"A Murder In Milburn", Book 3: Death In The Library (7 page)

The others nodded, but Nora did not.

No
, it didn’t make sense to her. If Selena had decided to rendezvous with Robert, why would she choose the
library
of all places? Why not a motel, or a car? If Robert, who was huge and muscled, had decided to kill her in a fit of passion, would he not be likely to do it by strangling her or perhaps hitting her? How likely was he to grab a
letter opener
and stab her?

There was too much here that made no sense.

The door to Anna’s clinked, and Mayor Almand walked in. He looked very pleased as he greeted the others, and sat down. He didn’t bother with small talk, rather, jumped right into his story.

“I talked to someone who knows things.” He touched the side of his nose and winked. “Now I’m not saying this someone was from the sheriff’s department, but I’m not saying it
wasn’t
either.”

“They’ve arrested Robert, right?” Sam asked. “We know already.”

“Oh. But do you know that Robert was actually
Robbie Jones?
” Mayor Almand looked pleased. “He was in our very own Milburn High.”

“He announced that in the library yesterday,” Grant said. “So yes, we do know.”

“Oh.” The Mayor looked disappointed. “So you know the rest of it too? That he and Selena dated.”

Sam was sitting up straighter, his face turning white with horror. “
Robbie Jones?
Robert Foxworthy is
Robbie Jones?
”
 

Tina gave him a funny look. “Didn’t I tell you that yesterday?”

“No. Nobody did,” Sam said. “If I’d known, I’d have called the police last night.” He buried his face in his hands. “Oh no. Oh no. I could have saved her.”

“Why? Why would you have called the police?”

“Selena and Robbie used to date in high school,” Sam said. “I suppose it was an obvious match. They were both outcasts. His father had moved here from London when Robbie was 15, and he was too posh to get along with the other boys here. He and Selena were both bookworms who thought ‘
weirdo
’ was a compliment, not an insult. They got along really well. I remember, Selena loved to cut her hair short, she once even shaved herself bald. At the time, she was not much to look at. As for Robbie,
fat
was a kind word to describe him. Morbidly obese was a more accurate term. Still, he was a cheerful lad, and very loving. They had an innocent romance. Both wrote poems and stories and shared them with each other. The rest of us would wrinkle our nose if Selena read out her poetry, but Robbie actually appreciated it.”

“Sounds like a good match all right,” Harvey said. “So when did he show his true colors?”

“College,” Sam said. “At first, it seemed like they were going to be together forever. The thought of breaking up never even crossed their mind. Robbie and Selena were so in love, they both gave up offers from better schools and accepted the same university. Thing was, there’s a huge difference between high-school-you and college-you. Robbie changed in college. So did Selena. All of a sudden, from being an outcast in school, she was actually popular. She was lauded by her professors for her writing, and she even became editor of the college literary magazine. As for Robbie, well, he continued his high school antics of sitting in the last row and doing as little work as possible. Soon, he was flunking out.”

“Then what?”

“Then one day, Robbie stole a poem from Selena and submitted it as his own in Lit Class,” Sam said. “Selena blew up. She said it was worse than cheating. They had a huge shouting match. Robbie told her it was no big deal. He kept trying to calm her down by saying it was just one paper, he’d do ten for her, but Selena was adamant. She told him that she was going to turn him in. At some point, they both got so heated that someone in the dorm called the cops, and before they arrived he slapped her.”

There was a gasp around the table.

“If you knew Selena. Well, let’s just say you’d know that she believed very strongly in non-violence,” Sam said. “Words were her preferred method of destruction. She believed there was nothing more evil than violence. As for a man raising his hand on a woman? Well, Robbie was dead to her as soon as he did that. He tried to get back together for a year. He begged forgiveness, he did excessively creepy things like sending her enough flowers to fill her entire room, or delivering singing telegrams every day for a week. He even stood outside her dorm window with a boombox held over his head like he was John Cusack.”

“Did she report him?”

“I think so. All I know is he eventually dropped out of her life, and then out of college,” Sam said. “If I’d known Robert Foxworthy was that same creepy “nice guy” Robbie, the man who raised his hand on my sister, I would have taken a baseball bat to him. I swear I would have.”

