Murder of the Eccentric Billionaire_A Jolene Park-Attorney At Law, Cozy Mystery by Liz Turner

Author:Liz Turner [Turner, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

Resentment

The Fielder residence was a sprawling multi-building estate. A large iron gate rounded the property, but did little to offer privacy. Foster Fielder seemed to have wanted his wealth immediately apparent to passers-by. His neighbors, if you could call them that, lived so far down the road that their homes couldn’t be seen from his. Bright green grass blanketed the lawn that led to the main residence, in addition to all the others, unencumbered by bushes or plants, save for a row of neatly planted palm trees lining the drive to the side garage. The home itself was made of sturdy light brick walls, had a domed gray roof, and high arched white-washed doorways.

Jolene pulled her sunglasses to the top of her head as she peered through the bars of the gate, taking in the scene as she waited to be buzzed in. She had a meeting with Lucas and Rebekah Auen, Lucy’s aunt and uncle, who had been apparently living in the Foster household for some time. They seemed to Jolene to be the perfect people to testify to Lucy’s relationship with Foster, and since the state hadn’t made any moves to secure them as witnesses for the inevitable trial, Jolene suspected their loyalties might lie with their young niece.

Or, she thought, biting her lip, Lucy has already been coerced into pleading guilty and now witnesses aren’t needed…

She had called the Auen’s to explain that she believed Lucy was being railroaded into fitting the state’s idea of the guilty party. Lucas, to whom she’d spoken, had sounded sad and somber on the phone. Nevertheless, he agreed, if somewhat apathetically, to have Jolene over for lunch to see if they could help in any way.

A clicking sound came from the big gate before it opened noiselessly. When Jolene had parked her car, she stepped her way down the manicured path to the front door. The arched doorway towered above her comically; the house was even bigger than it looked. Before she had a chance to ring the bell, a man with wiry black hair receding past his ears opened the door.

He smiled politely and stepped aside to let her pass. “You must be Jolene Park.”

“Yes. And you are Lucas Auen?”

“The one and only,” he said, although his smile was steadily drooping from his face.

He led the way to a dining room.

Jolene marveled at the house’s rich wooden furniture and impossibly high ceilings. She noted an abundance of plants peeking out from the corners in each room or hanging in small baskets off sconces. “Who’s the green thumb?” she asked warmly.

“That was all Foster. Loved those things like children.” Lucas took off his glasses and cleaned them on his shirt. “Would you like a cup of coffee or tea? Hot chocolate?”

“I’d love some coffee, thank you.”

Lucas nodded. He disappeared into the kitchen and returned with two mugs.

Jolene accepted the one he held out to her. “Will Mrs. Auen be joining us?” she asked.

“No,” he said, his mouth a straight line. “She’s off doing something or the other.

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