Aug. 27th, 2010 09:23 pm
Fic: Tell him it isn't true 1/2
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honeybearbeeMASTER POST
Greta Salpeter looked around the study fervently, her long blonde hair swishing as she checked over her shoulder, hoping her mother didn't come in and try to stop her. Greta picked up the phone that was on the desk and dialed the number she had found in her mother's address book. She hoped the number was current. She just had to talk to her cousin. The phone rang and rang until man’s voice finally answered.
"Hello?" he asked.
"May I speak to Brendon please?" Greta asked. She glanced around again. There was still no sign of her mother.
"May I ask who's calling?"
"Family."
There was silence on the other end. Greta hadn't meant to be so rude, but she desperately needed to talk to Brendon. "All right. I shall let Mr. Brendon know," the man said.
"Thank you!"
As she waited, Greta once again looked around the study. Mother would ruin this. But I so desperately need help. Greta's eyes watered, but she pulled herself together as she heard the other phone being picked up.
"Hello?" a pleasant male voice asked.
"Hello, Brendon?" Greta replied, keeping her voice low.
There was a pause before, "Who is this?"
"It's Greta."
"Hello, darling!" The phone was muffled briefly, but Greta could hear Spencer, Brendon's husband, say, "Darling? That can't be Aunt Katherine". She smiled slightly; Spencer and mother never did get along. Brendon returned his attention to her, and said cheerfully, "How are you?"
Greta's nervousness suddenly returned with a rush. "Brendon, I just had to call you and make sure you were coming tonight."
"Well, uh, you see..."
"Oh, Brendon, you must come! I'm in terrible trouble!"
"What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you over the phone. Brendon, you and Spencer must come! I--" Greta stopped as she saw her mother glaring down at her. She grabbed the phone away from Greta. Her mother, Katherine, was fifty with graying hair. She had to use a cane, but her age and handicap did nothing but make her fiercer. Greta sighed and sat back, grateful she had at least she had gotten Brendon's attention. That if nothing else would get Spencer interested.
"Hello, dear Brendon!" her mother was saying. "Oh, nothing. Don't mind her. You know her. Greta gets excited easily. Anyway, we will see you tonight won't we? What? Oh. Seven thirty is dinner; we shall have places for you. Thank you, dear, you too. Goodbye."
Katherine turned to glare at Greta some more. Greta felt her eyes well up and she began to sob. She put her head down on the desk and cried harder.
"Greta, stop that crying at once! Do you want the servants to hear?"
"I don't care, mother! I'm going slowly crazy!" Greta pushed away from the desk and stood up. "I can't stand it, I have to call the police!" She reached for the phone, but Katherine smacked her hand away.
"You will do nothing of the sort. Haven't we paid enough to cover up her other...incidents?"
"She never did anything like this before!” Greta banged her hands on the desk. “We don't know if she's dead or alive!"
Katherine sighed. "I said I would handle it."
"I can't do this anymore. Keltie is my wife and she--" Greta growled.
"Be quiet!" Her mother yelled.
The door to the study opened and Henry, their ancient butler, popped his head in. He looked slightly scared, considering her mother had just yelled. Katherine was a formidable woman. Everyone, except Spencer, feared her wrath. Spencer just laughed it off.
"Yes Henry?" Katherine asked.
"Should I set a place for Miss Keltie?"
"Yes of course! Keltie will be here for certain," Katherine said sternly.
Henry bowed and shut the door behind him.
Greta sunk back into the chair. "You know she won't be here, mother."
"I know nothing of the sort. Now, get upstairs and make yourself presentable."
Greta frowned at her mother. "When Brendon comes, I'm going to tell him everything."
"You will not! I won't have that husband of his snooping into family matters!"
"Well, I don't care! Spencer can help me and I shall tell him the whole story!" Greta left the room quickly, she didn't want her mother getting a hold of her and trying to change her mind. She was so weak sometimes; she would have to learn to stand up for herself more often. Maybe after Keltie came home.
****
Greta almost got up from her chair when Brendon and Spencer arrived, but a look from her mother made her stay where she was. Brendon looked much the same as when she last saw him at his wedding. His black hair seemed shiner, probably from a product of some kind. His eyes shone with an inner happiness Greta attributed to his happy marriage to Spencer. The only thing different was that his smile seemed bigger than ever. Spencer, on the other hand, looked like he gained some height and muscle. Greta used to come up exactly to his shoulder, now she must have come up to at least five inches below his shoulder. He even grew a beard, she noted. If he hadn’t smiled at her, she would have thought Brendon got a new husband. Spencer’s smile was distinctive.
Greta stared intently at her cousin, hoping the power of her mind could make him come over and talk to her. It must have worked, because Brendon came right to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked bluntly.
"Well..." Greta started, but Katherine banged her cane.
"Dinner is ready. Brendon come with Greta and I. Spencer," she paused as she said his name with disgust, "escort Aunt Mary."
Greta and Brendon giggled as Spencer bowed to Aunt Mary. "It'd be my pleasure."
"How drunk is he?" Greta whispered.
"Only a little. Slightly tipsy, as he calls it."
"He won't be too tipsy to help me?"
Brendon patted her hand. "Never."
****
After dinner, Brendon was shuffled off with the women. "But Aunt Katherine," he protested, "I'm a man!"
"Humph. I want to spend some time with you!"
"Brendon, please," Greta begged. She desperately needed to talk to her cousin. It wasn't as a private as she had hoped, but all of the old women would fall asleep at some point.
He nodded and sighed. Greta watched as he looked longingly at Spencer as they walked away from the dinning room. She wished Keltie could look at her like that.
****
Greta listlessly played the piano, while Brendon sat next to her. She heard him sigh and move his chair closer.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" he asked quietly.
"It's Keltie, she's disappeared. Right after Christmas," Greta whispered. She took her hands off the piano keys and grabbed Brendon's arm.
"What? She’s been missing for five days?"
Greta scooted closer and opened her mouth, but Katherine banged her cane on the floor. "Greta! Keep playing."
She looked away from Brendon and raised her hands up, but instead of playing, she slammed her hands down on the keys. Everyone in the room winced as the keys screeched. Greta stood up and yelled, "I can't! I can't! How can you just sit there! Keltie could be dead and you don't care!"
Brendon stood up to hug her, however, she brushed by him as she rushed into the study. Perhaps if she waited by the phone, Keltie would call her. Before she shut the door, she heard her mother tell Brendon to get Spencer as Katherine began to follow her. Greta knew if anyone could help her, it was Spencer.
****
"I've got him, Aunt Katherine," Brendon said as he walked into the study with Spencer at his side. Greta smiled slightly as she watched Spencer lean into Brendon. He was either very tired or very drunk. Or both.
Her moment of reverie was broken by her mother, as it almost always was. "Good. I am sorry to have taken you away from the men. You must have been in the middle of stimulating conversation."
"It was no big deal. We were just discussing the fine points of snoring," Spencer quipped.
Brendon sent Greta an amused look and both of them laughed quietly.
"Well, yes. Anyway, Greta is convinced we need your help," Katherine said.
Spencer straightened up and moved over towards Greta, who was sitting at the desk in the study. "So Brendon told me. How long has Keltie been gone?"
"Five days. Five days and no word whatsoever!" Greta's humor drained away from her. She slumped in the chair.
"I see. Have you notified the police?"
"Of course not!" Katherine butted in. "And we are not going too. Think of the scandal," said with a horrified look on her face.
Greta rolled her eyes. "Oh, no. Think of the scandal. Don't think of Keltie. She may be kidnapped or dead! But we must not do anything about it. Our names might get into the paper!" she blurted sarcastically, her voice getting louder with every word.
