Tri-Heart Mysteries

"Maybe you’d prefer my partner to kill your wife and kids, too. Or would you rather we go join them?"

 

"Leave my family alone!" Lee looked at his assailant a moment before deciding to go along. "Fine, get in. I’ll drive. But if so much as one hair on my kids head is damaged, I will kill you, and your partner."

As they got in the car the man picked up Lee’s things. "Nice. If it weren’t for you and your friends, I’d be able to afford stuff like this. Now take Highway 33 south."

Lee started the car and pulled back onto the road and made a U-turn. "You know you won’t get away with this don’t you? We stopped you before, and we will stop you again. Now who’s your partner, and what have you done with my family."

"All in good time. Now slow down. We both know how dangerous these curves are, and if we don’t arrive, in one piece, well let’s just say my partner isn’t exactly the patient sort. If you know what I mean."

As Lee took the next corner he saw headlights coming straight at them. As he swerved to avoid the oncoming car, it rammed his in the side, pushing him off the road. As Lee’s car plunged over the cliff, a shot rang out. The other car stopped and a figure got out and looked down. When Lee’s car exploded, the figure got back in its car and drove away. Near the wreckage of Lee’s car a figured got up and stumbled away.

Chapter 1

As Police Chief Tom Simon and Lieutenant Sean Patrick arrived at the crash site one officer was taping off the area as another took photos.

"Lieutenant, doesn’t this car look familiar to you? I know I’ve seen it recently."

"Unfortunately it does Chief. If I’m not mistaken, this car belongs to the Montgomerys."

"Which one? They must have half a dozen cars out at the ranch."

"Actually most of their vehicles are trucks. I think that one there belongs to one of the women."

They looked at the burned out wreck of a car and the charred corpse inside it, hands hanging out one side and feet the other. Tom shook his head. "Well, it doesn’t look like a woman. Would either of the Mrs. Montgomerys loan her car to anyone? One of the hands maybe?"

As the coroner loaded the corpse for transfer, Sean shook his head. "Well Vivian sure wouldn’t. She threw a fit if anyone even touched her precious car, with the exception of Lee. After all, he paid for it. But the only time he would drive it is when it needed a tune up. And then he only drove it to and from the mechanics. As for his mom’s car, well I don’t think anyone would have used it but Lee or Chris, but you never know. I don’t think that car is hers though. She never liked red cars. Thought she’d get a ticket if she drove one."

The two policemen walked down to Richard Howard III, the coroner and town Doctor. "Doc Jr. what have you got for us. Any news at this time would sure be a help." Tom asked while Sean checked out the scene.

"First off, positive identification will be difficult, and I’m going to have to do a full autopsy before I can give you an exact cause of death."

"Well what do you know," asked Tom exasperatedly.
Doc Jr. looked at his notes. "The corpse is white, male, late 20’s early 30’s. The body was badly burned. Dental records may not help because something shattered part of the jaw. I can’t be certain yet, but it looks like the bullet wound as well as the explosion which must have happened at approximately the same time. 

The bullet’s trajectory is going to be tough because we don’t know where the car was and the bullet went out the passenger’s window, which for some reason was open. For all I know he shot himself."

"Can you tell if he was driving at least?" Tom Asked.
Doc Jr. shook his head. "No seat belt. The car rolled so many times it’s hard to tell where the body was when it started. There is one piece of good news though. They found a wallet."

"On the body?" Tom asked hopefully.

"Nope, under it. Sorry. I’ll get started on the autopsy right away." Doc Jr. went back up to his car and drove away.

"Sean, you got that wallet bagged yet?"

"Yes. We’ve also got a watch and wedding ring. They look like Lee’s." Sean said sadly. "The wallet is definitely his. License, credit cards, pictures of the family, all there, nicely protected by the cowhide."

"How about a gun? Did anybody find one?"

"No, but there is a lot of ground to cover. If the gun was one of his, it could have fallen out anywhere between the highway and the car."

"Are you saying it might not have been his gun, that he was murdered?"

"That does seem more likely. I mean, how times have you heard of somebody committing suicide by shooting himself while driving off a cliff? It seems a little like overkill.

"Sean, do you want to inform the family or would you rather I did it?"

"I’d rather wait for the coroner’s report, but…"

"That could take days."

"I know. That’s why I’m going to go over to the Tri-Heart as soon as I finish up here. It shouldn’t take more than an hour or so, and maybe I’ll know something more by then."

"That’s fine. Hope you have a good flashlight." Tom waved as he headed to his car. "If you need me, you know where to find me."

