Take Stock in Murder (11 page)

“Jim and I went. I mean, aside from being personal friends of the Barringtons, Jim is the current president of the Club,” Judy said with pride as she brushed her sandy-colored hair from her eyes. “We felt it was our duty to represent the Club.”

“Frank and I went,” Marilyn added.

“We weren’t able to get to the funeral, but we sent flowers,” Delores said.

“Us too,” chimed in all the other women at the table, including Carrie.

“I guess it was difficult for the Barringtons to lose their youngest son,” Judy said. “Yes, it was sad. Mr. Barrington put on a strong showing, but Mrs. Barrington was visibly affected and heavily supported by Linda and Brad. The middle son, Kent, flew in from the West Coast. I think that helped her,
and I understand he’ll be staying for a while. But she’s a strong woman, so she’ll come through just fine.”

“Were there a lot of people attending?” Terry asked in a quiet voice as she took a long sip of her iced tea.

“Oh, yes, there were more than a hundred there. Many of the attendees were business associates or friends of the Barringtons. Then of course there was a large representation of young people who were Todd’s friends. But the ceremony was very nice. I didn’t go to the cemetery for the actual burial. I always think that is just for the family,” Judy said.

“Terry, I thought I would see you at the funeral,” Marilyn said.

“I wanted to go, but I decided against it. To be honest, I just get too emotional at funerals.” She adjusted her sunglasses.

Delores, Pat, and Carrie exchanged glances.

Then Delores broke the momentary silence following Terry’s revelation. “This may not be the right time, but since we’re talking about Todd…” Delores paused, waiting for their full attention. “Have any of you thought about what to do with the Investment Club?”

“Delores, I don’t think now is the time to talk about money.” Terry’s voice sounded slightly emotional.

“I don’t mean to sound disrespectful of the dead, but I agree with Delores. We do need to decide what to do. We’re talking about a fair amount of money that needs to be managed,” Pat added as she loaded a nacho chip with cheese and chili.

Marilyn, Terry, and Judy nodded in agreement.

“If I can be so bold, I’ve a suggestion that would have the least impact on our investments. My daughter, Sara, works at
the Barrington firm, and I’m sure she’ll be delighted to continue helping us. She handled our transactions when Todd wasn’t available.” It was a proud Delores Chaney who spoke about her daughter.

“Delores, I didn’t realize your daughter worked with Todd Barrington.” Carrie’s surprise was genuine.

“Yes. In fact, she and Todd started the same week at the firm. However, Sara has an MBA in finance from Wharton and has truly earned her position within the firm. I don’t think there’s any doubt how Todd got his job.”

“Now, Delores, we all know you’re proud of Sara, but Todd did have a degree from a very reputable school,” Marilyn said.

“Yes, his degree was the result of his father’s making large donations to the school and hiring tutor after tutor to make sure he finished with passing marks. And when he finished, he went touring all over the world for two years. My Sara stayed in school and finished her masters.”

“Girls, girls, I believe both Todd and Sara were a great help in starting our Investment Club.” Pat stopped talking when the waiter came over to see if anyone needed another drink. Once they ordered their second round and the waiter left, Pat continued. “OK, regardless of what we thought of Todd, his knowledge of the market worked for us. After all, I think everyone is pleased with our results, and I know our success provided Todd with some additional income, too.”

“He had a new, expensive car and a nice condo in TriCity. He must have done something right.” Carrie had quickly added the second sentence, hoping no one had heard her reference to the condo.

“Todd must have been doing well with his own clients,” Judy offered. “From what I hear, Edward Barrington wasn’t bankrolling Todd. Other than providing a good job, Todd was on his own for anything else he wanted.”

Judy had just confirmed what Carrie and Charles had concluded—that the elder Barrington hadn’t been paying for his son’s lavish lifestyle.

“According to Sara, Todd spent only a few hours at the office each week, but would place thousands of dollars in orders within those few hours,” Delores said. “Maybe people felt sorry for him, knowing he had to live up to his father’s, brother’s, and even Grandfather Barrington’s expectations,” Delores added.

“He was very likeable, so I think his customers were happy to give him orders,” Terry piped in.

“I do think we need to be fair to Todd and his own ability,” Judy said, sipping her wine. “As for his car and condo, well, his generation tends to spend the money they earn right away, rather than saving for a rainy day, like my generation.”

“No offense, Delores, but our Investment Club did flourish under Todd’s guidance. None of us can complain,” Marilyn added.

Delores was about to add another compliment for Sara when Carrie decided to take a chance on diffusing the situation. “I know I’m new to your group, but how did the Investment Club work?” she asked innocently.

They suspended conversation for a second time, while the waiter distributed the drinks.

“It was really very simple,” Judy said. “We generally meet every two weeks. We look at our current holdings to see if
there’s anything we should sell. A member or Todd would suggest a new stock and present a report on why we should buy. If we approve the new stock, each member adds an amount for the new stock, or they can add money to their existing portfolio. We own percentages of the holdings based on what we invest.”

“Were the investments selected based on Todd’s advice?” Carrie asked.

“Not always, but Todd’s advice was often what brought us the most money. I must admit it’s been a lot of fun. Should I ever decide to leave Frank, I’ll have my own little nest egg that will keep me in comfort and style.” Marilyn laughed as she stirred her martini with the olive.

“Oh, Marilyn, you’ll never leave Frank,” Judy snapped.

