The Lake House Secret, A Romantic Suspense Novel (A Jenessa Jones Mystery) (17 page)

“Here you go.” Ramey stuck the wrapped sandwich in a white paper bag and set it on the worktable, in front of where Jenessa had perched on a stool. “Is that interview why you were arguing with the almighty Grey Alexander out front? I saw you guys going at it. What was going on with you two?”

“He told me to stay away from his wife—or else.” Jenessa swiveled on the stool.

“He threatened you?”

“Yes, but it won’t keep me from pursuing the story.”

“Oh, Jen, you know he could make your life miserable if he sets his mind to it.”

“I know, but I’ve got to get the story. This could be a big deal for my career if I can help crack this case, not to mention getting justice for your mom.”

“I appreciate that, but promise me you’ll be careful. Please.”

“I will, I will.” Jenessa nodded. “Say, besides the photo of Phony Tony, you didn’t happen to find anything else in that old box of your mom’s that might help solve this case, did you?”

“Like what?”

“Anything out of the ordinary—questionable photos, old letters, anything suspicious.”

“Well, I hadn’t been looking for anything else, but I can. I have a bunch of her old boxes in my garage. She was such a packrat.”

That apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Ramey could benefit from a little downsizing herself, but Jenessa was glad for that particular family trait right now. Maybe something more would come out of it. At least they’d gotten the lead on Tony Hamilton.

“Mom hated throwing anything away, especially papers. I’ll have a look and let you know.”

“That’d be great.” Jenessa slipped off the stool and grabbed the bag. “I’d better be getting home. I’ve got a deadline for an article tonight.”

“You know, Jen, we should all have supper at Aunt Renee’s again sometime. Seems like once the funeral was over, we all went our separate ways.”

“Sorry, I guess that happens. Besides, my sister can’t seem to be in the same room with me without picking a fight. I’m sure she still blames me for Mom’s death—she needs to get over that.”

“It’s more than that, Jen.”

“What do you mean?” Jenessa climbed back on the stool and set the bag down.

Ramey leaned close and lowered her voice, even though the place was empty. “You never knew this, but Sara and Logan were dating a number of years back.”

“What?” Jenessa gasped. The revelation was so surprising that it was a good thing she was already sitting down or she would have fallen on the floor.

Chapter 23

Jenessa’s hand flew over her mouth is shock. “Sara and Logan? Oh, Ramey, you’ve got to be kidding.” Blood was pulsing in her head.

“Nope, not kidding. They were together for about four or five months, I think.”

Jenessa’s hand slid down to her chest. “Wow. What happened?”

“Well…for one thing, your folks were not happy about it, as you can probably imagine.”

“Mom never mentioned it.”

“She wouldn’t. She didn’t want to hurt you. And they didn’t want Sara with Logan either, not after what happed with you. I think they were afraid she’d turn up pregnant too.”

“So, who broke it off?”

“Logan did. He told her the fact that your parents loathed him didn’t bother him that much, but get this—he said he couldn’t be with her because he was still in love with you.”

“Me? What? No. He couldn’t be.” Jenessa’s head was pounding now.

“It was before she married Travis, after Logan graduated from college and came back home. I think that’s why she jumped into the relationship with Travis so quickly, to get over Logan. They got married pretty fast, remember?”

“You think that’s why the marriage didn’t last long? She was still in love with Logan?”

“Yeah, Sara really loved him—still does. I think she keeps holding out hope they might get back together.”

Jenessa massaged her temples. “But apparently Logan doesn’t share her feelings.” This could make things very difficult between her and her sister.

“Exactly. That’s why whenever you’ve been in town, it just reminds her of why they couldn’t be together, because he still has a thing for you.”

“I had no idea, Ramey.”

In retrospect, though, how could she not have known? She recalled having told her sister after the funeral reception that she was meeting Logan for dinner. Sara had stomped off in a huff with no explanation. Now Jenessa knew why.

~*~

Jenessa went home and picked at her sandwich as she sat down to work on the computer. Pushing her thoughts of Sara and Logan aside, she spread her interview notes out on the desk. She wrote her article on the Garden Club’s Flower Show and emailed it off to make the Sunday paper.

