The Waking Bell Page 17

  Coy took a cigarette out of a leather cigarette case and lit it. Taking a puff, he blew out rings of smoke. He was looking me up and down in the most direct and straightforward fashion.

  I could tell by the tightening of his lips that he was trying to contain his temper. I found I didn’t care if he did or didn’t.

  He looked over his shoulder and pointed to a bench at the edge of the cemetery. “Would you at least take a moment for me? You need to listen to me.”

  My first instinct was to go to my car and leave. He was dangerous. He wanted my husband charged in his sister’s death. Yet he also had knowledge I needed.

  I followed him to the other side of the cemetery. The bench had been placed there by Mrs. McGillicutty after her husband passed away eight years ago. The elderly lady wanted a place to sit to be close to him. They had been married for over fifty years.

  Scooting as far away as I could from the man, I sat facing him. He looked tired and rather weary. He wrung his hands together.

  I crossed my arms and stared at him. “Why did you feel it was necessary to ambush me in the cemetery once again?”

  He shrugged. “I followed you from the Reeves’s house. I’m staying with the Wentworths while I’m here in Oak Flatt and saw you leave. I wanted to talk with you alone, without your husband, if you must know. I find your marriage quite convenient for Matt.”

  For a long moment, I considered leaving. I wasn’t going to talk about my marriage, especially not to him. “Please explain,” I said finally. “About the brooch.”

  “I will admit I was taken aback when I got a letter asking what had happened to a brooch that was commissioned by Mable Ann Adams, my maternal grandmother who died more than twenty years ago.”

  “Your grandmother?”

  “Yes, it is all so confusing. I ended up driving to Charleston to get a better understanding of the situation.”

  I sat obediently and waited apprehensively for what he intended to tell me. The pressure of everything happening felt palpable.

  “Well,” he said rather emphatically. “It seems the brooch you said you found is more than likely the one my sister paid a rather exorbitant amount of money to have made.”

  “Are you quite sure it is one and the same?”

  “Mrs. Goddard was certain.” Coy took another puff. “My question becomes how you came into possession of it? I can’t imagine that Moria went to so much trouble to get it made in such secrecy and you ended up with it.”

  His insinuation stung. Yet, there was something in his voice that was sincerely looking for what had happened to his sister.

  “Why would you think that my having this brooch is suspicious if it is the one that Moria had made?”

  “Because we took Moria’s jewelry after her death,” he said in a straightforward manner.

  I shrugged. “You’re not making sense. Anything of Moria’s would have been Matt’s afterward. Why would you expect to get any of her jewelry?”

  “Most of it, Moria had inherited from our grandmother…the name she used when making the brooch,” he countered, clearly irritated with my questions. “It’s a family heirloom.”

  “Not everything was family heirlooms.” I had been in Moria’s room. There was nothing left.

  Mrs. Pritchard said they had taken everything with Matt’s permission. I don’t think Matt wanted any reminder of her in the house.

  Coy studied me for a long minute. “You aren’t as—”

  “Stupid,” I finished for him, unable to hide my irritation. “No, I’m not, and you are weighing on my last nerve.”

  I had had it. I had enough to worry about besides Coy trying to play me against my husband. I rose, but he grabbed my arm.

  “Don’t go, please,” he said in earnest. “I’m sorry. I was led to believe you were slow, but I can see you’re not. I need answers. I don’t believe Moria’s death was an accident.”

  I saw tears well in his eyes. His sister’s death had touched him deeply. I felt for him, but there was little I could do. Nothing I could say would ease his pain, only deepen the wound.

  “Moria was my only sibling. I feel like I failed her. My family.”

  Slowly, I eased back down. “I don’t know what you want me to say. Matt was deeply affected by her passing, and I will never believe he had anything to do with her death.”

  “I know that’s what you believe.” He grimaced. “But I’ve known Matt much longer than you have. Matt’s a charmer. When Moria introduced us, we became fast friends. He presents himself well. Handsome. Loyal. Brave.”

