Amanda

By Judith Kay Beezley

Amanda returns home to Edgartown following the news that her parents have died in a car accident. Closing her successful law practice in Chicago, she returns to her childhood home. She has been on edge since one of her neighbor’s homes was broken into the week before and feels a responsibility to watch out for her community, filled with people she has known her whole life.

One night, Amanda notices a light on at Mrs. Brice’s home even though she knows her neighbor is out of town. Without a second thought, she heads across the street to find out if Mrs. Brice has returned home early only to have an intruder race out the back door.

As she strives to build her law practice, Amanda finds herself in the middle of unraveling years of home invasions, murder, and grand theft, ending with a hostage situation and shoot out. Along the way she meets the man of her dreams, and they set out on a journey to build the family Amanda has always wanted.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: May 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665720489

Judith Kay Beezley

Judith Kay Beezley lives in a small town in southwestern Washington State. She and her husband own and operate a small accounting firm, where they manage over forty clients. Judy is the mother of one, stepmother of three, and grandmother of soon to be nine grandchildren. She loves her home, nestled in a wooded area between the Pacific Ocean and pristine Willapa Bay.

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Copyright © 2022 Judith Kay Beezley.

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This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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ISBN: 978-1-6657-2049-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-2047-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-2048-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022905079

Archway Publishing rev. date: 5/17/2022

DEDICATION 50819.png

50821.png  To my husband, Robert Keith Beezley, who encouraged me every step of the way to finish this book. You were so patient when I read to you each evening sitting on our back deck. The scotch I poured you probably helped. It was a joy to share the characters with you and to know that you too had formed a fondness for each of them.

50825.png  In memory of my parents, Jim and Margaret Stoll, I believe you would have been proud of this story. I wish you were here to share it.

50827.png  And finally, to my four sons, eight grandchildren, and soon-to-be nine great grandchildren, please don’t ever give up on your dreams. I am living proof that anything is possible if you work hard enough for it.

I love you all.

INTRODUCTION 51171.png

Amanda returns home to Edgartown following the news that her parents have died in an automobile accident. Closing her home and successful law practice in Chicago, she returns to her childhood home. She has been on edge since one of her neighbor’s homes was broken into the week before. She feels a responsibility to watch out for her neighbors most of which she has known all her life. Amanda notices a light on at Mrs. Brice’s home even though she knows that she is out of town visiting a cousin. Without a second thought she heads across the street to find out if Mrs. Brice has returned home early only to have an intruder race out the back door.

As she strives to build her law practice in her hometown, she finds herself in the middle of unraveling years of home invasions, murder, and grand theft, ending with a hostage situation and shoot out. Along the way she meets the man of her dreams and they set out on a journey to build the family she has always dreamed of.

56472.pngcat.jpg

Did you hear that? The cat didn’t even bother to look up, let

alone answer me. I went to the dining room window and ever so cautiously moved the drapes to look out. Nothing. I knew that I had heard something so moved on to the kitchen to peer out. It didn’t take long to discover that the culprit had a black mask on, wore a bushy tail and was raiding the garbage can. These raccoons may be cute, but they have become a real pest in the neighborhood, and they aren’t that friendly. So much for an intruder. I went back to the living room to reclaim my place on the couch, but the cat had already moved in. There is simply something regal about an 18-pound, cream color female Burmese, with chocolate markings that resemble a cougar, that makes her difficult to ignore. I chose her when I returned to Edgartown, and she was just 4-weeks old and have had her since she was weened. She loves me, but she doesn’t want me to know it. Rather than argue with her (which was basically useless anyway) I moved to the chair to finish my project. My nerves had been a bit jumpy ever since the break-in at the house across the street last week. I picked up the family album again and started thumbing through it looking for the best photographs of my ancestors. January marked Edgartown’s Annual Celebration. I knew that my ancestors, on both sides, had settled in Massachusetts in the early 1700s however I didn’t have photos or rock-solid information any further back than my great grandparents. Townspeople were asked to provide photographs, when available, and offer either a short bio or a story on each ancestor. I had decided to start there and work my way forward.

