Take Stock in Murder (32 page)

“Mrs. Faraday, may I ask one very important question?” Carrie nodded agreement. “Did Mr. Barrington and Ms. Foster admit to killing Todd Barrington?”

“I can state with great certainty that Jennifer had nothing to do with the murder. She was truly surprised when I accused Brad of killing his brother. I’m sure she thought she was just helping him keep an eye on the people the family thought had committed the crime. No, I’m sure her involvement was limited to her desire to be the next Mrs. Barrington.”

Charles looked startled at Carrie’s comment. She knew what he was thinking. Who was the second person who had helped move the body between the two rooms at the Club? Obviously, she had just eliminated Jennifer Foster.

“Yes, Brad admitted killing his brother when I presented my evidence,” she said.

“And what evidence do you have?” Jenco restrained a subtle annoyance that Carrie had solved the case.

“I wrote down the various motives for Todd’s murder, like the flirtations and the Investment Club, and then I wrote down who would benefit from his death. The answer was obvious—the family.” Carrie took a sip from the water glass Charles had placed on the table for her. “Charles, could you go to the safe and get the paper that’s right on top?”

Charles went to the safe and handed the paper to Carrie, who passed it to Jenco. He read the paper with a raised eyebrow and passed it along to McCall.

“You went to the Club knowing Brad was the murderer?” All eyes turned and looked at the usually silent McCall after he asked the question.

“When Jennifer called and asked me to meet her at the cottage,” Carrie said, “I didn’t know Brad was with her.”

Then Carrie gave the policemen and Charles a complete review of what had transpired at the cottage, including Edward Barrington’s role in the cover-up.

“I’m sure you’ll agree with me that Todd’s killing was accidental. Probably nothing would have happened to Brad if it wasn’t for the cover-up. The sad thing is that Brad was ready to commit additional murders to cover up the first one. He said he would always protect the family name from scandal,” Carrie related.

“Well, it seems clear that Brad Barrington was responsible for the death of his brother and that the elder Mr. Barrington went along with the cover-up. What a shame, though. I agree with you that had they admitted the accident, I’m sure neither of them would have been prosecuted for the murder. The real crime was all this cover-up just to protect the family name.
Well, thank you, Mrs. Faraday. I think that takes care of everything.” Jenco stated.

“Does that mean that at last you believe I had nothing to do with Todd’s death?”

“There seems to be no other conclusion. I’ll file the necessary paperwork to have the charges dropped against you when I return to the office,” Jenco said.

“Will there be any charges against the senior Mr. Barrington?” asked Charles.

The detectives exchanged glances, and then McCall spoke. “Mr. Edward Barrington suffered a stroke last night while visiting his son and is in very poor condition.”

“Do you think the stroke was brought on because of Brad’s death?” asked Carrie.

“No, he suffered the attack prior to Brad’s death. Perhaps it was the guilt over Todd’s murder, or perhaps it was the pressure of the cover-up that got to him.” Jenco shook his head sadly.

Both detectives stood, nodded to Carrie, and shook hands with Charles as they made their way to the door. Carrie and Charles stood arm in arm and watched the detectives’ car slowly wind down the driveway for the last time. Baxter, who had sat watching with them, now left car watching to Carrie and Charles. He slid across the wooden floor and pounced on one of his new toys.

everal Sundays later, Charles and Carrie were sitting in their study, enjoying coffee and lingering over the Sunday papers. However, this Sunday, there was a new guest to interrupt their reading: Baxter. Every time Carrie tried to read, Baxter would punch the paper with his paw until Carrie gave him her full attention. She was scratching his ears when she turned to Charles. “Do you think Edward Barrington knew what his son was planning the night he had the stroke?”

“I don’t know, and I’m not sure we’ll ever know. However, I agree with the detectives that the pressure of the entire affair probably caused the stroke.”

“Will anything happen to the senior Mr. Barrington?”

