The Peake Sisters
Chapter 11: The BreakthroughThe four spent a subdued evening at Hutch's. A light dinner, some wine, and some quiet conversation to end a very stressful week. Hutch had refilled the girls' wine glasses again before they moved out to the patio to enjoy the pleasant evening.
"It's hard to believe just one week ago dad was still alive", Mercedes spoke softly. "I keep thinking that I should have stayed late. That maybe if I'd been there, then who ever killed dad might not have come into the store."
"Or you may have shared the same fate as your father." Hutch leaned toward Mercedes and rubbed her back, "You can't go back, and you can't change what's happened."
Sitting next to Meredith, Starsky noticed the tears welling up in her eyes; she'd been very quiet during the evening and gave her a gentle squeeze, "Feel like taking a slow stroll along the beach? Some fresh air might help."
She turned and looked at him and responded in a barely auditable tone, "Sure", but didn't attempt to move.
Starsky stood up and put his hands out to her to help her up. He gave Hutch a nod and put his arm around Meredith encouraging her to move. When they got to the front door, he grabbed their jackets; he had plans on keeping her out a while and knew it would be chilly by the water. He allowed her to set the pace; they walked slowly, and in silence.
After a several minutes, they came to a bench and sat down. Meredith pulled her knees up to her chest, buried her head and cried. Starsky knew she was hurting and stayed silent allowing her to cry. He knew only too well that tears were part of the healing process; they helped a person with their loss. He kept his arm lightly behind her and whispered reassuringly, "Go ahead and cry, it'll be ok. I'm here."
Hutch refilled Mercedes' wine glass and kept his voice casual as he started a conversation, "How did the reading of the will go yesterday?" They already knew what the will contained; they'd been given a copy after the reading as part of the murder investigation paperwork. But neither of them could figure out how Mitch Bernet fit into the Peake family. They knew he was a family friend, but he was given equal share in Tom Peake's estate, which didn't make sense.
Mercedes took another sip of wine before answering his question, "Interesting, to say the least. Theresa and Mike were quite surprised to find out that Mitch was dad's son."
Hutch raised his eyebrows but tried to keep his voice level, "Mitch is your brother?" So that's why he was in the will, hmmm.
"Yes, dad had an affair with an old girlfriend and Mitch happened."
Hutch tried to contain his surprise at the information, "You already knew?"
He didn't know if it was the wine or the need to talk, but he definitely wanted her to continue her story. Keep talking.
"Dad had told me a few weeks ago when we were discussing his retiring and what he planned to do with the business. Mitch was around a lot while we were growing up; I knew dad thought a lot of him. I always figured dad was disappointed with having two daughters and Mitch was the son he always wanted. Dad always reminded us to be nice to him because Mitch also lost his mother in a car accident. And then he lost his dad shortly after that."
"Oh really? I didn't know Mitch had lost both his mother and father."
"Yes, ah… I don't remember the details anymore. There was a pile-up on the interstate and Mitch's mom was killed in the same accident that killed our mom. Sorta freaky huh?" Mercedes shifted uncomfortably and Hutch noticed she was avoiding any eye contact. Interesting, I need to have that old file pulled, wonder what the details of the accident can tell me.
Anyway dad was thrilled when Mona had Michael and I remember he told everyone how proud he was to finally have a son to carry on the family name, etcetera, etcetera…" She finished off her wine and handed the glass to Hutch, "Mike could never do anything wrong."
She softly shook her head back and forth, "Dad was big on the 'son' thing. He was planning to tell the entire family about Mitch. In fact he planned to talk to Mitch about quitting the force and managing the cycle shop when he retired."
Hutch tried to control his voice, "You mean to manage the business along with you?" Hutch watched as Mercedes went tense and wouldn't make eye contact with him. Damn, wrong question Hutchinson.
Mercedes stood, "I think I may have had too much wine, would you excuse me?" Hutch watched her disappear into the apartment and heard the bathroom door shut. Interesting, but I have the feeling our conversation is over for the evening. Partner, I hope you're having better luck than I am.
