Murder, Madness & Love (Detective Quaid Mysteries #1) Read online

  “That’s Detective Quaid, thank you!”

  His lack of response to anything else she’d said surprised Sarah. She turned to face him. “You don’t deserve the title. A detective is a person who investigates. You know, uncovers information, facts, truths not readily available to the public. All you’re doing is listening to gossip. All you know is hearsay, rumor, and lies. Have you even searched for the truth? Or is your normal practice sitting on your duff and waiting for the murderer to find you, so they can get their sins off their chest? The Hawk! More like the vulture!”

  Tired, she walked away slowly, her defeat evident in the bow of her shoulders.

  “My friends use that name; you’ve no right! Stop walking away from me while I’m talking to you.” He grabbed her arm and flung her around. “You want to trade insults. At least I’m not so callous I sing You Are My Sunshine right after learning of the deaths of two young women I knew personally. Or go to a party dressed in black and red, flaunting your spidery inclinations. So, come on, lady, what are you hiding from? Tell me what you know, because you know something.”

  She pulled her arm from his grasp. Anger sent adrenaline through her veins, but she stayed silent. He had his hands on his hips now, his rage full blown. He thought she dressed in black and red because she wanted to flaunt her spidery inclinations—appalled, embarrassed, and determined to fight back, she stood her ground.

  “Tell me the truth. I’m listening. Truth for you means self-incrimination, doesn’t it? You’re one cold bitch. Don’t worry; I’ll uncover the evidence, and without your help. How dare you insult me! Who are you to judge me—a rich widow pretending to be an important executive while innocent women die because of what you did! Believe me, I have much better things to do than protect your ungrateful hide.”

  “Yes, I am a rich widow pretending to be something I’m not, while innocent women die instead of me. Because I can afford security guards and an entire police force to guard my ungrateful hide. In celebration, I wear the colors of my namesake and sing—with any luck, not off key. You know exactly who I am. The question is: who are you? A man pretending to be a detective while innocent women die while you chase… what? A spider? Since we both know who we are, let’s forgo the pleasantries. Just do your job, and I’ll flaunt my spidey-ness to hell and back!”

  Sarah hurried to the house, wanting the exchange to end. She knew she could not change an opinion formed by gossip and false impressions. She heard Steven muttering to himself behind her, but she ignored him. When she got to the steps, Sarah glanced back. Steven was on the phone, and he glared at her, then quickly turned away. She stomped across the porch, knocking the snow from her boots.

  In the house, she headed straight to her room, but John stopped her.

  “Don’t run away. Dinner’s ready. And it’s Eddie’s favorite: pizza.”

  She squeezed his hand. “I’m famished, just give me a minute to wash up.”

  Sarah ran upstairs to her room. She washed her face, combed her hair, and took some time to find her balance. Then she joined the others in the dining room. She sat with them, but her appetite was gone, and she pushed her food around on the plate. John noticed.

  “Sarah, quit playing with your food. Eat it. Making yourself sick won’t get you through this.”

  “Sorry, it’s been a long day. Just please tell me what these are.” She had to concede John’s point, but Sarah pointed to a few indistinguishable pieces of food on the pizza.

  “Let your taste buds savor the mystery. It’s half the fun.”

  “Mystery ingredients, all good for you.”

  Sarah laughed, surprised at the sound of her own laughter. The argument with Steven still weighed heavy on her. She could not eat and wanted desperately to go to her room, but John had other plans. John had some questions and suggested she and Steven take the coffee into the den while he and Eddie cleared the dishes.

  Reluctantly, she complied. Steven fussed with the fire while she pretended to watch the night sky through the windows. In reality, she watched Steven, observing him through the reflection in the glass. She couldn’t deny he was a handsome man, and she had to wonder if he ever smiled. Sarah wondered what his face would do if he did. Most likely crack! The thought made her grin.

