EVIL IN DISGUISE

By Maria Johs

Greed, deception, and a maze of twisted relationships figure in the murder of a Pear tree homeowner. The trial of evidence uncovered by MacLanahan and Nicholson's investigation leads them to one of the neighbors who is arrested and eventually ends up being tried for murder.

• Language: English
• Publisher: TOPLINK PUBLISHING, LLC
• Release date: Oct 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781949804652

Maria Johs

Maria Johs was born and raised in Germany. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton. She now lives in Colorado.

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Evil in Disguise

Maria Johs

Copyright © 2018 by Maria Johs.

Paperback: 978-1-949804-64-5

eBook: 978-1-949804-65-2

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter One

When Edward Shore returned to Peartree, he checked into the King’s Castle Hotel, put out the Do Not Disturb sign, pulled out a pair of pajamas from his suitcase, got undressed, and went to bed. He desperately needed to get some sleep, but he found that the restless anxiety that had gotten a hold of him, was not letting him fall asleep, at least not immedia tely.

The problem, he thought, is the brain. It keeps on working even though the body is exhausted and needs rest. For a while he concentrated on the good things in his life, and gradually he felt the tension leave his body.

After two years of working on the oil rigs in Alaska, he found himself, at the age of thirty, a wealthy man. With the money he’d saved, he was now able to fulfill his lifelong dream of owning a grocery store. But was it worth the sacrifice he’d had to make? The answer to that question, once it came, was lost in the ragged edges of sleep, which gradually turned into a deep, dreamless slumber that lasted twelve hours.

On the following morning, when Edward left his room and walked toward the dining room, he felt rested and refreshed. He’d just entered the dining room, when someone placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw the smiling face of the owner of the hotel and his good friend, Paul Gallagher.

Paul! cried Edward. I was hoping you’d still be here. It’s good to see you, old friend.

I’m happy to see you too, was his reply. Though I hardly expected it.

Why?

Paul Gallagher gave his friend an uneasy look. Is it possible that he doesn’t know? he thought.

Let’s talk about it after you’ve had your breakfast. Take the table in the far corner, and I’ll join you in a little while.

Edward was just finishing his breakfast, when Paul strode up to his table and sat down.

I see that you’re married, said Edward. Congratulations.

Thank you.

Did you marry anyone I know?

Millie Harrison.

I know Millie, she’s a nice girl. I’m happy for both of you.

Thank you.

Now tell me what you meant by your remark? Why were you surprised to see me?

Paul looked away. At the back of his mind was a faint disinclination to tell his friend why he thought he’d never see him again.

Is it about Laura? asked Edward.

Paul nodded his head.

Laura and I haven’t been in contact for a long time, said Edward, ruefully. But that hasn’t stopped me from coming back to Peartree.

Then you know that she is married?

An icy hand gripped Edward’s heart, so that he felt sick with anguish, but his face expressed no emotion.

No, I didn’t know, he replied with a faint trembling in his voice. When did she get married?

Six months ago.

I was a fool to think that somehow or other we’d get together again, he thought with bitterness.

Edward was suddenly seized with the desire to be alone. Though his friend meant well, he wasn’t prepared to let him see how he felt, and worst of all, he couldn’t bear to see his friend’s pity. He rose to shake hands with him.

Let’s get together again sometime, Paul. I dare say there is a lot that I haven’t heard about what’s going on in this town.

Sure. How long will you be staying here?

For as long as it takes me to make up my mind if I want to stay here permanently. Does that make sense?

Absolutely. Let me know if there is anything you need.

The day was crisp and fine, and Edward decided to walk into town. He visited old familiar shops, as well as some of the new ones that had sprung up in his absence. Then he wandered at random in the old streets of Peartree. But he hardly spoke to anyone who recognized him. Other than a greeting, he said nothing to people who stopped and wanted to engage him in conversation.

Edward Shore was a man of striking appearance. He was tall, lean, with a head full of curly brown hair, blue eyes, and a pleasant smile. But it was his deeply tanned face that made women stop and take another look at him.

When at last he came to an old Victorian villa, he stopped. It had a desolate and forsaken look. The lawn and flower beds were choked with weeds, and the closed gates and shuttered windows gave it a sinister appearance.

It looks like Nathan MacBride has fallen on hard times, he thought. Edward knew that Laura’s mother had married MacBride soon after her husband died, which put him in possession of this house and a large fortune.

I wonder how they managed to run this place into the ground in just two years? he mumbled to himself.

Then he turned and walked briskly back to the center of town. Having decided to go back to the hotel, he stopped to buy a newspaper, which he tucked under his arm and joined the crowds of people walking on the sidewalk.

Suddenly he heard a familiar voice cry out: I can’t believe it! Edward! When did you return to Scotland?

He looked up and his heart gave a sudden leap, but his face remained impassive.

Hello Laura, he said, smiling. I’ve been here since yesterday.

You look great, she said.

So do you. Look, is there someplace we can go to talk?

She hesitated, but only for a moment.

I can’t right now, she replied. I’m on my way to the dentist. You know how cranky they get if you miss an appointment.

If you don’t have a toothache, then miss the appointment. I’ll pay for whatever he’ll charge you for it, he said. It is important to me that we talk.

I, too, want us to have an opportunity to talk about what went wrong between us, she replied. If you’re free tomorrow, I’ll meet you in the park, let’s say at two in the afternoon.

I’ll be there.

Chapter Two

On the following day, Edward found himself sitting on a park bench at the appointed time. But there was no sign of Laura, and as time went on, he began to wonder if she’d show up at all.

Perhaps she never intended to meet me, he thought, a trifle dismayed. It was nothing but a dodge. And that appointment she had with the dentist was also a lie. She wanted to get rid of me and didn’t have the nerve to tell me.

He glanced at his watch and rose to leave. But something caught his eye, and he sat down again. Laura was coming; she was walking towards the park. He saw the sunlight glistening in her hair, which was a dark rich gold, and his heart began to beat against his chest.

I’m sorry I’m late, Edward, she said, when she had reached him. I couldn’t get away.

Is it that bad?

A faint shadow fell on