In Sickness and in Death

When the last slice of pizza disappeared, Ray took the empty box and threw it on the breakfast counter. Then he hitched his chair closer to the table and fixed his gaze on Danny.

Danny didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy watching the clock. “Am I still going to be able to visit my dad tonight?”

I held my breath and prayed. Say “yes,” Ray, say “yes.”

Ray glanced at the clock over the stove. It read quarter to seven. “Visiting hours are from seven to nine weeknights. We can still make it, but, first, we have to talk.”

Danny tried to read his face and failed. “I’m sorry about the fight at school.”

“We can talk about that later. Right now I want to talk about Thanksgiving night when you smashed Erica’s and Brennan’s cars.”

Danny swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t enough, Danny. You have to take responsibility for your actions. Jolene and I have talked it over. You need to pay for the damages to those vehicles, at least the insurance deductibles. You’re going to have to work at Jolene’s sports car boutique after school, helping Cory with the repairs and anything else he or Jolene ask you to do.”

My mouth dropped open. We had no such discussion. This was Ray at his best, solving the problem and making decisions for me. “Ahh …”

Ray paid no attention to me. “Are we agreed, Danny?”

“Yes, sir.”

My lips compressed into a thin line of anger. If Ray had asked me, I would have told him how Danny felt about Cory and the complications that might arise from forcing them to work together. Now I would have to deal with that, too.

Ray patted Danny on the shoulder. “Good. Do you have any homework tonight?”

“Just one math sheet.”

“Get it done by seven-thirty, and we’ll head over to the jail.”

As soon as Danny left the room, I whacked Ray on the arm and hissed, “We never talked about any of that. You’re sticking me with him again.”

“Remember that the next time you forget to inform me about Danny’s behavior.”

Why did I feel like I was being disciplined too? “Fine. Then you can take him to school tomorrow and deal with Mrs. Travis.”

“I’m planning on it. I want to get a look at this kid who called me a pig. He bears watching.” Ray wiggled his eyebrows.

When I didn’t laugh, Ray reached over and took my hand in his. “Let’s talk some more about who might have wanted to take a shot at you this afternoon. Have you been pissing off anybody besides me lately?” He smiled to take the edge off his words.

I pulled my hand from his anyway. “I don’t know, Ray. I’ve been asking around town about Maury Boor. No one admitted to knowing anything about him, but maybe they were lying.”

Ray let out a heavy breath. “I took his picture into The Cat’s Meow and showed it to the staff. He’s been in there before, but none of them remembered if he was there on Josie … Jessica James’ last night.”

“Were any of them receiving roses from him?”

“No.”

“Other women at In-house Textiles did. He had them all pretty freaked out.”

“Their HR manager mentioned that when I spoke to her.” Ray rubbed his forehead. The lines on it seemed deeper than a few months ago. Had I contributed to the tension that caused them? When had he started looking so tired?

I grabbed his hand as he lowered it to the table and held on tight.

He glanced at me, seeming both surprised and pleased. “Maury resigned two weeks ago. He just finished out the month to get a few more dollars in vacation pay. He’d only worked there since August anyway.”

“Did he get another job?”

“She didn’t know. He gave his two weeks’ notice and left. I got the impression they were glad to see him go, considering his effect on the women in the office.”

“I’m surprised they didn’t fire him.”

“They had reassigned him to a territory that required him to come in early to get the deliveries. That way he didn’t see any of the women. The HR manager said that made most of the problem disappear.

“The Buffalo PD stopped by the address listed on his registration. It’s a furnished apartment. The landlord hadn’t seen Maury in a week or so, but the rent is paid up through today. He promised to call if Maury showed up.”

I stifled a sigh. “So we’re no closer to finding Maury or Erica.”

“I’m afraid not.”

“What about Jessica James’ body?”

Ray squeezed my hand. “It’s hunting season. We’re hoping someone will stumble over her.”

I got a visual of that in my head. A bit of bile burned the back of my throat.

Danny appeared behind Ray wearing his jacket. “I finished my homework.”

Ray slapped his hands on the table and rose to his full and intimidating height. “Then let’s go.”

____


I sat down and tried to concentrate on reading the newspaper, but the words blurred and jumbled in my mind. Ray’s question came back to haunt me. Who had I pissed off this week?

If Maury Boor had made off with my sister for either good or nefarious purposes, he might not like to have me hot on his trail. But which of the many people I’d spoken to about him had leaked my questions back to him? No one had really had a kind word for him. It was hard to imagine any of them secretly passing information about my visit on to him. Still, stranger things have happened. Or maybe Erica had told him I would never rest until I found her. Maybe Maury thought he’d put me to rest instead.

I rose and closed the living room shutters. No sense making a target of myself.

I dropped back onto the sofa.

My only other new acquaintance this week was Leslie Flynn. From all appearances, she now loved me. She had a new style, more confidence, and no further interest in purchasing a Caterham at this time. All that and I hadn’t even charged her a penny. In fact, I bought her lunch. Although I never sold her anything, I’d list her as a satisfied customer. Surely she wasn’t mad at me for talking her out of buying a Caterham.

But I had asked her about her brother and if he knew Jessica James a.k.a. Josie Montalvo. She never got back to me on that question. What if she had asked her brother and mentioned my name during the course of the conversation? Would he come after me for some unknown reason? It seemed strange he would run from me in the grocery store then come back to shoot at me. Could he have a connection to Jessica James’ death? He was known to frequent The Cat’s Meow. I would have to ask Ray if he could get Leslie’s brother’s DMV picture to show the girls who worked there. Maybe he’d been one of the men Jessica had arranged to meet outside of work.

Otherwise, I was at a loss to figure out who would want to take a shot at me. Whoever it was must have seen Danny sitting in the Lexus, but hadn’t had any interest in him. Or were the shots fired because of him? Ray hadn’t interrogated Danny about his father, because he couldn’t be the bad cop and the boy’s foster father, too. But I had asked Danny a lot of questions and gotten some pretty interesting information about his father in return. Ray had questioned his father after that. Did Ray let it slip that Danny had confided in me? Had his father spoken with one of his friends and sent one after me to prevent Danny from confiding in me any further? I would have to ask Ray if Danny’s father had received any other visitors at the jail.

Danny’s father must know that Jessica James was dead and that he topped the suspect list. Maybe the attack had been designed to frighten me into asking Social Services to place Danny with another family. All the shots had missed, after all. Or maybe someone thought having shots fired at me would cause Social Services to take Danny away from us, preventing him from sharing any more information that might point to his father as a killer. Shots fired in our home had been one factor in the judge’s decision to award custody of our sweet foster baby, Noelle, to her birthmother. Anyone who read the local paper would know that.

I got up and started to pace, watching the clock and waiting for Ray to come home. Did Danny know more that might incriminate his father? What would his father tell Danny tonight about his mother and aunt? Were Ray and I dismissing an obvious link? All I had was unanswered questions.

And where the hell was Erica? Did Maury Boor figure into all this somehow? Was my sister in danger from him, or just herself like usual?

I started straightening stacks of magazines and blowing dust off the mantel, anything to take my mind off my worries. It didn’t work.

