Swindled (5 page)

Brian was dead. Horribly murdered in his own home. She and her sister were being considered suspects. It
was
too much to take in.

Chapter 9

The next hour turned into a blur as the sisters consoled one another. Scott took on the role of butler ferrying tea back and forth, trying to calm them. It was, Beth figured, Scott’s way of working off some of the frustration of the situation. As for Brian’s death itself, neither Vickie nor Beth could believe it. Murder was something that happened on TV or on the streets between gangs. Brian may not have been an average person but he was normal enough that murder seemed extreme. Brian always managed to get out of any trouble. It was hard to believe that he had met an end that he couldn’t recover from.

“I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about this,” Vickie murmured looking slightly confused. She was still wearing her dressing gown and bunny slippers looking ten years old. “I’m sad but not devastated about Brian’s death. I’m more upset that we are actually being considered suspects,” Vickie admitted with a helpless look.

“I know how to feel about it,” Beth muttered, “Frustrated. Even when dead, Brian is still managing to drag us down. How can they think we had anything to do with it? How can they accuse us?” Beth felt like spitting she was so angry. Why this?

“They must have a ton of suspects. They can’t honestly expect that it’s any of us,” Scott said sitting on the chair that Joseph had vacated trying to placate her. Beth wasn’t sure she agreed. The police must be following up on every lead but that didn’t mean they would really consider the other suspects. It would be much easier for them if she, Vickie or Scott were guilty. That way the detectives would have finished their entire investigation before 10am.

“Maybe we have a chance once the police realise just how many people Brian has managed to alienate in his lifetime. They’ll have to look at more realistic suspects,” Beth said trying to sound positive for Vicky’s sake. “Starting with all of Brian’s so called friends.” She thought for a moment and realised that under all the frustration and anger, there was something else.

“It’s awful but I somehow feel guilty,” She said quietly.

“Guilty? Why?” Vickie asked amazed as she looked at her sister. Scott had a similar look of confusion on his face.

“I’m sad he’s gone,” Beth explained, “but if he were here right now I’d be punching him in the nose.” She shrugged her shoulders not sure if that made her a really bad person or just human. Then again it could just be the anger seeping through.

“Oh Beth,” Vickie said quietly laughing, her body shaking. “You are so right.” Scott shook his head as the twins laughed together. It was a quiet laughter, a quiet relief that they had each other and were safe in their home. They were more saddened by Brian’s death, Beth thought, then they realised. It was only just sinking in. Brian had been murdered. Someone had killed him.

“Do you think there is there anything we can do for him?” Vickie’s voice broke. The laughter had given way to tears which flowed freely down her face. Scott got up and sat next to his wife. He swept her into his arms and rocked her gently.

“It will be okay,” he murmured. “I’m sure he didn’t feel anything.”

Beth met Scott’s eyes over her sister’s head. Deep down, she knew that Brian might have suffered. She wondered if he had known his killer. If he had been killed in his bedroom the person who did it must have been a friend surely or at least someone he knew well? What had happened last night? She hoped that it had been quick and as much as it was funny to say it, she hoped it had been gentle. Could murder be gentle? Beth couldn’t bear to dwell on it. Brian had been their brother at the end of the day and even he had not deserved to die the way he had.

Beth walked over to the shelves and pulled out two family photo albums. Brian wasn’t in many of the pictures but he was there. He looked like a sulky teen when the twins were first born. His wavy dark hair was swept back in a punk hairstyle. He was standing next to their father holding a beer in a later picture. It looked like it had been taken at Christmas. Sure enough the next few photos showed Vickie and Beth sitting on the floor at Brian’s feet as all three opened wrapped boxes. The pictures clearly chronicled the family ageing. Brian featured less and less as they all grew older.

The last pictures in the second album were taken a holiday before the accident that killed Beth’s parents. Brian had come by very briefly at the beginning of the evening Beth remembered. He had been unimpressed and had pushed off early. There was only one picture to mark his being there. It was in the background of a group shot showing a myriad of B&B guests, the twins and their parents. Brian looked serious and business like at the back.

“I know he’s gone but I agree we should do something for him,” Beth said to Vickie as they looked down at the album.

“Why don’t we arrange the funeral,” Vickie said softly. Beth turned to look at her as Scott gently rubbed his wife’s back. “It’s the least we can do and none of his ex-wives are likely to volunteer.”

