Chapter 3

Thank you for reading Enjoy

Chapter 3

Georgia

There's so many unanswered questions about Lindsey. How did she get so cruel and evil? Why does she have it out for us? And how much is her father really hiding? He is hiding something. The profuse sweating tells me that much.

"Ah! Georgia, thank goodness the voice of reason has arrived. Please explain to these ladies that I have no idea where Lindsey is." He walks right up to me and attempts to offer a hug.

"I wish I could do that." Flattening my palm against his chest, I push him back, refusing his offer of affection. "I don't socialize with criminals, Mr. Markham. And from everything I know about you and your daughter, you both are criminals."

"I don't know who you've been talking to but I am not a criminal, ma'am." His righteous anger at the accusation is over dramatic.

He's lying through his teeth. I have no doubt the man has done plenty of criminal acts but I don't believe he is dangerous. Not Lindsey's level of dangerous, at least.

What stands out is that he isn't defending Lindsey, only himself. And isn't that interesting? Perhaps the man is smarter than I thought. Or perhaps he is just putting enough space between himself and his daughter so she doesn't take him down with her. Either way, the man is scared.

"I believe you and your family have been duped." Again the denial rings false.

"I doubt that. I am rarely duped. And I doubt there's anything you can say to change my mind on the subject." Taking a seat in one of the high back leather chairs, I decide to play his little game. The man came here for a reason. I'm curious to know what that reason is.

"I'm hoping you'll allow me to try." His desperate attempt to get my approval is curious.

Since I don't run from confrontations and our dear Mayor doesn't frighten me in the slightest, I'm inclined to hear what he has to say. Perhaps something he says will help us learn what Lindsey is truly capable of and what she wants with my family. Or perhaps he lets something slip that will help us find the girl. Either way, he has quite a burden of secrets weighing on his shoulders.

I entertain his concerns briefly, but I know what I'm dealing with, I know he has information we need. "As it stands, Mr. Markham, your daughter has abducted my grandchild, burned down my son's home and now attempted to kill my business partner. I believe her actions prove she is certifiably a neurotic, unstable, psychopath."

He nervously looks around the room at each of us. He isn't denying anything. He certainly isn't defending his precious daughter. Nodding his head and looking at his feet, Markham stands in front of the fireplace and looks out the big picture window.

"Lindsey has been irresponsible. I'm afraid that I am to blame for Lindsey's spoiled nature. When her mother died, bless her, Lindsey was a small child of five, I believe, or close to that age. I honestly was never good at remembering details. That was my wife's department. She had the patience of a saint. I do not. I was lost without my wife taking care of... basically everything!"

"Yes, I'm sure you were." I don't doubt that at all. Our good mayor hits me as a man who relies heavily on others to do his job. He is definitely one who doesn't get his hands dirty. "My guess would be that your wife carried more than her load. I'm sure she juggled all of those balls right up to the end."

"She did. My lovely wife was amazing. She kept me in line and handled Lindsey, with all her demands and details, with such grace and ease." He remained quiet for a moment, lost in his memories. "If she had lived, she would have made sure Lindsey was better taken care of."

"What did happen to your wife, Mr. Markham?" I'm curious now how this capable woman, who he holds on such a high pedestal, died.

"She fell... broke her neck, to be specific. I had a beautiful mansion just outside of town. Three stories with a basement. My family's home. Old money, you see. A Markham has been the Mayor of our fine town for generations. We have prided ourselves on tradition and generational importance." Oh, he has plenty of pride in him. Not that it does him any favors.

"You would have appreciated the building and its history. A century ago it was built, when the first Markham took office. Southern style architecture with beautiful white pillars and weeping willows and grand oaks lining the drive. It was a statement from the moment you drove up." The sound of it reminds me of my father's home before we moved from the south out west. Southern details but lacking the warm hospitality of the area. His home was cold, desolate, and lonely.

"And what kind of statement would that be? That you were filthy rich and wanted to rub others noses in it or that you were better than everyone else in the town and was reminding them of your control over their livelihood?" My disgust with those who don't give a helping hand to others who work just as hard is well deserved in this case.

"My family built their wealth in politics and real estate, Mrs. Bradford. We started with nothing and worked hard to rise to our station. I'm sure, of all people, you understand what it's like to fight for what you've earned."  He's trying to relate to me.

It's not working. I can't relate to people who only take from those who can't afford it but give anyway because they feel they have no choice. The man hasn't done his research on who he's dealing with. Pitiful it is, to have to duel with a man who hasn't sharpened his blade.