When Ray and Danny walked through the door hours later at nine-thirty, I was in the kitchen making a cup of Chamomile tea to calm my overwrought nerves.

I darted into the living room just in time to see Danny’s bedroom door close behind him.

Ray hung up his coat and followed me into the kitchen. He took a stool at the breakfast bar. “Danny wants to be left alone.”

“Why?” I offered Ray tea, which he declined. Then I climbed onto the stool next to him. “What happened?”

“Danny saw his father in the visitor’s area. I waited outside in the lobby.”

“Did Danny tell you what they talked about?”

“No, but I could tell he’d been crying when he came out.”

“Did you ask him why?”

“No, Jolene. Danny was trying to hide the fact he’d been crying. Maybe it upset him that he could only see his father on the other side of the glass. Maybe it’s dawning on him that his father isn’t going to be released, and he’s stuck with us. It could be he’s just sad. I wasn’t going to ride him about it. You ask him tomorrow when I’m not around. He’ll tell you.”

“But, Ray—” I stopped short and told myself it wouldn’t do any good to ride Ray, either. Instead, I filled him in on my tortured thoughts from earlier in the evening.

He heard me out and gave my ideas a few minutes of thought.

I started to get antsy, squirming on my barstool. “So, what do you think?”

“It’s not Danny’s father.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Danny’s father doesn’t know Danny confided in you, unless Danny told him. And even if Danny did, the guy hasn’t had any visitors other than Danny. He hasn’t placed any phone calls. His only contact has been with his public defender, who would never help arrange for a hit on you, Darlin’. It doesn’t fit.

“But I will look into Leslie Flynn’s brother. Leslie may have gone home today and asked him about Erica and The Cat’s Meow. Maybe that tipped him off. He might have denied the whole thing to her, but now he knows you’re interested in him. He may also know you’re married to me. That fits.”

Ray stood and stretched his arms toward the ceiling. “I’ll check him out first thing in the morning. And I have the whole department on the lookout for Erica. She and Maury are bound to turn up soon.”

His shirt slid out of his waistband and hitched up, exposing his hip bones and muscled abs and the fine dark hairs around his belly button.

I couldn’t take my eyes off him.

He noticed. His hand slid under my chin, lifting my face. His normally copper-colored eyes looked black. “I’ll keep everyone safe. I promise.”

I smelled coffee on his breath. I didn’t drink coffee, but I sure loved the smell of it. It always reminded me of Ray.

A shiver racked my body.

He rubbed his nose against mine and planted a wet kiss on its tip. “What is it?”

I was thinking Ray never liked to go long without sex, either. It had been a couple months now. He’d been awfully patient with me. Maybe he’d been a little depressed after Noelle’s departure, too. He’d just chosen to work through it differently.

He stepped back, waiting for my answer.

I pulled my legs up onto the stool and slid onto my knees, bringing my face level with his. I held out my arms.

He stepped into them.

I wrapped my legs around his waist and whispered in his ear.

His arms tightened around me with alarming intensity.

“A born-again virgin? Awesome.”





The next morning I couldn’t get the stupid grin off my face. I felt like Scarlett O’Hara the morning after a drunken Rhett ravaged her. Even Ray had a new spring in his step and added warmth to his voice. We were back in the groove as a couple.

Danny kept sneaking looks at us over breakfast, but he didn’t say anything. Hopefully Ray and I hadn’t made too much noise last night. I wondered what Danny knew about sex. Wasn’t sixth grade the year the kids lost their innocence about that issue forever when the school health teacher showed up? Would Ray and I still be his foster parents when the time arrived to talk about sex? When Ray and I went to school, they told us about the birds and the bees. Now we have the birds and the bees, the bees who preferred bees, the birds who preferred birds, the birds that looked like bees but liked birds and vice versa and versa vice-a, then the birds who actually had the surgery and took the medication to become bees or vice versa. Who could explain all that with a “don’t-worry-it’s-all-part-of-growing-up and growing-up-is-great” face?

I pushed that intimidating thought out of my mind. Nothing was going to ruin my day. It didn’t even bother me when Ray suggested I accompany him and Danny to see Principal Travis in her office. I had a new pair of pants to wear.

Ray followed my Lexus to the school parking lot and kept his eyes open as we entered the building. With all the buses circling, the masses of kids milling about, and Danny inches from my elbow, I doubted anyone would take a shot at me on the school grounds anyway.

When the secretary ushered us into Principal Travis’ office, we found another boy and his parents waiting with Mrs. Travis. The boy’s nose was in a splint, both eyes red, purple, and black. He reminded me of the riddle what’s black and white and red all over?

I tried to arrange my face into a sympathetic expression as I sat down.

Principal Travis introduced us to the other boy’s parents and the boy. His father rose and shook Ray’s hand. His mother gave me a tentative smile. Neither of our sons acknowledged each other.

Danny’s left knee bounced up and down, up and down, up and down. I couldn’t watch it anymore. I stilled it with my hand and shook my head.

He frowned.

Mrs. Travis folded her hands and leaned forward. “I met with Danny and Scottie yesterday. Scottie admits to taunting Danny and referring to Deputy Parker as a ‘pig’.”

She gave Ray an apologetic smile before continuing, “Danny admits to punching Scottie first. According to the teachers who broke up the fight, it was pretty much a free-for-all after that. I did sit down with the boys yesterday. They apologized to each other and shook hands.”

She glanced between Danny and Scottie. “How are you boys feeling today?”

Both shrugged in response.

She nodded and began to alternate her gaze between Ray and me and Scottie’s parents. “Danny and Scottie will receive a mandatory three-day suspension. If they are involved in any sort of fisticuffs again, with each other or anyone else, they will be expelled.

“Do you understand, boys?” She shifted her gaze to the boys in turn.

Danny and Scottie nodded.

“The boys can return to school on Monday. In the meantime—” she tapped two piles of books and folders in front of her, “—their teacher assembled their classroom work for the rest of the week. He’ll correct it all on Monday then test them on it. Do you have any questions?”

Oddly enough, none of us did. I think we didn’t dare.

Outside the school, Danny climbed into the Lexus while Ray and I shook hands with the other boy’s parents one last time. I hoped I’d never see them again.

We watched them get in their car and drive off. Ray shook his head. “You know who they are, don’t you?”

I shook my head. “Who?”

“They own the vineyard on the west side of the lake, the one next door to the big hog farm. They’ve been very vocal opponents of hog farming.”

“So you’re not the only pig they’re against.” I smiled.

“Nice, Darlin’, really nice.” Ray leaned on his patrol car. “Can you take Danny to the shop with you?”

“I guess I’ll have to.”

“When he needs a break from his schoolwork, he can start helping Cory.”

I didn’t look forward to that. Maybe I’d take a leaf from Principal Travis’ book and develop my own good behavior policy. “I’ll have Cory call Brennan and ask him to bring in his car. Maybe I’ll pick Erica’s car up from The Lincoln House, too.” If I couldn’t find her spare key in her apartment, I could always have Danny hotwire it. A man should practice his skills, right? That would be our little secret.

Ray followed my car to the shop and pulled his patrol car into the drive behind me. “I didn’t see any tail. I’m going to drive by as often as I can, just in case.”

