Chapter Sixteen. By six o'clock, the party was in full swing

By six o'clock, the party was in full swing.

Charlie came in with some beautiful woman on his arm. "Kate, Teri, Mac, I'd like you to meet Shirley," he said with a sly grin.

I gave him a curious look. "Hi, Shirley, nice to meet you," I said and offered my hand.

"A pleasure." She was chewing gum.

When she shook my hand, she reminded me of a blond bombshell from the 1940's. Charming and...unassuming I think is the politically correct way to describe her. I glanced at Teri and Mac, who were just staring at her. I nudged Teri; she blinked.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Shirley, it's nice to meet you." Teri smiled and introduced Mac, who was still staring.

Charlie took Shirley's coat and she had on a strapless black velvet dress that was very revealing, but she wore it like a glove. I didn't know which way to look. So, like any red-blooded American lesbian, I stared.

"Holy crap," I said slowly and Mac nodded in agreement.

Maggie joined us, and her eyes widened for a split second, but she recovered quickly, much better than I did, when Charlie introduced her to Shirley.

Hannah saw us from across the room and waved.

"Aunt Hannah, this is Shirley," Charlie said with an impish grin.

"How very nice to meet you dear," Hannah said, wide-eyed.

"Your nephew told me so much about you. Can I call you Aunt Hannah?" Shirley asked sincerely.

"If you must, but only if you must."

Shirley let out a shrieking laugh that turned every head in the room. "Your aunt is a hoot, I tell you, Chuck, just a hoot." She slapped his back.

He appeared genuinely amused and said to Hannah, "You're a hoot. I mean a hit."

I looked around the room, mostly trying to avoid drooling over Shirley. I saw Nathan and Sarah having a conversation in the corner. He looked ragged and tired, like most doctors did at the end of the day, I suspected.

Sarah looked like she was nagging him about something. I thought of Allison and immediately thought of the intruder the other night. Could it possibly be Allison? I hoped it wasn't. Why would she do such a thing to Maggie? My mind went back to the glove. Whose glove was it?

Then I saw Allison come into the room. I had to admit, she was good looking. She looked elegant in a simple black dress and pearls. She immediately flew to Sarah's side. What was up with those two? Allison talked, and Sarah listened without looking at her. When Allison was done, Sarah patted her on the arm and handed her empty glass to her. The little toady went and got it refilled. I glanced over to her and she was staring right at me. I smiled, nodded, and she smiled back. At least I think it was a smile.

I looked around the room and saw Tom, Lily and Doc talking. They, too, looked a little worn as they talked seriously. The magnitude of the events of the past few days suddenly dawned on me. I was looking at it like a puzzle, trying to quench my insatiable curiosity. I had forgotten this was a family and a community that loved Miranda, a person who had been brutally murdered. It occurred to me how I'd pushed my emotional side to the background in the last few years and I considered the reason for it. The anxious feeling crept through me once again as it did every time I remembered.

" But I did, Doctor. Don't you see? I made the decision and now one person is dead and my partner nearly lost his life. I did that..." I said, pleading with her to understand.

"And you blame yourself?" she asked in a quiet, calm voice that made me want to leap across the desk and strangle her.

"Yes! I blame myself because I did it!"

She shook her head. "Kate, Kate..."

"Kate?" Mac gave me a wary look. "What's up?" He smiled and put his arm around me.

"N-nothing." I wiped my forehead with a trembling hand.

"C'mon, give. What's wrong?"

"I don't know, Mac, I think I'm in way over my head. Look at all these people, look how tired and worn they look. Christ, Bedford is dead. Someone's trying to kill Maggie by sabotaging her saddle and/or trying to drive her nuts. Sarah and Old Man Winfield probably did the dirty deed, and for all we know Miranda and Nathan had an affair as well. Oh, and let's not forget the woman in the woods. Who the hell is she? If my darling psychic sister is correct, it's Miranda! Who, by the way was murdered twenty years ago. So... does that about cover it?"

"Uh, pretty much, yeah," Mac agreed.

"What in the hell am I doing? Who do I think I am?" I asked. No one heard me but Mac. Teri and Maggie were talking alone by the bar.

Mac turned me to him. "Look, kiddo, you have your dad's gift, and you know it. Don't be afraid to use it. I know your mom didn't care for you and Teri trading horror stories with your dad, but it rubbed off on you, Kate. You have a knack for this. Hell, you spent almost ten years proving it." He looked me right in the eyes and continued. "Maggie needs you, Kate. I don't know whom else she can count on. I don't know her very well, but I can tell this is taking its toll. You don't know her that well her either, but can't you feel it? We...you have to solve this, quick. So, quit feeling sorry for yourself and get to work."

Before I could reply, Teri and Maggie walked up to us. As I looked at Teri, I remembered what I had just said about Miranda. "I've been thinking about the woman in the woods. Do you have a photo album? I think we need to look at one."

Maggie gave me a curious look. "Well, I know Aunt Hannah has a few she's kept over the years. Why?"