"Don't mind her," Katherine said as she turned towards Spencer, completely disregarding Greta's outburst. "She's exaggerating the whole thing. However, to keep things quiet, I thought you might look into the matter discreetly. With your experience as a..."
"As a flatfoot?" Brendon asked happily, his eyes shining with pride.
"Well, I did not want to be as blunt as that, but yes."
Spencer shrugged. "It's all in the family right?"
Brendon put a hand on Greta's shoulder. "Do you know where Keltie might be?"
"No, but I do know there's another woman," Greta's eyes began to tear up.
"You know nothing of the sort!" Katherine cried.
"What about that vanity case from the Chinese restaurant, the Li Chee?"
"That was a mistake on their part. They obviously sent it to the wrong address, don't be silly now."
"Mistake! Some woman sent it. She's there with some woman!"
"Greta," Katherine sighed. "You know Keltie worships you."
Greta gasped. She was crying harder now. "How can you even say that? You know she hates me! She only married me for my money! She never loved me! Sometimes I wish she were dead, then I wouldn't have to deal with things like this!"
Spencer blinked, "Well, now I am confused. Do you want her back or not?"
Greta began to sob. She saw Brendon give Spencer a look, while Spencer just shrugged again. Brendon knelt down and patted Greta's leg. "Don't cry, Greta."
"Of course she wants her back!" Katherine stated. She smoothed her dress and banged her cane on the floor. Brendon rose up from next to Greta and took Spencer’s hand. "I must go back to the family. Greta, why don't you go up to bed? Dr. Beckett will be here soon." With that, she swept out of the study.
Spencer shook his head. "She sure is a b--" He stopped suddenly.
Greta looked down and saw Brendon had stomped on Spencer's foot. She covered a laugh with a sob. Even when she was sad, these two could always make her laugh. There was a knock on the door and Henry opened it.
"Yes Henry?" Greta asked. She wiped her face and took a deep breath.
"Miss Victoria is here. Shall I send her in?"
Greta smiled, "Yes please, Henry."
"Victoria!" Brendon cried. "I haven't seen her in forever!"
Victoria Asher walked into the room in a stylish black dress and a long coat. Her usually long black hair had been cut into a stylish bob. Greta thought it looked fabulous on her. She smiled widely at everyone. "Spencer and Brendon!" She hugged them both. "It has been awhile."
"Vicky, good to see you," Spencer grinned sharply at her.
Victoria grimaced as she said, "You too Spence. I heard about that Thin Man case, still a flatfoot, huh?"
Spencer frowned slightly, but quickly recovered. Greta wondered when they began to act as if they didn’t get along.
"Only when my husband says," Spencer laughed. He put an arm around Brendon’s shoulders.
"Victoria, how are you?" Brendon asked while poking Spencer in the side.
"Fine, fine." She waved him off and walked over to Greta. "How are you? Any word from Keltie?"
"No, not yet."
There was silence until Brendon spoke up. "Let's get out of here."
"What?" Greta asked.
"It is New Years after all and we aren't old yet. Let's go party!"
"That is a fine idea. I need a martini," Spencer replied
Brendon rolled his eyes. "You always need a martini. Come on Greta, Victoria. The four of us, it'll be like old times!"
"Oh, I don't know," Greta bit her lip. "I don't think I can." She looked at the phone, hoping it would ring. She just had to know Keltie was safe. When Greta looked back at the others, she saw them looking as sad as she felt. She wondered if it was for her or the situation.
Brendon sighed and patted Greta's arm. "Are you sure?"
Greta nodded slowly.
"Well then, let's get out of here before Aunt Katherine comes back," Spencer said. He gave Greta a big hug and Victoria a half hug. "We'll see you all later." He tugged on Brendon's arm.
"Spencer!" Brendon cried as he was tugged out the door. "I need both my arms!"
Victoria pulled Greta close as they watched Brendon and Spencer leave.
Greta sighed. “Vicky, you should go with them. Have fun.”
Victoria smiled softly at her. “We can have fun here!” She pulled a champagne bottle out of her coat. She took her coat off and laid it neatly on a nearby chair. “Now, you get the glasses and I’ll see if I can get this sucker open.”
Greta grinned suddenly. Seeing Victoria try to make her happy brought back memories of the old days. “You know what? Let’s go out! I can’t spend my days waiting for Keltie to come back to me. I know she doesn’t love me. Here I am waiting and waiting for her to realize how much she loves me, when she doesn’t. It's hell waiting for someone to love you back."
Victoria smiled sadly at Greta. “I know how that feels.”
Greta gasped and placed a hand on Victoria's arm. “Oh, dear! Look at me, spilling all my woes on you, and you…”
Victoria touched Greta’s hand with her own. “It’s all right. Now, about going out…”
“Let me get my coat and we can sneak out, like we used too.”
“I remember what else we did when we snuck out,” Victoria leered.
“Yes, well," Greta blushed. "Those were some wild days on our part." She went towards the door, as Victoria laughed, when the door opened suddenly. It was Henry again. "What is it Henry? Is it the phone? Has Keltie called?” Greta knew she was being foolish, she was near a phone, she would have heard it ring. However, she couldn’t keep herself from asking the same question she had asked for the past five days.
Henry blinked. “No, miss. Your mother wants you. Dr. Beckett is here.”
“Oh,” Greta said dispiritedly. She turned to see Victoria looking at the floor. “I can't seem to keep my promises, can I?” she said softly. “Vicky, I think you should go now.”
“But, Greta…”
“No, please. I just want to be alone.”
“All right.” Victoria gathered up her coat. She kissed Greta’s cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
Greta nodded. She sat down and put her head in her hands. If only Keltie wasn’t around to torment me, I could be happy!
****
Victoria sighed as she shut the door to the house behind her. She wished Greta had married her instead, and then all of this could have been avoided.
"Victoria!" Brendon cried. He and Spencer were at the bottom of the stairs to the house, about to get into their car.
"Hello," she said as she walked towards them.
"Aunt Katherine kick you out?" Spencer asked with a grin. Brendon smacked his arm and he over-exaggerated how much it hurt.
"No, Greta did. I wish Katherine and Keltie didn't have such a hold over her," Victoria scowled up at the house.
"She should have married you," Brendon said softly, voicing what Victoria had just been thinking.
Victoria laughed. "You know, I even offered Keltie money to get her out of Greta's life."
"What did she say?" Spencer questioned.
"She said no and laughed in my face," Victoria sighed.
"Oh," Brendon murmured.
"Katherine, Keltie, and that stupid Dr. Beckett are all going to kill Greta one day."
"Dr. Beckett?" Brendon asked.
"Dr. William Beckett, a psychiatrist. More like a quack. He makes her take all these pills. Plus, he's really creepy."
Victoria looked back at both men. Brendon was frowning and biting his lip with worry. Spencer seemed to be spaced out, but one could never really tell with him.
"Anyway, I'm off back home," she said.
"Why don't you come with us?" Brendon asked.
She shook her head. "No thanks. I just want to go to bed." She kissed them both on the cheeks and walked back to her car. As she was leaving she heard them talking.
"Where are we going?" asked Spencer.
"How do you feel about Chinese food?" Brendon replied.
Spencer squawked and that was the last thing Victoria heard as she turned the corner. She smirked and rolled her eyes. Those two.
****
Keltie Colleen threw back another drink. She pushed her short blonde hair out of her face and watched as her girlfriend, Hayley Williams, dance around for the other patrons. Hayley’s orange and red hair shook as she bobbed her head to the music. All she wanted was to get out of here and take Hayley home. Then maybe, she'd go home to her wife. Keltie paused as she took a sip of her drink, Nah. She grinned and finished it off. Suddenly, she heard her name being called and groaned. It was Brendon, Greta's stupid cousin, and his ex-cop, full time drunk husband.
