Watching for Willa Page 16

  “Has someone suggested otherwise? Maybe I was seen rolling up and down the banks of Cox Creek? Did you find tracks from my chair, Detective Pruitt? Maybe you want to check for soil samples in the grooves of my tires?”

  “Please, Mr. Denton, I didn’t mean to agitate you. I just wanted to pass on that since the creek is so close to this area, we’ll be doing house-to-house interviews. If I find out that you’ve been less than honest with me, I’ll be extremely disappointed.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “I don’t think you’ll be disappointed,” Willa said to the distinguished man before her. Once again she opened the sample bottle of the bath gel and held it up for him to smell. “It’s not quite the ocean fragrance you preferred from the discontinued line but we’ve had a lovely response and I think your—” she glanced down noting again the fabulous emerald ring he wore on his left hand “—um, you’ll find it extremely soothing after a stressful day.”

  “And it’s all natural products like the other? My friend is so sensitive.”

  “She’ll adore this. I’ve had women who can’t go near other lotions swear by this one,” she assured him, pointing to the splashes and creams in the set.

  “Excellent. You’ve sold me.”

  Pleased, Willa carried the cellophane-wrapped basket to the register. She’d been concerned about losing this particular customer because, although he didn’t come in often, when he did, cost wasn’t a factor and he paid cash. In addition, he’d managed to keep her mind from—

  The machine-gun staccato of high heels not only cut her off in midthought, it mocked her theory. Seconds later, Judith Denton’s assertive, spicy, signature fragrance overpowered the store and the woman swept in. With her silver-and-yellow scarf flowing over one shoulder of a stunning matching silk suit, she made Willa feel gauche even in her beloved violet-blue coatdress. “Sorry I’m late. I had an unexpected—Why, Felix! Imagine seeing you again…and here.”

  The man’s expression didn’t alter much, but he turned a pasty green; however, that’s not what had Willa staring at him with surprise and wariness. The name Felix rang a sizable alarm inside her because Zach had mentioned a Felix!

  This was his agent? She couldn’t believe it. He’d been her customer for months! And what did Judith mean by “again”?

  The telephone rang behind her. Wondering what else could go wrong, she glanced around hoping to get Starla or Sophia to take the call; however, both of them were tied up with customers.

  “I’m so sorry,” she said, gesturing helplessly. “Can you bear with me one moment?”

  She introduced herself on the phone and began asking the caller to hold, only to be interrupted again.

  “Willa!” a deep, familiar voice whispered urgently.

  “Um…oh, yes. Hello, Mrs. King.”

  “Mrs.—You’re not alone?”

  “I can try to get that for you, ma’am, but could you hold on one second?” She glanced over her shoulder. “I’ll be right with you both, sir, Mrs. Denton.”

  Zach sucked in a sharp breath. “Judith’s there?”

  “Actually there’s two sizes in that line.”

  He hesitated. “Two. Wait a minute…the man you referred to as sir, is that it?”

  “Right.”

  “You’re telling me that I know him?”

  “Well, in that line it’s one of three, and I’m currently out. But my supplier is in Houston, so it shouldn’t be long before that comes back in.”

  “Houston. Oh, my…Fraser’s in your store?” A razor-sharp oath threatened to fray the phone line. “No wonder all I’m getting is his answering machine. What the hell’s going on, Willa?”

  “Could I call you back in a few minutes with that information, Mrs. King? We’re terribly busy at the moment and I have people here waiting to check out. Would you like to give me your number?”

  After dryly promising she would pay for her choice of names, he rattled it off to her. “And be careful about letting anyone see it.”

  She ripped the sheet of paper off the pad and tucked it into her pocket. “As soon as I’m able. Yes, I’ll go back to my office, check the delivery date and give you a ring back.”

  “One more thing, sweetheart. Have you heard about the murder?”

  Willa heard the anguish in his voice and her heart ached for him. “I’m afraid so, yes.”

