Murder on Sagebrush Lane (16 page)

46

Wednesday, June 11

When the alarm went off at 6 a.m. Harrie was already awake. DJ had just left for his morning run, and she felt rested for the first time since Monday. She took a few minutes to dress and went to check on Katie. Once again, she found an empty room, but now Harrie relaxed, knowing Caroline had already taken charge.

She went back to her own room and found the DNA home kit Winnie Devlin had given her. She studied the directions and headed for the kitchen.

“Good morning, ladies,” Harrie said, and was rewarded with big grins from both Katie and Caroline.

“I see you have the kit,” Caroline said, a smile still on her face.

The lighthearted atmosphere continued, and Katie’s attention remained on her toys. She was relaxed and happily playing with a rubber duck. Harrie gently opened Katie’s mouth, swabbed it quickly and efficiently, and secured the sample in its case.

Katie held out the duck to Harrie. “Quack.”

Harrie grinned and picked her up. “Yes it does, sweet Katie.” She hugged her close.

“I hope this helps,” she said to Caroline.

“It can’t hurt.” Caroline took Katie’s breakfast dishes to the sink, and ran water over them. “Now all we have to do is get it to Steve.”

Harrie nodded. “DJ said he’d deliver it on his way to the office this morning.”

Just then, DJ came into the kitchen, breathing hard and sweating. “I heard my name. What did I do?” He leaned over and gently kissed the top of Harrie’s head.

Harrie put Katie down and the child toddled off, squeezing the duck to produce the quacking sound. Harrie grinned at DJ and hugged him. “Nothing yet. It’s what you’re going to do. I have the swab ready to go to Steve.”

“Ah.” DJ nodded. “I will definitely deliver it. But if you’ll excuse me, I need to get a shower before I do anything else.”

“Hurry it up,” Harrie said. “I’ll make us an omelet, and it shouldn’t take me more than fifteen minutes.”

“Time me,” he said as he hurried to shower.

In less than an hour, breakfast was eaten, and DJ was dressed and ready to leave.

“What’s your plan for the day?” He reached for his briefcase and leaned in to kiss Harrie goodbye.

“I plan to get a lot of work done. I have pages of editing to get through, and two new jobs arrived yesterday afternoon.”

He smiled. “So you won’t be leaving the house today.” It didn’t sound like a question. It was more a statement of fact—or an order.

Harrie felt herself bristling, and she paused to take a couple of breaths before she responded to the remark.

“I’ll need to go to the office to pick up the manuscript. I can do the actual editing from here. But first I have to get the material to edit.” Her tone was even, and she hoped it didn’t reflect the irritation she felt.

“Maybe Mom could go pick it up.”

“DJ.” Harrie shook her head and looked down at the floor. She wanted to phrase her response just right. She didn’t want to fight or argue, but this couldn’t go on. “How long have you known me?”

DJ frowned. The look on his face broadcast that he knew danger lay in his answer, but Harrie could tell he didn’t know how to avoid the dynamite. “I’ve known you for three years. We’ve been married for two years . . .wait . . . Is this a trick question?”

His confusion and apprehension were so obvious, Harrie laughed in spite of herself. “No, it’s not a trick question.” She stopped and shook her head. “Well, maybe it is.” She went to him and put her arms around him.

“You have to stop this. You keep treating me like I’m a little kid, without any sense of how to take care of myself.” She looked up at him. “You have to start trusting me.”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s whoever’s out there, threatening you, that I don’t trust.”

“I understand that,” she pulled away from him and tilted her head, “but I have to live my life. Who knows how long this could go on? I refuse to hide inside your mother’s house while everybody else, including this mysterious guy, goes about business as usual.” She stopped and took another deep breath, letting it out slowly as she calmed.

“Look,” she said, “you have to give me freedom of movement, and the ability to do my job. It’s not like I’m proposing going out at night, roaming around town looking for trouble. I want to be able to go to my office, go back home to get things I need, go to the grocery store or the drug store once in a while. I refuse to act like a hostage.”

Caroline had entered the room while Harrie was speaking. “She’s right, DJ,” she said quietly. She put her hand on DJ’s arm and looked him in the eye. “You can’t expect Harrie to stay locked up, away from her job and her normal life.”

A muscle in DJ’s jaw twitched, and he nodded. “I know,” he said. He looked at Harrie. “But if anything ever happened to you . . . .” He pulled her into his arms and held her close.

“I have a great idea,” Harrie said, as she pulled away and looked up at him. “You remember that guy we met at the gun show last March? The one who teaches a firearms class?”

“Yeah?” DJ’s eyes narrowed. “What about him?”

“I’m going to call him today. I’m signing up for his class.” She folded her arms across her chest. The gesture illustrated determination and a rebellious stance, but her face radiated glee.

“I’m going to qualify and get a concealed-carry license.”

