A Well-Kept Family Secret Read online

  Pete narrowed his eyes at me. “What’s the matter with you, Sandi? Usually a little teasing doesn’t get to you like this.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “No you’re not. Wait a minute, I get it. It’s your mother, isn’t it?”

  “Well, you know, things are different when she’s around. Although, this visit sure hasn’t been like any other we’ve ever had.”

  “So why can’t you see the funny side of this?” Pete asked. “I mean look at what’s happened. The mugger, dinner last night, and at least now Frank is here to take care of her.”

  “In a way, I think that’s what’s bothering me. As much as I want my apartment back to myself, I want her there, too. I can’t explain it, but I feel sort of deserted. Does that make any sense?” I hoped Pete would understand.

  “None,” Pete replied. “But then you are a woman, and women look at things differently than men.”

  “Oh, brother. Here we go. You sure seem to think you know a lot about women. I don’t know what those other women even saw in you. You are the most chauvinistic, egotistical – ”

  “Sandi’s back,” Pete said, nudging Stanley.

  “You can count on it,” I said. “Now, forget all of this and let’s get down to business.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  1897 (One year earlier)

  The day after the murder, Vincente sat at the bar in a local saloon. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back, listening and observing. As was his habit, he twisted the gaudy diamond ring he always wore around his finger. He watched people closely, hoping to catch an unusual reaction to the sight of him, or to hear something about Jessica.

  Anyone watching would see a small but powerful old man with a slight smile barely touching his lips. No one would know that his stomach was churning and his heart was racing, that the smile was actually a grimace and the man had an agenda.

  A few people approached him and hoped for no more than an acknowledgement. He nodded occasionally but never spoke, which was his usual demeanor. Some nodded back at him. Not everyone had heard the news of the murder. He heard a joke here, a ribald comment there, but they all wished to remain in his favor and they watched him from the corners of their eyes. He never realized that fear was what kept most of them from approaching him.

  2003

  “Right now we need to concentrate on Amanda. What time are we going over to her house?”

  “Let’s grab a quick bite to eat and then drive over there.”

  “I told my mother we’d probably meet her and Frank for dinner, but I guess I can beg off. They’d probably like to have some time alone anyway.”

  “So would I,” Pete mumbled, glancing my way. I hoped he meant time alone with me. Well, of course he did.

  I turned away, acting like I hadn’t heard him, but I was smiling. I could stand to have some free time with Pete, too. We’d only been together for about six months, but they’d been a great six months. We were still on our dating “honeymoon” in a way, which was surprising because we spent so much time together. Some things feel like they’re meant to be, and this was one of them.

  If I took a moment to be honest with myself, I’d know he hadn’t been interested in any of the women who’d come on to him. There’s just something about him that attracts the opposite sex. A charisma, something intangible.

  “Let’s get some work done.” I sat down at my desk before Stanley could beat me to it. I knew he was dying to get back on my computer.

  “Sorry, Stanley.” I glanced at the computer screen.

  “That’s fine. I’ve got to stop by the store and pick up some things. Did I tell you I bought myself a DVD player?”

  “No. Good for you.”

  “I picked up a few movies yesterday and I fully intend to watch as many as I can tonight.”

  “I’m surprised, Stanley, I thought you never watched television,” I said.

  “Things are changing. I’ve discovered that I actually enjoy watching the ol’ tube once in a while.”

  “Well, don’t get hooked on it. There’s more to life than TV and old movies.” That was funny coming from me. I had an ongoing love affair with old movies.

  “How did you know I bought old movies?” he asked.

  “Just a guess.” I could picture him watching some of the same old movies that I enjoy. I liked the mysteries, although Stanley would probably go more for the classics.

  “Well, see you later.”

  “Later,” Pete said.

  I could see that Stanley was stalling near the door, and I knew exactly what he was waiting for.

  I smiled at him. “Be sure to keep in touch over the weekend. If I think of anything for you to check on the Internet, I’ll let you know.”

  He perked right up. “Zippy! I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”

  There was that zippy word again. He needed to spend more time around Pete, or someone like him. I waved and nodded, and Stanley left the office.

  “He’s quite a guy,” I said.

  “Yeah,” Pete replied. “When is your mother supposed to call?”

  “As soon as they get settled. I’m sure it won’t be long until we hear from her.”

  Pete walked over to the filing cabinets and pulled out some folders. He tossed a couple on my desk and kept the rest for himself. We updated the cases we’d been working on and I wrote a few letters to clients, letting them know the current status of their cases.

  “It’s Thursday.” Pete sounded like this should mean something to me.

  “Yeah? So?”

  “Tomorrow is Friday.”

  I turned toward him, wondering what he was leading up to. He didn’t normally try to keep me informed of what day of the week it was.

  “Maybe we can go to a movie or something tomorrow night. I’m thinking we’d go without company.”

  “Well, maybe Mother and Frank would like to go to the movies, too.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  I shook my head and returned to the file I was working on.

  “You know,” I said, after a minute had passed, “it’s not like my mother is here all the time. I would like to spend some time with her.”

