Murder at the Bellamy Mansion (21 page)

“
He’s feeling much better. That chiropractor of his performs miracles.” She laughed. “I was thinking of seeing him for this pain in my neck. But now she’s gone!” She laughed some more.

“
Oh, look, it’s Jackie,” I said and waved to Jackie Hudson. She had just entered the restaurant accompanied by the environmental lawyer she had been dancing with at Candi Cheng’s yacht party.

Jackie was dressed casually too. Her dark hair was pulled up in a pony tail, and she had on a sweater with jeans and boots.

“
Hi, Jackie!” I called as she drew nearer.

“
Ashley. Melanie.” She smiled at us, seemed genuinely pleased to see us. “You remember Ron, don’t you?”

We all said hello and invited them to join us. There was room at our table for four. “We’d be delighted,” she responded. “Is that OK with you?” she asked Ron.

“
Would I pass up the chance to be seen with three beautiful ladies?”

But his joviality seemed forced. And on second glance, under Jackie’s smile sadness lurked.

“
How are you getting along, sweetie?” Melanie asked.

“
Oh, Melanie. Ashley. I know Brian and I were getting a divorce, but I never wanted to see him die.”

“
Well, of course, you didn’t, sweetie,” Melanie cooed.

“
And we can’t even give him a proper burial because the police won’t release his body,” Jackie complained.

“
What!” I exclaimed. “After all this time. Why not?”

“
They can’t establish cause of death, and they are running some tests that have to be sent off to the state lab in Raleigh. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

“
No,” I replied.

“
I’m glad I bumped into you because I was just going to call you,” Jackie told us. “I have news. Brian had never changed his will, so I am his heir.” She lifted her gaze heavenward. “There is occasionally justice in this world, thank you, lord.”

“
That should take care of the money he hid from you,” Melanie said.

“
I’ve been going through the papers in his office, and listen, I’ve got to tell you - and I know you will be relieved to hear this, both of you - there are no papers related to the Bellamy Mansion. Nothing. Not that I could find. No documents from Citigroup about the Bellamy house. No old bank notes. There is not a shred to link Citigroup to a debt owed by the Bellamy museum.”

“
What?” I cried. “That is good news, but what does this mean?”

“
Melanie, I know how you tried to steer Candi away from the Bellamy Mansion. Ron and I think this was just a scheme to see if they could break through any barriers.”

Melanie cried, “A scam? Are you telling us that Brian was crooked? That he was perpetuating a scam? I can’t believe it. He has handled closings for me for years. I’ve never detected a trace of larceny in my dealings with him.”

“
Until recently,” I said, meaning until he hooked up with Han Cheng.

“
Uh huh,” Jackie hummed. “Know what you’re thinking, girlfriend. Han Cheng. Well, Ron and I are pulling the rug out from under him too.”

Ron beamed. Ron was an environmental lawyer as was Jackie. He said, “We’ve got a really big dog from the Fish and Wildlife Commission coming next week. The Coast Guard has been notified that they may be needed to get him on board the yacht if Cheng is resistant. Now this is all hush, hush, so please don’t tell.”

“
We won’t,” I said.

“
Cross my heart,” Melanie said.

“
I know Candi is your client, Melanie,” Jackie said, “but you can’t breathe a word of this.”

“
I won’t. This is such a relief to me. She was obsessed with the Bellamy and I would have ruined my reputation in this town had I listened to her and made an offer on it. I’ve been showing her places reluctantly. Despite how much I need the business, I want to be rid of her. I’d love it if some other realtor would take her off my hands,” Melanie moaned. “I’ve put out the word that I’ve got a conflict of interest so many realtors have been calling her, but she is just fixated on me.”

“
She tries to look and act just like Melanie,” I explained.

“
I noticed,” Jackie said, raising her eyebrows. “That dreadful red dye job.”

“
I can’t wait to tell Jon the news about the Bellamy being off the hook,” I said.

