She Waits (24 page)

"Hmm, burning down a chemistry lab? I can see you as a kid, freckle faced and full of the devil," I said, laughing. "How old were you?"

She struck a thoughtful pose. "God, it was nineteen years ago! I was fifteen." I did the math.

"Yes, I'm thirty-four," she said sarcastically and I felt the color rush to my face. "You great detective, you," she added, with a grin. "By the way you talk, you must be at least fifty."

I laughed out loud at that one then abruptly stopped and frowned.

"I'm not fifty," I said, quite seriously, as if she needed reassurance. Perhaps I was the one who needed it.

She laughed then. "It doesn't make any difference to me," she assured me.

We looked at each other for a moment, then the thunder cracked overhead and she jumped.

"Christ," she laughed nervously as Hannah came to the door.

"Walt just pulled up," Hannah said.

The moment, whatever it was, was gone.

"Sorry Doc, but I could use your help." I told him everything I knew, and he was visibly shaken. "Doc, if you know anything, please tell me." I almost begged him.

Doc looked old and tired and I saw Hannah give him a sad but affectionate glance.

"Walt, I know we promised each other long ago, but now this changes everything," Hannah said to him.

Maggie had come into the room and we gaped at each other. I flopped into a chair.

"What changes what?" I asked, completely dumfounded.

Doc let out a deep sigh. "I have no idea where to start. If you hadn't brought Sarah's name into it I would never be telling you this."

"Understood," I said. "I don't want any of this either Doc, but Christ, somebody killed Bedford and they have been trying to do the same to Maggie. If Sarah can help in anyway, don't you think we should take that chance?" My patience, which I lacked horribly as it was, was running short.

He nodded and continued. "After Nathan married Sarah and brought her home she started having headaches. Nathan told me about them. We tested her, she was fine--no tumors, nothing. I thought it was migraines. It went on for a few years. She and Nathan have always had problems. I often wondered why in the world he married her."

"I know why," Hannah said. "Nathan is a gentle soul. He's weak and he saw strength in Sarah. That's what he told me, at least. When I first met Sarah, I too saw her strength of will and purpose. When my father started the clinic, she was tireless in her efforts. She was very good at fundraising, getting influential people to donate money. Father admired her for that. I believe that's why he gave her so much authority."

"I agree with you there. There was a spark between Alexander and Sarah. They worked well together," Doc said.

Maggie and I exchanged glances.
I'll bet.

"Later on, I found out Sarah was seeing a psychiatrist who was medicating her for severe manic depression and paranoia," Doc said. "I found out quite by accident. I never told a soul but Hannah. We've never spoken of it since the day I told her. But, Nathan would call me at all hours, and I could hear Sarah in the background, screaming. I would go over there and she would be livid, claiming Nathan was cheating on her, everybody hated her and the like. Poor little Charlie was always on the stairs, looking like a scared rabbit. She'd run up to him and cradle him, saying no one would ever take him away from her, whatever that meant. It wore Nathan out. Even when she was taking her medication, she was still a very nasty person, which I don't think had anything to do with her illness." Doc stopped for a moment and drank his coffee. "It nearly cost them their marriage."

Maggie leaned forward. "Instead, Uncle Nathan and Mom had an affair." It was not a question.

Hannah again had tears in her eyes. "Yes, Margaret. I'm sorry, I know of one occasion. Before you were born. I am almost sure of it a few years after that, I'm sorry. After Miranda was killed, I didn't think it would serve anyone to say anything." She looked apologetically at Maggie, who covered her aunt's hand with her own. Maggie looked at Doc.

"I always suspected but never knew," Doc said. "When Miranda was a volunteer, I would see them at the clinic. She was always there when Nathan was on duty."

"Doc," I said, "we found a notebook in Bedford's apartment, tucked away next to a book of poetry. In it, Bedford talked about Alexander Winfield and Sarah. The other day at the stable, I overheard Bedford and Sarah talking. Alexander's name was brought up again. You said they worked well together. I'm wondering how well? Do you know anything about that? Hannah?"

They exchanged glances and I knew then that they did.

"What do you know?" Maggie asked.

