Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
Once Jesslyn texted her aunt that it was okay to leave home, she and the others arrived at the bank ten minutes after her aunt did. It didn’t take long to get the box, which Carol opened while the others stood guard outside the vault.
Carol reached in and pulled out a black velour bag and set it on the table. “Here you are. Each piece is in another bag just like that one, just smaller. There are twelve of them. Each of them was worth between two and four thousand dollars if I remember correctly. No telling what they’ll appraise for in this day and age.”
Her father had been a very successful commercial real estate agent and developer, but ... “I know we lived very comfortably and our house was lovely, but I don’t remember Mom and Dad really being big spenders like this.”
“They weren’t. It was just your dad, and he had his reasons for forking over the big bucks for those.”
“I see.” She’d get to that in a minute. Jesslyn eyed the bags, her throat working. “Did Mom ever wear these?”
“No.”
She looked up and met her aunt’s gaze. “Never?”
“Not once. She didn’t want them.”
“But I don’t understand. Why keep them then? What was the purpose?”
Aunt Carol’s gaze slid away.
“Carol?”
The woman huffed a soft sigh. “They were her escape plan.”
Jesslyn’s jaw dropped. “Her escape plan? Things had gotten that bad?” Well, her father had cheated on her mother. What did she expect?
“Yes.”
The simple one-word answer punched the air from her lungs and it took her a moment to recover. Finally, she dragged in a breath. “And that’s why she kept them in the safe deposit box.” Jesslyn paused. “Did my dad not notice she wasn’t wearing them?”
“Oh, he noticed, but your mom loved jewelry, and I believe he thought she’d eventually cave and wear them.”
“But she didn’t.”
“No. Not this stuff.”
“Well, all right then. I guess we’ll do this.” She reached for the first bag with her right hand and dumped the piece into her left palm. It was a cold but beautiful brooch. A diamond-studded poodle about three inches in width and two in height. The ears and eyes were black pearls and the nose a pink diamond. “Wow. It’s beautiful. And Mom’s favorite dog.”
“He had that crafted for their first anniversary. She actually did wear that for a while, until she learned of his infidelity and the reason for the other pieces that came home with him.”
Jesslyn’s heart squeezed against the pain of knowing her father cheated. Her poor mother. “I can’t believe he did that.”
“I know it’s a tough pill to swallow. I wish I didn’t have to tell you, but I can’t lie to you.”
“Which I appreciate.” Jesslyn ran shaky fingers over the piece. “You never let on. Never said a word against him.”
“What would be the point? He’s gone—and your mother had forgiven him before the end.”
Jesslyn snapped her head up. “She did?”
Carol nodded. “She wasn’t going to wear the jewelry because of what it represented, what it was a reminder of, but she wasn’t going to be angry with him anymore either. He was a good father to you girls, he just...” She shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t explain it. He had a pretty traumatic childhood and your mother knew that going into the marriage. But she loved him and she never stopped—not even when he betrayed her. She was hurt and angry and thought about leaving him more than once, that’s true”—she motioned to the jewelry stash—“but each time she’d pray and pray some more and told me she never got the green light from God to leave him.”
“Like some modern-day reverse Hosea story? Even though he was unfaithful?”
“Even though.”
“If she’d left him, she and my sisters might still be alive,” Jesslyn murmured.
“I can’t say I haven’t thought of that more than once.” Something deeper than grief flashed in her eyes.
“What is it? What are you not saying?”
Her aunt pressed her fingers against her eyelids. “This is really hard, Jess.”
“I know, but please, don’t hold anything back.”
Carol nodded and lowered her hands. “Look, I’m not saying I understand her choice. Every person in that situation has to decide for themselves what to do. Leave or stay? Your mother stayed because she believed he truly wanted to change. And, by the time they died in the fire, they were going to counseling. He wasn’t sneaking out at night. He was being accountable to Linda and to a support group he’d joined without Linda having to ask him. He was putting in the effort like never before and your mom was the happiest I’d seen her in years.” She paused. “No, ‘happy’ isn’t the word. She was at peace. She truly felt like God had answered her prayers and this time was it. Your dad was different. And I’ll admit, I noticed it too. He had a stillness about him that I’d never seen before. I think not only was your mother at peace, but your dad was too.” Another pause and tears filmed her aunt’s eyes. “And I am too. It took a while, but I got there. If she could forgive him and plan to move on with him, then I can do the same. Which is why I agreed to help you build a building in his—and their—honor.”
“Really? Because if you don’t want to, then I’d understand.”
Her aunt heaved a sigh and paused a moment, seeming to gather her thoughts and pick her words. Jesslyn wanted to tell her to just spit it out, but she held her tongue.
Finally, Carol spoke. “He wanted to do this before he died. He was excited about it. I never told you that he grew up with alcoholic parents who neglected him terribly. He was in and out of the foster care system before he landed in the Millers’ home. They were good people and he kept in touch with them until he died.”