“Calm down, Sam. We can’t have you talking like this,” the mayor said anxiously. “Not in the current atmosphere. People are bound to misinterpret you.”

“There’s nothing to misinterpret. I would have beaten him back then up if I weren’t 13 at the time,” Sam said. “I would certainly have given him a few blows if I’d known. Maybe I could have prevented all this if I’d just, if I’d just
known
.” He gave a frustrated sigh.

“Women, some women, can be attracted to the forbidden,” May said. “If Selena was planning to reconcile with him--”

“She wasn’t, though,” Grant pointed out. “She was fighting with him yesterday.”

“But agreed to meet him later that night,” May said.

“True,” Grant agreed.

“So that’s it,” Sam said. “An abusive boyfriend who got out of control? That’s what took my lovely, talented sister’s life?” His eyes were swimming with tears. He gulped. “What a pity. What an absolute shame. She was a wonderful person, you know. I know she was cranky and selfish, but she was a truly brilliant writer. I hope he gets capital punishment, I really do. He deserves to hang from the neck and be left to dry.”

*****

Chapter 10

“All right,” Sean said, “Your bail’s been paid. You’re free to go.”
 

Robert smirked, and rubbed his wrists. “You’re going to be a character in one of my books soon, Sean. A loser sheriff who thinks his small town is the centre of the world.”

“To me, it is,” Sean said. “I take pride in making sure the world is revolving just fine without jerks trying to upset its balance.”

“My lawyer is flying down here as soon as he gets the chance,” Robert said.

“You’re not allowed to leave the county yet,” Sean said, “but the faster you leave my office, the better it will be for us both. I’m anticipating you’ll be in here again soon enough.”

“Oh sure. You’ve made up your mind about me, haven’t you? You’re trying to protect your precious townsfolk and blame it all on the outsider. This place never changes.”

“The most important things in the world seldom do,” Sean said. “Good and evil were well defined ten thousand years ago, and they’re the same now.”

“I’ve had enough of you and your cryptic statements.” Robert made a show of looking through the plastic bag that had been handed to him. “I had twenty three dollars in my wallet when you arrested me, and they better still be in there.”

“I’m sure it’s all in order,” Sean said. “Again, Mr. Foxworthy, or Mr. Jones, I’d like you out of my office.”

“I’m going to call the press,” Robert said, standing up. “This should make for good Sunday morning reading. Corrupt small town cop targets fearless author.”

“How about has-been creative attracts attention by attacking honest cop?” Sean asked. “Get out, Robert.”
 

They walked outside to the lobby, and Sean frowned. All the chairs in the waiting area were occupied by Nora, Harvey, Tina and Sam. Sam jumped to his feet as the two men emerged from the office.

“What is he doing here!” Sam cried. “You arrested him! I thought it was over!”

“Now, Sam, take it easy.” Instinctively, Sean moved to block Sam’s view of Robert. He noted with some relief that both Nora and Harvey instantly moved to restrain Sam.

“Oh you’re acting up,” Robert laughed. “Playing the grieving brother a little too much, aren’t you? She was only your step sister.”

“I heard all about you,” Sam said. “I know what you did in college. She hated you.”

“Did she?” Robert considered this. “You know what she told me about
you
, Sam?”

Sam paused, his face turning white.

“She told me nothing,” Robert let out a peal of laughter. “Kind of funny, right? I was her boyfriend for four years, and the only time she mentioned you was when she was rolling her eyes about how you were a loser with failing grades.”

Tina sprang up, ready to attack Robert, and Sean placed two hands on her shoulder, firmly pushing her back. “Don’t do it, Tina,” he said. “I’ll make sure Selena’s murderer is bought to justice. I promise you that. We’ll see who laughs then.”

“It’s downright
creepy
how friendly everyone in this town is with each other,” Robert said. “I stayed here two years in high school and apart from Selena I never made a single friend. You all close yourself off from the outside world. You take yourselves too seriously and then act surprised when people get killed. Selena was the only one of you lot that was worth a penny.”