  “You might be getting a visit from our friend Detective Pruitt. I should warn you that I told him I was home all night last night.”

  Had the policeman accused Zach of something? “I understand. I think.”

  “Just be careful with those two with you now. I mean it. Go nowhere with either one of them.”

  “No problem there. Goodbye, Mrs. King.”

  Her heart pounding, Willa again faced the two people waiting for her. “I must apologize again,” she said, quickly resuming the sale to Zach’s agent.

  She wondered if her sudden unease showed as she worked. She felt shaky and all thumbs. It didn’t help that while she’d been talking, she’d heard furious whispering going on behind her. Now Felix Fraser was glaring holes into her as if he knew who she’d been speaking with on the phone. For her part, Judith only appeared more confident, and calculating. In fact, her blue eyes made Willa recall Zach’s chessboard. Particularly the cruel black queen.

  After making change for Felix Fraser, she bagged his purchase in one of their prettier tote sacks and even added extra tissue paper, hoping it would appease the man. It didn’t.

  Ignoring her smile and words of thanks, he made a sharp, almost military pivot. With a withering glance toward Judith, he stalked out of the store.

  “Nice to see you, Felix,” Judith called after him. “Come and visit anytime.” She laughed, a sound that held both mockery and amusement. “He’s terribly choleric,” she offered, turning back to Willa.

  “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.” For her part, Willa wished the woman had left, too.

  “Oh, Felix and I go way back.” Several bangle bracelets jingled as the woman inspected a carousel of his-and-her key chains. “Did you know he’s my husband’s—” Again, the toxic laughter bubbled. “Oh, my. How silly of me. It must be these charming thingies reminding me of happier times. Zach and I used to have matching cars. But then the poor fool went out of his mind.” She shot Willa a sidelong look. “Did you know about Felix?”

  “Know what?”

  The woman smiled, her poppy red lipstick creating a bold slash. “That he’s Zach’s agent, dear. What else?”

  “No. I didn’t,” Willa said, knowing there was no reason why Judith shouldn’t believe her. “How could I?”

  “Indeed. How could you?” She ran a length of the scarf through her fingers, gazing at Willa over the roll edge. Her eyes were truly a stunning blue, but held the warmth of a pit viper. “What does he generally buy? Bath products like those he picked up today?”

  Willa decided the venomous creature had caused enough chaos. “Mrs. Denton, what can I do for you? As you can see, we’re extremely busy today. I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave the store after all.”

  Judith tapped her long nails on the counter. “It’s imperative that we speak, Mrs. Whitney. I’ve come all the way down here on your behalf when I should be at the hospital at dear Nancy’s bedside.”

  Dressed like that? Skeptical, but curious to know what the woman had up her sleeve, Willa gestured to the back of the store. “I could give you a minute in my office.”

  With a regal nod, Judith led the way.

  After signaling Sophia, Willa followed. She didn’t like the idea of taking Zach’s ex-wife back there, not wanting her personal area poisoned with the woman’s negativity. As it was, she would have to burn a fragrance candle in there afterward to purge the room of that cloying scent.

  “All right, what’s this about?” Willa asked, once they were inside and the door was closed.

  “I think you’re in danger.”

  Willa wasn’t certain she’d he
ard Judith correctly. After all, the announcement had been issued while pacing the length of the room and inspecting everything as if she were in the market for an office herself.

  Crossing her arms beneath her breasts, Willa leaned against the wall. “How so?”

  The woman whirled around, her scarf rippling. Willa wondered if she practiced before a mirror.

  “Don’t be coy, dear. I saw the way you two exchanged glances last week when I was over there. And don’t forget, I was married to the man.” She resumed her pacing. “He can still be quite charismatic, even sensual, although his accident has done much to, er, affect his confidence sexually.”

  Incensed, it was all Willa could do not to grab Zach’s ex-wife by the scruff of the neck and walk her out of the store. “That will be quite enough, Mrs. Denton.”

  Judith froze. “Excuse me?”

