Murder in Hillsboro Read online

  “Will the new parents be waiting there for us?”

  “There are no new parents. You will leave the basket on the front steps of the church. Someone is bound to find it.”

  “But Mrs. Beresford, the temperature is cold, the baby will freeze outside.”

  “That’s not my problem, go get the kid and get going.”

  “What about the other baby?”

  “I’ll take care of that one, don’t worry about it, Emma, do as you were told.”

  Alexis gathered the babies while Avery slept. When she woke up, her babies had been taken from her. Her mother entered the room and told her everything was all right, and she had better get up and dressed because her father was on his way home.

  Avery did as she was told. Emma returned to the Beresford house. She tried to reassure Avery that the babies were fine, and they would have a happy life.

  Avery’s resentment of her mother grew through the years. She agreed to a marriage of convenience and bore children she couldn’t love because that is what her father wanted her to do. She never forgot her twin daughters and how they were taken away in the middle of the night. Jonathan Malloy gave up on Avery after she ignored his calls for almost a year. He loved her, but she was a fading memory.

  Chapter Five

  After the shock of seeing her daughter’s double wore off, Margie Anderson relaxed and enjoyed watching the interaction between the sisters.

  “You two act as though you have known each other all your lives,” Margie said.

  “We knew each other for our first nine months, didn’t we, Molly?”

  “We did,” replied Molly, “I’m sorry we were separated but I can see how happy you made your mom and dad. I can’t imagine my life without my mother and father in it.”

  “It’s fate you met each other,” said Margie. “What are the chances you’d both show up at a wedding as a guest of someone else? Stephanie tells me you didn’t know the bride or groom either.”

  “No, I only went as a friend of a friend. Brooke, my friend, had a major crush on the groom and I wanted to make sure she didn’t make a fool of herself,” Molly laughed.

  “I had no intention of going anywhere with that obnoxious Phillip Fleishman, however, I accepted his invitation. I was hiding in the ladies’ room and Phillip mistook Molly for me,” said Stephanie.

  “I couldn’t figure out why this doofus was pestering me, I’d never laid eyes on him before and he acted like I was his date, the poor guy.”

  “I wouldn’t waste any sympathy on that jerk,” said Stephanie.

  “Are you still determined to find out about your birth mother?” asked Jack.

  “I suppose it doesn’t matter, but I’d like to know why we were deliberately separated. Someone went to a lot of trouble to make sure we weren’t together. At least Molly was left inside a church. Whoever dumped me didn’t care how cold it was outside.”

  “I’ll never know what made me open that door,” said Jack as his eyes moistened. “You couldn’t have been there more than a minute; you were bundled in a heavy blanket and your face was still warm. Whoever left you wasn’t heartless, they left a bottle and a diaper in your basket.”

  “How nice, they made sure I was fed and changed after I thawed out, that is if I was still breathing. Our mother was a gem, wasn’t she Molly?”

  “I like to think she was a young girl who thought she was doing the right thing for her babies. I can’t explain why we were left miles apart, maybe we were taken from her. There are so many unanswered questions.”

  “How will you proceed with your investigation?” asked Jack.

  “My friend, Brooke, knows almost everyone in Hillsboro, she must know a private investigator or someone who can help us. I haven’t talked to her yet, Stephanie and I wanted to talk with you and my folks before we looked for answers.”

  “We’re glad you did, it has been a pleasure meeting you, Molly. I hope we will see a lot of you both.”

  “You will, Mom, we’d like you to meet Molly’s folks too, I know you’ll like them.”

  After many hugs, the twins left the Anderson house. “I feel like we have two daughters now, Jack. How wonderful is that?”

  Molly and Stephanie arrived in Hillsboro and went directly to Brooke’s apartment.

  “It’s so cool you two found each other. I can’t believe you never knew you had a twin sister, Molly. I know a fellow who might help. His name is Luke Sullivan, he’s an investigative reporter for the Hillsboro Telegram. I’ll call him right away.”

