Betty Pierre - Murder.Com

Chapter Twenty

Early the next morning, Angie received a call from Dr. Parker.

"I have the results of the DNA testing. Do you want to hear them over the phone or would you like to come down to the office?"

Angie's heart pounded against her ribs. She glanced around, making sure Marty or Sandy weren't within earshot. "Tell me now, Dr. Parker. I've got to know."

He cleared his throat. "Melinda Smith is not Bud Nevers' daughter."

She closed her eyes and whispered. "Thank you. Could I get a copy of that report?"

"I'll have it waiting for you."

A wave of relief flooded her soul. After hanging up, she sat down at the bar and rested her head in her hands for several minutes. Just as she took a deep breath, Sandy strolled into the kitchen. Angie smiled. "Good morning. You must have slept well. You certainly look better than yesterday."

She returned a faint smile. "Yes, I did. But I feel bad about leaving you and Tom last night."

Angie waved a hand at her. "Don't worry about it. I had some business to deal with and you needed your rest." She busied herself with folding the newspaper, then laid it aside. "Let's get you a bite to eat."

"Just a bagel and cup of coffee will be fine."

After serving Sandy, Angie poured herself a cup of coffee and joined her.

Sandy put both hands on the table, palms down. "I've been so selfish and preoccupied with my own problems, I haven't asked how you're doing."

"I've been dealt a few surprises. But, you needn't worry yourself about them."

"I wish you would let me worry about them. Then maybe I wouldn't dwell on my dilemma so much."

Angie studied her face, wondering if Sandy could handle the idea of Melinda being Ken's daughter instead of Bud's. Of course, it was only a suspicion, but she wouldn't want her to find out through other sources. She struggled with the decision for several moments before speaking. "Say you were in my shoes and found out that Melinda wasn't Bud's daughter, but you had an inkling of who the father might be. What would you do?"

Sandy wrinkled her forehead and looked at Angie. "I thought I heard the phone ring. Was it Dr. Parker?"

Angie nodded.

Sandy got up, crossed in front of Angie and looked into her eyes. "What are you trying to say?"

Angie reached out and grasped Sandy's arms. "Remember, this happened a long time ago. Melinda is twenty-three years old."

Her eyes wide, Sandy stepped back out of Angie's reach. "Are you telling me that Ken is the father?"

Angie stood and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Now take it easy Sandy. Ken and Bud were together the night Marty conceived, and the doctor just confirmed Melinda isn't Bud's daughter. So, it stands to reason that she could be Ken's."

Sandy gasped and shook her head. "But it could have been any one of the hands working around this place."

"No. You have to see the girl. Her resemblance to Ken will shock you."

"How do you know Bud and Ken were together?"

"Marty told me."

Sandy covered her mouth with her fingers. Tears slid down her cheeks. "I don't believe this."

Angie glanced at her watch. Marty wouldn't be back to the house for a couple of hours. She took Sandy's hand and led her into the kitchen nook. "Sit down. I might as well start at the beginning and tell you everything."

Marty wanted to speak with Mrs. Nevers alone, but found it difficult with Mrs. Weber there. Finally, she called on the phone and invited Angie to the cottage so they could talk in private. She tidied the place until it glistened. The smell of cleanliness filled the air. Also, she'd not touched a drop of booze for two days.

When the knock sounded, Marty said a silent prayer, crossed herself and opened the door. She smiled broadly and stepped to the side. "I'm so glad you could make it, Mrs. Nevers. Please, come in."

Angie frowned. "You sounded so concerned. Is everything all right?"

"Yes. I needed to talk with you. Please sit down." She motioned toward the couch. "What would you like to drink?"

"A glass of iced tea would taste wonderful."

Marty disappeared into the small kitchen and returned with two large glasses filled with crushed ice, tea and lemon slices. She handed one to Angie. As she sat down in a chair opposite Angie, she confided, "I didn't want to talk to you about my personal problems in front of your friend. That's why I invited you to come here." Marty felt the tension between them and fought the emotion tugging at her insides.

Angie sat stiffly. "So what is it?"

Marty studied Angie's solemn face, then sighed. "It's Melinda. I talked to her and she told me how she'd threatened you." The tears welled despite her struggle to hold them back. "That girl is causing me pain and grief. I've had nothing to do with her actions. I'm very happy here and love the cottage. I want to live here forever." Her voice caught and she wiped the spilled tears from her cheeks. "But she's getting me in trouble with her evil ways."

Angie scooted to the edge of the couch, holding the large tea glass with both hands. She stared into Marty's eyes. "Are you afraid I'm going to kick you out?"

Marty nodded, her chin trembling.

"We've been together for twenty-five years. Unfortunately, it's turned into twenty-three years of deceit."

Daubing her eyes with a tissue, Marty whispered. "I know."

"However, you've been by my side through thick and thin. I can't write that off and just forget it."

"Thank you, Mrs. Nevers." Her voice shook. "But, I'll never forget Mr. Nevers telling me after Melinda came to the party, that once he told you who she was, that you'd probably fire me."

Angie's eyes widened. "Bud told you that?"

"Yes ma'am."

Angie walked slowly to the window and remained silent for several long moments before she turned around and looked at Marty. "I guess Bud and I didn't know each other as well as I thought."

Marty frowned. "I don't understand."

"Never mind. It's not important." She came back to the couch. "What is important, is this thing with Melinda. This girl is headed for big trouble. We both have a lot invested in her. You gave birth and Bud used our money to make sure she had a good upbringing. However, the DNA results have come in."

Marty stiffened and stared at her. "And what did they say?"

Angie met her stare. "Melinda is not Bud's daughter. So, I'm going to turn her over to Detective Tom Hoffman."

Marty almost dropped her glass, her eyes wide with astonishment. "Mrs. Nevers, I don't understand. Those tests have to be wrong. There's no one else who could be her daddy."

"Yes, there's another possibility. Ken Weber." Then Angie explained how she figured the conception had taken place.

Marty clutched her bodice and her face turned ashen.

"Think about it, Marty. Imagine your daughter's eyes. I've thought about it a lot waiting for the test results. And as Melinda grew older, I suspect Bud noticed her resemblance to Ken."

Marty covered her face with her hands and sobbed profusely. "Dear God! Ken must have raped me after I passed out. I always wondered why Bud was fully dressed, lying on the end of my bed. All those years Mr. Nevers had been paying for Ken's daughter."

Angie put her glass down on the table. "We can't worry about that now. We need to concentrate on your future. Right?"

She nodded her head fiercely.

"I want you to listen to me carefully."

Marty wiped her face and looked into Angie's eyes. "I'm listening, Mrs. Nevers. I'll do anything you say."

"I don't want Melinda on this property again. If I find out you've opened the gates to her without my permission, then you and she may leave together. That girl is going to cause nothing but heartache and pain wherever she goes. I want no part of her."

After Angie left the cottage, Marty sat in the chair with tears streaking down her cheeks. How could she have not noticed Melinda's resemblance to Ken Weber? Had she blocked the possibility from her mind, feeling secure about Bud taking care of Melinda and seeing to it that she had the best of everything? Even Melinda had been concerned that Bud might not be her daddy.