Old Flames Never Die (Valentine Mystery) (17 page)

“Cezarier's.”

“In the historic area?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe after I visit with Lauren, I'll
stop by.”

Tess watched her go and then turned to
Daniel.

“I asked her to get your stuff just so I
wouldn't have deal with your lingerie and yet…”

“Really? You thought Shelby was
discreet?”

“How was I supposed to know you wore
couture
undergarments? Couture, that's what she called it.”

What started out as amusing was quickly
becoming uncomfortable. Daniel must have thought so too as he said, “So do you
know who tried to kill you?”

“No. But I did get some interesting
information in Bucks County. I think we need to talk to Wilson again.”

“We? No. Not we. Me. You're going home
to rest.”

“I don't want to rest. I want to find
out who tried to kill me.”

His eyes narrowed. “Where's Jack? He'll
haul you home.”

“He's visiting Cora.”

He studied her for a moment. “You
haven't told him about the accident?”

“No. I'd rather tell him in person.”

“I doubt he'd rather that,” Daniel said.

“I'm fine. Can we just get on with the
investigation?”

“I shouldn't do this,” he said shaking
his head.

She didn't say anything.

“Let's go. We need to visit Danforth's
son first. Then we'll go to see Wilson.”

They bypassed the house when they
arrived at the Danforth property and instead headed to the barn area and guest
house.

“Are they staying at the guest house?”
Tess asked.

“No. I want to see what sort of vehicles
are parked here and if you recognize any of them. Chances are good that whoever
tried to kill you is involved in Danforth's murder,” he explained.

“Do you buy Shelby's idea that it was
Liv?”

“I don't know, although I do want to
talk to her about where she was.”

“What about her claim that Charles was
leaving Liv?”

“Shelby likes to gossip, but she's
nearly always right. I plan to talk to Monica Snowden before I talk with
Theresa Cromwell.”

Tess nodded. Daniel pulled up and parked
next to the row of trucks.

“I'm not sure I can identify the truck
and I know I can't identify the driver.”

“Doesn't hurt to look,” he said.

Tess looked at the line of trucks parked
outside the barn and knew finding her assailant would be impossible. “Do you
suppose that black is the most common truck color in Virginia?”

He shrugged. His features looked grim as
they looked over the trucks, three of which were black like the truck that had
driven her off the road.

“Let's at least find out who owns these.
You wait here.”

“Why don't I come? Maybe my appearance
will cause someone to slip up.”

He took a deep breath. “Why do you make
it so damn hard to keep you safe?”

“They aren't going to try anything now.
Not with you here.”

They found Tanner Rogers, Charles
Danforth's foreman, in the barn's office.

“Any word on Mr. Danforth's murder?” he
asked.

“We're pursuing several leads,” Daniel
replied. “I was wondering if you could tell me who owns the vehicles parked by
the barn.”

Tanner’s brows drew together. “Is there
something wrong with them?”

“It's part of a related investigation.”

“They belong to some of the guys who
work here.”

“Can you give me their names and which
vehicles they own?” Daniel asked.

He shrugged. “I guess so.” He followed
them out to where the trucks were parked.

“This one is mine,” he said pointing the
first black one.

“What time did you arrive here today?”
Daniel asked.

“About 6:30.”

“Have you been here the whole time?”

He shifted, kicked a dry piece of manure
with his booted foot. “I had some errands this morning.”

“Where?”

“Where? What's going on?”

“It's just a routine question.”

“Mrs. Danforth called and wanted to meet
about the horses. She asked that I pick her up and bring her here,” he
explained. Tess studied him closely, trying to figure out if he was the one who
tried to kill her.

“What time was that?”

“About nine, I guess. I'm not sure.”

“She'll verify that?” Daniel asked.

“Sure. Why wouldn't she?” But Tess could
hear the nervousness in his tone.

“Is she still here?”

“I don't know. She went down to the
house to meet with Boone about some work on the house.”

“Did you happen to go to Bucks County
today?”

“Bucks County? Why would I go down
there?”

“What about the other trucks?”

“That's Boone's. He's had some errands
earlier today, but has been here most of the afternoon. You can find him at the
main house.”

“And that one is Joe Gleason's. He's
been here all day since about 9:00 this morning.”

Daniel didn't stop Tanner when he got to
the trucks that weren't black and instead let him give information about
everyone at the farm. Tess understood that having information about who worked
at the farm could still help the investigation even if it didn't give them any
clue as to who tried to kill her.

When Daniel was done speaking with
Tanner, he escorted her back to his SUV and drove them both to the main house.

“Will you be alright if she's still
here?” Daniel said, as he and Tess parked in the drive of the Danforth home.

“I'm not worried about Liv,” Tess
responded.

She saw Daniel cast a worried glance. “Jack's
a good guy, but I wouldn't underestimate Liv, if I were you.”

“Do you know something I don't?”

“No. She just strikes me as a woman that
goes after what she wants and many people get hurt along the way.”

Tess nodded. He was probably right.

“You're sure you're up to this?” he
asked again as they stepped to the door.

“Yes.”

Kevin Danforth, Charles' son, answered
the door. He looked bored, not like a son grieving the murder of his father.

“Mr. Danforth, I'm Detective Showalter
and this is Tess Madison.”

 Kevin Danforth nodded and let them in
the house. “We're in the living area.” He lifted his arm to show them the direction.

