Chapter 11

The big lie

"People will believe a big lie sooner than a little one and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it."

The delegation marching across the wet lawn reached the wooden gate that connected the estates of the Harpers and the Napiers half an hour before midnight. When she had first seen it Jessica had baptized it 'The Sleeping Beauty' door while Blake had called it the 'rabbit hole' and she had to admit his description was much more fitting than hers.

To her satisfaction Jessica had managed to assemble every person involved in the drama of the last couple of days. Thanks to a call at the local police station, she even located Thomas Chambers who was still using his late parents' house where he used to stay during his vacation.

Kate hadn't been eager to allow him back into her house, but after everything she had told Jessica and Preston earlier there was no way she could refuse Jessica's request to have him present. Chambers himself was rather tense as followed Kate, Jessica, and Preston to Blake's house where Blake and Melanie were waiting for them on the terrace. The library behind them was flooded with light and spread a surreal glow around Blake and his mistress.

"Jessica!" Blake greeted her, but this time he didn't favor her with one of his suave smiles. Melanie didn't smile either. Her lips were a very thin line and she avoided looking at any of the arriving guests. "May I ask, what is going here?" Blakes' eyes moved disapprovingly from Preston to Thomas Chambers.

"Let's go inside," Jessica suggested. "If I'm not mistaken, Aidan Harper will arrive very soon as well."

"He's already here," Blake informed her. "Be my guest," with a grand gesture he invited the small group inside, where Aidan was indeed waiting for them. He was nervously shifting from one foot onto the other. Jessica noticed how tired he looked as he gave Kate a tight hug.

"It's your party, Jessica," Blake said, as he sank on the swivel chair behind his desk without inviting anyone else to sit down. "The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we all can go to bed!"

"Why do I have my doubts that any of us will have a peaceful sleep after this?" Chambers asked, irony clouding his voice.

"What is this all about?" Aidan asked.

"First of all, let me thank you for coming here tonight. I know the day wasn't easy for any of you." Jessica's eyes came to rest on Kate. "For some of us, it was, of course, harder and I'm sorry I have to do this, but to be honest, I saw no other way for all of you to come clean with each other."

"You must be joking," Blake said, amused. "I think we all know perfectly well where we stand with each other." The remark earned him a scoff from Preston, but Blake ignored him.

"Is that so?" Jessica asked. "When I came here I found a terribly nebulous web of lies, half-truths, and to my regret, three dead people."

"Three?" Melanie looked puzzled.

"Three", Jessica confirmed and listed, "Deidra Chambers, Carter McEntyre, and Doreen Napier."

"This is ridiculous!" Aidan surged up, but Kate placed her hand on his shoulder and shook her head. "Just let her explain," she whispered. Obviously confused by Kate's urging Aidan gave in and nodded.

"Perhaps none of this would have happened, if about eleven years ago, Deidra Chambers had listened to her big brother who didn't want her to join a birthday party for Aidan and Aaron Harper," Jessica started. "But she didn't and as a result she never really left any of you." She turned to Kate, "Kate, won't you tell us, what happened the night Deidra died?"

All eyes came to rest on Kate, but it was Chambers' piercing gaze that finally led Kate to talk, "The truth is, I don't know what happened - at least not for sure. All I know is that Deidra is dead, because I did help to bury her."

Chambers was aghast. "What do you mean by that?"

It was Aidan who continued talking, "She means she wasn't present when Deidra died. That night Kate never was on the sailboat. She was home, because she and Aaron had a big fight the same day. Kate didn't want to join the party, unless Deidra wouldn't be there. But Aaron didn't think she was serious and called her bluff. When he realized Kate meant what she said, he became angry. The whole evening was a disaster. Aaron was pissed off, Deidra realized Aaron had never been really interested in her and became drunk. A storm was brewing up and we decided to go back. Deidra became nasty and started a fight with Aaron. She hit him, threw a bottle at him, and when she started to push him, he fought her off. She slipped, fell, hit her head on the rail, and was dead."

"They panicked and came to see me," Kate continued. "Together we decided to bury her somewhere where no one would look for her and claimed she drowned during the storm. That way no one would find out about her head injuries."