JONATHAN AND HILDA (STENNES)

BRADLEY – Amanda’s Paternal 2x Great

Grandparents

Jonathan was an Episcopalian Minister. He was a quiet man, not much for idle chit chat. He was a good husband and a fine father. He was not a demonstrative man, but his wife and children knew that he loved and cared about them.

Hilda was a homemaker. She was a joyful lass who loved to laugh and had a good time being rowdy with her children. She loved to sew and made all the children’s clothing. She had fallen in love with Jonathan shortly after meeting him and loved his dearly until the day she died.

JAMES AND HELEN (SCHMIDT) BRADLEY – Amanda’s Paternal Great Grandparents

James Bradley was destined for success. Even as a child he had ambition that nobody in his family seemed to understand. He loved politics and used to practice giving State of the Union speeches to the children in the neighborhood. Being from a small town like Edgartown, Massachusetts you knew everyone. He would walk up and down the streets waving and yelling hello to everyone he met. He was a smart lad. He loved to read, and he learned quickly. His memory was extraordinary. It seemed that everything he read or was told was logged into his mind forever. James was tall, around 6-foot, and he kept an even weight for all his life. He wasn’t particularly interested in food so only ate when it was necessary or pushed on him. He was class president and graduated valedictorian from his high school. He attended Boston University and later graduated with a law degree from Harvard. He met and married Helen Schmidt while they were both in college. He was just 22 and she was 21 when they wed. When James’ passed the Massachusetts bar they returned to Edgartown, and he opened a small law firm where he specialized in employment law. He was always working to help the less fortunate than he. They started a family right away as they both wanted a large family. They managed to have 6 boys and 2 girls in 10 years! Because of James’ love of politics, he threw his hat in the ring for Mayor of Edgartown. He won that election and served as Mayor until he retired. From retirement until his death James worked tirelessly for the people of Edgartown to be sure that they received fair pay for a day’s work.

Helen Schmidt was a Boston girl. She was an only child born to German immigrants. She strived to make the best possible grades and to speak the English language without any hint of an accent. It wasn’t that she was ashamed of her heritage or didn’t love her parents because she did. She simply wanted to fit in and be the best that she could be. She loved to read and loved languages. She graduated from high school with honors and received several scholarships for college tuition. She applied for two jobs and was selected for both so she could afford books and other incidentals. Her parents tried to help the best they could, but it wasn’t much. She enrolled at Boston University where she majored in Education. She worked at the library three nights each week and waited tables at a local café whenever they needed her. She met James Bradley in the library and was immediately smitten. He was so tall and handsome and had impeccable manners. One evening while returning books that he had borrowed he asked if she might like to have a soda with him after her work hours were complete. She was thrilled and immediately answered yes. They were totally comfortable with one another from the beginning of their courtship. James met and won over Helen’s parents. And shortly after their courtship began James asked Helen to marry him and she accepted. She got her teacher’s degree and taught school, while raising 8 children, in James’ hometown of Edgartown. They remained devoted to each other and very much in love until they passed.