  A moose walking across the glistening snow outside caught her attention. The outside lighting illuminated a winter view that the long hours of darkness would have normally hidden. Sarah loved being able to see beyond the boundaries of the house. Even when the Christmas lights weren’t hung, she had strategically placed lighting to give her a bright and cheerful winter wonderland to enjoy from the safe and warm confines of her home all winter, something even more important now that her freedom was gone. Then, she felt Steven’s gaze burning holes in her back. During dinner, he had not said a word, just glared—much like now.

  Keeping her back to him, she spoke. “Are you here for a reason, Mr. Quaid? Or is your aim to keep me under surveillance so I don’t take out Eddie?”

  Before Steven could retort, Eddie and John were in the room.

  “Why don’t we get down to business?” John made himself comfortable and helped himself to the coffee while everyone else settled as well.

  “Sarah, what can you tell us about Scott Chase?”

  They all stared at Sarah, waiting for her answer. She looked at each of them, but quickly focused on her coffee cup and defied them to break her.

  John tried again. “You know him? A man from your past, someone you thought you knew. Can you explain what you meant?”

  “Why?”

  Though she was upset, Sarah kept her tone level. She knew why they were asking. Scott became the ideal suspect as soon as she’d slapped him on a public dance floor—how much more perfect could his incrimination get? Yet, no matter how angry he made her, she knew better. Scott could not kill, and, no matter what happened, she had to think carefully before she spoke. Otherwise, she would blurt out something stupid, something they would use against him. She would not allow them to draw him into this.

  “Because he’s someone who chose an unusual place and time for a reunion. Eddie says he waited until you were ready to leave before he approached.” Even John’s normally calm manner showed a hint of irritation. His directness let Sarah know she had no ally in him tonight.

  “We’re examining everyone connected to you. The fourteenth is less than a month away,” John reminded her. He touched her hand. “Sarah, who is Scott Chase? I don’t recall you mentioning him, but I was away at college. Did you date?”

  Sarah pulled away from him. His touch threatened her resolve.

  “Come on. You know who he is. I don’t have to tell you,” she answered, her composure wavering.

  “Then, tell us, who he is to you?”

  “A friend.” She stood up and began pacing. “You’ve obviously checked him out. What have you discovered?”

  “We sent a detective, someone who knew him, to ask him a few questions,” Steven explained, speaking directly to her for the first time since their encounter outside. “We wanted to find out if he had an alibi for the time of the murders. He refused to cooperate. Now we’re talking to people who know him, but discreetly, of course. Scott Chase is a prominent citizen. We can’t go in with guns blazing.”

  “Exactly. He’s a prominent citizen, and you think he’s resorted to murder just because he knows me? Great. How many other friends do you plan to harass?”

  “We have nothing. We hoped you’d help. Someone’s been stalking you since you arrived in Anchorage. How did Chase know you were going to be at the lodge? Did you invite him?”

  “Well, detective, if you read the newspaper, you would have seen the announcement of the weekend’s events in the social section.”

  “Touché.”

  Sarah heard his disgust and watched him carefully. Throwing his words back at him should have given her some satisfaction, but she didn’t feel satisfied. She felt trapped.

  Steven continued the questioning. “Why
would he just show up? If he’s an old friend, why not just pick up the telephone? Why surprise you? What motive could he have, and why did you slap him?”

  But Sarah still refused to give up any answers. She admired Steven’s coolness. He’d gotten better control of himself since their argument.

  “He’s a friend, and, yes, we dated years ago. I won’t help you railroad anyone, let alone a friend. What kind of person do you think I am? Scott isn’t a stalker or a killer.”

  Barely able to preserve control, she slowed her pace. The thoughts they were trying to dredge up were too much following a day when so much had happened. “Simply slapping a man doesn’t incriminate him. It was an immature reaction to a stupid statement, so leave him alone. Scott is not part of this investigation.”

  “I don’t see the problem, Sarah. If he’s not guilty of any crime, why are you being so stubborn?”