"Why didn't you call the police?" Chambers shouted in disbelief. "If it was an accident..."

"It was an accident!" Aidan yelled. "Your sister was too drunk to know what she was doing. We couldn't calm her down. The planks were wet from the rain; she slipped after Aaron had pushed her. She hit her temple on the rail. She died instantly."

"But surely an autopsy could have proven the cause of death," Preston suggested.

"I know that today... back then Aaron and I were in a state of panic. We didn't know what to do…. It was Kate who did the thinking that night."

"And I helped them," Kate said. "Blake and my mother weren't at home and so I came up with the idea of burying Deidra in our garden. Somehow it seemed more dignified than disposing her like garbage or dumping her in the sea. That way she was gone forever - or at least that's what I hoped."

A profound silence filled the room. Chambers sank on the armchair of the couch, his mouth covered with a shaking hand. Unwittingly Blake's eyes wandered to the framed photo of Aaron, his brother and Kate. Jessica took the photo into her hands and gave it to Kate.

"But somehow Blake found out what you did and used it against you, didn't he? That's why he placed the photo with the three of you sitting in the very same tree under which Deidra was buried all over your houses. To remind you he knew your secret."

Kate nodded and ran her thumb over Aaron's young, smiling face. "A few years later, my mother wanted to rearrange the garden. One of her ideas was to cut down the maple tree under which Deidra is buried and so I had to tell her the truth. Unfortunately she also told Blake who found great pleasure of holding this sword over our heads - especially after Aaron took over the company."

"And he told Carter?" Preston asked, eyeing Blake in the corner of his eyes.

"Yes," Aidan let out a sigh. "And together they made it impossible for us to rebuild the company the way we wanted it. Harper Industries has been losing money for years and that needed to stop, but with Blake and Carter blackmailing us, it was impossible. It was like a stranglehold."

"Carter was embezzling, wasn't he?" Preston asked.

"And that's the reason Carter had to die?" Chambers assumed.

"Actually, no," Jessica interfered. "Of course, it's a perfect motive, but," she turned to Blake, "I think we all agree that Blake was the bigger threat. Especially when he knew about the money Carter embezzled and didn't do anything about it. Perhaps he kept a blind eye because he got his share of the pie. After all you'd been broken for years, after Preston ruined you over a decade ago."

Blake didn't say anything. His face was a mask made of stone.

"So Napier's alive because of lack of opportunity?" Chambers smirked.

Jessica shook her head. "No. Aidan, I think it would be best, if you called your brother. I'm sure Aaron could be of help to explain what happened the night Carter died."

Again everyone was aghast. "Aaron is dead!" Kate cried. "Thomas himself told me so and Aidan confirmed it over the phone just a few hours ago!"

"He may say so, but Aidan is lying," Jessica said. "Just as Mr. Chambers suspected, the prison break and Aaron's supposed death were a scheme. I doubt you killed anyone in the process. Who is the body in the car?" Jessicas' eyes lay on Aidan.

"Of course, we didn't kill anyone. He was a homeless person."

"I don't believe that!" Kate wiped a tear from her cheek. "Aidan, tell me, that's wrong!" Kate grabbed the collar of his jacket and shook him, but Aidan shook his head. "I'm sorry, Kate."

"Me too." Unnoticed by everyone, the door to the terrace had opened and a man had stepped inside. Aaron Harper, dressed all in black, pulled a cap from his head. A cry escaped Kate's throat and for a few moments she was paralyzed. Then she stormed up to him and fell into his embrace.

"You're alive?" Melanie and Blake asked in unison as they watched the scene with disbelief.

"Of course," Chambers said dryly. "I knew it."

"I'm sorry, Darling. But we had no choice. I knew you couldn't grow through with it unless you really believed I was dead," Aaron said and kissed Kate.

"Sometimes I really hate you!" she whispered, as more tears ran down her cheek.

"I think we haven't met yet." Preston stretched out his hand and Aaron took it without letting go of Kate. "I'm pleased to meet you, Sir. Kate's told me you've been of big help for her."

"I've done my best."

