The Lake House Secret, A Romantic Suspense Novel (A Jenessa Jones Mystery) (29 page)

“When Ramey turned eighteen, Alexander told Lucy he was not going to continue to pay her, that the girl was an adult now and he was done. Lucy went nuts, Hamilton said. However, he was able to calm her down, convincing her to tell Grey if he paid her fifty thousand dollars in cash, she’d continue to keep her mouth shut and disappear, that he’d never hear from her again.”

“I guess fifty thousand would be less than paying for even one more year at five thousand a month,” Jenessa said. That must have been the fight Logan heard between his father and stepmother. “What else?”

“Hamilton said Lucy had made plans to meet Grey one night to talk about it.”

“Did he give you a specific date?” Jenessa asked.

“He did, but all I can share with you is that it was around the end of June, eleven years ago.”

“And where was she going to meet him?”

“The lake house.”

“No surprise there. So, did he see anything?” Jenessa pressed, hoping for something that would point to the killer.

“No. He said he dropped her off and then he went to the marina to have a few beers while he gave her some time to talk and get the money. He hung around down there about half an hour or so, maybe more, he couldn’t really remember exactly how long it had been once he got drinking.”

“Assuming Grey is who she met,” Jenessa said. Maybe he had sent her father to negotiate instead, and things went horribly wrong.

“You mean like perhaps it was the junior Mr. Alexander?”

“Uh, yeah, that’s what I meant.” That wasn’t what she meant, but it was a possibility. It could have been Logan, but Jenessa had a sinking feeling it would more likely have been her dad.

“Logan could have overheard the conversation, I suppose, and went up there ahead of his father to confront the woman,” Provenza said.

Logan
had
overheard. He had told her as much. So why was she reluctant to share that?

“Didn’t Hamilton go back to get Lucy?” she asked.

“She was supposed to call him on his cell. When he hadn’t heard from her after a while, he drove back to check on her. But when he got there, the house was dark and there were no cars there. He said he assumed she had gotten a ride back to town with Alexander because he had taken so long to return for her.”

“What did he do then?”

“He drove to Lucy’s house, but she wasn’t there. He drove around town for a while, looking for her, but nothing. Said he wondered at the time if Alexander decided to make his problem go away rather than pay up.”

“And the guy didn’t think to report it?”

“That’s what I asked,” George said. “He claimed he was half drunk and who was going to believe a drunken drifter over the most powerful man in town? If something had happened to Lucy he didn’t want to get pegged with it. So he got out of town as fast as he could and high-tailed it back to LA. He never heard from Lucy again after that.”

“What a friend,” Jenessa said sarcastically. “So, what is your gut telling you, George?”

“That any one of them could have done it—Tony, Grey, or Logan.”

Or my father.
“Do you think the lab might have made a mistake?” she asked. “Could the DNA from the hair on the comb have also been a close enough match to Grey Alexander? You know, what they call a familial match?”

“That is a possibility. I’ll have Baxter check that out.”

“I know Grey Alexander is a self-centered SOB, but do you think he would really let his own son go to prison for something that he did, knowing Logan was innocent?”

“Well, I’d have to agree, he is a pretty cold-hearted man, Jenessa, but no, I wouldn’t think so. Although,” Provenza paused, “I could see him putting Logan through the trial, believing his high-priced attorneys could get him off. If Johnny Cochran could get OJ off, a top-notch attorney like the kind Grey has the money to hire could very likely get Logan off too. Then neither of them would have to go to prison. That could be what the elder Alexander is counting on.”

“Why don’t you at least try to find out? Let’s put the screws to that ogre and see if he hollers.”

“The screws? What do you mean?”

“Oh, you know, George…apply some pressure to him, put the squeeze on him, see if he squeals.”

Provenza chuckled. “You’ve been watching too many crime shows.”

“With Tony Hamilton’s testimony that Lucy had made plans to meet Grey, and then Tony never heard from her again, couldn’t you tell Mr. Alexander you have a witness that can confirm he was with Lucy right before she died and that he is willing to point to Grey as the killer?”