“I don’t think so. I found out from Mr. Heathrow that Barrington’s stroke will have lasting effects. Right now he barely recognizes his wife.”

“Such a shame. If they had only admitted to Todd’s accidental killing, there would have been such a different outcome.”

“Pride has a way of affecting families,” he added.

“Speaking of families, what do you want to do today?”

Charles looked up from the classified ad section he was reading. “We could go down to the docks and wander around.”

“Is there anything particular that we’re going to wander past?” she asked with a smile. “Perhaps there are some boats for sale that might be in our wandering path.”

Charles responded with a sheepish look on his face. “It’s harder to sell a boat in the colder months, so there are a couple of really good buys. Plus…”

“Charles, darling, let’s buy a boat,” Carrie said with tremendous conviction.

“What!” Charles couldn’t believe his ears.

“I’ve learned something during these last few weeks. You never know when something unexpected may change your life. If you want a boat, let’s go get one! After all, I got Baxter and a nice new car,” she said, scratching the orange kitten’s ears.

Charles popped out of his chair and sat beside his wife. “One thing about my buying a boat: the odds of my running into a tree are slim.”

“Now that’s a low blow.” Carrie laughed. She had reached the point where she could view the events of the last few weeks differently. “Besides, docks are made of trees, so the odds may not be as slim as you think.”

“Good point. We’re even!” Charles bent over and gave her a kiss. He went back to his paper.

“Hey, will you look at this?” Carrie had given up reading the paper with Baxter and was opening mail instead.

“A bill?”

“No, a letter from the Club.”

“What’s so unusual about that? We get letters from them all the time.”

“This one is different. ‘Mr. James Marshall announces with regret that the name of Edward Barrington III has been withdrawn for the office of president in the upcoming elections of the Tri-County Country Club.’ The letter goes on to say that ‘due to his recent ill health, he would be unable to fulfill such strenuous duties at this time,’ et cetera, et cetera. Well, the Club wasted no time in getting its affairs in order.”

“Who are they nominating to replace him?” asked Charles.

“The letter only indicates that the board of directors will meet in the next few weeks to create a new list of potential candidates.”

“I’m going to give the board Dan’s name. He would make a terrific president. I think he would bring a more modern approach to managing the Club.” Charles returned to reading the business section of the paper. “Now it’s my turn. Listen to this. Talk about life moving right along: ‘The firm of Barrington and Barrington is pleased to announce the appointment of Kent Barrington as president for the firm. Mr. Barrington was a senior partner at the West Coast firm of Jenkins Sparrow.’ The article then discusses his accomplishments at that firm, but then listen to the next paragraph: ‘Linda Barrington will assume new responsibilities as executive vice president in charge of financial operations.’ Then there’s more information about her background, and last but not least, it announces that Ms. Sara Chaney has been promoted to vice president in charge of new accounts.”

“Everything does come full circle. Is this the same Linda the family felt wasn’t qualified to be in the firm?”

“Yep, sure is, although she does have qualifications. She told me the night we met in the tavern that she’d earned an MBA in finance.”

“It’s also in keeping with what Brad said—that when push came to shove, Linda would support the family.”

“And there’s more family news. The firm also announces the merger of Barrington and Barrington with the Thurgood Financial Group.”

“Isn’t Thurgood Linda’s maiden name?” Carrie asked.

“Yes, it is. The original reason for the marriage of Brad and Linda was to have two of the strongest financial firms linked through marriage. The merger is probably a good idea. Linda and Kent will need lots of help to turn the company around after a scandal like this one.”

“Any mention of the indiscretions with the financial accounts?” asked Carrie.

“Now, Carrie, you know much of their business is with families in the county and from the Club. All these folks know what really happened through that great media known as the grapevine. But Kent and Linda are young. And they have the best reasons in the world for restoring the family business.”

“And what reason is that?” asked Carrie

“It’s the reason for which everything occurred. It’s the same reason that led you to draw the correct conclusions about the murder: tradition.”