Chapter 3

Into the lions' den

"You don't go searching for bones in a lion's den." Somali proverb

Jessica and Preston's journey ended as luxuriously as it had begun. A stretch limousine that had waited at the airport took them to the large and secluded estate of Katherine Harper and her imprisoned husband Aaron.

"There we are," Preston said, as he gallantly helped her out of the car. "Welcome to my new world."

It was late afternoon and despite the sun shining brightly the air was a bit chilly. Jessica loosely wrapped her scarf around her neck and took the arm Preston offered her.

"Oh my…," Jessica said, as they strolled towards the opulent main entrance that was flanked by two lions. "Is it me or does it look a bit like your house in New Holvang?"

"Perhaps. The mansion has been in the family for two generations now. I'll show you around later," Preston promised, as they entered the grand-sized foyer. Jessica looked around, admiring the tasteful interior. The Harper family was definitely made of money. The kind of money that, at least in her experience, was exactly what caused malevolence and intrigue. It was the reason she loved and cherished the simpleness of her own New England home. It was free of malice and filled with loving memories of a good marriage.

Her thoughts got interrupted by the sound of voices and high heels hitting the pale marble floor. Two women, deeply lost in their conversation, came down a hallway that led straight towards Jessica and Preston. Jessica recognized them both from the photographs Preston had shown her earlier. One was Preston's daughter Katherine and the other one was her assistant Melanie Myers. The looks of the women couldn't be more contrary. Kate was black haired and tall, dressed in a white pantsuit while Melanie was blond, at least three inches smaller than Kate and she wore black.

"What should I tell them? They've called twice today...," Melanie said, agitated.

"Tell them to wait until the next board meeting. There's no need for them to make such a fuss!" Kate answered. "Aidan's trip to Japan is in best possible interest of Harper Industries. He will be back tomorrow."

"But they want to know what's going on..."

Kate cut her off, "You heard me. I won't be bullied into unnecessary explanations by some bald, old men who have no actual occupation other than ordering others around! Even Blake can wait until we're ready to tell the others."

Visibly bothered, Melanie pressed her lips together and nodded. Jessica and Preston exchanged a look, then Preston interrupted the women.

"Katherine!"

Kate's head shot around and a quick smile formed around her lips when she saw Jessica and Preston.

"You're back! No one told me!"

"We just arrived."

She quickly crossed the foyer and greeted Jessica with a firm hand shake and a bright smile.

"You must be Mrs Fletcher! I hope you had a nice trip."

"It certainly was very comfortable," Jessica said with a smile, mustering Kate as unobtrusively as possible. She was indeed a beauty with a pair of clear green eyes that she definitely inherited from her father.

"May I introduce you to my secretary Miss Myers?" After a short hesitation Melanie came forward and greeted Jessica with a nod.

"Mrs Fletcher is a friend of my father's and will stay with us for... a while," Kate explained. "Would you be so kind to show Mrs Fletcher to her room, Melanie?"

"Of course," Melanie said with a forced smile.

"What about some tea?" Kate asked

"I'd love to, but I need freshen up a bit first," Jessica said.

"Of course! Take all the time you need. I'll organize the tea."

Jessica followed Melanie upstairs. In the corner of her eye she saw Preston and Kate digging their heads together, but all she could overhear from their conversation was Kate's hushed question, "Do you think this is a good idea?"

"I am sure," Preston answered just as quietly. "If someone can find out what happened to Carter, it's her."

Half an hour later Jessica, Preston, and Kate were sitting in a living room whose large windows offered a splendid view over a ridge of dunes and the beach.

"I hope you enjoy your room, Mrs Fletcher," Kate said, as she handed her a cup of tea. "I made sure you got the one with the best view over the beach. The sunrises here can be spectacular."

Jessica smiled, "Oh, the room is just wonderful! And please, call me Jessica."

"Thank you... Jessica. I'm Kate and I'm really not sure how to thank you for being here." The young woman sank into her armchair, her hands folded over her knees. "This is a very difficult time for my husband and me."

"Preston told me about it," Jessica said, her voice filled with compassion. "I'm actually not sure I can help you. I doubt there's an angle the police and court haven't considered during their investigation."

"The point is," Preston objected, "The police was only too happy to arrest Aaron. In my opinion they haven't considered every aspect of the case."

Jessica contemplated Preston's statement and gave a Kate a small smile. "Why don't we start with your version of the events the night Mr McIntyre died. Tell me what happened and what you saw."

Kate sighed, "I've told my version of events so often that I must sound like a broken record..."

"It's the only way, Kate. So far Jess only knows the official records and what was written in the papers," Preston said.

Kate sighed, "I know, I know... I'm just very tired of telling my story. You can't imagine how often the police tried to twist every word I said."

"Did you testify in court?" Jessica asked. She knew Kate didn't, but she wanted to hear what Kate had to say about the matter.

"No, I didn't. Our lawyers came to the conclusion that me testifying wouldn't help Aaron's defense and since I'm his wife no one could force me to. I only saw how Carter fell over the banister of the balcony, but not who pushed him. All I saw was a shadow. It could have been anyone. I could have lied, about it all, of course, but it didn't seem wise..." She shrugged and Jessica contemplated Kate's answer for a while. Finally she said, "Please, tell me exactly what you remember from the night."

Kate drew a deep breath and rose. With her arms crossed over her chest she strolled to the big panorama window and looked outside.

