The Return of the Fallen Angels Book Club (A Hollis Morgan Mystery 3) (10 page)

Rena nodded. “Yeah. Fast in the wrong direction.”

“Are we so sure of Brian’s innocence?” Gene asked. “I mean what do we really know about him and his relationship with Jeffrey?”

“We’re not sure of anything,” Hollis said. “But he’s Jeffrey’s son, and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. I’d like to know what he has to say about that night.”

“Will they let you see him in jail?” Miller asked.

“He’s home on bail.” Hollis shifted in her seat. “Look, people, he’s paying my firm to review the trust, but he’s not paying you. This could get intense. If you can’t take the time, it’s understandable.”

“Stop right there.” Gene held up his hand. “I'm here because of Jeffrey, not Brian and not you, and certainly not for hope of any money.”

Everyone nodded in unison.

“I can meet anytime Thursday afternoon,” Miller said.

Hollis smiled. “Are we all good for one o’clock?” She waited for their confirmation. “Great. I’ll reserve the community room. See you all then.”

The next morning Hollis overslept. This was as rare an occurrence as it was common for her to be late for the firm’s staff meeting.

The gods were with her. When she walked into the lobby, Tiffany told her the staff meeting had been cancelled because of an accident on the Bay Bridge. The managing partner was stuck in traffic.

In her office, Hollis pulled out her growing file on Jeffrey Wallace’s estate and punched in Brian’s number on the phone. She wanted to arrange for a time to visit and hear what was going on with him directly from his lips.

Brian answered. “I’m glad you called. I know you called me back, and I was going to call you, but I’ve been occupied … the last few days. How soon can we meet? I’ve got important news.”

He’s been ‘occupied.’

“I can meet you whenever and wherever you choose. In fact, I’m free now.” Hollis paused. “Er … Brian, I know you were arrested.”

“Oh,” he said. “Then, can you meet with me in an hour? I can come to your office.”

He was prompt.

This time they met in the firm’s conference room with the panoramic view of the Bay. Brian walked over to the window and stared out. He had dark circles under his eyes and his suit appeared slept in. Still, even in his current state of disarray she noticed how much he resembled his father.

She pushed a mug of coffee across the table. He took a seat.

“What’s going on, Brian?”

“My lawyer won’t let me talk about my case, but I will tell you this: I did not kill my dad.” He took a much longer sip of coffee.

“I’m your lawyer too.” Hollis sat down opposite to him and folded her hands. “Do you know who did?”

“I have a good idea. But I can’t prove it.” He studied the coffee as if it and not Hollis were speaking to him. “What have you found out about my stepmother?”

Her thoughts flashed on Brian’s short-term mourning style. Also, her lie-detector told her he was holding something back. She hesitated a moment, then brusquely brought him up to date on the club’s discoveries.

As Hollis spoke, he glanced around the room and finally focused on her. His eyes held hers. “You’ve got to find out what she’s hiding. What if she’s in with the mob? Maybe she owes them money. That’s why she’s got to process the trust as quickly as she can.”

“Uh, Brian, I don’t know that it’s the mob, or even if there is a mob. But did you hear what I said about the two dead husbands? Now she has a third,” Hollis said. “Frances could have a very good motive for killing your father. Is there any way you could get your hands on her old tax returns? The ones she filed before marrying your dad.”

“I don’t think so. I didn’t know she was using another name. I should have thought of that.” He was staring out into space now, eyes unfocused. “She didn’t disclose that in the trust.”

“Brian, you’re still not hearing me about the bigger picture. You have bigger problems than the trust right now. You’ve been arrested as the prime suspect in a murder.” She was careful not to mention that the police had told her about his argument with Jeffrey. “I would think the trust should take second stage.”

He flinched at her words. “I won’t be a suspect much longer. My attorney is taking care of that.” He got up again and walked over to the window. “But I can’t hold off processing the trust much longer. You have three weeks at the outset.”

“I’m not sure—”

“Be sure.”

Hollis bit back a retort. He not only looked like Jeffrey, but he was sounding like him too.

John’s voice was grave. “I was wondering if you were going to call again.”

“I was wondering if you were going to take my call,” Hollis said quietly. “What is going on with us? We’ve started tiptoeing around each other. I don’t like it.”