"Oh, please!" Blake blurted out in disgust. "I'm sure the two of you will have enough time to exchange prison anecdotes once Mrs. Fletcher is done with her little charade."

"Indeed," Melanie agreed, but her voice sounded less convinced. She moved away from Blake, visibly shaken by the events unfolding. "You can't prove Blake was involved in any of this! I refuse to believe that!"

"Maybe we should talk about the night Carter died," Jessica moved over to the ugly rug over which Melanie stumbled the day before. She used her foot to uncover the dark spot. "I doubt this is blood," Jessica said, "But when I saw the spot, it got me thinking. What if we had got it all wrong? I had realized quite early that Kate's story about a burglar who pushed Carter over the balcony was completely made up. It didn't make any sense. It was a diversion, a big smokescreen to conceal the truth, because the murder didn't happen in Kate and Aaron's house, but for some reason they wanted it to look like it did. I'm sure it happened right here in this very room." She walked over to Blake's desk and took the letter opener into her hand. "And this is the murder weapon. No one found it, because the police never searched this house."

"Wait a second...," Chambers rose. "Are you telling me, that we all were wrong the whole time?"

"Yes. You see, in a way, Kate was successful. Her story worked, because the way she, Aidan, and Aaron staged the scene after Carter's death fooled everyone. Just like eleven years ago, the big lie had worked out perfectly - until you came along. I'm pretty sure Aaron wouldn't have gone to prison at all, if he had fought in court, but since you blackmailed him and with Blake's knowledge about Deidra, Aaron had no choice but to go to jail - until he found a way to escape and start a new life."

Chambers turned to Kate, Aaron and Aidan. "So, none of you killed McEntyre? Damn, why didn't you tell me the truth?"

"Because you didn't listen," Kate said bitterly. "You never do, unless you hear what you want to hear."

"Go on, Mrs. Fletcher," Aaron said. "I'm sure you'll sum up the events of the night way better than we ever could."

"You bet she will," Preston quipped and for a second Jessica was irritated, but then she saw his half smile and continued. "I'm pretty sure your description of the first part of the evening was correct. The dinner party was a not a success. Carter and Aaron had a fight and Blake overheard it. Carter left the house. Alive. He went over to Blake's where a struggle happened - my guess is that Doreen became involved and in a moment of rage she stabbed Carter. Am I right?" Jessica asked Blake, but he didn't react. Melanie shook her head.

"My mother wasn't well that evening," Kate started in a low voice. "She suffered from the heat and was upset by the bad mood over dinner. She had been unbalanced for weeks and after Aaron left the house to take a walk, I came here to see how she was. I found her in the hallway where she was overhearing Carter and Blake. They were plotting against Aaron. I took her upstairs and came down here. I wanted to reason with them, but they were just laughing at me. Carter was extremely nasty and at one point I lost my temper and slapped him. He hit me back and that's when my mother came in. She pushed him from behind. He hit his head on Blake's desk and before he got back to his feet, she grabbed the letter opener and stabbed him. It went all so quick. Suddenly his blood was everywhere… When she realized what she did, she freaked out completely. Blake tried to calm her down, but she was out of control."

"Why didn't you call the police?" Jessica asked.

"I didn't want my mother to be put through all this... God knows what they had done to her, if she had confessed the killing. Living with Blake had punished her enough. Blake didn't want to risk a scandal either. If the police found out what happened, they would sooner or later start to dig into the company and its finances. So, I called Aidan and he helped me to clean up the mess and together we took Carter's body into our house where he staged the fall over the balcony. Aaron came home in the early morning hours, but before we could talk it out, Chambers was there and started his wild goose chase. It could have all worked out so well, but that hot shot agent ruined it all."

"Don't blame me for your lies!"

"You got what you wanted. Are you happy now?" Kate snapped back. "You can dig up Deidra's bones and live happily ever after. God knows, I did for her what I could, which was more than she deserved. But making other people miserable for your own gain must run in the family!"

"Stop it!" Jessica stepped right between Kate and Chambers. "You can talk this out later."

Blake rose from his chair. "I think we're done here. I'm fed up with listening to each and every one of you."

