A House Divided Page 19

  “So you’re saying you don’t think this was just any ordinary house fire? You think there’s arson involved?”

  “Absolutely.” Rebecca took a sip of tea and swallowed. She told her sister about the note and how she suspected it was linked to Bandit’s poisoning and the fire. “So in other words, the writing’s on the wall. I’m afraid that someone, most likely one or more of Mark’s strongest opponents, is behind the threats.”

  “Oh, Becca, do you really think so?”

  “Yes.” She shrugged. “And as far as the sequel goes, it’s a done deal. Poor Benny. He doesn’t deserve this.”

  A long silence followed. “But the note. Why didn’t you tell me about it until now?”

  “I didn’t want to worry you—because to be honest, I wasn’t worried myself. At least not in the beginning. I thought it was all a bluff. And most of all, I wanted to keep living in the house, no matter what.” Tears misted her eyes, and she touched the corner of each eye with a paper napkin. “But believe me, Missey, I’ve changed my mind now. Nothing is worth putting my daughter in harm’s way any longer.”

  Missey reached across the table and squeezed Rebecca’s hand. “Fear is a terrible thing,” she acknowledged, “and I understand how you might be so fearful. But sometimes you just have to place your fear in God’s hands and learn to trust Him.”

  “That’s just talk. Meaningless religious jargon.” Rebecca gave a start at the defensiveness she heard in her voice, but the words had simply tumbled out before she could stop them. “No, Missey. I’m taking my daughter back to L.A. It’s the only other home we know. And I’ll need to get her there and settled before school starts, so I don’t have a lot of time to vacillate.”

  “What about Mark? How can you turn your back on him and just walk away?”

  Rebecca stared down at the tealeaves in the bottom of her cup and said in a half whisper, “Mark’s nothing more to me than just a good friend.” She couldn’t bring herself to look at Missey.

  “That’s not true. I know better. I can tell you love him just by the look in your eyes every time you talk about him.”

  Rebecca gasped softly. Her gaze flew to Missey’s. “Okay, so I can’t hide it. You can see right through me.”

  “You bet I can.”

  “But what good is loving Mark when I know he’ll never feel the same about me? You’re right, sis, I do love him. And I even told him so last Sunday. But he insists he will never get married. A wife and children would complicate his life too much.” She shrugged. “Let’s face it. Loving Mark is a dead end for me.”

  “Circumstances can change. People can change. Mark might think he’s too busy for love, but I don’t buy it. He’s just too busy—and self-deluded—to admit it. Besides, if today’s fire wasn’t a wake-up call for him, I’d be surprised.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, think about it. What if he’d already put a ton of time and money into building the halfway house, and it had burned down? Surely today’s fire must’ve told him something about how temporary things can be, even the things we might believe are part of God’s will for our lives. People are really what matter in the long run, not things. And as far as Wendy goes, she might be a child, but she’s not blind to what’s happening around her. And most of all, she says she loves Mark, too.”

  She loves Mark, too. Rebecca stared at Missey tongue-tied. Of course. There was no use trying to deny it. Her daughter did indeed love Mark. Why hadn’t she seen the signs of that herself?

  * * *

  “Dr. Simons?” the male caller spoke on the other end of Mark’s cell phone.

  “Speaking.” Mark kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, grateful he was finally on his way back to the condo. After Rebecca and Wendy had left the scene of the fire, police, fire, and news personnel had detained him for nearly two hours.

  “This is Officer Jeffries at the Freemont Police Bureau,” the caller continued. “Can you come down here? The address is—”

  “I know where you’re located,” Mark interrupted, then silently chastised himself for being so abrupt. All he wanted now was a hot shower, a soft bed, and a good night’s sleep.

  “So what’s up, officer?” he asked, forcing the edge from his voice.

  “We’ve evidence the fire at your property site was arson. In fact, the arsonist confessed about an hour ago.”

  Mark’s gut twisted. Soon he’d learn the truth. But was he ready? “Oh! Okay then . . . I’m en route as we speak. Be there as soon as I can.”