  He realized I was going to listen. He extinguished his cigarette and leaned back. “I had never seen Moria as happy as she was when she met Matt and brought him home. Three months after they met, they were engaged. Three months after that, the two were married. Father was ecstatic that Moria had found someone that could keep her in the lifestyle that she wanted and seemed to love her dearly. I don’t know what happened after they exchanged vows, but it was never the same between the two of them. I know most consider Matt a hero for volunteering for the war while in England, but he left his wife…on their honeymoon—alone. What kind of man does that?”

  The thought crossed my mind of defending Matt, telling Coy that it had been Moria who pushed Matt into service. There again, no matter what I would say, he would believe otherwise. I didn’t interrupt.

  His solemn expression told me that he was deadly serious. Still, he sat for a long minute before continuing. “I am going to be honest with you because if we’re not truthful with each other, Moria’s death will linger as a ghost, not only to me, but you as well.”

  Despite not feeling the same, I nodded. His intensity allowed for no other option.

  “I suspect after she was abandoned in England, Moria took a lover. Loneliness, I suppose.” His voice altered to a sorrowful melancholy tone. “Moreover, when Matt returned, Moria said he was different than he had been. I know that war changes a man. You lose a part of yourself that you’ll never get back. It’s my belief that Matt discovered Moria’s affairs and killed her in a fit of jealousy. I need to find her lover. He is the key to this mystery.”

  “Do you have any idea who he may be?” I asked hesitantly, afraid he would sense my interest lay with more than his sister.

  He shook his head. “I have suspicions, but you can help me.”

  Stunned that he would ever consider that I would give him aid in a vendetta against Matt, I said, “That isn’t a possibility.”

  “You have to,” he insisted. “You don’t know who you married. Your life might be in danger.”

  “It’s you that doesn’t understand,” I said. “You never even asked where I found that brooch because you believe that Matt gave it to me. He didn’t, but it does hold importance. I found it at the sight where a young boy disappeared.”

  He seemed taken aback by my forcefulness. His face contorted.

  “I see, as you must,” I pressed onward, “that it is important to find the one she gave it to, or had she kept it herself? I have wondered the connection since Mrs. Goddard recognized the brooch. I told Mrs. Goddard I would love to give it to the person who owns it, for when I find out, it will hold a clue to what happened to Alfie Walker.”

  He stared at me in disbelief. I had visibly disturbed him.

  I didn’t stop. “You come to me after you have already gone to Governor Cooper and asked for a separate investigation and expect me to help you destroy my husband. It is preposterous to believe I would ever go against Matt,” I stated fervently. “My husband did nothing to your sister.”

  “I haven’t a clue what you mean about Governor Cooper. If there is another investigation going on, then it’s about damn time,” he retorted. “I came to you because Moria always kept a journal…had since she was a small girl. They were all there in her belongings except for any after her marriage to Matt. That’s what I want.”

  I shook my head. “I know nothing about a journal. I was told you have everything of hers. There is
nothing left.”

  “I fear it has been destroyed.” Coy frowned. “I just want the truth, Mrs. Pritchard.”

  Nothing I had said had deterred his belief that Matt had something to do with Moria’s death. I could see it in his eyes. I doubted that anything ever would.

  I had added to his pain with the revelation of where I found the brooch. There again, I wondered if he even believed me about that fact. He was bent on proving Matt had killed Moria. He promised me the truth and had denied he had gone to Governor Cooper.

  He was trying to manipulate me against Matt. It wasn’t going to work.

  I rose with all the dignity I could muster, determined now more than ever to find out who had the brooch. I walked to my car without looking back.

  Chapter 16

  It was very quiet in the house after supper.

  Matt sat to my side on the couch, reading the paper. I had a book in my hand. I was reading but couldn’t remember a word. I kept rereading the page. It was too quiet for me.

  Mrs. Pritchard sat across from us with her Good Housekeeping magazine. She had been talking about redecorating Moria’s bedroom.

  It was time to make the change. I was in agreement but also amazed how anxious my mother-in-law was to wipe out any semblance of the woman. Perhaps, she hadn’t held Moria in esteem like I had been led to believe.

