Twenty-Five Years Ago Today (28 page)

"She was always the grieving sister," he
said. "Her mother was so vigilant about finding the killer. It
breaks my heart what this will do to the family."

Since the Soares were the first residents in
the Brandywine Estates subdivision, they had no neighbors to see
them carrying the body.

"It was the perfect crime, by accident,"
Frank said. "They panicked and got rid of the body as fast as they
could."

Cheryl Soares owns the secondhand bookstore,
Treasures in the Aisles, and is president of the Greater Fremont
Area Women in Business Association.

Michael Soares is a sale representative for
Flex Fitness Products in Waltham, and has been active in the town
Over-30 Softball and Basketball leagues. The couple's son, Eric
Soares, teaches music and band at Fremont High, where his mother
was an English teacher for more than 17 years.

Principal Stephen White, who was on the
faculty with Cheryl Soares, says he was shocked by the new
revelations. "I remember working with Cheryl when her sister was
killed," he said. "She was a wonderful teacher, and seemed so
devastated by Diana's murder. I'm sure this will stun many
people."

Attorneys for the Soares had no comment on
the case, which is scheduled for arraignment later this week in
Middlesex Superior Court. Irene Ferguson also would not
comment.

"I have no doubt that Cheryl has agonized
over this for years," said Lieutenant Frank. "Most murders are done
in an irrational fit of anger. But justice deserves to be
served."

***

April 24

By BRUCE PATRICK, Staff Writer

FREMONT - In a random poll, most residents
are angry that Cheryl Soares will serve no time for killing her
sister 25-years ago.

Earlier this week, Judge Sheila Wylie of
Middlesex Superior Court accepted a plea bargaining deal that
dropped the murder charges to involuntary manslaughter. Instead of
serving jail time, Soares was sentenced to 10 years probation.

Her husband, Michael Soares, who allegedly
helped her cover up the murder, has been sentenced to five years
probation.

In February, Cheryl Soares confessed that she
had killed her 21-year-old sister in a jealous rage. According to
police, Diana had gone to tell her sister that she'd had an affair
with Michael Soares.

The confession came days after the
Fremont
Daily News
published a story by this reporter, stirring up
renewed interest in the case.

Cheryl Soares, who at the time was a
substitute teacher at Fremont Jr. Sr. High School, allegedly
bludgeoned her sister to death with a 2 X 4 she had found in the
basement. She and her husband dumped the body in the woods behind
Fremont State College.

"She should have gotten life imprisonment,"
said Jill Hastings of Fremont, while sipping coffee at Dunkin'
Donuts. "I mean, come on, she couldn't have felt too guilty if she
went on with her life all these years."

Selectman Chairman Thomas Harper, Jr. shares
her opinion. "A lot of innocent people were questioned while Cheryl
and Michael Soares kept their mouths shut," he said, taking a break
at his business, Tom's Diner. "What if a boyfriend had done it in a
jealous rage? Would he be given a slap on the wrist? I don't think
so."

Max Riley, a customer at Tom's Diner, also
believes that Cheryl Soares got off too easily.

"It just goes to show you that our justice
system has gone to hell," said Riley. "You hear about cases like
this all the time, wives stabbing husbands with an icepick, then
whining they didn't mean it. People get into arguments every day,
but they don't kill each other over it."

The news also disturbed members of the
Greater Fremont Area Women in Business Association. Cheryl Soares,
who owns the Treasures in the Aisles secondhand bookstore, served
as president of the organization until recently.

"I feel like we were all taken in by her,"
said new President Debbie Walker. "Our whole group is built on
independent women making a success of themselves. If you find out
your husband is cheating on you, get rid of him. To think that she
was teaching the children in this town."

Candace Armstrong, a member of Soares' book
discussion group, shares her views, but adds that she is glad
Cheryl wasn't sentenced to prison.