  “Thanks, Brooke, I knew you’d come through for us,” said Molly.

  “Luke’s on his way,” said Brooke, “he says he wants to help. Luke lost his parents in an automobile accident when he was only three, he was sent to a foster home and later adopted. He remembers nothing about his parents and understands why you want to find your birth mother.”

  Luke knocked on Brooke’s door shortly after the phone call ended.

  Brooke introduced him to Molly and Stephanie. “We’re glad you want to help us, Luke. We aren’t looking for publicity and we don’t want to disrupt our mother’s life. We are trying to understand her reason for separating us,” said Molly.

  “I’ll help you because I can relate to your situation. Being a reporter, I know how to get around the privacy laws. I won’t be doing anything illegal and I won’t be publishing any information I do find. Do you still think you want me to help you?”

  “I don’t know about you Molly, but Luke has an honest face, I trust him,” said Stephanie.

  “How can I say no to such an honest face? What do you need from us, Luke?”

  “You both can tell me what you know about the day you were found. Brooke says you were abandoned two hundred miles apart, is that right?”

  “Yes, Stephanie grew up in Mills Crossing and I am from Newberry.”

  Luke reached for his phone checking the location of each town. “They are almost exactly one hundred miles from Hillsboro in the opposite directions. We’ll start with Hillsboro. I might find something in the birth records around the date you were born. That you are twins will make it easier if a doctor delivered you.”

  Luke left Brooke’s apartment to return to the newspaper office where his investigation would garner more significant results.

  Meanwhile, in the rental office of Brooke and Molly’s apartment building, Candace Conway was registering for a one-bedroom apartment under the name of Lucy West.

  “Ms. West,” said the apartment manager, “we are happy to have you here at Balsam Lake Apartments. If you are interested in a social life, this is the place for you. If quiet living is desired, we can accommodate you in that regard.”

  “I’m new in town madam and anxious to meet others my age. I read in your newsletter, there is a social gathering this evening, is that correct?”

  “Yes, Ms. West, the social committee has planned a wine and cheese party. It is one of our more well-attended functions. I urge you to join the other tenants.”

  “I can’t wait, if you will give me the keys to my new home, I will be on my way.”

  Candace’s smile disappeared as she pushed the button to the elevator and her temporary home in the tacky apartment. When she opened the door, she tried not to let out a gasp. The apartment furnishings were tasteless; the carpeting was a bland beige, and the couch looked like it was resurrected from the local thrift store. I’ll buy myself a chair and I refuse to sleep in that bed, she thought to herself. What am I thinking? I can’t be bringing new furniture into this place and risk exposing my cover. I’ll wrap it all in sheets. I don’t have a choice; I can’t risk those two finding out who they are.

  “Stephanie,” said Brooke, “plan to come to the party tonight, you can meet the people in the building. It’s always a fun time. Molly will be there, and I think I’ll ask Luke to join us when he returns. He’s single, you know?”

  “I’d like to come, Brooke but I’ll leave Luke to Molly, did you see how they looked at each other earlie
r?”

  Molly’s face turned pink, “He wasn’t paying any attention to me, I think he likes a good mystery, and that is his only interest in me.”

  “He might need prodding but if he isn’t interested in you, he’s not the man I thought he was.”

  “How do you know him, Brooke?”

  “He’s a friend of a fellow at work. I met him one night when we all went out for drinks. He was nursing a broken heart, but it was months ago, and I’m sure he’s over her by now.”

  “He’s pining away for another girl and you think he’s interested in me? I’m not interested in mending a broken heart, Brooke.”

  “Don’t dismiss him so readily, Molly, the guy’s a hunk.”

  “Why don’t you snag him? You’re in the market now that Brad is safely married,” said Molly.

  “I might considerate it, but anyone could see the sparks flying between you two.”

  “Let’s change the subject. I don’t want him to know we were talking about him when he comes back.”