  I had come to the conclusion that Mrs. Pritchard’s life revolved around Matt. He was the reason she lived and wanted only the best for him. She might not have considered me the model wife, but she knew I loved him. A calm had settled in the house between Mrs. Pritchard and me.

  My mother-in-law knew nothing of the great shock of my past. I was not as fortunate. After I had learned the truth, it was impossible for me to forget, but the story itself was just that to me—a tragic tale.

  Mrs. Pritchard sat in blissful ignorance of any turmoil surrounding me. I found myself envious.

  My uneasy feeling was about the brooch. It kept echoing in my head it was Moria’s. Moria’s. It was quite troublesome.

  When Coy had first said it, I found it hard to believe. Although I sat there listening to him, it didn’t sink in, not until I had time to digest the information. Then the disturbing thought that Matt had taken me to Charleston to visit Goddard’s assaulted me.

  Matt had insisted we go there where he bought my wedding gift. It couldn’t have been a coincidence. I glanced over at my husband and wondered what it all meant.

  The silence was broken by the dogs barking, indicating someone coming up the drive. Matt looked up. I could tell he wasn’t expecting anyone.

  A moment later, we heard the sound of footsteps on the stone walkway, and then a knock on the door. Matt rose and went to the front door. I exchanged confused looks with Mrs. Pritchard.

  Matt returned with Sheriff Brawner by his side. The sheriff had one hand in the other hand, which he kept turning. He entered the living room, followed by Deputy Josiah Lytte, who wasn’t much older than I was.

  Matt gestured for both to sit. “Please join us, Sheriff. Would you like some tea or anything?” Matt moved to my side. “What can we help you with?”

  “Ain’t no pleasure visit, Matt.” The large man lowered his gaze and played again with the rim of his hat. He looked up. “Got a call. Said we need to take another look at Moria’s death.”

  “Why?” Mrs. Pritchard stood. “It was an accident.”

  My gaze went out the window…into darkness. I didn’t want to betray my nervousness. The night was black given it was a new moon, giving way to an eerie aura. I felt a shiver run up my spine.

  “It’s what I reported, ma’am,” Sheriff Brawner said. “Just some loose ends to tie up. There have been a few questions that have been raised, Mrs. Pritchard…Mrs. Pritchard.” I turned around to find the sheriff looking directly at me. “I’m going to need that brooch you found.”

  A sickening feeling overwhelmed me. I struggled to find my voice. “Forever? Why?”

  “I know,” Sheriff Brawner said. “You offered it to me before. I ain’t so sure what it has to do with anything, but it seems that it may have belonged to Mrs. Moria Pritchard, which calls into question why it was there. I’m going to need it now.”

  I felt all eyes on me. The room had suddenly grown cold. I managed a nod.

  Glancing over at Matt, he had an odd expression, but he made no attempt to stop me. I eased up and walked toward the stairs, surprised to find Deputy Lytte following after me. I stopped on the first step.

  The realization that Coy had lied surged through me. He had gone to the governor. The threatening world crashed through the bubble I had lived in since I exchanged vows with Matt. It threatened the very breath I breathed.

  The brooch. Coy must believe that the brooch connected Matt to Moria’s death. Even worse, Alfie’s disappearance. I couldn’t let that happen.

  Pushing a stray hair back over my ears, I frowned.

  “Go ahead, girl,” Deputy Lytte said, pushing me from behind.

  At first, I was outraged he had touched me in that manner. If Matt had seen him, the deputy would have been on the floor, but I had left my husband in deep discussion with Sheriff Brawner.

  The idea struck me that the deputy thought me a simpleton as most did. I sucked in a deep breath with the sudden realization that I could be what he thought.

  With each step, resentment grew against the men that had walked into our home. The lawmen thought that the person pulling the string on this investigation had more influence than the Pritchard name.

  With my hand on the door handle to the room I shared with Matt, I turned to the deputy. “What are you looking for again?”

  “The brooch you found in the woods,” he said impatiently.

  “I’m trying to remember,” I said, biting my lower lip. “The woods, you say?”

  “Lordy, Cady Blue, it’s a piece of jewelry for heaven’s sake!” He put his hand together to form a circle.