"Keltie? Is that you?" Brendon asked.
"Hello Brendon," she sighed.
"Good evening Keltie," Spencer said. He and Keltie didn't get along that well. Mostly because Keltie thought Brendon was stupid and Spencer didn't.
"What are you doing here Keltie? Greta is worried sick about you!" Brendon said urgently.
Keltie shrugged. "So?"
"So, don't you think you should go home?"
"When I feel like it," Keltie grinned manically. "Greta can stand to worry some more. She's good at it."
Brendon huffed and walked away. Spencer nodded at her and followed.
"Morons," she muttered. She turned her eyes to the stage and watched Hayley sing. She suddenly had a thought and rushed off to the phone booth inside the restaurant. Keltie dialed a number she knew by heart by now.
****
Victoria jumped as her phone rang. She wasn't expecting anyone to call her, especially at this time. "Hello?"
"Hello, Victoria?" she heard faintly.
"Keltie? I can barely hear you. What do you want?"
"Hang on." Victoria heard what sounded like a door shutting. "Better?"
"Yes. What do you want?"
"Twenty-five thousand dollars."
"What?"
"Isn't that what you said you'd give me if I left Greta? Well, I want it. Tonight."
"The banks are closed! I can't get twenty-five thousand dollars tonight."
"If you can't get it tonight, this is your last chance. Once I go home tonight, without my money, I'll stay."
Victoria was silent as she thought.
"Well?"
"All right. I'll get it. But you pack up your things right now. I'll meet you in front of the house and give you the money, but you have to leave right away!"
Keltie laughed. "Okay, okay. Don't get your panties twisted. When do you want to meet?"
"Ten-thirty."
"Fine. See you then!" Keltie hung up.
Victoria set her phone back into the cradle gently, wondering how she was going to get twenty-five thousand dollars on such short notice.
****
Greta's eyes flew open as she heard a loud noise. She sat up quickly and saw Keltie rummaging around in the dresser drawers.
"Keltie!" she cried happily. "You're safe!" She tried to hug her wife, but was pushed aside as Keltie made her way to the closet.
"Yes, I guess I am," Keltie replied.
"Where are you going?"
"Away. Forever."
"What?"
Keltie turned to look at her and smirked. "Ask your beloved Victoria."
Greta's eyes went wide. She ran to the door and stood in front of it. "I won't let you leave!"
Keltie grabbed her arm roughly. Greta winced in pain.
"I'll mail you the divorce papers." Keltie kissed Greta and shoved her aside.
Greta sobbed as the bedroom door slammed shut. She straightened up, tears still streaming down her face, and looked around the room. She grabbed a long coat from the closet. Just as she was about to leave the room, Greta turned back to the dresser and opened the second drawer. On top of her nightgowns was a gun, she picked it up and stuck it in her coat pocket. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to do with it, but it might be necessary.
****
Keltie smirked as she walked out of the house. Good riddance, she thought smugly. I was getting tired of that family.
She heard a door shut from somewhere and knew it was Greta. That stupid woman. She hates me and loves me at the same time. No wonder Dr. Beckett was called in. Just let me go! She didn't bother to look, she knew the fog would keep her from seeing anything clearly. Damn San Francisco fog. I can't wait to get away from this!
Keltie was about to turn a corner and go back to Hayley, when she heard a shot. Then she felt something sharp tear through her chest. What? She looked down and saw blood. My blood? Then everything went black.
****
"Keltie?" Greta asked confusedly. She had heard a shot and pulled out her gun on instinct. "Keltie?" she called frantically.
"Greta?" she heard someone call her name. It was Victoria.
"Victoria! What are you doing here?"
"I-I wanted to check on you. Then I heard a shot, I thought..."
"Oh, Vicky."
Victoria looked down at Keltie's dead body. "Greta, did you...?"
"I don't, I don't know. I was walking behind her and then there was a shot. It-it could have been me. Oh, Victoria, I'm so scared!"
Victoria pulled Greta into a hug. "It's okay. I'll take care of it. Give me the gun."
"What?"
"Give me the gun, I'll take it." Greta held the gun out and Victoria grabbed it. She hid it in a pocket in her coat. "No one ever has to know you had a gun. Do you hear me, you never had a gun! Now, get back to the house and get into bed. You were never out of the house tonight."
Greta nodded. She knew Victoria would take of everything, her former lover always had. Both women headed in different directions, Greta back to her home and Victoria to her car, their backs to the crime scene. Greta glanced back, but could only see fog. She hoped Victoria would be safe.
****
Victoria slid into her car and drove slowly to a bridge. She got out of the car and glanced around. Hopefully there was no one around, and even if there was, she was confident the fog should keep her covered. She reached into her coat pocket and brought out Greta's gun. Victoria looked around once more before dropping the run into the water. With no gun, there's no evidence, she thought fervently as she got back into her car and drove home.
****
Greta startled as someone knocked on her door. "W-who is it?" She was lying in bed, hugging a pillow. She had heard the police downstairs and knew she must be under investigation for Keltie's murder. She shivered at the thought.
"Brendon. Let me in."
Greta quickly walked over and unlocked the door. "Hurry, hurry." She pulled Brendon in, shut the door and locked it.
"Geez, Greta. Rip a fella's arm off next time," Brendon complained while he rubbed his arm.
"Sorry. I just don't want mother or Dr. Beckett coming in here."
"Yes, I met Dr. Beckett. He's...interesting."
"Interestingly creepy. He keeps giving me all these pills; ones for headaches, ones for sleeping, ones for anything!"
"Did you take the sleeping ones at least?'
"No!" Greta paced back and forth. "I just can't sleep! I just keep thinking of Keltie!"
"Greta, calm down."
"They think I did it! They all think I did it! Brendon, I didn't do it! I didn't kill Keltie!" Greta pulled on her hair as she yelled.
"Greta!" Brendon grabbed her hands. "I don't think you killed Keltie and neither does anyone else. You must calm down."
"But I heard them! I couldn't have killed her!"
"What do you mean?"
Greta took a deep, calming breath. "You will help me, won't you? You and Spencer?"
"Of course we will, darling. Now, tell me what happened."
"Keltie came around midnight, she was planning on leaving me. I tried to stop her, but she pushed me away. I followed her downstairs and out of the house. I took a gun."
"A gun! Greta, what did you get one of those things for?"
"I don't know! To scare her, to get her to finally listen to me, I just don't know."
Brendon sighed and hugged his cousin. "Go on."
"I followed her down the street. Keltie was just turning the corner when a shot rang. She fell and I didn't know what to do!"
"Where did the shot come from?"
"I don't know!" Greta cried. She pulled away from Brendon and began pacing again.
"All right, all right. Why don't you try lying down? It might make you feel better."
"I can't, I have to think." Greta paused, "Victoria!"
"What about her?"
"I bet she thinks I killed Keltie too!"
"Why would she think that?
"Well, she must! Why else would she have taken---" Greta stopped. No one was supposed to know about that. She turned away from Brendon.
"Taken the what? Greta, taken the what?" Brendon implored.
"Nothing. Look, Brendon, you must tell Victoria that I didn't kill Keltie. I couldn't bear it if she thought that I was guilty."
"Can't you phone her?"
"No! No, someone might be listening in. Please, Brendon, please," Greta begged. She needed to make sure Victoria didn't think she was a murderer. It might make her feel better.