"It was the evening of Aaron and Aidan's birthday. We had a small dinner party here that wasn't a big success even before the murder happened. It was hot and sticky and everybody seemed to be on edge. The mood was bad and almost everyone left before midnight."

"But Carter stayed?"

Kate nodded, "Yes, Carter and Melanie stayed. Everyone else was gone quickly - my mother Doreen and her husband Blake live right next to us. Aidan, my brother-in-law, has a beach house about ten minutes from here. Carter stayed because he wanted to talk to Aaron about one of his business deals, but Aaron refused to speak to him... they had already argued about the same matter before and Aaron saw no point in discussing it again."

"And Melanie?"

"We had a cup of coffee in the kitchen and then we heard the men shouting at each other and then I heard Aaron leaving the house. He went for a walk at the beach and, stubborn as he was, Carter decided to wait for Aaron to come back. I told him to leave, but he refused. The whole thing annoyed me and so I went for a swim in the pool. Melanie left the house when I went upstairs to change."

"Is that a habit of yours? Swimming in the middle of the night?" Jessica asked curiously.

Irritated Kate turned around, "I always go for a swim when I need to relax. It doesn't matter what time of day it is. I used to be a professional, you know. Water is my true home."

Preston cleared his throat, "The police asked the same question. At the beginning they thought the killer wanted to make sure that Kate saw the murder, but the theory was dismissed after the autopsy revealed the cause for Carter's death wasn't the fall."

Jessica had read the report and knew that the cause of Carter McIntyre's death had been a stab wound to the chest. The body also showed multiple signs of violation like a broken rib and a blunt force trauma to the head. The coroner had disclosed that Carter had been involved in a fight before he died and the police had found proof for it in Aaron Harper's private study.

Pensively Jessica rose and went to Kate. "What is your opinion? Do you think the killer wanted to make sure you saw the body falling?"

Kate shrugged, "I wouldn't know why... It doesn't make a lot of sense when you think about it."

Jessica could only agree with Kate's reasoning, "Yes, that's true. It doesn't add up."

"The police didn't know what to make of it either and decided to ask questions they could get answers for. For example, if Carter had any enemies."

"Was your husband an enemy of Carter?" Jessica asked.

"No. They did argue from time to time, but it always was strictly business and not personal. Carter was a very powerful man, he had many enemies, but Aaron wasn't one of them - and neither were the others who were present at the party."

Jessica remembered something she had read in the file Preston had given to her in the plane. "There had been a theory that a stranger had sneaked into the house to kill Carter, but obviously the police didn't find it very likely, even though the security system was turned off due to a malfunction."

Kate chuckled, "I admit I found the theory more likely than the investigating officers who were only interested in doing what they had been told by some hot shot FBI agent who has been leading his own private vendetta against my family for as long as I've known him. In the end my husband paid the price for it. You see Jessica, I'm sure my husband didn't do it and I have no idea why anyone else would hate Carter enough to kill him. I know the idea that someone broke in to kill Carter is a long shot, but what did Sherlock Holmes used to say? 'When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.'"

In the corner of her eye Jessica noticed how Preston flinched at the mentioning of Sherlock Holmes and for a second she was reminded of a faceless body in a Sherlock Holmes costume floating in a swimming pool. Forcing herself back to reality Jessica said, "Well, it sounds indeed a little far fetched... I mean that certain someone, let's call him Mr X, had to know the house very well, and much more important he had to know Mr McIntyre wouldn't leave after the party was over. Which leads again back to the guests that were present that evening."

Jessica waited for Kate's response, but she never got one, because another face she only knew from a photograph entered the room. Aidan Harper, black-haired, tall, and very attractive, came in.

"Hello everybody," he said with a smile that was exclusively meant for Kate.

"Aidan!" the young woman said, as he kissed her cheek. "I didn't expect you before tomorrow! How was Japan?"

"It was successful. Everything went according to plan and so I took an early flight."

Kate nodded impressed. "I'm glad to hear it. Let me introduce you to our guest. Jessica Fletcher, this is my brother-in-law Aidan Harper."

They shook hands and Aidan asked, "Are you a friend of Kate's?"

"As a matter of fact..."

"She's a friend of mine," Preston said quickly, cutting of any explanation Jessica wanted to give.

"How nice. Your first trip to the Hamptons?" Aidan asked friendly.

"No," Jessica answered. "But it's been a while."

"So, enjoy your stay then." Turning back to Kate Aidan said, "Could you spare me a moment? We need to talk about the Japan deal."

Kate nodded, "Of course. Let's go to the den."

"Excuse us, please."

"Of course," Jessica said and watched Aidan and Kate leaving the room. She noticed how Aidan placed his hand onto Kate's back and turned to Preston, who was now leaning against the window frame.

"Well, what do you think?" he asked, his eyes curiously resting on her.

"About what? The murder of Mr McIntyre or the fact that Aidan Harper is in love with your daughter?"

"Both, as a matter of fact."

"The first is more complicated than I thought and the latter adds some unforeseen pieces to the puzzle."

"That's what I thought," Preston said.

"Does Kate know about Aidan's feelings for her?"

"I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing going on between them other than friendship. So, if Aidan framed his brother for murder because he's in love with his wife, it hasn't got him very far."

"No...," she mused.

"So, do you want me to show you around?" Preston asked, changing the subject. "It's a beautiful estate."

"Yes, why not?" She asked. "I could use a walk and some fresh air."

~tbc~