He waved. I blew him a kiss.

Danny observed us with a glum expression.

I didn’t think now would be the time to ask him about last night’s visit with his father, not while he was still reeling from the meeting with Principal Travis this morning. I decided to give him a few hours to regain his confidence instead.

Danny followed me into the shop, shoulders slumped and feet shuffling. But when we walked into the showroom, Danny’s eyes lit up at the sight of the Ferrari. “Is that yours?”

“It’s for sale. Until then, it’s mine.” Or the bank’s. I can share.

He ran over to the car and leapt into the driver’s seat. “It’s so cool. I can’t believe nobody bought it.”

I couldn’t tell a twelve-year-old the story of the dead man in the passenger seat, could I? He’d have nightmares. On the other hand, Ray’s ghost stories hadn’t bothered Danny the other night.

I filled him in on the ghost now riding shotgun. “So, that’s why it may never sell. It makes people too uncomfortable.”

“I’d buy it. It’s awesome.”

“I’m glad you like it.” That made one of us, sadly not one with any income. “Come on, Danny. You can sit here and do your work.” I led him behind the showroom reception counter and set him up with pencils and pens.

He gazed at the pile of books and folders without much enthusiasm.

I sat on the edge of the desk. “Cory will be here at nine. Ray said you can work with him after a couple hours of schoolwork. When you do, you will be polite and respectful. You will respond when spoken to and do exactly what he says. We can’t afford any more mistakes.”

Danny’s eyes darkened.

I waited for an argument. It never came. “Okay. Get started on your work. I’ll be in my office.”

A stack of mail waited for me. I sorted through the payments, invoices, and junk, watching Danny out of the corner of my eye. He’d opened his books and his pencil appeared to be moving across the page. Poor kid, nothing had gone right for him lately, but we couldn’t risk having him expelled from school. Wachobe only had one school, and I wasn’t the home schooling type.

Cory breezed through the door at one minute to nine, stopping in the middle of the showroom when he spied Danny.

“Hey, Danny, what’re you doing here?”

“I got suspended.”

“For fighting?”

Danny nodded.

“Bummer.” Cory peered over the top of the reception desk. “Geez, they make you do homework when you’re suspended? That stinks.” He entered my office and dropped into the chair across from me, leaning forward to whisper, “Nice shiner.”

I rolled my eyes. “The other kid’s got a broken nose and two black eyes.”

Cory whistled.

I moved on. “Listen, do you think Brennan wants to bring his Mercedes in for repairs? Ray would like Danny to help you complete them, you know, to pay off the deductible.”

“Brennan’s not worried about the deductible.”

“At least he’s still speaking to you. I bet he doesn’t want to eat Thanksgiving dinner at our house again.”

Cory stood and waved his hand at me as if to say forget-about-it. “He had his own wild childhood. The Danny thing didn’t faze him as much as you. I’ll call him now and see if he has time to drop off the Mercedes.”

I picked up the phone as Cory disappeared into the garage. I dialed Leslie Flynn’s number. After seven rings, I almost hung up. Then I heard her voice.

“Hi, Leslie. This is Jolene Parker. How are you?”

A few seconds passed then the voice said, “This is her brother. I’ll get her for you.”

I heard him put down the receiver and walk away. Then I heard footsteps moving toward the phone. “Hey, Jolene, what’s up?”

“You and your brother sound just alike.”

“We are twins.”

“I guess so. Listen, I hate to bother you, but did he ever tell you if he’d talked with my sister?”

“He did! I think she scared him a little. He likes to look at girls, but he’s afraid to talk to them. She came right up and hit on him. She ah … came on a little too strong.”

Like when she asked him if he was big all over? “Sometimes she scares me, too. Did he know the missing girl, Josie Montalvo?”

“No.”

Her answer was a little too fast for my comfort. “How do you know?”

“I read about her disappearance in the newspaper, and I asked him. He saw her on stage, that’s all. Like I said, he never talks to girls. He just looks.”

I wondered about a guy who just looked, but not as much as I wondered about a sister who knew all about her brother’s desires to look. It seemed like an odd thing for a brother and sister to discuss over the breakfast or dinner table. Of course, Erica and I talked about things like that, but we were both girls.

Leslie went on, “I meant to call you. We didn’t get to really talk until late last night. We spent most of the day fussing with the milking machines and milking the cows by hand. We didn’t eat supper until after eight.”

The shots had been fired at me around four in the afternoon. Leslie’s brother hadn’t known I was interested in him then. He’d been milking cows. He wasn’t the shooter. I sighed.

“Something wrong, Jolene?”

“No, not a thing. Hey, what about the guy you were interested in? What did he think of your new look?”

“He didn’t come by today.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Eh, the eggs are available every day. My time will come.”

“I’m sure it will.”

After we said our goodbyes, Cory appeared in my doorway. “Brennan’s going to take me out to lunch later, then we’ll stop by his house for the Mercedes and I’ll drive it back here. In the meantime, I’m going to keep taking his Mazda apart.”

“Why are you taking his new race car apart?”

“He bought it used. I want to go over it thoroughly and make sure it’s not only going to run well on the track but that it’s safe. I’m going to check every line, wire, and bolt.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

He pointed his index finger at me. “I was hoping you’d ask. I could use a donut, a fried cake with chocolate frosting.”

Cory and I had a tight relationship with the bakery down the street. A donut for breakfast one day, a cupcake for lunch the next. I could gain back all my weight loss by just thinking about what I’d consumed from them in the past. Still, a donut did sound good. I could walk down to the bakery and back to offset the calories.

“I’ll go get some.”

Cory gave me two thumbs up. “Thanks.”

I walked out to the reception desk. “Danny, I’m going to the bakery for donuts. What’s your favorite?”

For the first time today, he smiled. “I like powdered with raspberry jelly.”

“Okay. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Cory’s in the garage if you need anything.”

I set off down the sidewalk, walking as briskly as two-inch heel dress boots allowed, enjoying the sun at first. Halfway there, I realized I was in the open air, easy pickings for any sniper who might be watching me. I should have driven.

I walked faster, keeping an eye on all the approaching cars. It would be hard to shoot me from the far lane, wouldn’t it? Who would take the chance at this time of day, with all the other cars and people around? Darn it, did we really need donuts anyway?

By the time I reached the bakery, I’d broken out in a sweat, and not from the weather or my exertion. I could feel my heart pushing against my chest.

My eyes must have looked a little wild, because the clerk hurried to get my donuts and rushed me out the door, right back into the full view of anyone who wanted to kill me.

I walked home on the opposite side of the street, so I could watch the oncoming cars again and glance over my shoulder to make sure no one was sneaking up behind me. In the end, I was side-stepping like a crab.

“Ugh.” I smacked into someone on the sidewalk, knocking the wind out of me.

“Jolene, what’s the matter with you?”

I turned my head to find Celeste Martin glaring at me.

“Sorry, Celeste. I was just … looking over my shoulder.”

She inserted the key in the entrance to Talbots. “Afraid someone’s going to take a shot at you again?”

“How do you know about that?” Ray had promised it wouldn’t be in the news.

