Chapter Fourteen
Ten minutes later Maureen braked in front of the Gibsons’ modern-looking bungalow. Maureen surveyed the yard for signs of Holly or her scooter. Nothing.
Maureen decided to knock anyway. Eventually a man opened the door, presumably Beth’s husband Alan. He appeared absolutely bagged: unshaven and unkempt.
“Do I know you?” he asked, rubbing his eyes.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. I’m a client of your wife’s. My name is Maureen Shannon and I’m looking for my daughter, Holly. I thought she might have dropped in to talk to Beth.”
Alan swayed slightly, then put a hand out to the doorframe to steady himself.
“Well, she wouldn’t find her here. My wife left me last night.
Out of the blue. Told me she wanted a divorce.
Later this afternoon a moving truck is coming…
God!” He covered his face with his free hand and his shoulders shook.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “Must still be in shock.”
And maybe a little drunk, too. The man reeked of stale alcohol.
“Alan, let me call someone for you. One of your sons, maybe? Or a friend?”
“Not yet,” he pleaded. “I can’t face anyone until I pull myself together. It still hasn’t sunk in. Beth worked crazy hours, what with being on town council and her real estate business. I never guessed she was having an affair, too.”
So he knew that much of the truth, at least. Maureen was afraid that other shocks lay in store. But right now, her main concern was Holly. “Did Beth tell you where she was going?”
His mouth compressed with bitterness. “I guess she’ll either be at her office or at Strongman’s place. She’s moving in with him. Gonna leave Mountain Realty, too, and work full-time at Thunder Valley Developments.”
“Okay. Thanks, Alan. I’ll try her office.” Maureen paused, wanting to offer him some words of comfort. But she’d been in his situation once, and so she knew. Losing a spouse was a form of amputation. The only way to deal with the pain was to push past it.
*
“This is a complete about-face,” Harvey commented after hearing Jake’s plan.
“It is,” Jake agreed. Harvey was looking his age and then some today. Jake supposed Poppy’s rejection of his marriage proposal was to blame. He could relate.
After his own rejection from Maureen he’d gone to the ranch and taken one of the quarter horses for a long ride.
Memories of happy times spent with his father, his uncle and Dylan had come at him like montages in a romantic movie.
He’d felt the tug of his roots and realized that with Maureen or without, the Thunder Bar M was his home.
“If you’re sure you want to sell Grizzly Peaks I can help you find a buyer,” Harvey continued. “Your latest improvements will only make it a more attractive investment package.”
“That’s what I hoped.” Jake nodded at some moving boxes in the corner. “So are the rumors true? You’re finally making good on your threat to retire?”
“Yeah. My partners are buying me out effective the end of the month.”
Jake regarded the man he had trusted and worked with for so many years. “I sure am going to miss you, Harvey. Grizzly Peaks wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without your solid advice and wise counsel.”
“I’ve loved my career. But it’s time for the next phase.”
“Arizona? Golfing and hiking?”
Harvey hesitated. “That’s the plan.”
“I guess you won’t miss the Montana winters.”
“Nope.” Harvey got up from his desk and shook Jake’s hand. “But I’ll sure miss the Montana people.”
*
As he left Harvey’s office and stepped out to Central Avenue the late afternoon sun hit Jake square in the eyes.
He moved under the shade of an awning so he could check his phone and saw a missed call from Maureen.
He listened to the message she’d left and frowned at the news Holly was missing.
He was about to call Maureen back to let her know he hadn’t heard from Holly, when he noticed a familiar scooter parked across the street in front of Mountain Realty.
Was she inside, looking for Beth? He’d check and see before calling Maureen.
But just as he was about to cross the street, Maureen’s car turned off Second onto Central. He waved to attract her attention. She glanced at him and nodded, then nosed her car into one of the angle parking slots.
“Jake!” She jumped out of the car in torn jeans and a baggy T-shirt. “Have you seen her?”
Any possible discomfort between them was outweighed by worry for Holly. “No, but look.” He pointed to the scooter on the other side of the street.
“What in the world is she up to?” Frown lines deepened on Maureen’s brow.
“Let’s go inside and find out.”
*
“Holly, what is going on?” Beth asked in a sickly sweet tone.
Holly tucked her phone into her back pocket, then scrambled out from her hiding place. She avoided looking at Max, who radiated fury. “Mom asked me to stop by and invite you to dinner in our new place.”
Beth’s eyebrows rose with disbelief. “But why were you under my desk?”
“I, um, dropped my phone and I was just picking it up when I heard you come in. I panicked because I knew I shouldn’t have come in here.”
“You’re lying,” Max said.
Holly stared from him, to the door. Could she make it? She started to dash, but Max moved to block her.
“Why were you really here?” he asked, his voice like a growl. “Looking for something to steal?”
“No!” Holly didn’t know what else to say. She couldn’t come up with a better story than the one she’d already offered.
“So you say,” Beth said, her voice still dangerously quiet. “But you do realize I could have you charged?”
“For what?” Holly countered, backing into the far corner of the room. “Your crimes are way worse than anything I’ve done.”
