Chapter 9
After leaving the Spencer estate, Regina drove into town. Even though she believed her son, they really didn't have much evidence to go on so she thought she might ask some locals if they had seen Judith recently.
Not to seem obvious, Regina stopped into the grocery store and saw some villagers shopping and chatted up a few of them to get a feel of what was going on in the town and then asked about the Spencer estate and Judith. Most said they hadn't seen the woman in months and that there was a rumour that she married but no one knew for sure.
Henry the butler, she was told became ill, retired, and moved out west with family. Marco supposedly came into some money, an inheritance and left to go back to his homeland, Italy. The butcher was mostly upset about Ms. Ratched leaving without a goodbye, he was smitten on her, and he thought she felt the same.
Apparently, Mrs. Belfry was the person to talk to if you wanted to know the town gossip and luckily for Regina, she was sitting out on the diner's patio sipping an iced tea.
"Well hello Mrs. Belfry, how are you doing?"
"Regina! You're back, how wonderful and you know to call me Victoria. How have you been? Are you writing something new yet?"
"Henry and I arrived not long ago and yes I've been writing as well. Hopefully I'll get it done before we go back to Boston."
"Good, good. You look awfully dolled up for someone who usually wears comfortable clothes."
"This? I had an appointment that needed a more professional look than my ripped jeans I suppose." Regina said to her as she looked down at her outfit.
"Please have a seat and join me, you must fill me in about what's been going on in your life and to tell me what your next book is about."
"My next book… I can't divulge much, at least not yet."
Ruby the waitress came out and took Regina's drink order as she refilled Victoria's. A few moments later she brought out Regina's iced coffee and began to chat with the ladies letting them know of the latest gossip.
Regina thought it was a great segue to get her own information. "Is it true that the staff at the Spencer's have gone, retired? I mean I can see Henry retiring, he was up there in age, but I always thought he would stay with Judith even after, y'know?"
"Ohhh haven't you heard?" Ruby gasped and then looked over her shoulder before sitting down, "Judith Spencer got married and her husband fired them all pretty well the next day."
"What?"
"Yeah, Judith Spencer got a quickie marriage I heard on Valentine's Day, so tacky, to this well–to-do guy who no one really knows."
"How did they even meet? I mean she rarely goes out." Regina inquired, glad she stopped to talk with Belfry and now Ruby.
"That's the thing, no one knows it was like he just appeared and then they were married in days."
"That doesn't sound like Judith, does it? I mean you would think she would want her friends there or to at least let them know."
"Exactly! I assume she didn't tell you or little Henry?" Ruby asked.
"No, she didn't. He hasn't seen her yet either. Word is that she hasn't been well and is away on a sabbatical."
"Really? I never heard that. I heard the new maid say that her 'charge' had a breakdown of sorts and is bedridden. Her charge, can you believe that? Who speaks like that anyway?"
"It's obvious this man, Cassidy I believe, is after her for her money, really what else does she have? She's a hermit mostly she only comes out and about when you and your son are in town. The rest of the time she's in that huge mansion with her minimal staff." Victoria stated as she took a sip of her tea and wrinkled her nose. "Really Ruby you should make this a Long Island iced tea; it is after 12:00."
"Judith is a beautiful and wonderful person she has a lot more to offer than just her family fortune." Regina replied upset that Victoria or anyone would think that of her friend. Judith was great. "And she worked hard with her family business until her parents passed."
Victoria huffed, got up and went towards the diner, "I need something stronger than tea. Ladies."
Ruby rolled her eyes. "Don't worry about her she has always been jealous of the Spencer family especially of Judith."
"So, you don't know anything about this guy, Cassidy?"
"He comes here for coffee and then for drinks sometimes in the evening. His name is Neal, he's not bad looking but he looks down his nose at us, he thinks he's king shit or something. I don't know Judith well but he doesn't seem the type for her y'know?"
"Yeah, he doesn't sound like someone she would marry let alone so quickly. Do you think Victoria is right that he's after her fortune?"
"It's the most likely scenario but I'm sure with all that wealth Judith was smart and had a prenup and all that biz. Archie would make sure of that."
"Speaking of Archie, do you know where he went? I only received an email letting me know he wouldn't be here for our arrival. I've called but no answer."
"Nope, he never said where he was going or for how long but he did leave his dog with Lucy and Jacinda."
"It's been great catching up with you Ruby, but I think Ingrid is looking for you." Regina stated as she pointed towards the window where an irate blonde woman is frowning at Ruby.
"Shit! Gotta go! See ya Regina and tell Lil Henry there's a chocolate milkshake on me when he pops by."
"I shall, now get back to work you!"
"Neal!" Eugenia is waiting in the foyer after hearing the car door shut. "Where have you been?"
"What the hell mother, what's going on?"
"There was a woman here asking for Judith!" Eugenia replied as she walked back towards the study then to the bar to pour herself a drink. "She said her name was Lana Azzara, she's an international real estate agent Judith spoke to before you were married."
"I've never seen or heard that name before and I've gone through all of Judith's correspondence mail and email."
"Well, she seemed familiar to me, but I've never heard of her name before. I didn't realize the Spencer's had a villa in Italy. Maybe we should keep that one."
"Hmmm nor did I. We'll make sure we include that in the new will. I think keeping it would be nice, something for all our troubles. Is this Lana woman someone we need to get rid of? What did you tell her?"
"I think she'll be fine; I told her Judith wasn't well and was away and would get back to her in a week or so. This will be all over by then and we won't need this agent unless we do sell the other properties."
"We won't be using this woman, so it won't matter."
"Where did you go? Who called you earlier?"
"Mr. Hatt was updating me on Hopper, they lost him but have an idea what he's doing. He's in search for a woman. Maybe he's wanting a wife." Neal chuckled as his own joke.
"Did he say who he was looking for?"
"No, he didn't get that information. I did tell him to get rid of Hopper, I don't want him coming back and screwing this up."
"Neal, we can't keep killing people."
"No one will link his death to us. Don't worry Mother I have it all under control. Now pour me one as well will you?" Neal looked out the window wondering if he should let his mother know his plans for the kid.
When Regina arrived home, Henry was waiting at the door for her, "So what did you find out?"
"Can you at least let me inside first?" Regina asked with her hands on her hips and her infamous raised eyebrow.
"Sorry." Henry mumbled as he stepped back and allowed his mother inside. Closing the door, he turned around looking at her, "So?"
Regina nodded her head and they walked to her office, Regina sat down in her office chair and Henry pulled one up and sat next to her.
"Let's write down everything we know, Henry. I believe you when you say something is amiss at the estate but I need to know if we have enough to go to the sheriff with."
"Okay, we know there's a whole new staff and that there's someone pretending to be Judy."
"And supposedly Judith got married to a Neal Cassidy and he and his mother now live at the estate." Regina wrote down the names of the original staff and the names of the new, along with the Cassidy's.
"I really wish Archie was here." Henry sighed. "Or at least call you back. Do…do you think something happened to him?"
"No, I don't think so, Henry. He's on an assignment and I think it's for Judith. I do believe he's fine but working on something very important." Regina answered distracted looking down at their list.
"What else did you find out today?"
Regina wrote down everything she heard today as she told Henry. She feels in her gut that what Victoria said today was most likely true and if this mother and son duo got rid of the staff and brought in someone to pretend to be Judith, she's afraid that they're too late for their friend but maybe not for this other woman.
"I know what we need to do next. You need to get me into the estate, I want to meet this imposter."