  “Even if I had the time to do this, I wouldn’t listen to gossip between or about a formerly married couple.”

  “You’re trying to tell me that he hasn’t spoken to you about me?”

  “Fishing?”

  The older woman retraced her steps, stopping only inches away from Willa. “You don’t want to make an enemy of me, kiddo. And you don’t want to come between me and what I want.” She pointed toward the door. “That man took my love and the best years of my life and crushed them into the ground as thoroughly as he did that stupid plane of his. He made aspersions about my character in a court when he tried to divorce me and leave me without a dime. Me! After I worked beside him throughout our marriage to make him into the name he is today. Fortunately, I had justice on my side.”

  “And a good lawyer?”

  The tortured, long-suffering expression vanished in a heartbeat. Judith narrowed her eyes. “You aren’t all cotton candy, after all. But you’re out of your league with me.”

  “Should I consider that a threat?”

  “Only if you get in my way, dear.” Judith smiled coldly. “Yes, I can see he’s had enough clear moments to make quite an impression on you. So be it. But let me give you a piece of advice—when you’re looking into his crazed gray eyes as he’s squeezing the last breath from your lungs, don’t forget that someone did try to warn you. And the tragedy is that it’ll all be for nothing. You see, he won’t be seeing you. His twisted mind will lead him to believe it’s me.”

  “The Zachary Denton I’ve met wouldn’t easily resort to violence,” Willa replied, not caring if the woman ever set foot in Whimsy again or defamed her and her business to everyone else in town. “But I can see how someone like you would tempt him.”

  For a moment Willa wondered if she’d gone too far. Hatred radiated from Judith’s eyes. Seeing the potential for all that Zach said his ex was capable of, it took considerable courage to reach for the door and stare her down.

  “No one speaks to me like that,” Judith whispered, slowly. “Ever.”

  “Goodbye, Ms. Denton.”

  Zach nearly went out of his mind waiting. Come on, he willed the telephone beside the computer. Call!

  He couldn’t believe this was happening to her. He was here, damn it. If anyone wanted a piece of him, let them come here! Why couldn’t they leave her alone? The thought of Willa being in danger upset him so much that he told himself he would give her five more minutes. If she didn’t call, he would drag himself out to the van and find out why not.

  Never had he felt more impotent. Judith and Felix. It had been the least likely of the combinations, the one suspicion he’d wanted to be wrong about. But between what Pruitt had shown him, and Willa’s news that they were together in her store, what other conclusion could he draw?

  Finally the phone rang. He snatched it up before it had finished its first ring. “Yes!”

  “I think I need that drink I poured you last night.”

  Never had he heard anything so wonderful as her voice. “Too late. I poured it and the rest of the bottle down the drain.”

  She hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m up for any more shocks today.”

  He was torn between chuckling with relief that she could still make jokes, and wanting to reach through the phone and hold her. “Was it bad? Are you okay? Tell me everything.”

  “I hardly know where to begin,” she replied with a sigh. “The first thing I need to tell you is that Felix Fraser has been a customer of mine for quite a while, but I never knew who he was!”

  “That’s incredible.” He didn’t want to think of Willa having been exposed to him for all that time. It was bad enough to think the bastard had decided to do a little shopping after his night’s activities.

  “I would never have put it together because he always paid in cash and never offered the information. It was only when Judith walked in and called out to him that I discovered his name.”

  Zach frowned. “You mean they didn’t come in together?”

  “Oh, no. And he looked positively ill to see her. It happened just as you phoned. You wouldn’t believe the harsh whispering that went on while you and I were talking.”

  “What happened after you hung up?”

  “He paid for his merchandise, gave me a terrible look and left. Judith taunted him, which didn’t help. Why he put up with it I don’t know. He always struck me as a no-nonsense, masterful sort. You know what he’s like—he’s your agent. But while Judith stood beside him, it was like watching a stranger. He appeared…well, terrified.”

  “That makes sense.”

  “It does?”