Chapter 2

Christine was at the main house waiting for her brother to return when the doorbell rang. When she answered the door she was astonished to see who was on the other side. "Sean, what a surprise! Nobody mentioned that you’d be stopping by tonight. Uh, if you’re looking for Lee he’s not back from the mechanic’s yet."

"The mechanic’s?"

"Yes, Vivian’s car was being tuned up. He should be back soon though."

"Chris, I’m sorry, but this isn’t a social call. Can I come in?" Sean asked hesitantly.

"Sean, what is it? Has something happened?"

"Why don’t you let the man in Christine. I’m sure this conversation would be better off held indoors." Vivian said sarcastically as she entered the hallway.

"Oh yes, of course. Why don’t you come in." Christine said as she opened the door wider.

Vivian took Sean by the arm and led him into the living room. "So darling, what is it that brings you all that way out here?"

"He was just about to tell me that before you interrupted." Christine said as she followed them into the room.

"Before I interrupted, as you put it, he was standing on the porch waiting to be let in. If I hadn’t come by, he’d still be standing there. Now why don’t we all sit down and see what Sean has to say." Vivian said as she sat down, hands waving over to the other chairs in the room.

"Sean, you said something about official business. What’s up? Has someone called to complain about Casey getting out again and bothering their mares? I swear, sometimes I almost wish Lee would just geld that horse." Casey said, ignoring her sister-in-law.

"I wish this was about Casey, but most people hereabouts are getting used to having a foal or two by him each season. It saves them a bundle on stud fees. What I have to tell you… it’s… I really wish I didn’t have to tell you this, but…"

"Lee is dead, isn’t he?" Vivian asked while studying her nails.

"Vivian! How could you? Christine asked aghast that her sister-in-law could think such a thing. Lee was not dead. She would know if something had happened to him, wouldn’t she?

"Well, I’m right aren’t I?" Vivian snapped back. "After all, the only reason a cop would come by at this time of night would be to tell us that someone is dead. You should certainly know that by now. If it was anything else he would have called."

"Sean isn’t just a cop, he’s a friend too. Lee is fine." Christine told Vivian. "Tell her that he is all right Sean."

"I’m sorry Christine, but Vivian is right. Lee died tonight."

Christine sank to the sofa. "What happened?"

"All I know for sure is that Vivian’s car went off the road a few miles south off town."

"South of town? The mechanic is here in town. He wouldn’t have had any reason to go to Ojai. Did he fall asleep on his way back or what? I mean, I know he was upset because it was the anniversary of the day my dad was killed by that monster Lawrence DiMera, but that shouldn’t have made him drive off the road."

"We won’t know for sure what happened until there has been a full investigation, but it looks like he was driving south, instead of towards the ranch when he went off the road. We should have more information for you in a couple of days. And no, I don’t think your father’s death five years ago had anything to do with this."

"So," Vivian said studying her nails, "is this where we go with you to identify the body?"

"No, actually you don’t have to come identify the body. I can do that as easily as you can since I knew him so well. Besides, there really isn’t much left to identify. I did however bring these by for you to identify." Sean said as he placed two plastic bags with a slightly charred wallet, ring and watch in them on the coffee table between the two women. Christine studied them closely while Vivian just gave them a glance.

"Well they’re his alright." Vivian said in a bored tone as she got up to leave the room. "If that’s all, I think I’ll be going to bed now."

"I’m sorry. I don’t know why she acts like that." Christine said after Vivian left the room.

"That’s ok. Everyone reacts differently to news like this." Sean nodded to the items he had placed on the table. "Do you recognize them?"

"Yes, I do. They belonged to Lee." Christine said as she looked back at the bags. "The kids made the wallet for him for Christmas. And that looks like the watch I gave him. The ring would have an inscription…"

"Yes, I know. I for it checked earlier." Sean paused to look at Christine then took a deep breath. "Chris, I need to ask you some questions."

"Uh, sure. What do you need to know."

"Well for one thing, was Vivian here on the ranch all day or did she go anywhere?"

"Hmm, well she was here when I got back from the work, and she’s been here all evening, but I wouldn’t know about earlier in the day. But since Lee took her car to the shop for a tune-up, I doubt Vivian went anywhere. She won’t drive anything but her own car, and she would never get in a car with one of the hands. She thinks they’re all too dirty and ill-mannered."

"What time did you get back from the library?"

"A little after five, why? What does all this have to do with Lee having an accident?"

"There’s a possibility that it wasn’t an accident. So we have to get a picture of what his last days were like. What he did, who he saw, who might have wanted to see him dead."

Christine jumped up. "Great, now you think one of us is actually capable of murder! After all we’ve been through together, how can you think one of us could kill Lee? We love… loved him!"