“The manager of the P&C goes to my church. It was all he could talk about last night at choir practice.” She held the door to her store open as if waiting for me to follow her inside. I didn’t want to, but then again, maybe I did.

Celeste turned on all the lights and headed to the back of the store. I tagged along behind her, clutching my bag of donuts.

She locked her purse under the counter and turned the key in the cash register. “I wanted to talk to you alone anyway.”

“You did? What about?”

Celeste rested her hands on the counter. “There’s something funny about your friend Leslie.”

“What do you mean?”

She pursed her lips. “Mindy used the restroom at the Coachman when we had lunch there the other day. She noticed the feet in the stall next to her were facing the toilet while the person peed, not away from it like a lady who sits down. Mindy waited by the sinks. Your friend Leslie came out of the stall.”

I didn’t know what to say.

Celeste’s lips compressed into a thin line of distaste. “I swear when she came into the dining room and hugged me, I felt a Willie. A big one.”

Celeste had comparisons too numerous to name, including quite possibly my own father. I only had Ray. I clutched my bag of donuts even tighter, speechless.

She shrugged. “So you knew. You’ve always been open to the alternative lifestyles.”

I could not, would not, discuss this any further. I needed a distraction. “Ah … my tan pants I bought the other day got ruined in the grocery store parking lot. Would you have another size four?”

“Let me check.” Celeste disappeared into the clothes racks.

I sank down into the armchair by the dressing room. Leslie Flynn, a man? That would explain her size, homely appearance, and deep voice, but what about this guy she wanted to attract? Was she changing teams in every way?

Contrary to Celeste’s catty statement, it wasn’t that I was open to alternative lifestyles. I was more oblivious and uninterested—and I thought those things were private. I never discussed my feelings about Ray with anyone. It would make me feel disloyal to him. I certainly didn’t discuss our sex life with anyone. That would make it less … special. It was supposed to be only between us, wasn’t it? Ray was my first and only, but I knew other people approached sex differently, some very differently. In theory, I got the concept. Hell, I even watched HBO. But in practice, in the real world … ultimately, it was none of my business.

Celeste reappeared, holding my replacement tan pants.

I pulled my credit card from my wallet and offered it to her.

She smiled, clearly pleased to be selling me the same pair of pants twice within forty-eight hours. Dollar signs may have flashed on her eyeballs like the readout on a one-armed casino bandit. I thought I heard a ca-ching.

We finished the transaction without further conversation. Maybe she thought we had nothing left to say. It was more likely that she knew she’d shocked me, and she didn’t want to break her spell. She did thank me when she handed me the bag. I thanked her, too. Then I ran.

Danny was in the garage with Cory when I returned to the shop. I handed out donuts and napkins and headed for my office to think.

As I walked into the room the phone rang. It was Ray.

“I checked on Leslie Flynn’s brother. I don’t find any record of him.”

“What do you mean? I just talked to them both on the phone.”

“The brother doesn’t have a current driver’s license or a New York State identification card. The only vehicles registered to their address are registered to Leslie.”

Strange, especially considering Leslie’s plans to leave Wachobe. If her brother didn’t drive, how would he get around? Surely running a farm required leaving it on occasion for supplies. Maybe the bookkeeper she wanted to hire would provide his transportation as well.

I had one more question for Ray. “What kind of vehicles does Leslie have?”

“A yellow Mustang convertible and a Ford pick-up truck.”

“That makes sense. One for farming, one for fun.”

Ray heaved a sigh, sending a crackle over the line.

“One thing doesn’t make sense, Darlin’. Leslie’s driver’s license says she’s male.”





That confirmed it. I filled Ray in on Celeste and Mindy’s observations. “Leslie did say she was seeing Dr. Albert for the last few months. Maybe she has some kind of gender issue.”

Ray sighed. “I’m wondering if she even has a twin. Based on this picture, she’d make one butt-ugly woman. Maybe she’s a split personality.”

I could tell from the tone of his voice that he didn’t look forward to confronting that. His training for the sheriff’s department only covered so much. I decided not to mention Leslie’s new, improved femininity. My makeover efforts only made it harder for him to recognize her now from the driver’s license photo. “Can you call Dr. Albert and ask him about her?”

“Dr. Albert won’t tell me anything, Darlin’. Not unless Leslie poses a danger to herself or someone else.”

“I’ve had my doubts about his treatment of Erica. Maybe he doesn’t know Leslie’s a danger.” Frankly, after spending time with her, I would be surprised to learn she was, but I didn’t want to rule it out.

“Let me see what I can find out about her. I’ll take this DMV photo over to The Cat’s Meow when they open at noon and see if any of the girls can link Leslie to Josie … I mean Jessica James. In the meantime, you sit tight.”

That was easy for him to say, but oh so hard for me to do. I paced the showroom, circling the Ferrari until I got dizzy. When Cory left for lunch, I took Danny out for pizza. He talked about what he’d worked on with Cory that morning. I pretended to listen, all the while thinking about Leslie. When we got back to the garage, he ran off to see Cory. I went into the garage and peered over Cory and Danny’s shoulders as Cory explained the steps involved in taking the dent out of Brennan’s Mercedes. They tried to ignore me. I clicked around the Mercedes, running my hand over its lines.

Finally, Cory had enough. “What’s wrong, Jo?”

“I’m waiting for Ray to call me.”

He glanced at Danny and apparently decided not to ask any more questions.

I rocked back and forth on my heels.

Cory glared at me. The garage was his territory. The showroom was mine. I could tell he wanted me to leave them to work in peace.

The phone rang.

I ran out of the garage, skated through the showroom, and slid to a stop behind my desk in time to catch the call on the third ring. “What’d you find out?”

“Is this Asdale Auto Imports?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. This is Jolene As … Parker, the owner. Can I help you?”

“This is Maury Boor.”

My heart skipped a beat. I sank on to my chair. “Emerson Maurice Boor?”

“Just Maury, please.”

“Maury, I’ve been looking all over for you. Is Erica with you?”

“Yes.”

“Can I speak to her?”

“She can’t talk now.”

I shot to my feet. “What do you mean, she can’t talk now? Where are you?”

“I can’t say. I promised Erica.” He sounded defensive.

“I want to talk to my sister, and I want to talk to her now, Maury. Otherwise, I’m going to have you arrested for kidnapping.”

“I didn’t kidnap Erica. I married her. She’s sleeping right now.”

My legs buckled. I fell back into my chair. Did he say he married her? She’d never gone as far as to marry anyone before, although she’d spoken of it often enough. Maybe Maury was delusional. Or maybe he was just lying. “Wake her up and put her on, Maury. I need to speak to her. Now!”

“No! She’s right, you don’t care about her.” His voice was filled with disgust.

I saw red. No, I didn’t care about her. All the fights I had with Ray to convince him to allow Erica to live with us. All the times I’d dragged her out of some bar or out from underneath some sleazy guy. All the bills I’d paid. All the nights of sleep I’d lost. All those visits to the psych center to hold her hand while she got better. I wanted to reach right through the phone and take all my frustrations out on Maury with one well-placed punch.

But that wasn’t possible. Instead, I took a deep breath and tried to reason with him. “I haven’t seen my sister in days, Maury. Her apartment is trashed. She left her medicine. I need to know that she’s okay.”