JOHN AND AMANDA (O’MALLEY) BRADLEY – Amanda’s Paternal Grandparents

John Bradley was the eldest son of James & Helen Bradley. He had 5 brothers and 2 sisters that followed him in quick succession. 8 children in 10 years! John was sent off to college but hated it. He didn’t like studying and if he didn’t like something, he found it difficult to retain it. He dropped out of school and returned to Edgartown and joined the police department. He was a good cop. He believed in law and order, and he did whatever it took to enforce the law. He was a handsome man. Bigger than any of the other Bradley’s ancestors and siblings alike. He was over 6’2" tall and weighed 225 pounds. He worked out regularly. He lifted weights and ran track during school and was still a weekend runner into his 40s. He met a local girl named Amanda O’Malley when he was about 23 or 24 years old. She was a nurse at the local hospital. She was tall, slender and had the most beautiful auburn hair he’d ever seen. She had bright blue eyes that twinkled when she found something humorous. She had a lovely lilt to her voice when she spoke. Probably because her parents were Irish immigrants and spoke Gaelic at home. He fell head over heels for Amanda in about the first 5 minutes of meeting her. He invited her to dinner; she turned him down. He invited her to lunch; she turned him down. After being turned down so many times he finally asked her point blank why she didn’t like him. I like you just fine, John Bradley, she said. Where’d you get the idea I didn’t like you? You won’t dine with me, he said, no matter how many times I ask. Well, she said, not one time have you mentioned meeting my parents and asking to court me. What kinda’ girl do you take me for? John apologized for having overlooked this matter and asked if he might have her home address so he could talk with her parents. She gladly gave him the address and told him she’d be off duty tomorrow night at 5pm sharp. If he were to show up at her home and her parents were satisfied with the likes of him then he could buy her supper. John showed up on her doorstep promptly at 5:30 giving her time to get off shift and get home. Her father answered the door and invited him in. He introduced himself to her parents and her two brothers and voiced his hopes that he might court their daughter. Her father asked what his intentions were, and John answered without hesitation that he’d like to buy her dinner tonight and then get her a ring and ask her to be his wife. Her parents couldn’t help but smile at the quick response but liked the young man for his honesty. They gave John their blessings to court their daughter and her brothers reminded him that she was a good girl; a good Catholic girl and that there’d be no messing around, or they would come to find him. He told them that he was an honorable man; a police officer and promised to be the gentleman that she deserved. They were married 2 months later. To this union one son and three daughters were born. They named the baby boy Gordon and they doted on him all their lives. He was a wonderful boy and an even more wonderful man. Their daughters were Mary Margaret (called Meg) who died when she was just 20 years old, Sarah Jane and Savannah Jo were the twin girls. Their marriage was a happy one that was full of laughter. Amanda stopped working full time when Gordon was born. She would occasionally sub for someone’s vacation or illness but loved being home with her son. Her husband built them a beautiful home just a few blocks from the house he’d grown up in. He always fought to be independent in all things.

GORDON AND REBECCA (Athearn) BRADLEY – Amanda’s parents

Gordon Bradley was the only son of John and Amanda Bradley. His parents doted on him and he was a very happy child. He loved school, church, his friends, his family and most of all, he loved Edgartown. He excelled at school and received high marks and was presented with several scholarships that would more than pay his tuition at Boston University. While at University he met Rebecca Athearn of Tisbury. They dated off and on and then became acquainted again after graduation. They married soon after. Gordon excelled at the police department and was soon a detective. He continued to move up through the ranks and was Chief of Police for 15 years when he retired. Gordon was a solid 6-foot tall and never weighed more than 200 pounds. He was physically fit and worked out most of his life. He had dark auburn hair, like his mother, and dark brown eyes like his father. He had a bit of an Irish temperament inasmuch as he could be very jovial or very moody. His wife could bring out these moods without much work on her part.

Rebecca Athearn was a spoiled, precocious child who grew up with the very best of everything. Even though she was spoiled she still was a hard worker. She was determined to always get the best grades through school. She was class president, home coming queen, head cheerleader, and valedictorian graduating at age 16. She entered Boston University on a full scholarship and told her parents that she would work at the library to pay for her books if they would pay for her housing expenses. She graduated from Boston U with a 4.0 and a BS in Business Administration. Again, she was valedictorian at graduation. She entered Harvard law and passed the bar at age 21-1/2 years. She returned to Tisbury and hung out her shingle with the intent of practicing business law. The Prosecuting Attorney’s office contacted her before that shingle was hung and asked that she join their fight against crime. She was reacquainted with the handsome police officer that she had met in college and he proceeded to court her until she finally agreed to marry him. She climbed every ladder put in front of her and at age 37 was District Attorney for Dukes County. Her career suffered a slight bump when they discovered she was pregnant. This had been nothing they had planned and frankly, nothing they had wanted. However, it was too late to do anything about it by the time it was discovered. Amanda Kay was born in December and from birth was the image of her mother-in-law. They hired a wonderful live-in nanny who subbed as a housekeeper as well. She raised Amanda to be a lovely young woman.

There! That covers the Bradley side. Now I just need to collect the Athearn side. I decided I’d work on that tomorrow evening.

