Murder in North Carolina Read online

  “You shouldn’t do that, Rebecca. I want you to stay in bed. You’re not going to disturb me, and I know you need your rest.” He took his seat at the head of the table with her to his right. “I don’t want you off in some other part of the house even if you’re mad at me.”

  “I’m not mad at you, Vernon.” She poured his coffee from the silver pot on the table. “I just went in there to read.”

  “Did you read anything interesting?”

  “No. As a matter of fact, I decided not to read when I got there.” She watched his face to see what his reaction would be. Then she added, “I started to make a list, but the pen on the desk was out of ink. So I searched the drawers, but didn’t find one.”

  His face told her nothing. He seemed not to care. Instead, he asked, “What kind of list were you going to make this time?”

  “I know you think it’s silly, but I wanted to see if I could come up with some good reasons why I can’t get in touch with Mindy.”

  The door into the kitchen opened, and the maid entered carrying a plate. She put it in front of Vernon. “Good morning, Mr. Armfield.”

  “Good morning, Wilma.”

  When he and Rebecca were alone again, he said, “I thought after last night, you weren’t going to worry.”

  “I can’t help but be concerned. I know you don’t agree, but I think something is wrong.”

  “You’re right. I don’t agree.”

  She looked down at her plate and played with her food.

  Vernon didn’t want to go over the logical reasons why she shouldn’t be so concerned. He took a deep breath as an idea came to him. “I’ll tell you what I’ll do, Rebecca. When I get to the office, I’ll ask Robyn if she’s seen Mindy. They live in the same condo complex, you know. Will that make you feel better?” He tried not to sound condescending. “In the meantime, you can keep checking on your own.”

  “You don’t mind asking Robyn?” Rebecca smiled. “I’m sure you’re only doing it for me, but I appreciate it. I know I sometimes make things hard for you.”

  He leaned close and squeezed her hand. “Don’t ever say that. You know I’d do anything in the world for you. You’re the most important thing in my life.”

  She smiled. “Vernon, may I ask you something?”

  He put his fork down and looked at her. “You sound so serious.”

  “It’s not, really. It just bothers me.”

  “Please ask me then.” He took her hand again. “I don’t want anything to bother you.”

  “When I was looking in the desk, I came across some nude pictures of Mindy and…”

  “Oh, damn. I forgot they were there. I meant to get rid of them. I’m sorry you saw them.”

  “Tell me about them.”

  “There’s not much to tell. They were sent to me from some man demanding money. Either I paid up, or he’d make them public. I brought them home a few weeks ago because I wanted to talk it over with Mindy when she came by.”

  “Did you?”

  “Yes. The night of the dinner party you gave for your friend, Erica. She was going away for an extended vacation or something.”

  “She was leaving for Europe the next week and is still away. I miss her.”

  He ignored the remark about Erica. “Do you remember when you came into the library and found Mindy and me with our heads together?”

  “I remember. I thought you were being rude and told you to come join the other guests.”

  “Well, actually, Mindy and I were discussing the pictures. When you came in, I stuffed them into the drawer. I meant to go back later and get rid of them, but with everything going on at the company, I forgot about them. I’m sorry you had to find them.”

  “Oh, Vernon. It doesn’t matter. I know how Mindy can be. What happened to the blackmailer?”

  “I told him to go ahead and make the pictures public. Some of them had already been in a magazine anyway. I informed him our attorney would be in touch if he continued to blackmail me. He cursed and hung up. I never heard from him again.”

  “You don’t suppose the pictures have any connection with Mindy’s disappearance, do you?”

  “I’m sure they don’t.

  She shrugged. “Maybe she’ll get in touch with me today and have a good explanation for her absence.”

  “As I said, I’ll ask Robyn if she’s seen Mindy. I’ll call you as soon as I get a chance.”

  “Thank you, Vernon.”

  “You are a wonderful wife, Rebecca.” He stood and leaned over her. “No matter what kinds of spats we have, don’t ever forget that.”

  Rebecca stood. “I’ll walk you to the door.”