“What?” Jesslyn gaped. She hadn’t realized what “troubled childhood” had meant for her father.
Carol nodded. “That’s what I’m saying. Your father had his issues, but he wasn’t a horrible, evil man or anything—although, I have to admit I thought so at the time. But, over the past twenty years, I’ve come to realize he was simply a flawed man. A hurting man who overcame a lot and had more to overcome. A man in need of forgiveness and redemption like every other soul on this planet.” She closed her eyes a moment, then offered a wry smile to Jesslyn. “You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to finally admit that. Anyway, the youth center was his dream and your mother supported it. They were going to build the building from the ground up and even had the blueprints drawn up.” She clasped her hands to her chest. “I’ll show them to you and maybe you can incorporate some of their ideas for the different areas in your plan.”
Jesslyn’s knees were weak and she wondered how much more she could take. But she couldn’t help herself. She pressed on, wanting every little detail. And now that Carol had started the telling, she didn’t appear to be in any hurry to stop. In fact, she seemed almost relieved to unload. “I’d love to see them,” Jesslyn said. “Who was the woman? Or was there more than one?”
“I think in the beginning there were a few, but then your father seemed to settle down with your mother and they were happy again for a while. He stopped giving her jewelry and she was thrilled with that.” She shook her head. “Imagine being happy your husband doesn’t bring you jewelry.”
“Right. So, every time he had an affair, he’d bring her something from that store and she knew why. A psychiatrist would have a field day with that one.”
“I know. It didn’t make sense. But then they’d have an argument or a disagreement and he’d disappear into whatever mental place he went to deal with that. And he’d give her more jewelry, and of course, she knew.”
“That there was someone else.”
“Yes. The last time, I think it was someone who may have been in the neighborhood.”
Jesslyn frowned. “Why do you think that?”
“Your mom said your dad would leave at night. Like after he thought she was asleep, he’d get up and walk out the door. Never took the car, so wherever he went was within walking distance.” Carol fell silent for a moment. “Linda brought you girls over one night, you know. I pointed out the fact that your father was walking wherever he was going and obviously meeting someone. I asked her if she was going to continue letting him do that to her. She said no, she wasn’t. Said she was going home to confront him and tell him it was the last time. That if he didn’t stop and get back into counseling with her, she was walking away.”
“And was she going to?”
“I think so. I don’t think she meant it to be a permanent thing, just until he got it together. She told me she hated to leave, that she couldn’t walk away for good, but she couldn’t let him believe she wouldn’t. He broke down and begged her forgiveness, bought her another piece of jewelry that went in the safe deposit box, and then went back to counseling, begging her not to give up on him. And she didn’t. But ...”
“But what?”
“So, she went home, they talked, and all was well. Until the night of the fire. They had an argument. She’d intercepted a phone call from one of the women he’d had an affair with. He promised her he’d cut off all contact, reminded her that he’d changed his phone number and everything. Your mom knew this but was still hurt. Terrified all of their progress was going to come crashing down on her. Your dad swore he’d made it clear that everything was over, but that the woman just wouldn’t stop contacting him, begging him to come back to her. Your mom was furious. More so than I’d ever seen her. She didn’t know what to believe. That’s why she brought your sisters over that night. She was planning to stay, but then your dad called and begged her to come home. So she went. She called me and said everything was fine, that all was well, that she believed him.” Her aunt sighed. “And she sounded happy again.”
Jesslyn rubbed her eyes. Her head hurt. If only her mom and sisters hadn’t gone home. She bit her lip and pushed the thought aside.
Focus on something else.
She turned the poodle over and gasped. “It’s there,” she said. “The mark.” She looked up at her aunt. “You’re right. He bought this at the store involved in our investigation.” She checked the other pieces, examining each one and silently marveling at their beauty—and still blown away that the logo indicated it came from the same store as the pieces from the fire. Finally, she sat back. “So, what do we do with them?” Jesslyn asked.
Carol reached over and gave her hand a short squeeze. “They belong to you. I’ve just been their guardian. I’ll let you decide that.”
“Okay.” She’d have to think about that one.
Carol frowned. “You’re not upset with me for not giving them to you sooner? When you turned eighteen? I just didn’t know how to explain them, and you didn’t need the money they would have brought.”
On Jesslyn’s eighteenth birthday, she’d inherited her parents’ estate. It had been enough money to ensure she never had to work a day in her life if she chose not to. But she wanted to work. Had been desperate to excel in school, learn her craft, and graduate.
So she could have a job that would enable her to catch a killer. She reached for her aunt’s hand. “I’m not upset with you.”
WITH HIS HIP TWINGING PROTESTS, Nathan stood outside the vault while Jesslyn and her aunt conducted whatever business they had going on in there. Kenzie and Cole hovered near the windows, watching for anything that might indicate they were followed.
As of now, there was no sign of Kenny. The officers who’d followed him reported he’d returned to campus just as he said he was going to do and joined his friend group in the student center.