Before she could switch gears and move onto something else, Aunt Renee phoned and invited Jenessa over for brunch the next morning.

“Will Ramey be there?”

“Of course, dear. Have you told her about her father yet?”

“Not yet. I was hoping for confirmation of the remains from the crime lab.”

“That’s probably a good idea.”

Jenessa bit her lip, considering if she should ask the next question. “Will Sara be at brunch tomorrow?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

Great, another chance for Sara to pick a fight.
She was all-in now, so she might as well continue. “Aunt Renee, did you know Sara used to date Logan?”

“Who told you?”

“It doesn’t matter, the secret is out. From your reaction, I’d say it’s obviously true. I only wish someone had told me sooner.”

“I’m sorry. I should have.”

“No wonder Sara can’t stand to be in the same room with me.”

“Now that you know, dear, I hope you girls can work it out.”

“I don’t see how. Logan keeps pursuing me.”

“Oh my, that just makes things worse now, doesn’t it? How do you feel about him?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean?” Aunt Renee asked.

“Michael Baxter and I have been spending some time together and things seem to be moving along nicely, but then Logan keeps inserting himself at the most inopportune times and I go all weak in the knees and my insides turn to mush like I’m a silly teenage girl again.”

“Sounds like maybe you’ve never gotten over him.”

“I thought I had. There was a time that the very mention of his name made my blood boil.”

“But not now?”

“Yes, still, but in a different way.”

“Well, you’d better figure it out soon, young lady, because if you choose Logan Alexander, that sweet Michael Baxter might get his heart broken, not to mention that your sister will likely never speak to you again.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Jenessa let out a sigh of exasperation. “I want to do the smart thing, Aunt Renee. Choosing Logan would only mean trouble, I’m afraid.”

“But then again…” Aunt Renee said, her voice resonating with experience, “the heart wants what the heart wants.”

~*~

Later that evening, Ramey phoned Jenessa with some news. “I found a box full of my mother’s old bank statements.”

“Bank statements? Your mom never struck me as the type to balance her checkbook and keep records.” As long as Jenessa could remember, Lucy had been a falling-down drunk.

“No, she wasn’t the type,” Ramey replied. “She was never good with money, so it made me wonder why she would keep these things.”

“Did you look at any of them?”

“Yeah, I opened up a few. The weird thing is they all showed a monthly deposit of five thousand dollars. Don’t you think that’s suspicious?”

“Any idea where the money came from?”

“Haven’t a clue. Mom never had a job, as far as I can remember. You don’t think my mom was into anything illegal, do you?” Ramey asked.

“I hope not, but you know your mom. With her drinking and her revolving door of men, she easily could have—”

“Hey, don’t say that! She wasn’t terrific, but she was still my mother.”

“Sorry.” Jenessa wished she hadn’t started down that road, but it was what everyone thought—Juicy Lucy is what they called her. During Jenessa’s teenage years she knew Lucy to drink like a fish, use drugs on occasion, and sleep with any man who wanted her. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to think she might have gotten herself into something illegal.

“No, you’re right,” Ramey admitted. “But she was my mom, you know.”

“I know,” Jenessa said softly. She paused a moment before getting back to the matter at hand. “If she was getting regular payments, it could be an important clue, Ramey. Do you mind going through all the statements and seeing if she received a deposit every month and if it was for the same amount?”

“I’d hate to think she was doing something bad, but if it’ll help find her killer, I guess I don’t mind.”

“No promises, but it might help.”

“Well, I’ve got nothing better to do tonight anyway.” Ramey sounded disappointed at her boring life.

“Maybe not tonight, but don’t you have a date with Charles McAllister tomorrow night?”

“Ooh, yes I do!” Ramey squealed. “I’m so nervous about it, though. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date. Can you come over tomorrow and help me with my hair and makeup?”

“I’d love to.” Jenessa was excited for her. Charles was a good guy—solid, kind, hardworking. After all Ramey had been through, she deserved a wonderful man like that in her life. “What time?”

“Five?”

“You can count on it.”

“I’d better go and get busy on those bank statements,” Ramey said.

“I’ve got nothing special going on tonight either. Why don’t I come over and help?”

