Page 51 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

“I’ve found out her real name and her background. Brenda remembered something that put me in touch with a man who gave her a new identity. Don’t you see, I’ve actually been able to find out a lot.” She filled Birdie in on everyone she’d spoken with.

“I understand you’ve confirmed this woman is a liar and a fraud. I agree with Mason; turn her in and let the authorities deal with her and then move on. None of this will amount to a hill of beans in regard to your poor daddy’s murder.”

“You don’t know that.” Daisy Ann’s voice rose despite her attempts to stay calm. “Who knows what else I might find? I’m waiting to hear back from the man who taught her to shoot. He may know something…”

Birdie put a hand up. “Enough. You’re getting all riled up. None of this will bring your daddy back, and he wouldn’t want you to be consumed by this. You have a family depending on you. It’s time to put this to rest once and for all.”

Daisy Ann stood up. “Birdie, I love you, but respectfully, you have no right telling me what to do. My daddy should still be alive. He should be watching his grandchildren grow up. He should be coming to Sunday supper. He should be hunting and fishing and doing all the things he loved. And I will never stop until I make herpay for taking him from me.” Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. “Besides, what if she does this to her next husband? I have a duty to stop her. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go and see about ordering that pizza.”

—

After Birdie left, her phone rang and she saw Frank Winters’s name on the screen.Finally,she thought. After they exchanged pleasantries, she explained the reason for her call.

“My father was Jake Crawford. You may remember, he was killed in a hunting accident?”

“Of course. Everyone knew Mr. Crawford. Terrible tragedy.”

“I wanted to find out some information on Amber, his wife.” She stumbled on the word. “I understand she took shooting lessons from you.”

“Yes, ma’am. She was a novice, but it didn’t take her too long to get comfortable with a gun.”

“Did she say why she wanted to learn?”

“Just that she might want to start hunting.”

“Hmm. I think she was hunting for fortune. I believe she shot my father on purpose.” Daisy Ann felt the heat spread across her face as the old fury overcame her. Frank didn’t respond immediately but cleared his throat then spoke.

“I’m not saying I’m the best judge of character, but she was a cold one. Very determined, very single-minded. By the time her lessons were finished, she was a good shot. I’ll admit, when I heard about what happened it didn’t ring true. I was very clear with her about safety protocol. She knew better than to shoot with her husband being out in front of her.”

“I just wish there was some way to prove it,” Daisy Ann said.

“Well, did the authorities check to see if there were any trail cams in the area?”

“Eventually they did. At the time I was too upset and didn’t think to tell them, but later, I called and reminded them about thecams. Daddy was always furious about the poachers, and I know he had plenty of cameras set up. I went to the police station myself and spent hours looking through them all. Nothing.”

“That’s the only thing I can think of. I’m mighty sorry.”

When the call ended, Daisy Ann sat thinking about her next move, trying to decide whether or not to use what she’d learned about Amber’s arrest warrant and have her picked up for her crimes back in Missouri and be done with it all. It wasn’t the same as a murder charge but at least it would disrupt her cushy life in Bishops Harbor. She went to her office for some peace and quiet to try to sort things out.

– 31 –

DAPHNE

My urgent need to see my daughters is the only thing tempering my complete and utter terror about walking back into the home I once shared with Jackson. I pull up to the house, or more accurately, the thirty-room estate, and I remember the awe I felt the first time I saw it all those years ago when I was still in my twenties and not used to that kind of wealth. I’d actually been a bit turned off by the excess, thinking at the time of how much good it could have done for the families I met with at the charity where I was working. I suppose it didn’t take me long to acclimate to Jackson’s world of wealth and privilege even though it was never the world I sought. And of course, in the beginning he was wonderful.

I park my car and sit for a moment, taking it all in. The grounds are pristine, of course, the hydrangeas in full bloom, the wisteria winding its way up columns to the trellis, and the house itself immaculate and without blemish. I start to get out of the car, but dizziness overcomes me, and I lean back against the headrest, breathing deeply, telling myself it will be all right. Since I’ve left I often dream that I’m back here living with Jackson, and I’m always horrified and confused. In the dream I don’t understand how it happened, why I came back. And now the nightmare has become a reality. Just like before, he’s using my children to imprison me. But I’m not the same Daphne as before. And no matter what, I won’t be here for long. I’ll find a way out for me and the girls. But in themeantime, I’m forced to play this charade where I’ve come back to be a family with a man who has no idea what the word truly means. I open the door and step out of the car. Grabbing my suitcase and handbag I put one foot in front of the other and walk toward the front door.

I knock and a trim man with closely cropped gray hair appears. He’s formally dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and tie.

“Hello, ma’am. Mr. Parrish is expecting you. I’m Edgar, the house manager.” He gives me a slight bow.

He’s got a very proper British accent, and I wonder if this is one of Amber’s pretensions or if Jackson has hired him expressly for my presence here. As he picks up my suitcase, I follow him from the foyer to Jackson’s study. We stand together in silence while he knocks on the door.

“Yes?” Jackson’s voice comes through.

“Mrs. Parrish has arrived, sir.”

“Send her in.”

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