Murder.Com (26 page)

     
Tom's voice dropped.
 
"Hold on.
 
There's a car coming down the road.
 
I think it's Sandy.
 
It is.
 
I'll talk to you later."

     
The phone clicked, then a dial tone droned.
 
"Tom!
 
Hello.
 
Don't hang up.
 
Damn!"
 
Exhaling loudly, she dropped the phone, ran upstairs and hurriedly dressed.

*****

     
The first set of headlights flashed through Marty's bedroom, causing her to roll over and groan.
 
But fifteen minutes later, when the second set lit up the room, she stirred from sleep.
 
She squinted at the clock.
 
"What the hell's going on at this ungodly hour of the morning?" she mumbled.

     
She went to the window and parted the curtains.
 
Seeing only the taillights of a car disappear over the hill, she shrugged into her robe while shuffling out onto the small porch.
 
Looking toward the big house, she noticed that Mrs. Weber's car had disappeared.
 
The light in the garage hadn't turned off yet and she could see that Mrs. Nevers' car was also gone.
 

     
"Oh dear," she said aloud.
 
"Looks like there's been some sort of an emergency."

     
She dressed quickly and ran over to the big house where she found the kitchen ablaze with lights.
 
Hurrying up the stairs, she discovered Angie's robe and gown on the floor.
 
"Yep, something's happened," she muttered, heading back down the staircase.
 
The first thing that popped into her mind were the bits and pieces of conversation she'd picked up from the two women about Mr. Weber.
 
She'd already figured the Webers were having marital problems, but from the tidbits of gossip she'd heard from other housekeepers, there was more.
 
It seemed Mr. Weber had gotten himself into a heap of big trouble.
 
What kind, she'd never understood.
 
But something had taken place this morning, and she'd bet whatever it was, wasn't right.

     
While making biscuit dough, she thought about how much better she felt about her own situation than she had in months.
 
Marty knew she had to make a very hard decision soon.
 
Either go with her daughter and live a life of hell, or live in peace on the Nevers' property in her beloved cottage.
 
The latter would be her choice if Mrs. Nevers gave her the option.
 
She'd probably lose the love of her daughter.
 
However, she pondered if Melinda really knew what love meant?
 
As much as she hated to believe it, her only child had turned evil.

     
She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the bar while the biscuits baked.
 
Finding out that Bud wasn't Melinda's daddy shook had shaken her up a bit.
 
Were those tests that accurate?
 
It amazed her how technology had soared in her short time on earth.
 
Why hadn't she observed the mean streak in Melinda earlier?
 
Mr. Nevers wasn't mean.
 
He wouldn't have hurt a fly.

     
But Ken Weber proved to be a different type of man.
 
She'd noticed his mood swings when he visited the Nevers' home, especially after he'd been drinking.
 
Before Sandy came into the picture, he'd flirted with her several times, trying to entice her into bed.
 
However, she knew he'd never settle for a housemaid and would only be using her for his own desires, so she turned him down.

     
How had Ken managed sex with her that night without her knowing?
 
She must have been out cold with too much champagne.

     
Tom pulled to the side of the road about a half block from the Weber's home, where he could still see the front of the house.
 
He turned off his lights and watched.
 
Sandy had stopped, but not mustered up the courage to actually get out of the car.
 
In his mind's eye, he pictured her fear.
 
He prayed she'd chicken out.

     
The faint light of the dawning day made it possible for him to make out the silhouette of her head.
 
Her gaze appeared fixed on the front door.
 
How could he prevent her from entering her own home?

     
Suddenly, Angie's Cadillac screeched around the corner and came to a sudden halt behind Sandy.
 
She jumped out and headed for the driver's side of the BMW.
 
At the same moment, the porch light came on and Ken Weber stepped out the front door.
 
Tom hit the gas pedal and lurched forward.

     
Sandy and Angie were standing outside the car on the driver's side, watching Ken as he came to the edge of the property and stopped.
 
He folded his arms across his chest. "About time you decided to come home."

     
Angie gripped Sandy's arm and whispered.
 
"You can't go into that house.
 
You might not come out alive."

     
"I've got to find out the truth or I'm going to lose my mind."
 
She yanked away from Angie and started around the car.

     
Tom ran up behind her.
 
"Just a minute, Sandy."

     
Ken stared at him as he put his hand out toward his wife.
 
"Why don't you and Angie stay out of our lives?"

     
Tom grabbed Sandy's arm and pulled her out of Ken's reach.
 
"There's a restraining order out on you, Mr. Weber," he lied.
 
"You're to stay away from your wife."

