Castleton
Detective Mackey's Secondary Residence
Saturday (late afternoon)
James climbs from his Crown Vic like a man in a trance. He strolls down the walkway at a measured gait, before slowly making his way up the porch steps.
Inserting his house key into the lock, James turns the key and pushes the door open. Darkness greets him from the interior of the mostly abandoned home. Shifting the case with his laptop to his other arm, James enters the house. With a single furtive glance, he closes the front door.
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Castleton Bank, Trust and Loan
(Same time)
The bank's manager, Linus Serkus, spies Rachel as she walks towards the main doors. However, he is surprised to see her with a man in tow. This could be really great news. Quite possibly, a much bigger deposit is in store. Especially, considering the bag her significant other holds gripped tightly in one hand.
The man leans close and kisses Rachel's neck. The young woman seems uncomfortable, as if her lover's attentions are a bit much for the public eye. The man pays Rachel's discomfort no heed, turning her face with his other hand and planting a firm kiss on her lips. Linus grins like a fool. He is now absolutely certain good news looms on the horizon for his bank. Rushing to the main doors, Linus quickly draws them apart. He ushers the handsome couple inside with a warm smile.
"Miss Corbin, how nice to see you," Linus gushes, his smile widening. "It's been a while. Have you come to make a deposit today?"
Rachel looks from Linus to Ned, her mouth twitching at one corner. Terror and hopelessness battle inside the young woman's chest. This can't be happening. Not when she was so close.
"I uh...I've come to make a withdrawal, Linus. But uh, actually...I want to transfer my balance over to a different account. My fiancé and I will be opening a new joint account."
"Oh, I see," Linus coos, his eyes wandering to the leather bag in Ned's left hand. "Well, we can get you both set up right away. In fact, we'd better. It's very close to closing time. It'll probably be a lot easier if we add your fiancé to the original bank account. Whatever you wish to do. Please. Come back to my office."
Linus looks over one shoulder as he leads Rachel and Ned to his office in the back. He examines every detail of Rachel's new man, trying to ascertain his exact social status. A laborer, a businessman, a tech geek? Nothing about Rachel's fiancé screams old money. New money, then? One of the state lotteries? A deceased affluent relative? What does it matter? Money is money. As long as it's green, it all spends the same.
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Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Mayor Gunther's Residence
Dining Hall
(Same time)
Simon finishes off his last gulp of red wine and throws back his head. The grieving father tries to keep his emotions reined in. He spins toward the dining room entrance as Maryna quietly enters. He is surprised to see the handle of a bright red luggage gripped in the young woman's left hand. He studies Maryna with bulging eyes.
"Maryna? What...What the hell is this?" Simon rasps.
Maryna takes a step forward, but no more than that. She is afraid to get too close to her employer, lest he seize her again.
"I'm...I'm sorry, Mr. Gunther. But I cannot work for you anymore."
"Can't work for me, anymore?" Simon repeats, taking a step in Maryna's direction. "What do you mean--?"
"Don't...Mr. Gunther," Maryna says, raising a hand in warning. "Please don't. I've spoken with my mother. I'll be returning home. To Ukraine. This...Is not what I signed up for. I came to America because...I have to go, Mr. Gunther. I left my uniforms folded in the bedroom. Goodbye."
Maryna turns on her heels to leave. Simon is on her within moments. Simon's right hand gripping her left forearm causes alarms of panic to sound in the young housekeeper's mind. She swivels to glower at him.
"Let go of me, Mr. Gunther. My family knows I am coming. I am leaving this house. There is nothing more to be said."
"Nothing more to be said?" Simon growls almost under his breath, not wishing Max or Molly to hear. "I gave you quite a big advance the other day. I want it all back. Now."
"An advance, Mr. Gunther?" Maryna says in an equally menacing tone. "No, I don't think so. You paid me for my silence. You are lucky...My family does not know the full extent of what you have done. My mother only hates you. My father and brothers would want to kill you. Goodbye, Mr. Gunther."
Maryna wrenches her arm from Simon's grip and storms away. Molly strides up the hall just as Maryna is marching in the opposite direction. Molly uses a slender finger to reposition the strap of her nightgown back onto her shoulder. She pats Simon sarcastically on the cheek as she walks past him into the dining room.
"Mmmm. A little lover's quarrel, baby? Looks like dear Maryna is going away. I wonder where to?"
Molly reaches the kitchen island and leans over it seductively, tapping a pink painted fingernail against her glossy upper lip. She watches Simon with narrowed eyes and a coy smile.
"She's visiting her family," Simons hastily answers.
"Mmmm. I'll bet," Molly whispers slyly.
The doorbell chimes and Molly straightens up. Her visage seems to glow with her increased malevolence.
"I wonder who that can be? More bad news, Simon? Goodness knows, there's been a lot of it today. First your poor illegitimate daughter is found soaking up water like a sponge in the bay," Molly says, coming around the kitchen island and affecting a sultry walk. "Then...Your new lover takes a sudden mystery trip. I really do wonder who that can be? The police? Let's go see, Simon."
"Shut the fug up, you bitch!" Simon growls. "Just shut the hell up! You never liked Evelyn, anyway. You were afraid I'd die and leave her everything. You...Hussy gold-digger. If I ever find out you had anything to do with Evelyn's..."
"Ha. With her death?" Molly finishes for the mayor. "Perish the thought. I enjoyed having a little carrot to hold over your head, Simon darling. Why would I want Evelyn dead? Every moment she lived, was a moment you spent living in abject fear. You and I both know...What happened to Evelyn's mother was no accident. I always wondered how the public would feel about you...If they'd known from the start that Evelyn's mother was a common whore? And that you weren't just the good old stepfather? Hmm. Heroes only exist in the movies. You're no hero, Simon. You're a sleazy gutter rat. And redemption stories aren't real life. People don't change. That's the real reason you spent so much money scrubbing Naomi's public records...And mine. All of that to save your precious...Self-righteous ego. Everyone thinks Naomi was this great French ballerina. We both know the truth."
Voices reach Simon and Molly's ears as Max leads whoever was at the door to the dining hall. Molly glares at Simon and purses her lips.
"I'd better get dressed. We have company."
Molly times her exit to match when their visitor arrives at the entryway. She looks Detective Samuels over from head to toe. And the detective does the same. Although for a totally different reason. Turning his gaze on Mayor Gunther, Detective Samuels chin cants politely.
"Mayor Gunther...May we have a word?"