"Well, I'd like to see a picture of your mother, that's all," I said, and couldn't hide the hesitation in my voice.

"All right, I'm beginning to know you. Right now, you're lying to me. Why do you want to see a photo of my mother?" She looked at me, and by the look on her face, I knew it dawned on her. "You think the woman in the woods is my, my mother?" she asked in astonishment.

I winced and looked at Teri, who said calmly, "I think it's your mother, Maggie, not Kate. I just want to make sure. Kate saw her twice and you, once. Wouldn't you like to know for sure?" she finished, looking right into Maggie's eyes.

"Y-yes, I do. I just never thought of this." She gave Teri a curious look. "How can that be?"

"Maggie, there are things that happen all around us that we can't explain..."

"Like the Chicago Cubs," I chimed in then cleared my throat. "Sorry."

"Who knows why they happen? I believe that occasionally, not very often, but occasionally, God allows those who have passed on to hang around to make sure their loved ones are safe. Maybe Miranda won't rest until Kate solves this. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know, but I'd like to find out." She patted Maggie on the arm.

Tears filled Maggie's eyes as she pulled out the hanky I'd given her.

"I would like to know, too," Maggie replied.

I looked over at Charlie and Shirley. "Boy, where does Charlie find 'em? That dress fits like a glove," I said.

"And Charlie seems to love the glove," Maggie agreed as we all laughed.

Then it came to me. I stared at the desk, where the bags of evidence were. I turned to Maggie. "When we were trying to listen to Bedford, what did you think he said?" I asked urgently.

"I thought he said 'love.' I know it doesn't make any sense."

"Maggie, he said 'glove.' He was trying to tell us about the glove. I will bet during whatever struggle there was, he got the glove and held onto it for dear life. Now, with the jewelry, DNA and fingerprints might prove useless. The jewelry is too old, and left out in the elements far too long. However, this glove may be different. DNA testing may reveal something. Who knows? I've got to tell Doc. Steve should take the bags. I don't like the idea of them in the house."

With that, Allison walked by and said hello on her way to talk to someone. She gave all of us a scathing glance. Yep, she's annoying.

"She gives me the creeps," Teri whispered to Mac.

"Why does she hang around your aunt so much?" I asked curiously.

"She always has," Maggie said. "Her mother died when she was little, even younger than I was. It seemed like she was always around Sarah. I guess I never thought of it before."

Just then, Tom and Doc walked up, each balancing a plate full of food. "This is wonderful grub. Your aunt outdid herself," Tom said. He looked at me. "Well, what have you been up too?"

I explained to them about the glove and my theory. They both looked at the desk.

"I agree Steve should take it, but I'd like to see it first," Tom suggested.

Because it was a beautiful night, most people were outside, which gave me time to retrieve the bags from the desk. We went into the library for privacy.

I saw Allison walk toward us. Maggie, bless her, called her and asked her for help getting wine from the cellar. As they walked away, Maggie gave me quick wink.

Steve had joined his father, Doc and me. Teri and Mac made sure we weren't disturbed. Steve and Tom examined the glove, careful not to handle it too much. I watched all the reactions. When Doc looked at the glove, he frowned. He knew something, I could feel it.

With Mac and Teri, settling in, I started as Maggie rejoined us and took a seat. "Given what we already know, I think we can safely presume that Maggie is the catalyst for all that is happening. Now, hear me out, please. I think the common thread in this whole mess is the secrets that surround this family. I'm tired of having unanswered questions. Like: What brought Miranda to the lake that night? We should assume it was at night because one of you would have seen her and missed her, if it were during the day. What was her relationship with Nathan? Why was his picture in her locket and not her husband's? After all these years, why is it that my dog finds the evidence that re-opens an unsolved, brutal murder? And while we're on that train, let's look at all the violence. I don't know how Alexander Winfield died, but Jonathon was the victim of a hit-and-run with no driver ever found. His wife, Miranda, was brutally stabbed in the woods, right across the lake. Bedford, the victim of arson. Somebody wedged a shovel through the handles of the stable door. Their intent was clear: To keep Bedford inside the burning stable. Why? Because he knew something. Another family secret. Something about Alexander and Sarah. I know this because I overheard it."

I looked at Doc, who had gone a little pale. Tom was frowning, seemingly confused. However, no one said a word as I continued.

"And we all know what has been happening to Maggie in the last few months."

Tom spoke. "It seems that all this started once your dog dug up all the evidence. Smart dog."

I noticed Teri. I don't think she was buying Chance's superior intellect.

"No Tom, I'm afraid I don't have Chance the Wonder Dog. Are you all telling me that there are no other dogs in this community? No animals in the woods that would dig?" I remembered Chance yesterday morning, doing the scary dog thing. I looked at Teri and she looked me right in the eye. My blood ran cold as she nodded slowly. I knew she was thinking the same thing. "Who is protecting the woods?"

Well, if that didn't scare the hell out of everybody...

