Skeleton's Key (Delta Crossroads Trilogy, Book 2) (29 page)

He took her elbow. “She’ll join us when she can. Here’s the breakfast room.”

Catty-corner from the dining hall, the breakfast room was small and intimate, with a simple table for four that was set up for a couple, complete with sterling silver cutlery, crystal champagne glasses, and antique china. A set of tapered candles gave the room a soft glow.

“Wow.” Dani’s fingers fluttered to her neck. “It’s beautiful. But you didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”

“I wanted to. You need to see that Roselea is more than just Sallie’s Diner and old houses with horrible secrets.”

She took the seat he pulled out for her. “I half expect a house servant to bring in a four-course meal.”

Ben laughed. “No. Mom does most of the cooking, but she’s got help tonight, and they’re handling the guests. But I kept some food aside for us.” He picked up the bottle of Dom Pérignon Rose. “Can I pour you a drink?”

“I hate to say yes,” Dani said. “That’s expensive stuff.” And she needed to stay sober and on her game.

“That’s a yes.” Ben filled her glass and then his own before sitting down. “So, when I called you this morning, I was so nervous about inviting you over I don’t remember all the details, so forgive my questions. You talked about a letter that may have been written by John James, and he mentions a key. Did you get anything verified?”

Dani wished she’d kept her mouth shut. Then again, Ben struck her as the type of person who wouldn’t volunteer the information she needed unless he felt like he was in the loop.

“I think so. There were a couple of documents with his signature. Looks like a match.”

“Extraordinary.” Ben gazed at her with soft, unblinking eyes. A perfect mask of concern. “Where’s the letter been hiding all this time, and more importantly, who left it?”

“I have no idea.”

He took a long sip of the Pérignon. “And yesterday, at Ironwood. Did they find anything upstairs?”

“I don’t know.” Dani tried not to speak too quickly. “I stayed out of the way.”

“And you couldn’t tell me if they had. My apologies.” His silky voice was even, controlled. “So, this letter someone left you. What do you think about it?”

Dani almost asked which letter Ben meant before catching herself. “I think someone wants me digging into the house’s history.”

The slightest flinch of Ben’s eyes. A tightening around the edges. “Well, clearly. But what about the key? Don’t you think it’s interesting the letter mentions it?”

It was Dani’s turn to drink. “Yes. Maybe the person who left it knew there was a master key to the house at one time. But I doubt it still exists.”

Two days ago, she would have meant that statement. Now, she was no longer sure. Even if the passage she hadn’t been able to find was accessible from the outside of Ironwood, a key would likely still be needed to open it. Is that what someone wanted her to realize?

She took another long drink, draining her glass. She rarely drank, and she hadn’t eaten much today. Already her body–and her mind–felt more relaxed.

“Cage thinks the person who left the letter might also be the killer.” She watched Ben’s sculpted face for his reaction.

“Quite possibly. After all, whoever killed those men knew more about Ironwood than many people. Stands to reason he knows where the cache is and took the letter from it.”

“Why do you think the letter was from the cache? Maybe some renter or old owner found it, and it’s been passed down.”

“True. But I think you need to be cautious. I hate to think of you staying at Magnolia House with just Jaymee Ballard right now.” He moved to refill her glass, but she covered it.

“One is enough for me. I have to drive, you know.”

“Of course.” He set his own glass down, fingertips tracing the rim. He licked his lips and then caught the corner of his mouth with his impossibly white teeth.

“Something you want to say?”

“It’s just…Cage. He’s a suspect.”

Her nerves grew taut as bowstrings. “Technically. But there is evidence to the contrary.”

“Perhaps, but he’s not been cleared, has he?”

“Why do you ask?”

“I’m just concerned about you,” Ben said smoothly. “If Cage has done this, you don’t want to get too close.” He spoke the last words somberly, as though they were condolences.

“Surely you don’t think Cage killed those men?”

“I think grief makes people do terrible things. And Cage certainly has a temper. I’ve witnessed it.”

So he was bringing up the Semple farm. Nice play. “I heard about that.”

“From Cage and Lee Walker, no doubt. But you haven’t heard my side of the story.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Before my mother or I invested any money into the co-op Cage and his partners had formed, I wanted to find out the bank’s opinion.”

“And they told you? That seems a little unorthodox.”

