Organized to Death Read online

  “I’d like to go right now. Nicky’s napping. He does that a lot, probably from the pain meds. I think I should get used to being in the house before going there with him.”

  Tina agreed. Better for Rachel to fall apart in front of her than her husband. But she hesitated. Almost suggested that she clean it up herself before Rachel saw it. After all, she’d found her murdered sister in the nursery.

  As if reading her mind, Rachel said, “They gave us the name of a company that cleans up crime scenes. We’ve scheduled them for day after tomorrow. I won’t be going into that room for a long time. If ever. We’re thinking about selling the house.”

  “I see,” Tina said. “All the more reason to clear out everything you don’t need. No sense hauling it all somewhere else.”

  A beep on her phone told Tina another call was coming through. Knowing it might be Hank, she said, “Rach, I’ll call you back in a few minutes. I’m expecting this call and need to take it.”

  “Okay. Sure.”

  Tina checked to see if it was Hank, then pushed the key that connected her to him.

  “Red,” he said, “you keep this up, and the police department will want to hire you.”

  “So, he’s not licensed?”

  “No. Never even went to college, let alone medical school.”

  “He’s fooled a lot of people.”

  “I imagine he referred most people on and only handled the simple things.”

  “Probably. What does this mean, Hank? Could he be a suspect for Crystal’s murder? Maybe she found out somehow?”

  Hank remained silent for a few moments. “That’s possible, I guess. We’ll check it out. Or she could have learned that Dr. Stevenson was his father.”

  “Yes. Or both. Rach just called, by the way. Wants me to go with her to the house, now you all are done with it.”

  Another moment of silence. “What do you mean, you all?” Hank asked cautiously.

  Tina laughed. Glanced at her mother. “Someone let the cat out of the bag. I’m uncovering so many secrets, the police should hire me. I could be your partner.”

  “Uncle Bob’s sense of humor is rubbing off on you, Tina.” He sounded annoyed.

  “Better to laugh than to cry, dear Hank.” She pushed the “End” button and called Rachel back. Annoyed as hell herself, she realized, because he’d never told her.

  Her mother sat silently in her chair, watching Tina as if hypnotized. Tina turned her attention back to the phone when Rachel answered. She felt energized now.

  “I’m ready to roll, Rach. Anytime you are.”

  Tina could hear Rachel take a deep breath. “Let’s do it now,” she said. “I’m on my way.”

  “Meet you there, then.” Tina disconnected and looked at her mother.

  Laura stood up. “Are you sure you’re well enough to do this right now? You look pale.”

  “I’ll be fine. You need to learn to stop hovering, Mom. I promise to take care of myself. I’m young and strong, and yes, healthy.”

  Somehow they met in the middle of the room and hugged each other. Tina could no longer be angry with her mother. She’d done what she thought best. And Tina knew Laura needed reassurance that Tina still loved her. She held her tight, then kissed her on the cheek.

  Laura backed away and gave Tina a tremulous smile. “Try to be home for dinner.”

  “You cooking?”

  Laura’s smile broadened. “Yes. I’ll try to pay attention.”

  “Okay,” Tina said cautiously. “I’ll be here. Rachel shouldn’t push herself, either.”

  “True.”

  Impulsively, Tina gave her mother another quick hug, then grabbed her bag and headed for Rachel’s house, almost as nervous as she’d been the first time she’d gone there. She passed Hank sitting in a nondescript car down a ways from Rachel’s. He must have followed Rachel. Tina didn’t wave. When she arrived, she glanced at Crystal’s house next door. It didn’t look any different, and why should it?

  Rachel was sitting in her car. She climbed out and waited for Tina to park, stamping her feet and beating her arms with her hands to keep warm.

  “You’re cold,” Tina said when they met at the front door, Tina lugging three unassembled boxes and a trash bag.

  “Scared is more like it,” Rachel said as she swung the door open.

  They both stared at the hallway that had been lined with boxes. Now their contents were strewn around, making it almost impossible to even step inside.

  Rachel put her fist to her mouth, her eyes widening at the sight.

