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GINNIE
Shit! That bastard had to have known.
Instead of driving to her attorney, Ginnie headed for the Gates’s home. Suddenly Miriam’s distance and Gregory’s systematic exclusion of the Gates from their lives made perfect sense. She parked her BMW around back, coming through the back gate and knocking on the door.
Rick answered. “Ginnie, what on earth are you doing here? Doesn’t matter. I know he was a bastard, but I’m sorry for your loss,” he said wrapping his arms around her to give her a hug.
For a moment she was stiff in his arms, and then remembered how close she and Miriam had once been, how alone Miriam must have felt when Gregory dumped her, and what a good man her friend had married. She returned his hug. “Thanks, Rick. Is Miriam home?”
“She sure is. You’ll be a sight for sore eyes. You two catch up all you like. I’ll take care of the restaurant.”
“Thanks, Rick. You’re a really good man.”
He tipped his hat and walked down the path to where his truck was parked. Steeling her resolve and taking a deep breath, Ginnie walked up the back steps and entered the kitchen. Miriam froze. Ginnie was glad to see Sophie wasn’t with her.
“You know,” whispered Miriam.
Ginnie nodded. “I do now. How could you not tell me?”
“He’d already dumped me. He made sure I knew that not only was I used goods, but I was also damaged ones,” she said, looking at her bad leg. “Besides, you seemed so happy, and your parents were over the moon.”
“Does Rick know?”
“Did he know at the time? Yes. But I think over the years he’s convinced himself it isn’t true. No man has ever loved his daughter more. She was lucky to have him. Gregory was a monster.”
“I know,” Ginnie said, sitting down. “I’m only beginning to understand just how truly evil he was. God, can you ever forgive me?”
“For what? You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“I haven’t been much of a friend…”
“It’s all water under the bridge. I’m just glad you’re rid of him, too. I think maybe a lot of bonds of love and friendship might be healed with Gregory’s death.”
“You killed him.” It wasn’t a question but a statement of fact.
“I didn’t have a choice. He was trying to use Sophie in one of his schemes and I’m not convinced he didn’t mean to sell off her virginity to the highest bidder whether she wanted to or not. I designed his system years ago and I built myself a back door into it. I realized what he was planning to do. I couldn’t let him. I just couldn’t.”
“But how? I talked to DeeDee. She recognized you from the CCTV cameras, but there was no sign you used your cane. How did you manage it?”
Miriam shrugged. “Love always finds a way. I left it in my car. It was slow going, but I gave myself lots of time. My hip and my back were killing me.”
“How’d you get him to meet you?”
“I told him I thought I could make improvements to his system, ways he could skim money off from his partners.”
“But why the B&B?”
“Because it’s remote and DeeDee said that room was going to be empty. I have a master key for her place just in case of emergency. I thought I was screwed when Jessica rented the room, but I’d gone up there early to intercept Gregory. I was there when she left.”
“You knew she liked to watch the fishing boats go out,” said Ginnie.
Miriam nodded. “I’d hinted to Gregory that I might be interested in renewing our physical relationship. When we met; I spun him a tale, and then we drank a toast to our new partnership. The best part was, he realized I’d poisoned him. He tried to run, but I tripped him. He knew he was dying, and he knew I was the one who’d killed him. There was a certain gruesome pleasure in that.”
“You did it for me?” said Sophie, her face pale. Ginnie and Miriam had been so involved in their conversation, that neither had noticed Sophie standing in the doorway.
“I had no choice, baby. I wasn’t going to let him destroy you. I suppose I’ll have to turn myself in. You’re going to have to look after your dad.”
“Fuck that,” said Ginnie. “Gregory left me a shit ton of money. We’re going to get you out of here.”