  “And something else, Dr. Simons.”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you have a tenant living at the Glasgow place by the name of Rebecca Lorenzo?”

  “Uh-huh. She’s renting the upstairs apartment in the Glasgow house. She and her little girl.”

  “I’d like her to meet with us, too.”

  “She’s staying at her sister’s place tonight. I’m only a few minutes from there. I’ll swing by and tell her.”

  “Thanks, that’ll save me an extra step.”

  Mark punched the power button on his cell phone, placed it back on the compartment between the front seats, and wondered why the officer was so adamant about talking with Rebecca. How could today’s fire involve her, too? She’d been with him almost from the minute she’d arrived home from work, and the fire had been as big a shock to her as it had him. Still, Officer Jeffries’ request had come as a mixed blessing. Mark longed for her to be with him still, to share in whatever he was about to learn. Truth was, without her, he felt so incomplete.

  Yep, mixed blessing in more ways than one, he reaffirmed. Now he could also tell her the good news about Bandit’s continued recovery, rather than having to wait until morning. Amidst all the mayhem of the past few hours, he’d found a free moment to phone the veterinary clinic. Mark had been so relieved, he’d immediately offered up a silent prayer of thanksgiving.

  He turned out onto Hawthorne and drove to the end of the block. The stately old Victorian where Rebecca and her sister had grown up stood like a sentinel before a backdrop of dark evergreens. A slight breeze stirred their tops like twisting monkey tails. The cold air bit his cheeks as he opened the car door and stepped outside.

  He hurried up the front steps of the covered front porch, taking two at a time, and rang the doorbell. The sound of rapid footsteps drew near on the other side, female footsteps, no doubt.

  “It’s Mark,” he called. “I need to talk to Rebecca.” He hoped Missey wasn’t as trusting as Rebecca, whom he was sure would probably fling open the door to even a stranger’s voice. If memory served him right, Rebecca had told him earlier that her brother-in-law would be out of town for a few days.

  Missey flipped on the porch light and pushed the door open, a few inches at first, then all the way. “Hello, Mark. What a surprise.” Yet her words came out more a statement than an exclamation.

  “Uh, sorry for the late hour,” he said, “but is Rebecca still awake?”

  “Right here.” Rebecca edged her way into view, standing tentatively behind her sister. “What is it, Mark?” Her face was drawn, her brow wrinkled.

  “Please come in,” Missey said before he’d had a chance to answer Rebecca.

  “Uh . . . thanks, but there really isn’t time.” Mark explained about Officer Jeffries’ request. “He didn’t go into details about why he wants to see you, too, Rebecca,” Mark added, “but he was going to call you himself if I hadn’t offered to stop by here. He’s waiting at the precinct to talk with both of us.”

  “Oh! I’ll be right out.” She ducked back into the hallway, grabbed her purse, and in no time they were off.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Rebecca took comfort in Mark’s presence as they sat side by side at a long oak conference table, the officer seated across from them. Still, her heart pounded with anticipation. Who might the culprit be? Her mouth felt so dry it was difficult to swallow.

  “So what’s the news?” Mark asked levelly, cutting to the chase. She could se
e his jaw working.

  “The arsonist is a man from California. His name’s Ben Rardin.”

  “Benny!” Rebecca gasped, placing an open hand to her chest. The room began to spin. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. Rardin stopped by here a little over an hour ago. He’s being held now in the county jail.”

  Wordlessly, Mark reached over and squeezed Rebecca’s hand. She clasped his so tightly in return, it was a wonder he didn’t protest.

  The officer lifted one shoulder. “It’s a shame, really. Our records indicate he has no criminal history whatsoever, not even a speeding ticket.”

  “But why do you need to talk to me?” Rebecca asked. “The property belongs to Dr. Simons here, not me.” Did she dare admit she and Benny had been good friends for nearly a decade and that he was helping her try to secure the location shoot? Did the officer think she might be an accomplice?