"Cheryl is very needy, very fragile," said
Armstrong, a psychologist. "Appearances are extremely important to
her. She's got a beautiful house, a great business, and was always
talking about her wonderful husband. Her life obviously wasn't
perfect, but she wanted people to believe it was. I honestly don't
think she would've survived in jail."

Dan Maguire of Fremont blames Michael Soares
for the tragedy. "He pushed her to the edge. Her husband should be
the one to suffer. Any one of us could have reacted the same way as
Cheryl."

Teachers at Fremont High School, where the
Soares' son Eric is a music teacher, would not comment on the case.
Cheryl Soares' 75-year-old mother, Irene Ferguson, has also
declined comment.

***

May 8

Associated Press

FREMONT - A woman sentenced for killing her
sister 25-years ago tried to end her own life yesterday after
taking an overdose of sleeping pills.

According to police, she was discovered
unconscious by her husband, Michael Soares, in the basement of
their Brandywine Estates home.

She was listed in stable condition this
morning at Fremont Regional Hospital. Last month, Cheryl Soares was
sentenced to 10 years probation for killing her sister, Diana
Ferguson, in a jealous rage. In a plea bargaining agreement, the
murder charges were dropped to involuntary manslaughter. Michael
Soares, who allegedly helped her cover up the murder, will serve
five years probation.

Michael Soares had come home from a job
interview when he found his wife, said Lieutenant Gerald Frank. He
had been employed for 10 years at Flex Fitness Products in Waltham.
A spokesman confirmed that he is no longer with the company, but
would not comment on whether Soares was terminated because of the
murder case, which has garnered national network news coverage.

Cheryl Soares has reportedly sold her
bookstore, Treasures in the Aisles, which she has owned for the
past eight years. In February, Cheryl Soares confessed that she had
bludgeoned her sister to death in the basement of her home.

She and her husband left the body in the
woods behind Fremont State College. Police said that Soares grew
enraged after Ferguson, a cocktail waitress at the former Rossi's
Bar, admitted to an affair with Michael Soares.

Cheryl Soares confessed the crime after Kris
Langley, formerly an editorial assistant for the
Fremont Daily
News
, triggered an investigation into the case. Langley has
declined all interviews.

***

Dear Irene,

I'm probably the last person you want to hear
from, but I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to find out about
Cheryl. I'm glad Michael came home in time to save her.

I've been reading up on mythology and found
out that the Furies, those avenging goddesses that Diana painted,
considered the murder of a blood relative the ultimate crime. After
years of blocking it out and trying to pretend Diana's death
happened another way, I think Cheryl is a prisoner of her own
guilt.

I thought I knew what it was like to live
with guilt, but I'm not so sure anymore. You, Cheryl and Eric
helped me to feel free talking about my cousin Nicole. Thanks to
your family, I've been able to forgive some guilt surrounding her
death.

I feel great compassion for Cheryl. For both
her and Diana. It's hard to change my mindset after all these
years, but I've begun confronting my Furies. I hope Cheryl will do
the same.

Last week, my former editor, Jacqueline,
surprised me by offering my old job back at a higher salary --
under pressure from the publisher, I'm sure. Lieutenant Frank has
been making it clear to the other news media that it was me, not
Bruce, who worked on the investigation. I accepted the job with the
stipulation that I could continue writing stories and be considered
for the next reporting position.

If you ever need anything, please feel free
to call. I know you're going through a difficult time.

Kris Langley

Epilogue

Memorial Day Weekend

A sense of peace hung in the air, the
cemetery quiet except for chirping birds. Sunlight warmed the
fragrant freshly mowed lawn. Kris smiled at Irene's geraniums, the
red splashes bright against the polished black granite cross.

Diana Marie Ferguson, Beloved Daughter and
Sister

Mopping sweat from her brow, Irene carried
her trowel to her husband's headstone. A lump constricted in Kris's
throat. Diana had been looking for her father the whole time.
Painting must've connected her to him. Maybe that explained why she
portrayed herself as Daphne, whose father had rescued her.