  Chapter 4

  A little after nine o’clock, Vernon called. Rebecca was coming down the stairs after getting her morning shower and dressing for the day.

  “It’s Mr. Armfield, Ms. Rebecca,” Wilma said.

  “Thank you.” She took the phone and said, “Yes, Vernon. Does Robyn know anything?”

  “She said she hasn’t seen Mindy for a while, but she called Max.”

  “Had he seen her?” Rebecca couldn’t help thinking what an odd living arrangement Robyn and Max had. She worked as Vernon’s personal assistant at Davidson Industries, and Max stayed home. He was the only house husband Rebecca had ever known. The two of them seemed to thrive on the arrangement, though.

  Vernon went on, saying, “Max saw her at the complex swimming pool a few days ago, but he’s not sure exactly when. Robyn told him to ask around and let her know.”

  “Thank you. I know it’s silly, but it means a lot to me.”

  “I know, dear. That’s why I called. Now, please stop worrying. I know everything will be fine. Max will probably call back before the day is over telling us where Mindy is. If not, she’ll probably turn up soon with one of her usual excuses for being out of town.”

  “I hope you’re right.” She took a deep breath. “And I won’t worry.” What a lie.

  After Vernon hung up, Rebecca picked up the phone again and dialed Mindy’s number. She let it ring until the answering machine picked up.

  “Mindy, it’s Rebecca again. Are you there? If you are, please pick up.”

  When there was no action on the other end of the line, Rebecca went into the kitchen and said to Wilma, “I’m going to Mindy’s condo and see what I can find out.”

  A little after ten o’clock, Rebecca parked her BMW in front of her sister’s condominium and was somewhat relieved to see Mindy’s red sports car in her marked parking space.

  Maybe Vernon is right. I’m probably being silly about this. Wouldn’t be the first time Mindy has taken off without saying anything to me, but I believed her when she’d said she’d never do it again. Oh, I hope Vernon is right. Maybe she came home from somewhere this morning and was sleeping too deeply to hear the phone when I called.

  Rebecca debated whether or not to go inside. She didn’t want to disturb Mindy if she’d come home late and was now asleep. Yet she wouldn’t be satisfied unless she knew for sure her sister was home.

  “I’ve come this far,” she said aloud. “She can go back to sleep if I wake her up.”

  Automatically, Rebecca smoothed her hair. She had it pulled back and clipped with a gold and onyx clasp. She’d put on her makeup with care this morning, including the shadow and mascara that accented her blue-green eyes. She had on a Liz Claiborne knit dress with small yellow and red flowers on a black background. Her feet were in black leather thongs.

  Rebecca didn’t know why she was always so conscious of her appearance when she was with her sister. Maybe because no matter what Mindy wore, she always looked smashing. She had the physical beauty to get away with any kind of outfit. Whether she wore a dress from a famous designer or one off the rack at Wal-Mart, she always looked good.

  Rebecca, on the other hand, had to try twice as hard to be presentable. Once she finished primping and reached the door, she rang the bell.

  No answer.

  She rang again. Still no a
nswer.

  If she can’t hear the phone, she won’t hear the bell. Tired of waiting, Rebecca took the key Mindy had given her from her purse and turned it in the lock.

  “Mindy,” she called when she stepped inside.

  Silence greeted her.

  “Mindy,” she called a little louder. “Are you home?”

  When her sister didn’t answer, Rebecca closed the door behind her and glanced into the living room. Other than the clutter always in Mindy’s house, she didn’t see anything to indicate whether or not her sister was home.

  She went into the kitchen. Some dirty dishes sat in the sink, and a pot of cold tomato soup sat on the stove. The film on top of it made Rebecca wrinkle her nose, although she couldn’t help smiling. No matter how grown up and sophisticated Mindy might be, she still loved her Campbell’s Tomato Soup.

  On the other side of the kitchen, three cabinet doors stood open. The dishwasher door was also ajar. Rebecca tried the back door. It was locked.

  She made her way to her sister’s bedroom. “Mindy, are you in here? I’m coming in.”