  One hour later Luke returned to Brooke’s apartment. “I’m glad you’re still here. I found a record of birth for twin girls born December fourteenth, nineteen ninety. The mother is listed as Mary Smith, age sixteen. Doctor Everett Sloan was the attending physician. That is all the information I found. According to the AMA records, Dr. Sloan retired over ten years ago. He is living in a retirement home in Florida. His son and grandson took over his practice although the son is semi-retired. I arranged a meeting with the grandson, Dr. Adam Sloan. He’s willing to see us at his office in thirty minutes.”

  “Luke, what did you say to him?” asked Brooke.

  “I told him I wanted to ask questions about his grandfather and the delivery of two babies by a teenager named Mary Smith. I could tell by his voice he had knowledge of the situation. I told him I’d be accompanied by the babies in question. He seemed relieved to hear you were still alive.”

  Candace was annoyed when the elevator stopped on the second floor, she was in a hurry to get to the department store to pick up sheets and blankets to cover the seedy furniture in her apartment. The doors opened and there they were, the two trollops and a handsome guy she’d never seen before. They all smiled in her direction, but she knew they never saw her. They were deep in conversation about some doctor. When they left the building walking to the man’s car, Candace realized she was parked behind them. The sheets could wait; she’d follow them to see where they were headed.

  Luke turned left at the next corner and drove east toward the hospital. Candace followed far enough behind not to raise suspicion. Luke turned right into a parking lot of a small medical building on the south side of the street. Candace pulled her car into the lot on the left. She watched as the three of them exited the car and walked to the building. She noticed the sign in front: Adam Sloan, M.D., Internal Medicine.

  Drat! They are close to discovering the truth. The old guy must be dead by now. Maybe this Dr. Sloan won’t know anything Candace thought to herself while crossing her fingers.

  “Dr. Sloan is expecting you, Mr. Sullivan. I’ll let him know you have arrived,” said the receptionist.

  Adam Sloan came through the reception area to greet his visitors. “Please step into my office,” he said after introductions were made.

  “Dr. Sloan,” said Luke, “As I told you on the telephone, Molly and Stephanie were separated shortly after birth and have an interest in finding their birth mother. A DNA test has been administered and results are pending, however, there are many signs they are twins.”

  “I hope we will keep this meeting unofficial, please call me Adam.”

  “As I told you when we talked earlier, Adam, my role in this investigation has nothing to do with my being a reporter. I believe these women have a right to know why they were abandoned as infants. I’m not accusing your grandfather of an illegal act; I was hoping he might have answers.”

  “I’m afraid my grandfather won’t be of any help to you, Luke. I mentioned he was living in a retirement home in Florida, what I didn’t say is that he suffers from advanced dementia.

  “My father visits him often and the old man doesn’t recognize his son. After you called, I checked the archived files and couldn’t find any information on the birth of twins in December that year.

  “I was a teenager when my grandfather had his first stroke. My dad helped with his patients while my grandfather recovered and eventually took over the practice entirely. Grandfather retired when his health became an issue. Dad closed the old office and opened this one shortly after Grandfather retired.

  “I have a vague recollection of one of Grandfather’s nurses. When I was a kid, my mom used to bring me to Grandfather’s office on summer days, so he and I could go fishing. While he was finishing with his last patients, his nurse kept me company until he was free. I think her name was Miss Packard. I remember her because she was kind to me and always had candy in her desk drawer. I think my dad will remember her, I left a message on his voicemail. He and Mom are in Florida visiting Grandfather.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Sloan, Stephanie and I appreciate your taking time to talk to us, we know a doctor’s schedule is hectic,” said Molly.

  “My name is Adam,” he said looking directly at Stephanie until she felt her cheeks getting warm. “I wish I had answers for you. I find your stories fascinating and I’m glad you both were part of good families. Things could have ended disastrously for one or both of you. Please let me know the results of the DNA, although I’m sure we all know what will be proven. Luke, I’ll call you with any information about Grandfather’s nurse, unless you would like me to call one of you ladies?” he said looking at Stephanie again.