"I can easily believe that," Preston said and walked over to Blake. "Your modus operandi hasn't changed much, has it? You still think life is game of chess that you can control. But I think your luck has run out, Blake!"

Blake laughed bitterly. "Just because you brought in a new queen doesn't mean I'm checkmated. All of this is circumstantial evidence. All Mrs. Fletcher has are the statements of three people who have been liars for over a decade! No one will believe them!"

"We can prove you and Carter have been embezzling money for years," Aidan said. "The last couple of months I've talked to accountants and lawyers and we can make it stick. Do you think I'd let my brother rot in prison for longer than necessary unless I had a good reason for it? It bought us time, time we needed to prepare our exit."

"The Japan deal?" Jessica asked.

"Exactly," Aidan confirmed. "Once we were through with cleaning the house, we wanted to sell the company and leave this godforsaken place."

"You would always be on the run," Chambers argued.

"But with a fortune in our bag," Aaron said. "With money and friends everything is possible. Blake's time has run out, he just doesn't know it yet."

"I might be wrong," Jessica said, "But I have the feeling that the reason Kate sought out Preston after his shooting was no coincidence either. It just seems a little too fitting that he entered the scene right after Aaron was convicted and Doreen had died. Am I wrong, Kate?"

"I admit it was win-win situation for all of us... with Preston around I could keep Blake at bay. He was scared to end up with a bullet in his head, as long as Preston was here. But that wasn't the only reason I asked Preston to move in here. After my mother had committed suicide and Aaron was gone I wanted someone around I could trust. Aidan was busy and Preston needed an environment that convinced the judges to extend his parole even after his publishing company went down in flames, after Ross McKay had gone to prison."

Preston looked over to Jessica. "I always knew Kate wasn't acting out of pure altruism, but that didn't matter. I even admit the idea of putting a bullet through Blake's head was tempting, but as you can all see, I didn't do it. Blake doesn't believe it, but people can change."

"I want you all to leave my house," Blake barked. "All of you."

"Not until we've spoken about your wife. You lied about her illness. I know the contents of her medical file and Doreen never suffered from Alzheimer's. I can't prove it, but my guess is that after Doreen had killed Carter you kept her like a prisoner in the house. You possibly made sure, she was highly medicated to bring her to heel, but that didn't always work out, did it?" She pointed at the scar on his hand. "She stabbed you, using the same weapon she had used to kill Carter and then you decided to change your plan... you knew she was unstable and gave her access to pills and alcohol, hoping that one day, the problem would solve itself - as it did. Doreen's death solved a lot of problems for you - take your relationship with Miss Myers, for instance."

"I didn't know anything about it!" Melanie yelled. "I have nothing to do with Doreen's death."

"I never thought you had, but you knew Blake was married and I don't think you were sorry when Doreen was gone and your time as second in line was over."

Melanie swallowed, but didn't say anything. She turned on her heels and stormed out of the room.

Blake, who hadn't tried to stop Melanie, clenched his teeth, "I'm done listening to all of you."

Jessica turned to Aidan, "Are you sure you can make the accusations against Blake for embezzling stick?"

Aidan nodded, "Absolutely. I'm going to hand it over to the authorities as soon as possible. My guess he will end up like Al Capone."

"Dream you!"

"I think I will make the one or the other call to make sure Mr. Napier will get what he deserves," Chambers said.

"That's very considerate," Aaron said sourly. "But I think we prefer to get this done without your help."

"I agree," Kate said and took Aaron's hand. "Let's go home. I'm sick of this place." She pulled Aaron with her, but stopped dead when she almost ran into Thomas Chambers. "What else do you want?" she asked when we wouldn't move out of her way.

"Listen, I want you to know... I believe you. Everything you said... I can't really understand it, at least not yet, but I believe you."

"That's a first."

"I'm sorry."

"So are we," Aaron took Chamber's hand and shook it.

After Melanie Chambers was the second person to leave the library. The room emptied one by one and soon Blake was alone. Five minutes later a shot echoed through the empty house and the next morning, the housekeeper found the body of Blake Napier. He sat in his swivel chair, the revolver still in his hand, and a trace of clotted blood besmirched his face and neck.

~~tbc~~