47

“You know, I have an idea.” Caroline put the last of the breakfast dishes in the cupboard. “I’m seriously considering joining you in that concealed carry class.”

Harrie looked up from her task of wiping off the table. “Really? What made you think about that?”

“I actually thought about it a couple of years ago. After all that business with the drug cartel and my crooked cousin, I felt a bit vulnerable. Even though he’s serving a life sentence in a federal prison, he has friends in low places.”

“That’s a good point.” Harrie shook her head. “Why didn’t I think of that earlier?”

“I believe I would rather be prepared for trouble and not need it, than find myself actually in trouble and not be prepared.”

“Well okay, then. When I call about signing up, I’ll ask about enrolling you at the same time.”

“Thanks, let me know when it is, and I’ll put it on my calendar. Hey,” she turned to Harrie, “do you think Ginger would like to go with us?”

Harrie grinned. “I like the way you think, lady. I’ll ask her when I go to the office to pick up the manuscript. Speaking of which . . . .” She looked at her watch. “I’d better get going if I plan to get any work done today. It’s already after 10. Do you need anything while I’m out?”

“No, dear. I think we’re all set for tonight. Since Swannie’s bringing Chinese food for dinner, I got out my tea set and located Jasmine tea in the pantry. I love hot tea with Chinese food, don’t you?”

“I do,” Harrie said, “and I hope he gets eggrolls. Those things are wonderful.”

Caroline smiled, “Oh, I’m sure he will. He seems to be very efficient.” She stood at the kitchen sink, looking out at the backyard beyond. A dreamy expression gave her face a soft, vulnerable look.

Harrie narrowed her eyes. “Am I sensing a bit of enthusiasm about dinner tonight that has nothing to do with Chinese food?”

“Um . . . I . . .” She blushed brightly and turned away from the window. “I enjoy having everyone here for dinner, that’s all. And . . . .” She stopped, and a big grin creased her face. “I think Lieutenant Swanson is a very nice man, don’t you?”

Harrie laughed and went over to hug her mother-in-law. “Yes, he is, and I can see that he thinks you’re pretty special too.”

“Do you think I could get him to take me to the gun range and help me practice before we take that class?”

“I think I’m safe in saying he’d do most anything you asked him to do.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows and started to speak, but the sound of the doorbell interrupted her. She and Harrie looked at each other and shrugged.

“I’m not expecting anybody, are you?” Caroline said.

“Absolutely not, and if you don’t mind, I’m going to go grab my purse and head for the office. Provided, of course, whoever’s at the door isn’t my stalker or anybody else looking for me.”

They both left the kitchen, Harrie headed for her bedroom, and Caroline to answer the door.

Harrie picked up her handbag and keys, and took one last look in the mirror. She heard the front door being opened, and what sounded like a woman’s voice talking to Caroline. Instead of going back through the kitchen to the garage, Harrie decided to check out the visitor. She walked into the hall and stood beside Caroline. Then she noticed the look on Caroline’s face. The presence of this woman was having an odd effect on her mother-in-law.

“Is everything okay, Caroline?”

Caroline opened the door wider, and Harrie’s own heart beat faster.

A stunning blonde, with a slim figure and hair cut short, much like Caroline’s, stood on the porch. Her softly tailored turquoise dress gave her a look of studied casualness, but the most amazing thing was her striking resemblance to Caroline.

48

Caroline continued to stare at the woman in front of her.

“I’m sorry.” She found her voice at last. “Who did you say you were?”

“I’m Alexis Kane. I understand you have temporary custody of Katie Rinaldi.”

Harrie stepped up to the woman. “My name is Harrie McKinsey Scott, and this is my mother-in-law, Caroline Johnson. My husband and I were granted temporary custody of Katie Rinaldi because of her status as a possible witness to her father’s murder. How did you find us?”

The woman shifted her attention from Caroline to Harrie. “I’ll be happy to tell you anything you want to know, Mrs. Scott. But do you think we could discuss this inside? I would prefer a little privacy.”

Harrie nodded without comment, and both she and Caroline moved aside to admit the woman. Caroline led the way into the formal living room.

“Please have a seat...ah...is it ‘Mrs.’ Kane?” Caroline indicated one of several chairs gathered into a conversation area.

The woman spoke. “Technically I suppose I am still a ‘Mrs.’ but I’m a widow. Please, call me Alexis.”

Caroline and Harrie sat in chairs on either side of Alexis. Harrie said, “You were about to tell us how you found us and how you knew we had Katie Rinaldi.”

Alexis leaned in. “I will, but may I ask you a question first? Has a woman named Bonnie Bellows contacted you?”

Harrie felt her heart do a couple of jumping jacks. She breathed in slowly and forced herself to relax. “Do you know Bonnie Bellows?”

Alexis sat back in her chair and looked at the ceiling. “Unfortunately I do. But I need to know if she’s been here. Is she aware that you have Katie?”