  “Bullshit. Guilt or innocence doesn’t matter. Stubborn? So I’m being obstinate—you try having the world come down on your head because people think you’re a killer. Have the police threaten you because they can’t find the real culprit. You’re right, I’m headstrong, and I think I have every right to be unyielding, especially to defend a friend. Go to hell, all of you!”

  Sarah was losing control. John and Eddie looked at one another in surprise, then at her. She could see their confusion. Damn it!

  She feared she had lost their trust. Sarah flung open the French doors to the deck and took a few deep breaths of the night air. The cold air soothed her burning anger. Hot tears threatened at the corners of her eyes. Sarah fought to find peace and freedom from the accusations.

  “This is the second time tonight you’ve run out into the cold,” Steven said.

  “I need air.” She blinked away the evidence of tears.

  “We need your help.”

  “To railroad a friend? Forget it.”

  “Why? Is Chase the lover you killed your husband for?”

  “Oh, very good. Wasted effort, but great try! Since your good cop, bad cop routine didn’t work, what’s next? Truth serum? If you want to know about Scott Chase, ask him yourself.”

  Nevertheless, his words hurt, and her strength, her denials—her power crashed down around her. She took a deep breath and faced him, a woman full of fire and passion, unmasked and real, someone ready to fight for what she believed, and she desperately tried to hold on to what mattered. Determined not to destroy another life, even while hers fell deeper into oblivion, Sarah had no more words in her repertoire, and, tonight, no more fight in her system. She left Steven standing on the deck and practically ran by Eddie and John, without looking at them. She knew their purposes were honorable, but tonight she could handle no more.

  Steven turned to follow, but Eddie blocked his path.

  “She’s had enough for one day. Let her go.”

  arah surreptitiously checked out the Gold Ballroom of the Anchorage Sheraton, and discovered a Christmas fantasyland. Evergreens artfully decorated the room, while poinsettias of bright red graced each table, and hundreds of gift-wrapped presents awaited the excited squeals of children. Each tree, gift, and Christmas dinner would go to charity after the festivities for the board members ended. It was Sarah’s gift to the host city for this wonderful weekend. The spirit of Christmas filled the room like the aroma of baking bread—warm and inviting to even the most committed scrooge. The partygoers enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while the band played Christmas carols. The place filled up fast.

  Sarah should have been there to greet her guests. Gerry had agreed to act as host while she waited for Steven to get his team in place. Several of his officers were going undercover as servers to help Steven observe the guests. He filled them in on the details while she waited impatiently behind the kitchen door. Steven had insisted this gave him the best opportunity to study the people who might be a threat to her. Before Sarah finally made her appearance, the cocktails were flowing freely, and the Christmas carols had turned to dance music. Embarrassingly late, Sarah began to fume. Out in the ballroom, the gossips had begun their chatter.

  “During the entire weekend, Sarah’s been noticeably absent, and I’m not the only one who thinks so,” Cindy Ferguson said to the crowd around her.

  “When Michael was alive, Sarah took part like the rest of us. Ms. Chairman is acting like she can’t be bothered,” Kathy Watley said, her irritation evident in her tone.

  “I know. Suddenly she’s too good to go shopping.” Donna Pendergraft sipped her cocktail.

  “I heard she even has bodyguards now,” Mrs. Gunderson said, nodding her head and pursing her lips in disapproval.

  “Well, she is chairman, and her responsibilities are different.” Mrs. Wallenberg spoke up in Sarah’s defense. “Come on, girls, the big green monster wasn’t even invited to the party. You know just as I do that money, looks, and smarts make for few friends and rampant gossip among the have-nots; let’s not join the commoners. No one can have everything and be immune to resentment. Sarah has an intelligent mind, a flair for business, and she’s beautiful—all excellent qualities that shouldn’t get a girl burned at the stake.”

  Myrtle Wallenberg, a portly woman with silver-gray hair and too much money, knew the subject all too well. Her husband Oliver, deceased ten years prior, had left his company to her. The Palmer Corporation was just one of several boards on which she served. “I’m very impressed with the young Sarah Palmer. She’s done right by Michael.”

