A Clue in the Stew (A Soup Lover's Mystery) (25 page)

Chapter 56

A
N ORDERLY HAD
arrived early that morning to wheel Jack back to the Cardiology Department for more tests. Lucky returned to the waiting room and snuggled deeper into the chair, pulling the blanket up to her nose. It was the aroma that roused her. She opened one eye to find a smiling Sophie standing over her, waving a steaming cup of very strong coffee back and forth in front of her face.

“Hey, sleepyhead. Wake up. Look what I brought you.”

Lucky groaned and stretched, pushing off the blanket that had covered her during the night. “Oh, thank you!” she mumbled, sitting up straighter and reaching out for the paper cup.

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

“Mmm. It’s good,” Lucky said, taking a small sip.

“I can’t believe you spent the night like this.” Sophie glanced around the room. “Where’s Jack?”

“He’s in Cardiology right now, but they’ll bring him back up. He’s doing well actually, but I didn’t want to . . . I just felt I shouldn’t be far away. Just in case . . . you know . . .”

Sophie nodded. “I understand.”

“Elias found me in the cafeteria right after we talked. I was so glad to see him. The ER doctor and the cardiologist were great but having Elias here made me feel so much better.”

“Did he stay with you?”

“For a little bit. Then he went to talk to Jack’s cardiologist and decided to check on his other patients. We had dinner together and he tried to talk me into coming back to town, but I really didn’t want to leave Jack alone.”

“I’m sure he understood.” Sophie waited. “Anything else happen?” Sophie was well aware of Elias’s plan to propose at the Mont Blanc Restaurant, but Meg’s attack had put that on the back burner. She had been waiting anxiously for the moment to occur, even though she doubted Elias would pop the question in a hospital cafeteria.

Lucky looked at her friend quizzically. “Uh, no. It was a very calm evening, thankfully. Jack was resting quietly and eventually I nodded off.”

Sophie hooked a foot around a nearby chair and pulled it closer, then sat. “Have you eaten anything?”

“No. I’m not hungry. Not yet anyway.”

“How’s the food here?”

Lucky smiled. “Jack wasn’t too excited. He ate a little plain oatmeal and herbal tea.” Lucky sipped at her coffee. “This is much better than what they sell downstairs. Thanks!” Lucky took another sip. “I’m so sorry. I feel like I’m dumping on you.”

“You’re not dumping, not at all.” Sophie smiled. “Do you know when they’ll release Jack?”

“Not today. I talked to the cardiologist earlier when he made his rounds. With luck in a few days. Maybe. I am glad I stayed though. After all that Jack’s been through, I didn’t want him to get stressed out and maybe . . .”

“Have one of his spells?”

“Yes, that, but also he feels so bad about Nanette stealing the money and being played like he was. I just wanted to be here to lift his spirits.”

“I’m sure you did. What are you going to do today?”

“Well, I think when Jack’s back to his room, I might drive home, take a shower, get some clean clothes and come back in the afternoon. As long as the nurses don’t object, I’ll stay another night, just to keep him company. After that, maybe by then we’ll know when they plan to release him.”

Sophie’s purse slid from the chair arm to the floor. Lucky reached down to right it and noticed a folded newspaper sticking out of the purse. “What have you got? The
Snowflake Gazette
?”

“No, it’s the
Lincoln Falls Sentinel
. I picked up a copy when I stopped to get the coffee. Big spread on the murder in Snowflake.”

“Don’t you mean ‘murders’ plural?”

“The Cranleigh murder’s on page six. The front page is all about Hilary Stone. You’ll see.”

Lucky rested her coffee container on the windowsill and unfolded the newspaper. A photo of Hilary Stone took up a good quarter of the front page. It was a posed publicity photo that the
Sentinel
had obtained. Hilary was smiling, wearing a soft pastel-colored blouse with an open neckline that displayed her sapphire and diamond necklace.

“It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” Sophie said, pointing to the necklace. “I guess she must have loved it and worn it all the time. Must have cost a mint.”

Lucky stared blankly across the room. The newspaper dropped from her hand.

“What is it?” Sophie asked, alarmed.

“Sophie . . .”

“What?”

“The necklace. She’s wearing the necklace.”

“I know.” Sophie’s brow was furrowed.

“She wasn’t wearing it that night.”

“The night of the murder?”

“Yes! I remember now.” Lucky rubbed her forehead.

“What?”

“Her necklace was on the bureau. When I went in to deliver the tray. She didn’t have it on. I noticed it lying across the top of the bureau.”

“Okay . . . so?”

“Derek. Derek lied. That morning when I went back to the Drake House, I was standing right there when he told Nate he went into his mother’s room later and helped her take off her jewelry. He said she always had trouble with the clasp. But he couldn’t have. I was there in the room when she was still alive. Derek came into her room
after
me. Hilary had already taken the necklace off.”

