Deception at Dark Hall (The Briony Martin Mystery Series) (12 page)

“But I—”

“Sharlyn, don’t speak!” Yannatos exclaimed.

At that pivotal moment, Detective Bailey strode through the library door with Dr. Hamel on his heels. Montague’s head jerked toward them. “What’s the news, gentlemen?”

Dr. Hamel answered. “It wasn’t suicide, Sergeant. George Griggs was murdered.”

“Murdered! It’s not possible.” Yannatos hung his head in his hands.

Briony saw Daniel stiffen. She, herself, struggled to find air.

Montague’s nostrils flared. He stared into Sharlyn’s eyes. “I have every reason to believe you killed the butler because he was about to implicate you. You committed three murders already and tried to put the blame on your twin, but Griggs knew the truth. Isn’t that right? Why did you hate Shelby so much?”

Sharlyn shook her head, and tears sprang into her eyes.

“Interest in the debate about capital punishment has resurfaced,” Montague threatened. “By the time your case goes to trial, the death sentence may be in place again. But if you confess and cooperate with us, I’ll do what I can to recommend to the courts that you’re granted a life sentence.” His large hand covered her knee, a sympathetic gesture most likely used to play on her emotions.

Lee’s eyes popped open. “Don’t touch her!” she hissed, clawing at the sergeant’s hand. He jerked his hand back. Detective Bailey lunged forward, but Montague waved him off. Frown lines appeared between his brows.

“Leave her alone!” Lee shouted. “She didn’t kill any of them, but especially not Griggs. She’d never hurt him.”

Briony’s heart galloped inside at the turn of events. She looked at Daniel. His pallor was tinged with gray.

“But
you’d
hurt him if pushed into a corner, wouldn’t you, Miss Leonti?” Montague baited.

The muscles around her mouth twitched. “Leonti? I’m not Miss Leonti. My name is Lee, and I wouldn’t hurt Griggs either.” She and Sharlyn clasped hands tightly.

“Stop playing games with me,” Montague shouted. “You may pretend to be a man, but that doesn’t make you one.”

She flinched and then broke down. Her shoulders shook with sobs. It took several long moments before she could speak. “Please leave Sharlyn alone. I’m the one you want. She didn’t kill anyone. She couldn’t. She’s too sweet and pure.” Their gazes met, and it was obvious from the darting movement of her pupils that Sharlyn searched Lee’s face and gazed lovingly into her eyes.

“Stop the B.S.,” Montague bellowed. “I don’t know why you’re playing this sick game, but your name is Cathy Leonti and your mother was the former housekeeper of Dark Hall, before she passed away of cancer eleven years ago. Did you think we wouldn’t find out?”

Lee’s muted sobs tapered off and finally stopped, replaced by bodily fatigue that seemed to have zapped her of all energy. She leaned into Sharlyn’s ear and whispered something into it.

“No, Lee.” Sharlyn’s voice was soft. Her lips trembled.

“Yes. I can’t let you go to prison for what I did. It’ll be okay. Trust me, as you always have.” She released Sharlyn’s hand and stared at Montague. The room was as hushed as fallen snow. She licked her lips, gulped, and began her confession.

“I murdered Oliver Dark ten years ago by shoving him down the spiral staircase. I did it because he abused me when I was a girl, and I found out he’d started up with Sharlyn. By the time she confided in me, I was already dressing like a male. I thought my becoming a boy would keep that dirty old man away from me. And it worked. But I had no idea he’d go after his own granddaughter.” Her eyes narrowed with fury at the memory. “I was determined not to let him hurt her the way he hurt me. Sharlyn and I grew up in this house together. I love her. I’ve always protected her, and I always will.”

Montague cast a quick glance at Detective Bailey, who was taking notes. “And Todd Brandt? Why did you kill him?”

“He used Sharlyn, just like all men use women. The man was a drug addict. I didn’t think anyone would miss him.”

“Andrew Whealdon? What did he do to deserve getting shot?”

Lee’s shoulders hitched in a slight shrug. “He was going to tell terrible lies about Sharlyn.”

“What about me?” Daniel asked. “You knocked me unconscious. But did you intend on killing me, too?”

An evil leer filled her face. “Yes. Guess I’m losing my touch.”

Briony saw Daniel flinch with shock. “But why?” he wanted to know.

“You’ve grown too close to Sharlyn. I could see you wanted her for yourself. But she’s mine, and the two of us don’t need men. We don’t want men and their dirty paws touching us. You’re all a bunch of filthy animals.”