“This is a small town. And I have my contacts. The bank had no intention of selling to the co-op. They didn’t believe the co-op would be able to keep the farm up and keep it out of foreclosure.”

“Still, bringing in an investor to demolish the property–”

“It hurt, Dani,” Ben said. “I love history, too. Last thing I wanted was to see the Semple farm dismantled. But it was business, and the sale will bring a lot of revenue into Adams County. Sometimes we have to make hard choices.”

“Cage doesn’t see it that way.”

“As I said, he’s been through a lot these past few years. I’m not sure he’s capable of taking rejection or loss anymore. First his sister and then the woman the entire town knew he’d been in love with since high school. And to make matters worse, the woman chose Cage’s brother-in-law over him.”

Anxiety rippled through Dani. Cage hadn’t mentioned that fact. Neither had Jaymee. Then again, it really wasn’t any of her business.

“I don’t mean to speak badly of him,” Ben continued. He lowered his voice again, the dulcet tone just above a whisper. “I’m just speaking as a concerned observer. I’m sure the police will investigate, and if Cage didn’t do anything, he’ll be cleared. Until then, be careful.”

“I will be.” She almost asked for more alcohol. The expensive drink might be the only way she could make it through the rest of the night. Perhaps her mind had been clouded by everyone else’s bias, but it was impossible not to regard Ben as a charming manipulator. His past history and timing of his current arrival were suspicious. Dani had no doubt he would be asking about future plans for Ironwood soon.

As if sensing her trepidation, Ben leaned back and offered her a conspiratorial smile. “On to less melancholy issues. What’s your next move to figuring out if the skull belonged to John James?”

“Honestly, I have no idea.”

“Well, first things first, check in with Jeb Riley, the coroner. He’ll know if the femur found was a left one. If it is, see if he can put you in touch with the Jackson medical examiner. Maybe the case will interest them enough to take a closer look.”

“The room has the answers,” Dani baited him. “CaryAnne as much as told Grace that before she died. I’ve just got to find it.”

“Are there any clues on the blueprints?” Ben’s cheeks were dotted pink. Somehow she didn’t think the flush came from the wine. His eyes were too clear.

“No. And the original blueprints are missing. These are ones the church had done in the 50s.”

“You’re kidding.”

She shook her head. “And the foundation doesn’t have them, according to Lee. He says he’s never seen them.”

Ben made a face that looked like he’d bit into a lemon. “There’s an odd duck, if you ask me.”

“Why?”

“Well, he’s just…strange. Yes, he’s done a lot for Roselea. His historical preservation efforts have brought a lot of tourists around here. But he can be a bit…obsessive.”

“Because he didn’t want Ironwood sold to Norton Investments?” Dani couldn’t stop the question.

Ben wasn’t fazed. “I’ll say the same thing again. It’s business. And good business. Hell, I love Ironwood. When I was a kid, I wore a path between it and home. Used to go over there all the time to fish in the creek just beyond the trees. Never really caught anything, but I felt like a big shot running around by myself. The house was still closed up then, but I used to sneak around, peering in the windows and wondering if all the stories about the secret stash were true. Lee handled most of the upkeep of the house himself then, and he used to get on me, telling me I’d end up getting hurt. But I never listened.”

“Did you ever go inside?”

“No.” He looked past her. “But I do admit to exploring some of the outbuildings that were still standing. Never found anything of interest. Anyway, I love the old place. But it had sat empty for so long, and even though the church and historical foundation did a decent job of keeping the house up, it was a financial drain. And I never thought it would sell to anyone wanting to renovate. When Norton said they wanted to purchase it, I offered to represent them. It made good business sense.”

“And when I came along?”

“Norton was pissed off. They lost a great deal. But truthfully, I was happy. I’m glad the house won’t be torn down. As long as you’re able to stick it out.” And there it was. Condescension colored his tone.

“I intend to.” She didn’t break eye contact, didn’t mince any words, didn’t soften her voice.

Ben gave a quick nod. “Good. Now, let’s eat.”

Dinner was delicious: fried Mississippi catfish with a tangy barbeque sauce that burned deliciously, fried okra and fresh asparagus, with cream cake for dessert. Dani allowed Ben to steer the conversation, and he spent the meal asking about her previous life, her lack of boyfriends and her busy career. She kept her answers as short as possible. She wasn’t interested in baring her soul to Ben. The subject of Ironwood wasn’t brought up again until Grace popped her head in to say hello.

