Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
While Tyler was in Orlando, Mason planned to do a little digging around. From the papers Tyler had, they had found an acquaintance of Russ’s, a man by the name of George Grudenfelder. Vivi was at Vantage, so Mason decided to stop by and see if the man could shed any light on the situation.
From the information Vivi had pulled up, the man was single, having lost his own wife several years ago, and he now spent his days primarily playing golf on the private course next to the retirement community where he lived.
“Can I help you with something?” George asked. Mason held out a hand, and George gave it an abbreviated shake. “Mason Kane. Hoping I could ask you some questions.”
“About?” George inquired.
“Do you remember a man by the name of Charles Orwell?” Mason asked.
“Sure. Golfed together once a month or so,” George replied.
“What can you tell me about him?” Mason continued.
“Why?” George raised a suspicious brow. “He done something?”
“Not exactly. Mason is kind of worried about him. His girlfriend lived with Russ and Ellen when she was young. Ellen’s in an assisted living facility now, but no one has heard or seen anything from Russ for quite a while,” Mason explained.
“Not sure I can help you,” George replied. “Haven't seen him in… Oh, fifteen years or so? Ever since he and his wife split.”
Mason nodded a little in sympathy. “Did he ever talk to you about Ellen and what caused them to split?”
“Not really,” George shook his head. “Got the feeling something was going on, though.”
“How do you mean?” Mason asked.
“Just the way he was acting,” George replied. “I'd say that started sometime after that little girl came to live with them. Maybe put a strain on the relationship. Especially after what happened to Ellen’s daughter.”
“How did he feel about Christine’s death?” Mason probed.
George lifted one shoulder, sympathy creasing his weathered expression. “I don't know. Russ was a tough nut to crack. Never could quite tell exactly what he was thinking. Seemed to take it pretty hard, though. He seemed mad. Bitter, kind of, you know?”
“I can understand that,” Mason replied. “What about after Vivi moved in?”
“Can't say I remember exactly,” George said, staring off into space as he reminisced about the past. “Come to think of it, I think he was more upbeat than I had seen him in a long time.
I think that's what surprised me so much when he left. It was like he just picked up and left everything behind. I thought maybe it was another woman. I never did find out for sure.”
A sick sensation roiled in Mason's stomach.
He had a terrible inkling that George was partially correct, except the woman in question had been a ten-year-old girl.
Mason didn't want to say anything to George and ruin his perception of an old friend, so he kept his mouth shut.
“Thanks for your time,” Mason said to George as he climbed to his feet. “I really appreciate it.”
“Let me know if you find anything out, if you would. Be nice to see him again,” George replied.
Mason nodded. “I'll do that.”
The more Mason learned, the more he felt they were on the right track.
If his daughter had gotten pregnant, he would want to know who the father was.
Had Ellen suspected Russ, or had she trusted him implicitly?
Maybe there were old hospital records, something that could help.
If they could just determine if Russ was, in fact, Tyler’s father, that would give Ellen even more motive to kill him.
But why stay with him if she suspected him of raping her daughter? It was all so frustrating.
Mason headed home toward Vivi’s house with more questions than answers.
But the thought of seeing Vivi again sent anticipation racing through his veins.
When he wasn’t physically with her, he found himself thinking about her more and more.
He tried to play it cool at work, but it got harder with every day that passed.
Mason wanted everyone to know that Vivi was his, that they were together. Knox was going to be pissed, no doubt about that. He just prayed Knox would accept their decision with as little drama as possible.