Murder in the Lighthouse (Beachcomber Mystery #4)

19

A fter the arrest hit the airwaves, rumors swirled around the county about what had been discovered at the prestigious vineyard. The once-glamorous Noir Hills Estates, where politicians and celebrities hung out, was now tainted with blood and betrayal, unveiling the work of a serial killer from 99.

An ex-cop turned serial killer story garnered the headlines, but so did their drug operation, the one that snared a string of others worldwide.

Forensics still had testing to do, experts who could painstakingly piece together murders while detectives pursued leads and witness statements. As Theo and Trish’s investigation delved deeper, they unearthed more chilling surprises. The bodies of long-missing individuals were discovered buried in shallow graves throughout the sprawling vineyard, their tragic fates finally coming to light.

As the days went by, the truth behind the heinous crimes committed at Noir Hills began to surface. Keith and Ken Shepherd were not only responsible for the murder of Sam and Bethany Heywood but also linked to a series of unsolved cases spanning the last decade deemed unfortunate accidents. Many were employees of the winery. Families of those victims were left to process the newfound knowledge that their loved ones’ deaths hadn’t been random at all but carefully orchestrated acts of violence.

Behind bars, the Shepherd brothers remained defiant in their claims of innocence, but the mounting evidence against them was undeniable. Theo and Trish worked tirelessly to build a massive case against them, determined to present the strongest case possible to the county attorney. With each new piece of evidence collected, the puzzle of deceit and murder slowly fell into place, revealing a web of lies that had been carefully woven over decades.

The community remained in shock, grappling with the revelation that such evil had lived among them for so long without suspecting their neighbors of untold murder.

During it all, Brogan and Lucien found themselves thrust into the spotlight unwillingly. They were pursued around the clock by reporters, bloggers, podcasters, and media outlets wanting an interview. The British tabloids begged them to go live, hoping to cash in on their notoriety as children of rock stars. If they had known Brogan wanted to find her birth mother or Lucien had a half-brother living in San Diego, they would’ve pounced, set up their equipment outside on the lawn, and waited for comment when the story broke.

But Lucien and Brogan were smarter than that. They kept their mouths shut with one exception.

For Jade, both blogger and podcaster, they sat down for a six-part series exclusive chat about the case because she’d been an integral part in solving it.

Joined by Birk, the four of them took listeners through their thought processes, reviewing their decisions, their actions, and the eventual outcome. They took questions from callers. But only those pertaining to the case were answered. After the first part aired, Jade’s podcast went viral getting three million listeners over an eight-hour time period.

Brogan and Lucien weathered that storm despite the chaos surrounding them, just as they had done as children, deflecting questions with practiced ease and sharing only what was necessary to satisfy the relentless press.

After a week of it, the media went on to the next big story, and life returned to normal. Thanksgiving was still two weeks away, but it meant they could start preparing for it now. Somehow, their circle of friends had blown up, and Brogan had invited everyone they knew. Standing in the dining room, she realized they had a problem.

“We need a bigger table,” she concluded, measuring the dining table, rearranging chairs that would squeeze people closer together, and wiping off the dust from the buffet with her fingertips before taking inventory of the good dishes in the China cabinet.

Lucien chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t think I have time to build one. Maybe by Christmas, but not in two weeks.”

“Why not?”

The dogs, Stella and Poppy, sensing a heated discussion brewing, crawled under the table.

“Because I’d need to find the perfect piece of wood. To build it right, I’d need time to draw up the design, cut the pieces I need, buff out the rough spots, and apply the finish. Applying the finish could take a week.”

“Then we’ll just have to use what we have on hand.”

“How many people are we talking about?”

“Twenty, maybe twenty-five.”

Shocked by that number, Lucien scrubbed his hand through his hair before pulling out a chair and sitting down. “How did you invite twenty-five people to Thanksgiving dinner when we’ve been swamped with the Shepherd case since the day after Halloween?”

“I don’t know. It just happened. When Delia decided to fly out, how could I say no? When Theo and Trish said they had nowhere to go, what was I supposed to do? The same thing happened with Lacey Jarnigan, who became so overwhelmed with emotion that we solved Sam’s case that she started crying for the fourth time.”

“She did send us a generous check.”

“So did the Heywoods.”

“Who else? Don’t tell me you invited the Heywoods?”

“Okay, I won’t tell you.”

“Jeez. I know Birk and Jade aren’t on the list because Kelly and Beckett are hosting this year. So, who else did you invite?”

“Don’t look at me like that. We always planned to get the band together—Nigel and Gordon, their wives, and Graeme and Janet—to ask for details about the Swedish tour.”

“So, Indigo is coming here?” He thought of the dynamic between mates, the idea of arguments breaking out, and the ever-present needling that went on. Adding alcohol would be like throwing gasoline on a fire.

She noted the skeptical look on his face. “Just for the day. They aren’t spending the night.”