“Hmm, I hadn’t thought of that.” Provenza paused, as if he was thinking it through. “I don’t mean to sound like a bozo, but we just don’t get many murders in this town, not like in Sacramento.”

“You’re not a bozo, George. Here, try this—drag him in and ask him if he really wants to send his son to prison for the rest of his life for something he did. Lay a heavy guilt trip on him. See how he reacts. Maybe you could offer to drop the charges against his son if he confesses to what really happened. Imply it could have even been an accident and if he admits to it, the jury would be sympathetic or something. Let him think he has a possible out and maybe he’ll confess.”

“Hey, that’s a good idea,” Provenza agreed. “I’ll have to bring someone from the District Attorney’s office in on it, but it might work.”

Jenessa’s phone began to buzz in her hand. “Hey, George, I’ve got another call. Let me know how it goes.”

She clicked off one call and onto the next. “Hello, this is Jenessa.”

“This is Ian McCaffrey. I need to see you. Do you have time to drop by my office later this afternoon? Say around four?”

She checked her watch. “I think I can make it then. What’s this about?”

“I’ll tell you when you get here.”

~*~

Jenessa arrived home and got busy writing the obits and the story about the high school students and their beloved auditorium.

Half an hour later, Michael phoned her. “Detective Provenza filled me in on your conversation and I’ve got to say it was a clever idea.”

“Glad I could help,” she said.

“Provenza got Deputy District Attorney Rodriguez to call Mr. Alexander and ask him to come down to the station to talk, that there had been some new developments in Logan’s case. Of course, Alexander said he’d be there right away, and he’d be bringing his lawyers.”

“I hope the DDA didn’t give anything away.”

“No, he was pretty coy,” Michael said. “They should all be here soon.”

A smile of delight spread on her lips. “I wish I could see the interrogation.” Would Michael pick up the hint she just dropped? “You do have an observation room, don’t you?”

“We do, but I don’t think the Captain would go for that.”

“Hey, it was my idea, Detective. Besides, would the Captain have to know?”

Michael avoided the question. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Jenessa grabbed her purse and dashed to her car. The obits were finished and she’d emailed them off, but the auditorium story still needed a little more polish. It would have to wait, though—there was no way she was going to miss out on this interview.

~*~

Once Jenessa had slid behind the wheel, she glanced at the clock in the dash. It was going on four o’clock and she had promised her father’s law partner she’d meet him at four. Maybe she could make it quick. He probably just wanted her to sign some probate documents.

There was no way for her to know how long it would take Grey Alexander to round up his attorneys and get down to the police station. Hopefully she had time to check in with Mr. McCaffrey and then scoot over to the police station before she missed all the action.

She entered the building where the law firm was and took the elevator up to their floor. The receptionist buzzed Mr. McCaffrey’s assistant, who escorted her into his office.

“Jenessa, it’s nice to see you.” He offered his hand and she shook it. “Have a seat.”

She perched on the edge of one of the club chairs across from his desk. “I can’t stay long. Why did you want to see me?”

“We’ll get right to it then.” He pulled a small, flat package out of a drawer and set it on his desk.

Jenessa studied it with curiosity. It was about the size of a small book or maybe a framed photo she guessed, but it must have been private because it was wrapped in plastic with a wax seal on it.

“In your father’s Will, there were instructions from him that I give this to you after his passing, within a week after the reading of the Will. No one but you is supposed to open it.”

Now she really was curious. “What is it?”

He handed it across his desk. “Open it.”

She ripped the plastic off, breaking the seal, then lifted the cover to the box. “It’s a DVD.” She looked up at Mr. McCaffrey. “Did you know what it was?”

He shrugged noncommittally and then rose from his seat to come around from behind the desk. “Your father’s instructions said to have you watch this DVD here in my office. Shall we?” He gestured toward the other end of his office to a conference table and a television mounted on the wall.

Jenessa stood and followed, her stomach twisting with anticipation of what she was about to see. Whatever it was, she couldn’t figure out why it was for her alone.

He put his hand out. “Let me put it in the DVR and get it set up for you.”

Puzzled, she handed it over and took a seat at the table. “Any idea what’s on the DVD?”