“She’s not.”

My throat constricted. I choked out, “How so?”

“She just sits in a chair all day. She won’t eat. She won’t leave the room. She won’t let me touch her.” His voice strangled.

A tear burned my eye. I blinked it away, fighting to remain calm. “Maury, you’re a nice guy. You were always nice to Erica in high school. I know you care about her. She needs to come home. She needs to see her doctor. She needs her medicine. She needs medicine every day, Maury, or she can’t function well. She has to have her medicine. Do you understand?”

“She doesn’t want to come home.”

“Then you have to make her, Maury. Or call an ambulance. The paramedics will take her to a hospital to be evaluated.”

“No! She’d never forgive me.”

“She’ll forgive you, Maury. She always forgives me. She just doesn’t like to admit that she needs help. Please, you can’t take care of her alone. She needs medical attention. Just tell me where you are. I’ll come and help you. Please, Maury. She’s my baby sister.” I blinked as tears flooded my eyes.

“I’ll talk to her.”

The phone beeped incessantly in my ear. He’d hung up.

I checked the incoming number record. It read “private caller.”

I rested my forehead in my hands. Tears washed my palms.

Erica was my baby sister. In fact, I thought of her as my baby, period. I’d been responsible for her since she was seven and I was twelve. I was the one she came to when she was in pain, for all the comforting hugs, band-aids, and love she needed. Why had she picked Maury, of all people, to turn to now?

The familiar wave of guilt arrived in a rush. Because I hadn’t been there for her. For months, I’d thought only of myself. I’d let her down. Everyone needed someone to count on. I had Ray and Cory and my college roommate Isabelle, who I’d call now except for the fact her family was on a two-week holiday cruise. But Erica only had me, and I hadn’t been there for her. So she’d found herself a substitute. Maury.

I grabbed a tissue and dried my eyes. Too bad Maury was a wacko. No doubt he wanted her to love him as much as she needed him to care about her. But would he love her enough to bring her home or at least call the doctor?

The phone rang again. I grabbed it. “Maury?”

Two seconds ticked by before I heard a response. “No, Jolene, it’s Ray.”

“Oh, Ray.” I couldn’t get the words out fast enough to explain. He made me slow down and repeat myself.

“He called this line within the last ten minutes?”

“Yes.”

“Let me see what I can find out from the phone company. I’ll call you right back.”

I hung up and watched the clock tick. One minute, two, three, five, eight.

The phone rang again.

“It was a cell phone. There’s no quick way to know where he was calling from now.”

I pounded on my desk in frustration. “Erica needs her medication, Ray.”

“I know, Darlin’. Maury will figure that out soon enough. You know how she is when she’s depressed. He’ll do the right thing. Give him time.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

“He will.”

“What if he’s a killer?”

“Jolene, we have no reason to believe he’s responsible for Jessica James’ death.”

I thought back over the last two weeks. Something bothered me. Something Gumby said the night Danny and I visited his father at the county jail— “What about the flowers?”

“What flowers?”

“Gumby said Jessica James’ kitchen table had flowers on it. What if Maury gave her roses, too? That would tie him to the murder.”

When Ray spoke, I could hear the irritation in his tone. “They weren’t roses. It was live houseplants, an African violet and some other white flower. I know you like to play amateur detective, Jolene, and I’m relieved to see you taking an interest in something other than …”

I filled the silence with the word “Myself.”

“Exactly, but do you really think I’d miss a clue like a bouquet of roses? Do you?”

“I’m sorry, Ray.” And I was sorry, for more than questioning him. I was sorry for checking out the last few months, for ignoring my sister, my business, and my few but valuable friends—Cory, Isabelle, and of course, Ray, who did double duty as my best friend and husband. “I just can’t believe Erica actually married Maury.”

“Let’s wait until we hear confirmation about that from her. It doesn’t sound like the marriage got consummated, even if she did say ‘I do’.”

I didn’t appreciate the mental image his words brought to mind. I did, however, like the possibility of an out for Erica.

For the moment, I hung my hopes on that technicality and remembered what Ray had originally set off to investigate. “Did you find out anything at The Cat’s Meow about Leslie?”

“Just confirmation of what we already knew. Her brother comes there often, and she was there last week, for the first time, to cover his bounced check.”

“Has her brother ever … touched any of the girls?”

“Apparently not. He sits in the back row, buys the expected number of drinks per hour, and tips well. Erica was the first person who ever paid much attention to him, from what the girls said. They think he’s shy.”

“Oh.” A quiet one, automatically a suspect.

But this time, oddly enough, Ray didn’t seem to think so. “I’m more interested in your friend, Leslie. I’m going to talk to her.”

“About what?”

“About the fact that her driver’s license says she’s a male, not a female.”

“That’s not a crime, is it?”

“No, Jolene, it’s not a crime.”

“If you pull in her driveway, you’re going to scare her to death.”

“Only if she’s guilty of something.”

“Ray, everyone slows down when they see a sheriff’s car behind them on the highway, even when they’re not speeding. Everyone stops to look when a sheriff’s car drives down their street. A sheriff’s car in her driveway will scare her. She’ll think you’re coming with bad news or something.”

“So what’s your suggestion?”

“Come pick me up, and we’ll ride out there together in the Lexus. I’ll introduce you to her.” Leslie was my new friend. I couldn’t sic Ray on her without feeling guilty. This way, I could help frame the questions and draw some conclusions about her for myself. Because Ray was right about me as usual, I did like playing amateur detective. Cory and Danny would never miss me.

Ray’s tone turned sarcastic. “And what reason will we give for stopping by?”

I thought for a moment. “Fresh brown eggs.”





The country roads leading to the Flynn farm curved and tilted and rolled up and down and all around. Ray swooped through every turn and rocketed over every hill, clearly enjoying the opportunity to drive my Lexus. At times we were airborne, and Ray would let out a little whoop like he was enjoying the thrill ride. I, on the other hand, felt carsick.

We passed a Mennonite farmhouse. I knew this because of the lack of electrical wiring to the house, the black buggy parked in front of the barn, and the long line of ankle-length, flowered-print dresses, blue jeans, and dress shirts on their laundry line. A quarter mile farther down the road, I spotted the farmer running his tractor in the field. He waved from the cab of his tractor when I looked at him. He wore a black hat even inside the cab. I wondered, as I often had, why tractors were acceptable to them while a car was not.

I asked Ray.

“They lead a simple life. I think cars are considered distracting, showy, and unnecessary.”

Id never make it in their world. Neither would Ray.

Leslie’s family farm overlooked the lake with a magnificent view of both the water and the hills surrounding it. Their white Victorian home with black shutters and covered porches on the front and side had very little adornment other than electrical wires, but perhaps that was due to the time of year. It also had no landscaping. The grass grew to the home’s edges and a couple feet up the sides, brown with the onset of winter. Their driveway was gravel and mud. The red barn to the right of the house listed to one side. The steel barn behind it held most of the cows, while farm equipment rusted in between the steel structure and another low, ramshackle building covered with tar paper. Brown pastures fenced with barbed wire reached far back into the property.