I don't want to brag but in this case I must. "I'm sorry, I don't. I'm from old money, Mr. Markham. My father and grandfather were billionaires long before I was born. My husband came from money. We were well matched, according to my father. I've never struggled financially or wanted anything I couldn't have."

"But you had others who wanted what you have. Clearly you had those people who weren't in your... social circle, who envied what you had and tried to take it from you." No, but he was one of those people who would think that way.

"Throughout my adult life, I have tried to reach out to others, hard working, caring people who are capable of so much more but just need a break, an opportunity, to prove themselves. I have been fortunate enough to help a great many people and see them succeed and as payment for my generosity all I ask is that they do the same for someone else. I don't feel that money is something to hoard, Mr. Markham. You can't take it with you when your time is up. You might as well share your knowledge, your experience and with those who appreciate you, your wealth." My father never believed in generosity and habitually ridiculed me for my own choices.

"Yes, well, my family home was not something that I would share." He doesn't like that. Interesting. He grew up in this town, was considered the wealthiest man in the area for most of his life, yet was probably the loneliest, most hollow person ever. Living a life alone in a house full of people isn't truly living your best life.

"My wife enjoyed her charity work as well." He doesn't understand, it isn't about charity but generosity for a neighbor, a friend. "She despised my house. She was from a simple home." Another word for poor. Interesting.

"A grand staircase was visible from the entryway. With marble floors that she hated. She said for years that she would slip on those floors and break her neck. I thought she was exaggerating. My love did that from time to time to make her point. I never dreamed it would actually happen." He didn't take her concerns for her own safety seriously. Typical of a narcissist.

She spoke her concerns to deaf ears and must have slipped on those stairs she disliked. Such a horrible way to die. And unfortunate. I'm of the belief, if you aren't happy with something, no matter how small, then it's up to you to change it.

If she was as detailed and as precise as he says, she would have felt the same way about those stairs. So why didn't she change them? It's a simple matter of adding a non-skid finish on them or a runner works just as easily. But she did nothing? That doesn't ring true to me.

"My poor Lindsey was home with her mother when the accident occurred. She watched her mother fall and was extremely distraught after." Why do I wonder if the woman fell as he says or Lindsey played a role in her demise? What a horrible thought.

"I over compensated for the loss. As a single parent, I did everything possible to make sure she had everything she wanted. To do that I worked longer hours, spent more time away from her than with her. She had a nanny of course, but we tended to go through several of those before Lindsey was old enough to no longer need one. She was often lonely and looked for attention, even if it was negative." That I believe. Lindsey to this day continues that cycle.

"And you believed spoiling her rotten was better than just being with her? I'm sorry, but a child needs a loving parent who pays attention to her, not materialistic things to take the place of love and affection." I don't think a lecture on parenting is good in any situation, but in this case, I'm not saying anything that he probably hasn't heard.

Markham's shoulders drop. "In hindsight, I believe you're probably right."

"There's no 'probably' about it, she is right. Lindsey searches for attention and knows her negative actions will get it." Emma corrects him.

"Lindsey isn't a bad person..."

"No? You don't see her actions as bad? She's vengeful, angry, and dangerous! And that's on a good day. On bad days, she's a lunatic, unhinged and willing to kill if necessary to get her way." Quinn joins the conversation with more spine than I have seen in recent days.

"My daughter is not a killer!"

"Yeah? Tell that to Brynn! She took my baby to a cabin in the middle of a gator nest! She was prepared to kill my child because she can't keep her talons in a man! Open your eyes, Mr. Markham! Your daughter is a monster!" As proud as I am that Quinn is standing her ground, it isn't going to help us find out what Lindsey will do next.

Obviously appalled, he tries to get out of the argument. "I don't believe..."

"Lindsey is willing to hurt anyone, including an innocent baby, to get what she wants. That makes her crazy and evil!" I wholeheartedly agree with Quinn on that point.

Seeing Quinn in more upset than I've seen her in recent weeks, I wonder if this has caused more damage than I initially thought. Emma must see it too. She goes across the room and gives Quinn her support.

"Look, Mr. Markham," Emma takes Quinn's hand to show her solidarity. "I don't know you. I don't really want to know you. Your relationship with your daughter and your excuses for her behavior mean nothing to me. What I do know is that there's a kind, giving woman in the hospital, who was unnecessarily harmed by Lindsey. Because of her actions, Brynn can't remember who she is!"

Oh no! Brynn doesn't remember? I didn't know that.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" The color drains from Markham's face. He didn't know about Brynn? I find that hard to believe but his response suggests this is the first he's hearing about it. Perhaps Lindsey isn't in contact.