  “Rardin left this letter for you.” Officer Jeffries thrust two folded sheets of manila-white paper into her hand. “He also swore you had nothing to do with the fire and the events leading up to it. At least not directly.” He looked away momentarily, then settled his gaze back on her. “We had to read the note first, of course, to cross-check Rardin’s confession. It confirmed what he’d already told us.”

  Stunned, hands trembling, she turned the letter over and over. Her throat clogged with tears. Oh, Benny. What is this all about?

  Lifting her chin in an attempt to steady herself, she asked, “Is there anything else you need to talk to me about?”

  “No. Go ahead and read the letter, if you like. To yourself, of course.” His gaze shifted to Mark, then back to Rebecca again. “Meanwhile, there are still a few more things your landlord and I need to hash over. Security issues and whatnot.”

  Allowing them their privacy and relieved for her own, she started to get to her feet and find some place else to peruse the letter. But Officer Jeffries next words stopped her.

  “You’re welcome to stay right here, Mrs. Lorenzo. That is, if you’re comfortable doing so. I’m afraid the air conditioning isn’t up to snuff in the reception room, so you’re probably better off right here.”

  Nodding her thanks, she settled back in her seat again and drew in a deep breath.

  Mark’s cell phone rang. He ignored it and asked, “So what else, officer? What is it we need to talk about?”

  As the murmur of the men’s conversation faded into the back of Rebecca’s mind, she unfolded the paper and read through a watery blur.

  Dear Rebecca. I’m sure by now you’ve been told the news, and you’re as stunned as I’m feeling right now. I’m not sure what came over me, doll, but no matter how you slice it, I’m the one responsible for starting the fire. Oh, I didn’t mean to do anyone no harm. That’s why I waited till you’d taken off to get help for the dog. I was the one who fed the dog the chocolate, too. But it was only a little bit, not enough to make him very sick. At least I hoped not.

  Not very sick? Rebecca’s thoughts screamed as she remembered Bandit’s near-comatose state. Yet the vet had confirmed that it took much more than the one or two chocolate bars they’d guessed the dog has consumed to push him over the edge, she reminded herself. He’d also speculated Bandit might have suffered an allergic reaction.

  Yes, maybe Benny hadn’t intended to poison the dog after all.

  Swallowing hard against the knot forming in her throat, she started reading again.

  I figured while all of you were away at the vet’s, as I’d hoped you’d be, I could set fire to the guesthouse and not put anyone’s life in danger.

  Truth is, Rebecca, I love you.

  Rebecca choked back a cry of dismay, but thankfully, Mark and the officer didn’t appear to notice. Benny loves me? The room seemed to close in around her. Suddenly she remembered the times he’d hugged her when she’d been grieving for August and kissed her forehead in what she’d believed to be nothing more than a brotherly gesture. Why, she’d never once even made the connection.

  Steeling herself, she forced her attention back to the letter.

  By now you’re probably asking why I let all this happen. Yes, I loved you all along, even back in the old days, when August you and I were the best of buddies. After he died, I secretly hoped you’d someday be mine, even though I’m nearly twenty years older.

  Anyway, that’s why I wanted to help you when I knew your money was running out. But when I arrived in town and realized how tight you were with Simons, I also knew what a fool I was. And like the saying goes, there’s no fool like an old fool.

  Then I got the news about Galaxy Productions, and something inside of me snapped. Call it mid-life crisis—or maybe even something worse–I just couldn’t take it anymore. I knew I was not only too old to win back your heart, but I was getting close to the big five-O, too old for Hollywood also. And Hollywood is the only thing I know. Let’s face it. I’m just an old man with nowhere to turn. And so, crazy jealous and beside myself, I took it out on Mark Simons. Your Mark Simons.

  You’re probably also wondering about the note I sent to Simons that day back at the church. That was my doing, too. I was determined to make things tough on him. Like you, I wanted the old Glasgow place for the next shoot. But unlike you, I wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty. But that was in the beginning before I realized your feelings for Simons. And when I did, that only made things worse for me.