“Well, people say strange things sometimes . . . maybe it was his habit to do that, but with the shock of finding out his mother was murdered, he may have been just babbling.”

“No, Sophie. He was upset, yes, but he wasn’t babbling. He was stating it as if it were an actual fact. He lied. He was there all right, but he made that up to sound like . . . like it was a perfectly normal visit.” Lucky stood and shook off the blanket. She slipped on her jacket.

“Where are you going?”

“To the Drake House. And I’m going to call Nate on the way.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, please, Sophie. Could you stay here and tell Jack I’ll be back later? Don’t say anything about Derek though. I don’t want Jack to worry.”

“Okay,” Sophie replied hesitantly. “I’ll stay and visit with him, but then I’m heading back to town. I know you. You’ll barge in. And I’ll make sure I call Nate and tell him what you said.”

“Look, Nate will probably not take me seriously. I know it’s a minor thing but it’s still a lie and why should he lie about it?”

“It’s not evidence, Lucky. It doesn’t mean he murdered his own mother, much less a doctor he probably never met.”

“We’ll find out, won’t we?” Lucky grabbed her purse, fished out her keys and turned to her friend. “I’ll call you as soon as I reach Nate. I think Nate should question him again.”

“Be careful.”

“I will. I always am.”

“Then be more careful.” Sophie followed Lucky to the doorway and watched as she pressed the
DOWN
button on the elevator panel. A sudden chill ran up her spine. Lucky might have promised, but she didn’t intend to waste a second calling Nate herself.

Chapter 57

L
UCKY REACHED THE
Drake House in record time. She had driven as fast as possible down the two-lane road that led back to Snowflake. She was sure she had broken the speed limit, but it was early enough that there was virtually no traffic. Now would be a good time to call Nate before she went in to find Derek, but what could she tell him? He might not pay any attention to her hunch. And on top of that, what could she say to Derek without tipping her hand? She wasn’t sure what she could do, but she wanted Nate to question Derek again and she wanted to be there when Nate did. Nate would still be focused on Phoebe’s disappearance. She hoped she could reach him. She quickly dialed the station. Bradley, Nate’s deputy, answered on the second ring.

“Bradley, is Nate there?”

“Sure, Lucky. He’s in his office.”

“Let me speak to him for just a moment, please.” Lucky prayed Bradley wasn’t in one of his obstructive and officious moods.

“Uh . . .” Bradley hesitated.

“It’s important, Bradley.”

Bradley sighed heavily, “Oh, all right.” The line went silent as Bradley relayed her message. Then Nate picked up.

Nate listened patiently as Lucky quickly outlined her thoughts. “Why would he lie, Nate?”

“I don’t know. Where are you now?”

“At the Drake House.”

“Damn. I thought I told you . . .” Nate sighed. “How’s Jack doing?”

“He’s been admitted but he’s stable. I stayed with him last night. Sophie’s with him now.”

“All right. I’ll go along with this, but only if you wait for me. I’ll come over and have another talk with Derek. It’ll be a few minutes though. I’m waiting for a report from the lab. Don’t confront him, Lucky. Stay the hell out of this.”

“But what if he tries to—”

“That’s an order. Stay away from him. I’ll be over as soon as I can.”

“All right,” Lucky agreed grudgingly. Frustrated, she turned off the engine and sat back in her seat. Waiting for Nate might take a long while. Her eyes roamed over the guest and staff parking spots on the side of the house. She sat up straighter. Derek’s rental car was gone. The same one that Barry had promised to disable. How had Derek managed to get the car fixed so quickly? Barbara Drake must have enlisted Guy Bessette’s help to get the car running again. There were only three other cars in the parking area, now that Barbara’s guests had all checked out. An older sedan, a pickup truck that she thought belonged to the Partridges and a small compact car. Had Derek gone out or had Sylvia taken the car somewhere?

The reception area was empty when Lucky entered. She dinged the little bell that sat on top of the front desk and waited. Her eye caught a stack of mail that had just been delivered. She glanced at the envelope that sat on top. Her breath caught in her throat. The name clearly marked on the front was “Georgina Ellers.” The return address was a Bournmouth post office box.

Barbara Drake hurried out to the reception area. “Yes? Can I help . . . Oh, hi, Lucky!”

Lucky held the envelope up so that Barbara could see the addressee. “Is this Ginny’s mail?”

“Yes. Why?”

She had been totally wrong. She wanted to kick herself. She had jumped to the conclusion that Phoebe must be Hilary’s daughter. Georgina Ellers did exist and she had been right here under their noses all along. But how could two women in the same small circle have both had a connection to the Salisbury Retreat? “Where is Ginny now?”

