Love Is Murder

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The sheriff’s deputies arrived Saturday evening, and took everyone’s statement. They stayed the night because they couldn’t get off the mountain, but by dawn the snow had stopped and pockets of blue could be seen above.

The drama of the weekend had taken its toll on the guests, and Alan and Heather left Sunday morning, followed by Kyle and Angie. Trevor, after making arrangements with the coroner to send Vanessa’s body to Phoenix, also left. Patrick and Lucy decided to stay one more night to help Beth and Steve make plans.

“The good news is Grace isn’t as clever as she thought,” Patrick said. “I spoke to Vanessa’s brother this morning, and he told me everything. Grace and Nelson Russell had been engaged. Vanessa suspected Grace had stolen an expensive painting, even though Grace had come up with an excuse as to why she had it in her car. Russell forgave her, but agreed to test her honesty. He set up a sting of sorts, but Grace figured it out and stole $150,000 in cash and jewelry that had been in the Russells’ safe. According to Russell, he didn’t care about the money, but the jewelry had been in his family for generations. They’ve been looking for the jewelry and Grace ever since.”

“How did they find her?” Steve asked.

“Through your website. When Trevor and Vanessa decided to find a mountain lodge to honeymoon at, they researched dozens, including the Delarosa. On the page was a picture of Grace and Leo. Though not a close-up, Vanessa thought she’d recognized her and hired a private investigator, who confirmed it. She told her brother she’d investigate, and if it was Grace, she’d demand the return of their jewelry. According to Russell, who hasn’t received the postcard yet, the message meant that he was right, she still had the jewelry, and they won, because Grace promised to return it in exchange for them not turning her over to the police.”

“So why did Grace kill her?” Lucy asked.

Beth said, “Because she doesn’t have the jewelry.” Everyone turned to look at her. “It’s my fault! I sold it for her.” She rubbed her temple.

“Why?”

“She told me Leo left it to her in the will, and I had no reason to doubt her. She said she needed the money so she wouldn’t have to tell Steve that Leo had spent their savings. I believed her. Dammit, she was my sister!”

“You didn’t know any of this?” Steve asked.

Beth shook her head. “Grace is ten years older than me. We weren’t close growing up. Our parents divorced when I was five, and Grace left home a couple years later. I’d see her every couple of years, and she was always nice to me. Generous, talking about her travels.”

“How did she make money? What did she tell you?”

“She was a nurse for years. Then she met her first husband, in Orlando. When he died, she came into some money. I didn’t really ask her much about that.”

“She was a nurse?” Lucy asked. She nodded. “That makes sense. She’d know how meds work and interact.”

“I’m so sorry, Steve. I really didn’t know.”

Steve took Beth’s hand. “I believe you. But we still have no money left.”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” Patrick said. “The police will go through all her finances and bank accounts. You’ll have dibs on it as soon as they get it straightened out.”

Beth nodded. “I’ll go through the books and find out how much she took. And I’ll stay. It’s the least I can do.”

“You don’t have to.” Steve looked around the dining room. “Maybe I should close down.”

“No,” Beth said. “Please-I love this place. My boyfriend is in Afghanistan. I sent him pictures, and he wants to live here when his tour is up. Andy is going to need a place like this. You’d like him.”

“You’d stay? Even though I can’t pay you or anything?”

“I have a roof over my head and food to eat, and we’ll find a way to make it work. I’m not giving up on you, or the lodge.”

Lucy rose and faked a yawn. “I’m beat. Patrick?”

He picked up on her cue and followed her upstairs. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just want to give them time alone. This is a lot to digest.”

“Tell me about it. You want to ski tomorrow?”

Lucy looked at Patrick like he’d grown a second head. “No. I’ve had enough snow for a lifetime. I’m still freezing from yesterday.”

She opened her door. “You think they’ll be okay?”

“I think they have a lot to deal with, but yeah, I think they’ll make it. Steve works hard, and he loves this place. Getting over what happened to his dad will take time, but Beth is solid. I think she’ll be good for him.”

“And when her boyfriend gets back from Afghanistan, maybe the three of them can make a life together.” She paused. “Do you think there’s someone for everyone?”

“What brought this on?”

Lucy felt uncomfortable talking to her brother about relationships, but she pushed forward anyway. “I didn’t love Cody.”

“I know.”

“Maybe I didn’t give him a chance.”

“You dated him for nearly two years.”

“What if I won’t know what love is when I see it?”

Patrick sighed. “You don’t see love, you feel it. You’ll know. I liked Cody, he was good to you, but if you don’t feel the same way, getting married would have been a huge mistake.” He gave her a hug. “You’ll find the right guy, someone who will love you and protect you, someone who makes you happy and makes you laugh. Someone will walk into your life when you least expect it and sweep you off your feet. You won’t be able to imagine your life without him.”

Lucy smiled. “That’s really sweet.”

“And he’ll know if he breaks your heart, he’ll have to answer to your brothers.”

She laughed. “What are you trying to do, scare this fictitious Mr. Perfect away?”

“If he really loves you, he won’t be scared off so easy.”

Lucy kissed her brother on the cheek and went into her room. She changed into her sweats and T-shirt and crawled under the thick down comforter.

She hoped Patrick was right. She hoped someday she would find someone to love.