  Rebecca, doll, you should be the first to know I’m not a bad person. In fact, it’s my honorable side that will make me go to the cops and ‘fess up. I’m sorry I scared you and Wendy like I did. I hope you’ll find a small place in your heart to forgive me. And now that I’ve had a chance to get back to my real self, I can honestly say I want only the best for you—-even if that means marrying the doctor. Wendy needs a daddy, too. So if Simons pops the question, say yes. August would be happy for you, too.

  Love always, Benny

  * * *

  Later, in the parking lot that fronted the police precinct, Mark and Rebecca sat inside his car and talked. After thanking Officer Jeffries and saying goodnight to him, they’d hurried outside, eager to finally be alone together.

  “What a shock,” Rebecca said. Her voice sounded distant, as if it belonged to someone else. “Benny. Who would have ever thought Benny was responsible for this mess?” The moonlight cast a misty glow on the rhododendron next to the entrance of the precinct. Through the opened car window, she could hear the rhythmic cadence of crickets from a nearby empty lot.

  “I’m having a hard time making sense of it all, too,” Mark agreed, taking her hand in his. His thumb caressed her palm. His voice turned husky. “Are you all right, Rebecca?”

  “Yes. At least I think I am.” She swallowed hard. No, I’m not all right at all! Little by little my entire world is crumbling into a trillion pieces. How can I take much more of this?

  He pulled her to him and brushed a gentle kiss across her forehead. Then he took her into his arms. “You’re trembling. I suspect you’re more shaken than you realize.”

  She buried her head into his chest and murmured, “Please just keep holding me, Mark. I’ll . . . I’ll calm down in just another minute or so.” If only he could know the full story about what Benny had written in the letter. But she couldn’t—wouldn’t—show it to him, and thank goodness, he hadn’t asked to see it. Even though it was clear now that Mark would never be hers, there was nothing to be gained by letting him know that Benny had said he loved her.

  Worse, who would have ever thought that when Benny had shown up during the meeting at the church, he’d been the one who’d written the first letter, the one that had openly threatened Mark? And later, when Benny had supposedly gone to Washington to look for work, who would have ever suspected that he’d sneak back into Freemont with such a horrific plan in mind, if in fact, he’d ever left town in the first place?

  She eased back and met Mark’s concerned gaze. “I guess all the missing pieces fit together now. But I still can’t believe
it was Benny.”

  Mark nodded. “His problems certainly pushed him over the edge.”

  “Yes. On one hand, I feel like wringing his neck for giving Bandit the chocolate, even if he was just trying to get us all out of harm’s way. On the other hand, I feel incredibly sorry for the man. Even more sorry for him now than I did after I learned about Galaxy Production’s going under.”

  “I see that sort of human vulnerability every day,” Mark answered. “For many folks, there’s often a very thin breaking point.” He strove to keep his voice as professional as possible, all the while denying to himself his own vulnerability. He might not be experiencing a life crisis as Rardin undoubtedly was, but the thought of facing his own lonely future gave him reason for pause.

  “Do you think there’s any hope for Benny?”

  “There’s always hope. I’m sure, provided he’s given the proper diagnosis and treatment, he’ll manage to salvage his life, especially after he’s done serving whatever jail time that’s required of him.”

  He reached out and touched her chin. She yearned to turn back to him, seek the solace of his arms, his lips—and she somehow sensed his own needs. But no, that was unthinkable now. They were only here together now because they were dealing with a shared crisis. And beyond tonight, there would be nothing more.

  “I think you’d better take me home now,” she said dully. “Morning’s going to arrive quickly.”

  “You’re right.” His voice was ragged. “It’s time to go.”

  * * *

  Inside the upstairs bedroom of her childhood home, Rebecca collapsed into bed and let her tears flow. Tears of disbelief over the day’s unfolding. Tears of frustration with Benny for allowing himself to fall in love with his best friend’s wife. Tears of frustration with herself for not having seen the signs.