“I don’t think his girlfriend would know how to tie her own shoelace let alone organise something like that,” Beth said in agreement.

“What do you think?” Vickie asked, the words rushing out. She looked wide eyed as if pleading for them to understand.

“Okay,” Beth said looking serious thinking about it. “We can do it. If someone else wants to help they can but we’ll do it.” The three of them nodded and agreed. As Brian’s only remaining family it seemed only right and fitting that they would at least see him off. Brian was unlikely to have appreciated the gesture but he was family and they would bury him.

Chapter 10

David woke up to an irritating pounding. He groaned and turned over avoiding putting pressure on his right arm and shoulder. The medicine had done its trick last night, at the time he hadn’t felt more then a nagging pain despite his exertions. Unfortunately it seemed though that he was going to suffer for it now. What time was it anyway?

Memories flooded his brain as he pulled himself up and shook his head. There was still that persistent pounding. He looked around. It was the door. Someone was banging on the door to his room. David managed to get himself up feeling groggy. The other side of the bed was cool to the touch and he wasn’t sure if he had an incredibly erotic drugged up dream or if he had in fact spent the night with a stunning woman. He stood up and put a hand to his head. It felt like he had a hangover reminiscent of his university days.

Glancing down at the bedside table to grab a painkiller, he noticed a note. Beth. That’s right. He could faintly smell her perfume in the air and that smell alone evoked a memory. Closing his eyes, he breathed in more deeply trying to savour her scent. The door to the suite banged again pulling him back to the present. He pulled on a pair of shorts from his bag and ambled through to the entrance hall to see who was so determined to wake him up. Whoever was there was persistent. Every few seconds there would be several loud knocks then a break as if waiting for someone to have the time to answer the door.

David looked through the spy hole in the door and saw a rather unhappy looking man on the other side. Pale and thin he looked like someone who was having a rotten day and willing to share his experiences on any hapless victim. This had better not be Beth’s husband David thought darkly as he opened the door.

“My name is Joseph Serrate and this is my partner. We are detectives with Scotland Yard. May we come in and speak to you?” The man speaking held up a wallet with a picture ID and the other trappings of his position of office. His partner lurked in the background looking like a wide eyed teenager, a very large and intimidating teenager.

Nope, not the husband David thought to himself. Nearly as bad as a husband, he amended, but not the husband. He pulled his thought back to the detective who was explaining that they were there to verify one Elizabeth Grant’s presence here the night before. When had she arrived, how long was she here etc.

David blinked. Moving into the sitting in the lounge area of the suite with them he watched as both detectives took off their suit jackets. They were obviously here for the long haul. While the one seemed focused on the questions at hand, the other larger detective stayed quiet and unobtrusive. The second detective, David realised, looked like he had been struck dumb. He just sat in the chair not taking his eyes off of David and barely blinking. There was a light sheen of sweat covering his face as if he was concentrating so much on David that it was causing him stress.

“Yes a woman by the name of Elizabeth Grant stayed the night here with me,” David said looking away from the one detective to glance at the other. “What is this in connection with?” What had she done he wondered. Last night had been a fantasy come true and Beth had seemed so genuine that he couldn’t believe that she was involved in something sinister. He hoped.

‘We need to confirm her alibi. Last night her brother, Brian Grant was murdered. At this time we don’t know if there is any connection but we need to check all avenues,” Joseph replied smoothly as he moved to a blank page of his notebook. He proceeded to ask basic questions about time of arrival and departure which David could only partially assist.

“I’m on painkillers for an injury,” David explained. “I took one in the early hours of this morning at which time Beth was still with me. The medicine knocked me out.”

“And did you take one last night?” Joseph asked taking notes.

“Look she was there when I went to sleep, there when I woke up the first time and there when I went to sleep again. I don’t know what you think she’s done but she was with me last night,” David said pushing away the questions. It sounded like the detective wasn’t convinced.

“How long have you known Elizabeth Grant?” Joseph asked looking at him. David thought about it. This was not the easiest thing to explain. One night stands were explainable when you were in your twenties but over thirty it just seemed, well unbelievable. It had been a spur of the moment kind of night and not one he thought the detectives would be sympathetic to understanding. Even if Beth wasn’t the woman that he assumed she was, she was certainly not a professional nor, David thought, a bad person. She was just a woman caught in the bath on a bad day and it all worked out. Well it worked out for the two of them until now.