Horse droppings lined the road abutting the Flynn’s front yard. Perhaps a gift from their neighbor and one of the negatives associated with the Mennonites’ simple horse and buggy life.

As Ray pulled into the drive, I pointed with glee to the sign at the end of the drive offering fresh brown eggs for two dollars a dozen.

He rolled his eyes and parked behind the black Ford 4x4 in the driveway. The bed of the truck was filled with buckets, bags, tools including a hoe and an axe, and clumps of hay. A hunting rifle hung in the rear window. Clearly, this was Leslie’s work vehicle, unlike the shiny yellow Mustang, which was nowhere in sight.

We climbed out of the Lexus and stood, waiting for someone to greet us.

A thin gray dog the size of a miniature horse appeared from the barn and trotted closer, sniffing our pant legs. Ray reached down to give him a pat on the head. The dog bounded away, snarling then barking an alarm.

“Quiet you!” A screen door slammed behind us. Leslie walked toward us, wearing her Carhartts and work boots, minus the new wig and makeup. She flashed her newly veneered smile.

“Hey, Jolene. Never mind Rufus. He’s just a grump.” She sized Ray up, her gaze lingering on his gun holster. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is my husband, Ray Parker.”

Ray held out his hand. Leslie wiped hers on her pant leg before shaking with him.

I flashed my best saleswoman smile at her. “I told Ray you had fresh brown eggs. We thought we might buy a dozen.”

Leslie glanced from my face to Ray’s and back again, seeming puzzled. “Never had one before?”

“I don’t think so. We buy the white ones at the grocery store.”

Something I thought might be doubt twinkled in the back of Leslie’s eyes, but she took a few steps in the direction of the barn. “If you two want to wait here, I’ll get you a carton.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Ray turned to study the house, the fields, and the barn that Leslie had disappeared into. “This is a big farm. They must have help.”

“I think she said they did, but ask her.”

He leaned against the Lexus. “I will.”

I took a deep breath. “Something smells.”

Ray grinned. “Everyone thinks cow manure smells, but they haven’t smelled chicken shit. And chicken coops run a close second to hog farming.”

“You should know.” I chucked him in the arm.

“Nice, Darlin’, really nice. I’m glad you’ve got your sense of humor back.”

I hadn’t realized I’d lost it.

I shuffled my feet in the gravel and wondered how long Leslie would take to retrieve the eggs. “I thought Leslie would have on her new wig and makeup. She was so excited about it yesterday. She looks like her old self today, except for her teeth.”

Ray shrugged. “She’s back on the farm. If you hadn’t called her Leslie, I would have thought she was a man.”

“She has breasts. I could tell when she hugged me the other day. She doesn’t have any facial hair.”

“Her license says different.” Ray continued to lean against the Lexus, his eyes glued to an enormous brown brick of manure mixed with hay drying on the far side of the barn.

“Why are you looking at that?”

He eased off the Lexus. “I was just thinking that’s one place I’d never want to dig for a body.”

Ew.

He went on, “Although, with the lack of oxygen in that pile, the body would probably be perfectly preserved.”

Double ew. Was he trying to tell me something? “You don’t have any reason to search the premises, do you?”

“No, I don’t.” But he continued to survey the area as though trying to think of one. “Tell her you’d like to meet her brother.”

“Okay.”

Leslie reappeared in the barn door, carrying a gray egg carton. She crunched down the gravel drive and held it out to me. “Here you go. They were laid this morning. Can’t get much fresher than that.”

“That’s great, Leslie. Thank you.” I fumbled in my purse, pulled out my wallet, and offered her the two dollars.

She waved me off. “After all you’ve done for me, they’re on the house.”

Ray and I thanked her again. Then Ray raised one eyebrow at me expectantly. He would let me take the lead, but only if I produced some results.

I swallowed and plowed ahead. “Leslie, I’d love to meet your brother. Is he around?”

She rubbed her chin. “He’s milking right now.”

Ray’s eyes never left my face. I knew he was waiting for me to think fast. I did my best. “Could we go in and meet him? I’ve never seen the inside of a cow barn before.”

Leslie picked up her boot and showed us the bottom, which was covered in mud, manure, and hay. “It’s too hot and smelly in there, and you’d ruin your boots and the shine on Ray’s shoes. Besides, we’re a little behind. Our help quit.”

I kept my gaze glued to Leslie’s face. “Why?”

Leslie grinned. “I’m in the middle of a sex change, Jolene. I think that’s a first for Wachobe. I scare the hell out of my neighbors. Even my brother’s struggling to be supportive.”

I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. When I glanced at Ray, he had his “good-cop, bad-cop, whatever-you-need-me-to-be-cop” expression firmly in place.

Since Leslie had opened the door, I decided to keep asking questions. “Is that why you meet with Dr. Albert?”

She nodded. “My last visit is this week. A psychiatrist has to sign off before the final operation. Mine is scheduled for next month. I’m so excited. I’ve been a woman my whole life, but now I’m finally going to look like one.”

I couldn’t think of an appropriate response.

Ray’s eyes narrowed, but he held out his hand to Leslie once more. “Nice to meet you, Leslie. Thanks again for the eggs and good luck with your operation. You’ll have to keep Jolene informed.” He headed for our car.

Surprised, I waved the egg carton at Leslie. “Has your love interest been by for any more eggs?”

A sad expression settled over her homely features as she shook her head. “I may have to buy the Caterham after all.”

I tried to think of a delicate way to phrase the question in the back of my mind. “Does he know about your … upcoming surgery?”

Her expression changed to amused. “He can’t tell me and my brother apart. He thinks we’re the same person. I planned on introducing myself wearing my wig and makeup this week.”

“Well, like you said, we can always get you a Caterham.” Although I still doubted it would make a difference. I thanked her for the eggs again and joined Ray in the car.

Leslie watched as we backed down the drive then waved as we pulled away.

I twisted in my seat to face Ray. “What do you make of her sex change?”

Ray kept his eyes on the road. “It’s definitely a first.”

“We didn’t get to meet her brother. I didn’t want to be too obvious and insist.”

“That’s okay, Darlin’.”

I could tell from his tone of voice that it really wasn’t. “How will we find out if he even exists? She said the guy she’s interested in thinks they’re one and the same person. What if they are?”

Ray braked suddenly, swung the car around in a U-turn and stopped roadside, parallel to the Mennonite farmer who was still in the fields. “We’ll ask her neighbor. Sit tight.”

He climbed out of the Lexus and headed across the field toward the oncoming tractor. The farmer slowed the tractor as he neared Ray and cut the engine.

Ray pointed in the direction of the Flynn’s farm. The farmer nodded.

I saw Ray’s lips moving then the farmer’s. After a minute or two of conversation, Ray waved to the farmer and walked back to the car.

The Lexus sank on the left side when he got in and slammed his door. “Theory one shot to shit.”

“What?”

“Leslie and her brother are not the same person. This guy says they’re identical twins, and he’s definitely seen them both at the same time as recently as yesterday.”

“Identical twins means one egg?” How odd that one half of the same egg would turn out so differently.

Ray twisted the ignition key. “One egg, same sex twins. That’s what I remember from biology class.” He gunned the engine and took off like we were in the Indy 500.

