Bad things, p.30
Bad Things, page 30
“Any idea what could be in that letter?”
“Nope. Not even all that curious. Oh, I’ll go get it tomorrow. Find out what the man had to say. But that’s as far as it goes.”
“You have any thoughts about Lisette’s suicide?”
“She killed herself over Radnor. Plain and simple. He . . . had his way with her ... told all his friends. Then they started sniffin’ around like hound dogs. One of ’em was pretty persistent. Acted like they were doing her a favor. I chased ’em off as best I could. But it was Radnor she wanted, and he sweet-talked his way into her pants and laughed at her. She told her mama, and her mama told me. Lisette was shy, but she kinda thought of herself as better than her mama and me. Her dad left when she was a little kid. Moved to Florida and started another family. Lisette pretended it didn’t matter, but it did, to her. When she caught the quarterback’s eye, she laid right down for him. That’s it. That’s what happened. I’ve said it and said it. Her mama told you police officers the same thing at the time, and there you go. I wanted to kill Radnor, but my wife wouldn’t have it. She’d lost Lisette. Didn’t wanna lose me, too.” His mouth worked for a bit until he got it under control again. “So, I left Radnor alone and my charges were dropped, but nobody wanted to believe me. Wife died about six months later. Broken heart. I moved over here.” He spat another dark brown stream at the ground.
“Someone killed Nick Radnor.”
“So, that’s why you’re here. And me, the dope, just told you I wanted to kill him!” He laughed aloud, and Chip stood up and started wagging his tail. “Well, I didn’t do it. You can arrest me if you want, but it wasn’t me. Not sorry he’s dead, but it wasn’t me.”
“I’m not here to accuse you of killing Nick Radnor.”
“Yeah? Then what are you doing here?”
“Like I said in my messages, I wanted to ask you about Lisette. Her state of mind. The circumstances before her death.”
“What for?” he asked curiously.
Cole didn’t feel like telling him about Nick’s change of attitude the last weeks of his life, that it appeared to have something to do with regrets he had, that Lisette’s suicide might have played a bit part of what had been driving him.
Stipe didn’t wait for an answer. “Like I said, her mama died of a broken heart, and I suspect she did, too. Nick dropped her as soon as she gave him what he wanted. Story old as time. I always said he should be the one in the grave. Finally got my wish.”
Chapter Twenty-One
It was two p.m. when Kerry walked into Starrwood Homes. She headed straight for Randy’s office and could hear he was on the phone. “. . . have to stop calling, Dad,” he said in a long-suffering voice. “We’re getting the job done. It’s hard getting workers to commit. Jerry Radnor’s in the hospital, Dad. I told you that! I’m not going to tear him a new one. Jesus. How about if I send Kerry over again? Will that make you feel better?” There was a moment of silence as he listened. Kerry had stopped short outside his door. Her soft-soled shoes had kept him from hearing her approach. “Yes, Dad, she’s a four. A-plus.”
Angie suddenly came around the hall corner and caught Kerry outside Randy’s door. “Eavesdropping?” she snapped.
Randy’s voice cut off as if someone had stolen his tongue.
“I came to talk to Randy.”
“He’s on the phone. What do you need?” Her face looked pale beneath a rather aggressive makeup application meant to disguise that fact.
“Well . . .” She’d felt like she owed Randy a face-to-face, but hearing he was about to have her run interference between him and his dad changed her mind. “I’m tendering my resignation.”
“You’re quitting?” she practically shrieked.
Randy spit out, “Gotta go,” and then flew to his office door to stare at Kerry in outrage and consternation. “What the hell, Kerry?”
“If you need me for the next two weeks, I’ll be happy to help out.”
“Oh my God,” Angie cried. “You have control of Jerry’s money and here you go! Leaving us high and dry.”
Jerry’s money? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Angie, shut up,” Randy barked.
“You’re a signer on his account. And you’re probably in Nick’s will, too. You came back to Edwards Bay like you’re so friendly, so sweet, but you’ve really dug yourself into that family, haven’t you?”