Brendon nodded. "I'll tell her. Try to get some sleep, okay?"
Greta smiled. "I will."
Brendon kissed her forehead and left. Greta locked the door behind him and rested her head on it. If only her mind would shut off.
****
Victoria sat on the edge of her chair as she listened to the radio.
"And tonight, in a shocking news story for the New Year, Socialite Keltie Colleen has been murdered. Colleen was well known among the rich set of San Francisco, especially for being a heavy partier. The police are looking at all the possible suspects, including the family of her wife, Greta Salpeter. It's reported that Colleen was shot-"
At a knock on the door, Victoria switched the radio off. She smoothed her outfit down and asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Brendon."
Victoria frowned, but opened the door. She smiled quickly. "Brendon! It's a surprise to see you. Come on in."
Brendon rushed past her. "I got here as soon as I could. Greta thought--"
"What happened? Is Greta all right?" Victoria interrupted.
"Don't you know?"
"Know what?"
"Keltie's been killed!"
"Killed? But, I just saw her."
"What do you mean?"
"It was about ten o'clock. I," Victoria paused and looked embarrassed. "Well, I met her front of the house and gave her twenty-five thousand dollars in bonds. I just wanted her to leave Greta alone."
"Oh, Victoria."
"I didn't know what else to do!"
Brendon sighed, but smiled. "Where did she go next?"
"In the house to get her things and leave."
"Hmm, then it was when she came out again that she was shot."
"Brendon, I must see Greta. Will you come with me?"
"Of course, but you must know she thinks you think she killed her." Brendon paused. "That didn't make much sense did it?"
Victoria laughed, "No, but I understood. I would never think she killed Keltie."
"Good." Suddenly, Brendon yelped.
"What?"
"There was a man at the window!" He rushed over and threw the window open. Brendon stuck his head out of the window, looking for the man. "He's getting away!"
"I'll go around front and see if I can see him!"
Victoria ran towards the door and opened it. She stopped as a man was there. "Er, hello?"
"Victoria! He's getting away!” Half of Brendon’s body was out the window now. “Oh, blast. He's gone. Victoria?"
"Stay right there mister!" yelled the man.
"Who are you?" asked Victoria.
"Detective Malloy, with homicide. We've had our eye on you. Both of you." He pointed at Brendon. "Trying to make a get away, huh?"
"No! There was a man at the window!"
"Sure, sure. Come on, downtown with both of you!"
"But I'm Brendon Urie-Smith! Spencer Smith is my husband!"
Malloy laughed, "Sure, sure. And I'm Mother Goose. Let's go."
Brendon huffed as they were lead away. Victoria sighed and hoped everything worked out.
****
Victoria felt a bead of sweat going down her temple. She'd been at the police station for what seemed like hours. Brendon had been carted off to a jail cell; it must have been Spencer's idea of a joke. Victoria didn't think it was all that funny. Right now, though, Lieutenant Gabe Saporta was questioning her. The Lieutenant was a tall, skinny man. He seemed to have a five-o’clock shadow and he smelled of smoke. It made Victoria want one as well.
"Now, Ms. Asher, were you and Keltie Colleen on good terms?" the Lieutenant asked.
"No," she replied shortly. She just wanted to go home and lie down.
"On bad terms?"
Victoria rolled her eyes. "Very bad."
"You and Mrs. Salpeter-Colleen were engaged once, right?" Saporta put his foot on the edge of her chair. She looked down at it in disgust.
"Yes."
"Hmm," he rubbed his head. "Ever ask her to divorce her wife and marry you?"
"Perhaps. She never would, though," Victoria growled. She was growing tired of the questions. Her head was pounding.
"But you hoped she would!" the cop crowed. "And you thought with Colleen out of the way, she might!"
"I didn't kill Keltie!"
"No, no. But you did pay her off?"
Victoria nodded, abashed. "Yes."
The door to Saporta's office opened and in walked Brendon and Spencer.
"Brendon!" Victoria cried. "You're okay?"
"Yes," Brendon nodded. "My husband decided to teach me a lesson about investigating."
"Let's hope it sticks," Spencer joked. He turned to Saporta. "My husband, Brendon. Brendon, this is Lieutenant Saporta."
Brendon and the Lieutenant shook hands. "Would you sit down please, Mr. Urie-Smith?"
"Sure." Victoria left the chair and Brendon sat down in it.
"Mr. Urie-Smith, why were you at Ms. Asher's apartment?" Saporta asked.
"Well, uh. You see, I," Brendon stuttered. He looked at Victoria and bit his lip.
"Perhaps, I should leave," said Spencer quietly.
Brendon turned around and glared at his husband. "No! It's just, Greta had this cra-er, silly idea that Victoria thought she killed Keltie. She just wanted me to tell Victoria that she didn't."
Victoria sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I don't know why she would think that. I haven't even seen her for a couple of days."
The door was opened again by an officer, who was escorting Greta inside. Brendon scrambled out of his chair. "Greta, darling! Sit down."
Greta smiled weakly at everyone as she sat. She saw Victoria and jumped. "Oh, Vicky! I didn't mean to get you mixed up in all of this."
Victoria shrugged her shoulders. "It's all right."
"Thanks," Saporta said to the cop leaving his office. He turned to Greta and said, "Mrs. Salpeter-Colleen, why would Ms. Asher think you killed your wife?"
"I never said that! I never thought it for one minute!" Victoria yelled.
Saporta waved her off and watched Greta intently. "Well?"
"She had ever right to think I did. She's just trying to protect me," Greta said faintly. "Vicky heard a shot and rushed over to me. She saw me standing over Keltie with a gun in my hand."
"Aha!" Saporta exclaimed.
Victoria saw Spencer roll his eyes.
"Anyway," Greta continued, "I didn't fire the shot, though. It came from around the street. I'm sure of it."
"You mean," Victoria asked, stunned. "You didn't kill her?"
"Just look at the gun, Vicky. It hasn't been fired."
"Oh, Greta. Forgive me."
"Of course I do," Greta smiled at Victoria sweetly.
"Well," said Spencer. "Now that's cleared up, let's go, Brendon." He took his husband's hand and made to leave.
"It isn't cleared up, just yet," Saporta claimed. "Not until we have a look at that gun. Where is it, Mrs. Salpeter-Colleen? Where is the gun?"
"I-I don't have it," Greta stumbled.
"What?" Spencer asked.
"Victoria took it from me, to protect me. Victoria, what did you do with the gun?"
Victoria put her face in her hands. "I'm sorry," she said in a muffled voice.
"What do you mean?" Greta's voice got higher pitched.
Victoria sighed and looked at her. "I threw the gun away. I thought you were guilty and it was the only thing that came to mind."
"You threw it away!" Greta stood up and approached Victoria. "Where? Where did you throw it?"
"Into the river."
Spencer sighed and banged his head on the wall. "Isn't that fantastic?"
Brendon poked him in the side and rushed to Greta. "It'll be okay," he said soothingly.
"But they can get it back! I can show them exactly where I threw it! I'll get divers to go get it! They'll have to find it!" Victoria's voice was frantic.
"Phooey!" Saporta yelled. "I think you threw it away on purpose. You don't want it back anymore than she does!" He walked over to his desk and picked up the phone. He dialed a number and said, "Swear out a warrant for the arrest of Mrs. Greta Salpeter-Colleen for suspicion of murder!"
"Murder!" Greta cried out as she fainted. Brendon caught her before she hit the floor. Spencer helped get her back into the chair.
"It'll be okay," Brendon said. "Spencer will fix this."
Victoria turned away and bit her lip. She certainly hoped it would be okay.
