The Bishop’s Wife (Linda Wallheim Mystery, #1)(68)

In fact, Kelly had decided that the butter cookies we’d made last night would make an excellent breakfast. I didn’t argue with her, but I did get out a glass of milk to try to counter the effects of the sugar.

Alex Helm came back downstairs and told me he didn’t know when he would be back. He said he would call me when he knew more about Jared, but I didn’t press him.

After her late night, Kelly fell asleep on the couch next to me while I was reading her another book. I gently slipped out from under her and began to go through the house methodically—again. Here was the answer to the question Kurt had asked, I suppose. I couldn’t stop myself from trying to find out more. And Kelly was fine, safe and secure on the couch.

In the master bedroom, I found that Alex Helm had left his cell phone behind in his hurry to leave, and I thumbed through the phone history. I was getting used to doing things like this.

He had called the Las Vegas number I had seen on Carrie Helm’s phone, the one belonging to Will, several times over the last few days. Had he talked to Carrie directly? Maybe he was the reason Carrie had left Will. Or was he part of the whole scam about Carrie being in Las Vegas? I still didn’t know when exactly she had died. It was when I checked Alex Helm’s messages that I had to sit down in shock. He had been texting Carrie right up until a few days ago, and she had been texting back. There was no reason for Alex Helm to fake these.

KELLY NEEDS HER MOTHER. I EXPECT YOU HOME IN THE NEXT DAY, Alex had written imperiously.

I AM NOT READY TO COME HOME. AND I SUSPECT JARED DOESN’T WANT ME THERE, ANYWAY, Carrie had written back.

Alex had texted in reply, JARED WANTS HIS WIFE HOME WITH HIM, WHERE SHE BELONGS. YOU ARE CAUSING A TERRIBLE SCENE, EXPOSING YOUR FAMILY TO CONSTANT NEWS COVERAGE.

Then, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WILL AFFECT YOUR DAUGHTER?

Carrie responded, SHE’S TOO LITTLE TO REMEMBER ANY OF THIS. Then, almost immediately afterward, she followed up with, SHE’LL BE BETTER OFF WITHOUT ME. ISN’T THAT WHAT YOU TOLD ME?

My neck prickled at this.

IF YOU DON’T COME HOME RIGHT NOW, I WILL COME AND GET YOU.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY THAT.

YOU WILL REGRET HUMILIATING ME AND JARED. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. WHEN YOU GET BACK, THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.

WHEN I GET BACK? I’M ALREADY MOVING ON.

YOU ARE A MOTHER. YOU CAN’T MOVE ON FROM YOUR DAUGHTER. SHE IS YOURS FOREVER. AND YOU ARE JARED’S FOREVER. YOU MARRIED HIM IN THE TEMPLE.

YOU WON’T EVER SEE ME AGAIN. I’M DUMPING THIS PHONE. I’LL MISS KELLY, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS I WILL BE GLAD TO BE AWAY FROM YOU AND YOUR SON, Carrie returned.

Alex continued to text her, but got no response.

YOU CAN’T HIDE FROM ME. I WILL FIND YOU.

DO YOU WANT YOUR PARENTS TO KNOW WHAT YOU’VE DONE? I CAN TELL THEM EVERYTHING.

And the last one, GOD WILL TAKE HIS VENGEANCE ON YOU IF I CAN’T. WICKEDNESS NEVER WAS HAPPINESS. WHEN YOU ARE DEAD, YOU WILL SEE THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES.

When she was dead?

I realized that my breathing was heavy. I tried to calm down but was overcome with panic when I heard the door open downstairs. Alex Helm had come back—now of all moments.

“I forgot my phone!” he called out.

And I had no reason to be in the master bedroom.

I put the phone down shakily, and then called out, “I’m up here, just doing some cleaning,” I said. I tried to step out of the room, but Alex Helm caught me.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded.

I put up my hands in an attempt to prove my innocent intentions. “My husband and sons are terrible at cleaning the bathroom. I just thought I would help.”

“I don’t need your help with cleaning in here,” he said roughly.

“Oh, are you sure? Usually when I come in and help with children, I try to clean up, as well.” Meek, subservient, keeping my head down.

“Well, that isn’t necessary here.”

“Kelly fell asleep and I wanted something to do,” I added with a shrug.

“You could go watch a soap opera on television,” said Alex Helm. “Or read one of those romance novels women like.”

“I didn’t bring any,” I said, trying to act cowed. “Next time I’ll think of that.”

Alex Helm simply nodded, and turned back to the phone, as if I was no longer important. “If you can stay for a few more hours, until I can get Jared out on bail, that would be useful,” he said, not bothering to look me in the eye.

“Sure. Whatever you need,” I said.

He took the phone, and I swallowed hard as the door shuddered closed behind him.

The rest of the day, I stayed close to Kelly and let my mind run over the messages Alex Helm had sent Carrie. What did they mean? What had Alex Helm done?

I had to leave Kelly with Alex when he came home, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever done.





CHAPTER 24




For the next several days, the whole ward had to deal with the reality of the Helm situation. Jared Helm was in jail on charges of spouse abuse, presumably to be followed by murder charges. In the meantime, Kurt was dealing with Jared’s father. Alex Helm was demanding that the ward send character witnesses to Jared’s bail hearing. He also wanted the names of all the lawyers in the ward so he could ask them to donate their services to help the lawyer he had hired.