“
Do you suppose there really were no documents from Citigroup or do you think Brain hid the papers somewhere?” Melanie speculated. “Maybe even lent them to Han?”

“
I don’t know but I think it is time for the Bellamy lawyers to get involved. They ought to be able to clear this up. Just confront Citigroup. That would be my suggestion,” I said.

“
I agree,” Ron said. “I’ll make the call. I know just the person to handle this.”

“
Leave it to Ron,” Jackie said. And I wondered if he was merely a friend, or becoming someone important to her.

My cell phone chirped. Removing it from my purse, I did not recognize the number. I looked up inquiringly at the others.

“
Go ahead, take it,” Melanie said.

“
It’s Nick, Ashley. I’ve got news.”

“
What did he say?” Melanie asked when I told the others that I’d just spoken to Nick.

I was hyper with his news. “Listen, you guys. They’ve just arrested someone for the shooting of Willie Hudson. Nick wanted me to know because of the wedding at the mansion next week. He said that should make us all feel safer about working in the mansion and holding the wedding there.”

“
Well, who did they arrest?” the three of them asked me.

“
Some gun nut. A man who has been on the police radar for some time. An informant said this man had been boasting about what a marksman he was, and how he could go up into a tall building downtown and just pick off the pedestrians below. ‘Be like killing ants.’ Those were his exact words.”

Melanie leaned back and let out a long exhalation. “Well, that is surely good news. And such a relief.”

26

Suddenly the week of the wedding was upon us and with it rainy weather. Scarlett and Ray arrived from New York on Sunday evening. Ray’s sister Kiki, who was my former Big Apple roommate, flew with them.

Jon and I, Melanie and Cam, Aunt Ruby and Binkie - we all drove out to the airport in the rain to meet them. We took two cars.

The first person we spotted coming through the gangway was Scarlett, her bright auburn hair shining under the overhead lights. Scarlett looks just like Melanie and Mama. Radiant ivory complexion, green eyes, that glossy auburn hair. Scarlett had been a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall before witnessing a mob-related hit on a New York City councilman. The killer had seen her, got her license plate number, and followed her home. With her life in jeopardy, the FBI placed her in the Witness Protection Program, where she remained for six years while they built a solid case against mob boss Blackie Sullivan. Scarlett’s testimony was crucial to his conviction.

After that she became a little lost soul. Her career had ended. Her adoptive parents, who were her deceased father’s parents, had died. She was our half-sister but Melanie and I had no idea that she existed. She was our mother’s secret – a secret Mama took with her to her grave. But Scarlett knew about us. Our mama had passed on, gone home to be with the angels. Scarlett searched, and eventually found Aunt Ruby. And her two half sisters. Now she had family. And now she was about to be married.

“
Scarlett!” Melanie and I screamed together, waving and jumping up and down. And then there she was, and we were all hugging. And Aunt Ruby was crying with happiness while a proud Binkie patted her back. We were their ‘girls’ and they loved us dearly. And Binkie, who had lived the solitary life of bachelorhood and scholarship, now had a family of eight if you counted Kiki. And who could ignore Kiki? And why would anyone want to?

Ray came right behind Scarlett.

Ray is known as “The Wizard of Wall Street”, the youngest futures trader on the street with his very own seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Ray is incredibly handsome! He looks a lot like Kiki. But the features that make Kiki appear exotic and a bit fearsome make Ray look irresistible and approachable. His lips are full; his eyes are dark chocolate brown, almost black, large and liquid. A girl would like to lose herself in those eyes. And those arms. He is a big man but not in an intimidating way, more like in a teddy-bear way. Cuddly. Very huggable. And I hugged him now, and we all murmured our welcomes.

Overwhelming Kiki came next. “Hi ya, kid!” she bellowed at me, and embraced me so fiercely she almost lifted me off my feet. Kiki is six feet tall and incredibly strong. Jon was laughing, now accustomed to her ways.