I picked up the cat, much against her liking, and went upstairs. I really needed to soak in a tub of hot, bubbly water and think things through. I have a habit of looking up and down the neighborhood each evening. When I see houses are dark, I know that my neighbors are away or already in bed for the night. I’m close with my neighbors and they know that I keep an eye on them. Last week I had already done my block check and knew that Mrs. Brice was out of town visiting family. I had gotten myself a cup of tea and just happened to look out the window and saw that a light had come on at her house. I knew it wasn’t her, so I was both concerned and curious. I threw on a jacket and walked across to have a look. I knocked on her door, but nobody answered. I started to walk around to the back yard to see where exactly that the light was coming from when a man burst out of the back door and went careening across the back yard, over the fence, and out of sight. I called 911 and reported the incident and they arrived shortly thereafter to investigate. I phoned Mrs. Brice telling her what had occurred, and she came home the next day to speak with the police. After a thorough search through her home, she assured the police that she could find nothing missing. The perpetrator had broken the glass on the back door to gain entrance into the house. I called a handyman to come and repair the door for her. I had, after all, grown up across the street from her, her parent’s and her children. My great grandparents had built the house that I’m living in and when they died my parents moved in and raised me there. My grandparents had a house about 3 blocks south of me that remains in the family trust. When you grow up seeing these people every day you care for them as if they were your own family. Thinking that was the end of that I put the incidence in the back of my mind.

Early next morning I arrived at my office to find Dolly already there, with her pretty smile, the coffee made and my mail on the desk waiting for me. She is such a jewel. I was so very fortunate to have hired her when she was in high demand. Dolly is 45 years old and in olden times would have been considered an old maid. She taught school for several years until she became disenchanted with the inability to really teach children rather than just babysitting them every day while their parents played. She is very dedicated, very thorough, a wonderful administrator, and my right arm. I went through the mail, separating out the bills from the junk, and ran across one envelope that had no return address. The address was block printed, all caps, and marked confidential to me. I found that rather odd but opened it to see who had sent it. There was a single piece of white paper with red block printing that read, Mind Your Own Business or Else! Or else, what? My first thoughts were how bizarre this seemed, and the next thought was fear. I told Dolly that I wasn’t feeling well and was going home. Dolly patted me saying, You look terrible. Drink some tea and get better.

Rather than going home I went to the nearest police station where I asked to see my good friend, Sgt. Adler. He was aware of the break-in across the street from me and I was terrified that the letter and that occurrence were somehow related. I was told that he was off-site but if I wanted to leave a message, he would call me when he returned. I gave the desk officer my card and left. I thought about the sergeant on my way home. I had met him when I was a child. His father and mine were both police officers and had worked together. He is about 10 years older than I but has always been very kind to me. He has such a pleasant demeanor. You just immediately know that he is going to help in whatever way that he can. He’s a stocky built man whose probably about 5’9" tall with a thick head of cold black hair and kind brown eyes that tend to twinkle. He is truly such a nice person to call friend.

I walked into the house, kicked off my shoes and headed to the kitchen for a cold glass of wine. The cat (whose name is Precious, but she doesn’t come to it) was curled up in her regular spot on the couch. She eyed me once and then pretended that I was invisible. She had her food and her couch, what more could she want? I poured my wine and sat down at the table with my laptop. I checked my email and replied where needed. My cell rang and I saw that it was Sgt. Adler calling. I explained about the letter that I had received, and he told me he’d see me shortly. I finished my glass of wine and anxiously awaited his arrival.

About ten minutes later the doorbell rang and it was Sgt. Adler. We went into the living room, moved Precious and I showed him the letter that I had received. After scanning the contents, he asked if he could take it with him. Of course, I told him. He was looking very sternly at me before saying anything at all. You need to be very careful, Amanda. Whoever sent you this note knows good and well that you were the one that called the police. I started to comment, but he stopped me. People in this neighborhood know that you watch out for everyone; you always have. If you weren’t so aware of every person’s coming and goings you wouldn’t have noticed a light from across the street that hadn’t been there 5 minutes before. I was listening to what Sgt. Adler had to say, but at the same time I was brushing his words aside as always. Someone must watch out for their neighbors, don’t they? I assured him that I would be careful and cautious. I did remind him, however, that if I hadn’t seen that light that there was every chance that Mrs. Brice would have come home and discovered him there. God only knows what would have happened then! Besides, I asked him, what was the burglar looking for? Did they have any leads on who he was or what he wanted with that sweet little old woman? I walked Sgt. Adler to the door and bid him goodbye. I again assured him I’d be careful and would let him know if anything else happened. I made myself comfortable on the sofa, with Precious at my side, and began my search through the family albums for the Athearn side of the family.

