Home
The motor coach Jonathan had somehow procured pulled to a stop just short of her front door, and Meg was glad to have a bit of a walk to gather her nerves. She could see the front stoop from here, the window to her bedroom that looked down on the front garden where she’d spied on Charlie the day he’d visited and decided she didn’t deserve him. Jonathan got out of the driver’s seat to come around to her side, but his hand fell short of the handle, and she was certain he would give her all the time she needed.
Another auto parked behind them, and Meg used the mirror at the front of the vehicle to see two police officers climb from inside. One was a plainclothes detective, the sort that might investigate murders and other horrible acts; the other was in a uniform. Again, she wasn’t sure how Jonathan had managed to have the authorities meet them there, but she was glad for it.
Meg licked her lips and took a deep breath. She looked at Charlie beside her, and he tightened his grip on her hand. He smiled at her reassuringly but said nothing, which was enough to tell her that she needn’t rush.
Jonathan was speaking to the police officers, and Meg could only hear bits and pieces of their conversation. One of the men said they’d been here so frequently over the past month, the kindly servant woman had been keeping his favorite cakes on hand. She knew he must be referring to Tessa, and Meg realized she was the only person in the estate that she even remotely wanted to see.
“I believe… I’m ready,” Meg said quietly.
“Are you certain?” Charlie asked. “You can stay here as long as you like.”
“Eventually, you’d think my mother might come out to see why there are autos parked in front of her house.”
“And if she does, and you’re not ready to speak to her, I’ll chase her away.”
The idea of Charlie scurrying after her mother up the front steps made her giggle, and she was thankful that he always found a way to make her feel better. “I believe it’s time.”
“All right then,” he said, and he pushed his door open. Hearing the noise, Jonathan immediately cut off his conversation and returned his attention to Meg, opening the door for her.
Jonathan offered his hand so that she could more easily step onto the sidewalk. “Are you ready then?” he asked.
“As ready as I shall ever be,” Meg said, breathing in deeply through her nose.
He nodded at her. “Miss Westmoreland, this is Officer Gordon Brown and Detective Harry Weber. They will accompany us.”
Meg greeted the officers, who both offered pleasantries, and then she asked, “Will you arrest my uncle based on the information I’m about to provide to you?”
Det. Weber nodded. “We actually have several warrants to serve today, Miss Westmoreland. It is our understanding that you prefer to discuss the situation with your family before we take your uncle in, but rest assured, regardless of what you do or do not say today, we will be taking him with us when we leave.”
Meg felt relief at their words, but knowing her uncle as well as she did, she muttered, “You may need more officers.”
“There are others on the way,” Officer Brown said in response. “We are here to speak to Ezra Bitterly as well.”
“Now that we know for certain his story isn’t true, we need to find out what really happened to Charlotte Ross.” Det. Weber scratched the side of his ample nose.
“Indeed,” Meg replied. “Well then, let’s have at it shall we?” A fleeting thought that she should have stayed back at the hotel with Carrie and Dr. Shaw was pushed aside as she forced herself to turn toward the only home she’d ever known.
Charlie was standing behind her now, and with one more slow inhale, Meg took his arm. Her legs were unsteady, but she made her way to the front of the house. She paused to gaze up, thinking of the happy times she’d had here with Da, trying to block out the other times, the ones that had led them all here. Pursing her lips, she climbed the front steps, and gave two sharp raps on the door.
She expected Tessa to open the door, but instead, the familiar face of her mother, Mildred Westmoreland, stared back at her once the heavy door was pulled open. “Mary Margaret?” she said, grasping her chest. “Oh, thank goodness. We were so worried.”
Meg chose not to fall for her charades. She had witnessed them enough over the years. “Mother,” she said, her upper lip stiff. “Might we come in?”
“Yes, of course,” Mildred said, stepping out of the way and making a sweeping gesture with her arm. “I wasn’t expecting you to have such an entourage.”
“You’ve met Charlie. This is his man, Jonathan. And these two officers would like to speak to you and Uncle Bertram once we are done with our conversation. Is he home?”
“He is,” Mildred replied, her head tipped up so that her nose was in the air. “Officers, it’s nice to see you again. Jonathan, lovely to meet you. All of you are most welcome” Her teeth were clenched, and Meg knew she didn’t mean a word of it. As Meg followed her into the parlor, along with Charlie, Mildred added, “Your uncle isn’t feeling well. I believe he’s in his chambers.”
The room was exactly as she recollected. It hadn’t been that long on the calendar, but it felt like years. She remembered sitting on her father’s knee before the fireplace. She remembered her mother teaching her the tango. She remembered her uncle picking her up off of the floor and carrying her up the stairs….
“I said please have a seat, Mary Margaret,” Mildred repeated, and Charlie gently pushed her back toward one of the chairs. He took another, and her mother sat in her usual position across from them. “Are you well, child?”
She wasn’t sure if her mother was asking because Meg hadn’t been paying attention or if it was because she hadn’t seen her since the incident, but either way, she knew the woman didn’t really care. “I’m as well as one could be, I suppose.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