“Ange!” Randy looked apoplectic.
“How do you know I’m a signer on Jerry’s account?” Kerry asked. Marcia had said much the same thing, never explaining how she knew.
“Randy said you met with Nick’s lawyer today. This is all really convenient. Your mom marries some other guy and takes you away from the Radnor money, but you sure found a way to get back to it.”
“Sheryl. Your friend who works at the bank,” Kerry realized.
“She’s no friend of mine!” Angie declared.
“Goddamn it.” Randy grabbed his wife by the shoulders and pushed her back down the hall, away from Kerry. “Let me handle this,” he growled at her furiously.
Angie seemed to finally recognize her husband meant business, but she looked around him to yell at Kerry, “Stealing our workers and then dumping us. We’ll sue!” She twisted on her heel and stomped away.
Randy turned back to Kerry. He was angry, his ruddy complexion bright red. “Sorry about that,” he said shortly.
“You showed Sheryl too much attention and now she and your wife are at war. Dangerous, Randy.”
“It’ll pass.” He waved that away. “But you can’t leave. I need someone . . . stable.” He shot a dark look over his shoulder in the direction in which his wife had disappeared.
“I’m not entertaining your father, Randy. Tell him thanks for the A-plus, though,” she couldn’t help adding.
He started, as if she’d pricked him with a pin. “He was just joking.”
“He told me the same thing. What is this ratings system?”
He laughed, but it sounded tight and uncomfortable. “Oh, nothing. Stupid stuff from high school.” He exhaled. “You’re really quitting?”
“Yes.”
“Because you came into money?”
“Because it isn’t working out here.”
“Nick’s will?” he asked, ignoring her.
“It’s you, Randy. You and Angie. You’re impossible to work for. That’s why I’m quitting.”
“If you stay on, I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Randy . . .” She had a lot of things she wanted to say but decided it was better if they were left unsaid. “I’m going to clean out my desk” was all she said and turned back to her office to do just that.
* * *
Josie sat in her car at the red light. The world looked oddly hazy, as if through a distorted lens. Seismic changes in life could do that. She’d walked out without anything and really wasn’t sure she could even go back for her clothes. She didn’t trust herself not to make up with Kent. As angry as she still was, that was the nature of their relationship. She’d never challenged him quite like that before, though. That was a new wrinkle. If—
Beep. Beep.
She came out of her reverie and drove through the now-green light. Was she really doing this? Walking out on her husband?
You’ve already done it, Jose.
But could she go back? Would she go back? He’d betrayed her in a way she hadn’t believed possible. Yes, she’d betrayed him, too, but she hadn’t been able to go through with it. Didn’t that count for something? Besides, he’d really betrayed her.
The thought of what his security system had caught. Their lovemaking perhaps? On his phone!
She nearly rear-ended the vehicle in front of her. The Uber sticker on the back window filled her vision. Her eyes shifted to the driver. He wasn’t aware how close she’d come to smashing into his bumper.
Well, hell. Lawrence Caulfield. She started laughing when she thought of the power his lies about her had held all these years. It had all seemed so momentous at the time, but now, in the wake of Kent’s security videos . . .
“You need a drink,” she told herself, shaking her head.
She drove to The Bank of Edwards Bay and headed for the ATM. She put her debit card in the slot and punched in her code. The machine bleeped, warning her that her card was no good, and then flashed a red light at her, as if it were thinking, her card inside its mean little jaws.
Kent.
She held her breath and was relieved when the card slid back to her. But it wasn’t working. She’d walked out without any of her belongings apart from the clothes on her back and now she had no access to money. Apart from a few dollars in her purse, she was frankly destitute. The house was in Kent’s name. And so was the Prius she was driving.
Well, shit.
* * *
Kerry helped Jerry into the house. He could walk on his own power but was weak enough that he clung to the railing as he slowly moved up the few steps to his front door, Kerry hovering around behind him. “You sure you don’t want a wheelchair?” she asked.
“No.”
“I just don’t want you to fall.”
“Just help me into the house, honey.”