Amanda’s Maternal 2x GREAT GRANDPARENTS

ALFRED ATHEARN, farmer. He married Minerva Schmidt. Together they farmed family land. There aren’t many documented records about how he came to own the land, but it is assumed that his father had quit claimed the land or inherited it from his father. He was a good Christian man who loved to read the bible to his wife and children at night around the fireplace. He loved to sing and taught many songs to the children.

Minerva’s family were German immigrants. She was short of stature and rather round. Not really what you’d call pretty but had a comely appearance. She was a good and dutiful wife and she doted on her 4 children. She kept a clean home and was a good cook and baker.

Amanda’s Maternal GREAT GRANDPARENTS

TENNISON ATHEARN, train conductor. He married Lucinda Smith.

Tennison had a dream of traveling the world. He had been raised up on a local farm the oldest of 4 children. He traveled to Boston after graduating from middle school and got a job at the train yard. He worked his way up to conductor. Tennison lived a long life most of which was without his beloved wife.

Lucinda was from Boston. She was a quiet girl; an only child born to older parents. She met Tennison through family friends and they began courting. He proposed marriage in the fall, and they married in the spring of the following year. She and Tennison had one son, Benjamin, born two years after they married. She was thrilled with her son! She took ill the winter following her son’s 5th birthday and passed away New Year’s Day.

Amanda’s Maternal GRANDPARENTS

BENJAMIN ATHEARN, lawyer was married to Linda Stoller.

Benjamin grew up with his aunt and uncle caring for him. His mother died when he was only 5 years old and his father was a conductor on the MBTA, which was a commuter train between Boston and Maine. He was gone a lot and so his relationship with his son was not good. Benjamin was very bright and did well in school. He could remember his mother reading to him day and night when he was just a small lad. He worked all through middle school and high school and saved every penny for college. He received several scholarships that helped to pay his tuition. He passed the Massachusetts Bar. He had been courting Linda Stoller and proposed marriage after passing the bar. They married after passing the bar and moved back to Benjamin’s hometown of Tisbury where they lived until they passed away.

Amanda’s PARENTS

REBECCA ATHEARN, lawyer, District Attorney was married to Gordon Bradley.

There, that should give the board what they need for my contribution to the event. I’m tired, so I believe that I’ll take a bubble bath and off to bed I go. It has been a less that wonderful day anyway.

My alarm went off at 6am as usual. Up, shower, dress, and out the door by 7am to meet my normal busy day. I checked my iPad while the car warmed up to see if I had any clients coming in today, but the schedule looks clear. That’s good because I can get some work done. My business had stayed very busy since my return to Edgartown 4 years before. After graduating from high school, I had, much to my parent’s objection, applied and been accepted at University of Illinois in Chicago where I planned to get a degree in business. After graduating from University of Illinois I spent the next two years at John Marshall Law School. My idea was to specialize in Estate Law and stay in the greater Chicago area. I hung out my shingle and spent the next 10 years doing exactly that in a city that I’d grown to love. Chicago had layers of flavors from the different ethnic groups that just captured my heart. People were born, lived, married, had children, and died within a block of their entire family. It never occurred to them to move away from the warm embrace and comfort of all those who loved them. I’ve always been a solitude person. It isn’t that I don’t like to socialize; I do. It is more that my thoughts are buried in what I do and what needs to be done. I haven’t dated much, not even in college. I had a boyfriend for a while in high school, but nothing serious. Then my scholarship for my college tuition was dependent upon my getting the best grades that I could. My parents offered to help with tuition and the extras, but I wanted to do as much as I could on my own. I worked part time in the library three evenings a week and I waited tables at the campus deli Saturday mornings. The rest of the time was spent studying or in class. Everything was going as planned until I received the phone call that my parents had both died in a car crash. Being the only child and sole heir to their estate, I packed up my business and my house and headed home to Edgartown. If you’ve ever visited the Martha’s Vineyard area you know that both Edgartown and Tisbury are the two local communities. I was born and raised there and both of my parents, their parents, and their grandparents had been born and raised there also. Long story short, I wasn’t very popular when I decided to move away. It wasn’t that I didn’t love my parents or enjoy being with them because I did. I just found that being an only child of a mother who was an over-achiever and extremely successful made it necessary for me to prove myself. My parents probably knew this about me even though we never spoke of it out loud. My office is downtown Edgartown and has finally, after nearly 4 years, been accepted by the townspeople. I am now a thriving Estate Attorney with 18 regular clients that keep me very busy. My mother, the former D.A. for our county might not have been as thrilled as I was.