“Sara’s on her way over. We’ll have a girls’ night. We can put on some music and eat cookies while we’re rummaging through the boxes, hunting for clues. It’ll be fun.”

“Um, on second thought, maybe I’d better not.” An evening bickering with Sara didn’t sound inviting at all. Maybe it’d be best to steer clear of her sister until she figured out what she was going to do about Logan.

“Sure, I understand. See you at Aunt Renee’s for brunch tomorrow?”

~*~

Jenessa spent a quiet evening reading and went to bed early, but she tossed and turned much of the night. Her mind was a tangle of dreams—visions of when she and Logan were high school sweethearts, her and Logan now, her and Michael now, Sara and Logan dating, and, of course, the growing mess she was finding herself in presently. She couldn’t avoid her sister for long, and in this small town there was no way she could avoid Logan either.

In her half-awake dream-fogged state, Grey Alexander’s scowling image popped into her mind. If she ever got back together with Logan, she would have to deal with his father too. Her stomach turned at the thought. Family dinners and holidays would be excruciating.

Stop!
There were not going to be any Alexander family dinners. How could there be after what had happened between her family and his? It was too late for that.

And how could she do that to her sister? How could Sara ever move on and find love again if Jenessa brought Logan into their family?

Finally, her mind settled down and she drifted back to sleep, waking to find the digital clock on her nightstand reading nine o’clock. She flipped the covers back and slid out of bed. It was time to get ready for brunch—and going another round with Sara.

~*~

“Look what the cat dragged in,” Sara quipped as Jenessa joined her and Ramey in her aunt’s kitchen.

“Sara, be nice,” Aunt Renee admonished, following close behind Jenessa.

“Hi, there,” Ramey greeted as she checked on a dish in the oven. “Would you like something to drink?”

“She could have come earlier and helped,” Sara mumbled as she went back to noisily chopping fruit on the counter.

Aunt Renee draped an arm around Jenessa’s waist and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “We’re happy to have you, dear.”

“Thank you.” Jenessa cast a smile at her aunt before turning her attention to Ramey. “I’d love some iced tea, but I can get it myself.”

“Why don’t you pour drinks all around then?” Ramey suggested, pulling a frittata out of the oven. “Dishes and glasses are already on the table.”

Jenessa went to the enormous stainless steel refrigerator and grabbed a pitcher of iced tea and one of orange juice. “Did you get through all those bank statements last night?”

“Most of them,” Ramey replied, cutting the frittata into wedges. “Funny, they all had the five thousand dollar deposit, all on the first day of the month.”

Sara took the platter of cut fruit to the table. “We could have gotten through all of them, Jenessa, if you’d have come by and helped.”

“You’re right. I should have.” Jenessa set the pitchers on the table. “I’m sorry, Sara.”

Sara’s gaze met Jenessa’s, as if she were surprised by her sister’s apology. Silence hung uncomfortably in the air for a moment, broken by Ramey’s next question.

“So how do we find out where those payments came from?”

Chapter 24

Five thousand dollars deposited every single month. Where they came from? That was a very good question.

Jenessa turned to Ramey at the kitchen counter. “I’ll let Detective Provenza know what we’ve discovered and see what he can do. The police have resources to find that sort of information. Now, whether or not they’ll share it with me is another story.”

“Can’t Michael help?” Ramey asked.

Jenessa picked up a small piece of cantaloupe from the platter and popped it in her mouth. “Maybe. Did I tell you he took his detective’s test and went before the review board?”

“Hmm,” Aunt Renee interjected, “Detective Michael Baxter. I like the sound of that.”

Jenessa grinned. “Me too.”

Conversation during the meal went better than it had in a long time. Perhaps Jenessa’s simple apology had softened Sara’s attitude toward her, at least for the short term.

“I can’t stay long,” Jenessa said once the food was gone. “I need to track down Detective Provenza and tell him about the bank deposits. Hopefully he’ll think they’re as important as we do. You didn’t happen to bring them this morning, did you, Ramey?”

“They’re in my car. The box is pretty heavy. Let me go and help you with it.”

Jenessa said her good-byes and followed Ramey out to her car.

Ramey lugged the box from her trunk to the Sportster’s. “Sara was sure quiet during brunch.”