Tess followed Daniel through the foyer
into the living area. She knew Jack had been in the house before, probably in
the living area. She wondered if he'd been in any of the other rooms of the
house, but then quickly shook the thought out of her head. No sense in making
herself crazy over an old girlfriend.

“This is my wife, Roberta.”

Tess looked across the room to the woman
sitting in a wing-back chair. It took a moment for the woman's head to turn in
their direction and another moment for her eyes to track to them. But once she
saw them, she lifted a glass of clear liquid to them. “Welcome to Chezzzz
Danforth.”

“I don't think that's her first drink of
the day,” Tess whispered to Daniel.

“Nor the second,” he replied.

Tess wasn't sure how Roberta was able to
remain in the chair. Her movements were floppy, as if all her bones had been
disintegrated by the alcohol.

“Can I get you a drink?” Kevin asked.

“No, thank you.”

Tess took her eyes off Roberta to scan
the rest of the room. There was no sign of Liv. She wasn't sure if she was
relieved or disappointed. She'd been looking forward to confronting the woman
who couldn't seem to keep her lips off Jack.

“Are you any closer to finding my
father's killer?”

“We've got some good leads,” Daniel
replied. “But we still have some questions. I'm hoping you can help.”

“I'll try.”

“Can you tell us where you were Saturday
morning?”

“You think I did it?” Kevin asked more
amused than worried.

“It's standard that we ask,” Daniel
said.

“I was on a retreat,” Kevin said,
apparently deciding to join his wife in a drink. He moved to a cabinet and
pulled out a bottle of amber-colored liquor.

“Retreat?” Daniel asked.

“Yes. Once a month I go away for the
weekend.” He poured the liquid in the glass, drank it in a single gulp and then
poured another shot before putting the bottle back.

“Where do you go?”

“Mommy dearest,” Roberta slurred.

Kevin closed his eyes and Tess wondered
if he was hoping she'd be gone when they opened. He didn't get his wish.

“I've been thinking of taking a more
permanent retreat,” he said glaring towards his wife. “This time I went to the
Poconos. Other times I've gone sea fishing. Occasionally I head to Vegas.”

“But last Saturday you were in the
Poconos?”

Tess could tell by Daniel's voice he was
skeptical. It wasn't a place someone with Kevin's taste would choose to visit.
Atlantic City seemed more his style.

“It's not exotic, but it's away…” he
said turning to his wife who was occupied with trying to pick up a piece of ice
floating in her glass.

“What kind of relationship did you have
with your father?”

“Not great.”

“Did you argue?”

“No. To argue would mean he'd have to
make an effort to care.”

“He didn't care about you?”

“He didn't care about anyone.” Kevin
didn't seem bothered by his father's behavior. Or maybe he was just resigned to
it, Tess thought. She knew what that was like.

“When was the last time you talked to
him?” Daniel asked.

“I saw him in February at my
grandfather's funeral. We didn't speak though. No, we haven't spoken in years.”

“Did you have a falling out?” Tess
asked.

“No. Basically I'm a disappointment to
him. He thinks I'm a slacker and I suppose I am. But I can afford to be.” Kevin
took a seat on the couch, but didn't offer one to Tess or Daniel. She couldn't
determine if that was on purpose or if he didn't have any manners. She
suspected the latter.

“By slacker, you mean—”

“I don't work. I live off my ancestors'
great fortune,” Kevin held his glass up, as if to honor those who'd earned the
money that allowed him to live a spoiled, rich life. Tess hadn't had an opinion
of Kevin one way or the other until that moment. At his comment she immediately
disliked him. She could see why his father was not only disappointed in him,
but chose to avoid him.

“I figure if I worked I'd be taking a
job from someone who really needed it. Especially in this economy. I'm doing
someone a favor by staying out of the work force.”

Tess wanted to gag. She looked to Daniel
and while he tried to keep his face unreadable, she could see he wasn't
impressed with Kevin's sacrifice either.

“Do you know about his relationship with
Mrs. Danforth?”

“My mother or his current wife?”

“Both.”

“Once he and my mother divorced it was
like they'd never even met. As far as I know they haven't talked since I
graduated from college.”

“Do you know about his current wife?”

“Ha!” Roberta exclaimed. Tess thought
she was smirking as she lounged back in the chair, popping an ice cube into her
mouth.

Kevin rolled his eyes. “I suspect they
were married in name only.”

“Why would you say that?”

“Because my father eventually loses
interest in everyone. When that happens, he simply disengages, lives his life
doing what he wants.”

“If you don't talk to your father, how
do you know if he's lost interest?” Tess asked.

“I know my father. He's the same with
his projects,” Kevin said, using air quotes at the word
projects
. “He
acts like he's a big-deal businessman, but they're all hobbies that mostly lose
money and eventually he walks away from them.”

“Can you give an example?” Tess asked.

“My father at various times in his life
owned restaurants, started a real estate flipping business, tried to be a pro
golfer...you get the picture. Currently he's trying to breed the next
Secretariat. And his latest project was some development south of here, although
I understand all the building has stopped. There's a big surprise.”

“Do you know anything about his
relationship with the development partner?” Tess asked.

“No, except that it’s probably taken the
same course as all Dad's relationships. My father is really into people and
projects at first. They're like these big, shiny toys. But then the novelty
wears off, and he simply ignores them.”