"I know you loved your brother, and would never hurt him. Vivian on the other hand, I’m not sure about. But no, I don’t really think she killed him."

"I’m sorry. I guess I’m just tired."

"And upset. I know. Tell you what, we can wait until tomorrow to have this conversation. Are you staying here tonight, or do you want a ride back to the cottage? It’s on my way."

"No thank you. I think I’d rather just walk, besides I want to check on the kids before I go home. It’s really not a problem. Those poor kids, Scott’s just turned seven and Amanda’s only six years old. How do you tell a couple of kids their father isn’t going to be coming home any more? Their mom sure won’t be any help."

"Ok, then. I’d better get going. Are you sure you‘ll be ok?"

"Yeah, sure. I’m fine. Lee’s dead, not me. His kids are fatherless. His wife’s a widow, not that you’d know it from her. And my mom, my mom doesn’t even know her son is dead."

"I wish I could make everything better, bring Lee back or something, but I can’t. I swear to you that I will find out what happened to him. And when I find out who is responsible I will make him, or her, pay for it.

"I know you will. Lee always said that you could be trusted to get to the bottom of things." Christine said as they walked to the front door, and she opened it.

"I’ll see you tomorrow. Try to get some sleep."

"I will. Goodnight Sean." Christine closed the door and leaned against it. 

**************************

"I’m so sorry for leaving you like this Chris, but I didn’t have much of a choice. I wish I could be with you and the kids, but that’s impossible now. I have to find out who wanted me dead. Take care of my kids for me please. Vivian tends to forget that they exist, and I don’t want them to be raised by a nanny. Don’t get me wrong, Susan’s a good nanny, but she isn’t a relative. I’d do it but that doesn’t seem possible anymore. At least with you and mom around I know that they will be well taken care of. Take care of yourself."

Christine woke up with a gasp. "Lee!" she cried as she looked around her empty bedroom. She got up and ran to the door, but the hall was empty as well. "It was only a dream. Oh Lee, why did you have to go and die on us?"

Chapter 3
Wednesday, September 11


Christine was looking at Casey’s empty corral when she heard a car drive up. When she saw Sean get out she walked towards him. "Hi Sean. I don’t suppose you saw a runaway horse on your way over here."

"No, why? Wait; don’t tell me. Casey ran off again. What are you going to do with him now that Lee is gone?"

"I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just let him run wild on the ranch. After all, Lee was the only person who has ever been able to control him. Of course that decision may not be up to me."

"What do you mean?"

"I don’t know what Lee’s will says, or if he even had one."

"I thought half the ranch was yours already."

"Nope. Dad left the ranch to Lee and the cottage to me with the stipulation that mom could live in the home of her choice until she died. Had Lee’s children died before him, without kids of their own, I would have inherited the ranch, but as it is I don’t know whom he left it, or his investment firm, to."

"I thought Kyle would get the business automatically. After all they where full partners."

"Sure, so did I. But Vivian’s been acting like she is sure that everything will be hers, even the ranch. And that can’t be true, the ranch is supposed to stay in the family. Besides she wouldn’t have a clue about how to run it. She barely knows how to ride."

"You know how she is; don’t let it bother you."

"I’ll try. I suppose you want to start questioning every-one now."

"Only if ‘everyone’ is around."

"Yes, everyone stayed home today. They’re all up at the main house. Come on in, and let’s get this over with."

**************************

Sean walked over to the fireplace and looked at the pictures of generations of Montgomerys that were on the mantle.

"So, who do you want to question first?"

"How about your mother?’

"Mom! She doesn’t know anything."

"Just go get her please, and Chris remember, this is a murder investigation."

"Ok, ok. You’re the boss, Lieutenant." Christine answered with a little salute. "I’ll go get her right away, sir."

As Christine left to get her mom, Sean looked at the family photos. Something was wrong with them but he couldn’t put his finger on it. 

Adrian Montgomery entered the room and sat down. "Hello Sean. My daughter tells me that you wanted to talk to me. What exactly is it that you wanted to know?"

"First of all, did you know of any enemies your son might have had, anyone who would have wanted him dead?"

"No. I don’t. Everybody loves – loved Lee. His business is honest. He has never hurt anyone, and I can’t imagine anyone wanting to hurt him."

"Are you sure? There haven’t been any strange phone calls or business ventures that went wrong?"

"No, nothing like that. The only person acting strange around here lately is Vivian, and I can’t imagine her hurting anyone, at least not physically. Though that woman can cut a person in two with that mouth of hers."

 

"I know what you mean. Now, what can you tell me about yesterday?"