Chapter Twenty. We took the steps up to the back entrance of the garage apartment, which was anything but small

We took the steps up to the back entrance of the garage apartment, which was anything but small. It ran the length of the four-car garage. It was huge.

As Maggie put the key in, I was stunned to see the door was not locked.

"That's odd," Hannah said. "Bedford was very private and particular about his belongings. He had a thing about being neat. A place for everything and everything in its place. He would never have left this door unlocked."

I cautiously pushed the door opened and walked in.

"What are we looking for?" Hannah asked.

I glanced around and walked to the bedroom. "I'm not sure. I'm hoping Bedford wrote down whatever he knew, or left something else to give us a clue as to what he knew," I said and looked into his bedroom. "Bedford wasn't as neat as you thought, Hannah. Come and look at this."

Hannah and Maggie followed me into the room. The dresser drawers were slightly open with a few articles of clothing strewn about. I glanced at the small desk in the corner and again, the drawers were open.

"Either Bedford got dressed in a hurry, or somebody was looking for something, just as we are," I said.

"Kate, look at this," Maggie said. She was standing by the small desk looking at the floor.

There was a gold button lying on the floor. I picked up it and examined it. Maggie took it from me so she and Hannah could more closely examine it.

"It looks like a man's jacket button," Hannah said.

I opened the closet and saw no sports jackets or dinner jackets there, but he did have a nice selection of flannels. "Well, it's not from anything Bedford owns." I closed the closet door and took the button from Maggie.

"It has to be from someone," Maggie said and I agreed.

"Well, let's keep looking. I have a feeling there's something here," I said and held up the gold button. "And I have a feeling someone was already looking."

After going through every drawer, under the bed, through the closets and in every cabinet, we came up empty. "Crap," I said and flopped into the corner of the couch and sat back. I glanced to my right and saw a small bookcase holding about fifteen books. "Bedford read poetry?" I asked and reached for one of the books on the shelf.

As I took the book out, something fell into my lap. I looked down. It was a small composition book that looked very old. Like those we used to buy for English class. My heart raced as I cautiously opened the notebook.

"Uh, ladies, can you come over here please?" I asked.

Both were quickly at my side. "What is it?" Maggie asked.

"Some sort of notebook."

"Where did you find it?" Hannah asked.

"It, um, sort of fell in my lap," I said with a shrug. I nervously glanced around the room. Maggie and Hannah did the same. "You don't smell hyacinth, do you?" I asked. Both women shook their heads.

"Well, what's in it?" Maggie asked eagerly.

I opened the cover and leafed through the lined pages. "Well, let's start from the beginning. It says here: New job seems good. Old man Alexander is an asshole. Not much money, but I get this place for nothing. When did Bedford start working for you, Hannah?" I asked.

"Good heavens, I was a young woman, so it was nearly thirty years, as I said."

There was more scribbling, which looked like he was adding figures, probably his paychecks. I leafed through and stopped when I saw the name Sarah.

Settling into my job and getting to know the family. Old man Alexander still an asshole. Jonathon is asshole junior. I like Hannah, though. The youngest, Nathan, is a quiet guy married to the snake, Sarah.

"I don't think Bedford liked Alexander or Jonathon. Or Sarah for that matter," I said and read more pages of nonsense that contained nothing pertaining to family.

When I'd about given it up as being all about grocery lists and paychecks, I came upon an interesting passage that I read aloud.

Jonathon brought home a wife. What a beauty! Miranda is nice. What she's doing in this family?

I looked up at Hannah who sported an indignant look.

"But he liked you," I reassured her and Maggie laughed.

"Bedford liked horseracing," I said, leafing through the pages. "He scribbled about his bets. He mentioned Maggie being born...called you a cute kid. Called Charlie a bully."

"It's not like a journal. It's more like he's just writing down what he finds interesting," Maggie said. I had to agree.

"Hmm... listen to this. Here's a corker...cleaning the limo, I found a pair of diamond earrings in the back seat. The old asshole took 'em and guess what? Snaky bitch Sarah had them on that night at a party at the house. Ohhh, Alexander... Well, that might coincide with what I heard at the stable," I said. "I can't imagine Bedford talking about all this and not mentioning Miranda, though. It's got to be here."

I leafed through old, worn pages hoping to find something and I did. "Okay, here we go... Big mess. Miranda found by the lake this morning. Somebody robbed and killed her. What a shame, nice lady. Little Maggie is so young, poor kid. Now she's left with an asshole father. I'll keep an eye out."

"The writing in this next passage looks shaky to me," I said and examined the handwriting. "It's not as neat as the earlier handwriting. However, listen to this: Heard Jonathon and Sarah yelling...he's selling his old man's clinic. Nearly laughed my ass off...Sarah sounded like some crazy bitch ranting and raving. There goes her meal ticket!"

"Here's the last entry. The handwriting is the same: Can't wait to tell Maggie Sarah took off in her car this afternoon. Maggie's going to be pissed...can't wait to see the fireworks. Bet the old bitch is headed into the city with her cronies for some margaritas...it's Cinco de Mayo, ya know. What a bitch."

