Take Stock in Murder Read online

  Copyright © 2014 Millie Mack

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 150104219X

  ISBN 13: 9781501042195

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2014915743

  CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

  North Charleston, South Carolina

  This book is dedicated to my two nieces, Erica and Andrea. If I had daughters of my own, I couldn’t ask for two finer people. Thanks for being part of my life and letting me be part of yours.

  s always, there are people to thank.

  Thank you, Deb and Don, who read the book in its infancy and provided comments to get it off the ground. Thanks to Stacy, who read the finished book and made great suggestions—but more importantly, who continues to be a great friend and supporter.

  Thank you to Mark, who maintains my website at www.MillieMack.com, and to Pam, who continues to provide the marketing artwork.

  And last but not least, thank you to family, friends, and readers who continue to enjoy this mystery series as much as I enjoy writing it.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  CHAPTER 40

  he music stopped, and the bandleader turned and faced his audience. “Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce the president of the Tri-County Country Club and his lovely wife, Mr. and Mrs. James Marshall.”

  James Marshall and his wife, Judy, walked slowly to the stage, taking time to stop and greet members along their path. When they reached the stage, Judy stood off to the side, beaming as her husband adjusted the microphone. The bodice of her sleek black dress was covered with dark sequins that caught the light and sparkled back at the audience. James Marshall, slightly shorter than his wife, filled out his tuxedo with his fifty-plus years of fine eating.

  Carrie Faraday stood next to her best friend, Joanne Quinn, as they watched the Marshalls approach the stage. Joanne and Carrie had known each other in high school, and when Carrie had married Charles Faraday and moved back to the Tri-County area, they had renewed their friendship. Joanne had been an integral part of the Tri-County social scene for as long as Carrie could remember. She had convinced Carrie to come to the dance.

  “That’s a very pretty dress Judy is wearing,” said Joanne.

  “I’ll say. I like the way it catches the light,” Carrie answered. Carrie was jealous of women like Judy and Joanne, who never seemed to worry about their clothing. They always wore the right outfit. Tonight Joanne’s navy-blue evening dress with flared long sleeves was simple but elegant. Carrie, on the other hand, had worried for weeks about her selection of a dark green dress. She rarely indulged in evening wear. She hoped her dress enhanced her brown, curly hair, fair complexion, and green eyes. She returned her focus to the activities on the stage.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, members and friends, welcome to the Fall Oktoberfest Dance.” There was thunderous applause from the audience. James Marshall raised his hand to stop the applause. “We’ve had a very successful summer here at the Club, filled with wonderful activities, and—I might add—a fifteen-percent increase in membership, the largest in the history of the Club.” He beamed as more applause followed.

  Carrie’s thoughts drifted again as James Marshall provided more details about Club finances. She looked around the room and realized this dance was a special event. The Tri-County Country Club was ablaze with lights. It didn’t matter whether times were good or bad; Carrie saw that everyone who was anyone from the three counties of Allwin, Dorchester, and St. Thomas, which formed the Tri-County area, came to this dance that opened the holiday social season. It was a tradition, and Carrie knew that at the Tri-County Country Club, tradition was very important.

  Although this was her first time attending, Carrie knew this dance was always held in the elegant ballroom housed in the original turn-of-the-century clubhouse building. When she and Charles had arrived, they’d been greeted with light music, which continued while they chatted with friends and ate from the sumptuous buffet. Then, precisely at 9:00 p.m., the president of the Club had interrupted the festivities to officially open the dance. Now the band would switch to more dance friendly tunes and President Marshall and Judy would be the first couple to start dancing.

  “But we didn’t come to the Club tonight for a business report; we came to welcome the holiday season and to dance. Mr. Bandleader, let’s start the music.” James and Judy Marshall left the stage and took their place on the dance floor.

  “I wonder who they’ll select as their first dance partners. I’ve never understood why everyone is so concerned with who the president and his wife select for the first dance,” Carrie said.

  “You really don’t know the meaning?” Joanne asked in astonishment.

  “Nope, haven’t a clue,” she said.

  “Carrie, the couple selected as the first dance partners is heir apparent to the presidency of the Club.”

  “Always?”

  “Always!”

  “Do you know who they’re going to pick?”

  “They’re going to select the Barringtons,” Joanne said.

  “How do you know? Edward Barrington and his wife are way over there on the opposite side of the room.”

  “Everyone knows it’s the Barringtons this year. Just watch. The Marshalls will dance their way over there.” Joanne had no sooner spoken the words than the couple started to glide across the room.

  “Then why are we all standing here, watching this dance, if everyone already knows? Why don’t they just introduce the Barringtons as the next first couple?”

  “Oh, Carrie, it’s the tradition of the Club to do it this way. I hope you accept this as friendly advice, but you should never go into politics,” Joanne said, laughing.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t. However, I think I’ll go find Charles and ask him for a dance. I wonder where those husbands of ours got to.”