As soon as he was settled into his favorite chair, Kerry headed back to the car for his remaining belongings and the folder of paperwork and his prescriptions, which she intended to fill as soon as he was settled. She stole a glance at the time. After four. She wanted to call Cole, but she wanted to do it out of Jerry’s earshot.
She brought everything in, fussed enough over him to get his dismissive hand flap, then pulled out his checkbook and keys from the pile. She kept the keys for herself but slipped the checkbook back in the drawer on top of another familiar ring of keys, an extra set to The Sand Drift motel units.
A loud clatter and Jerry’s sudden yell sent her scurrying to his chair.
“You okay?” she asked in alarm, looking him over.
“I just dropped the damn remote.”
She glanced down and saw the remote on the floor, its back popped open. One of the batteries had sprung out. Collecting it, she snapped it back in and tried to reattach the plastic back. It wouldn’t latch, its tiny, plastic clip having broken off.
“It might still work, but . . .” She held out the remote and detached piece.
Jerry took the remote and tried to switch channels, grunting when they changed with ease. “Don’t need it, I guess.”
Kerry put the tiny piece of plastic on the counter, then closed the drawer she’d left open when she’d raced to Jerry’s side. He called her over again, asking for some water. She brought him the water and told him she’d make him some tea, which she did.
Fifteen minutes later she was able to leave. She tried Cole’s number and got his voice mail. Knowing she didn’t have much time, she drove to the police station, hoping he would be there by now. Instead she found only Ben Youngston, who took her to the property room and pulled out Nick’s belongings—his wallet, keys, and jacket—and handed them to her with a flourish.
“Thanks,” she told him. “Is Cole going to be back soon, do you think?”
“He doesn’t explain himself to me, but then, he doesn’t have to. He’s the chief.”
Kerry nodded. TMI, but okay, whatever.
She next went to the pharmacy and filled Jerry’s prescription, nearly tapping her toe with impatience. Finally she had the pills in hand and returned to his house, where she found his head lolling on the back of the chair, mouth open. “Jerry!” she half-shouted in alarm, to which he woke, startled.
“Sorry,” she said on a short laugh. “I’m not too good at this.”
“You’re fine,” he told her, giving her a smile.
She’d planned to go back to the station again to wait for Cole there, but now changed her mind. She’d just be watching the clock, and anyway, she’d told the doctor she would keep an eye on Jerry. She rummaged through his cupboards, concluded they were barer than her own, and settled for some Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup, which she and Jerry ate with faintly stale saltines as they watched the news together.
She received a text from Cole at about 5:30: Caught in traffic. Didn’t think it would take so long.
I’m with Jerry at his house, she texted back.
Will call when I’m back was the answer, and then her screen went black. Damn. She switched it off and switched it back on, and the screen slowly came back to life.
“Did you get Audra her check?” Jerry asked.
“No, but I could do that now.”
“Yeah, go. I want her to have it. Suppose I shoulda given it to Marcia, but I didn’t want to.”
“I won’t be long.”
* * *
At six p.m. Sean finally had the audacity to stroll through the back door of the bar as if he owned the place, which he didn’t. He only owned half. “Nice of you to finally show,” Forrest said acidly.
“I had some things to do.”
“Radio silence all day, pal. I texted more than once.”
“Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
Sean brushed past him, which really pissed Forrest off. “You didn’t hurt my feelings, but you made it damn difficult to get anything done around here. We’re short-staffed, remember?”
“I know.”
Sean held up the hinged part of the bar and gently let it down behind him. That pissed off Forrest some more for no good reason, other than he was already pissed off and it added fuel to the fire.
“We’re gonna have to make some changes around here,” Forrest told him.
“You wanna buy me out?” Sean came back fast. He gave Forrest that hooded look that seemed to drive women wild.
“Yeah. I do,” Forrest snapped, calling his bluff.
Sean calmly named a figure, and added, “The sooner the better, if you’re serious, because win, lose, or draw, I’m leaving Edwards Bay as soon as humanly possible.”
“Bullshit.”