For the past few days, she’d thought of them as a couple, a real couple. The idea of living together took her back to her first marriage, the fraud and her loss of judgment. She couldn’t do that again. She wouldn’t be able to recover the next time.

As if reading her thoughts, John said, “I hate talking on the phone about this and I’m trying to ignore this loop of emotions you’re stuck in because I know it has to do with your ex. But I’m not him. If you’re not going to give me a chance, then we don’t have a chance.”

“I know. I just need more time. But I don’t want you to go away.”

“I’m not going away. You’re pushing me away.” He sighed. “Look, take the time you need. I’ve got to go to an out-of-state training starting Wednesday. I’ll be gone for a week. I think the separation might be just what you need to think things through.”

A defensive protest was rising in her chest, and her heart seized up in fear.

She choked out, “This whole thing with Jeffrey’s murder … his son being arrested. And at work … this afternoon George gave me three more matters.” She paused. “I need you to bounce things off of. I don’t need time to know that I love you and that I want us to be together.”

“I know. I love you too,” John said. “But I don’t want to be just your boyfriend. You need time to think about that.”

“Did you just remember you had out-of-state training?”

He hesitated then responded, “They give me date options. I just decided to take the next one scheduled. I leave Monday.”

She heard the quiver in her voice. “Will I still see you tonight?”

“I’ll be there at seven.”

Hollis exhaled. She hadn’t realized she’d been holding her breath. She held her head in her hands for a few moments, then reached into her inbox and picked up the next file.

T
he phone was already ringing when Hollis entered her office the next morning. She turned on the lights and answered.

The caller hung up.

She slammed the phone down.

Less than a minute later the phone rang again. Hollis snatched it up this time without speaking.

“Hollis, it’s me.”

Shelby.

“Where are you? I’ve been crazy worried. Your family is worried sick. Are you okay? What’s going on?” Hollis could hear anger creeping into her voice, replacing the concern.

“I’m fine. I know you’re mad and I’m sorry. Can I come to see you this afternoon?”

“I’m here until twelve thirty.” She didn’t try to muffle the irritation in her voice. “Or, you can come by after three.”

“Let’s make it three.”

For the second time that morning Hollis slammed the phone down. She pounded her desk with her fist. Shelby was clearly alive, well, in good shape, and from the caller ID screen, in Northern California.

Shaking her head, she gripped the phone and punched in a phone number. She spoke with Denise, letting her know about Shelby’s call.

“You mean she’s been all right all this time?” Denise asked, perturbed.

“She didn’t say she wasn’t. I’m meeting her later today.”

“Tell her to give me a call; I have a few words for her, too.”

That afternoon the library was relatively lively; the San Lucian librarians were readying for a weekend book sale. In contrast, the Fallen Angels sat solemnly in the community room.

“It doesn’t feel like we’re making much progress,” Richard said, “other than helping the police arrest our client.”

“He’s not our client.” Miller pulled out a sheet of origami paper. “Obviously Brian thinks he’s going to be cleared. But what I don’t get is why he’s so confident he’s going to get off, and that his stepmother is in the clear. In my book, she’s the stronger suspect.”

“That may be true, but she’s got that strong alibi,” Rena remarked. “What did he say when you asked him about the argument with his father?”

Hollis gave a small wave of dismissal. “I didn’t tell him. I didn’t want him to know we have a two-way pipeline into the department and that we aren’t relying on him as our sole source of information.”

“So, what’s next?” Gene asked.

Hollis looked down at her notes. “He’s given us three weeks. Then he has to process the trust. Whatever gains or assets Frances is hiding will be hers.”

“Three weeks is not a lot of time,” Richard said. “Did you ask him for her pre-marriage tax returns?”

Hollis nodded. “He said he would see what he could do.”

Gene waved a hand to get her attention. “I don’t know, Hollis. It seems like we’re not really helping Jeffrey. The reason we got back together was … not to avenge him, but to make sure that his death was … wasn’t a waste.” He drummed his fingers impatiently on the table. “Now we’re embroiled in an inheritance dispute that seems more and more like a greed issue.”

“Yeah,” Rena said with a grimace of disgust, “Brian is beginning to sound like a jerk.”