PART 2
Greta Salpeter looked around the study fervently, her long blonde hair swishing as she checked over her shoulder, hoping her mother didn't come in and try to stop her. Greta picked up the phone that was on the desk and dialed the number she had found in her mother's address book. She hoped the number was current. She just had to talk to her cousin. The phone rang and rang until man’s voice finally answered.
"Hello?" he asked.
"May I speak to Brendon please?" Greta asked. She glanced around again. There was still no sign of her mother.
"May I ask who's calling?"
"Family."
There was silence on the other end. Greta hadn't meant to be so rude, but she desperately needed to talk to Brendon. "All right. I shall let Mr. Brendon know," the man said.
"Thank you!"
As she waited, Greta once again looked around the study. Mother would ruin this. But I so desperately need help. Greta's eyes watered, but she pulled herself together as she heard the other phone being picked up.
"Hello?" a pleasant male voice asked.
"Hello, Brendon?" Greta replied, keeping her voice low.
There was a pause before, "Who is this?"
"It's Greta."
"Hello, darling!" The phone was muffled briefly, but Greta could hear Spencer, Brendon's husband, say, "Darling? That can't be Aunt Katherine". She smiled slightly; Spencer and mother never did get along. Brendon returned his attention to her, and said cheerfully, "How are you?"
Greta's nervousness suddenly returned with a rush. "Brendon, I just had to call you and make sure you were coming tonight."
"Well, uh, you see..."
"Oh, Brendon, you must come! I'm in terrible trouble!"
"What do you mean?"
"I can't tell you over the phone. Brendon, you and Spencer must come! I--" Greta stopped as she saw her mother glaring down at her. She grabbed the phone away from Greta. Her mother, Katherine, was fifty with graying hair. She had to use a cane, but her age and handicap did nothing but make her fiercer. Greta sighed and sat back, grateful she had at least she had gotten Brendon's attention. That if nothing else would get Spencer interested.
"Hello, dear Brendon!" her mother was saying. "Oh, nothing. Don't mind her. You know her. Greta gets excited easily. Anyway, we will see you tonight won't we? What? Oh. Seven thirty is dinner; we shall have places for you. Thank you, dear, you too. Goodbye."
Katherine turned to glare at Greta some more. Greta felt her eyes well up and she began to sob. She put her head down on the desk and cried harder.
"Greta, stop that crying at once! Do you want the servants to hear?"
"I don't care, mother! I'm going slowly crazy!" Greta pushed away from the desk and stood up. "I can't stand it, I have to call the police!" She reached for the phone, but Katherine smacked her hand away.
"You will do nothing of the sort. Haven't we paid enough to cover up her other...incidents?"
"She never did anything like this before!” Greta banged her hands on the desk. “We don't know if she's dead or alive!"
Katherine sighed. "I said I would handle it."
"I can't do this anymore. Keltie is my wife and she--" Greta growled.
"Be quiet!" Her mother yelled.
The door to the study opened and Henry, their ancient butler, popped his head in. He looked slightly scared, considering her mother had just yelled. Katherine was a formidable woman. Everyone, except Spencer, feared her wrath. Spencer just laughed it off.
"Yes Henry?" Katherine asked.
"Should I set a place for Miss Keltie?"
"Yes of course! Keltie will be here for certain," Katherine said sternly.
Henry bowed and shut the door behind him.
Greta sunk back into the chair. "You know she won't be here, mother."
"I know nothing of the sort. Now, get upstairs and make yourself presentable."
Greta frowned at her mother. "When Brendon comes, I'm going to tell him everything."
"You will not! I won't have that husband of his snooping into family matters!"
"Well, I don't care! Spencer can help me and I shall tell him the whole story!" Greta left the room quickly, she didn't want her mother getting a hold of her and trying to change her mind. She was so weak sometimes; she would have to learn to stand up for herself more often. Maybe after Keltie came home.
****
Greta almost got up from her chair when Brendon and Spencer arrived, but a look from her mother made her stay where she was. Brendon looked much the same as when she last saw him at his wedding. His black hair seemed shiner, probably from a product of some kind. His eyes shone with an inner happiness Greta attributed to his happy marriage to Spencer. The only thing different was that his smile seemed bigger than ever. Spencer, on the other hand, looked like he gained some height and muscle. Greta used to come up exactly to his shoulder, now she must have come up to at least five inches below his shoulder. He even grew a beard, she noted. If he hadn’t smiled at her, she would have thought Brendon got a new husband. Spencer’s smile was distinctive.
Greta stared intently at her cousin, hoping the power of her mind could make him come over and talk to her. It must have worked, because Brendon came right to her.
"What's wrong?" he asked bluntly.
"Well..." Greta started, but Katherine banged her cane.
"Dinner is ready. Brendon come with Greta and I. Spencer," she paused as she said his name with disgust, "escort Aunt Mary."
Greta and Brendon giggled as Spencer bowed to Aunt Mary. "It'd be my pleasure."
"How drunk is he?" Greta whispered.
"Only a little. Slightly tipsy, as he calls it."
"He won't be too tipsy to help me?"
Brendon patted her hand. "Never."
****
After dinner, Brendon was shuffled off with the women. "But Aunt Katherine," he protested, "I'm a man!"
"Humph. I want to spend some time with you!"
"Brendon, please," Greta begged. She desperately needed to talk to her cousin. It wasn't as a private as she had hoped, but all of the old women would fall asleep at some point.
He nodded and sighed. Greta watched as he looked longingly at Spencer as they walked away from the dinning room. She wished Keltie could look at her like that.
****
Greta listlessly played the piano, while Brendon sat next to her. She heard him sigh and move his chair closer.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" he asked quietly.
"It's Keltie, she's disappeared. Right after Christmas," Greta whispered. She took her hands off the piano keys and grabbed Brendon's arm.
"What? She’s been missing for five days?"
Greta scooted closer and opened her mouth, but Katherine banged her cane on the floor. "Greta! Keep playing."
She looked away from Brendon and raised her hands up, but instead of playing, she slammed her hands down on the keys. Everyone in the room winced as the keys screeched. Greta stood up and yelled, "I can't! I can't! How can you just sit there! Keltie could be dead and you don't care!"
Brendon stood up to hug her, however, she brushed by him as she rushed into the study. Perhaps if she waited by the phone, Keltie would call her. Before she shut the door, she heard her mother tell Brendon to get Spencer as Katherine began to follow her. Greta knew if anyone could help her, it was Spencer.
****
"I've got him, Aunt Katherine," Brendon said as he walked into the study with Spencer at his side. Greta smiled slightly as she watched Spencer lean into Brendon. He was either very tired or very drunk. Or both.
Her moment of reverie was broken by her mother, as it almost always was. "Good. I am sorry to have taken you away from the men. You must have been in the middle of stimulating conversation."
"It was no big deal. We were just discussing the fine points of snoring," Spencer quipped.
Brendon sent Greta an amused look and both of them laughed quietly.
"Well, yes. Anyway, Greta is convinced we need your help," Katherine said.
Spencer straightened up and moved over towards Greta, who was sitting at the desk in the study. "So Brendon told me. How long has Keltie been gone?"
"Five days. Five days and no word whatsoever!" Greta's humor drained away from her. She slumped in the chair.
"I see. Have you notified the police?"
"Of course not!" Katherine butted in. "And we are not going too. Think of the scandal," said with a horrified look on her face.
Greta rolled her eyes. "Oh, no. Think of the scandal. Don't think of Keltie. She may be kidnapped or dead! But we must not do anything about it. Our names might get into the paper!" she blurted sarcastically, her voice getting louder with every word.