“Long enough Detective,” he replied firmly in a voice that didn’t invite further discussion. “Beth is an acquaintance of mine and will continue to be so. She was with me all night as far as I am concerned and therefore isn’t the suspect you are looking for. Now if you don’t mind, I am a busy man and need to get ready for my first meeting of the day.” David stood up and after a brief pause both detectives stood as well. They walked out the door and Joseph added,

“Please call me if you remember anything from last night that might be pertinent.” Handing David his business card, Joseph and his colleague left the hotel room. David sighed deeply and threw himself into a chair. From one night stand to alibi he thought. One thing for sure though is that he was going to be making a phone call to that number on his bedside table. If this woman, amazing though she had seemed, had been involved in her brother’s murder, David was going to find out.

Chapter 11

Beth sat down in the study. What a day and it was only ten in the morning. After she and her sister reached the decision to hold Brian’s funeral, Beth had gone upstairs to change out of the borrowed clothes. Piling them carefully into the laundry basket she planned to clean and return them to the hotel the next day. David was bound to still be there and if not the hotel could forward them. She pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a pink cotton button down top before heading to the study.

Now sitting in her office Beth took stock. It was hard to believe that Brian was gone, the business was going under and she had slept with a complete stranger in the space of 24 hours. There just wasn’t any way of coming to terms with everything that was happening. Her mind ran wild. Could they save the business? Would they would bring Brian’s killer to justice quickly? Was there was something more to David Andrews then what met the eye? Beth finally pushed her thoughts away. Now was not the time to worry. She just couldn’t think about it. She looked around the room. This was where she designed everything. This was where Vickie made those creations a reality. It was a sanctuary, a haven and when things weren’t going right it could be a type of hell.

Beth loved it. There were three plush mismatched overstuffed chairs and a huge rectangular dinning table in the centre of the room. Everything was covered in scraps of material and pattern pieces. The dark wooden floor had a large Persian rug which was only slightly worn along the fringes and the massive windows let light in throughout the day. Topping it all off was a desk. It was an antique and a piece of beauty. In this room at this desk Beth spent most of her time playing with different ideas while Vickie pottered around on the pattern table. They couldn’t loose this. There had to be a way to salvage some small part of the business. There just had to be.

Scott and Vickie popped their heads around the door.

“We’re going out for a walk. Maybe the air will clear our heads. Do you want anything?” Scott asked. Beth shook her head and they left. The two of them just needed some time together. She envied them their closeness and was so happy that they had one another. They had met on a blind date set up by one of Scott’s friends. The two of them had taken one look each other and that was it, they were in love. It made Beth smile just remembering the first few weeks of the romance. The two lovebirds had eyes only for one another and nothing had changed.

Thinking about Scott and Vickie made Beth think about David. She couldn’t get him out of her mind. That night together was enough to awaken every nerve in her body. Who was he? Beth realised that she knew nothing about him other then his name and his more then capable abilities to seduce with searing efficiency. He was a one night stand but Beth got the feeling that it wasn’t the norm for him. He made her feel as if being with her was his whole world at that moment.

Beth shook her head and turned back to her design. After trying to focus for another ten minutes, she finally tossed the lace aside. It was hard to remain cool and detached while her whole body kept sending soothing thoughts to the brain along the lines of ‘let’s do it again’. Maybe she should have waited for him to wake up or woken him up. That would have been fun, waking David up. Beth leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes letting her imagination take over. All it would have taken was a strategically placed kiss here and there, maybe a gentle nudge or shake as she was exploring some of his more interesting facets. Ugh, she needed to focus and tried to submerge herself back in her work.

After an hour or so Beth gave up again and picked up the phone instead. She barely managed to get anything done. When her treacherous nerves weren’t reminding her of the night before, all she could think about was Brian lying lifeless somewhere. It was time to seek solace with her friends.

Outside of Vickie and Scott, there were three other people in Beth’s life that knew everything about her. They were her best friends, Karin, Charlotte and Bee. They had shared snacks, boyfriends, tears, laughter, toys and cocktail dresses throughout the years. Nothing got in the way of their friendship.