Three days later there were police cars lining the street, sirens blasting, and chaos everywhere. Mrs. Brice’s daughter, Lois, had come to pick her mother up for their lunch date so they could talk about her visit with her cousin Charlotte who lived in Boston. When she didn’t answer the knock on the door, Lois let herself in with her key. Her mother was found in the kitchen, very dead. There were no signs of forced entry, and nothing seemed to be disturbed. The note I had received took on a whole new meaning.

I spent the morning cleaning. I tend to clean and rearrange furniture when I’m stressed, and I was very stressed. About 10am I tried to call Lois to ask if there was anything I could do to help. She was very curt and simply told me that she didn’t need any help from me. Hanging up the phone I felt, well, shocked. What had I done that upset her so? This puzzle was growing larger by the minute. I finished my cleaning, had a bite of lunch, and went to shower and dress. I wanted to stop by my office and see if anything was new there. I hadn’t heard anything from Dolly so thought I could just check phone messages and return any calls that I needed to.

I unlocked my office door and immediately felt uneasy. It was Saturday so Dolly would not have been in. I walked back toward my office and came to an abrupt stop. My files cabinets were on their sides and paper was strewn everywhere. Without a second thought I turned on my heels and headed out the door. I stopped only to lock the front door and headed for my car where I locked myself in and called 9-1-1. After dialing 9-1-1 and reporting the incidence I dialed Sgt. Adler’s direct number and asked him to meet me at the office. He assured me he was on his way. The patrolman arrived within minutes, and I gave them the key to enter the building. Sgt. Adler was close behind. He asked me what time I arrived, what I’d found, and what I’d done. I answered all his questions and then promptly burst into tears. I’ve known this man most all my life and he was happy to lend his shoulder until I regained control. It isn’t always easy to be all alone, no family or close friends. I tend to stay to myself. I always have. Just me and Precious … even though she won’t allow anything close to a hug I know she loves me. What is going on? Why would someone break into my office and go through file cabinets? What in the world could they possibly be looking for? And speaking of breaking in, the front door wasn’t disturbed. How’d they get in? Sgt. Adler felt it safe for me to go into the office now, so we went into review the damage. He didn’t want me to touch anything until they had checked for fingerprints and photographed the room. He asked that I call Dolly and let her know what had happened and to inform her that he would be stopping by to interview her later today. I called her and the poor lady was just so very upset. She assured me that she would be there to speak with the Sergeant and if I needed anything to let her know. The Sergeant and I talked about my going back home alone. He wasn’t happy about the idea but suggested that a patrolman would escort me, check the house, and position himself in front of my house round the clock. Given the way the day was going it sounded like a fine idea to me.

I didn’t want to go home. I longed for the warm embrace of my parents and missed them more than even I could imagine. I wanted to run far, far away but I couldn’t. I had to see this through and find out what was really going on. I could hear my parent’s voices telling me to face it squarely and find out what is going on. I followed the officer to my house and waited until he gave me the all-clear. He asked if I’d rather he remain in the house, but I assured him that being out front was fine. I reminded him that I have a firearm that is registered, and I’m licensed to carry on my person if I wish, and that right now, I wished. He smiled and told me if I saw or heard anything to flash the lights on and off, and he would be right there. I double checked the back-door lock, the locks on all the windows downstairs and locked the front door behind the patrolman. I went upstairs to check all the windows there and to change into comfortable clothes while I was at it. I discovered as I walked back downstairs that I was starving. I had forgotten to eat all day! I went to the kitchen to make an omelet for me and to find something for Precious.