“Sorry, I’m not at liberty to say.” He turned the television on and stuck the DVD into the device.

Not at liberty?
“He’s dead, Mr. McCaffrey. What difference would it make now?”

“Just watch. I’ll leave you alone, but if you need me, I’ll be right outside.” He walked out and closed the door.

The DVD began to play. It was her father, seated behind his desk in his office at the firm, with his hands clasped in front of him.

What the heck?

Chapter 42

“Hello, Jenessa.” Her father looked away from the camera for a moment, appearing uneasy. Then, he took an audible, deep breath and focused his eyes directly forward.

It felt as if he was looking right at her and a chill shimmied down her spine, knowing he never would again. She took her own deep breath and laced her hands together in a tight grip.

“If you’re watching this, it means I must have passed away. I don’t know how old you are at this point, but hopefully old enough to forgive me and let the past go.”

Forgive him?
Was he going to apologize for all the animosity between them? It made sense now that it was for her alone.

Jenessa pressed her lips together and squeezed her hands tighter as she watched, her eyes riveted to the TV screen.

“My dear daughter, I am so sorry that I drove a wedge between us, and I am sorry that I made it seem like it was your fault. The truth is, when your mother died…well, your sister wasn’t the only one that blamed you. I’m ashamed to say, I did too, even though deep down I knew it was my fault. I was the one who drove your mother to go to Sacramento that Christmas season, not you.”

Tears began to form in Jenessa’s eyes as she heard the words she had longed to hear all these years. Still, it angered her that he was only able to admit this in death. All those wasted years. All those misplaced feelings. She wiped at her cheek and continued watching, wondering what more he could have to say.

“I was always leery of you dating the son of Grey Alexander—even when Logan took you to the prom. I had seen how Grey treated the women in his life and I assumed Logan would follow in his father’s footsteps.”

She tried to get a read on her father’s expression. Was it only regret or was there a hint of guilt by association on his face?

“Jenessa, when you became pregnant by Logan, my fears seemed to be coming true. There’s something you need to know. Maybe you already do, I don’t know, but Ramey deserves to finally know the truth. It was Grey Alexander that got Lucy St. John pregnant. Grey is Ramey’s father. Though I wasn’t around when Ramey was born, I was well aware of how badly Grey treated Lucy and the baby. As Grey’s attorney, I was responsible for making payments to Lucy on Grey’s behalf. I rationalized my actions by telling myself it was merely child support—a good thing, but the truth is, it was a payout to keep Lucy from telling anyone, especially Ramey. As such, sadly, I was also privy to Grey’s demeaning comments about the woman.”

Her father hung his head, shaking it side to side, wearing a shameful expression. “You have to understand, Jenessa, I didn’t want that for my own daughter. I hated the thought that you would have anything to do with that family.”

Knowing what she now knew, Jenessa could completely understand why her father had felt that way. Those few recent run-ins with the portentous Grey Alexander had left her feeling much the same way as her father had.

“There is no way that Grey would ever have allowed you and the baby to ruin Logan’s chances of becoming a great college quarterback. He would have done anything to ensure that Logan would go on to have a successful life.”

Anything?

“If you had kept the child, you would have been forever tied to that miserable family, and I couldn’t chance that what happened to Lucy would happen to you.”

What happened to Lucy? Did he mean the payments or what landed her in a shallow grave at the lake?
Could her father really have had something to do with her death? Or was he an accessory after the fact?

“There’s something else, Jenessa. I know Ramey felt abandoned, but there’s more…I want to tell you what really happened to Lucy St. John.”

“Oh, my gosh,” Jenessa murmured. “Here it comes.”

She sat up straight and held her breath, waiting for him to continue, just as a knock came at the door, startling her a little.

Ian McCaffrey pushed the door open a few inches, sticking his head inside. “Just checking to see if you’re done.”

She quickly pushed pause and gave her head a shake to bring herself back to the present.

“Sorry,” McCaffrey said, “I can see you’re not. I’ll give you some more time.”

He bowed out and she turned her attention back to the DVD. “Okay, Dad, you were about to tell me something important.”