When it came to Brian’s death, these three would truly understand all the nuances of what that meant. They knew how miserable he had tried to make Beth and Vickie’s lives. They would be able to understand the detachment she felt and the anger and the frustration. Picking up the phone, Beth dialled.

Karin answered at first ring.

“Oh Beth are you okay?” she said as soon as she heard Beth’s voice. Beth could just picture her sitting elegantly on a chair surrounded by packing boxes and the odd empty bookshelf. Give Karin a month and she would have the entire place looking state of the art.

“You know?” Beth asked surprised. Had it been on the news?

“Two detectives came by this morning to ask me some questions. They wanted to know when I had last seen Brian and if I was involved with him. It was a shock to find out he was dead I can tell you. The fact that he was murdered is just unbelievable,” Karin explained. ‘How are you keeping up?” she sounded worried.

“We’re fine,” Beth answered “It’s been a shock but we’re dealing with it. We didn’t have a great deal to do with Brian most of the time. We saw him a bit more when dad was still alive but not much then either. It’s just awful to think someone, anyone has been murdered; even Brian.”

“I know. He was a sleaze but a related sleaze,” Karin agreed as something ripped across the phone. It sounded like she was opening boxes as they talked. It made Beth feel better somehow. Karin would be like this for the next month until everything was unpacked and sorted. It was a reminder that life kept on going even in the face of death or rather murder.

“Karin, why did the police call you to talk to you about it?” Beth asked thinking about it. Karin only knew Brian through her, didn’t she?

“He came round,” Karin admitted sounding sheepish. She had stopped making any noise which was a sure sign she was trying to hide something. Beth wondered if Karin was actually holding her breath.

“A detective came round? That seems a bit of overkill,” Beth paused. “Unless they really think I did it and are following up on it already?” Beth pondered, starting to worry and getting that sinking feeling in her stomach again. Was that why Karin was so quiet? Could they really think she or Vickie was involved? Beth was scared. The idea that the sisters could be arrested for something they had nothing to do with was petrifying. Having the two detectives in the house this morning was a wake up call. The police represented a huge system that didn’t necessarily dispense justice. Beth said to Karin, ‘The detective thinks that Vickie, Scott and I are possible suspects.” She held her breath wondering how Karin would react.

“What?” Karin asked sounding aghast. “Why?” Obviously it had never occurred to her that Beth or Vickie could have anything to do with Brian’s death. “Tell me exactly what happened,” Karin demanded sounding ultra efficient. No doubt Karin was thinking through which of her lawyer friends she should be calling.

Beth explained what Brian had done to the business as Karin gasped on the other end of the phone. “I was a little upset,” she finished in a rush getting it out of her system.

“I can imagine,” Karin agreed. “So what did you do?”

“Well, I may have mentioned wanting to tear Brian limb from limb,” Beth admitted. “At the time it seemed like a fitting punishment. I would never have actually done it I promise! Thinking about it just helped get rid of some of the pent up anger,” she paused. “Unfortunately the detective seems to think that might be significant. He’s pretty keen on making me one of the suspects. He’s even looking into Vickie and Scott’s alibi for last night.”

“Oh Beth! That’s awful,” Karin sounded truly upset for her. “Do you want me to call someone to help?”

“To be honest, I didn’t think he was too serious but if he’s checking up with my friends… it sounds like he might be,” Beth grew quiet. She chewed gently on her bottom lip. This was really not good. Beth wondered if they would let her design lingerie in prison.

“No,” Karin rushed to reassure her. “Beth, really no. He came to see me because I was in Brian’s little black book,” she explained, effectively distracting Beth from her morbid thoughts.

“Brian had a little black book? What?” Beth thought she must have misheard.

“You’d think we would be use to how sleazy your brother was,” Karin laughed. “He kept a little black book of all the women in his life. Like a list of his conquests or targets or whatever.”

“You’re kidding?” Beth was stunned. “Don’t little black books only exist in the movies? Who actually has a black book? Oh wait, that’s right - Brian. Please tell me you’re kidding” Beth begged Karin, laughing despite herself. She wouldn’t put it past him to have a black book. He also owned a sleeping jacket and smoked a pipe when he thought anyone was looking. Brian was not known for his good taste.

“Nope – the detective showed it to me. Page after page of women’s names and numbers. My name was in there. Oh and to add icing on the cake …” Karin’s voice hushed. This was going to be good. “He added a few comments.”