I checked out my front window to be sure that the patrolman was still there. I went to the door and held up a mug of coffee for him. He seemed both grateful and perturbed. Thanks for the coffee. I appreciate it. Please don’t unlock your door and step outside again for any reason. If you need to leave the house, flash the lights on and off and I, or another patrolman, will respond immediately." I assured him that I would do as I was told. I went and got my coffee and a couple of cookies and went into the living room to watch a little TV. Precious laid down about an inch from me, which is her routine, and settled in to relax while I watched a program. I watched the news and then searched for a movie to take my mind off everything. I surfed the movie station and found nothing but thrillers which I decided wasn’t such a good idea this evening. I finally decided on a home remodel program. The cat and I decided to go to bed right after the 11pm news. Everything seemed ok in and around the house, so I turned off lights downstairs and headed to bed hoping for a good night’s sleep.

I awoke early and went downstairs to heat the water for coffee. I checked out the front window to be sure a patrol car was still there. It was. I fixed Precious her breakfast, made me coffee and searched through the refrigerator for breakfast. I finally found a yogurt and made some toast. I checked email while I ate breakfast and then called Dolly to see how she was doing. We visited for a while, and she seemed more relaxed than yesterday. Sgt. Adler had been to see her and assured her that they were keeping a watchful eye on me. She asked if I would be coming into the office on Monday and I admitted that I really didn’t know. Nobody had told me one way or the other if I could return to my office. I told her I’d check with Sgt. Adler and get back to her.

I grabbed a quick shower, dressed, and headed downstairs to flash my lights on and off for the patrolman at the curb. He came to the door right away and I told him I wanted to go downtown to speak with the Sergeant. He checked the house, upstairs and downstairs, and satisfied that everything seemed alright told me he would follow me to the station. I called Sgt. Adler from the car and advised him that I was on my way to see him. When I arrived, the Sergeant met me at the desk and walked me back to their coffee room. My team, said the Sergeant, has dusted for fingerprints and taken all the photographs needed and, well, found nothing. We checked the back door which was not disturbed but did find a window that was ajar, so we are assuming he/they gained entrance through there. I would like you to accompany me to your office and go through the files to see if you can tell what might be missing. Can you do that? Of course, I assured him, that is not a problem. He followed me downtown. We entered my office and I shivered noticeably. Sgt. Adler touched my elbow telling me it would be ok. I watched as he set the file cabinets back where they belonged, and I began picking up the papers that were strewn everywhere. I started separating the paperwork by subject matter and was then able to start alphabetizing them as that’s how we file them. I noted, immediately, that the Brice Family Estate paperwork was missing as was the last will they had me work up and record for them. As I continued my alphabetizing, I also discovered that the Talbott Estate paperwork was missing; Talbott was Mrs. Brice’s maiden name. I just don’t get it! What is so important in these papers that would cause someone to break into my office and probably also be the person that murdered Mrs. Brice! I’m just so confused, Amanda said. Sgt. Adler asked if I had a copy on the computer or would Dolly have a copy. I don’t, I told him, but Dolly might. I tend to trust my hardcopy that I file but Dolly is the one that types the documents. I’m going to ask Dolly to meet me here while you’re still with me and we will see if we can download the copies from her computer. I phoned Dolly and explained the situation and she assured me she’d be at the office within the next 20 minutes. While we waited for Dolly to arrive the sergeant and I reviewed what I knew of the family. Mrs. Brice’s parents had lived across the street from my great grandparents for several years. Mrs. Brice (her name was Doris) married a boy from Tisbury and moved away for several years returning with her son and her daughter. Lois, the daughter, lives in Edgartown, but I’ve not a clue what happened to the son. I remembered to tell the sergeant that Lois had been very abrupt to me and told me she needed nothing from me. I found that so very odd. Mrs. Brice had come into see me about 3 months ago wanting to make some changes to her will. We recorded those changes as she directed and reviewed the estate to be sure that nothing had been sold or retired and that nothing new had been added. She assured me that the estate was correct as written. The changes that she wanted recorded were rather odd, but not a problem. She inherited the family home and estate when her parents passed on. At the time her only sibling had already passed away and to her knowledge there were no heirs. About a year ago a man came to see her claiming to be the son of her sister, Rebecca Talbott Connelly. She had listened to his story and found it reasonable. She, being the sweetie that she was, welcomed him into the family with open arms. Her two children, not so much. When she came in wanting the changes, she included him as an equal heir to her estate. He would receive one-third and the other two-thirds would be divided between her two children. The front door buzzer rang, and we went to greet Dolly. Dolly logged onto her computer, found the file in question, and downloaded the contents onto a thumb drive for the sergeant to take with him. We all walked out and locked the office together. Dolly and I decided that coffee and a donut were on the agenda. We bid Sgt. Adler goodbye and headed for the bakery.