With Kenny taken care of, Nathan should feel a lot more at ease than he did, but he couldn’t help asking himself, If not Kenny, then who?
He had no idea.
They were getting a few curious looks from the bank’s patrons, but Nathan simply shot them a reassuring smile and kept his gaze on the activity in the parking lot.
Again, no one concerning. Customers entered and left. A few he knew and exchanged pleasantries with, but no one that sent his “bad guy” alert chiming.
But if not Kenny, then who?
They’d checked his financials, and no deposits or withdrawals had garnered attention. No red flags. So why had the kid felt the need to run? A knee-jerk reaction to having police approach him? Possibly. But Kenny’s unwillingness to talk, his whole evasive attitude, said he knew more. Knew something.
His shoulders twitched and he shot a glance at the vault. What was taking them so long?
Just as the thought passed through his mind, the door opened and Carol emerged, then Jesslyn stepped out, her face set in a frown.
He walked over to her. “Are you all right?”
“Yes. Yeah. Carol filled me in on some family history and it’s a lot to process, but I’m fine and I’ve seen the jewelry.” She met his gaze. “The mark on the back is the same as the ones from the fires.”
“You thought they might be.”
“I know, but to have it confirmed...” She shook her head. “It’s just weird.” She pulled out her phone and showed him a picture of one of the pieces with the little logo. “I mean ... what are the odds?”
He pursed his lips and thought about that. “I don’t know. It’s a well-known store, they’ve been in business forever, and they sell a lot of pieces. I don’t think the odds are that great. But ... I’ll admit, it does make you kind of wonder.”
“Yeah. A lot.”
Carol walked over to them, and Kenzie joined them while Cole peered out the window once more. “What are you going to do with the pieces?” Kenzie asked.
Jesslyn hesitated, then gave a short nod. “Sell them. We’ll put the money into the youth center.”
Carol’s eyes went wide. “You’re going to what?”
“From everything you’ve just told me, I think that’s what Mom would want.” Jesslyn eyed the picture she’d just shown Nathan. “She’d want something good to come from something ... not so good.”
Nathan couldn’t help but wish she’d elaborate on that statement, but he wasn’t about to ask. Maybe later.
His phone buzzed and he scanned the email. “Got an update on the names you gave us for investigation into your old cases.”
“And?”
“Two really stand out. Officers are going to question them. Let’s get you back home and settled.”
“I’m not going home. I’m going to your office where the files are waiting.”
“Files?”
“In the conference room? From the jewelry store? I told you Isabelle found her grandfather’s stash of old store purchase files. I plan to go through them and see if we can match up the jewelry with who bought it.” She shot him a tight smile. “You’re welcome to help.”
Nathan eyed her. “You sure you—”
“Yes, I feel like it, thanks. Can someone make sure my aunt gets home?”
“I can get home fine,” Carol said.
Jesslyn caught his eye and he gave a subtle nod. He’d make sure Carol had an escort home—whether she realized it or not. Jesslyn smiled her thanks, kissed her aunt goodbye, and walked out of the bank and to his vehicle. He followed her, sent a short text to make sure Carol had protection, then waited for her to climb in and shut the door. When he slid into the driver’s seat, he did his best to cover his wince.
Stupid hip. Stupid Kenny.
His phone buzzed and he glanced at it. Eli yet again. He sent it to voicemail but made a vow to put an end to this nonsense once and for all.
“I won’t listen if you need to talk to him.”
“There’s nothing I need to say to him that I can’t say in front of you.”
“Oh.” She shot him a sideways look. “Okay.”
But if he could avoid doing so, he would. “Wanna tell me what had you so shook when you came out of the vault with your aunt?” he asked.
She hesitated, then gave a little shrug. “I learned a few things about my father that I never would have guessed him capable of. I also learned he grew up in and out of foster care, that my paternal grandparents were alcoholics.”
“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s not. But it’s also a long time ago.” She frowned. “I remember him, but I don’t. I mean, I can picture my mother a lot easier than my father. I’ve seen family photos, of course, but it’s hard for me to find many memories of him.”
“But you must have some.”
“Of course. I remember he used to take me over to the neighborhood park and push me on the swings. And he’d pick me up so I could reach the monkey bars. He taught me how to ride a bike, and I remember making pancakes with him sometimes on Saturday mornings. But that’s about it.” She chewed her bottom lip, and Nathan could almost feel the sadness coming from her.
“What about your mother’s parents?”
“They were killed in a car wreck two weeks before I was born.”
“Oh my. I’m so sorry, Jesslyn.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand, a little surprised when she flipped her palm up and threaded her fingers through his. “Thank you for being so caring, Nathan. I really appreciate it.”
Nathan glanced at her and the look in her eyes made him swallow. And remember it was just gratitude. Nothing more. She’d made that clear. He slipped his hand from hers and gripped the steering wheel.
And until she indicated otherwise, he’d respect those wishes.