Beth’s mouth tightened and her nostrils flared. Then she took a deep breath and put on a fake smile. “If you’re referring to the conversation between Mr. Strongman and myself, you do realize we were joking?”
“I didn’t hear any laughing.”
“Look, kid.” Max moved in on Holly and grabbed her shoulders tightly.
She winced and tried to wrench away, but his fingers only dug deeper into her skin. “Let me go!”
“You shut up!” He splayed his hand over her mouth and pulled her around so her back was pressed against his torso.
Then he bent over her head and said quietly against her ear, “You and your mom want to enjoy your new home, right? You don’t want to stay awake at night wondering if it might accidentally catch on fire and kill the both of you.
’Cause these sorts of things can happen.
You hear about it in the news all the time. ”
Black dots danced in front of Holly’s eyes and her head went all dizzy. She wanted to scream but she could hardly breathe.
And then she heard the faint sound of a siren. Seconds later the office door burst open. First Jake, then her mom ran into the office.
“Get your hands off my daughter!”
Holly had never been so glad to see her mother. She ran into her arms just as Jake grabbed Max by the shoulder and then planted his fist into his gut.
As Max grunted and collapsed onto the floor, Jake turned to Beth.
“What were you doing to her?”
“Nothing! We found Holly hiding under my desk. We assumed she’d come in looking for something to steal.”
“I did not,” Holly protested. “I was looking for evidence that you and Max planned Joe Beckett’s murder. And I got it.”
“You silly girl.” Beth had gone to help Max Strongman to his feet. “You totally misunderstood our conversation.”
Holly pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “I did not. And this recording will prove it.”
*
Maureen was just wrapping her mind around the fact that her daughter was safe and had apparently recorded an incriminating conversation between Beth and Max, when her sister Kelly showed up in response to the quick call Maureen had placed before she and Jake stormed into Beth’s office.
Kelly masked her astonishment quickly as she processed the situation. “Everyone stay calm. Someone needs to tell me what’s going on.”
At first all five of them: Maureen, Jake, Beth, Max and Holly tried talking over one another. Kelly held up a hand to silence them.
“You first,” she said, pointing at Holly.
A tinge of pride surfaced above Maureen’s anxiety as her daughter pulled herself together and recounted the conversation she’d overheard between Beth and Max.
She had to give Holly credit for solving a mystery that had eluded everyone else, including law enforcement.
They’d all suspected Max Strongman’s involvement in the Beckett shooting.
But none of them had guessed it was Beth who set off the decoy firecrackers.
“But why were you in Beth’s office in the first place?” Kelly asked.
Holly flushed. “I was just hoping to find some clues before she moved out all her stuff. When I heard them coming, I hid under the desk. But—they found me.”
Maureen shook her head. Holly must have been terrified.
“What happened then?” Kelly asked.
Holly pointed to Max, who was glaring at her from the far side of the room. “He threatened me. Said he would burn down our new house—including me and my m-mom.”
Maureen tightened her hold on her daughter.
She should have put a stop to Holly’s amateur sleuthing weeks ago…
when she’d found out that Holly had taken snapshots of Beth and Max.
That would have been the perfect time to forbid her to go anywhere near the two of them.
Thank God Jake had noticed her scooter and they’d been able to get here in time.
She glanced at Jake who was hovering protectively nearby and she felt a surge of gratitude for the way he’d charged in to Holly’s rescue. He’d shown his true character this afternoon, and she felt like a fool for ever doubting him.
As Holly neared the end of her explanation she brought out her phone. “I recorded everything and sent you a copy Aunt Kelly.”
“Smart girl,” Kelly said. “Max and Beth, you’re coming with me to the station. I’m guessing Sergeant Springer would like to hear about this new twist to his homicide case.”
“Do you need Holly at the station?” Maureen asked, hoping the answer was no.
Kelly shook her head. “Holly’s had a bad shock. Bring her in tomorrow and we can take her statement then. We’ll need statements from both of you, as well,” she said nodding at Maureen and Jake.
After promising to come into the station first thing the next morning, Jake took Maureen’s free arm—the one that wasn’t wrapped around Holly. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Yes.” She was surprised to feel Holly holding on to her equally as tight as they left the office and made their way to the street. A young woman sitting on a bench and smoking a cigarette watched them exit. “What’s going on in there?”
“She’s the receptionist,” Holly explained.
“The drama is over. It’s safe for you to go inside,” Jake said. Then he grabbed Holly’s scooter and tucked it under his arm. “How about we leave our vehicles here and I’ll walk you both home? It’s only five blocks and the fresh air and exercise will help wear off the shock.”
Maureen glanced at Holly. “You okay to walk, honey?”
“Yes. Thank you, thank you for coming when you did.” She gave them both a big, relieved smile. “I was never so scared in my life. Mom, you don’t even need to lecture me. I won’t be that stupid again.” She paused, then added, “Though it is kind of cool that I solved the mystery.”
Maureen glanced at Jake and they both laughed.
It was indeed cool.