The Betrayal of Lies (18 page)

“Are you that convinced Jake is not our man?” he pressed.

“He might be our killer, but there’s just something about the husband. I want to find out more.”

“But you’re going on a gut feeling, nothing more.”

“If only Isabel could find something in Patrick’s financials,” Emily said, “we could break this case wide open.”

Colin’s eyebrows wrinkled. “Did you get a warrant for that?”

Emily leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I asked her to check into them on the QT.”

“You could get Isabel in a lot of hot water, Babe.”

“She offered.”

Emily’s phone began to ring. “Speak of the devil,” she said with a smug grin. “Hello, Isabel.”

“Hey, Em, you won’t believe what I found.”

Emily looked over at Colin. “What?”

“You know how everyone thinks Patrick Murphy is worth something like fifty million dollars?”

“Yeah…”

“Well, it’s a lot less than that,” Isabel said.

Colin leaned close. “What’s she saying?” he whispered.

Emily considered putting her phone on speaker, so Colin could hear the conversation, but she thought it might be better if he had plausible deniability. So instead, she waved him away.

Isabel continued. “Either someone is siphoning off his money, or he’s been systematically transferring it out of the country—to the Cayman Islands is my guess. Maybe in anticipation of Elise filing for divorce.

“She would have gotten half,” Emily mumbled.

Emily tapped her fingers on the table as she continued to ponder. Murphy must not have known his wife didn’t care about the money. Did he even know that she was afraid of him? How could he know when he was gone most of the time? They were like strangers sharing the same address. Elise had said she thought he’d find her and drag her back. Had Murphy told her he would? If so, then why hide the money?

“He was lucky to have put together the two million dollars for the ransom drop.” Isabel brought Emily’s attention back to the conversation.

“Assuming that’s what he did,” Emily said.

“What do you mean?”

“Did anyone actually count the money in the duffle bag?” Emily glanced over at Colin. “Or did everyone assume he had put two million in cash in there simply because he said he did?”

“Good point. I tracked the withdrawals from his different accounts, but all I could find came to just over one million,” Isabel said. “Now, I have to admit, some of the accounts I really had to dig deep to uncover, so I might have missed some. He could have more I haven’t found yet.”

“The ransom drop might have been part of the ruse anyway,” Emily said.

“The ruse?”

Colin tapped Emily on the arm. “What’s she saying?”

“Hey, can I call you back later?” Emily asked, peeking over at Colin.

“You’re not alone, are you?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Tell you what, why don’t you and Colin come over for dinner tonight? Alex is barbecuing. With Jonathan headed out of town again, I’ve already invited Camille—Maggie too. I’m sure Alex would love to have some male company. See you at six?”

“We’d love to.” Emily smiled at Colin, who looked perplexed. “I’ll catch you up then.”

~*~

By the time Emily and Colin arrived, Maggie was already there, sitting with Isabel in the family room, telling her side of the story to Isabel. Alex had answered the door and taken their dinner contribution, a fresh peach pie they had picked up at Marie Callender’s.

“Please don’t say anythin’ to Camille about Jake,” Emily overheard Maggie say to Isabel as they walked in.

Alex laid the pie down on the counter and Colin followed him out to the grill on the patio.

“Emily!” Isabel exclaimed with a big smile. She stood and spread her arms open as she rushed to give her a hug. “We need to talk,” she whispered in Emily’s ear.

Maggie stood too. “Hello, Em.” Her voice and her actions were cool and aloof.

“Hi, Maggs.” Emily went to her and threw an arm around her shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Maggie did not reply. Rather, she crossed her arms and dropped back down onto the sofa.

Emily decided to let her be, for now. “Camille’s not here yet?”

“Not yet,” Isabel replied, heading toward the open kitchen that overlooked the family room and the casual dining area. She had laid out all of the accompanying dishes on the large granite-topped center island, making room for something delicious she knew chef Camille would bring. “I made some sweet tea. Anyone care for some?”

Just then the doorbell rang. Isabel started toward the door, but it opened before she got there. It was Camille.

“Surprise!” Camille shouted. Her brother Peter stepped in behind her. He was tall and handsome with thick auburn hair and deep blue eyes.