     
Ken's arm dropped to his side.
 
"That's ridiculous.
 
I don't believe it.
 
Even if it's so, nothing says she can't come to me."

     
Sandy stood quietly listening.

     
"I think she just wants to ask you some questions.
 
She can do that from this side of the fence."
 
Tom glanced at Sandy.
 
"Wouldn't that be possible?"

     
Ken's eyes narrowed.
 
"You son-of-a-bitch, you have no right to do this."

     
"I'm a police officer, Mr. Weber, protecting a citizen.
 
Now, Mrs. Weber, go ahead and ask your questions."

     
Angie quietly made her way around to Sandy's other side and slipped an arm through hers.
 
"Go ahead, ask him."

     
Sandy raised her gaze to her husband's face.
 
"Why didn't you tell me that Melinda is really your daughter?"

     
Ken shook his head slowly.
 
"Sandy, Sandy, who's been feeding you all this crap?
 
Bud told me a long time ago about Melinda."

     
"But the DNA tests proved she's not Bud's.
 
And you were there that night."

     
His head jerked up; his eyes had changed into a stormy green.
 
"What?"
 
He glanced at Angie.

     
"That's right, Ken.
 
The tests proved that Melinda is not Bud's daughter.
 
Marty told me you and Bud were the only men there that night."

     
His gaze darted from Angie to Tom and back to Sandy.
 
He tossed his hands out in a gesture of defeat.
 
"Look, honey, it's no big deal.
 
It happened long before we met."

     
Angie and Tom held on to Sandy as she started to move forward, tears flowing down her cheeks.
 
"What do you mean it's no big deal.
 
She's your daughter.
 
Why didn't you tell me?"

     
He hooked his thumbs in his hip pockets.
 
"How the hell did I know which of us was the father?
 
Bud figured she belonged to him, so he paid her way.
 
She's a grown woman now, so why get all steamed up over something that happened over twenty years ago?"

     
"Why are you embezzling money from the company?"

     
Ken threw his head back and laughed.
 
"Who told you that lie?"

     
She narrowed her eyes.
 
"Did you kill Bud?"

     
His hands clenched into fists and he stepped forward.
 
"How the hell can you accuse me of that, Sandy?
 
He was my best friend."

     
She flinched, then straightened her shoulders.
 
"What about Ryan Conners?"

     
Suddenly, Ken's demeanor changed.
 
His hands clenched into fists, his eyes spit fire and his jaw tightened, making the veins stand out on his neck.
 
He glared at his wife. "Who's feeding you these crazy ideas? He must have been skimming off the company and Bud caught him.
 
Conners probably killed Bud.
 
And I have no clue who killed him.
 
Ask Tom, he's the detective."

     
Tom could tell it took all of the man's strength to hold himself from lurching across the fence.

     
Then Ken punched his thumb into his own chest.
 
"So, now I'm the prime suspect?"

     
Tom shook his head.
 
"No one's accused you of anything."

     
Ken pointed his finger at his wife.
 
"Well, goddammit, tell her that.
 
She thinks I'm a murderer and embezzler."

     
"Your abuse has caused questions in her mind."

     
Ken's face softened and he stared at Sandy.
 
"I promise.
 
I'll never hit you or the girls again.
 
I've just been through a lot with Bud's death and the company going downhill.
 
Please, bear with me.
 
I want my family back home."

     
Sandy sucked down a sob.
 
"Ken, I can't.
 
You've hurt me several times and each time you tell me you won't do it again."

     
Tom noticed how Ken kneaded his hands together as Sandy spoke.
 
When she finished, he abruptly headed for the house.
 
As he reached the front door, he turned and stared at his wife.
 
"Maybe you better not come home."
 
He disappeared inside and slammed the door.

Chapter Twenty-three

     
Sandy's sobs echoed through the air.
 
Tom and Angie caught her as she crumbled to the ground.

     
"Let's put her in my car," Angie said, struggling to get Sandy back on her feet.
 
"You drive her car to my place.
 
I certainly don't want it left here.
 
I'll bring you back to get yours."

     
"Sounds like a good plan," Tom said, opening the Cadillac door and helping Sandy inside.

     
Back at the house, they escorted her to the guest room, then Angie put Marty in charge while they went to get Tom's car.

     
Tom frowned as they passed the gate.
 
"I hope she doesn't try to leave again."

     
Angie patted her purse.
 
"I have her keys.
 
Even with Marty in charge, I didn't want to take any chances."

     
Tom smiled.
 
"Good thinking."

     
"I'm going to have Doctor Parker examine her.
 
I'm worried she's on the verge of a nervous breakdown."