"Don't mind her," Katherine said as she turned towards Spencer, completely disregarding Greta's outburst. "She's exaggerating the whole thing. However, to keep things quiet, I thought you might look into the matter discreetly. With your experience as a..."
"As a flatfoot?" Brendon asked happily, his eyes shining with pride.
"Well, I did not want to be as blunt as that, but yes."
Spencer shrugged. "It's all in the family right?"
Brendon put a hand on Greta's shoulder. "Do you know where Keltie might be?"
"No, but I do know there's another woman," Greta's eyes began to tear up.
"You know nothing of the sort!" Katherine cried.
"What about that vanity case from the Chinese restaurant, the Li Chee?"
"That was a mistake on their part. They obviously sent it to the wrong address, don't be silly now."
"Mistake! Some woman sent it. She's there with some woman!"
"Greta," Katherine sighed. "You know Keltie worships you."
Greta gasped. She was crying harder now. "How can you even say that? You know she hates me! She only married me for my money! She never loved me! Sometimes I wish she were dead, then I wouldn't have to deal with things like this!"
Spencer blinked, "Well, now I am confused. Do you want her back or not?"
Greta began to sob. She saw Brendon give Spencer a look, while Spencer just shrugged again. Brendon knelt down and patted Greta's leg. "Don't cry, Greta."
"Of course she wants her back!" Katherine stated. She smoothed her dress and banged her cane on the floor. Brendon rose up from next to Greta and took Spencer’s hand. "I must go back to the family. Greta, why don't you go up to bed? Dr. Beckett will be here soon." With that, she swept out of the study.
Spencer shook his head. "She sure is a b--" He stopped suddenly.
Greta looked down and saw Brendon had stomped on Spencer's foot. She covered a laugh with a sob. Even when she was sad, these two could always make her laugh. There was a knock on the door and Henry opened it.
"Yes Henry?" Greta asked. She wiped her face and took a deep breath.
"Miss Victoria is here. Shall I send her in?"
Greta smiled, "Yes please, Henry."
"Victoria!" Brendon cried. "I haven't seen her in forever!"
Victoria Asher walked into the room in a stylish black dress and a long coat. Her usually long black hair had been cut into a stylish bob. Greta thought it looked fabulous on her. She smiled widely at everyone. "Spencer and Brendon!" She hugged them both. "It has been awhile."
"Vicky, good to see you," Spencer grinned sharply at her.
Victoria grimaced as she said, "You too Spence. I heard about that Thin Man case, still a flatfoot, huh?"
Spencer frowned slightly, but quickly recovered. Greta wondered when they began to act as if they didn’t get along.
"Only when my husband says," Spencer laughed. He put an arm around Brendon’s shoulders.
"Victoria, how are you?" Brendon asked while poking Spencer in the side.
"Fine, fine." She waved him off and walked over to Greta. "How are you? Any word from Keltie?"
"No, not yet."
There was silence until Brendon spoke up. "Let's get out of here."
"What?" Greta asked.
"It is New Years after all and we aren't old yet. Let's go party!"
"That is a fine idea. I need a martini," Spencer replied
Brendon rolled his eyes. "You always need a martini. Come on Greta, Victoria. The four of us, it'll be like old times!"
"Oh, I don't know," Greta bit her lip. "I don't think I can." She looked at the phone, hoping it would ring. She just had to know Keltie was safe. When Greta looked back at the others, she saw them looking as sad as she felt. She wondered if it was for her or the situation.
Brendon sighed and patted Greta's arm. "Are you sure?"
Greta nodded slowly.
"Well then, let's get out of here before Aunt Katherine comes back," Spencer said. He gave Greta a big hug and Victoria a half hug. "We'll see you all later." He tugged on Brendon's arm.
"Spencer!" Brendon cried as he was tugged out the door. "I need both my arms!"
Victoria pulled Greta close as they watched Brendon and Spencer leave.
Greta sighed. “Vicky, you should go with them. Have fun.”
Victoria smiled softly at her. “We can have fun here!” She pulled a champagne bottle out of her coat. She took her coat off and laid it neatly on a nearby chair. “Now, you get the glasses and I’ll see if I can get this sucker open.”
Greta grinned suddenly. Seeing Victoria try to make her happy brought back memories of the old days. “You know what? Let’s go out! I can’t spend my days waiting for Keltie to come back to me. I know she doesn’t love me. Here I am waiting and waiting for her to realize how much she loves me, when she doesn’t. It's hell waiting for someone to love you back."
Victoria smiled sadly at Greta. “I know how that feels.”
Greta gasped and placed a hand on Victoria's arm. “Oh, dear! Look at me, spilling all my woes on you, and you…”
Victoria touched Greta’s hand with her own. “It’s all right. Now, about going out…”
“Let me get my coat and we can sneak out, like we used too.”
“I remember what else we did when we snuck out,” Victoria leered.
“Yes, well," Greta blushed. "Those were some wild days on our part." She went towards the door, as Victoria laughed, when the door opened suddenly. It was Henry again. "What is it Henry? Is it the phone? Has Keltie called?” Greta knew she was being foolish, she was near a phone, she would have heard it ring. However, she couldn’t keep herself from asking the same question she had asked for the past five days.
Henry blinked. “No, miss. Your mother wants you. Dr. Beckett is here.”
“Oh,” Greta said dispiritedly. She turned to see Victoria looking at the floor. “I can't seem to keep my promises, can I?” she said softly. “Vicky, I think you should go now.”
“But, Greta…”
“No, please. I just want to be alone.”
“All right.” Victoria gathered up her coat. She kissed Greta’s cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
Greta nodded. She sat down and put her head in her hands. If only Keltie wasn’t around to torment me, I could be happy!
****
Victoria sighed as she shut the door to the house behind her. She wished Greta had married her instead, and then all of this could have been avoided.
"Victoria!" Brendon cried. He and Spencer were at the bottom of the stairs to the house, about to get into their car.
"Hello," she said as she walked towards them.
"Aunt Katherine kick you out?" Spencer asked with a grin. Brendon smacked his arm and he over-exaggerated how much it hurt.
"No, Greta did. I wish Katherine and Keltie didn't have such a hold over her," Victoria scowled up at the house.
"She should have married you," Brendon said softly, voicing what Victoria had just been thinking.
Victoria laughed. "You know, I even offered Keltie money to get her out of Greta's life."
"What did she say?" Spencer questioned.
"She said no and laughed in my face," Victoria sighed.
"Oh," Brendon murmured.
"Katherine, Keltie, and that stupid Dr. Beckett are all going to kill Greta one day."
"Dr. Beckett?" Brendon asked.
"Dr. William Beckett, a psychiatrist. More like a quack. He makes her take all these pills. Plus, he's really creepy."
Victoria looked back at both men. Brendon was frowning and biting his lip with worry. Spencer seemed to be spaced out, but one could never really tell with him.
"Anyway, I'm off back home," she said.
"Why don't you come with us?" Brendon asked.
She shook her head. "No thanks. I just want to go to bed." She kissed them both on the cheeks and walked back to her car. As she was leaving she heard them talking.
"Where are we going?" asked Spencer.
"How do you feel about Chinese food?" Brendon replied.
Spencer squawked and that was the last thing Victoria heard as she turned the corner. She smirked and rolled her eyes. Those two.
****
Keltie Colleen threw back another drink. She pushed her short blonde hair out of her face and watched as her girlfriend, Hayley Williams, dance around for the other patrons. Hayley’s orange and red hair shook as she bobbed her head to the music. All she wanted was to get out of here and take Hayley home. Then maybe, she'd go home to her wife. Keltie paused as she took a sip of her drink, Nah. She grinned and finished it off. Suddenly, she heard her name being called and groaned. It was Brendon, Greta's stupid cousin, and his ex-cop, full time drunk husband.