Maggie shot out of her seat and hurried to see what the surprise was. Peter met her in the hallway and scooped her up in his arms.

“I didn’t know you were comin’,” Maggie said, beaming.

He gave her a quick kiss. “It wouldn’t have been a surprise if you had,” he said, smiling broadly.

“Peter’s here to do a story on Elise’s murder,” Camille said, holding a big bowl of pepperoni and artichoke pasta salad. “I was able to pick him up at the airport when I dropped Jonathan off.”

Camille’s brother worked for a major television station in Seattle. Besides visiting Boise to see Maggie, Peter had come on several occasions to cover various stories, at times helping Colin and Emily to solve their cases. On one case in particular, he was mic’d and wired with a tiny video camera, posing as a potential client to help uncover a local sex slave ring.

“Why would people in Seattle be interested in a murder in our little ol’ Idaho town?” Maggie asked.

“Patrick Murphy is a big deal,” Peter replied. “It’s national news. My cameraman will be here tomorrow for the funeral.”

“Don’t tell me it’s going to be a media circus,” Emily moaned.

“Doubtful,” Peter said. “It’s not like Bill Gates died or anything, but there will probably be a few reporters from the major affiliates.”

“Great.” Emily grimaced. She didn’t know how much she should say about the investigation, so she just walked out the back door to inform the guys Peter was there.

~*~

“We should be just about ready to eat,” Isabel announced from the kitchen. “Only waiting on my dear husband and his amazing barbecued meats.”

The atrium door opened and Alex walked in carrying a brightly colored ceramic platter piled high with grilled steak and chicken pieces. “Who’s hungry?” he shouted.

Isabel took the platter from him and laid it front and center on the massive center island. “Dinner is ready! Everybody grab a plate and serve yourselves.”

Friendly chatter started up as each one took their turns around the island, choosing from the delectable spread, filling their dishes. The noisy crowd gathered around the dining table and dug into the savory, delicious food, amid conversation and laughter.

Emily was glad for the relief from the tragic last few days. She gazed around the dining table, comforted at being surrounded by all her good friends and the man she loved. This sociable time reminded her of the better days that once were and were sure to return, once Elise’s passing was mourned and her killer was behind bars.

Maggie sat across the table, beside Peter. All through dinner she had avoided making eye contact with Emily. The definite rift in their friendship made for an uncomfortable silence between them. Though Emily had apologized for having to question Maggie, the fact was that Maggie admitted she had been involved in Elise’s disappearance.

“Pass the butter, please, Maggie,” Emily requested, hoping to warm the icy air between them.

Maggie pushed it toward Emily, still averting her eyes.

“Something going on between you two?” Peter asked Maggie in a low voice, yet loud enough that Emily heard it.

“It’s nothin’. I’ll tell you later,” Maggie quietly replied to him. “I don’t want to spoil any part of my time with you.”

“Hey, Colin,” Peter shifted his focus across the table, “can we talk later about the case. I’d like to get all the facts for my story.”

Emily’s eyes flew to Maggie and for once that evening met her gaze. Maggie’s eyes grew wide with panic, pooling with fear that her secret would be exposed to Peter, begging Emily not to tell him about her indiscretions.

Clearing her throat, Emily jumped in before Colin could respond. “It’s an ongoing investigation, Peter. We can’t really discuss it.”

Peter leaned forward toward Colin and Emily and dropped the volume of his voice. “How about if I swear to keep what you tell me confidential until you let me know I’m safe to report on it?”

A cloud of silence descended on the dining room. Emily glanced around the table and realized everyone was listening in, waiting for Colin’s reply.

Apparently Colin had noticed it too. “Let me think about,” Colin said, before polishing off the last bite of his steak.

Maggie blew out a long breath, as if she had been holding it, waiting for Colin’s answer. Her eyes briefly flashed in Emily’s direction, then she leaned over and whispered something into Peter’s ear.

He smiled and slid an arm around her shoulders. “Me too,” he said, kissing the side of her head.

“Who wants dessert?” Isabel asked as she rose from her seat. “It’s fresh peach pie.”