They all looked at Hollis for a response. She stood up and glanced around the room, trying to collect her thoughts. Finally she said, “I agree. This isn’t what I wanted to do to help Jeffrey. But I don’t think we’re that far off. Did you ever think the trust could be a link to why Jeffrey died?”

Richard straightened. “What do you mean?”

“I mean the thing that keeps hanging me up is the timing. Here’s a couple that appears to be getting along fairly well. They make out a standard trust. Each makes the other the administrator slash beneficiary.” She drew a slash in the air. “Three months later Frances files for divorce.” Hollis sat down again and peered at her notes before continuing, “I’ve been in probate for a number of years. A final divorce decree would require reviewing all the assets, even in a trust.”

“Everything should be fifty-fifty, right?” Rena asked.

“Maybe,” Hollis said. “Depends. I’d want to see how the trust was funded.” She saw no understanding in their blank faces and went on to explain, “I mean that I would want to know how much money was in the Wallace’s bank accounts, savings, and investments. If she put in more than half, then a divorce might mean she would lose up to twenty-five percent of her contributions. For a gambler, that could be a lot of money.”

Miller frowned. “Just out of curiosity, could her gambling debts go into the trust?”

“Yes, maybe,” Hollis replied, scribbling a note to herself on her writing pad.

“So it seems like Frances wanted to break the trust for some reason,” Richard said. “Well, I guess,
not
break the trust because it’s already in effect with Wallace’s death.”

“Just the opposite,” Hollis said. “She wants the trust filed as soon as possible. We just have to figure out why.”

Richard raised one eyebrow and folded his arms across his chest. “It has to be about money.”

Hollis tapped her pen on the table. “Someone once told me, it’s always about money.”

“I bet it has something to do with her filing for divorce,” Rena offered.

“We need to know more about their relationship,” Hollis said. “Gene, it’s your turn to meet with Brian. Find out what you can about the marriage. Do your reporter routine. Could Frances have been after an asset we don’t know about?”

“Got it,” Gene said.

“Rena, go back to your street er … connections and find out if Frances is in good standing. Find out what’s she’s been betting on lately. Has she approached them since Jeffrey’s death?”

Hollis faced Miller. “Miller, we could use your help with checking on non-public information to cover one loose end—Brian. Find out what you can about him. The police probably already have a full file, and it might be one reason they arrested him and one reason why this trust is so important to him.”

Miller took notes. “Not a problem. Research is my business. The library has access to numerous databases—not so much for individuals—but I’ll see what I can do with that and a few other resources I can tap into.”

“Wait,” Hollis said. “Let me send you a printout from our firm’s database. I ran a public records listing. Hopefully it will help speed up the angle you’re working on.”

“Absolutely,” Miller nodded.

“What about me, El Capitan?” Richard mocked her with a false salute.

“I’m hoping Brian will come up with those additional tax records,” Hollis said. “Until then, is there any way you could pull bank records?”

Richard looked thoughtful. “Not easily, but there just might be somebody …. Yeah, there just might be somebody I know who could get the information for me.”

Hollis began packing up her papers. “All right. Let’s meet back here Monday at our regular time to share notes. Miller, I’m going to get you that printout. And then I’m going to pay Frances a visit.”

After trying three times without any luck to reach Frances Wallace by phone, Hollis still chose not to leave a message. She wanted to deal with Mrs. Wallace face to face.

She began to get ready for her meeting with Shelby Patterson.

Shelby arrived on time. Tiffany informed Hollis that she’d already brought her a coffee. When Hollis entered the conference room, Shelby, her body language distressed and penitent, was clutching her cup of coffee with both hands and staring into it. She wore a tweed jacket over jeans and a white turtleneck sweater. Her hair was pulled back in its standard ponytail. She looked well put together. There was nothing to indicate that she had been having a rough time.

“Where have you been?” Hollis asked, taking the chair next to her.

“At a friend’s.”

“Does your friend live at the South Pole, where they don’t have phone service? Because I find it very hard to believe you couldn’t answer any of my calls or receive messages.”

“Look, I know you’re mad. And I don’t blame you.” She rubbed her forehead wearily. “But I knew Dad wouldn’t like me telling him to leave, and Joy and Sonny … well, let’s just say they’re wired tight. I … I’m afraid of them.” She backed her chair away from Hollis.