Harrie and Caroline looked at each other before Harrie spoke. “This is Caroline’s house. As far as I know, Bonnie Bellows hasn’t discovered we’re here. But she did show up at my home the day before yesterday—the same day as the murder.”

“What did she want?” Their visitor’s eyes narrowed, and she waited for Harrie’s answer.

“She said she was there to take Katie. She said she was Katie’s only living relative and that she had the right to take her from us.”

Alexis laughed without mirth. “That doesn’t surprise me. She’s been hoping for just this sort of situation. She’s convinced Katie’s worth a lot of money.”

Harrie’s anger boiled over. “That’s horrible! You’re telling us that she wants Katie so she can get money? How is that even possible?”

Caroline’s voice was soft. “You still haven’t told us why you are here, how you know about Katie, and how you know Bonnie Bellows.”

“You’re right. I apologize. I’ve been so upset since I heard about Michael’s murder. I’ve been trying to get all the documentation together, and then I heard from a friend that Bonnie was trying to inject herself into Katie’s life. It’s all so infuriating. The girl has no scruples, and she definitely has no right to Katie.”

“According to Bonnie, she gave birth to Katie,” Harrie watched Alexis’ reaction as she made that statement.

Alexis nodded her head. “That’s a fact. She did serve as a surrogate. But she was paid handsomely for it, and there was no genetic connection to Katie at all.”

Harrie frowned. “I know a surrogate is impregnated on behalf of the couple. I assumed she donated her eggs as well as her womb for the procedure.”

“That’s not the way it was with Michael and Laura. They tried everything to conceive. They went to several doctors, took shots, followed calendars and instructions, and did everything they were told. They didn’t find out for a couple of years that Laura would not be capable of carrying a child. They didn’t know that during all those injections, Laura was developing uterine cancer. It got worse the more they gave her. Finally they discovered the cancer, and she had the uterus surgically removed and went through chemotherapy. But they saved her eggs. In fact, they did an in-vitro fertilization to produce an embryo to implant. They used Laura’s eggs and Michael’s sperm, so Bonnie was not a genetic parent.”

Harrie turned back to Alexis. “How do you know all this? What’s your connection to the Rinaldis and Bonnie Bellows? Why are you here?”

“Laura was my daughter. I was married to Bonnie’s father for a brief time, but he died five years ago. I’ve been in close contact with Michael for the past two months. He said Bonnie came snooping around recently, and he became convinced she had a plan to get her hands on Katie. During Laura’s last few weeks, Katie stayed with me at my apartment at The Landmark, here in Albuquerque. I rented it about a year ago so I’d have a place to stay when I was in town. When Laura first got sick, I came here to be with her, but as she got worse, she couldn’t bear to have Katie see her that way. We agreed I would take the child home with me to The Landmark so Michael could concentrate on Laura. Part of the time, we stayed at my home in Denver. During that period, Bonnie showed up and inserted herself into Laura’s last few days. Michael was frantic that Laura not be upset. He kept Bonnie away as much as he could, but she was relentless.”

“But the police talked to Laura’s neighbors. I even spoke with the ones who lived closest to Laura. They all said Katie had no other relatives. Didn’t they know about you?”

Alexis’ eyes were closed. A single tear slid down her cheek. She took a long breath, opened her eyes, and brushed her cheek with the back of her hand.

“The ones who were close to Laura knew. We all agreed to keep quiet about Katie being with me. Michael didn’t want Bonnie to figure out where she was. The rest of the neighbors were told that Katie was with a friend. The others just went along with the lie. They were very protective of her.”

“What a terrible situation for all of you. Why didn’t Michael make arrangements for you to take Katie? The police didn’t find a will. Everyone assumed Katie would go into the foster care system.”

Alexis shook her head. “No, that’s not true. Michael made very specific arrangements for Katie should anything happen to him. Of course, we never anticipated a situation like this.”

Caroline stood and walked toward the door. “I think I heard Katie. She’s probably ready for her lunch. Excuse me.”

Harrie looked at the woman. She hadn’t expected this. “How did you hear about the murder?”

Alexis looked away. “Michael’s neighbor across the street phoned me. I couldn’t believe my ears. She told me an FBI agent and his wife had taken Katie because everyone thought she had no relatives. Naturally, I caught the first flight I could get out of Denver. I arrived last night.”

“I still don’t understand how you knew where to find us. No one should have known we’d moved Katie here.” Harrie eyed Alexis with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Alexis said, “I hired a private detective to locate you.” She shook her head. “I was desperate to find Katie. I felt sure Bonnie would try to take her before I arrived.”

“Here we are,” Caroline said. She held Katie’s hand as she brought her into the room. Katie rubbed her eyes and started toward Harrie. Then she saw the visitor.

“Gamma?” Katie said with a big grin, and ran to Alexis.