  Tina suppressed a sigh, her hand tightening around the trash bag. When Rachel didn’t move to close the door, Tina did it, then set the boxes against the only clear spot near the front door.

  “Why did they have to do this?” Rachel wailed.

  Tina thought it had been unnecessary, too, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she said, “We would have had to open them all and sort the contents anyway. Let’s just start right here and get to work.”

  “I don’t know … “

  “Rachel, look at this stuff. Really look at it. How much of it matters to you? How much of it do you need to lead a happy life?” Tina picked up an ugly vase and two slightly soiled potholders. “Do you really want to keep these? Really?”

  Rachel shook her head and slumped down to the only clear spot on the floor. Tina threw the items into the trash bag.

  “You’re not going to give the vase to charity?” Rachel asked in a voice so soft, Tina had trouble hearing her.

  “We don’t have time for that. If it looks like they really could sell it, we’ll put it in a box. But I don’t even have room here to open one up. Start pointing at stuff you don’t want, Rach. Stuff you don’t want to move to a new house.”

  Eyes wide, Rachel pointed first at a dented spatula, then at a chipped cream pitcher. Tina put them both in the bag. Next some faded dish towels, a set of dull-looking steak knives, some ragged curtains. As she got going, Rachel stood up and they moved into the hallway. Tina noticed that Rachel didn’t point at some stuff that looked a bit better, less used than what she was choosing to toss. But she didn’t say a word or break Rachel’s rhythm until the bag was full.

  Quickly, Tina tied it shut. “I need more bags. Look around and see if the things you didn’t choose are really important to you. I’ll be right back.”

  Tina hurried to her car and grabbed the whole box of plastic bags. She didn’t want to stop the momentum.

  She was delighted to see Rachel holding two more items in her hands when she got back. A big, ugly ceramic dog of indistinguishable breed and a dented metal pitcher. Tina opened a bag wide, and Rachel threw the stuff into it with some force.

  “This was all your grandmother’s stuff?” Tina asked.

  “Yeah. Whenever someone in my family died, I took all their things. No one else wanted them, and I couldn’t bear to throw everything out. What a jerk I’ve been. Life is too short.”

  “Yes, it is. Rach, look around carefully. Pick two, or three at the most, items that are in good shape and that you’d like to keep to remember your grandmother by. We’ll set them aside, and we’ll simply trash the rest. Okay?”

  Rachel hesitated, then nodded.

  They had the whole hall cleared, trash bags now lining it, when the doorbell rang.

  When Rachel answered, they saw Charles standing there. Rachel looked surprised, but she invited him in.

  The trash-bag-lined hall didn’t seem to make any impression on him. “We need to talk,” he said to Rachel, running his hand through his hair. “I didn’t want to do it at your mother’s house, and I saw your car out front.”

  Tina looked into the living room. More stuff cluttered the floor, but there was a path of sorts to the area with the TV, couch, and chairs. “We can sit down in here,” she said. “Or, Charles, do you want me to leave?”

  “No, it’s all right, you can stay. I think Rach should know a few things for her safety.”

  Tina didn’t like t
he sound of that. They settled themselves in the corner of the living room, and she and Rachel looked at Charles expectantly.

  He cleared his throat. “I know some bad things have happened to Nicky. Well, yesterday, someone tried to run me off the road, too. Fortunately, I got away. But it was scary, I admit. The police don’t seem to have any leads, any idea who murdered my wife and is now attacking other people connected to her.”

  Rachel put her fist to her mouth, eyes wide.

  “I think she knew something,” Tina said. “Something someone else didn’t want to get out. And that person is afraid she told other people close to her. Did she hint at anything to either of you that might have been dangerous for her to know?”

  Both Charles and Rachel shook their heads.

  “How about something about Dr. Ted?” Tina asked, trying to jar their memories.

  Charles’s eyes widened. “Not Dr. Ted. Dr. Stevenson. She said he’d done something in the past that was unethical, or if not unethical, unprofessional, but she wouldn’t tell me what.”