I leafed through the remaining pages. They were blank. Hannah reached out for it and I handed it to her. She carefully leafed through it, stopping to read from time to time. "All these years, Bedford kept this notebook. I can't believe it."

"I can't believe it literally dropped into my lap," I said as Maggie took the notebook and read it. "Let's get back to the house and call Steve. He might want to have a look at this and the button we found."

Mac and Teri were, of course, amazed at what we'd found in Bedford's apartment.

"I suppose there's still nothing we can do about the lost jewelry and glove," Teri said.

I thought about this for a moment. "Okay, with all that has happened, it can't be overlooked that Sarah and, possibly, Nathan are deeply involved with this mess. Now, we know someone took those baggies last night. Someone unlocked the door to the cellar. Someone tried to get in through the cellar last night, why? Let's retrace the evening. We were in the library with the evidence. Hannah came in to tell us Lily was looking for Tom and Steve. We all decided to talk later. We all left, but forget the bags...but do I remember Tom closing the door to the library. When we came out, Allison took Maggie for a walk. I, um, we got worried and left to look for Maggie."

"And you got really upset," Mac chimed in.

I grinned in spite of myself and looked over at Maggie, who was blushing horribly. "Yes, and I got really upset."

"So, what does this have to do with the evidence?" Mac looked confused.

"Okay, I hope my train doesn't derail here. What if taking Maggie out was a diversion to get us out of the house? Then whoever it was went into the library and took the evidence? Maybe they couldn't get it out of the house, though I haven't figured out why yet. So they slipped into the kitchen and down to the cellar and hid it there. Perhaps under the guise of getting more wine. Then they unlocked the cellar door and waited until after midnight to come back and take the bags. That is the only reason I can think of as to why there was someone trying to get back in last night."

"But Sarah and Doc checked the cellar last night," Maggie said.

"It's only a hunch," I said. "But let's go and check the cellar one more time to be sure."

Even in broad daylight, the cellar was dark, cold and damp. I hated cellars. I think I mentioned that.

"Okay, let's each take a section and see what we find," I said.

We all split up and looked under every box, chair, and old bicycle. Mac crawled behind any place he could get to and came up filthy. We checked behind the staircase. We opened boxes and checked every one. We even pulled out and checked behind every wine bottle. We all stood looking around the cellar, dusty and full of cobwebs.

"Well, at least the cellar is a little cleaner," Hannah said.

"Crap. I was sure," I said in a dejected tone. Maggie patted my shoulder.

"It was a good hunch."

I looked around and then I looked up. No rafters or any place to hide something up there. I looked at the wine rack and saw that the top almost reached the ceiling. Almost.

As I walked over to it, I noticed the stepladder. "Hey, guys," I said slowly.

I showed them the stepladder. There were footprints on the rungs and on the top of the ladder, covered with dust

"Geez, Kate," Teri said as her eyes widened.

I looked up to the top of the wine rack, it was at least seven, maybe eight, feet tall.

"Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked.

"You bet," Mac said. He opened the ladder. I stood on the top of it and reached up.

"Be careful, dear," Hannah said.

"Really Kate," Maggie agreed.

"You all think I'm gonna fall off a stepladder? Geez," I said impatiently.

Mac laughed outright. "It wouldn't be the first time, Sherlock."

I couldn't see and had to feel my way around. "God, I hope there are no spiders up here, yeesh!" I shivered. I was serious. I hated spiders.

"Will you stop joking and be careful," Maggie said sternly as she held onto my leg.

Who's joking? Continuing the search, I felt something and pulled it down. I was shocked. I didn't think anything would be there; but there they were...both bags. I handed them down to Mac who was equally shocked.

Teri was beaming. "Sherlock strikes again!"

Maggie stared at the bags then looked at me. "Amazing!"

"Heavens Kate, you're a wonder," Hannah said, shaking her head.

"I'm a little pleased myself," I said happily.

We went up to sit at the kitchen table, as we were wont to do all weekend, and stared at the plastic bags, waiting for them to do something.

Teri suddenly jumped up. "Good grief, I forgot. Your editor friend dropped off the pictures while you were at Bedford's," she said and ran out of the kitchen.

"This should be interesting," I said as Teri came back and handed me the manila envelope. "Good thinking," I said about the magnifying lens she also handed me.

As I examined the pictures, I could see a faint milky white line by the tree.

"What is it?" Hannah asked and Maggie looked as well.

I looked at Teri and smiled. She bent down and looked through the lens. Then she stood up sporting an amazed look.

"I'll explain, if I can," I said. "I think this apparition, for lack of a better word, is Miranda. I think Miranda has been here, off and on, watching over you. Now, with all that's happening, she's here. I remember when my mother died. For an entire year, I had the feeling she was there. I came home on several occasions and thought for sure she was in the room. Teri had similar experiences. I don't know how it happens, but I believe Teri. For instance, the fragrance of hyacinth in this very room...Miranda was here. I have a friend who's a photographer. He's taken and developed hundreds of photos like these. People are sure they see their loved ones in the photo. In each case, once the photo is developed, there is only the milky-white shadow."