"I'm glad you came up with this idea," Irene
said over her shoulder. "I get depressed coming here alone.
Memorial Day weekend is especially hard."

"I figured you could use the company," Kris
said. "So can I."

"It seems strange without Cheryl. We always
plant our flowers together."

"Next year."

Forehead puckered, Irene glanced at her. She
returned to shoveling dirt. "Yes. Next year."

Kris didn't know how the poor woman managed.
Irene refused to see her son-in-law, but visited Cheryl in the
psychiatric hospital every week. Soon, Cheryl would return home and
need her mother even more. To raise Irene's spirits, Kris had
suggested a day trip to Newport, R.I., visiting antique shops and
mansions. They would leave for Rhode Island after the cemetery.

"Eric wanted me to ask if he could come see
you," Irene said without looking up.

Shocked, Kris stared at her profile. "What?
It's been months."

"A little time can make things clearer. All
this has been hard on him. He misses you."

"It can't work between us, Irene. His father
threatened me. I ruined his mother's life."

"Cheryl ruined her own life," Irene said.
"You and I are friends. Why can't you be friends with Eric?"

Waving a hand, Kris walked past Diana’s
geraniums. "It's different. More complicated. Eric pushed me away.
I suspected him of using me. That doesn't say a lot about our
relationship."

Irene gathered her gardening tools. "People
make mistakes. Don't you believe in second chances?"

Kris reached down and picked up the trowel.
"I ... I wouldn't know what to say to him."

"I'm sure he's confused, too. Why not talk it
out? What harm is there in that?"

"Let me think about it. Can you tell him
that?"

Straightening, Irene brushed grit off her
slacks. She gestured toward the wrought iron gate. "You're going to
hate me, but you can tell him yourself. I'll take a walk."

Kris whirled to see a red Camaro coasting up
the winding path into the cemetery. Her heart hammered. Irene
strolled down a gently sloping hill as her grandson drove past. He
parked behind Kris's car.

She set the trowel on her hood, wishing she
could dig a hole.

Eric stepped out in a black leather jacket,
carrying a red rose. She'd hoped that if she faced him, her
feelings would be gone, but they brimmed in her chest like a tidal
wave, about to sweep her away.

She cleared her throat. "This is a
surprise."

"I asked my grandmother not to tell you. I
should have never let you walk out on me." He watched her with
appraising eyes.

"What else were you supposed to do? It
couldn't work between us."

"How do you know? Kris, I can't live without
you. I've learned that the hard way."

"There are too many complications. Your
parents ..."

"We'll figure it out as we go along. Please.
It doesn't have to be over." He clasped her hand. "I’ve never
connected with anyone the way I did with you. I don’t think I ever
will."

She gazed down at their intertwined fingers.
"How about you drive down to Newport with us and we'll take a walk
on the beach. We've got a lot to discuss before we jump into
anything."

"But we can talk it over?"

"I guess there’s no harm in talking."

Irene observed in the distance, a small
figure among the rows of graves. Even from far away, Kris could
describe her expression. Hopeful.

"I'm tired of thinking about the past," Kris
said. "How about we take your grandmother antique shopping before
we hit the beach?"

"Antique shopping?" Eric asked. "Isn't that
about the past?"

Laughing, Kris accepted the rose. He leaned
forward, hesitated and kissed her lips. Her laughter broke off as
she kissed him back.

Maybe Pandora's Box wasn't empty after all.
Maybe they had replaced the lid just in time.

About the Author

Stacy Juba is the author of the acclaimed
adult mystery novels
Twenty-Five Years Ago Today
and
Sink
or Swim
, the young adult paranormal thriller
Dark Before
Dawn
, and the young adult family hockey novel
Face-Off,
all available in paperback and multiple ebook editions
.
She
is also the author of the children's picture book
The Flag
Keeper
, available in print and as an ebook, the ebook exclusive
children's picture book
Victoria Rose and the Big Bad Noise
,
and the
Teddy Bear Town Children's E-Book Bundle
.

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