Part 11 (1/2)
”Hopefully she's at least a little cheered up now that she has her necklace back.”
”What?” Frances looked alarmed, then leaned closer and whispered, ”What do you mean?”
”Miss Montgomery's necklace. I brought it back last night.”
Frances reached out and grabbed her arm. Tight. ”What did you do with it?”
A cold and sharp sensation worked its way through Lauren. ”I left it with Willow.”
”Why does that not surprise me?” Frances dropped her grasp and glanced back toward the house, shaking her head. ”That girl, she is trouble, that's what she is.”
”You mean to tell me that she didn't give it to you or Miss Montgomery?”
Frances shook her head. ”No. And she left late last night. She never said a word about it.”
”Maybe she left it in her room, since Miss Montgomery was so worn out last night.”
”What do you mean, worn out? That woman is a night owl if ever one existed, and a little outing does nothing if not perk her up.”
”Willow told me she'd been in medical tests all day and was too exhausted for either you or her to come to the door.”
Frances shook her head. ”Of course that's what she said.” She wrapped her hands around the wrought-iron rungs of the fence and rested her chin on her left arm. ”The three of us spent the day window shopping in Santa Barbara proper and then Montecito. There are some artists there whose work Miss Montgomery admires.” She sighed. ”Poor Miss Montgomery. It will just crush her if she finds out that Willow has made off with her favorite piece of jewelry.”
”She has to know that Willow is not exactly a loving niece.”
”She always suspects something when someone is kind to her, as you have experienced in full force. But in the case of Willow, I believe that she has allowed herself to hope.”
”Then I'm going to allow myself to hope that she did indeed leave the necklace somewhere for you to find this morning.” Lauren knew even as she said it that this was not the case.
”I've already cleaned her room, so that is hardly likely.” Frances looked toward the house, shaking her head. ”Do me a favor and don't mention this to her. I'm not asking you to lie, if she should ask, but unless she brings it up, don't you bring it up either. Let her just believe the necklace is still lost.”
”Really? Don't you think it's better for her to know the truth?”
”I think her heart has had one too many blows. I hate to see her dealt another one at this point. Let me have a week or two to try to get the truth, and the necklace, out of Willow. Eventually we will have to tell her, if Willow doesn't come clean. But let's give it a little time.”
”Whatever you think is best.” Even if this went against everything inside of Lauren. She would try to hold out for a little longer before she either blurted out the truth or wrapped her hands around Willow's scrawny neck.
Frances grasped Lauren's arm again. ”Thank you. Whether she realizes it yet or not, you truly are the first ray of suns.h.i.+ne that poor woman has seen in a long time.”
”I'm pretty sure she does not realize that.” Lauren grinned, but she didn't feel like smiling. She felt like crying. She walked back toward her home, pondering Frances's words. Was she indeed a ray of suns.h.i.+ne? A light in the darkness? She certainly hoped that she was, but it didn't feel that way.
twenty-two.
On Monday, Lauren drove to the school, fitted Priscilla, and then spent the rest of the day hand beading the dress. Her fingers were aching when a text message came through from Kendall.
Can you meet me at the little turnout outside the gate? I've got something to show you.
Surely that could only mean good news.
I'll be right there.
Lauren needed to stretch her legs after a long day of st.i.tching, so she pulled on her running shoes and sprinted down the lane. She waved at Sam as she made her way past the guardhouse.
Kendall was sitting in her car, parked in the little gravel turnout area. It was obvious that she was texting. Lauren waited until she looked up. ”Hi. What have you got?”
Kendall waited just a moment before she said, ”You first. Anything new in the neighborhood?”
Lauren opened her mouth and started to speak but then stopped herself. Something definitely felt wrong about sharing what was currently happening. Miss Montgomery had been deceived by the one relative with whom she had contact, and Lauren did not want to add to her list of betrayers. ”She doesn't want anything to do with me. You said yourself, she is very secretive.”
”I need you to put forth a little effort here. Believe me when I say I am putting forth more than a little effort on your behalf right now. I know you have been over there enough to meet Willow. Are you really going to try to tell me that you have no contact with anyone at that house?”
”I have spoken to her a maid a few times. As I have already told you, I returned something from the potting shed and had a conversation with Willow.”
”What's her maid's name?”
”I'm sure her maid has nothing to do with the murder you're investigating, so I don't see that it matters.”
Kendall turned her head away for the s.p.a.ce of a deep breath, then turned back toward Lauren. ”You're right. Just forget Charlotte Montgomery, and I'll forget Marisa Remington. I'll forget anything about the photo I was going to show you about Marisa's mystery helper.”
Lauren's heart raced. Could it be this close? ”Who is it?”
Kendall shrugged. ”Doesn't matter, because I'm tired of talking about this. If you're not willing to so much as tell me the name of the woman's maid, then I'm heading back to LA now. See you.” She started up her car.
”Wait . . .”
”I'm tired of waiting.” Kendall put the car in gear.
”Her maid's name is Frances.”
Kendall looked up, her expression hard. ”What's her last name?”
”I have no idea.”
”Have a nice evening.” Kendall pushed the b.u.t.ton to start rolling up her window.
”Stop. You might be interested in the item that I returned to Miss Montgomery from the potting shed.” Lauren pulled out her phone and held up the picture of the necklace.
Kendall immediately put the car in park and shut it off. She reached for the phone through the window.
Lauren pulled it back. ”You're withholding info. . . . Well, I can, too.”
Kendall narrowed her eyes. ”You're more cagey than I'd given you credit for.”