Maggie smiled in understanding. "There have been times when I thought the same thing. I never said anything, because I thought it was my imagination. But it's comforting in a way to think she might be here."

Hannah had tears in her eyes. "Every time I look at you, Maggie, Miranda is here." She reached up and touched Maggie's cheek.

"Well, let's get back to the other issue," I said. "I remember what Charlie said at the party about Allison losing a riding glove. We can't overlook Allison being somehow involved. To what extent I don't know. If you look at this logically, there are a few people we could consider because they all knew Miranda then and are still around now. Somebody knows something and I'm going to find out who and what, today," I said emphatically. "Okay, person-by-person. The glove implicates Allison. Next, Nathan. We are all on the same page in one respect: he loved Miranda and she him. That's a big motive especially if he wanted her and she said no. Then there's Jonathan. Same motive...love. Perhaps he found out and killed her in a jealous rage, but since he's dead now, how could he be responsible for the current turn of events involving Maggie?

"Next, we have Doc," I continued. "He knows something, I can smell it. What, I don't know. Although, I can't imagine him a murderer, but he surely knows something. Then we have Sarah. Her little psychotic trip through the woods today leads me to believe she knew where to locate Miranda's jewelry...and she was surely looking for something today.

"While mumbling to herself and talking to the woods are not points in her favor, it doesn't mean she murdered Miranda, but if she knew Nathan loved her then there's a motive there also. Now with Bedford's notebook, we know there was a good deal going on way back when with Sarah, Alexander and her fight with Jonathon over the Winfield Clinic. Who am I missing?" I looked at all of them.

"Tom Caldwell," Maggie said.

"Ah, Tom. Well, he admitted to gossiping about Nathan and Miranda. Maybe he loved her, maybe he told her he loved her and she refused him. Being the sheriff, he could possibly get away with it. Stretching it, I know, but why not. Why should he be left out?" I stopped and rubbed my forehead, I had a tremendous headache. I looked around the table, "Confusing, isn't it?" It was not a question.

"Completely," Hannah said. "How in the world are you going to find out?"

"Well, we have the jewelry and the murderer doesn't know this. That's a big advantage. Since we found the glove at the scene of Bedford's murder, once we have a suspect, we could possibly test any DNA on the glove and compare it to our suspect. That would surely help prove something." I got a cup of coffee and turned toward the table, they were all looking at me wide-eyed. I thought for a moment. "Common threads. Now, I've got a few, we just need to tie them together."

I stared at my coffee cup thinking of the evidence we had: The jewelry, the glove, and now the notebook and the jacket button. My mind raced. The button from the jacket. I whirled around to all of them.

"What? I can tell you have an idea, Kate," Teri said.

Maggie nodded. "I agree, I know you well enough, I can tell when the wheels are turning."

"There is one way to find out who is implicated or involved. We have the evidence." I thought for a moment. "Okay, first we need to make sure the evidence is safe, I mean really safe...literally...a safe."

I looked at Mac and Teri. "Can you take the evidence over to Steve and make sure he puts it in evidence lockup? Tell him everything and that I'll be in touch later this afternoon."

I watched them leave then looked at Hannah. "Call Doc and have him come over, please? I'm sorry Hannah, but he knows something and he's got to tell me."

"I'll call him." Without another word, she walked away.

Maggie looked at me. "What do you want me to do?" she asked tremulously. She knew what I was going to ask.

"Maggie, if you don't want to do this, I'll understand, but I need you to call Allison. This is the important part, Maggie: Tell her about the evidence, and that we found it. Tell her about the notebook. Then tell her I have a theory about this but I won't tell you. You and I had a fight over it. Tell her whatever, but see that she's here in an hour."

I saw the look of doubt.

"If you don't want to do this, please believe me, I understand. We'll do it another way," I said. "I know it looks like I'm playing with people's lives here, but there's a murderer out there and I've grown too fond of you to let anything happen."

"Yes, I can do it. You think Allison is going to tell Sarah, right?" she asked.

"I think she's already told Sarah a great deal. Now I want her to come here. I need to talk to her, Maggie. I hope I'm completely wrong about all of this, truly I do. However, we need to know who's implicated." I took a deep breath and regarded Maggie. "Sorry, Maggie, my gut tells me she'll tell Sarah and it will snowball from there. I don't want you to do anything you're uncomfortable with. I know how much you care about Allison. So please don't do anything you'll regret." I ran my fingers through my hair and Maggie gently touched my arm.

"I've been thinking about this since you found the locket. I'm not sure what it means, but I have to find out one way or the other. I can't live like this anymore: afraid of going out, afraid of thinking about the past and my mother. I've been alone and scared for a long time. I don't want to be alone and scared anymore."

"It'll be over soon, Maggie. I promise."

Once the phone calls were made, it was all set in motion.

Hannah returned, and put her hand on my shoulder. "Kate, this has to be finished one way or the other," she said. "I called Walt, he's on his way and I know he'll talk. Now, you two plan your attack. I have a kitchen to clean." She smiled and left.

Plan my attack? I hoped I knew what I was doing. I hoped for Maggie's sake most of all.

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