  “That’s interesting,” Tina said, “but I don’t see Dr. Stevenson shooting someone, do you? Or even running them off the road.”

  “No, I don’t,” Charles said. “Maybe someone close to him … “

  Ted, Tina thought. The long-lost son who wouldn’t want his father’s reputation tarnished. But what could Dr. Stevenson have done? Suddenly she thought about the Lunch Bunch. How had they gotten together? Known about each other? They weren’t really friends.

  Tina stood up, restless, but there was no room to pace. She rubbed the worry stone in her pocket and tried to calm down. When had everyone stopped prescribing DES? This line of thought was leading her where she didn’t want to go. If Dr. Stevenson prescribed DES after he shouldn’t have, then all those mothers and daughters had been put at risk unnecessarily.

  “Tina, you know something,” Charles said. “What is it?”

  Tina looked at Rachel. It wasn’t her place to tell her about the possible consequences of her mother’s taking DES while pregnant with both daughters.

  “I feel awful, Rachel. I can’t say anything right now. I have to find out some things first. I’ll call you when I have time to do more decluttering.”

  Charles looked around for the first time, as if coming awake. “The police did this?”

  Rachel gave him a rueful smile. “First me, then the police. Tina’s been a big help—we’re going to get this all out of here, one way or another.”

  “Well, that’s good.” He turned to Tina. “Rach tell you about the funeral?”

  “Day after tomorrow, but not the details.”

  “One o’clock. At the church. Visiting tomorrow afternoon from three to six at the funeral home.”

  Tina nodded, a lump forming in her throat. It would be good to get it over with, but going through it was going to be hard on everyone.

  “I’ll be there. But I need to go now.”

  Rach and Charles went with her to the door, and while she walked to her car, she glanced down the street. Hank still sat in the nondescript car, apparently studying a map.

  She ignored him. After getting settled in her VW, she called him.

  “Did you hear that Charles was almost run off the road?”

  “No. Is that what he told you?”

  “Just now. You trust him alone with Rachel? He’s not a suspect?”

  “He had an alibi.

  “Oh. So if he says he was almost run off the road, we should believe him?”

  “Well, I wouldn’t go that far.” Hank chuckled. “But I think I’ll go in there and talk to him. Thanks for letting me know.”

  “Sure.” She waited. Didn’t know for what, exactly. Some personal word.

  “I’ll be talking to you later, Red,” Hank said and disconnected.

  So much for waiting for the personal touch.

  Unbidden, unwelcome, totally surprising, tears came to her eyes, a lump to her throat. Someone she knew had been murdered. Others threatened. All that work done at the doctor’s office for nothing. He’d probably be spending quite a bit of time in jail. They’d unclutter Rachel’s house, and she’d sell it.

  If only she could go back to practicing psychology. Maybe when this was all over, when the murderer was caught, she’d give it a try.

  She needed to talk to Mrs. Morris. After that, she wanted to do another search on the computer.

  Mrs. Morris looked haggard when she answered the door. Politely, but with no show of interest, she invited Tina in and led the way to the living room. She didn’t offer any refreshments, and Tina realized Mrs. Morris was too tired and worn to care about the amenities right now.

  “How’s Nicky?” Tina asked.

  “He’s resting upstairs. I’ll tell him you were asking for him.”

  “Yes. I came from helping Rachel clear out some of the clutter. We finished the hallway, and I think it will go really well now. I imagine she’s told you they’re thinking of moving, and I pointed out she wouldn’t want to haul all that stuff with her. I think somehow she finally got it, if you know what I mean.”

  “I do,” Mrs. Morris said. “And I can’t tell you how happy that makes me, Tina. You’ve done a good job.”

  “Thanks. I have a couple of other things to talk to you about, neither very pleasant.”

  Mrs. Morris stiffened. “Such as?”

  Tina shifted in her chair and put her hand in her pocket to finger the worry stone. “I found out why the Lunch Bunch was formed. I know why all the mothers have been so concerned about the health of their daughters.”

  “Oh.”

  “I think Rachel should know.”