“No! What! Oh Karin, how awful!” Beth paused and thought for a second. “What did he say about you?” This was going to be even better.

“Oh that creep,” Karin giggled. “Apparently I have a great ass and he ranked me eight out of ten.” Beth and Karin dissolved in laughter “You can imagine the detective’s face when he had to read it to me,” Karin managed to get out. “And I can’t believe that he ranked me only an eight… I think I’m insulted!”

“Oh how mortifying!” Beth choked off her laughter.

“Wait a minute, does that mean you were one of Brian’s conquests?” She asked stunned. There was a silence on the other side of the phone, a complete and utter silence. It was unheard of for Karin to be that quiet unless she utterly guilty.

“You slept with Brian?!” Beth’s voice rose an octave. “Ugh – why?” she swallowed and paused. “I mean I’m sorry. You must be devastated that he’s dead?” Beth didn’t know what to think. It seemed impossible that Karin and Brian were an item. How had she managed to keep it a secret? Poor Karin.

“Not likely,” Karin retorted putting Beth’s racing mind to rest. “I thought you knew! It was after one of your parents parties. One of the themed ones, ‘Roman Rulers’ I think, when they made us dress as vestal virgins and serve up drinks.” Beth remembered that party particular well. They had all gotten a kick out of parading around in the draped sheets.

“I remember,” Beth replied as she laughed. “We kept tripping over those sheets that mum had wrapped around us toga style. We must have been about seventeen?” That had been a memorable night.

“We must have been. All I remember is that I was young and stupid. I thought that under every creep there was a true gentleman just dying to get out,” they laughed together again and Karin continued, “Never slept with him again, thank goodness. We ended up getting together in the shed in the backyard. Oh no,” Karin shrieked as Beth sputtered with laughter. Karin rushed on with her explanation, “I can’t believe I told you that. Listen just ignore the last bit. As far as Brian is concerned there was nothing going on between us. I mean every now and then he liked to ask me out but luckily, I don’t make stupid mistakes more then once! I mean who would be dumb enough to sleep with him once they knew what he was like?”

Both of them were quiet for a long second.

“Charlotte,” they chorused with glee. Beth made a mental note to discuss the garden shed at a later date. That little titbit would give her a bit of leverage next time Karin and Charlotte ganged up on her.

“Hang on I’ll conference her in,” Karin said. Beth could hear the beeps as Charlotte’s phone number was dialled. She took a deep breath feeling her lungs open up and lighten. It felt good to be talking about something else, something that wasn’t about the murder, even if that something did revolve yet again around Brian.

“Yello!” Charlotte’s cheerful voice filled the line.

“Hello Charlotte,” Karin and Beth sang back. They tended to do conference calls pretty regularly when they wanted to chat. It helped all four of the friends keep up with the news. While Karin and Beth were self employed, Charlotte worked for a fashion magazine as an editor. Nine times out of ten she was in her office whenever they called. Beth couldn’t even remember what Charlotte’s home even looked like. She only got a flash of ultra modern sleek metal and glass everywhere. It suited the flamboyant fashionable Charlotte down to a T. Of course she wasn’t sure if Charlotte even remembered what her home looked like, let alone where it was.

“Oh Beth. I heard about Brian. Are you and Vickie okay?” Charlotte asked. They could hear her dropping the papers as she turned her attention to the conversation. Beth felt her stomach tightened. Try as she might, every time they mentioned Brian dead, she felt ill. The fact that two of her closest friends knew Brian on a more intimate level without any hint to her was disturbing as well. She tried to quell the impulse to wonder if any of them could have had anything to do with his subsequent death.

“It’s all been a bit of a shock but we’ll survive, I think,” Beth replied quietly to Charlotte. “We didn’t have a great deal to do with him these last few years.”

“Unlike some we might mention,” Karin chirped in unable to contain herself any longer. Charlotte had a reputation for going through men like tissues. She was also not too particular as long as she was having fun. Charlotte was a firm believer in living for the moment.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Charlotte retorted ever in denial.

“Well how did you know he was dead?” Beth asked laughing. It felt good to smile. Morbid in a way but smiling was good.

“A detective came by to tell me and ask a few questions,” Charlotte confessed.

“And?” Karin and Beth asked in unison. This was going to be good.

“And what?” Charlotte asked nonchalantly.