“Don’t take my sister’s name you filthy--”

“Enough, Sam,” Sean thundered. Nora’s eyes widened. She’d never seen Sean like this. The sheriff was usually so controlled and placid. Robert clearly knew how to push his buttons.

“You’ve got five seconds to get out of here before I arrest you all over again,” Sean said. “Before you open that mouth to say something, I’d advise you to think hard. Do the sensible thing.”

Robert shrugged, raised his hands, and walked out.

Nora took one look at Harvey and Tina, who were speaking in soft whispers to an agitated Sam. Then, thoughtfully, she looked at the door. Sean caught her look and shook his head.
 

Harvey looked up, then.
 

“I was serious, Nora,” he said. “Don’t try and solve this. Don’t go after him.”

But, of course, she did. She had to.

Outside, mist flowed down the mountainside, and dark clouds huddled together. In the small space between clouds, a waning moon shone palely. Robert was by the door of his rental car, head pressed down against the roof, hands resting on his temple.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

He looked up, blinked. “Not really,” he said. He gave a sniff, and rubbed his eyes. “Did Sam send you to deliver a message, or was it Sean?”

“It occurred to me that you have no friends or family in this town,” Nora said. “I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.”

“Sympathizing with a murderer?” Robbie smiled. “I’ve heard that there’s a section of women who are attracted to serial killers. They even send them fan mail in jail. Are you secretly one of them?”

“Not really,” Nora said. She glanced back at the sheriff’s office. Harvey had appeared at the door. He walked to the sidewalk and leaned on one of the street lamps, crossing his arms across his chest.

Robert saw this, and laughed. “Ah yes, the overly protective boyfriend.”

“Harvey’s none of your business,” Nora said.

“I’d say Selena’s none of yours,” Robert said. “Yet here we are.”

“Look, I only came because I don’t think you killed her,” Nora said. “Unlike most people in town.”

“Are you sure?” Robert grinned. “After all, I punched the sheriff. That’s all you know about my character.”

“You’re smart,” Nora said. “You’re acting abrasive right now because you’re upset about Selena’s death, and you think you’re being targeted. So you’re being rebellious and acting like a jerk, to anger the sheriff a little more. Instead, you could try and cooperate.”

“Why should I? The sheriff’s had it in for me since he saw me at the library the other day,” Robert said. “If that wasn’t bad enough, I snuck back into town after he’d kindly escorted me out.”

“Why did you?”

“Why did I come back in the first place? I had to meet her. I had to exorcise myself of her,” Robert said. “You don’t know what it’s like, Nora. To have a ghost follow you around your life. I was a dirtbag in college. My parents were divorcing then, after years of emotional and physical abuse by my father. I wasn’t in a very happy place. I was stoned every day, and bunking classes. She was a great girlfriend. I was the reason we broke up. I lost the best thing in my life because I was too busy focussing on the worst. It killed me every day, that I’d lost her and there was no way to get her back.”

“Weren’t you angry at her?”

“After I slapped her in college? No. I was horrified at myself. I’d become the one person I didn’t want to be. My father. That slap woke me up. I needed to change. I tried to tell her that I had changed, that I’d never do it again. But it was too late. I was desperate, I tried everything I could to win her back, until it sunk in that she’d need time, and a lot of evidence that I’d changed. So I decided to travel the world. To become a real man, the kind of man Selena deserved.”

“You wrote your book about her, didn’t you?”

“I did, yes.” He laughed. “It was obvious to anybody who knew me. Along the way, I did change. When you travel the world, you meet people who’ve had a life a million times tougher than yours and still manage to be positive, loving people. I’m a much better person now than I was in college. When I was in Guyana last month, I had a near death experience. I was bitten by a snake, and the antivenom almost didn’t reach me on time because the road to town was washed away by a flood. That’s when I knew there was no point in traveling the world with her invisible presence. I had to go back. I had to find her. I used any excuse I could, and when my agent landed me this small town library talk, I was happier than when I’d first got my six-figure royalty check.”