“Right. By my count, we’re only up to fourteen, including Austin, Delia, Maeve, and Jack into the mix. That’s doable. Who else did you invite?”

Brogan stiffened her spine in a defiant gesture and held her head higher. “Jack and Maeve are stopping in Santa Barbara to pick up her sister. Why Graeme and Janet couldn’t simply offer Felicia Watts a ride is beyond me.”

“Janet ride with the cook? Please. She’s snootier than Graeme. Who else?”

“I asked Professor Lockney, Amalie, to join us. We’ve become quite close over the last week, exchanging text messages as she gets closer to finding Britta. She’s bringing a date.”

“Fine. Who else?”

“There’s Milo. He’s iffy, though. He might spend the four days with his dad. He hasn’t decided. But I thought he and Austin might hit it off if Milo decided to drop by. Then there’s Eastlyn and Cooper. Eastlyn had to work the night of our Halloween party. The least I could do was invite her for Thanksgiving.”

“And?”

“It’s worth mentioning that technically, I didn’t invite Barry and Marta. Theo and Trish did. However, I’m not saying no to parents who’ve lost both their children.”

Lucien let out a sigh, a signal he had given up. “This table seats twelve, fourteen if they’re rubbing elbows. How do we provide additional seating for so many more?”

“The room is large enough to bring in the outside table and the kitchen table to create a U-shape,” Brogan suggested. “Throw a tablecloth on each table, and you have space for twenty-five.”

Lucien checked the weather app on his phone. “I have a better idea. Easier. We could seat them all outside at one long table. Thanksgiving dinner on the terrace. Sounds great, right? The weather is supposed to cooperate with no rain in the forecast, and the temperature will be near seventy degrees. We could borrow tables from the keeper’s cottage.”

Brogan made a face. “Folding tables? That’s a bit tacky.”

“The keeper’s cottage is for community events. They have six folding tables available to borrow for weddings, receptions, church events, and the like. I’m not sure now is the time to get picky.”

“I don’t know. I prefer to hold off until we can come up with a better solution. By the way, did Theo ever explain how Sam came to be there? At the lighthouse? And how Keith Shepherd had a key to get inside?”

“Don’t try to change the subject. We need to work Thanksgiving out first before we start talking about Sam’s murder.”

“Okay. Fine,” she said, pulling a chair out and plopping into it. “I think eating outside is a good idea. But what about preparing the food? I’m getting nervous already about feeding so many people. Your dad is kinda picky and won’t hesitate to knock whatever it is I serve. He’ll make some snide remark about how I should’ve let Maeve handle the cooking. He’ll be okay with turkey or ham. Still, I need insider information about what he’s allowed to eat now. Remember, he hinted that Janet had him on Keto, watching his carb intake before switching to a Mediterranean diet. Your dad is the pickiest eater in this entire group of guests. Don’t deny it.”

“Why would I deny it when it’s true? You’re having twenty people over, and it’s Graeme you’re worried about? Who cares what diet Janet has him on? He’ll have various stuff to pick from or not eat at all. If he doesn’t like the sides we offer, then if we’re lucky, maybe he’ll bring his own food. We’ll make it work. We always do.”

“You say that about everything. That should be our family motto. I heard a rumor yesterday at Murphy’s Market. Theo and Trish have been spending so much time together that tongues are wagging. The gossip is that they are much more than colleagues,” Brogan said, wiggling her eyebrows up and down. “They’re inseparable and not because of the murder case against Shepherd. Hence, spending Thanksgiving together.”

“I heard another rumor at the hardware store that Theo is lobbying to get her a job here in Pelican Pointe. She wants to leave the sheriff’s department because they did nothing to find Jill’s killer. And Brent could use the manpower. He’s always wanted to add an additional officer. I’m waiting for someone to ask if we can swing that deal and make it happen.”

“Sure, we could build up the police force until no one needs a websleuth. We’ll build ourselves right out of a job. Maybe that isn’t such a bad idea. Each case we take on gets darker and darker.”

“Murder is always dark,” Lucien noted. “It takes a toll on everyone involved. But something tells me this guest list will fall apart eventually.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Do you honestly believe Theo won’t be working on Thanksgiving? He’s the new guy. And even though Barry and Marta say they’re coming, I bet they back out to spend the day with other family members. The loss is too raw for them to be around a bunch of strangers right now. Then there’s Graeme and Janet.”

“What about them?”

“I heard from Felicia that Janet wants to go on a cruise. And what Janet wants, Janet gets.”

She brightened. “That’s five, six people who might cancel. That doesn’t help me plan the food, though.”

“Look, we still have two weeks. Let’s play it by ear and see what happens.”

Brogan shrugged. “Sure. I’ll ignore the impending holiday mess and hope everyone makes other plans at the last minute. How does that sound?”