“No bullshit.” He wagged his head from side to side. “I’m through with this place. I’m taking my . . . my meager possessions and heading cross-country.”
“Where? Again, bullshit. You’re not going anywhere.” Forrest felt a pang of alarm.
“I’m through here, Borland. All done.”
“Because of Radnor? And Diana?”
“And other shit, too.” A customer came up to the bar, a good-looking woman with a lot of cleavage and luscious, bee-stung lips that couldn’t possibly have been made by nature. Sean smiled, and she practically melted into the barstool. Probably already wet for him. Fuckin’ A. Life just wasn’t fair most of the time.
“I’m not letting you leave, buddy,” he warned.
To which Sean just shrugged, as if the decision had already been made.
* * *
Kerry more than expected Marcia to be home when she got to her house, but when she rang the bell, it was Audra, a skinny, coltish, dark-haired girl with blue eyes like her mom and a huge grin of greeting, who answered.
“Mom’s late,” Audra informed her, as if Kerry had asked. “She’s late a lot. It’s no big deal. I can handle being alone.”
“I see that.”
Audra might be only nine, but she had always acted older than her years. She’d asked for Kerry to identify herself before she’d opened the door, but then had flung it wide when she’d learned who it was, grinning delightedly.
“I have something for you from Grandpa Jerry. He wanted me to give it to you,” Kerry said.
“So Mom wouldn’t see it?”
Out of the mouths of babes . . .
“It’s for those sailing lessons you wanted, and a college donation besides,” Kerry said, handing over the card with the check.
Audra opened up the envelope and her eyes turned to saucers. “That’s a whole lotta money!”
“College is expensive,” said Kerry.
“I don’t have a bank account. I did have a savings account once, I think, from Nick ... but I don’t think so anymore.”
“If you want, I can take you down to the bank sometime and we’ll get you started.”
“’Kay . . . today?”
“Well, how about later this week? I’m staying with Grandpa because he just got out of the hospital.”
“Oh, I know! Mom wouldn’t let me go see him.”
“You might want to call him and thank him.”
“Yeah, before Mom gets home,” Audra said, pulling out her own cell phone.
“I was going to say before you forget, but okay.”
She put the phone to her ear. “I like being alone. I wish she’d leave for more than a weekend next time. She’s always looking over my shoulder like I’m doing bad things on the internet, which I’m not.”
Kerry frowned. “When did she leave you alone for a weekend?”
“Oh, don’t worry. I was with the neighbors, so it was cool. She just got back.” She sighed dramatically.
“She was gone this last weekend?”
“Yeah. I don’t know where she went. Somewhere. She told me to call or text her on her cell if there was a problem, but I didn’t. Oh, hi, Grandpa,” she said, turning away as the call connected. “Aunt Kerry’s here. She just brought me the check. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Wow! And how are you? Mom said she’d bring me to the hospital, but she never did. Maybe I’ll come see you soon? Tomorrow? Great! If Mom won’t bring me over, Kerry will, right?” She looked to Kerry for an answer. Kerry nodded, distracted by the fact that Marcia had left Audra for parts unknown this past weekend and never mentioned it. Was it some kind of secret? It wasn’t as if Marcia owed Kerry any explanations, but it seemed odd.
Kerry had to shake herself out of her suspicions. There was probably nothing to it other than that Marcia didn’t like sharing with Kerry. Nick’s and Diana’s deaths, coupled with Cole’s admonishments to be careful were making her see diabolical plots everywhere.
Still ... huh.
* * *
Taryn had just seated herself at the end of the Blarney Stone’s bar with a good view of Sean when Forrest entered through the back door, letting it slam shut behind him, making sure everyone knew he’d arrived. She was determined not to think about what had just happened with Killian. He was a bastard, had always been a bastard, would always be a bastard. The fact that he’d humiliated her when she’d asked for a job interview after that fucker in accounting had brown-nosed up to Dan and together they’d trumped up totally false charges against her, offering two weeks’ severance pay and a boot out the door, was bad enough. Killian had then compounded the problem.