My right leg instinctively tried to brake. Too bad the brake was on his side of the car.

He accelerated through a curve.

I gripped my door handle. I’d had enough G-forces for today. “Ray!”

“Sorry.” He slowed down to fifty.

I tried not to notice the road signs recommending thirty-five miles an hour for the curves. I could take the speed. It was the curves that killed me.

Ray drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “I’m moving Leslie and her brother up on my suspect list.”

“Why? Leslie was very open with us. She’s having a sex change operation, which is definitely not a crime. Her brother exists. And none of the girls at The Cat’s Meow could tie either of them to Jessica James, right?”

“True, but according to the neighbor, Leslie’s brother’s name is Peter.”

“Peter?” My heart dropped.

“That’s what the guy said.”

“Another P name, like on the key chain.”

Ray nodded, a grim expression on his face. “Exactly, but there’s more to it than that.” He gestured to the fields outside my windows. “Do you know what’s just over there?”

“The Flynn farm?”

Ray gave me the look, the incredulous, you-are-so-naïve look. “Yes, Darlin’, but think about this farm in relation to the rest of the countryside. Think about the other side of this hill, at the bottom of the road, maybe a mile or so from here. What do you see?”

I gazed out the window. All I saw was fields, maybe a few cornstalks on the horizon. If he turned me around twice, I’d be clueless. “I have no idea. Tell me.”

“The Cat’s Meow.”





While I waited for Cory and Danny to finish up in the garage, Ray headed back to the sheriff’s office to discuss our findings with the sheriff and the deputy in charge of investigating Jessica James’ disappearance. I could tell Ray wished he was in charge. He’d caught the scent and clearly wanted to be the one to follow the trail.

I, on the other hand, still smelled manure. The smell had attached itself to my cardboard carton of eggs, the eggs my new friend Leslie had given me. I think I had some actual manure squished in my tire treads, too. We’d probably picked some up left behind by a horse and buggy on one of the curves Ray flew through.

But just because something smells, it doesn’t mean it’s bad, I thought as I locked up the shop an hour later. And just because someone’s different doesn’t mean they’re dangerous. Leslie’s gender change was unusual, but it didn’t necessarily indicate she had any other issues—surely not those of a killer. She simply wasn’t happy with herself and had found a way to solve the problem. I couldn’t see any more in her actions than that. Leslie had no reason to kill Jessica James.

And her brother had even less reason, as far as I could tell. But it bothered me that his name was Peter. Why couldn’t the first letter of his name have been anything other than a P? There were twenty-five other choices, for Pete’s sake.

Ha! For Pete’s sake. I smiled as I slid into the Lexus where Danny waited with his backpack full of partially completed homework.

“What’s so funny?”

I met his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Nothing. How far did you and Cory get on the bodywork repair?”

“Cory said we’ll sand it tomorrow.”

I pulled out onto Main Street and headed toward home. “Have you ever done bodywork before?”

“No.”

“What’d ya think?”

“I like it. Cory said I could work on the race car with him, too, if you said it was okay.”

I slowed for a turn, flipped on my signal, and watched for an opportunity, checking the rearview mirror for any suspicious cars behind me, particularly any with guns pointed out the window in my direction.

“Is it?”

I swung onto North Street. “Is it what?”

“Okay?”

“Sure, of course.” I looked in the rearview in time to catch the broad smile that crossed his face. “So you guys got along okay today, huh?”

“Yeah.”

“Cory’s pretty nice, right?”

“He’s cool.”

I let it go, pleased and relieved Cory had won him over. But then, what’s not to like about Cory? He was like an adorable puppy. You just had to love him.

As I made the turn onto our street, a multitude of colored and clear Christmas lights sparkled from rooflines, fences, bushes, and trees. Several windows featured lit trees as well as doors and fences with wreaths and bows. Overnight, our street had become a winter wonderland, even though the temperature said Indian summer.

I checked the rearview mirror again. My car was the only one in sight. The gunman wouldn’t have much opportunity to hide from my neighbors anyway. Not a day went by that I didn’t see at least one face in a window, watching Ray and me come and go. Of course, most of our neighbors were elderly. What else did they have to do? Still, I kinda welcomed the unofficial neighborhood watch program. In all likelihood, it was in place all over town now, more in the spirit of stamping out crime than saving me.

I soaked in the neighborhood decorations and felt better for it. Christmas was still my favorite time of the year, even though my mother had killed herself on Christmas Eve. I couldn’t believe the season had arrived already—the wreaths with red velvet bows, the evergreen scent, the sparkling white lights, and the atmosphere of goodwill towards man. Thanksgiving had been late this year, and tomorrow was December third already. The annual Wachobe Dickens festival had kicked off this past weekend with carolers dressed in period costumes greeting people on the streets. Now our neighborhood was getting into the spirit as well.

This would have been our second Christmas with Noelle, but the first where we could have put presents under the tree and a stocking by the fire for her. A few days from now would be her first birthday. I’d so looked forward to celebrating both events. I even had a gold bracelet engraved with her name put away in the closet for her. I’d purchased it this past summer at an art show before she’d been taken from us. I supposed I could send it to her birthmother with a note.

But my heart broke at the thought of Noelle opening her special gift with someone other than me.

“Jolene?”

I shook my head and focused on the road, happy not to have hit anyone or anything while lost in my thoughts. “Yes, Danny?”

“Are you and Ray Jewish?”

A deep belly laugh welled and burst from my lips, erasing all my sorrows in an instant.

“No, Danny. Why do you ask?”

“You don’t have any Christmas decorations. Our house is the only one on the street that doesn’t.”

He was an observant little man. I kinda liked the fact he’d referred to “our” house as though he belonged there, too. “The decorations are in the attic. Maybe after dinner, we can put some of them out.”

“Can we get a tree?”

Sadness fell over me again like a net. Erica and I carried on the family tradition of decorating the tree two weeks before Christmas. That only gave me a few days to find her and get her straightened out. This might be one of those years where I had to decorate the tree without her, one of the years where she sat it out in the psych center instead. But I’d wait and hold out hope a little longer for her return.

I turned into our driveway, cut the ignition, and swiveled in my seat to face Danny.

“We always put the tree up fourteen days before Christmas. That way it doesn’t get too dried out and the needles don’t fall off before Christmas Day. You can cut one down for us this year if you want.”

“Okay.” He rubbed his hands together, his eyes bright. Then the light in them faded. “What about my dad?”

Poor Danny had his own heartbreaks and sorrows. We were two of a kind. I treaded lightly. “I’m not sure. He refuses to talk to the sheriff’s department. If he won’t tell them what happened, he can’t clear his name. He’ll probably have to stay in jail until he goes to trial.”

Danny’s chin got a stubborn set to it. “He doesn’t know what happened.”

“He must know if he stole the Cadillac Escalade and the Toyota Camry.”

Danny averted his eyes. “He doesn’t know what happened to Aunt Jessica.”

I made my voice as gentle as possible, trying to mask my excitement with my sympathy. “Your dad told you about her?”

He nodded and swallowed.

“What did he say?”