  “I got the impression that you didn’t want to spend much time with her.”

  “I’m sorry, Pete, I really didn’t mean to come across like that. You don’t need to save me from my mother.”

  “Just trying to help.”

  “And you are a big help, just not this time.” He surprised me sometimes when he accidentally revealed his thoughtful side. I mean, he is thoughtful, but he doesn’t always let people see that side. It was usually his hunter-gatherer caveman attitude that stepped forward. That was one mentality I could do without.

  The phone rang and Pete answered it. He talked for a few minutes, then hung up, turning to me.

  “That was Amanda. She’s still worried about that guy coming back early.”

  “Well, at least he gave her some warning.”

  “We’ll check out her place tonight so we can get the layout, and we’ll be ready for him on Saturday or whenever he decides to show his face. She wasn’t happy – said he scared her. She also said he sounded angry and threatening.”

  “She told me about being frightened, too.”

  The phone rang again, but this time I picked it up, figuring it would be my mother because she hadn’t called in the last twenty minutes. I was right.

  “Hello, dear,” she said. “I need to get into your apartment to pick up my bags.”

  “Okay, I’ll meet you there. Are you heading over there soon?”

  “Yes, we rented a car and a room, so now I need my things. We were wondering about dinner, too. Would you like to get together with us this evening?”

  “Well, about that, Mother, Pete and I have to work on a case tonight. How would you feel if we all got together for dinner tomorrow night instead?”

  “Actually, that would work out better. Frank is tired from traveling, and I’m pooped from my own trip
yesterday and the lack of sleep. You know, the insomnia. Frank is going to see if he can get something for me at the pharmacy to help me sleep.”

  “Good. I’m glad you’ve got him to help you out.”

  “So am I.”

  “How about if I meet you at the apartment in half an hour?”

  “Perfect. Frank is putting his things away right now, and the motel is only about ten minutes from your place, so we’ll see you soon.”

  “How’s your mother doing?” Pete asked after I hung up.

  “She sounds good. I think having Frank around helps her. I’m leaving in a few minutes to meet them at the apartment so she can pick up her bags.”

  “I figured that out from your end of the conversation.”

  I wrote a few brief notes in one of the files and put it back in the cabinet.

  “Do you want to meet me at my apartment or the office tonight?” I pulled my backpack out of the desk drawer. I was anxious to meet Amanda and hear more about the jerk who was making her life miserable.

  “I’ll pick you up at your place.” Pete stood up and stretched. “I hate paperwork.”

  “Okay. But keep your eyes open for that black car,” I warned. “I’m sure he’s still around here somewhere.”

  “I will, and you be careful, too. Oh, yeah, and ask your mother when she’s going to get an address for the old family homestead.”

  “Maybe she can call Aunt Martha while she’s at my apartment. I’m anxious to see the place.”

  I left the office, but before I unlocked my car door I had a thought and turned back.

  “What?” Pete asked when I opened the office door.

  I walked over to him and planted a kiss on his lips, then turned around and walked back to the door. I glanced over my shoulder before leaving. He was grinning.

  The drive home was nice, with traffic relatively light. This is something to relish in Los Angeles since it’s a rare occurrence.

  I drove into the parking lot and parked. Sitting for a moment, I thought about Pete and did some of my own grinning. I shook my head, picked up my backpack and climbed out of the car, heading for my apartment, keys in hand.

  Now a person gets used to what should or shouldn’t be around their home, and something seemed different. Looking around, I noticed a white car parked at the rear end of the building. It wasn’t a car I’d ever seen around before. Guests always parked toward the front, so this looked out of place. It was no big deal, and it wasn’t black. It simply caught my attention.

  As I unlocked the door, I heard another car pull into the lot. Turning, I saw it park next to mine. My mother and Frank waved to me as they exited the vehicle. Waving back, I opened the door.

  “Come on in,” I called when I heard their footsteps on the stairs.

  “We found a nice little motel not too far from here.” My mother was talking before she even made it to the door. “I’ll be close enough to visit whenever you want me. Maybe we can still go for those walks.”

  “Now, Livvie, I thought you and I were going to walk,” Frank said.

  “I know, but I thought maybe Sandi would like to join us.”

  “Thanks, Mom, but I’ll leave that to you and Frank. It looks like I’m going to be busy for a while.” I was actually grateful that Frank was here. He was a distraction for my mother. “You know, I’ll be working on your case, and we’ve got this stalker thing going on, too.

  “By the way, why don’t you call Aunt Martha while you’re here and see if she has an address for the old house?” I asked.

  “Good idea. It’s late back in Chicago. She’ll just be sitting down for her TV shows.”

  Mother picked up the phone and dialed the number, then waited patiently while it rang.

  “Martha? It’s Livvie.” She paused while Aunt Martha spoke.

  “Yes, I had a good trip out here. And yes, I’ve been pretty busy. But what I wanted to ask is, do you have an address for the old family house out here?” Another pause while she listened, and a frown crossed her face.

