Cedar Lane Properties—The Wallace Brothers

Chapter 3

Allen hadn’t always been a narcissistic jackass. After Crystal aged out of the foster system, she’d tracked down her older brother, Caleb, with the help of a genealogy professor at the community college she attended in Arizona.

Allen had been Caleb’s business partner and roommate. The two men made room for her in their house by converting part of the garage. The room had been small—barely large enough for a twin bed, a small desk to study at and a small wardrobe for her modest clothing. She didn’t complain. She wasn’t used to having much.

It had then taken her roughly four years to earn a two year degree in hotel and restaurant management. She paid out of pocket what grants didn’t cover and worked full time waitressing or as a front desk clerk, always chasing the higher wage, which, without a degree, was never much. California had a ridiculous cost of living. She wasn’t about to get buried in student loan debt like her brother, but now, eight years later, she was finally getting close to her bachelor’s degree. She had lost track of how many more credits she needed for that accomplishment, but knew she was close.

Caleb’s death had changed everything again. He was her last, known relative. Her family tree was full of orphans, “only childs” and alcoholism. Her parents had been killed in a car accident when they caught a ride home with her father’s drunk brother. All three had been ejected from the car. She was three and Caleb was nine.

They lived with their only remaining family, paternal grandparents, until she was about six. Their grandfather drank himself to death and grandma died of what the preacher claimed was broken heart syndrome shortly after. Crystal had been separated from Caleb within that first year in the foster system. By then, he was a thirteen year old boy with anger issues.

The morning after the night Caleb went missing, Allen had taken her into his arms and comforted her. They’d been a couple since and Crystal wasn’t sure exactly when she’d begun to fear him.

I should have been suspicious when I found out Allen was Caleb’s beneficiary. She hadn’t given that much thought at the time. Allen and her brother were business partners and she’d been separated from Caleb a long time.

There was no sense stressing about how she’d gotten to this point. She couldn’t go back and change anything.

After she’d dropped and broken her phone, Allen hadn’t allowed her to get a replacement, claiming the money Caleb’s insurance policy had paid out wouldn’t last forever. That was also his reasoning for staying at Bed and Breakfasts while “looking for a new business deal,” thousands of miles from home. Many B&B’s, Cedar Lane no exception, included three meals. All inclusive stays were valuable.

What didn’t add up was why they were on a budget. She had been poor, but Caleb and Allen had money. Or at least seemed to. She had to admit now, after finding the jacket Caleb had gone missing in, that she didn’t really know much about what kind of business the two had been in. All she’d been told was real estate.

“So you had never helped Mr. Ames pack or unpack his suitcase?” Deputy Wallace asked her.

“No,” she answered truthfully.

Leaving other people’s things alone was one of the Golden Rules in foster care. Crystal had learned early on not to snoop or ask many questions. Peeking in Allen’s suitcase while he was in the shower really had given her a stress headache, but she’d needed to know.

There was something else she needed to know now. She was terrified to ask and felt her head began to ache again.

From behind his desk, where he listened quietly, Mike had watched Crystal’s face as she told her story and answered questions. She was pale except for the dark circles under eyes. He suddenly remembered she hadn’t come down for supper when she explained how she’d avoided Allen.

It was now almost 7 am. Edna would have breakfast ready. Rising, he excused himself. “I’m going to get some refreshments.”

He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Mike knew a little about the foster system. His best friend, Tony, had been in and out while they were growing up. Mike knew what he was going to do. He called Edna from the break room phone and then his receptionist, Joey.

He selected a half dozen bagels from the buffet along with butter, cream cheese, plastic knives and napkins.

The interrogation was wrapping up when he returned. He was familiar with the process since his office was often used for such, on the rare occasion it was needed. The county sheriff’s department down the road didn’t have much of an office let alone space to talk privately.

Things were quiet here just off Highway 54. Many of his guests were hunters. There had been a few drunken brawls, domestic disputes and juvenile delinquents.

Mike set the tray of bagels on the shiny table he’d refinished himself as Detective Campbell said he’d be in touch and ended the call. “Edna’s preparing hot meals, but I thought these bagels might be a good appetizer. Help yourself,” he told Crystal more than his brother and Deputy Smith. Mark and Tom knew the drill.

As if on cue, her stomach growled. Her pale cheeks flushed. “Thank you,” she murmured, avoiding his gaze.

“So where will you be staying, Miss Pierce?” Mark asked in deputy mode.

Mike noticed her stiffen slightly.

She finished chewing her bite of bagel. “I—um. Crystal. You can call me Crystal.”

When she hesitated, Mike spoke up. “The refund for your stay hasn’t been initiated yet. I don’t start those transactions until checkout. So you’ve got two more nights here if you’d like.” Her eyes widened, ever so slightly.

He calculated her exhaustion and decided not to offer a job yet. Mike wasn’t so sure he wanted his brother to witness that and she shouldn’t be making decisions right now anyway.

“I—um. Thank you,” she muttered. “That would give me time to figure things out. But…” she paused.

Mike nodded in what he hoped was encouragement.

“Do you have a different room? I’d rather not stay in the same one,” she finally spat out rather rapidly. She appeared to now be holding her breath but finally raised her gaze and looked him in the eye.

“Of course,” he smiled gently. He’d assumed as much and already made arrangements for her to take the room next to his. The one he often reserved for domestic violence victims (again, the county didn’t have many resources) so he would be close if needed. He didn’t tell Crystal this when she sighed in relief.

Mark stood and handed her his card like he always did. Mike had heard the “if you need anything” speech several times and also knew Mark and Tom knew where to find the to-go meals Edna was preparing.