  “Knowing my husband,” Joanne said, laughing again, “he’s hanging out in the dining room near the dessert table.”

  “It wouldn’t take much persuasion from Dan to get Charles to go with him. I’ll head that way first.” Carrie started to move away and then turned back. “If I see Dan, I’ll send him back to you.”

  “Hey, be sure and tell Charles how much I enjoy the Tri-County Monthly. I especially like it when you have a photograph or an article in the magazine. When you have something appearing in the magazine, I feel real important, knowing two celebrities.”

  “You’re just being political, Joanne.” Carrie smiled. “But thanks for the compliment. I’ll be sure and pass it on to Charles.” By profession, Carrie was a photographer, but she had starting doing some article writing for the local magazine published by her husband’s firm, Faraday Press.

  Carrie left the ballr
oom and headed down the hallway, turning toward the dining room. She stopped for a moment and looked into the full-length, gilt-trimmed mirror hanging in the hallway. She was pleased with what she saw. The six pounds she had lost made the dress hang just right, and the double strand of pearls Charles had given her on their first wedding anniversary was the perfect accessory.

  She continued down the hallway, passing several open French doors. It had been a dark and stormy afternoon, but the clouds had cleared, and a beautiful night had emerged with just a touch of cool air. When she entered the dining room, she realized very few people were still eating now that the dancing had started. There was no sign of Charles nor Dan.

  As she turned to leave, she ran smack into Todd Barrington. Todd was the youngest son of the soon-to-be president of the Tri-County Country Club. With his blond hair and boyish face, he didn’t resemble the rest of the Barrington clan. Nor did he act like the other members of this conservative family. He was known for his drinking, his pranks, and his lack of respect for the family business.

  “Todd, have you seen Charles?” The minute the words left her mouth, she was sorry she’d said them.

  “Why, Ms. Carrie, I do declare you’re the prettiest woman at the dance,” he said, doing a bad Rhett Butler impersonation. It was early, but Todd was already drunk and staggering.

  “Why, thank you, Mr. Barrington, for the compliment, but you do seem to have surpassed your previous record for drinking too much at a Club function.” Carrie used her best Southern voice but at the same time started to move away from him.

  Todd grabbed her arm. “Now don’t be impertinent, Ms. Carrie, not after I said how pretty you were. Let’s look for that handsome Mr. Charles together. Perhaps I can challenge him to a duel.” He made this comment as a husband and wife passed by them.

  “No, thank you, Todd.” She tried in vain to escape his grip. “I think I’ll look for him myself.”

  “No, I should help you look for him. After all, maybe I can convince you that marrying that older man wasn’t a good idea.”

  “Oh, Todd, grow up! Charles is only six years older.”

  “Six years is too much when you want to dance and have fun, and your silver-haired husband is too tired to dance and more interested in conducting business deals in the bar. He’s probably trying to convince those men he was with to finance another magazine to go with the ones he already has.”

  “Thank you, Todd. You were helpful after all, since you mentioned the bar.” Carrie turned, with Todd still attached to her arm, and headed down the hall toward the bar. Todd leaned heavily on her arm, giving them both the appearance of staggering. Mrs. Heathrow and Mrs. Spinner were coming out of the powder room and practically ran into the two swaying bodies.

  “Oh, Carrie, why are you taking me away from the dance floor?” he said loudly as the ladies passed.

  Carrie pushed Todd away. “Todd, you’re loathsome. Now go away and leave me alone.”

  “You’re ’fraid, aren’t you?”

  “Todd, I’m not afraid of you,” she responded, annoyed.

  “I don’t mean you’re ’fraid of me. I mean you’re scared that Charles will find out about us.” Todd announced this fact to two more people who passed them.

  “There’s no ‘about us’! That’s just nonsense. I want you to stop saying those things,” she demanded.

  “You want me to stop talking about the fact that we’re madly in love,” he continued.

  “Oh, Todd, I really must find Charles.” She turned and walked away.

  “Oh, Carrie, Carrie!” He practically screamed her name.

  She turned and walked back to him. “Todd, will you stop screaming?”

  “Never, never will I leave you.” He was singing from Camelot. “Besides, I know where Charles is,” he said smugly.

  “You already told me he was in the bar.”

  “Did not.”

  “You did too.” Carrie stopped herself as she realized she was being drawn into his childish game.

  “I said he made deals in the bar, not that he was actually there. Actually your darling husband is in the library,” he said with certainty. “And here we are at the door of the library.” He opened the door, then stood back to allow Carrie to enter the room ahead of him.

  Carrie proceeded into the library. She looked around the large room, with its huge fireplace, dark-paneled walls, and overstuffed leather chairs and sofas. She turned back to Todd. “He isn’t here.” Her voice showed her disappointment.

  “No, my darling, but I am.” Todd lunged forward and grabbed Carrie by the arm.

  “Todd, let me go,” she stammered. But as she tried to wriggle away, his grip became tighter.