  The bed was rumpled and unmade, but Mindy wasn’t there. The light on the answering machine on the nightstand flashed, indicating her sister had received four incoming calls.

  Feeling somewhat like a snoop, Rebecca reached over and punched the play button.

  “Hi, Mindy. It’s Rebecca. I left you a message yesterday, so this is number two. I’m concerned because I haven’t heard from you, and I need to talk with you. Please call me as soon as you can. Thanks. Love you.”

  Rebecca bit her lip. That was the second call I left on your recorder, Mindy. What happened to the first one? Did you just ignore it?

  A man’s voice came over the recorder. “Ms. Davidson, this is Rex at CVS. I promised to let you know your pictures are back. You can pick them up anytime.”

  The machine clicked over to the third call.

  “Mindy, this is Vernon. Rebecca is concerned about you. Please call her as soon as you get home. I don’t like for her to worry. Don’t forget.”

  Rebecca smiled. Vernon wanted to take care of her. He might have told her there was nothing to worry about concerning Mindy’s absence, but she could tell by the sharpness in his voice that he was concerned, too.

  A click signaled the fourth call was about to play. It was the one Rebecca had made this morning.

  She looked around the room once it finished and said aloud, “So you haven’t been here since yesterday, Mindy. Or if you have, you’re ignoring your calls.”

  Rebecca moved to the closet. It was so jumbled she couldn’t tell if any clothes were missing. Moving to the bathroom, she found towels hung over the shower door and makeup scattered about the dressing table. Mindy’s robe was flung across the commode. On impulse, Rebecca felt the towels. They were dry.

  Rebecca turned to leave the room, looking around as she went. Mindy’s purse hung on the knob behind the bedroom door. A Dooney & Burke bag Rebecca had admired the last time she’d been with her sister. Taking it off the doorknob, she pulled open the snap and looked inside.

  A sinking feeling came over her. Mindy’s wallet, car and house keys, makeup, checkbook, and the small, embroidered drawstring bag their mother had made for her were all inside amidst a clutter of paper, gum, and other debris. Rebecca took out the drawstring bag and looked inside. It contained a picture of their parents in a small gold frame.

  “This proves it,” she said to herself. “If Mindy’s missing, she didn’t leave of her own accord. She’d never leave this behind. I don’t care how silly Vernon says I am. I’m calling the police as soon as I get home.”

  Chapter 5

  After her call to the police, Rebecca still wasn’t satisfied. They were nice enough and promised to look into her sister’s disappearance, but when she told them Mindy had left before without telling anyone, they sounded skeptical. She didn’t think they would take the matter seriously.

  “Okay, if they’re going to drag their feet,” she muttered, staring at the phone, “I’m going to look for help elsewhere.”

  She picked up the telephone book and looked in the yellow pages for private detectives. She zeroed in on the Quimbley Detective Agency and wondered if it was the company Nick Quimbley owned. She’d heard somewhere he was a private detective and did quite well with it.

  Rebecca smiled. Of course, one would expect the captain of the high school football team to do well in his chosen profession. And remembering Nick Quimbley, I believe that being a private detective is just the right profession for him.

  She dialed the number.

  * * * *

  Nick Quimbley looked up when Gordon Jones paused in front of his desk.

  “You about through with the Martin case?” Gordon asked.

  Nick nodded. “Just got to finish the report. What’s up?”

  “I’m not sure. I just accepted a case for the firm and told the client you’d call her. I know you’re busy, but as you know, I’m knocking off early today. Tammy and I want to get to the beach before dark.”

  “And you want me to take over for you?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  “What’s the case?”

  “A woman named Rebecca Davidson Armfield called a while ago. She’s having a hard time finding her sister. Hasn’t been able to get in touch with her for a couple of days.”

  Nick’s stomach quickened at the mention of Rebecca’s name, but he tried not to let Gordon pick up on it. “Did she file a missing persons report?”