  “Stephanie, why don’t you give Adam your phone number?” said Molly innocently. “I have a better idea; Adam, why don’t you join us at my apartment building party tonight? If your father calls, you can relay the information to us time. It’s at the Balsam Lake Apartments on Main. You can’t miss it.”

  “Molly,” said Stephanie, “Adam is a busy physician, he doesn’t have time for silly parties.”

  “Hey, I like parties,” said Adam. “I’ll be there; what time does it start?”

  Chapter Six

  Brad Carpenter fastened the clasp on his wife’s necklace. “Why do they make these so small?” he said, “don’t they know human fingers are too fat to finagle these things?”

  “That’s why I asked you to hook it for me, my darling husband,” said a smiling Elizabeth Carpenter.

  “I still can’t get used to being called your husband, I have to pinch myself when I think about what a lucky guy I am.”

  “You are such an optimist; you marry a girl who needs help to walk down the aisle and rolls around all day in a wheelchair and you call yourself lucky.”

  “I am lucky, I didn’t fall in love with your legs although they are lovely legs, I fell in love with you. I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight than you smiling through the pain and walking down the aisle to marry me.”

  “With talk like that, Mr. Carpenter, we’ll never get to the party.”

  “I don’t know why we are going, I’d much rather be with you all day. When Brooke asked if you and I would like to go tonight, she took me by surprise. I wanted to tell her I’d rather be home making mad passionate love to my gorgeous wife.”

  “Brad Carpenter, you have been making mad passionate love to your gorgeous wife since our wedding night. We haven’t been with people, except for work for over a week now. I think we need a break, at least until we get home from the party,” Elizabeth said with a smile.

  “All right, we’ll go but let’s make it a cameo, one glass of wine and we’re out of there.”

  “Brooke won’t like that, she has a crush on you, you know.”

  “Brooke? Brooke has a crush on every guy she meets. I’m like a big brother to her, that’s all.”

  “Did you see her at the wedding, all eyes were on her and her friend, Molly. Speaking of Molly, whatever happen
ed to her and the girl who looked so much like her? Did they find out they were long-lost relatives?”

  “Brooke filled me in today, it’s an interesting story. Apparently, both were abandoned as infants but left miles apart. They think they are twins separated at birth. Only Brooke could come up with bizarre stories like that.”

  “Don’t you believe her? They looked alike, when I met Molly, I thought I knew her but that’s because I’d seen Stephanie earlier when she came through the reception line.”

  “I don’t remember either of them that well, I only had eyes for you that day,” Brad kissed her and wished again he’d never accepted Brooke’s invitation.

  Elizabeth insisted Brad leave her wheelchair in the trunk. “I worked all morning at therapy to maneuver around on crutches without falling. Annie thinks I’m ready to ditch the chair occasionally. I want to stand on my own two feet if only for a short time tonight.”

  Elizabeth was slow but steady walking beside Brad. Candace watched as the newlyweds came through the door. What is the cripple doing here? I hope that doesn’t mean her memory and ability to walk are returning. I wish she’d been killed when she had that accident. If only I’d hit her car a little harder. I didn’t want to put a dent I couldn’t explain into my bumper. What’s wrong with Brad Carpenter, doesn’t he see what a mess Elizabeth is? I don’t understand how she landed him, but she didn’t get her claws into my Tim. I wonder if he will be here tonight? He can’t distract me now; I’ve got to figure out a way to get rid of my sisters before they figure out who their mother is. Candace was deep in thought sitting at a corner table at the far end of the room when Molly stood before her.

  “Hello, I’m Molly Ryan, I saw you earlier on the elevator. I’m new to Balsam Lake and trying to meet all my neighbors.”

  Candace put on her sweetest fake smile, “Hello Molly, I’m Lucy,” she lied. “I walked by the community room and wondered what all the fuss is about. I have unpacking to do, please excuse me.”