Megan's Legacy

Megan's Legacy by Deidre Dalton is Book #8 in the Collective Obsessions Saga.

Megan Larkin falls for dashing Boston attorney Luke Castaneda, a newcomer to Larkin City. Locals try to warn Luke about Megan's family, their history of madness and tragedy, but he is determined to make her his wife. Other elements are at work to ensure the union never takes place, bringing another veil of evil over the Larkin's and their self-named city in the guise of a serial killer. Megan is forced to discover the truth and to set herself free from a legacy of family secrets and obsessions.

From Chapter Fifteen

September 2007

Larkin City, Maine

ALTHOUGH HER WEB DESIGN business hadn't suffered since she took on the art gallery project, Megan had precious little free time. She arrived at her office on the harbor at six in the morning, six days a week to stay current with the work. She hired a new assistant six months after Kerry Matheson was killed, a twenty-year-old named Kay O'Neill who was attended LCU in pursuit of degrees in web design and information technology. Kay was short and heavyset with flaming red hair and a toothy grin. She always brought treats to the office. When she discovered Megan loved oatmeal raisin cookies, a holdover from her great-grandmother Jennifer Sullivan, Kay baked a batch for her boss at least once a week.

Usually by mid-afternoon, Megan was free to dash over to Colm's cottage on Cove Hollow Circle. She met with Ben frequently, both of them closely watching the redecoration progress being undertaken by Bennett Blueprints. Megan was confidant they would be ready for the gallery opening, which was scheduled for Friday, 18th April 2008, a week past the 75th anniversary of Colm's death.

She also developed a friendship with Finley Cooper over the summer. He visited his mother Petra for two weeks in July, and then again in September. Being a professional architect, he was interested in Megan's project and offered to contribute. He suggested adding public bathrooms on each floor of the cottage, and recommended the construction of a snack kiosk in the garden. In the process, Finley and Kip became friends as well. They had one major point in common, their affection and fascination for Megan, which naturally drew them together.

The passage of summer was like a blur for Megan. Luke was busy, too, handling multiple divorce, child custody and bankruptcy cases. His reputation was stellar in the community, especially when it became known he took on pro-bono legal cases for less financially endowed residents of Larkin City. Once a week, he travelled Waldo County and beyond to meet with prospective new clients. Megan began to feel they were like two ships passing in the night for all she saw her husband.

Her typical work day usually ended after eight o'clock at night.  However, she made the effort to leave the gallery early one Friday afternoon in September, determined to go home and prepare dinner for Luke. She stopped at the grocery store to buy two steaks, fresh broccoli and a pre-made cheesecake.

When she got home, Kiki greeted her with enthusiastic meows. Megan picked her up and held her close, scratching her neck and behind her ears. Kiki purred and flexed her paws, gazing at Megan adoringly.

After changing into blue jeans and a white sweater top, Megan marinated the steaks in teriyaki sauce and freshly minced garlic. She trimmed and washed the broccoli, placing the flowerets in her electric steamer. She took a few minutes to set the dining room table, placing a wine glass by each plate.

Just as she returned to the kitchen, she heard the front door open. She was glad for Luke's timing. Now they could relax together before she started cooking dinner, enjoy a glass of wine and a rare moment alone.

He walked slowly into the kitchen, carrying his briefcase, looking at her in surprise. "What are you doing home so early?"

Megan was taken aback by his tone. He looked surprised to see her, true, but almost resentful she was there.

"I wanted to make dinner for you," she replied, forcing herself to sound cheerful. "I told Ben and Fin I was coming home early today, no matter what."

"Oh," he said faintly. "Finley's still around?"

"He's leaving on Monday," Megan answered abruptly, irritated by his tepid response. "Why?"

Luke shrugged. "Just asking, Meggie. No need to get your feathers in a ruffle."

She could no longer hold her temper. "I made an effort to get home early tonight, but you don't seem to give a damn. What's wrong with you?"

"What do you want from me?" he asked coldly. "I hardly see you anymore. Do you expect me to be grateful because you've decided to grace me with your presence?"

"I've been working, just like you."

"Doing what?"

"I've been working my ass off, and you . . ."

He tossed his briefcase onto the counter with a thud, causing Kiki to scatter from the kitchen. "Is it more important to you to design web sites and fuck around with some old paintings than spending time with your husband? It's not like you have to work in the first place."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she cried out angrily.