"I can prove nothing," Doc said. "However, I felt certain that Sarah and Alexander, at some point were..." his voice trailed off.

Hannah merely nodded.

"Perhaps that was one reason Sarah got on the Board of Directors at the clinic," I said.

Doc looked uncomfortable for a moment, shifting in his seat. "A great deal went on in the Winfield family back then. That's why I decided to get my own practice and get out for a while. Hannah and Nathan were the only ones worth anything. Though they were father and son, Alexander and Jonathan didn't like each other. Poor Hannah and Nathan were on the Board because they were family.

"Before he died, Alexander wanted Miranda on the board. Sarah was livid. She felt she had done a great deal for the clinic. Believe me, she was always right there, helping to keep the place running--that was the only good thing she ever did. As I told you the other night, she kept that clinic afloat and got the State's Medical Board to approve it. I don't think she wanted to share the limelight with Miranda, who didn't want it, but Jonathan granted his father's wish. He was a hard man, Jonathan. So was Alexander." Doc looked at Hannah, who nodded, so he continued to Maggie. "Sarah stopped at nothing. I'm sorry, Maggie, but your father was a stinker; a philanderer, I guess, is the proper word. Why he cheated on your mother, I will never know. But he did, from the onset. Miranda would come to see me and cry like a baby. This went on for years, long before you were even born. She would get phone calls from these women boldly asking for Jonathan. She confronted him on several occasions but to no avail. Jonathan wasn't the man any of us thought he was. The honeymoon was over quickly once he brought Miranda home. I think this is what drove her to Nathan." He put his hand on Maggie's shoulder. "Sorry, sweetie."

"It's okay, Doc. I never could get close to him, either. Believe me, I tried. I just felt he never liked me. I thought it was because I reminded him of mother." She stared sadly out the window.

Well this truly sucks.
"So what stops did Sarah pull?"

"She threatened to expose Jonathan for what he was, thus scandalizing his beloved reputation in the business world and the community," Doc said. "Then, as if that didn't do it, she promptly stated that Alexander Winfield seduced her and she would expose the entire situation. I personally can't imagine Alexander doing that. But, now that you have Bedford's notebook, it makes sense."

"Do you think Sarah knew about Miranda's affair with Nathan?" I asked.

"Yes, I think she did."

"Do you think she or Nathan is capable of being involved in Miranda's murder?" I asked.

His eyes widened a bit, I could feel Maggie tense and heard Hannah gasp. He appeared to think for a minute. Nobody moved or said anything further. Boy, patience might be a virtue, but I don't have it. I tried to remain quiet, even though I wanted to scream.

Finally he said, "Yes. I think she could be in some way involved. I'm not sure about Nathan though." We all looked at each other.

I fished the button out of my jean's pocket and held it up. "Maggie found this in Bedford's apartment. His room looked as if someone had gone through his dresser and desk, obviously looking for something that might be incriminating. Bedford had no suits or jackets in his closet. By the way, where is Nathan? Is he still in Dubuque on what was it? An emergency surgery?" I looked at Doc as I toyed with the gold button.

"So, now what?" he asked.

I glanced at the clock, almost one. Allison would be there soon.

"I think Allison is in some way involved with Sarah. Sarah mentioned a couple of things to me last night that she could only have known through Allison. I also overheard her conversation with Maggie last night by the lake. Sarah thinks I'm to blame for the recent problems. Allison cares for Maggie and believes Sarah."

"What are you planning?" Doc asked curiously.

"I'm hoping Allison is only an innocent dupe, not a dope, and that she'll help us. Then I'm planning on finding the jacket that belongs to this button."

And that was my plan. It had sounded so good a moment ago, when it was a mere thought.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Maggie shot me an angry look. "Oh, you are so
not
going to do that."

I stared at her for a moment. "Is that a double negative?" I asked curiously, trying not to grin while she glared at me. I was getting used to that expression. I rather looked forward to it now, in some perverse way.

"Steve should be here. He's the sheriff," Hannah said.

"No. If Allison sees Steve, she won't cooperate."

"And you think she'll cooperate seeing you?" Maggie asked.

"I hope so," I said. "Maggie, I'm planning on getting into your aunt's and uncle's house. I'm thinking Steve would frown upon breaking and entering."