Hollis propped her elbows on the table and cupped her chin in her hands. “I’m not buying it. You couldn’t text me? I was really worried.” She was trying to contain her anger. “I think it’s best if you find another attorney. Someone was nearly killed trying to assist me so I could help you, and you don’t have the courage to even call.”

“Hollis I—”

“I really don’t want to hear this.”

“Then I don’t have anything to lose by talking,” Shelby said. “I sincerely apologize for being so self-centered, but I was scared. I wanted to hide to protect myself.”

“Do you realize that while you were off with your head in the sand, a locksmith and a process server got shot at on the front porch of your house?”

Shelby hung her head. “I didn’t know. Did they tell the police?”

“Of course they did.” Hollis peered down at her, her exasperation evident.

“I’m a coward. I let other people fight my battles for me,” Shelby said. She looked up at Hollis, her eyes pleading. “But I do need the money from the house to pay for my tuition. My grandmother wanted it for me.” She laid her head down on the table and looked up at Hollis like a woeful Bassett hound. “Where my family is concerned, I don’t have a backbone. I need you to be my backbone. You see what they can get up to? Shooting at people, for God’s sake.”

Hollis said in a calm voice that surprised even her, “I do understand your family situation, but I can’t work with a client I can’t trust—a client who won’t even communicate with me. I’ll find you an attorney who can be a better advocate for you.”

Shelby’s eyes filled with tears. “I understand. But if you give me a second chance, you won’t regret it. Please.” She reached over to touch Hollis’ hand.

Hollis closed her eyes and opened them to look into Shelby’s pleading ones. She closed her eyes again and opened them with resolve.

“Okay, all right. I’ll stick with you.” She held up her hand when Shelby started to reach over to hug her. “But if you pull another act like this again or decide to play some other game, that will be the end.”

“Understood.”

“Be here tomorrow, I’ll text you the time. The locks have been changed, and no one should be living there now. I’ll have the real estate agent meet us here; his name is Kevin Gregg. He needs your signature to take the listing on the house.”

“Understood.”

“Have you called your family? Especially your Aunt Denise.”

“Okay, I will. I—”

“While you’re calling them, I have to call the police and tell them you’ve returned.”

“Can I hug you?”

Hollis stiffened. “No.”

On the drive home Hollis felt the tension in her body ease. She wasn’t surprised at the way the conversation with Shelby had gone. Even though she’d threatened to walk away from Shelby’s case, she was a sucker for giving people second chances. After all, wasn’t that what saved her?

Waiting in commuter traffic was the break she needed to shift her thinking to the evening ahead with John. She loved him, of that she was sure. But the commitment he wanted was too much and too soon given her past experiences with trusting people. She pulled into the driveway and blinked a few times, trying to make sense of the scene in front of her. She got out of the car and walked up the pathway to stand in front of John.

“What are you doing out here on the front steps?” She kissed him lightly on the lips. “Did you forget your key?”

“I don’ need no stinkin’ keys.” He laughed and held her close. “I’m fine. I just wanted to see you drive up. I’m going to be gone a while. This is the picture of you I wanted to keep in my mind.”

She gazed at him in surprise. His sentimentality caught her off guard. “I didn’t know you were such a romantic. Let’s go inside before my neighbors bring out their cameras to make a YouTube video.”

“What’s for dinner?” he asked as he followed her upstairs to the bedroom.

“John, I know I said we would have a quiet dinner here, but I had a really hectic day. Can we eat out and come back here?”

“Sure, that works for me.” He sat down at the top of the steps and waited for her to change shoes and check her phone. He raised his voice so she could hear him. “What made your day so hectic?”

“Oh, you don’t want to listen to the dull details of my little day,” she called back. “Your day has got to be more interesting than mine.”

“You can stop playing the sweet little partner.” He leaned back against the wall, a smile playing on his lips. “I know Brian Wallace is out on bail. Mosley told me about your meeting.”

Hollis stood next to him, hands on hips. “I hope he told you that once again I shared some critical information and didn’t press him for any of his.”

“He did indeed.” John pulled her into his lap and kissed her. “Let’s go before we forget we’re hungry.”

They chose a favorite neighborhood restaurant. It wasn’t crowded, just a few familiar regulars. They settled into a booth and ordered quickly.