“You just missed her. Derek offered her a ride back to Bournmouth. She had some car trouble this morning. Guy couldn’t get over till later and Ginny wanted to get home.”

“How long ago did they leave?”

“Just a few minutes ago. I’m not sure but Sylvia might have gone with them.” Barbara stared at her. “Why? Is anything wrong?”

“Call Nate. Tell him Ginny’s in danger. Tell him what you told me.” Lucky turned and rushed to the front door.

“Wait. Lucky! What’s going on?”

“I can’t explain. Just please call Nate. Tell him that.” Lucky pushed through the front door. The pieces had finally fallen into place.

Chapter 58

L
UCKY BACKED OUT
of the drive of the Drake House and pulled onto the road heading in the direction of Bournmouth. Ginny had been there all along, overlooked, as they all speculated on which of the women surrounding Hilary Stone could possibly be her daughter. Why hadn’t she considered Ginny as a possibility earlier? How easy it must have been for her to obtain employment at a busy bed-and-breakfast. Had she been stalking her mother? Or had she just been curious? Or was she determined to introduce herself and ask why she had been given up for adoption? Ginny would have no reason to fear Derek. Especially if Sylvia were present in the car. In fact, perhaps Ginny even thought of revealing who she was to her half brother. A half sibling who might have every reason to want Ginny out of the picture.

The skies had become darker and the rain started, first in big splotches and then a steady downpour. If she drove fast enough, she might be able to catch up with them. Derek would never suspect they could be followed. She hit a deep puddle as she navigated a bend in the road. She hit the brakes quickly and felt the car slide, its wheels spinning. She narrowly avoided losing control of the car. A sudden surge of adrenaline caused her heart to hammer in her chest. She lifted her foot from the accelerator and guided the car back into the lane. It wouldn’t do to go off the road or have an accident now. She drove as fast as possible for the next few miles, biding her time and passing every vehicle on the road ahead as soon as she could. She slowed as she reached the sign announcing the town of Bournmouth. Turning on her blinker, she pulled to the side of the road, letting other cars pass by. She hadn’t spotted Derek’s car, and with only a few minutes’ leeway and the speed at which she had driven, it wasn’t possible they could have reached Bournmouth before she had.

Was she wrong? Had there been an innocent reason for Derek to lie to Nate? Or did Derek intend to harm Ginny? The rain was heavier now. She could barely see through the windshield. When she was sure there was no oncoming traffic, she made a U-turn and retraced her route. They had never reached Bournmouth. It confirmed her opinion that Ginny was truly in danger. Other than a few houses along the way, there were no paved roads that led anywhere away from the main route. The only road Lucky knew of was a service road to the rear entrance of the recreation area at the pond. It was possible there were other tracks through the woods that she wasn’t aware of, but it was far less likely that Derek would be familiar with them if Lucky herself wasn’t.

Fifteen minutes later she reached the turnoff and slowed. She entered the dirt track now turned to mud in the rains. Several yards along, two concrete pillars on either side of the road had once supported a heavy chain. The chain was broken now, its sign warning
NO ENTRANCE
lying in the mud. Fresh tire tracks were being eroded by the rain. They had come this way.

Lucky hit the gas pedal only to feel her wheels spinning. She was stuck. She yanked the gear shift into reverse and gently backed up. The wheels spun again. She tried to go forward and then repeated the maneuver a few more times. The wheels sank deeper into the ground. “Damn!” She hit the steering wheel with her fist. If only she had something in her trunk that she could use. A couple of short boards. She’d be able to rescue her car from the mud. She glanced out at the trees around her. A few sturdy twigs might even do, but there was no time. There was nothing to be done. She’d have to proceed on foot. She pulled her cell phone out once more and dialed the police station. She had no idea if Nate had ever reached the Drake House. If so, he might have tried to trail her route. He would certainly know of this service road but would he think of it?

The temperature had dropped. She was shivering and her fingers felt stiff. She hit the buttons. Bradley answered again. Before waiting for him to speak and before losing her connection, she said, “Tell Nate I’m on the service road to the pond. He’ll know.” Then she hung up and climbed out. Her first steps left her in mud that covered her shoes. She pulled each foot out of the wet earth with difficulty and reached the side of the road, where pine needles and leaves gave her an easier pathway. She half walked, half ran along the edge of the road.

By the time she reached the end of the dirt track, her clothes were soaked through. She spotted the roof of the boathouse down below. Derek’s rental car was parked to the side, the rear passenger door wide open. Lucky approached it cautiously. The car was empty and no one was in sight. Farther along, to her left, steps crafted out of heavy logs led down to the boathouse. A woman’s scream cut through the air.