An eerie stillness swallowed the room for what seemed an eternity. Montague finally broke the silence. “Where’s Shelby, Cathy? Did you murder her, too?”

Briony glanced up from staring at her hands, startled. The sergeant apparently knew everything except Dark Hall’s biggest secret.

Nickolaos Yannatos stood up wearily. “Shelby’s safe, Sergeant. I’ll explain it to you after you’ve read Cathy her rights.”

Lee’s confused gaze darted to the sergeant. “You said Sharlyn’s fingerprints were found on the gun. But they couldn’t be.”

“They aren’t.” His eyebrow lifted slyly. “Stand up and place your hands behind your back.” He snapped a pair of handcuffs on her. “Cathy Leonti, I’m arresting you for the murders of Oliver Dark, Todd Brandt, and Andrew Whealdon, as well as charging you with aggravated battery upon Daniel Collier.”

After he read her the Miranda rights, Lee sniffled. “Who killed my grandfather? I didn’t. I swear. I loved him. He was good to us, all of us.”

Montague nodded. “I know. I suspect Mr. Griggs did commit suicide to protect you. Dr. Hamel will confirm the cause of death. Griggs probably thought his confession note would be the only thing the police would need to close the cases on those three murders.”

“The butler was her grandfather?” Briony said.

“Yes, Miss Martin. The former housekeeper was Mary Leonti. She did die of cancer. Her maiden name was Griggs.”

Lee’s gaze narrowed into pinpricks and shifted from Montague to Detective Bailey and finally to Dr. Hamel. “You said my grandfather was murdered, but you all lied.”

Montague offered no excuse. Briony knew deceit had been the only means with which to get at the truth. He directed the paramedics to take the butler’s body to the city morgue and thanked Dr. Hamel for his time and assistance. “Detective Bailey, will you please escort Miss Leonti outside and into the squad car?”

Lee collapsed and had to be helped out of the room. She was so overwrought with emotion, she couldn’t even utter a goodbye to Sharlyn. When they’d gone, Montague and Yannatos stepped to the far side of the room and spoke in quiet tones, where apparently, the lawyer explained Sharlyn’s mental condition. Briony saw Montague plow a hand through his hair and shake his head in disbelief.

All this time, Sharlyn had sat quietly on the settee looking like a lost lamb. A tear slid down her cheek. Briony’s heart swelled for her.

From across the room, the sergeant motioned to Daniel. He stepped toward him. Briony heard Montague say, “Mr. Collier, someone from my department will call you to let you know the status of Miss Leonti’s case. You’ll, of course, be testifying at the trial.”

When the two men continued in hushed conversation, Briony sat next to Sharlyn and decided to bring up the subject that had been on her mind since the night of the séance.

“Sharlyn, it’s Briony Martin here. I’m sorry about your friend, Lee, and Mr. Griggs.”

“Thank you, Miss Martin. I’m not sure what I’m going to do without them. They’ve always been here for me. I’m going to feel so lost. I’ll be alone.”

Briony’s heart squeezed. “You’ll still have your work and your clients.”

“I suppose so.”

Briony understood how her interest for helping others might have diminished. “Miss Dark, may I ask you a direct question about your ability to communicate with the deceased?”

Sharlyn turned her body towards her. Their gazes connected, and the light in her eyes rekindled. “Certainly, Miss Martin.”

 A knot twisted Briony’s stomach. “Please be honest with me. The night I attended your séance, how did you know I had a twin brother named Ben? Did Daniel call ahead of time and tell you?”

Her voice was soft. “No, Miss Martin. My gift is channeling loved ones that have passed over. I discovered I had the ability to do so when I was thirteen years old. That’s also when I lost my sight.”

It was also when your friend discovered your grandfather had been assaulting you, Briony thought with sadness.

“You miss him,” Sharlyn stated. “Your brother, Ben. Although it was a tragedy, his death was an accident. I saw the drowning through his eyes. He didn’t suffer. His lungs filled with water and he passed quickly.”

The breath locked deep inside Briony’s throat. How could Sharlyn have known Ben had drowned? Paige hadn’t told Daniel those details.

“You left the circle before Ben could relate his message,” Sharlyn continued. “But I remember what he wanted you to know. Would you like me to tell you now?”

What could it hurt? “All right.”

Sharlyn folded Briony’s hand into hers. “He’s proud of the way you’ve faced your fears. He sees that as a great accomplishment. And he’s glad love has come into your life. He’s happy because you’re happy.”