Dolly and I sat and looked at one another over our coffee and donuts and tried to make sense of the entire situation. We cried a little and laughed a little but were still feeling in the dark about what had taken place. We decided to try and outline everything from the beginning. Being the good secretary that she is she came equipped with paper and pen. We wanted to make the outline as simple as possible:

1. The break-in

a. Was it related?

b. Were there other similar incidences in the neighborhood that we were unaware of?

2. Lois finding her mother dead in the kitchen

c. Did she really find her dead or did she call the police after she killed her?

d. Why was she so abrupt (actually nasty) to me when I phoned her?

3. Where is Lois’ brother? I couldn’t even remember his name without researching the will.

4. Where is Mrs. Brice’s nephew?

5. How about the estate itself? Are there items there that are valuable that we’re not seeing clearly?

We returned to our donuts and sat in silence pondering the outline. Amanda, do you remember the scandal around Mrs. Brice’s husband, Oscar? Perhaps that was while you were living in Chicago and didn’t hear the scuttlebutt. I told Dolly that no, I knew nothing about this. Dolly thought for a few minutes and then started to recall the event to the best of her memory. If I remember correctly, Dolly said, Oscar Brice paid his long-time estranged wife (they never divorced you’ll recall) a visit. He wanted the bag of coins that had belonged to his father. She apparently told him that she had thrown everything that reminded her of him in the trash where it belonged. He became enraged and threatened her before stomping out of the house. She had phoned the police and reiterated the conversation to them so there should be a record of it. Perhaps Sgt. Adler could be of assistance? I also recall something about Oscar having been in prison for a couple of years, but I don’t remember all the scuttle-butt about that, she said. I had to close my mouth as I’m sure it was hanging open. I knew nothing of this bizarre situation. I told Dolly that I would most definitely phone the sergeant and ask for anything he could find on this case.

I headed out to my car and noticed that my faithful patrolman was sitting at the curb waiting for me. We exchanged greetings and I got in my car to head for home. I needed to stop at the grocery store on my way as I was running low on everything. The patrolman assured me that he would wait at the entrance until I came back out. I wanted to get my shopping done and get home before it got dark outside. I must admit that I wasn’t all that keen on entering a dark house given the recent events. I finished shopping, waved at the patrolman and headed to the car. After placing the groceries in the trunk and returning my cart to the cart-thing-a-my-bob I got in the car and headed home. My faithful patrolman helped unload groceries, went to the door with me, entered the house, checked upstairs and downstairs, patted the cat on the head, and bid me good night. I locked the door behind him and went upstairs to find some comfy clothes to put on before putting groceries away. I grabbed my sweats and a tee, changed, and headed back downstairs. Precious sat in front of the refrigerator, in the way of course, while I put things away. I found her some special nibbles and she was content. I fixed myself a salad and sautéed some chicken and veggies to go with it. I poured myself a glass of ice-cold white wine, grabbed my plate and headed to the couch. I glanced through a magazine while eating my dinner. I finished my dinner and half of my wine and returned the dishes to the kitchen and filled my glass up while I was there. There were sirens coming from all directions! I