  Myrtle, now the Grande dame of the board at sixty-something, understood the pain of gossip. In another time, the sting of chatter had gotten to her too. This room was full of people who’d claimed to be her friend until she turned her back.

  “Oliver claimed human nature for the reason folks were rude. He said they expressed their own agony and disappointments in their words against others. Still, I long for the day when the cruelty of gossip and rumor will be contrary to human nature, instead of an excuse for it.” They shook their heads in agreement and, seeing that she had achieved her goal, Myrtle continued.

  “Even when Michael was alive, Sarah avoided the social aspects of his empire for solitude and her art. Give the poor girl a chance; after all, it’s Christmas. We can all afford some charitable feelings for our hostess and chairman.”

  “Speaking of our hostess.” Donna pointed toward the door.

  The small crowd around Myrtle turned as one.

  Sarah walked through the main entrance, with Steven at her side, his arm looped through hers as her escort. A new face—a new man—and almost everyone in the room stopped to observe. Sarah wanted to turn and run in the other direction, but Gerry immediately approached them and demanded an introduction.

  Soon, the room filled with whispers about Sarah’s handsome escort. Sarah fought the urge to fidget, finding their curiosity embarrassing. She knew that, for Steven, the evening meant work, but Sarah felt uncomfortable with the charade, and knowing the real reason for his presence made her cringe.

  Despite their misgivings about being together, they made a striking couple. Sarah wore a black, off-the-shoulder gown with a simple string of diamonds gracing her slender neck. Her long hair had been done up in French braids, with small diamonds entwined throughout. She glittered and sparkled like a fairy princess, with Steven at her side as the handsome prince. He looked quite debonair in his black tuxedo, white shirt, and red cummerbund. His long hair, neatly tied at the nape of his neck, reminded Sarah of Tarzan in formal wear. The transformation from ape-man to noble lord provided her with some amusement in spite of her predicament. Nonetheless, Steven seemed comfortable in his tuxedo, and with the role of escort.

  Sarah greeted the guests as they moved further into the room, introducing Steven and apologizing for her lateness. As Sarah moved around the room, she was keeping an eye out for Jackson. She wanted to tell him how wonderful everything looked and what a success the weekend had been. The tide turned when, during her search for Jackson, she spotted Karen clinging shamelessly
to Scott Chase. Karen held Scott’s arm tightly, looking happier than Sarah had ever seen her. Her dark green gown hugged her curves seductively. With her low-cut décolletage and thigh-high slit, she was sex incarnate.

  Karen caught Sarah’s eye and rushed over to say hello, and Sarah responded with more poise than she had expected of herself. Sarah, in turn, introduced Karen and Scott to Steven, gauging their reactions carefully. Scott seemed to be sizing up Steven, who was doing likewise with Scott. Though they exchanged pleasantries, they each seemed to take an immediate dislike to each other.

  “How is your investigation going, detective?”

  “With any luck, we might solve the mystery tonight.”

  Scott chuckled. “I understand it’s how you solve all your cases—with Lady Luck?”

  Sarah could see the anger building as Steven’s body stiffened, but Karen pulled her aside for a private conversation.

  “I hope you don’t mind. We met at the lodge after you left. He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?”

  Sarah smiled. “Karen, you look—beautiful, simply beautiful. And why should I mind? You two make a smashing couple, and, yes, he is gorgeous. Just watch yourself. He has a tendency to get fresh.”

  Karen flashed a grin and said, “Oh, I’m well aware. Honestly, though, it’s nice to have such a handsome escort.”

  “I’m thrilled to see you so happy.” Sarah said.

  “It’s been a wonderful weekend, but I wanted you to know, I just got the call—we won the bid to put new computers in all the schools in the Anchorage School district.”

  “Congratulations. Did you tell Gerry?”

  “Yes. He’s going to share the news during his speech.”

  “Good. I know this isn’t the time or place for business, but I hope you’ll put together a presentation for the next board of directors meeting. Your ideas won this contract, and we could use them in marketing. Are you interested?”