Tears threatened to burst from Briony’s eyes. There’s no way Sharlyn could have known those things about her. Even if she came by her ability through trauma and believed herself to be blind, she really could see into the world beyond. Briony was no longer a skeptic.

She composed herself and glanced over to see that Daniel was still speaking to the sergeant. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Miss Dark. There’s one other thing I’d like to ask you about before I go. Nickolaos Yannatos.”

Sharlyn’s featherly light eyebrow lifted. “What about him?”

“He’s alluded to his age as being in the sixties, but he appears much younger. And his looks are so unique. He reminds me of the powerful Greek mythological creatures I studied in school. I’ve been thinking he must have made a pact with the devil to stay so vigorous and young.” She tried to chuckle away the nervous pitch of her voice.

Sharlyn’s voice dropped conspiratorially low. “Nickolaos is a lawyer. All lawyers believe they’re powerful, do they not? In fact, most of them have such a high opinion of themselves they practically think they’re gods.” She laughed, but there was a false note in her mirth.

She bent her head toward Briony. “In all seriousness, since you’ve asked, you might find it interesting to learn that Nickolaos is a member of a distinct Greek order that’s been in existence since the sixteenth century. My grandfather also belonged. The details regarding the group’s rituals and obligations are all very clandestine. But for centuries, there have been rumors of witchcraft being involved in their ceremonies. So I suspect your perception of our resident Greek isn’t far off track.”

Goosebumps peppered Briony’s skin. She shook Sharlyn’s hand and said goodbye. “Take care, and good luck.” Realizing Sergeant Montague had left, she strolled over to Yannatos. Daniel excused himself and returned to Sharlyn’s side.

“What will happen to her now?” Briony asked the lawyer.

“I’ll see that she gets the psychiatric attention she needs. Cathy wouldn’t allow me to before. She didn’t trust any men and only tolerated my occasional presence because I still handle the taxes and other legal transactions with regard to Dark Hall.”

“You won’t put Sharlyn in an institution like her mother, will you?”

“I’ll work closely with the doctors and avoid it, if at all possible.”

“Please try your best.” She felt on the verge of tears. “What happened to her wasn’t her fault.” After hearing what Sharlyn just said about his possible involvement in witchcraft, she allowed her suspicious gaze to roam over his features. “You told us you were Oliver Dark’s friend. You didn’t know what he was doing to those girls when they were young?”

Yannatos heaved a deep sigh that seemed genuine. “If I had, I would have killed him myself.”

She turned to see Daniel kiss Sharlyn on the cheek and walk away. Sharlyn smiled into the air and then closed her eyes and lowered her head. The whole scene had been one big melodrama, but now it was over. Briony was exhausted.

When she and Daniel stepped outside the front door, the snow had stopped falling, but the howling of the wind was frightful. She dove into the passenger side of the car and wrapped her arms around herself. It took several turns of the key before the cold vehicle roared to life.

As the car sat shuddering, a feeling like someone was watching made Briony turn her head. The drapes in a downstairs window parted slightly. A figure in white stood at the pane, and a flash of blue eyes sparkled from behind the glass. Briony swallowed a sharp cry when a shadow from behind touched the woman’s shoulder and wheeled her away from the window.

As Daniel slowly drove down the snow-packed driveway, Briony craned her head over the seat. It would be the last time she laid eyes on Dark Hall. A strange sense of paranoia rendered her transfixed. She kept her sight on the mansion until they passed through the gate. Then, with a knot in her stomach, she flipped around and huddled in the seat. Despite warm air blowing from the heater vents, the chill refused to leave her body.

~ * ~

Although the winter air was crisp on the day of the christening, the sun slanted brilliantly across the Chicago landscape, melting most of the snow. Amanda was baptized with Briony and Daniel promising to uphold their duties as godparents. Afterwards, friends and family gathered at the Collier home for refreshments.

When the busy day finally ended, Briony retreated to the spare room to pack. She was leaving early the next morning. A knock sounded on the door.

“Come in.”

Paige stepped in, looking tired but happy. She sat on the edge of the bed. “It was a beautiful ceremony, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.” Briony smiled and halted her packing. “Thank you for making me Amanda’s godmother. I love her to death, and I’m so glad I was able to share you and Mark’s joy today.”

“There wouldn’t have been anyone else I’d choose. I trust you with my own life, Briony. I certainly trust you with my daughter’s, should anything happen to Mark and I.”