  “You loved me once. If you had only waited, I could have supported you in a fine style, just like Charles. I now have money, and we could have fun together.”

  “Todd, what are you talking about? We hardly know each other. I certainly never loved you, and besides, you just don’t get it. This has nothing to do with money or age or silver hair or even fun. It has to do with love. I just happen to love Charles.” She stared straight into Todd’s eyes.

  “You want love? I’ll show you love.” Todd pushed her toward the sofas.

  “Todd, I warned you.” And with that Carrie slapped Todd across the face.

  The minute her hand slipped away from his face, she knew she shouldn’t have hit him. His eyes, glassy with alcohol, now showed rage.

  “You shouldn’t have done that, Carrie. I’ve always been in love with you, and now I’ll just have to show you how much.” In a split second, Todd pinned Carrie’s hands and flung her down on the nearest sofa. With one hand holding her arms, he trapped her legs and the rest of her body beneath his. He used his free hand to paw at her clothes.

  Carrie tried to grab his arm, but the most she could do was pull his cuff link off. She saw it sail in the air and heard the light thud as it hit the carpet. Carrie had never felt fear like this. She lost control over her ability to stop him. “Todd, please don’t do this.” She tried to speak calmly.

  “You know you miss this. I bet you entertained quite a few lads before marrying that old man.” Todd’s hand was under her dress and moving rapidly up her leg.

  She closed her eyes for a brief second, trying to think of what she could do. Scream, she thought. What’s wrong with you? Scream! She concentrated all her energy and opened her mouth to scream, but barely a murmur came out. She was in full panic mode.

  Then she suddenly felt Todd’s weight being lifted from her. She opened her eyes to see him rising above her with a surprised look on his face.

  t was Charles. He had Todd by the collar with one hand and the seat of his pants with his other as he pulled him off Carrie.

  Todd was suddenly quite coherent. “Charles,” he gasped. “Well, I guess the truth is finally out. Carrie has been trying to seduce me all evening. I finally gave in to her demands.”

  Carrie still couldn’t get any words out, but she bolted into an upright position at this outrageous suggestion. Charles, whose six-foot-two frame towered over Todd’s five-nine height, spun Todd around so he was facing the door.

  “Look, fool! Do you see the door? It’s still closed. I’ve been in the room the entire time. Sitting in that wonderfully overstuffed chair by the fire.”

  Todd said nothing. He was caught!

  Charles tightened the grip on Todd’s collar and shoved the palm of his hand into Todd’s face. All three heard the pop of Todd’s nose and saw the blood begin to flow.

  “That’s for being a cad, a liar, and a fool.” Charles’s voice was incredibly calm.

  “You bastard. You broke my nose. I’ll get you for this—”

  “You’ll get no one,” Charles said. “If you ever act this way again with my wife, you’ll get more than a pop in the nose.”

  Charles pulled Carrie off the sofa and helped her straighten her dress. One strap on her gown had snapped. She tucked it inside the dress and aligned the bodice so th
e top would stay up. She hugged Charles. As they walked past Todd, Charles stooped and picked up Todd’s cuff link, then took his handkerchief from the pocket of his tuxedo. Todd drew back, but Charles gently placed his handkerchief up against Todd’s nose. He took one of Todd’s hands and used it to hold the handkerchief, placing the cuff link in his other hand.

  “Your nose isn’t broken. That procedure just pops a vessel and causes a great deal of blood. Get a towel and some ice on it, and you’ll be fine. However, luck may not be with you the next time you pull a stunt like this.”

  Charles and Carrie turned to go out and faced Jim Heathrow and Frank Albright, who stood at the door. These men were two of the oldest members of the Club. Carrie held the corner of her dress to keep it from slipping down.

  “Charles, is there a problem in here?” Heathrow asked the question in a commanding voice, left over from his military days. Carrie found his question understated against the backdrop of the situation.

  “The only problem is standing over there bleeding. Perhaps you gentlemen should help him find some ice and some additional towels. My handkerchief won’t hold much more of his blood. Todd, please don’t feel that you need to return my handkerchief. Keep it with my compliments, as a souvenir of the evening.”

  Carrie and Charles turned back to look at Todd. Charles’s white handkerchief was now completely red. The two other men rushed forward to help Todd.

  Jim Heathrow took control of the situation. “Frank, use your handkerchief and get some ice from the bucket. Todd, don’t lean forward. Put your head back and gently squeeze each side of your nose.”

  Outside the library, Charles turned to Carrie. “Are you really all right?”

  “I am now, thanks to my shining white knight.”

  “Silver-haired knight would be more like it,” Charles said. Carrie kissed her fingertips and placed them against the hair on the sides of his head.

  “Charles, about what just happened…”

  “It’s all right, darling. I really was in the room. I know you didn’t encourage Todd’s advances.”

  “I was looking for you, and Todd insisted on tagging along. I can’t believe he got so out of hand,” she said.