"Exactly what I said, Megan. You're filthy rich, your Daddy's rich, your whole damned family is rich. You don't have to work another day of your life if you don't want to, and yet there you are every morning, leaving at the crack of dawn and not coming home until after dark."

"How dare you talk to me like that?" she demanded furiously.

He glared at her. "God forbid I should talk to one of the Larkin's without kissing ass first."

"Go to hell," she snarled. She whirled on her feet and walked hurriedly to the bedroom. She heard the front door open and then slam shut. Determined, she took her old suitcase from the closet and began throwing clothes inside. She gathered her toiletries from the bathroom, shoving them on top of her clothes.

She heard Luke's Bronco peel out of the driveway just as she latched the suitcase closed. She sat on the bed, shedding angry tears. Kiki crept into the room tentatively, looking around cautiously. When she saw Megan was alone, she jumped on the bed with her.

"We're getting out of here," she said through her sobs, taking Kiki in her arms. "Luke is just downright mean, and I'm not going to stay in his house another minute. He has a whole lot of apologizing to do before I even consider stepping back through that front door."

She took Kiki and the suitcase to the hallway. She found Kiki's white travel carrier and put the cat inside. She wiped her eyes with a tissue and ran her hands through her hair.

She hesitated, briefly faltering in her course of action. She and Luke had never argued like that before. She was hurt by his words and digs at her family. Was it how he really felt, or was he just lashing out? She was beyond infuriated with her husband, but wasn't that what marriage was about? Working through highs and lows, ups and downs? She loved him, no matter that his cruel words wounded her heart.

"I won't accept anything less than an apology from him," she finally decided. "If I let him think he can get away with talking to me so disrespectfully, he'll just do it again."

Grabbing her suitcase and Kiki's carrier, Megan left the house without looking back.

THE MANSION WAS QUIET when Megan arrived just after seven o'clock. Leaving her suitcase and Kiki's carrier in the foyer, she peeked her head into the drawing room.

Shannon was on the settee with Lee, both of them reading a book. A blanket was spread on the floor in front of the settee, where four-year-old Gabe Page slept soundly under Shannon's watchful eye. The child bore an uncanny resemblance to his father Jamie and therefore the late Scott Page, his handsome little face framed by black hair and long lashes as he slumbered.

Sean and Dana were playing a game of Go Fish on a table by the French doors, which were open to let in sweet air from the rose garden. In surprise, Megan noticed Mary Larkin sitting in a chair by the cold fireplace, where she was knitting a stack of dish clothes.

Shannon sensed a presence and looked up. She brightened when she saw Megan standing in the doorway. "Fancy seeing you here," she exclaimed, keeping her tone low as not to waken Gabe. She gestured to her grandson. "I had one hell of a time getting him to settle down. He refused to go upstairs, so I let him crash on the floor." She set her book on the settee. "Jamie went out of town with a friend for the weekend and Désirée wanted a night to herself, so I'm playing babysitter until tomorrow morning."

Megan stepped into the room. At once, Shannon could see Liam's daughter was upset by her red and watery eyes, and her trembling chin. "What's wrong?" Shannon asked, concern in her voice.

"Is Daddy here?"

Shannon shook her head. "No, he just left for Petra's tasting event at the winery. Would you like to call him, ask him to come home?"

"No, I don't want to spoil his evening." She took a deep breath. "Luke and I had a fight," Megan said, her voice catching. "Is it okay if I stay here tonight? I brought Kiki with me."

Shannon patted the space next to her on the settee. "Of course you can stay. This will always be your home, Megan."

Dana and Mary left their places and came to Megan, enveloping her with a hug.

"Sit down and tell us all about it," Dana murmured kindly. "You know we're always here for you."

LYLE GOULD WORKED LATE on Friday. He sent Curtis Day home, and then sequestered himself in the conference room at police headquarters. Using the table, he laid out his suspect list and file folders full of financial data and alibi witness statements.

After examining bank statements and verifying time frames, he stared at the suspect list for a long time. Months of doubt over Mark Balsam's theory flew out the window. The crusty old detective had been right all along. There was no way around it now.

Flipping open his cell phone, Lyle made a quick call to the mayor as promised. Then he dialed Curtis Day's number to summon him back on duty.

They finally had an arrest to make.