Betty Pierre - Murder.Com

"Where does this Melinda live?"

"I don't know, but I'm sure I could find out from Marty."

Tom stood and went to the bar. "What if the tests show Bud isn't the father? How will Marty take the news after all these years of him supporting the girl?"

Angie pushed some loose strands of hair behind her ears. "She'll be shocked. She truly believes Bud is Melinda's father."

"What do you think happened that night?"

"Ken was still single at the time, and quite a party boy. Bud and I even suspected that he might have a thing for Marty. Nothing serious, mind you. Ken had his sights set higher than a housekeeper, that's for sure." She stood and hugged herself as she paced. "Bud supposedly walked Marty to the cottage and I think he passed out on the foot of her bed. When he didn't return to the house, Ken went looking for him and found them both conked out. He took advantage of the moment and left."

Tom nodded. "It's plausible. But I think your best bet is to wait for the test results." He wagged a finger at her. "However, let me warn you. I'm not going to stand by and let that woman blackmail you, whether she's Bud's daughter or not."

Angie sat back down on the couch. "Don't worry. I won't let it happen." She reached for her drink and accidentally knocked it off the table, shattering glass across the floor. "Oh, shoot."

Tom picked up the broken pieces as she dashed to the kitchen to get a towel. When she didn't return immediately, he followed and found her staring out the kitchen window. He stepped beside her and squinted into the darkness. "What's the problem?"

"Marty's letting someone in the gate."

"How can you tell?"

She pointed to the control panel. "The light's blinking."

Tom flipped off the kitchen light. "Go clean up the spilled drink. I'll be right back." He pulled his gun and slipped out the back door.

*****

It took a second for Tom's eyes to adjust to the darkness, but a full moon helped guide him around the garage and avoid the trash cans as he made his way to Marty's back door. He ducked behind some bushes and waited until the vehicle came to a rolling stop at the cottage's entrance. When he heard the car door slam, he peered between the hedges and could make out the silhouette of a woman hurrying to the front door. He slipped his gun back into the holster, relieved it wasn't Ken Weber who had talked Marty into opening the gate.

He waited until the woman went inside before inching his way toward a large window that overlooked the side yard. The window stood open a few inches and a lacy curtain covered the glass. He could clearly hear and see the occupants inside.

Caught by surprise when the beautiful young goddess turned toward him, Tom gulped. Her silk dress adhered to all the right curves. Long blond hair cascaded down her back and her green eyes glistened in the light of the lamp. This had to be Melinda. Angie had described her perfectly. And, yes, she resembled Ken Weber. He watched her pull a cigarette from her purse, but before she could put it to her lips, Marty's thick voice rumbled through the opened window.

"Do you have to smoke in my house?"

Melinda threw her hands up in disgust. "Oh, God, Mother. You're so old fashioned."

Tom flattened himself against the wood siding as Melinda cranked the window out about six more inches. She then whirled around and flopped down on the couch. "When are you going to stop drinking? That's worse than smoking. At least I don't lose it when I smoke." She flipped the ashes into a saucer her mother had placed on the coffee table.

Marty stood at the end of the couch, staring at her daughter. "Why are you here?"

Melinda looked at her and narrowed her eyes. "Because, if you're not telling me the truth, I'm in deep trouble."

Marty finally sat down on the chair opposite her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Are you absolutely sure that Mr. Nevers is my father?"

"Of course I'm sure. Why do you ask such a silly question?"

"Mom, I'm not blind. I don't look anything like Bud Nevers. What if the DNA test doesn't match?"

Her mother waved her hand in the air. "Bud Nevers is your father. But why are you so worried?" Then she frowned thoughtfully and sat forward in her seat. "What did you say to Mrs. Nevers?"

Melinda got up and paced. "I warned her to continue the money so I could get my mother out of this hole, or I'd ruin her life."

Marty groaned and covered her face with her hands. "Dear God."

"Well, it's the truth," the girl said, turning in a circle with her arms held out. "Look at this place. It's tiny, like a hole."

"I love my little cottage. It's all I need. I want to live here forever, but now I'll probably have to leave because Mrs. Nevers knows you're my daughter." She let out a loud sob.

Melinda whirled around and glared at her. "What! You told her?" She clenched her hands into fists. "You stupid...." She closed her mouth tightly and her eyes glistened with anger. Flopping down on the couch, she shoved her hair back and lit another cigarette.

Marty continued to sob. "She came over here to check on me when I didn't show up for work. I had the letter you'd sent to Mr. Nevers on the telephone stand and she spotted it." Wiping the tears from her eyes with the hem of her apron, she hiccuped and continued. "She put it all together herself. I really didn't have to tell her anything."

Melinda blew smoke through her nose, then snuffed out the cigarette. "Oh, great. Just great. This puts a different light on things."

Marty made a strange sucking sound and stared at her daughter. "What do you mean?"

Melinda grabbed her purse and stood. "Now I've got to rethink my approach. This changes everything." With that, she stormed out and slammed the door.

Tom stayed hidden behind the bushes as Melinda spun the car around and sped off toward the gate. He shook his head and sighed, as he watched her speed over that crest. Thank God, he thought, the gate has an electric eye and would automatically open when a car approached it from the inside.

He slipped back around the cottage and into the back door of the big house. When he entered the kitchen, Angie frowned with concern. "You were spying, weren't you?"

"Uh huh." He took her arm, led her back to the study and mixed them another round of drinks. "Be more careful this time," he said with a wink, handing her the glass.

"So, who showed up?"

"Melinda."

Angie stiffened. "Did you get a good look at her?"

"I certainly did. You're absolutely right. She looks nothing like Bud. However, that doesn't mean a thing. Bud could have the green eye genes in his family background."

She slumped back on the couch. "You're right."

He leaned forward. "However, Marty definitely thinks Bud's the father."

Raising a brow, Angie looked at him. "Yes, go on."

"Melinda's worried about the DNA test, even though Marty swears Bud's her dad. But what really upset Melinda is that you know too much." Tom put his elbows on his knees, holding his drink with both hands. He stared at Angie with a solemn expression. "I want you to be very careful dealing with this woman. She could be dangerous."

Angie frowned. "True, she gives me the chills. But do you think she'd actually do me bodily harm?"

Tom nodded, never taking his eyes off her face.

*****

Melinda cruised down the freeway. The wind blowing in the car window whipped her hair around her head. Not bothering to push it out of her face, she narrowed her eyes and spoke out loud through gritted teeth. "Damn you, Mother. You and your drunken binges. All it does is loosen your tongue. Of course, I'm surprised you held it this long. At least I'm older now and can handle things on my own." She slapped the steering wheel with her hand. "Why didn't I think of this DNA thing myself. Once it's proven that I'm Bud's, I won't need Mrs. Nevers. Everything will just automatically be mine after she's dead." A sly grin curled the corners of her mouth.