Chapter 20
TWENTY
I wonder if Ruby was eavesdropping in the hallway and, if so, what will she do? Hiding a smile, I add another spoonful of sugar to my mug. I love the rich brown sugar that Jack prefers. I stir it slowly, waiting for Ruby’s reaction.
“Mrs. Hunter… or may I call you Willow?” Ruby smiles at me. “I’m not sure Jack would approve of you eating in the kitchen with the staff. Would you like me to carry your meal into the dining room?”
I’m sure Jack has explained that I’m not from his usual circle of society friends and Ruby is only trying to be helpful.
She must figure I’m a trophy wife without a brain in my head and must be told how to behave.
As she calls my husband “Jack” and seems to be beside him every waking moment, I must assume she’s of great value to him.
Although I feel the rebuff, which it is—even heavily disguised, it’s her attempt to pull me into line—I notice there is a hierarchy within the staff.
Although Jack informed me that George oversees them, it’s clear that Sue runs the house, and it doesn’t take a fool to see that Ruby lords over all of them.
I don’t intend my place in this house to be controlled by a member of the staff.
“It’s Mrs. Hunter, if you don’t mind, Ruby, and I just happen to like Sue’s company but thank you for your concern.
While I have you here, can you tell me who was on the yacht the night Laura died? ”
“Jack and Laura, of course, the Suttons, Cleaves, Durums and the crew. I believe we had six people on board to serve drinks and a chef, a couple of cleaners, and the captain and second mate.” Ruby crosses her arms and I wonder if it’s a tell that she’s lying. “It’s a long time ago.”
I stir my coffee slowly and look at her. “You were on board as well, weren’t you, and Jack’s personal bodyguard? What was his name? Ah, yes. Tom Bates. Whatever happened to Mr. Bates?”
“Yes, I was on board with Tom. He is still working at the firm.” Ruby’s eyes sweep the table. “Jack doesn’t employ a personal bodyguard now.”
I sip my coffee nonchalantly. I need to keep the conversation cordial. “Do you remember what happened the night Laura went missing?”
“It’s not something anyone could forget.
” Ruby turns to the counter and pours herself a cup of coffee and then turns back and sits down opposite me.
“It started out a wonderful evening. We had a great meal and everyone was sitting round chatting and drinking champagne.” She stares blankly over my shoulder for a few seconds.
“Everyone was talking. The men were discussing recent fishing trips and the women were chatting about a fashion show they’d all attended the previous week.
I went to the bar to get a drink of water and overheard Jack and Laura disagreeing about something.
They weren’t having an argument, but it was obvious that Jack had discovered I was seeing Tom. ”
I glance at Sue and she raises an eyebrow. “Yes, I’m aware you were involved with Tom. I assume that didn’t go down too well with Jack as he has the no-fraternization policy for his staff?” I met Ruby’s troubled gaze. “You knew that, didn’t you? Why would you risk losing your position?”
“We’d become friends working in such close proximity, and it just happened.” Ruby shrugs. “Office flings happen all the time. Although, I do understand Jack’s rationalization for introducing the clause, but it’s not realistic, not when we both lived in the house as well. People fall in love.”
I shake my head. “I disagree. The clause is designed to protect workers. Vulnerable young people can be taken advantage of by superiors.” I don’t wait for her to comment. “What else can you tell me about the night Laura died?”
“She was saying something about having one rule for me and one rule for everyone else.” Ruby turned her coffee cup around in her fingertips and then ran the tip of one finger around the rim.
“She was very possessive of Jack. In her eyes every woman was a threat to their marriage. As I work very closely with him, I was always in her sights but it wasn’t always me, his secretary and other office staff came under fire as well and were moved around frequently for no other reason than Laura was jealous of them. ”
I lean back in my chair observing her. “How come she wasn’t jealous of you?”
“I made a point of flying under her radar.” Ruby sighs.
“Jack understood her unfounded jealousy, so made sure I didn’t interact with her.
There was one time, when she needed new clothes and I spoke to her about getting Sue to measure her so she could order online.
Laura had been ill and lost a lot of weight but apart from that, I was invisible to her.
She didn’t like me, so to keep my job, I kept my distance. ”
I need to get the conversation back to the night Laura died. “So, what happened on the night she died?”
“Laura went out to get some fresh air.” Ruby blows out a long breath. “The next second, Jack is in Tom’s face and he fired him. I went to plead his case and then followed Tom out on deck and we stood for a time watching the ocean.”
Interest shivers up my spine. “Did you see Laura?”
“Yeah, she was standing by the railing in the stern, staring at the stars.” Ruby sips her coffee. “She did that all the time.”
I nod. “What was the weather like that night?”
“The water was a little choppy and the wind was cool.” Ruby places her cup on the island and sighs.
“I only stayed outside for a few minutes before I went to my cabin. At the time, I didn’t feel like rejoining the party.
I needed to think of a way to prevent Tom from being fired.
He didn’t deserve that just for having an affair with me. ”
I scratch my head, unable to understand Jack’s reasoning. If they both broke the rules either give them a warning or fire them both. Jack always acts fairly, so what made his decision different this time? “Was Jack upset with you too?”
“No.” Ruby lifts her chin. “I’ve never seen Jack upset.
He is the most even-tempered person I’ve ever met.
He said, ‘You know the rules. You are both pivotal parts of my company. I rely on both of you. I can’t have either of your minds wandering.
In your case it would mean a breakdown of communication, and for him safety.
I can do without the safety. I can look after myself.
I only hired him in the first place because Laura insisted.
’ I said I would end the affair and begged for Tom’s job.
He demoted him to a position on the security team but is paying him at the same wage.
Since then, Jack has promoted Tom and now he is running the entire security for the firm. ”
I hold my mug up to Sue who refills it and then settle back in my chair. “So, what happened next?”
“I don’t know.” Ruby pushes both hands through her hair. “I heard shouting and went out on deck to see everyone hanging over the railings staring at the sea. Then all hell broke loose. There were helicopters and the Coast Guard. We were awake all night and the next day searching for Laura.”
I nod. “So, the water was choppy. Did the weather cause a problem searching for her?”
“Not that I recall.” Ruby finishes her coffee and places the cup in the saucer decisively. “That’s all I know. I need to finish up in my office.” She stands, goes to the refrigerator, grabs a packet of sandwiches and a bottle of water. “Jack said he’ll be home before three.”
I sit for a few moments mulling over Ruby’s story.
She mentioned the water was choppy, as did Jack, but Sue said there was a storm that night.
I pick up my phone and search for historical weather and it sends me to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website.
They have a database of historical weather.
I stand and smile at Sue. “I’ll get back to my renovation plans. ”
Once in Jack’s office, I close the door behind me and find the website.
I enter all the information I have about the night Laura died into the database search engine and wait.
It only takes a few minutes. I print out the results.
The weather is in detail and measured in hourly increments.
From what I understand, from the wind gusts, the water was indeed choppy from the time they climbed aboard.
A violent storm blew through the area between ten and ten-thirty but it rained heavily for four hours.
From the media’s accounts, Laura was last seen around ten and they checked on her before eleven.
How come nobody mentioned the rain or the storm?
How could they miss it sailing on the ocean?
It makes no sense and, if they’re lying about the weather, what else are they covering up?
I lean back in Jack’s office chair and stare at the picture of Laura and the kids on his desk; beside them is another of her in the infamous red dress.
There isn’t one of me.