Everyone was talking at once as we streamed into the baggage claim area, collected their bags, and headed out through the automatic doors.

“
I’m so thankful you selected your own wedding gown,” Melanie said to Scarlett, eyeing the garment bag Scarlett carried over her arm. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d asked us to do that for you too.”

“
Melanie!” Aunt Ruby cried reproachfully.

But Scarlett had not taken offense. “Oh, Melanie, you are so right. Ray and I took advantage of your good nature.”

Good nature? I asked myself. Melanie is work. Hard work.

Scarlett continued, “We just wanted a beautiful wedding like you planned for yourself and Ashley. And you are so good at organizing, and have such refined taste, and know all the right people.”

Melanie preened. “This is true, Scarlett, don’t give it another thought.”

I glared at her.

Melanie caught herself. “But in this case, Aunt Ruby did all the work,” she told Scarlett. “And she has planned a beautiful wedding for you both. Small and simple just as you requested, yet elegant. The Bellamy Mansion is the perfect backdrop for an intimate, elegant wedding.”

Melanie included Ray in her statement. I studied Ray. Were there any residual fiery embers still burning hot for Melanie? Once upon a time, he had been mightily smitten with our Melanie. But now he seemed to have eyes for only Scarlett, just as he had when they met at our wedding.

Loyal Cam just had to brag about Melanie. “Wait until you see the house Melanie has found for you.”

“
Ocean-front property,” Melanie added.

“
Let’s get the cars,” Jon said to Cam. “Y’all wait here.” And they dashed off in the rain.

Kiki and Ray rode with Jon and me. Scarlett, Aunt Ruby, and Binkie rode with Cam and Melanie.

“
Say, Ashley,” Kiki bellowed from the back seat. “D’ya . . . I guess I’d better start staying ‘D’y’all’.” Her raucous laughter filled the car. “D’y’all remember that teensy one-bedroom apartment on lower Fifth Avenue that we shared with two other girls back in our Parsons’ days?”

Kiki and I had been roommates when we were students at Parsons School of Design in New York City.

“
How could I ever forget? A pull-out sofa in the living room for the other two girls. You and I were lucky enough to share the tiny bedroom; two twin beds pushed against the walls and still there was barely space to walk between them. I remember keeping my clothes in my trunk at the foot of the bed because there simply wasn’t closet space. And forget about a dresser.”

Kiki was trembling with laughter. “I remember that well. We used to kid you and ask you when you were hopping on the train for home.”

“
Still, I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” I mused aloud. After earning my BFA at Parsons, I’d returned to the South to get a Master’s degree in Historic Preservation from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Then I’d come home for good, to take up my profession of old-house restoration.

Ray added, “I remember that little apartment. Jon, the estrogen level in that small space was so high, any man venturing in there was in danger of growing breasts!”

Kiki howled. “No room for men. Scarcely enough room for breasts.” Then inquired, “So what’s on the agenda for this week? Nobody told me.”

“
Parties, parties, and more parties,” I laughed. “Jon and I have taken off the rest of the week to be with you.”

I explained about our restoration project on the belvedere. But I did not breathe a word about Willie’s shooting, or Lonnie’s fall, or Brian Hudson’s mysterious death. We had all agreed we would not discuss the tragic events with our New York relatives.

With the shooter now in custody, there was no need to mention the shooting, and cause everyone to worry, and risk ruining the festivities.

Very quickly we arrived at Nun Street where my house is located. A few doors down was The Verandas Bed and Breakfast where the bridal party would stay. We stopped there so they could check in. We all helped them carry their luggage up the two long flights of stairs, and waited while they got settled in.

Then we got back in our cars and drove up the street to my house to avoid getting wet, and parked in the porte cochere.

I love my 1860 Queen Anne style house. Jon had helped me to restore it two and a half years ago, early on in our partnership as old house restorers. The exterior is painted a soft gray with white and dark red trim. As with most houses of that era in Wilmington, there are strong Italianate influences in the architecture.