  “Yes, Martha, I realize you think I’m being ridiculous, but give me the address anyway.” Mother was using her don’t mess with me or you’ll be sorry tone of voice.

  “I’ll wait.” She was tapping her foot by this time. I was glad this was directed at Aunt Martha and not me.

  “Thank you,” she said curtly. “I’ll let you know if we come up with anything.” She pushed the Off button on the phone and handed it to me.

  “That woman,” Mother said, “absolutely drives me crazy. She’s such a know-it-all. You’d think I didn’t have a brain in my head to hear her talk.”

  “Told you so,” I said. “That’s Aunt Martha for you.”

  “Sandra!”

  Okay, enough is enough. I wasn’t going to say any more on the subject. I saw Frank trying to hide a smile. At least he had a sense of humor.

  “Okay, so where is this family home?” I asked.

  “It’s on Figueroa Terrace.” Mother pointed impatiently at the slip of paper in her hand.

  “After we have our hair done tomorrow, that’ll be one of our first stops.” I knew that would make her happy.

  Was I imagining things, or had there been a movement outside the window? I moved forward to check it out while my mother recited the exact address to me.

  Chapter Fifteen

  1898

  Vincente’s shoulders drooped as exhaustion set in. He decided to remain right where he was, sitting on someone’s brick wall. He continued to reflect on the day he’d gone to the saloon. Had it only been a year ago? It seemed so much longer than that.

  1897 (One year earlier)

  The old man listened carefully, waiting to hear anything out of the ordinary, information not meant for his ears. He wanted people to know he was trying to find the killer, and the only way was to have information.

  All they could see was an evil old man sitting in a saloon with his arms folded across his chest. His expression was menacing and he had a slight grin on his face, but it wasn’t an endearing expression.

  The door to the saloon opened. Vincente bit back a curse but held perfectly still.

  2003

  “Sandi,” Mother said as I approached the window that overlooked the walkway in front of my second-story apartment.

  I put my finger to my lips to indicate I didn’t want her to say anything.

  “Sandi,” Mother said in a more demanding tone of voice. “What are you doing? I’m trying to talk to you.”

  “Mother,” I hissed.

  Too late. I heard footsteps pounding as someone ran from my window. I raced to the door and jerked it open just in time to see a man flying down the stairs.

  “Hey,” I yelled.

  “What’s going on?” Frank stepped behind me.

  I could only glimpse the back of the man as he ran from my apartment window. He had a thick neck, thinning dark hair and a short, braided ponytail. He looked familiar. I headed for the stairs with as much speed as I could muster, but he reached the bottom step and turned toward the back of the building, heading for the white car.

  “Hey,” I yelled again

  He stopped abruptly and turned, folding his hand into the shape of a gun. Pointing his fingers at me, I could hear him say, “Pow!”

  I dropped to the ground, with no doubt in my mind that if he’d had a real gun, I’d be bleeding.

  He jumped into his car, started the engine and pulled out. I tried to read his license number, but he turned and drove behind the building before I could see it.

  By this time Frank was running down the stairs. I turned and walked back toward the apartment, slightly out of breath.

  “What was that all about?” Frank asked.

  “I don’t know. I saw a movement near the window, and apparently it was that guy, snooping.”

  “Wonder what he wanted?” Frank looked worried, but not overly so. This man didn’t appear to rattle easily, and that’s a good quality for anyone spending a lot of time around Livvie
Webster.

  “He shot me with his fingers.” Somehow this seemed almost scarier to me than the fact that he’d been outside my apartment. And although he’d used his hand, that didn’t mean he didn’t own a gun. He just didn’t have it on him.

  “He what?” Frank looked confused.

  “Never mind. Let’s just say that he was up to no good.”

  My mother was waiting for us at the top of the stairs, and she also looked worried. She’d never approved of my line of work, but I suspected she’d kept most of her thoughts to herself because I’d been working on insurance cases. Nice, safe insurance cases, or so she thought.

  “Honey,” she said, “are you okay? What was that man doing outside the window?”

  “I don’t know,” I repeated. “That’s why I was trying to hush you. So that maybe I could catch him in the act.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry, Sandi. I really am. But what would you have done if you’d caught him?”

  “I would have called for you to come and bring your purse.”

  My sarcasm wasn’t lost on her, but taking me by surprise, she laughed. She was proud of herself for catching the mugger, and I really couldn’t blame her. I smiled.

  “All kidding aside, I would have tried to find out why he was eavesdropping.”

  Mother apologized again before she and Frank left, while Frank told me he felt he should have been more alert and grabbed the guy. I assured them both that everything was okay, but not before my mother said she thought the two of them should stay at my place for the night. Lord have mercy! I talked them out of staying and they were finally on their way.

  Pete arrived about twenty minutes later, and he kissed me as he entered the apartment.

  “You ready to go?” he asked.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.” I picked up my backpack and keys and locked the deadbolt on the door after we walked out.

  “Where would you like to go for dinner?” Pete asked.

  “Anywhere is fine, so long as there’s good food.”