“Mom, did Grandpa have an older copy of the house plans? One that predated the church’s? I know CaryAnne gave him some things for safekeeping.”

Grace’s pleasant smile threatened to falter. “No, dear. Not that I’ve ever seen. I’ve got to get back to my guests, but Dani, you make sure you find me before you leave.”

Dani promised she would, and Ben suggested Dani ask Gina when she could have the house back.

“It’s your home. They can’t keep it a crime scene forever.”

“I’m all right at Jaymee’s.”

“Well, let me know if there’s anything you need. And let’s hope you’re allowed back into Ironwood sooner rather than later.”

“Sounds good.” She looked at her watch. It was nearly 9 p.m., and she was exhausted. “I really should be heading out.”

Grace reappeared. “Ben, could you do me a favor? I need a new bottle of wine, and the case is in the wine cellar. Can you fetch it?”

“Sure, Mom. Let me just walk Dani to her car.”

“I need it right now, honey,” Grace ushered him toward the back of the house. “I’ll keep Dani company while you’re down there.”

Ben frowned but obeyed his mother. Dani opened her mouth to praise Grace on her dinner, but the old lady cut her off.

“Listen, before Ben comes back.” Grace spoke quickly, her words hushed and faint. “I didn’t want to tell you this the other day. Daddy and I were with CaryAnne the night she died. We’d gone over there to bring her a meal, and she was fading fast. We sat with her. I’ll never forget her gasping for breath and trying to tell Daddy to search the library. ‘Everything’s there, Grace,’ she said. Your daddy can pay the bank and save Ironwood. Make him promise to save my Ironwood. For me. For my family. And when you hear the truth, don’t hate me. I had to save him.”

“Save who?”

“She didn’t say. She died right there, and that was it.”

“She meant John James. She had to have. But the bones were in the basement, not the library. Did your father find anything?”

“No,” Grace said. “He searched everywhere in that library but couldn’t find anything of value. The desk was full of useless records, half of them two decades old from when CaryAnne still had a good crop. Her will wasn’t there either. She told Daddy it was, but he never found it. Ironwood was supposed to have been left to him, but without the will, we couldn’t stop the bank from taking the house. And we never got back inside. Daddy always felt he missed something and that he failed CaryAnne. He died believing she’d left something in the library–that there was a hiding spot we missed.”

Grace peeked around the corner. “Ben’s coming. Don’t tell him any of this, Dani. He won’t take care of the history.” She closed her eyes, face pinched. “He’ll sell it.”

Mind scrambled, Dani nodded. “Thank you so much for the dinner tonight,” she said just as Ben rounded the corner. “I wish you could have eaten with us.”

“Next time, dear. I promise.”

Ben walked Dani to her car, his hand resting too low on her hip. “I hope you had a nice evening.”

“I did, thank you.” She unlocked the car and quickly sat down, ready to escape.

Undeterred, Ben rested his hand on the open door. “I’d like to see you again, Dani.”

“Of course you will. Your mother and I are neighbors.”

“I meant, just the two of us. Dinner out, perhaps? Maybe in Natchez?”

“As soon as everything dies down, I promise.” She hoped she wouldn’t have to keep those words. Ben nodded and leaned down to brush his lips against her cheek. He smelled of expensive cologne and starched shirts. She forced a smile.

“Goodnight.”

Just as he’d waited for her to arrive, Ben watched her leave, standing silent on Oak Lynn’s porch. Dani was grateful when she pulled out of the driveway and out of his sight.

She didn’t want to think about what she was going to do if he continued to reach out to her. She had other things to think about. Namely, how she was going to convince Jaymee to sneak into Ironwood with her tonight.

T
urned out convincing
Jaymee to go with her wasn’t hard. She’d been dying to see the inside of the house.

“Why’d you turn the headlights off?” Dani’s fingers dug into the armrest. “It’s pitch black outside.”

“No it’s not,” Jaymee said. “You’re too used to the city. Look at the moon, the way it lights up the road. No smog out here. And I turned them off because we’re going to be breaking and entering. I figured it was the right thing to do.”