conventions. And she’d be getting some really cool Christmas gift from him––maybe a cabin in Rhode Island. Then they could all have family reunions up there in the summer. He’d be there with his future family enjoying a well deserved rest from his hectic schedule and Lynette and Jason would be there with her little Chinese granddaughter. The doorbell rang and she heard Mike greeting Lynette and Jason. They’d stopped to pick up Carolina. Susan didn’t expect that Javier would be cooking Christmas dinner. In fact, she’d invited him to come over too but he had declined.
Susan gave Lynette, Jason, and Carolina hugs and kisses. “Merry Christmas,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re all here.” Susan noticed that Carolina looked even sadder than usual. She wasn’t surprised given that this was her first Christmas without her mom. She led them into the living room.
“Have a seat. Help yourselves to drinks. There’s soda or wine,” said Susan.
Mike brought in a tray of hot canapés. “These are delicious; you have to try some,” he said. He put the tray down on the coffee table.
“Lynette, I could use some help,” said Susan.
“Of course, Mom.” Lynette followed her into the kitchen.
“Lynette, I think you really need to look at Blaze Conrad very closely as a suspect. I happened to see him at Safeway the other day. He was with a young blond woman who I know isn’t his wife. You know how he painted such a Norman Rockwell picture of his family during the trial.”
“Mom, you have no idea who that woman was. She could have been his sister for all you know.”
“No, she most definitely wasn’t his sister. They were all lovey-dovey with each other before the incident.”
“Incident? What the heck are you talking about?” said Lynette.
“Well, they started arguing with each other right smack in the middle of the bread aisle. Blaze hit her right across the face––hard.”
“What does that prove other than that Blaze is a first class jerk?”
“It proves he has a violent streak. He could have easily gotten mad at Vicky and killed her the night of the concert.”
“Mom, we have no reason to believe Blaze was at the school that night. You’re grasping at straws. Leave the investigation to the police. I wish you’d trust me to do my job.”
“Of course, I trust you. You’re the best detective on that police force. I just want to help, that’s all. I know how busy things get for you.”
“I appreciate it but you have to stop meddling.” Lynette opened the oven and stuck the meat thermometer into the turkey’s thigh. “It looks like this bird is ready to eat. I can’t wait. Let’s get dad in here to carve it.”
“Okay, but help me get these potatoes and green beans out on the table in the meantime,” said Susan.
***
While Carolina was trying to get through the day with Susan’s family, Javier was frantically throwing clothes into his suitcase. He searched through the drawer for that business card but couldn’t find it. Then he remembered he’d entered the number in his phone.
“Yes, I’ll be there today. No, no contact information. This has to be discreet.”
Javier grabbed the laptop and his suitcases. This house of cards was about to be blown down. Carolina didn’t deserve this . He turned off the lights, locked the door, and loaded his jeep. It was going to be a long drive. He tried to find a gas station that was open on Christmas Day. Eventually, he pulled into a Shell station. The mini-mart was open which was good because by this time Javier was starving. He grabbed a bag of chips, a Snickers bar and a Sprite. Great Christmas dinner he thought. It was all Vicky’s fault. When he found out that she was cheating on him he blew up. She literally drove him to drink. The last straw was when he’d gotten the summons about the divorce. Divorce? They’d never even discussed that. Besides, he was the one who should have been initiating a divorce. He may be an
Susan gave Lynette, Jason, and Carolina hugs and kisses. “Merry Christmas,” she said. “I’m so glad you’re all here.” Susan noticed that Carolina looked even sadder than usual. She wasn’t surprised given that this was her first Christmas without her mom. She led them into the living room.
“Have a seat. Help yourselves to drinks. There’s soda or wine,” said Susan.
Mike brought in a tray of hot canapés. “These are delicious; you have to try some,” he said. He put the tray down on the coffee table.
“Lynette, I could use some help,” said Susan.
“Of course, Mom.” Lynette followed her into the kitchen.
“Lynette, I think you really need to look at Blaze Conrad very closely as a suspect. I happened to see him at Safeway the other day. He was with a young blond woman who I know isn’t his wife. You know how he painted such a Norman Rockwell picture of his family during the trial.”
“Mom, you have no idea who that woman was. She could have been his sister for all you know.”
“No, she most definitely wasn’t his sister. They were all lovey-dovey with each other before the incident.”
“Incident? What the heck are you talking about?” said Lynette.
“Well, they started arguing with each other right smack in the middle of the bread aisle. Blaze hit her right across the face––hard.”
“What does that prove other than that Blaze is a first class jerk?”
“It proves he has a violent streak. He could have easily gotten mad at Vicky and killed her the night of the concert.”
“Mom, we have no reason to believe Blaze was at the school that night. You’re grasping at straws. Leave the investigation to the police. I wish you’d trust me to do my job.”
“Of course, I trust you. You’re the best detective on that police force. I just want to help, that’s all. I know how busy things get for you.”
“I appreciate it but you have to stop meddling.” Lynette opened the oven and stuck the meat thermometer into the turkey’s thigh. “It looks like this bird is ready to eat. I can’t wait. Let’s get dad in here to carve it.”
“Okay, but help me get these potatoes and green beans out on the table in the meantime,” said Susan.
***
While Carolina was trying to get through the day with Susan’s family, Javier was frantically throwing clothes into his suitcase. He searched through the drawer for that business card but couldn’t find it. Then he remembered he’d entered the number in his phone.
“Yes, I’ll be there today. No, no contact information. This has to be discreet.”
Javier grabbed the laptop and his suitcases. This house of cards was about to be blown down. Carolina didn’t deserve this . He turned off the lights, locked the door, and loaded his jeep. It was going to be a long drive. He tried to find a gas station that was open on Christmas Day. Eventually, he pulled into a Shell station. The mini-mart was open which was good because by this time Javier was starving. He grabbed a bag of chips, a Snickers bar and a Sprite. Great Christmas dinner he thought. It was all Vicky’s fault. When he found out that she was cheating on him he blew up. She literally drove him to drink. The last straw was when he’d gotten the summons about the divorce. Divorce? They’d never even discussed that. Besides, he was the one who should have been initiating a divorce. He may be an
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