“Here come two more of our members now,” Terry alerted the group.

Carrie was introduced to Betty Jameson and Harriett Cooper.

“I think before we go any further, we should call a meeting of the Investment Club,” Marilyn said. “After all, we would be meeting this week if not for Todd’s…Well, you know. And according to our rules, as long as six of our fourteen members are in attendance, we have a quorum. Therefore, as chairman, I hereby call us to order,” Marilyn announced officially.

Carrie remembered the slip of paper they’d found in Todd’s condo with the fourteen lines of initials and numbers. “Let me step away so you can have your meeting,” Carrie said.

Delores Chaney placed her hand on Carrie’s arm. “Sit still. This isn’t the board of directors for General Electric. This is the
Investment Club of the Tri-County Country Club. Nothing earth shattering goes on here. Besides, you want to join.”

“Yes, for heaven’s sake, stay put,” Pat Sloane added. The ladies nodded in agreement.

“Well, I think the first order of business is to decide if we want to continue,” Marilyn stated.

“Good heavens! Why wouldn’t we?” Judy exclaimed.

“Todd’s help was instrumental, but we know a lot more now about investing than when we started,” added Harriet. “Besides, I’d miss the excitement.”

“And, of course, the money isn’t bad either,” Terry chimed in.

“I asked the question about continuing, because sometimes…Well, sometimes things just run their course. When an event occurs of the magnitude of a death, it’s often a sign that the time has come to change directions.” For a few minutes, there was silence as the ladies looked at Marilyn. Carrie wasn’t sure whether Marilyn was referring to changes in the Investment Club, to her affair with Todd, or to something else she wanted to put behind her.

“Marilyn, come on,” Betty said. “We’ve enjoyed ourselves, and we’re more educated about the market than when we started out. We might need to go a little slower, but I think we should keep going.”

“Besides, it will be fun to teach a new member what we’ve already learned,” Terry said, smiling at Carrie.

“Then it’s decided. Everybody agrees.” Marilyn looked around the table at the ladies, nodding. “We keep going.” She sounded uncommitted.

“In that case, I’d like to suggest we vote in a new member, Carrie Faraday.” Pat Sloane’s suggestion was followed by a series of ayes, and Carrie was welcomed as a member of the Investment Club.

“I’d like to suggest we use Sara to place our orders,” Delores Chaney offered.

A series of ayes.

“Delores, will you ask Sara to meet with us in two weeks?” Marilyn asked.

“Yes, yes, she’ll be here,” replied the proud mother.

“Carrie, will you be able to make a meeting during the day? We meet every other Thursday at three p.m.,” Marilyn added.

“You bet,” Carrie said. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Before we leave the subject of Todd, has anyone heard anything about how the murder investigation is going?” Terry Conan asked.

“I hear it’s still a mystery,” Pat said. “Since the murder happened here at the Club with so many people around, it’s taking time for the police to get to everyone.”

“I hear they’re interviewing any member who was seen entering or leaving the library the night of the dance, especially the jilted boyfriends, the angry fathers, and the irate husbands,” Delores said.

“Really, Delores, you make Todd sound like a cad,” Marilyn said.

“I understand Todd was really out of it at the dance. Jim heard that old Mr. Heathrow and Mr. Albright were interviewed. It seems they interrupted an angry husband punching Todd’s lights out in the library,” Pat said.

“Who was it, Pat?” Marilyn asked.

“I haven’t a clue,” she answered.

“Oh, Pat, you have the juiciest piece of gossip in the history of the Club, and you didn’t snoop to find out who punched Todd.” Harriet’s eyes were twinkling.

“I wonder who it was,” Delores said.

Judy Marshall remained quiet, which made Carrie think she probably knew more than she was willing to admit, so Carrie decided to confess. “I can answer the question,” she said. “I was the woman with Todd in the library, and it was Charles whom old Mr. Heathrow and Mr. Albright saw punch Todd!”

’m so sorry. That must have been awful for you.” Charles put his fork down on his plate and looked directly at Carrie. “What did you do?”

“I told them the truth.”

“Everything?”

“Everything you can say in a quick summary of an absolutely awful event in your life without giving any details.”

Charles laughed out loud. “I’ve always said you should be a politician, not a writer. You have a way of talking and making people think they’re really hearing something important. But upon reflection, they realize they haven’t any more information than before you gave them details.”

“That’s funny. The last thing that Joanne Quinn thinks I should do is go into politics. Anyway, if I hadn’t told the ladies some form of the truth, they would have eventually found out it was me and manufactured their own truth. Besides, I learned a lot more information from the ladies than they got from me.”

“Information, such as…,” he prodded.

“Both Marilyn and Terry are rumored to have had affairs with Todd. Marilyn seems to be handling the death of Todd just fine, while Terry seems very emotional.”

“Did you tell them about leaving your bag and going back a second time?”

“Good grief, no. Besides, they were only interested in whether I was having an affair with Todd, so I didn’t have to offer any details about the fight.”

Charles had started to get up when he realized Baxter was at his feet. The kitten had learned quickly that by sitting near the table when his owners were eating, morsels of food would occasionally find their way to him. As if by accident, Charles dropped a small piece of meat from his plate.

“We’re starting a habit that will be hard to break.” Carrie picked up her dishes and headed to the sink.

“As long as he doesn’t start begging, a little treat doesn’t hurt.” He joined Carrie at the sink. “Carrie…”