Duck Disaster, page 14
Running from the escalator, a TSA agent pulled back the tape, and within a few minutes, they were taking the struggling person by both arms to the side where they stood waiting. They had barely made it. Anne searched the crowd but struggled to see her intended target.
She gasped. Rushing over, she looked into the face of a killer. “Hello, Dean.”
“I’m sorry. You must be mistaking me for someone else, lady.” Gone was the posh British accent, the chestnut brown hair, and the crisp white shirt and slacks. Instead, here was a man with shorter, blond hair with a buzz cut in jeans and a hoodie, carrying a simple backpack slung over his shoulder.
“Oh, would you prefer I call you Richard? Or how about your real name? That would be a good start.”
Carson stood next to Anne, and Richard’s gaze took in the advancing transportation agents and police.
“Huh. Well, what d ’ya know? So, what gave me away?”
“A couple of things. Rayne never faltered from her story that you were to blame. Even when presented with all the evidence. Plus, there were a few other things. I hadn’t realized they were there all along until today.”
“Enlighten me.”
“First, Dean. It was no coincidence that he looked exactly like you. You hired him, not Rayne. That’s why she became flustered when he tried to speak with her at the event. She didn’t know him or know what he wanted. Then it was easy to get the real Dean out of the picture while you borrowed the priest’s outfit and went up to visit Casey. You couldn’t let her wake up, as she’d let them know you were the one who’d been there when she blacked out.”
“Hmm. Could be. But what about Rayne going to the station imitating Casey? Pretty incriminating if you ask me.”
“You made her feel bad about Casey. Somehow, you convinced her to take her place. Or she did it on her own. I’m not sure of that yet.”
“I’d say you’re not sure about anything.”
“I’m quite sure you’re the killer. And you certainly aren’t British either.”
He smirked but said nothing.
“I also wondered how you weren’t upset over being tricked into a marriage. Something didn’t sit right with me that you weren’t at least a little angry over it. I doubt Rayne ever even said she was pregnant. You just used it and had her go along with it, too. Certainly, the station wouldn’t want to let her go at that stage or they would look unsympathetic, or she could play the ‘you got rid of me because I’m pregnant’ card. You must be surprisingly good at manipulation.”
He shrugged. “You know, sometimes people only need a push. They’re already there themselves. You just have to give them a nudge. Rayne is no saint.”
“It was you at the hospital. You didn’t care about Casey, but you had to make it look like Rayne played a part in her death. That’s why you hired the actress who looked similar to Rayne and had her go into Casey’s room, where you then shared that she was no longer needed. That’s why she wouldn’t talk to me. She wasn’t a real nurse and would get in trouble for being in the patient’s room.”
“Interesting. Go on.”
“Two things. First, your apartment. It had no personal touches whatsoever. That’s when I realized that it was most likely a rental. You didn’t own it at all.”
“I never said I did. Guilty. So what?”
“Possibly. But you implied it was yours. Just as you took on the name of Richard and his estate in England. It would be enough that if Rayne looked, you would seem legit. But Casey saw through your ruse right away.”
“Tell me. Why would I try to kill Rayne or Casey? I gain nothing from Casey’s death.”
“That stumped me for a while. Then it came to me. It’s simple. Money. My guess is you go after women around the world, inventing personas to suit them. You went to the gala, posing as Richard. After Casey rejected you, you simply moved over to Rayne. Casey didn’t have the money you needed. I’m curious, though, how did you get Rayne to take Casey’s place that night, further implicating her in Casey’s death?”
“Well, I’m not sure I can say. But if I had done something like that, I’d have played on her vanity, saying something to the effect of there being consequences for not showing up for work and not calling. Then let’s say that she decided to get someone drunk and put a few sleeping pills in a glass. And then let’s say that someone else came along and added some more. But that’s just conjecture, of course.”
“That still doesn’t answer the question.”
“Funny but turns out Rayne felt bad about doing what she’d done. The woman has a heart after all. She found me and asked what she should do. I may have given her some ideas, and Rayne decided to take Casey’s place. Actually, that little stunt worked out even better than I’d hoped. But I have no motive. Rayne is alive. I didn’t touch her. As for Casey, Rayne administered the pills, not me.” He smirked.
“So, you feel nothing about Casey’s death? You were in love with her.”
“That was a bit of a bother. We could have had a good life together. But she rejected me.” He shrugged.
Anne realized she was staring into the face of a monster. “Well, the thing is, you have motive. And today I realized what it is.”
“Do tell.”
“The biggest motive of all. You see, today we got married, and these words were uttered, ‘I endow thee with all my worldly goods.’ The focus had been on the insurance policies. In case one of you died. But what happens if one is free while the other one is locked away? Access. I’m sure when the police look into it, all of Rayne’s money, her savings, IRAs, all her accounts will have been looted.”
He shrugged. “Wouldn’t know about that.”
“Well, you’ll have plenty of time to think about it when you’re under arrest for the murder of Casey Judson.”
“I didn’t murder her.”
Anne shrugged. “I wouldn’t know about that.”
Another group of police came over and took him into custody.
“What do you think?” Carson glanced down at Anne.
“I’m sure that once they start putting his picture up, others will come forward to say he cheated them out of their money. I don’t think he meant this to go as far as it did. Sadly, Casey lost her life over it. Her rejection bruised his ego enough for him to think of her as disposable. It also doesn’t put Rayne into the clear as she was the one who doped Casey, though unaware of the extra pills. Do you think she’ll do time?”
“Remains to be seen. It depends on how good her lawyers are, I suppose.” Suddenly, Carson burst out laughing. “It’s never a dull moment with you, N.D.”
She chuckled. “It has been a crazy day, hasn’t it?”
A flurry of activity caught their attention. Kandi, Stewart, Hope, Mr. and Mrs. Cole, and some of the wedding party ran toward the pair. “Did you get him?”
Anne nodded. “Yes, he’s in custody now.” She glanced down to see two pieces of luggage. “What’s this?”
“You’re already at the airport. You have your passports?”
“Yes.” Carson pulled them from his pocket.
“How in the world?”
“I had planned to whisk you away after the wedding.”
“To where? Are you all nuts?”
“You’re like me. A planner. Kandi convinced me we needed to start our marriage by breaking the mold.”
“I happen to like the mold, thank you very much,” Anne replied.
Kandi grinned. “It’s time for adventure. No planning. Just go!”
Carson took Anne’s hand, “What do you say?”
“I…I—”
“Hold on. Be back in a jiff.” He jogged over to the TSA agent, who ushered him down the hall. When Carson returned, he held two tickets in his hand. “First class.”
Kandi handed the bags to them, crushing them both in an embrace.
They waved at the pair as they accepted their bags and checked in. Stares and congratulations from onlookers were given to them as well as Kandi and Stewart.
As they made their way down the connector hall, Anne said, “Where are we going?”
“Want to turn back?”
“Nah. I’m ready for an adventure.”
From the Author
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Books in the Backyard Farming Series
Chicken Culprit Book 1
Cordial Killing Book 2
Honey Homicide Book 3
Christmas Capers Book 4
Potager Plot Book 5
Duck Disaster Book 6
Fungi Foul Play Book 7
Other books by Vikki Walton
Books in the Taylor Texas Mystery Series
Death Takes A Break Book 1
Death Makes A Move Book 2
Death Stakes A Claim Book 3
Death Steals A Kiss Book 4
Books in the Viviane’s Adventure Series
Hijinks in Ajijic (prequel)
Deception in Devon Book 1
Vikki Walton, Duck Disaster