"Keltie? Is that you?" Brendon asked.
"Hello Brendon," she sighed.
"Good evening Keltie," Spencer said. He and Keltie didn't get along that well. Mostly because Keltie thought Brendon was stupid and Spencer didn't.
"What are you doing here Keltie? Greta is worried sick about you!" Brendon said urgently.
Keltie shrugged. "So?"
"So, don't you think you should go home?"
"When I feel like it," Keltie grinned manically. "Greta can stand to worry some more. She's good at it."
Brendon huffed and walked away. Spencer nodded at her and followed.
"Morons," she muttered. She turned her eyes to the stage and watched Hayley sing. She suddenly had a thought and rushed off to the phone booth inside the restaurant. Keltie dialed a number she knew by heart by now.
****
Victoria jumped as her phone rang. She wasn't expecting anyone to call her, especially at this time. "Hello?"
"Hello, Victoria?" she heard faintly.
"Keltie? I can barely hear you. What do you want?"
"Hang on." Victoria heard what sounded like a door shutting. "Better?"
"Yes. What do you want?"
"Twenty-five thousand dollars."
"What?"
"Isn't that what you said you'd give me if I left Greta? Well, I want it. Tonight."
"The banks are closed! I can't get twenty-five thousand dollars tonight."
"If you can't get it tonight, this is your last chance. Once I go home tonight, without my money, I'll stay."
Victoria was silent as she thought.
"Well?"
"All right. I'll get it. But you pack up your things right now. I'll meet you in front of the house and give you the money, but you have to leave right away!"
Keltie laughed. "Okay, okay. Don't get your panties twisted. When do you want to meet?"
"Ten-thirty."
"Fine. See you then!" Keltie hung up.
Victoria set her phone back into the cradle gently, wondering how she was going to get twenty-five thousand dollars on such short notice.
****
Greta's eyes flew open as she heard a loud noise. She sat up quickly and saw Keltie rummaging around in the dresser drawers.
"Keltie!" she cried happily. "You're safe!" She tried to hug her wife, but was pushed aside as Keltie made her way to the closet.
"Yes, I guess I am," Keltie replied.
"Where are you going?"
"Away. Forever."
"What?"
Keltie turned to look at her and smirked. "Ask your beloved Victoria."
Greta's eyes went wide. She ran to the door and stood in front of it. "I won't let you leave!"
Keltie grabbed her arm roughly. Greta winced in pain.
"I'll mail you the divorce papers." Keltie kissed Greta and shoved her aside.
Greta sobbed as the bedroom door slammed shut. She straightened up, tears still streaming down her face, and looked around the room. She grabbed a long coat from the closet. Just as she was about to leave the room, Greta turned back to the dresser and opened the second drawer. On top of her nightgowns was a gun, she picked it up and stuck it in her coat pocket. She wasn't quite sure what she was going to do with it, but it might be necessary.
****
Keltie smirked as she walked out of the house. Good riddance, she thought smugly. I was getting tired of that family.
She heard a door shut from somewhere and knew it was Greta. That stupid woman. She hates me and loves me at the same time. No wonder Dr. Beckett was called in. Just let me go! She didn't bother to look, she knew the fog would keep her from seeing anything clearly. Damn San Francisco fog. I can't wait to get away from this!
Keltie was about to turn a corner and go back to Hayley, when she heard a shot. Then she felt something sharp tear through her chest. What? She looked down and saw blood. My blood? Then everything went black.
****
"Keltie?" Greta asked confusedly. She had heard a shot and pulled out her gun on instinct. "Keltie?" she called frantically.
"Greta?" she heard someone call her name. It was Victoria.
"Victoria! What are you doing here?"
"I-I wanted to check on you. Then I heard a shot, I thought..."
"Oh, Vicky."
Victoria looked down at Keltie's dead body. "Greta, did you...?"
"I don't, I don't know. I was walking behind her and then there was a shot. It-it could have been me. Oh, Victoria, I'm so scared!"
Victoria pulled Greta into a hug. "It's okay. I'll take care of it. Give me the gun."
"What?"
"Give me the gun, I'll take it." Greta held the gun out and Victoria grabbed it. She hid it in a pocket in her coat. "No one ever has to know you had a gun. Do you hear me, you never had a gun! Now, get back to the house and get into bed. You were never out of the house tonight."
Greta nodded. She knew Victoria would take of everything, her former lover always had. Both women headed in different directions, Greta back to her home and Victoria to her car, their backs to the crime scene. Greta glanced back, but could only see fog. She hoped Victoria would be safe.
****
Victoria slid into her car and drove slowly to a bridge. She got out of the car and glanced around. Hopefully there was no one around, and even if there was, she was confident the fog should keep her covered. She reached into her coat pocket and brought out Greta's gun. Victoria looked around once more before dropping the run into the water. With no gun, there's no evidence, she thought fervently as she got back into her car and drove home.
****
Greta startled as someone knocked on her door. "W-who is it?" She was lying in bed, hugging a pillow. She had heard the police downstairs and knew she must be under investigation for Keltie's murder. She shivered at the thought.
"Brendon. Let me in."
Greta quickly walked over and unlocked the door. "Hurry, hurry." She pulled Brendon in, shut the door and locked it.
"Geez, Greta. Rip a fella's arm off next time," Brendon complained while he rubbed his arm.
"Sorry. I just don't want mother or Dr. Beckett coming in here."
"Yes, I met Dr. Beckett. He's...interesting."
"Interestingly creepy. He keeps giving me all these pills; ones for headaches, ones for sleeping, ones for anything!"
"Did you take the sleeping ones at least?'
"No!" Greta paced back and forth. "I just can't sleep! I just keep thinking of Keltie!"
"Greta, calm down."
"They think I did it! They all think I did it! Brendon, I didn't do it! I didn't kill Keltie!" Greta pulled on her hair as she yelled.
"Greta!" Brendon grabbed her hands. "I don't think you killed Keltie and neither does anyone else. You must calm down."
"But I heard them! I couldn't have killed her!"
"What do you mean?"
Greta took a deep, calming breath. "You will help me, won't you? You and Spencer?"
"Of course we will, darling. Now, tell me what happened."
"Keltie came around midnight, she was planning on leaving me. I tried to stop her, but she pushed me away. I followed her downstairs and out of the house. I took a gun."
"A gun! Greta, what did you get one of those things for?"
"I don't know! To scare her, to get her to finally listen to me, I just don't know."
Brendon sighed and hugged his cousin. "Go on."
"I followed her down the street. Keltie was just turning the corner when a shot rang. She fell and I didn't know what to do!"
"Where did the shot come from?"
"I don't know!" Greta cried. She pulled away from Brendon and began pacing again.
"All right, all right. Why don't you try lying down? It might make you feel better."
"I can't, I have to think." Greta paused, "Victoria!"
"What about her?"
"I bet she thinks I killed Keltie too!"
"Why would she think that?
"Well, she must! Why else would she have taken---" Greta stopped. No one was supposed to know about that. She turned away from Brendon.
"Taken the what? Greta, taken the what?" Brendon implored.
"Nothing. Look, Brendon, you must tell Victoria that I didn't kill Keltie. I couldn't bear it if she thought that I was guilty."
"Can't you phone her?"
"No! No, someone might be listening in. Please, Brendon, please," Greta begged. She needed to make sure Victoria didn't think she was a murderer. It might make her feel better.
Brendon nodded. "I'll tell her. Try to get some sleep, okay?"