“He said my mom died of pneumonia and my aunt took care of us for a while. Then they had a fight and we moved out. We didn’t see her after that.”

“Why did he go see her at The Cat’s Meow?”

Danny’s chin sunk into his chest. “I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me.” He raised his face to give me a fierce look. “But he said he didn’t kill her. My dad would never hurt anybody. He doesn’t know who did.”

“Okay.” I patted him on the knee. “I believe you and him. But did he drive the Toyota Camry we found her arm in?”

Danny averted his gaze once again. “I don’t know if I can tell you.”

That answer was as good as a yes, a yes that might send his dad away for a good many years to come.

I sighed. “I can’t help you or your dad if I don’t know what’s going on. Neither can Ray. And we do want to help your dad, Danny. We know you love him. We know he loves you. We want you to be together.”

Danny sniffled. “I miss my dad.”

“Do you want to go visit him tonight?”

For an instant, Danny’s eyes lit up then they dimmed. “No!”

I thought I’d misheard. “No? Why not?”

“I don’t want him to know I got suspended. He’ll be mad.” Danny burst into tears. “I want my dad. I want my dad.” He clapped his palms over his face and bent over his knees.

“Oh, Danny.” I clambered over the console onto the seat next to him, gathering his quivering body into my arms. I cried right along with him, thinking about his problems and mine.

After five minutes, his tears stopped. He settled his face in my shoulder. I thought he might be falling asleep, worn out from all his emotions. I knew I felt drained.

The windows had fogged over with the evening chill. I leaned back against the seat and stared at the ceiling, savoring his closeness. I closed my eyes. It was nice to have someone to cuddle, but maybe Danny could use a chat with Dr. Albert. Maybe we all could.

The car door opened.

Danny and I jerked our heads up to look.

Ray’s head appeared in the opening. “What are you guys doing in there?”

____


After dinner, Danny parked himself in front of the television to watch SpongeBob once again. I wanted to ask him to lower the volume, because if I heard the little creature’s annoying laugh one more time, I might put an umbrella through the television, too. But I didn’t. Instead, Ray and I went into the bedroom and closed the door to whisper with one another again. The bungalow was too small to keep our conversation from Danny any other way.

We lay down on the bed, my head resting on Ray’s shoulder, my arm on his chest, his muscular arm holding me tight against his side. “What did the sheriff say?”

“He said he’d have one of the guys assigned to the investigation look into it. They’re looking at over forty different guys who were regulars at The Cat’s Meow and tracking credit card receipts to identify anyone who was in the club during the time Jessica James worked there. But a lot of men pay cash in clubs like that to keep it from their wives.”

“Did you ever go to clubs like that?”

“In high school, the football team went once or twice.”

I raised my head to look at his face. “You were underage.”

Ray snorted. “Why do you think I can pick out a fake ID so fast?”

I snuggled in again. “Any other time?”

“A couple of stag parties. That’s all.”

“What did you think?”

“They’re naked women, Darlin’. I enjoyed the view, just like any other guy.”

“Did you touch?” Worse, did he sleep with them?

“No. You know I like to be the first man in.” He rolled to cover my body with his and lowered his face to kiss me.

The phone rang.

Ray dropped the F bomb. His full weight—more than twice mine—slumped onto me.

“Get off, get … awph,” I gasped.

With a sigh of resignation, he rose and crawled across the bed to pick up the phone.

I watched the annoyance on his face morph to interest. He swung his legs onto the floor and glanced at me. He raised his eyebrow.

A few more seconds passed as he listened.

I heard SpongeBob’s laugh through the walls. Where was my umbrella anyway? We could upgrade to a flat screen.

Ray hung up. He ran his hand over his hair and rubbed the back of his neck.

“What?” I sat up and shoved his shoulder. “What?”

“They found Jessica James’ body.”

“Where?”

“A few miles from the apartment where she was killed, just outside the radius the sheriff’s office searched. She was buried about four feet under, in a plastic garbage bag, naked and in pieces. A hunter stumbled over her. The animals had been after her.”

I wasn’t even going to ask what he meant by “in pieces.” My stomach was already churning. “Just like you said.”

He tipped his head. “I knew they wouldn’t find her in the middle of the road.”

“How did she die?”

“Preliminary findings point to strangulation, but the medical examiner won’t issue his report until tomorrow.”

“So that’s all?”

“There’s more.” Ray glanced toward the bedroom door.

I leaned closer and breathed, “What?”

“They found a car remote lying in the leaves about five yards from the body. The deputy from the other county just left our evidence garage. It matches the Toyota Camry Danny stole from the psych center lot. It has a partial print on it.”

“And?”

Ray grimaced as if it pained him. “Danny’s father may be charged with murder.”





My heart filled with dread. “What are we going to tell Danny?”

“Nothing yet.”

“What if it’s in the paper tomorrow?”

Ray scratched his eyebrow and peered at me through his fingers. “We don’t get the paper. Do you get it at the shop?”

“Sometimes Cory brings it in.”

“Call him and tell him to leave it home tomorrow. Danny doesn’t have to go back to school until Monday. By then, we’ll know what to tell him.”

“His classmates already know his father’s in jail.”

“I’m not surprised. How do you know?”

“I saw Bernie at The Lincoln House. His son Jacob is in Danny’s class. He said another kid told Jacob on the bus.”

Ray stretched out on the bed again. “It’s one thing to be in jail for car theft, but it’s a whole different game when your father’s in jail for murder, especially of a female relative.”

“That kid was already teasing Danny about you. I can’t imagine what they’ll say about his real dad.”

“We’ll just have to tell him to hold his head up high and ignore them.”

I stretched out next to him, my body rigid with tension. “Oh, Ray, you said yourself he’s impulsive. He cried in the car today. I don’t know if he can take any more pressure.”

“What’s your suggestion?”

“I thought about making an appointment for him with Dr. Albert. He could tell Dr. Albert the whole truth. Dr. Albert wouldn’t tell us, but maybe he could give Danny some direction or at least some support.”

Ray thought about it for a minute. “That’s a good idea, Darlin’. Dr. Albert works miracles on your sister. Let’s hope he can help Danny, too.”

I lay silent next to Ray, thinking about the doubts I’d had about Dr. Albert’s treatment of Erica. She was avoiding Dr. Albert now, but prior to her disappearance, she’d gone the longest time ever content and employed. Not to mention she always seemed upbeat when she came out of his office. It wasn’t him causing the problems. It was her.

In the morning, I’d give him a call about Danny.

Ray broke into my thoughts. “The sheriff doesn’t want me involved in the investigation. Period. Exclamation point. That’s why he called. He said if we had any further suspicions about Leslie Flynn or her brother, we need to talk to him directly. We’re not to pay any more calls on them.”

I stiffened. “I don’t work for the sheriff, Ray.”

“I know.”

“I don’t like being told what to do, especially by him.” The sheriff didn’t leave his office very often, unless an on-camera opportunity arose. I’d lost respect for him years ago. But Ray didn’t share my feeling, so I kept it to myself.

“I’m just telling you what he said. I’m the only one sworn to obey.”

I lifted my head and gazed into Ray’s amused eyes. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

“No.”

But the twinkle in his eye said otherwise.

____