Betty Pierre - Murder.Com

She sat quietly for a few moments before finally looking up at him. "I'm still scared."

He furrowed his brow. "I can understand your worry and concern. But why are you scared?"

"Because Ken has turned violent."

Tom knew something drastic had happened, but he wanted to get specific details from Sandy. "He's threatened you?"

She nodded. "More than that." She pointed to her face. "He did this."

"Are you telling me that he's never hit you before?"

Tears welled in her eyes. "Never, until recently. He even hit one of the twins. That's why I sent them away."

His face serious, he scooted forward in the chair. "When did this behavior start?"

"Right after Bud died. But became more violent after Conners' death." She glanced at Angie, her gaze apologetic.

"Have you noticed other changes?"

She nodded. "Oh, yes."

"For instance?"

"He paces the floor, his gaze darts back and forth, he's up in the middle of the night and sometimes abruptly leaves. If I ask where he's been, he tells me to shut up." Tears rolled down her cheeks. "He's just not the same man."

Tom glanced at Angie. "She shouldn't go back home."

"She won't. I'll keep her here."

Sandy glanced from one to the other. "But what if he comes looking for me?"

Tom glanced at Angie. "Don't leave your gate open any more. Make sure everyone has checked in with you before you open it. By all means don't let Ken in. If he persists, call the police." He noticed a flash of fear pass over Angie's face.

"You think he might try something at my house?"

"You can't take any chances. Pass this on to Marty too. She mustn't open that gate if it's Ken."

Angie walked to the window and stared out. Tom watched her, wondering what he'd said that had upset her.

Sandy stood, wringing her hands. "I can't stay here. Angie's had enough grief. She doesn't need my burdens too."

Angie turned from the window and set her glass on the sill. "You're not going anywhere. We'll both be safer here. I've got my gun upstairs and no one will break in on us."

Tom looked at her with surprise. "You know how to shoot?"

"Of course. I have a permit to carry a gun." She waved a hand toward Sandy. "So does she."

"I've known you two gals all these years and didn't know either one of you knew beans about guns."

Angie smiled. "It's not something one boasts about. But, Bud, Sandy, Ken, Marty and I attended several different gun classes. Afterwards, we all applied for our permits. I carry my small Barretta in my purse."

"It definitely puts my mind at ease to know you women have the knowledge to protect yourselves." He turned his attention toward Sandy. "I think it would be wise for you to stay here."

Angie touched Sandy's shoulder. "Why don't you go upstairs and soak in a nice warm bath. I need to talk to Tom for a few minutes before he leaves."

"You're sure my staying here isn't inconvenient?"

"I'm sure."

Sandy left them and went up to the guest bedroom.

Angie went to the bar and freshened her gin and tonic. "I hope I'm not keeping you, Tom, but I didn't want to talk in front of Sandy. It would only make her more nervous."

"No problem. What's on your mind?"

She took a sip of her drink, then began. "I don't know if any of this will have a bearing on Bud's murder, but it may be relevant."

Tom sat on the edge of his chair as Angie filled him in about Melinda, finding the letter addressed to Bud at Marty's place and her confrontation with Marty. When she finished, Tom exhaled noisily and leaned back in the chair. He brushed his hand across the stubble on his chin. "You're quite a woman."

"Well, I don't know why you think so, but thanks anyway."

"You've done all this sleuthing without anyone's help. But, I'm worried about Melinda. She sounds dangerous."

"When I first met her, I thought I'd taken on more than I could handle. However, I don't feel that way any more."

"Why's that?"

"Because I don't think she's Bud's daughter."

Tom leaned forward, his brows raised. "But Marty states she is. What makes you think she wouldn't know the father of her own child?"

Angie got up and paced the room. Placing her forefinger on her chin, she paused in front of Tom. "I've thought about the situation and mulled it over in my mind a thousand times. At first, I became furious with Bud, threw all his pictures in the trash. Then the more I thought about it...." Her voice quivered.

"Go on."

"That night Bud and Ken were celebrating the big contract that got the company off its feet and running, I'd just lost a baby and the doctor had me on heavy doses of tranquilizers, so I excused myself and went to bed."

She sat down opposite Tom and continued. "Marty told me she'd joined the men in the celebration and they all got drunk. All she remembers is Bud walking her home. However, hours lapsed before she awoke and found herself naked and Bud, fully dressed, sprawled across the foot of her bed. Now, what I don't understand, if they'd been making love, how come Bud was fully dressed? I think they both passed out and nothing happened."

Tom raised his brows. "Now come on Angie, give me a break."

She waved her hand. "Wait, hear me out. Then I'll listen to what you think."

He nodded. "Okay, fair enough."

"You haven't met Melinda. And until you do, you might not understand what I'm going to tell you. While trying to put the picture together in my mind, Dr. Parker made a comment in his office the day Melinda went in for the DNA testing. It set me to thinking even more."

"What's that?"

"That Melinda had none of Bud's characteristics, so she must resemble her mother." Angie pointed a finger at Tom. "That girl looks nothing like Marty. But, she resembles someone else."

Tom leaned forward. "And may I ask who?"

Angie stared into his eyes and kept her voice low. "Ken Weber."

Chapter Nineteen

The words had no more fallen from Angie's lips when the phone rang. She put the receiver to her ear, then her face turned pale and she shot a look of fear at Tom. "Hello, Ken."

He immediately moved to her side.

"Yes, she's here, but she's resting at the moment. Can I give her a message?" Angie's blue eyes filled with concern. "No, she won't be coming home tonight. She's planning on staying here a few days."

She took the phone from her ear and stared at it. "He hung up."

Tom took the receiver and dropped it on the cradle. "He's upset."

Angie wiped a hand across her forehead. "I'm really worried about Sandy. She can't believe that Ken's turned into a dangerous man, yet she's scared to death of him. I'm afraid if she goes home, he'll really hurt her or even worse. Just look what he's done to her already. It's awful."

Tom touched her shoulder and pointed toward the couch. "I realize that. I'm assigning a guard to your gate tonight. Now, finish telling me your story."

She sat down and took a sip of her drink. "Where did I end before the phone rang?"

"Something about Melinda resembling Ken Weber."

"Oh, yes." She folded both hands around her glass. "Have you ever noticed the unique color of Ken's eyes? They're an unusual sharp, clear green. The twins have a touch of that in their eyes, but they take more after Sandy." She frowned. "That's the first thing I noticed about Melinda. Those intense green eyes. They're almost identical to Ken's, but I'd swear they even stand out more." She shook her head. "They look into your very soul. So cold and calculating. I get a chill down my spine every time I see her."

Tom listened intently. "I'd like to meet this woman. In fact, I'd like to arrest her."

Angie jerked her head around. "Why?"

Tom raised a brow. "Because she's blackmailing you."

She sighed. "Well, she hasn't succeeded in getting any money out of me yet. But what I'm anxious to see are the results of the DNA tests, which should be ready any day."