  I supposed his gesture was to help me recall what the brooch looked like. I could have laughed, but I wasn’t done with him, yet. “So you say.”

  I began turning the doorknob, then stopped. He almost rammed his head against the door. “Damn!” he muttered under his breath.

  “You can’t go inside a lady’s bedroom,” I stated firmly. “You need to stay here.”

  He grimaced. “Sheriff Brawner ordered me not to let you out of my sight.”

  I winced as if unable to figure out how to make him happy. I raised my index finger. “I can leave the door open while I look.” I shrugged and smiled. “You stay here. I don’t want to make Matt mad at me.”

  He gave me a nod like one would do to appease a small child. I proceeded inside the room, leaving the door wide open. He could watch my every move.

  Once inside, I went straight to my jewelry box. Matt had bought it down at the Old Mill General Store in town. It was made of cherry with a teal jewelry liner. It wasn’t locked despite having a brass key. I had never felt the need.

  Opening it, the beveled mirror reflected it held only my wedding jewelry. There was no brooch. I looked back at Deputy Lytte with my hands extended like I hadn’t a clue where it could be.

  “I thought I put it here,” I said, glancing around the room. “I don’t know where it could be…maybe over here.”

  I went to the closet and started going through the clothes on hangers. I leaned over and looked at the shelves.

  “Have you found it, darling?”

  Turning, I felt immense relief to see Matt. Sheriff Brawner was behind him, surveying the room.

  I sniffled like I was going to cry. “I don’t know where I put it.”

  “Let’s think about the last time you had it.” Matt moved over to the jewelry box and lifted the lid for Sheriff Brawner to see. “In Charleston… Do you suppose you mixed it up with Goldie’s presents?”

  I lifted my eyes to the ceiling and shrugged.

  “It’s alright,” Matt assured me. “It has to be here somewhere. Sheriff
Brawner realizes he already had an opportunity to take it months ago. A few minutes longer shouldn’t be an issue.”

  Sheriff Brawner grimaced. I’m certain he grasped Matt’s gibe.

  “’Spose so,” Sheriff Brawner huffed. “Gonna have those suits come to town if we don’t get to the bottom of this soon.”

  “I thought we already had,” Matt said.

  “Thought it was myself, but the brooch changes everything,” Sheriff Brawner said. “Told ya downstairs. If it was Moria’s, as it was made claimed, then we got ourselves a problem.”

  Confused, I caught Matt’s eyes. I didn’t understand his insinuation. I thought it would have to do with Alfie’s disappearance.

  “Makes sense. It sure does,” Deputy Lytte interrupted, pointing at Matt. “We have witnesses that said you had an argument with her the night of the revival. We surmise you found out about your wife’s affair. Thought the brooch came from the guy and took it from her. When ya went on the search, you accidently dropped it where Cady Blue found it. Then ya went back, confronted your wife and killed her. It’s the only thing that could have happened.”

  “Not quite,” I found myself saying. “A person who abducted Alfie could have dropped it. If Moria was having an affair, I would be looking for that person.”

  I could have said more but felt a sudden hard grip on my arm. Matt had grabbed me from the side. I looked up into his eyes. Not now, they seemed to say. I fell silent once more.

  “Shut up, Josh,” Sheriff Brawner said. “Guess we are going to have to get a search warrant.”

  From the corner of my eye, I saw Mrs. Pritchard, who stood in the hall. She looked scared.

  Matt nodded. “By all means, Sheriff, get one.”

  Sheriff Brawner gave Matt a hard stare. “You stay here, Josh. Don’t let them out of your sight.”

  Afterward, Matt released my arm. I hadn’t even realized he still had hold of it. All I felt was rising panic.

  I followed my husband out into the hall. He led us back down the stairs and watched the sheriff’s car drive off from the entrance door.

  We stepped back inside the foyer. I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to squash my nerves. A sudden barrage of feelings assaulted me: Anger at Coy for stirring up trouble. Upset that disturbing whispers of Moria’s death hadn’t been silenced with our marriage. Flustered with a stunning question that crossed my mind—had Matt married me to serve as a barrier between him and the allegation of murder?