"Kate, this is no game. Do you realize how many times you've been hurt this weekend? First, someone throws you through the door, then you're almost killed in the fire. I think you are accident-prone. I will not have you hurt anymore, that's it. If you go through with this hare-brained scheme, then I go with you," Maggie finished firmly with a challenging look.

"Me, too!" Hannah announced.

I glanced at Doc who stood and put on his coat. "I'm leaving. I feel the Winfield stubbornness coming. I'll be at the clinic if anyone needs me or if anything happens." He looked at me. "I don't want to see you there again." He kissed Hannah and Maggie then left.

I'm used to being on my own--no ties, no worries. I live a simple, easy life and I hate complications. I looked at the object of my complication and shook my head.

"Maggie, do you understand that I don't want you or anyone involved or getting hurt?" I asked, trying to make her understand.

"Kate, do you understand that I
am
involved, and I don't want you or anyone to get hurt anymore?" she asked with equal simplicity and determination.

I had to admit--good point.
I hate when that happens.

"Jesus, you're stubborn," I said, ignoring my own stubbornness. "Why don't we announce it over a P.A. system as we pull into your aunt's driveway?"

"There's no reason to be sarcastic," Maggie said.

"Oh, I beg to differ," I snapped back. Inwardly, I was beginning to enjoy the strolls down Sarcasm Lane with this feisty woman.

I was about to continue our debate when the doorbell rang. Maggie was still glaring at me as she walked away. I could hear Allison's dulcet tones all the way in the den.

"God, sweetie, you look awful," we heard Allison say. "We need to talk."

"We need to talk to you, too, Al," Maggie said as they came into the den.

Allison was shocked to see me "What's going on here?" she asked.

"Allison, we need your help," I said quickly.

She sneered at me. "You need my help? I doubt that."

"Al, please, sit down," Maggie said. Allison sat on the couch as Maggie sat on the ottoman facing her.

"Allison, we know you told Aunt Sarah about the glove and the possible DNA testing," Maggie started.

"What makes you think I told her that?" she asked.

"Because you knew about it all," I said. "Sarah didn't. You knew about the glove, Sarah didn't. You knew about the possibility of reopening the case, she didn't. When she talked to me about it all, I realized there was only one way she could have known and that's from you," I said evenly.

"All of this started happening when you got here," Allison yelled at me. "You ran Maggie over, you're the only one who saw the intruder, you were with Maggie when she got thrown from the horse. Maggie might think you're charming--"

"Oh, charming my ass!" I said vehemently.
Charming?
"You told Sarah, right or wrong?" I asked, not looking at Maggie.

"Yes, I told Sarah, she's onto you as well." Allison now stood over me.

I tried to get up, but Maggie stepped between us.

"Allison, you told Sarah? Why?" Hannah asked.

Allison said nothing, but her shoulders sagged. She looked at Maggie and she softened, but still she said nothing.

I knew why. I said quietly, "Because Allison cares a great deal for Maggie and Sarah used Allison to find out what I knew. She told Allison I was the cause for all this and I shouldn't be trusted. Allison seized the opportunity to protect Maggie and get me out of the way, any way she could. So she listened to Sarah, thinking she was doing the right thing."

I looked at Allison, who sat down and stared at the ceiling. "That's absolutely right," was all she said.

Maggie sat back on the ottoman and took Allison's hands and held them. Allison looked at Maggie with tears in her eyes.

"Someone tried to kill Kate," Maggie said. "They broke into my house. They killed Bedford. Al, what do you know? We need your help."

"I thought I was protecting you," Allison said in a small voice.

I felt bad for her. She had no clue what she had done.

"I know. Now you can help. Tell us what you know," Maggie pleaded with her.

Allison took a deep breath. "Sarah asked me to stay close, and if I overheard anything, I was to tell her. She said she was trying to figure this thing out as well, and we shouldn't trust a stranger. So I agreed. That's all. She never confided in me. Although..." She trailed off.

"Although, what?" Maggie asked. "Please, Allison."

I said nothing, letting Maggie handle this one.

"Sarah told me that if I helped her solve this, she would make sure I was compensated," Allison said and stopped.