“You just said you wanted to punt until we could devise another plan. This is what happens when you invite twenty-five people for Thanksgiving.”

“What?”

“You start getting antsy about it.”

“So, tell me how Keith orchestrated Sam’s murder at the lighthouse.”

“Let’s stay on track. You don’t need to ignore the holiday mess,” Lucien stated, frustration building. He ignored her question about Sam again, wanting to make his case. “If half a dozen people cancel for one reason or another, it lessens the burden on us. That’s all I’m saying.”

“It makes sense that Theo would have to work that day. Same with Barry and Marta backing out to spend a quieter day with close friends and immediate family. They probably accepted because they felt an obligation to Trish and Theo for arresting the killer. Can we talk about Sam now?”

“Fine,” Lucien uttered. “Theo and Trish put together a timeline for the night Sam went looking for Bethany. When he went to Wilder Ranch to find her that first night, he sat in his car for several hours, hoping she’d circle back to the parking lot. But she never showed up. His cell records prove that his phone didn’t move for several hours. Keith saw him parked there, ran the plate, and knew he had a problem. He used a burner phone and waited until the next day to text Sam, saying he had information about Bethany’s location. They found those messages in Sam’s phone records.”

“Okay, so Keith lured Sam to Pelican Pointe and picked the lighthouse as a meeting place. I got that. But how did Keith get into the lighthouse?”

“Do you remember Theo telling us he planned to track down all the keys? After talking to Trish, he discovered Sheriff’s deputies used to carry keys for various unoccupied buildings throughout the county to cut down on teenagers using those places to party.”

“So, Keith had a set of keys from twenty years ago that still worked? Wow. They should think about updating the locks.”

“Logan Donnelly thought he had changed all the locks. But he forgot about one side entrance used as a coal chute so they could deliver coal for the coal-fired furnace back in the day. That’s why there were no signs of forced entry at the main door. We didn’t consider the coal chute as an entry point. Forensics found Keith’s keys in his dresser drawer on the estate. They fit that lock.”

Brogan’s eyes widened as more answers clicked into place. “So, Keith Shepherd had access to the lighthouse all along. He picked the best spot to lure Sam without raising any suspicion. But why did he want to meet Sam at the lighthouse in the first place? Sam should’ve had his guard up as soon as Keith pulled into the parking lot. He knew Bethany suspected him of three murders. He had to know that.”

Lucien leaned back in his chair. “Hard to argue with a Glock 29. Theo believes that Keith wanted to confront Sam about what Bethany had on him from 99. He feared those case files would do him in. He thought Sam was getting too close to telling her coworkers what she had suspected.”

Brogan frowned, a sense of unease knotting in the pit of her stomach. “Even though Bethany’s coworkers weren’t doing much to locate her.”

“It’s the main reason Trish is ready to jump ship,” Lucien replied. “And who could blame her?”

“If she’s serious, we make Brent the same money offer and benefits package we did to get Theo.”

“That means matching what the county pays her. She has a dozen years of experience there.”

“Then she knows the area better than any other outsider would. And the town would benefit by getting an excellent officer.”

Lucien’s expression grew pensive. “Do you want to contact Brent, or should I?”

Before she could answer, the dogs started to yap, Poppy more so than Stella. Over the fuss, they heard a faint knock on the back door. Lucien got up to answer it. To his surprise, he saw Theo and Trish standing on the patio, looking slightly sheepish.

“Hey,” Theo began, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. “We were just in the neighborhood and thought we’d drop by.”

Trish shot him a playful glare before smiling at Brogan and Lucien. “It’s always friendlier if you go to the back door.”

Brogan appeared next to Lucien. “Come on in. We were just talking about you. Want some coffee?”

“We’ve been getting that a lot this past week,” Theo said with a wink. “People seem curious about the two of us.”

“Small town gossip. But not that,” Brogan clarified with a grin. “We were discussing Sam’s murder taking place inside the lighthouse. Lucien was explaining how Keith had keys from twenty-five years ago. If only those keys hadn’t fit the lock.”

“It wouldn’t have made a difference,” Theo stressed. “Keith had already made up his mind that Sam had to go. If the lighthouse hadn’t worked out, he would’ve taken him somewhere else at gunpoint. Sam never stood a chance.”

“How do you know that?” Lucien asked.

“As of this morning, Ken turned on his brother,” Trish explained. “A week without bail, and it seems the sibling bond isn’t as strong as Keith thought. Ken says he won’t go down for first-degree murder. That’s why we dropped by to share the news. Ken is beginning to talk.”

“About a lot of things,” Theo added. “Mostly about all the ‘accidents’ that occurred at the vineyard since he’s owned it. He claims Keith has a short fuse and a volatile temper. He won’t take any guff from anyone, especially a woman or a subordinate.”

Brogan motioned toward the kitchen table. “Have a seat and tell us about it. I’ll put on the coffee.”