"You heard me! She's lucky to be alive! But she isn't coming out of this unscathed. Brynn can't remember anything or anyone. Not Ethan, Leo or Aubrey, not even Paige! She can't even remember how to make her cinnamon rolls." Emma roars, that temper getting the best of her. And isn't it such a shame that Brynn can't remember anything? She does make the best pastries.

"That is unfortunate and terrible news. I am sorry about Brynn's situation but are you sure that it was Lindsey's fault? Brynn has been spending a lot of time in the construction zone and she does love those high heels that she wears. Could she have just as easily tripped and hit her head at the site? She might have just been wandering around in the dinner house and all of this is just a horrible accident."

That isn't just a question but telling what he wants us to believe. He knows more than he is admitting. He's either involved or in contact with Lindsey. My guess is both. That tells me he has details about this that we haven't discussed. And details about this we don't know.

"She was found in her apartment. Above the coffee shop." Quinn interjects.

Lying to someone's face, knowing they are lying is, in fact, an art. There are many people who try and fail at this skill. It's difficult to remember what lies are told and what slight differences are concocted. It's a complicated skill. One I happen to excel at.

"She wasn't at the construction site. And we said nothing about hitting her head on anything. We didn't tell you any of those details, Mr. Markham, only that she was injured. Why do you assume she was over at the construction site or that she hit her head?" Quinn lies and puts the good mayor in the hot seat. I wasn't going to take this route with him but I can change course quick enough.

His eyes widen and look around the room as if he is searching for the answer or a way out of the hole he's digging. I'm not that gullible to believe he knows nothing. The man is guilty of more than he is going to admit to.

"I assumed. I know amnesia happens with head trauma. I'm sorry, I thought she was there checking on the progress as she does most mornings." That hole is getting deeper by the minute. Our good mayor is digging deep with this lie.

Tapping my fingers on the arm of the chair, I let him wiggle uncomfortably while I debate what to do with my suspicions. I think my investigator might have some luck finding out what the mayor is hiding. Which means I need to keep his trust.

He came here looking for information. So I'll give it and just enough rope for him to hang himself.

"As Quinn said, she was found in her apartment, unconscious. She has no memory as yet and there's no evidence that she fell or hit her head. It's quite a mystery." I give him nothing of the truth. He can believe otherwise for now.

"And why do you suspect Lindsey is involved?" He questions my belief and I have a response ready.

"She was seen coming out of Brynn's back door very early this morning." And I can count on Mitzi to pass that little tidbit around for me later. "Everyone knows they aren't fond of each other, so there you have it."

"Yes, there it is. That's quite a conundrum. I will have to try to reach Lindsey then. I do hope Brynn has a quick recovery. I enjoy her bear claws and lemon drops." Dropping the subject, he quickly turns back to making Lindsey look like a martyr. "My wife was a wonderful baker, Lindsey is not. I'm afraid I'm quite useless in the kitchen. As I said I did my best to accommodate my daughter and I'm afraid I overcompensated."

"So you're accepting responsibility for creating a monster. Does that mean you're willing to go to prison for her too?" Oh, Emma is in rare form today.

"I'm responsible for my child being spoiled. I don't consider my child a monster or a martyr." His chin rose as if this conversation was below him. Apparently the accusations disturb him. Good! Let them!

"You'll have to excuse Emma. She's very upset about all this." I received an angry glare from my daughter-in-law but brushed it off. "Lindsey has made several attempts to hurt my family. You must understand we have been through quite a bit in the last year."

Markham nods, accepting that I am not siding with Emma about his daughter. He can rest easy for the moment. I'm not gunning for his head... yet. But I will be before this is over.

"Do you know where Lindsey is? I do have some questions about another property I want to discuss with her." Changing the subject completely to keep him off balance, I'll let this rest and give it to my investigator. He'll get whatever I need.

"Huh? Oh, yes yes." He's off balance. Exactly the way I want him. "I don't but I'll get someone to help you, Georgia. The town does appreciate your support and business you've brought into play."

Smiling politely at our guest, Emma narrows her eyes as if she's figuring out my ploy. She'll catch on quickly enough. Quinn stays quiet as if unsure about contributing more to this conversation now. That's okay, her speculation about Lindsey and not agreeing with me works well for me.

Getting to my feet, I guide our guest to the foyer. "I do hope Lindsey is well. We don't want anything to happen to her."

"Yes, yes. I'll track her down." He's very confused now. That's good.

"Well, you better find her before Ethan does." Quinn growls. "She almost killed Brynn. Do you really think Ethan isn't going to look to avenge that?"

Please remember to vote comment and share if you are enjoying this book thank you