
“That was the day she tried to kill Janet Webster,” Luke said.
Adelaide felt sick again. “Oh, my, you don’t suppose she was down there preparing…I mean, you did find the ice pick and cards there…” She couldn’t go on.
“We’ll never know now, Mother, so there’s no sense in agonizing about it,” Daniel said. “We just got a report back from our computer guru, Alex Shane. We turned Mary Ellen’s computer over to him. She’d tried to delete the site she went to, but Alex worked his magic. Seems she was doing extensive research about anatomy, especially the spine. She also studied serial killer cases by the dozen.”
Adelaide shook her head. “All this was going on right under our noses.”
“She lived alone and had no one to monitor her activities,” Luke said.
“That made it easy for her to accomplish all the things she did,” Daniel said. “By the way, Janet Webster is out of her coma. But she doesn’t remember anything after parking her car that night. Cardosa is out of danger, also.”
“I feel so guilty, Daniel. I should have told you earlier about seeing Mary Ellen coming out of Mark’s house that night.”
“None of it is your fault. She could have had several reasons to be at Cardosa’s that night. He was her lawyer. I probably wouldn’t have attached any importance to it at the time. Her changing her original plan and going after Janet was what made us wonder if Cardosa wasn’t the motive for the crimes. Then she got sloppy and left the dog behind. That, along with the information about her coming out of Cardosa’s house at night, sent up the final red flag.”
“That poor woman in Mosely. She’s dead for no other reason than she innocently sold a puppy to the wrong person.”
“I called the sheriff there and told him we caught Stella Prichard’s killer. I’m sending him a copy of the report,” Daniel said.
“Mary Ellen didn’t have to die. I may have been able to prevent that if given the chance.” Adelaide could still almost feel Vernon’s arms holding her back.