We all sat in silence for a moment, to digest what I had put forth. Suddenly, a cold shiver ran through me. I looked at Teri again. "Please tell me somebody else can smell that."

Everyone looked at each other. "What is that?" Doc asked. Tom sniffed the air.

"I don't know," he said.

"I smell it, Kate," Teri said.

"What is that? It smells so familiar," Maggie said as she sniffed the air.

With that, the library door opened and Sarah walked in.

Is it my imagination, or had the fragrance dissipated? I got the creeps.

"I'm sorry to interrupt. Doc, Nathan wanted me to tell you he was just paged. Apparently an emergency surgery in Dubuque. He'll call you in the morning."

Glancing at Tom and Doc, they seemed almost relieved. "Thanks, Sarah. I know the patient. Nathan asked my opinion the other day," Doc said.

Sarah smiled thinly. "Well, I'm sorry I interrupted. Please continue with your meeting." She gently closed the door as she left.

There was an awkward silence. "Well, I have one question," Maggie said. I noticed the stubborn look and held my breath. "Does anyone else but me think Uncle Nathan and my mother had an affair?"

Even though the question was long overdue, it took courage for Maggie to ask. I looked around the room at the dumbfounded expressions and nearly laughed. Teri and Mac said nothing. What could they say?

"I, for one, think it took great courage to ask that question. I think it deserves an answer," I said. Still no one said a word.

With that, Maggie stood. "It does deserve an answer, Kate. I suppose I'll find out for myself."

With a steady gait, she walked out of the library, passing Hannah on her way.

"Heavens, what's going on in here? Tom, Lily is looking all over for you and Steve. You all better continue this later."

We all left the conversation hanging, rejoined the party and mingled around the buffet table. As I was talking to Teri and Maggie, I caught the scent of the familiar perfume. I quickly looked around as the scent faded.

"Kate, what is it?" Maggie asked.

"Dammit. I smelled it again."

"You mean from the library?" Teri asked.

"No, the perfume the woman who tossed me through the French doors was wearing," I said and frantically continued looking.

The room was crowded with both men and women. Allison, Sarah, and Hannah were all standing in the same small circle of women, chattering away. It was impossible to figure out who it was.

"Shit," I cursed and turned back to the buffet table.

I noticed Allison standing by Maggie. "Well, where have you been? It's a beautiful night, c'mon, let's take a walk."

I didn't like her leaving with Allison, but I could say nothing. They went out on the deck and into the yard. As I watched them, that damned fragrance hit me again. I turned to see Sarah standing and looking at me with a half smile on her face.

"Mrs. Winfield, good evening. Are you enjoying yourself?" I asked politely, hoping she didn't see the look of sheer panic on my face. Swallowing right then was impossible.

"Yes, Miss Ryan, Hannah knows how to throw a party. How are you feeling? I understand quite a bit has happened in the last few days." She looked at me with her dark, almost-black, eyes.

"Oh, I'm fine. It's awful about Bedford, though. Who would want to kill him?" I asked looking at her while regaining my composure.

"Who? I thought he was unfortunately caught in the stable fire. It was a horrible accident," she said thoughtfully as she gazed at the fire. She was silent for an instant, but then said, "So this is good news. Tom can open the case again, and find Miranda's murderer. Maggie must be very happy." She stared at the flames as if in a trance. "Well, I think I'll go see if Hannah needs any help. Have a good time, Miss Ryan." With that, she walked away.

"Whatever," I said and turned to see Mac and Teri approaching. They watched Sarah's retreating figure.

"Man, she gave me the willies," Teri said.

I agreed. "Doesn't she look like Mrs. Danvers from the movie Rebecca? Oh, and she knew about Tom re-opening Miranda's case."

"You told her?"

"Nope."

Teri frowned. "Then how did she..." she stopped.

"Yep. The toady, Allison," I said. "Sarah wasn't there this afternoon. Allison must have told her. That's why she ran over to Sarah earlier this evening. I bet my log cabin on it. Sarah knows something too. They all do. Somebody's covering up for somebody, and her conversation with Bedford yesterday at the stable is nagging at me. Alexander Winfield..."

I looked around for Maggie. She was nowhere in sight and I got a little worried.

Charlie came out with his date and they sat down to eat. He seemed to sense my concern when he said, "Where's Maggie?" He looked out into the woods.

"She went for a walk with Allison," I said as I looked up to see him frowning.

"And you let her?" he asked.

I gave him a curious look. "Let her? Since when does anyone let your cousin do anything? Why shouldn't she go for a walk?"

He said nothing.

"Charlie, what in the hell are you doing? You're being way too evasive, what's going on?" I was getting angry. Too many people knew too many things and no one was talking. I felt myself close to the edge.

"I saw Allison this morning; I went riding with her and a couple of friends. She broke a nail and blamed it on her riding gloves...which she had lost." He looked at us.

Panic set in as we all looked around. Maggie was nowhere in sight.