  “Yes, but she thinks the police have put it on the shelf and thought we might be able to help. She seemed concerned, but also said her sister’s done this sort of thing before. Seems she’ll disappear for several days or even a week or two, then show up as if nothing happened. Sometimes she’s been on a little vacation, and at other times, she’s been visiting friends. She likes the excitement of nobody knowing where she is. Only thing is that after the last time, she promised not to do it again. The Armfield woman believed her.”

  “What makes you think we ought to check on the sister’s absence?”

  “Mrs. Armfield says she has a bad feeling about her disappearance this time.”

  “Okay, Gordon.” Nick looked at his friend. “Tell me what you really have on your mind. It’s not like you to go on someone else’s feelings.”

  “I’d check it out myself,” Gordon said, ignoring Nick’s statement, “but like I said, I’m taking off early. If I show up late, Tammy will have a fit.”

  Having known Gordon for years, Nick could always tell when the man wasn’t telling him everything, so he prodded him again. “What are you not telling me, Gordon?”

  “I’ve been late several times this month, and Tammy gave me hell.”

  “You know I’m not talking about you and Tammy. You’re hiding something, Gordon. What connection do you have with this missing person?”

  “Okay.” Gordon lowered his voice. “Just between you and me?”

  “Just between us,” Nick assured him.

  “The missing sister is Mindy Davidson, one of the Davidson Industries clan. I’ve met her a few times. I don’t think she’d pull a stunt like this now.”

  “If she’s done it before, why not now?”

  “She told me she used to slip out of town without telling anyone because sometimes she did things with people she didn’t want her sister to know about. Later, she told me she couldn’t do it anymore because she’d promised her sister she wouldn’t. Said her sister got real sick one time when she disappeared. I don’t know what was wrong with her.”

  “The Armfield woman?” Nick avoided Gordon’s eyes and hoped his friend didn’t notice his wince. He wondered why it bothered him that Rebecca Davidson had been sick. After all, he hadn’t had any contact with her in years.

  “Yeah,” Gordon said. He hadn’t seemed to notice Nick’s reaction.

  “Just how well do you know Mindy Davidson?” Nick asked once he’d regained complete control of himself.


  “Not very well. I’ve seen her a few times when I’d go with the guys for a beer. She’s usually with someone. Sometimes other women, and sometimes a man.” Gordon took a deep breath. “There are rumors she likes to pick up men at bars, but I don’t know that for sure.”

  Nick nodded.

  Gordon lowered his voice even further. “I admit I would’ve liked to have known Mindy better. She’s a real looker. I didn’t pursue her, though. Tammy and I were getting serious about that time, and you know how jealous she is.”

  “I do know that.”

  Gordon looked at his watch. “I’ve got to run. You can put this aside until tomorrow if you like. I told her someone would get back to her soon. Like I said, I know you’re busy, but this might be an important case. I explained the terms to Mrs. Armfield, and she said she didn’t care how much it costs. She just wants her sister found. Said she’ll pay whatever retainer we ask and sign a contract.”

  Nick nodded. Gordon had told him all he was going to at the moment. His friend often told partial truths when it suited his needs, but Nick decided to drop it for now. “Okay, Gordon,” he said. “Leave the information. I’ll look into it. Enjoy the beach.”

  “Thanks, Nick. I owe you one.” He dropped the paper with his notes on Nick’s desk and headed for the door.

  As soon as Gordon was out of sight, Nick leaned back in his chair and thought of Rebecca Davidson. Though he hadn’t seen her in years, he’d seen her picture in the paper now and then. Often she was there in connection with some charity, and of course there had been a wedding picture. Though he’d noticed she’d put on a little weight, she was still a beautiful woman. Besides, he liked his women with a little meat on their bones. Nick wondered what kind of man Armfield was. He hoped her husband was nice, because he’d always liked Rebecca. When she’d been in his math class, she’d been popular yet a little reserved. She had been two years behind him in school, but she was so good in math they put her in more advanced classes. He’d wanted to ask her out on a date but never had. For one reason, he didn’t think she’d go out with him, and for another, his mother kept him from it.