Greta smiled. "I will."
Brendon kissed her forehead and left. Greta locked the door behind him and rested her head on it. If only her mind would shut off.
****
Victoria sat on the edge of her chair as she listened to the radio.
"And tonight, in a shocking news story for the New Year, Socialite Keltie Colleen has been murdered. Colleen was well known among the rich set of San Francisco, especially for being a heavy partier. The police are looking at all the possible suspects, including the family of her wife, Greta Salpeter. It's reported that Colleen was shot-"
At a knock on the door, Victoria switched the radio off. She smoothed her outfit down and asked, "Who is it?"
"It's me, Brendon."
Victoria frowned, but opened the door. She smiled quickly. "Brendon! It's a surprise to see you. Come on in."
Brendon rushed past her. "I got here as soon as I could. Greta thought--"
"What happened? Is Greta all right?" Victoria interrupted.
"Don't you know?"
"Know what?"
"Keltie's been killed!"
"Killed? But, I just saw her."
"What do you mean?"
"It was about ten o'clock. I," Victoria paused and looked embarrassed. "Well, I met her front of the house and gave her twenty-five thousand dollars in bonds. I just wanted her to leave Greta alone."
"Oh, Victoria."
"I didn't know what else to do!"
Brendon sighed, but smiled. "Where did she go next?"
"In the house to get her things and leave."
"Hmm, then it was when she came out again that she was shot."
"Brendon, I must see Greta. Will you come with me?"
"Of course, but you must know she thinks you think she killed her." Brendon paused. "That didn't make much sense did it?"
Victoria laughed, "No, but I understood. I would never think she killed Keltie."
"Good." Suddenly, Brendon yelped.
"What?"
"There was a man at the window!" He rushed over and threw the window open. Brendon stuck his head out of the window, looking for the man. "He's getting away!"
"I'll go around front and see if I can see him!"
Victoria ran towards the door and opened it. She stopped as a man was there. "Er, hello?"
"Victoria! He's getting away!” Half of Brendon’s body was out the window now. “Oh, blast. He's gone. Victoria?"
"Stay right there mister!" yelled the man.
"Who are you?" asked Victoria.
"Detective Malloy, with homicide. We've had our eye on you. Both of you." He pointed at Brendon. "Trying to make a get away, huh?"
"No! There was a man at the window!"
"Sure, sure. Come on, downtown with both of you!"
"But I'm Brendon Urie-Smith! Spencer Smith is my husband!"
Malloy laughed, "Sure, sure. And I'm Mother Goose. Let's go."
Brendon huffed as they were lead away. Victoria sighed and hoped everything worked out.
****
Victoria felt a bead of sweat going down her temple. She'd been at the police station for what seemed like hours. Brendon had been carted off to a jail cell; it must have been Spencer's idea of a joke. Victoria didn't think it was all that funny. Right now, though, Lieutenant Gabe Saporta was questioning her. The Lieutenant was a tall, skinny man. He seemed to have a five-o’clock shadow and he smelled of smoke. It made Victoria want one as well.
"Now, Ms. Asher, were you and Keltie Colleen on good terms?" the Lieutenant asked.
"No," she replied shortly. She just wanted to go home and lie down.
"On bad terms?"
Victoria rolled her eyes. "Very bad."
"You and Mrs. Salpeter-Colleen were engaged once, right?" Saporta put his foot on the edge of her chair. She looked down at it in disgust.
"Yes."
"Hmm," he rubbed his head. "Ever ask her to divorce her wife and marry you?"
"Perhaps. She never would, though," Victoria growled. She was growing tired of the questions. Her head was pounding.
"But you hoped she would!" the cop crowed. "And you thought with Colleen out of the way, she might!"
"I didn't kill Keltie!"
"No, no. But you did pay her off?"
Victoria nodded, abashed. "Yes."
The door to Saporta's office opened and in walked Brendon and Spencer.
"Brendon!" Victoria cried. "You're okay?"
"Yes," Brendon nodded. "My husband decided to teach me a lesson about investigating."
"Let's hope it sticks," Spencer joked. He turned to Saporta. "My husband, Brendon. Brendon, this is Lieutenant Saporta."
Brendon and the Lieutenant shook hands. "Would you sit down please, Mr. Urie-Smith?"
"Sure." Victoria left the chair and Brendon sat down in it.
"Mr. Urie-Smith, why were you at Ms. Asher's apartment?" Saporta asked.
"Well, uh. You see, I," Brendon stuttered. He looked at Victoria and bit his lip.
"Perhaps, I should leave," said Spencer quietly.
Brendon turned around and glared at his husband. "No! It's just, Greta had this cra-er, silly idea that Victoria thought she killed Keltie. She just wanted me to tell Victoria that she didn't."
Victoria sighed and rubbed her forehead. "I don't know why she would think that. I haven't even seen her for a couple of days."
The door was opened again by an officer, who was escorting Greta inside. Brendon scrambled out of his chair. "Greta, darling! Sit down."
Greta smiled weakly at everyone as she sat. She saw Victoria and jumped. "Oh, Vicky! I didn't mean to get you mixed up in all of this."
Victoria shrugged her shoulders. "It's all right."
"Thanks," Saporta said to the cop leaving his office. He turned to Greta and said, "Mrs. Salpeter-Colleen, why would Ms. Asher think you killed your wife?"
"I never said that! I never thought it for one minute!" Victoria yelled.
Saporta waved her off and watched Greta intently. "Well?"
"She had ever right to think I did. She's just trying to protect me," Greta said faintly. "Vicky heard a shot and rushed over to me. She saw me standing over Keltie with a gun in my hand."
"Aha!" Saporta exclaimed.
Victoria saw Spencer roll his eyes.
"Anyway," Greta continued, "I didn't fire the shot, though. It came from around the street. I'm sure of it."
"You mean," Victoria asked, stunned. "You didn't kill her?"
"Just look at the gun, Vicky. It hasn't been fired."
"Oh, Greta. Forgive me."
"Of course I do," Greta smiled at Victoria sweetly.
"Well," said Spencer. "Now that's cleared up, let's go, Brendon." He took his husband's hand and made to leave.
"It isn't cleared up, just yet," Saporta claimed. "Not until we have a look at that gun. Where is it, Mrs. Salpeter-Colleen? Where is the gun?"
"I-I don't have it," Greta stumbled.
"What?" Spencer asked.
"Victoria took it from me, to protect me. Victoria, what did you do with the gun?"
Victoria put her face in her hands. "I'm sorry," she said in a muffled voice.
"What do you mean?" Greta's voice got higher pitched.
Victoria sighed and looked at her. "I threw the gun away. I thought you were guilty and it was the only thing that came to mind."
"You threw it away!" Greta stood up and approached Victoria. "Where? Where did you throw it?"
"Into the river."
Spencer sighed and banged his head on the wall. "Isn't that fantastic?"
Brendon poked him in the side and rushed to Greta. "It'll be okay," he said soothingly.
"But they can get it back! I can show them exactly where I threw it! I'll get divers to go get it! They'll have to find it!" Victoria's voice was frantic.
"Phooey!" Saporta yelled. "I think you threw it away on purpose. You don't want it back anymore than she does!" He walked over to his desk and picked up the phone. He dialed a number and said, "Swear out a warrant for the arrest of Mrs. Greta Salpeter-Colleen for suspicion of murder!"
"Murder!" Greta cried out as she fainted. Brendon caught her before she hit the floor. Spencer helped get her back into the chair.
"It'll be okay," Brendon said. "Spencer will fix this."
Victoria turned away and bit her lip. She certainly hoped it would be okay.
PART 2
