Fixing To Die

An’gel was inclined to believe that Marcelline was right, that Alesha Jackson was Arletta Jackson’s granddaughter. That fact would certainly explain Alesha Jackson’s interest in Cliffwood. An’gel had never really bought into the idea that the so-called psychic had heard the spirit of Cliffwood calling to her. She didn’t believe the woman had a psychic bone in her body, now that Marcelline had exposed her. Her grandmother could easily have told her about the people at Cliffwood and about meeting the young Marcelline. It wouldn’t have taken much work for Alesha Jackson to find out details about the current inhabitants. The two maids who did most of the heavy cleaning could well be the source.

The forthcoming interview with Ms. Jackson promised to be interesting, and An’gel looked forward to it. She had the advantage now because Ms. Jackson would have no idea that An’gel knew who she really was. Would the woman admit it, though? Perhaps Benjy could dig up information on the family, now that An’gel had the putative grandparents’ names.

Benjy ought to be here soon. An’gel decided she had better rouse her sister and fill her in on the fascinating information from Marcelline. She met Benjy in the hall, laptop under his arm, Endora on his shoulder, and Peanut on the leash.

“Go on in,” An’gel said. “I’m going to get Dickce.”

A few minutes later, the group was comfortably situated in An’gel’s room. Dickce occupied the other armchair, Endora in her lap. Peanut lay stretched out beside Benjy, who was sitting on the floor, his computer open on his lap. An’gel related the story of Arletta Jackson, and both Dickce and Benjy were astonished.

Benjy started tapping the keys on the computer and was quickly engrossed in a search for details about the family of Alesha Jackson.

While he worked, An’gel and Dickce talked.

“If all this is true,” Dickce said, “what do you think her motive is in coming here? And why didn’t she just explain who she really is, do you think?”

“She might have been intending simply to scam Mary Turner for the money she was asking for ridding the house of its ghost,” An’gel said. “Or she might want more. If her father really was Marshall’s son, Alesha might feel that he should have part ownership in the house and in anything Marshall Junior inherited.”

“At the time Marshall Senior died, that would have been a significant amount,” Dickce said. “But by the time Marshall Junior and his wife died, basically all they had left was this house.”

“And the business they turned it into,” An’gel said. “It’s a pity that Marshall Junior didn’t inherit his father’s head for business or his knack for making money.”

“No, he was too much like his mother in that regard,” Dickce said. “They managed fine on what Marshall Senior left until Junior was grown, at least.”

“Alesha Jackson might think there’s money somewhere besides the house,” An’gel said.

“If Marshall Senior didn’t mention his other son in his will, I don’t see that Alesha has any legal claim, nor does her father. I wonder if he’s still living.”

“He isn’t,” Benjy said. “He died three months ago. I found an obituary, and it mentions the surviving family members. ‘Survived by his mother, Mrs. Arletta Jackson; his wife, Laura Ann; and his daughter, Alesha. Preceded in death by his father, Lonnie Jackson, and a sister, Aretha Jackson.’” He looked up from the computer. “They lived in a town called Port Gibson.”

“Not far from Natchez,” An’gel said.

“Maybe Alesha didn’t know about her grandfather until her father died,” Dickce said. “Do you think that’s possible? And maybe his death set her onto finding about her father’s other family?”

“That’s possible, I suppose,” An’gel said. “I intend to find out when we talk to Ms. Jackson later.”

“You think there might be another motive, besides money, I mean?” Benjy said. “Like revenge?”

“Possibly,” An’gel said. “I think her motives in coming here are complex. The desire for money, revenge, recognition maybe.”

“Would she have any reason to kill Nathan Gamble?” Benjy asked. “Maybe her coming here had nothing to do with him.”

“I can’t see a connection myself,” Dickce said. “Can you, Sister?”

An’gel shook her head. “No, there’s no immediate connection that I can see. Of course, Nathan and Serenity are her cousins, too. Same degree of relationship as they are to Mary Turner. Alesha Jackson could very well have known Nathan in another context, though she and Serenity don’t appear to know each other.”

“No, I don’t remember seeing any kind of sign that they knew each other,” Dickce said. “They could be pretending not to know each other.”

“I can’t imagine why, unless they’re involved in some sort of conspiracy,” An’gel said. “And frankly Serenity doesn’t impress me as intelligent enough to handle any kind of responsibility for some sort of undercover scheme.”

Dickce snorted with laughter. “No, she doesn’t me either.”

“I think I found the connection,” Benjy said. “The one between Alesha Jackson and Nathan Gamble, that is.”