Chapter 20

Isabel had sliced the pie and put the pieces out on small dessert plates for guests to serve themselves, offering a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Once everyone had their dessert, most of them made their way into the family room to enjoy it.

As Peter picked up his plate of pie, Colin suggested they go eat their dessert out on the patio, where they could speak privately. Peter went out first.

Emily caught Colin’s arm as he turned to follow Peter outside. “Please don’t mention anything about Maggie. It would ruin their chances for any real happiness,” she whispered.

Colin raised his eyebrows to her, keeping his voice low. “Maybe Maggie should have thought about that before stepping out on him.”

“Colin, please.”

“All right. For you, Babe. But it’s bound to come out in the trial.” He stepped out the door to join Peter.

Colin and Peter stood outside talking, away from the house, at the edge of the patio, where they couldn’t be overheard. As Peter set a small recorder on the railing, Colin glanced back at the house and saw Emily at the window, looking out. Maggie stood a few feet behind her, watching as they talked. He doubted Emily was aware of her presence.

Although he didn’t want to be responsible for Peter breaking up with Maggie because he spilled the beans about her, he wasn’t going to lie about it either. If Emily had stepped out on him, he’d want to know before he took the relationship further, but he had no reason to believe she ever would.

Emily wasn’t like Maggie. She had married Evan right out of college and they would still be together if he hadn’t died. There had been no other men in her life between Evan and Colin, and he knew it.

However, Maggie, on the other hand, had gone from one bad relationship to another. She was too sweet and gullible and men tended to take advantage of her. But now, she seemed to have a real chance at happiness with Peter, who was a great guy and obviously head over heels for her. If he screwed that up for Maggie, Emily would never forgive him, not to mention the wrath of Maggie that would rain down on him.

“So, who do you think is the shooter?” Peter asked, drawing Colin’s attention back in.

Colin looked down at the recorder before speaking. “No taping, Peter. Shut it off.”

“I promise not to use whatever you tell me until you give me the go ahead.”

Colin shook his head as he picked up the device and handed it to Peter, watching to make sure he clicked it off. Once Peter pushed the off button and stuck it in his pocket, Colin felt free to speak.

“The shooter?” Peter asked again, pulling a small notepad and pen out of his back pocket.

“The evidence isn’t clearly pointing to one person in particular. We’ve narrowed it to either Patrick Murphy—the husband—or Jake Mitchell—the lover. No one else was at the cabin.”

“Help me understand. If the wife was in on the whole thing, why was she tied to the chair and gagged?”

“Good question. We haven’t been able to interrogate Mitchell yet, but my guess is they were getting ready to shoot another video and email it to the husband.” Colin glanced at the window again, but Emily and Maggie were gone.

“Still looking for a ransom?” Peter asked.

“Maybe. Or they were going to make it look like she was shot because the husband brought in the police.”

“Why is that?”

“So he wouldn’t go looking for her, I’m guessing.” A nervous tingle spread across his chest and up his neck. Should he really be telling a reporter about these things in an ongoing investigation?

“They never picked up the money from the trash bin, right?” Peter asked.

“Right. It appears the kidnapper suspected there were undercover cops waiting for him.”

“Which there were, right?”

“Yeah. The kidnapper even paid the homeless guy to get the duffle bag to see if cops were around.” The uneasiness continued. Maybe he should have cleared this conversation with Chief Nelson first. Just because he knew Peter and they had worked cases together didn’t exactly give him carte blanche to tell him everything.

“Did the old guy give you a description?” Peter asked.

Even though Peter had sworn not to report any of what was shared until Colin gave the all-clear, what if something leaked out? Colin glanced back at the house. “We should probably go back inside.”

“In a little while,” Peter replied, his pen poised against the notepad. “I’ve got a lot more questions.”

“I’m sure you do, and I know you’ll keep what I’ve told you confidential—”

“You haven’t told me much,” Peter said.

“I think before I tell you any more, I’d better clear it with the Chief.”

“Sounds like you don’t trust me, Colin.”

“It’s not that. I’d just feel better if I cover my backside, you know?”

~*~

When Colin and Peter came back inside, Emily and Isabel were huddled in the kitchen speaking in low tones.