  Mrs. Morris made a sound of protest.

  “Not right now. Not for a while, until she’s over the shock about Crystal. But it is going to come out, Mrs. Morris. I’m surprised all of you were able to keep the secret as long as you have.”

  “I don’t see why … “

  Tina leaned forward in her chair, letting go of the stone. “I think there may be a connection between the secret and Crystal’s murder.”

  “What?”

  “Do you know if she found out about the DES?”

  Mrs. Morris nodded, all the blood leaving her face. Tina was afraid she’d faint.

  “Can I get you some water?” Tina half rose from her chair.

  “No. No, I’ll be all right. Please explain what you mean.”

  “When did Crystal find out?”

  “Just a few days before she was killed.”

  “She mentioned to Charles that she knew something about Dr. Stevenson. Dr. Stevenson had another secret—that Ted is his son.”

  “Ted? The doctor who took over his practice?”

  “The ‘doctor’ who is not a real doctor, it turns out. I doubt Dr. Stevenson knew that, but Crystal may have found out.”

  “Oh my. Oh my goodness.” Mrs. Morris sat shaking her head over and over again.

  “And Charles says he’s been threatened—almost run off the road. I think the murderer is afraid Crystal told other people close to her about the secrets and is trying to silence them. You need to be very careful, Mrs. Morris. Have you been out of the house lately?”

  “No. Not since they told me about Crystal.”

  “Maybe that’s why they haven’t tried anything with you.”

  “Oh my. Tina, I just can’t believe this. If what you say about this Ted is true, won’t they keep him in jail?”

  “I’m not sure. I think that he might be able to get out on bail.” Tina saw that Mrs. Morris looked to be in shock. Her skin had become even paler. “Are you sure you’re all right? Let me get you some water.”

  Tina went to the kitchen, checked the refrigerator to see if there was any bottled water. She found a six pack, grabbed one, grabbed a glass and poured the water into it and took it back to the living room.

  “Thank you,” Mrs. Morris said, grasping the glass.

  “I’m sorry to be the bearer of such bad news. I suggest you
don’t let anyone in. And you might want to consider telling Rachel about the DES before she finds it out some other way.”

  “Yes. Yes, you’re right.” Mrs. Morris set the glass down decisively on the table next to her and stood up. Tina could see her gathering her strength for the days ahead. A woman who refused to be defeated by anything.

  Tina took a few steps toward Crystal’s mother and impulsively gave her a hug. Mrs. Morris clung to her for a moment, then stepped away.

  “You’re a good girl, Tina,” she said. “I’m glad you’re here right now for Rachel.”

  Tina smiled. “So am I. She’s going to be all right. She’ll make you proud.”

  “Yes.”

  They walked to the front door and said goodbye.

  Driving home, Tina glanced in her rearview mirror and noticed a car she realized she’d seen several times before in the last two or three days. She had no idea what make it was. Small and white, it had a dent on the front bumper, a busted light, and a crack in the windshield on the passenger’s side.

  Tina sped up. The car stayed close. Tina began to sweat in her winter coat. She turned off the heater. She’d warned Mrs. Morris but hadn’t thought for one moment that she might be in danger herself. Trying to get a better look at the driver, she tapped her brake. The other car came closer. The driver wore a hat and sunglasses.

  She didn’t know what to do. She did know she should keep to the side streets where the other driver couldn’t force her into a ditch.

  She could call Hank. But if she were wrong, he’d laugh at her. Call her ridiculous. Did that matter when her life might be at stake?

  She picked up the cell phone. Hesitated, then punched number three. When he answered, she said, “There’s a white car following me. Dented front bumper, cracked windshield. Driver with hat and dark glasses.”

  “Where are you?”

  She told him.

  “I’m on my way. Don’t hang up. Don’t let the other driver get too close if you can help it. Stay away from streets with stop lights where you might have to stop. Just drive, letting me know where you go.”

  “Okay,” Tina said faintly. “You don’t think I’m overreacting.”

  “No, Red. You did the right thing by calling me. Keep your head. Where are you now?”