  “Remember, I told you that the stalker loathed Judith as much as I do. Only later did the tone of the notes change.”

  “Yes, but Zach, she would have to have an incredible hold on him. Can you see Felix Fraser committing this horrendous crime last night and now shopping for bath products this afternoon? It’s impossible to comprehend.”

  “That’s because you’re sane and have a conscience. But listen to this. Pruitt showed me a tie pin in the shape of a pen that they found near the murdered girl’s body.”

  “What did he want you to do, break down and confess?”

  “No doubt. He’d probably already shown it to Judith when he talked to her and I’m guessing she hinted strongly that it might be mine.”

  “That female is a—Zach, how could you have ever married someone like that?”

  He grimaced. “I told you, I’m crazy.”

  “Humph. More likely, she’s a remarkable actress.”

  “Just tell me that you didn’t agree to anything she asked of you. I meant what I said, Willa. She’s not to be trusted,” Zach said, not wanting her to take Judith too lightly.

  “Don’t worry. I don’t think she’ll be bouncing checks at my place anymore. But finish telling me about this pin. What’s it supposed to mean? Do you think it might belong to Felix?”

  “I know it does. It’s an antique, something he’s had for years. But the best part is that when they clean it off in the lab, they’re going to find he had his initials engraved on it. Once that breaks to the media, it’ll only be a matter of time.”

  “That’s wonderful news! And it can’t happen soon enough.”

  He wanted to agree, but at that instant he looked out his window, just in time to see a car pull up before his house. “No, it can’t,” he murmured instead. “And I guess it won’t.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  “Zach? What’s wrong? Zach!”

  “Felix is here,” Zach replied, his thoughts already racing to the possible ramifications of this unexpected visit. “I have to go.”

  “Don’t let him in. Please? I’m calling the police!” Willa cried when he didn’t respond to anything she’d said.

  For his part, Zach felt amazingly calm. Eager for this meeting. “No. You forget, I’m prepared.”

  “He might be, too.”

  Somehow that didn’t strike him as likely. “It wouldn’t be his way. I’ll call you back,” he assured her gruffly. He was moved by her concern, tempted again to think of the future. Then the doorbell sounded and he
hung up.

  He listened to the sounds of the bolt releasing, the door opening and Felix’s uncertain step.

  “Zach?”

  “Up here.”

  His agent chose the stairs, and his movements were slow. As if he carried a great burden, Zach thought, counting. When the tone of the steps told him Felix had arrived at the top and was headed down the hallway, he reached into his top drawer for the revolver and eased back the hammer.

  “I should have called,” Felix said, hesitant and drawn in the doorway. “But would you mind an impromptu visit? I’ve been driving around town all day trying to work up the courage to—”

  “To what, you bastard?” Zach asked, raising the gun.

  If Felix had appeared terrified to Willa, he looked ready to pass out now. His skin matched the gray streaks in his hair, and since their last meeting he’d grown considerably gaunt. Vertical gashes on either side of his mouth running from eye to jaw made him look like one of the weather-ravaged carvings on Mount Rushmore. No longer did he resemble the shrewd and arrogant negotiator Zach had known, but simply an old broken man.

  “Oh, God…Zach, don’t,” he moaned.

  “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t.”

  “I came to tell you myself. Isn’t that worth something? For old times’ sake?”

  “Were you thinking of me when you were doing all that you did?”

  “She was blackmailing me. I tried to think of a way out of it, but…I couldn’t.”

  “You damn well could have. You could have said no! It’s not exactly missing from your vocabulary.”

  “She’s ruthless.”

  “Not as ruthless as a jury is going to be.”

  Felix closed his eyes as if in prayer. “Please. I have money saved.”

  “You think you can buy my silence?” The man was more disgusting than imaginable. “Wrong. You’re going away, pal. And when they finally strap you to that table and stick that needle in your arm, I’m going to be there to applaud.”

  Felix blinked, then frowned. “What are you talking about?”