Down at the beach Starsky and Meredith sat in silence. Starsky hoped his partner was having better luck than he was, Meredith hadn't said more than six words the entire time they had been sitting on the bench. Something just wasn't adding up with this case and they hoped the wine and separating the girls would provide more information. He sensed that Meredith had recomposed herself and took a deep breath making the decision to push a little.
Meredith turned toward Starsky, "My what a big sigh."
He gave her a half smile, "It's been a long week."
"Tell me about it."
"So how did the reading of the will go yesterday?" Ok, here we go…
"Interesting, I guess. You should have seen the look on their faces when Theresa and Mike found out that Mitch was dad's son."
"Mitch is your brother?" That explains why he's in the will with equal share, I guess.
"Ya, isn't that a kicker? I guess daddy and Mitch's mom were sweethearts back in high school, and had an affair sometime."
"And you knew?"
"I've only known a little while. Daddy told Mercedes about it, and she told me."
"That's quite some news; you're not upset by that?"
Meredith tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow, "Why would I be upset? Mitch is a great guy. I used to have such a crush on him when I was younger. Unfortunately he fell in love with Mercedes, and if you ask me, he still loves her."
"Really?" Starsky asked, faking a surprised tone in his voice.
She looked over at him smiling, "Ya, go figure how life works. I thought I was in love with Mitch, while he thought he was in love with Mercedes. And then Theresa gets involved by seducing Mitch one night when he'd had too much to drink."
"Uh oh", Starsky responded trying to prompt her to keep talking. Come on, keep talking.
"Theresa never got along with sis and me, so she planned it one night when she knew we would be coming home late. We walked in on them doing it." Meredith looked over at Starsky and scrunched up her nose, "Oh God, I'd never seen a naked man before in my life."
Starsky was chuckling along with Meredith picturing the scenario. No doubt about it, you've had enough wine tonight. "So did Mercedes ever think she was in love with Mitch?"
"She might have. I know daddy caught her and Mitch making out one night and got really upset. He told her she couldn't see Mitch again, we never could understand why. Until now, that is."
"So they just stopped seeing each other?" Starsky knew Mitch wouldn't have given up that easily.
"That was about the time Mitch left for the military. We wrote him, but he didn't come home much. And when he got out of the army he came home and became a cop and started seeing daddy again."
"But not you and your sister?"
"Well, in retrospect it makes sense. Daddy probably told Mitch to back off. I didn't think to ask him how long he's known.. Mercedes and I had moved into our own house by then, so we weren't around daddy's as much. Not until about five years ago when Mitch and daddy were working on the license program, then we started hanging out together again", she turned quickly and looked at Starsky, "but just as friends."
Starsky nodded, "Sorta like cousins, huh?" Don't worry, I don't think you're involved with Mitch; however, I'm not so sure about your sister. Keep talking…
"Yes, exactly. When we were little, daddy had told us Mitch lost his mother in a car accident the same time we did. I guess it created a common bond between us. I thought of Mitch as the big brother I never had," she laughed loudly, "and all along he really was my big brother!"
"What about Theresa, you think she still likes Mitch or that Mitch likes her?"
"You know, I never could figure them out. For a long time after we walked in on them that night, he wouldn't have anything to do with Theresa. But then they must have made up because they even dated a little bit."
"What'd you and Mercedes think of that?" Was there some jealousy going on?
"It upset Mercedes but all I thought was 'gross', we couldn't see what he saw in her."
She suddenly stretched out on the bench with her head in his lap, reached up, and pulled his head down for a kiss. "I've grown up a lot since then."
"Ya, but…"
"Shhhh", she got up and sat down in his lap, "less talking."
He smiled to himself and wrapped her in a tight hug. She let out a long appreciative moan as he started nuzzling her neck and earlobe. Guess the conversation is over for now. I need to ask Hutch what kind of wine we had tonight.