To Love and to Perish

TWENTY-SIX


“MATTHEW GLEASON?” MY STOMACH tightened with distaste. “Ew, that’s just wrong. He’s young enough to be her son. What’s he doing with her? And what’s she doing with him? He doesn’t even have a job. Is she going to support him? Ew. That’s icky.”

I thought back to the day we met Wayne. We’d asked him about Elizabeth Potter or Beth Smith, as we now knew her. He’d said they weren’t close anymore and I thought a flash of anger had crossed his face. Well, obviously they had been physically close enough with her desk just a few yards outside his door, but they weren’t friends anymore. Could he have been angry over her relationship with Matthew? Had the two met when Matthew visited his office? Wouldn’t that be ironic, especially if Wayne turned out to be Matthew’s real father? He’d surrounded himself with half-dressed women and one had caught his godson’s—or son’s—eye.

Cory’s expression spoke of his distaste. “I expected more from Matthew.”

Erica reached out her hand, oblivious to the implications of her news. “I need the book back, Jolene. I have to write out all the thank you notes. You can have it when I’m done, if you want.”

I gave it to her, reluctantly. “Don’t lose it.”

She closed her purse. “I won’t. I promise.” She twirled and tucked her arm through Maury’s. “Take me home, baby. I got work to do.”

Cory followed me into my office as I put on my suit jacket in preparation to leave. “What do you make of it, Jo?”

“I’m completely baffled why a young man would want to marry Beth Smith. She’s not unattractive, but she’s got mileage. I’m sure his mother doesn’t approve.”

“I wonder if his father didn’t approve. It would be a motive for Beth to shove James Gleason in the street during the race festival. Maybe it was an added bonus for her to try to pin his death on Brennan.”

“Now we know why she was at the race. He did say his girlfriend was there. Too bad we didn’t ask her name sooner, not that I know what it all means anyway.” I grabbed my purse. “I’m sorry, Cory. I’d like to talk about this more, but it’s my turn to pick up Danny from practice. Ray’s on the evening shift tonight.”

“No problem. I don’t know what all this means either. You go ahead. I’ll set the alarm.”

As I navigated the side streets of Wachobe, headed for the football fields behind the middle school, I ran through all the facts we’d learned to date. None of it made sense to me anymore. Suzanne Gleason had also been at the festival, close to the spot where her husband, James, died only moments after he was hit by the car. She’d witnessed the argument between Brennan and her husband, but allegedly not his death. Did she know something more that she feared he might tell Brennan? Or fed up with James’ combative ways, had she taken the easy way out of their marriage, perhaps to spend her days with Wayne Engle, who later spurned her? Maybe that was why the sheriff’s deputies made her so nervous today. Or did she think Matthew had killed his father, either to protect her from him or in anger over a possible rejection of his relationship with Beth Smith? Had Wayne figured out the truth or, worse, witnessed the act, leaving Matthew no choice but to kill him, too? Or had his mother killed him to keep him from turning in Matthew? Or could the two of them have conspired to kill both James and Wayne?

Beth Smith seemed more suspicious to me by the day. She’d pointed the finger at Brennan, which we knew couldn’t be true. It was hard to believe she’d simply been mistaken. She had to have done it on purpose. But why? Did she push James Gleason into the street and blame Brennan to kill two birds with one stone? Or had she done it to protect the real killer, Matthew, her lover? Had Wayne known the truth either way and therefore needed to be eliminated?

A tooting horn snapped me out of my speculations. I’d failed to notice the light turn green. The guy behind me hadn’t. He tooted again. I hit the gas, forcing myself to let the questions go for now.

A quarter mile later, I pulled into the circular drive in front of Danny’s school. He sat on the low brick wall that surrounded the school with two of his friends. When he spotted me, he waved to them and trotted over with his backpack in hand, his coat slung over one shoulder. He climbed in next to me, and I caught a whiff of body odor that made my eyes water. I cracked open my window. “Hi, Danny, how was practice?”

“Good.” He pitched his backpack and coat over the front seat to the back.

I pulled away from the curb. “We’re having takeout for dinner. What do you prefer, Chinese or pizza?”

When he failed to respond, I glanced at him. He faced forward, his face expressionless. “Danny? What would you like for dinner?”

He blinked. “Can you take me to see my dad?”

“Um, sure, I guess so.” I hoped his dad wouldn’t think we had a water and deodorant shortage at our house. “Do you want to eat first, maybe shower?”

“No.”

All righty then, Mr. Phillips was in for a real treat.

The half hour ride to the jail passed in silence. When I attempted conversation, Danny asked to turn on the radio. I let him, thinking the noise might take both our minds off our troubles. It worked, because Danny started to sing under his breath. I had to smile.

When we arrived, Danny signed in at the jail and waited for the guards to go through all the necessary logistics to reunite him with his dad. I considered asking to visit Brennan while Danny was with his dad but remembered Catherine’s request to not talk to him. With so much swirling in my head, I couldn’t wait to talk to someone.

When Danny disappeared inside with the guard, I dialed Ray.

“What’s up?”

“Danny is in visiting his dad. I’m waiting for him. What are you doing?”

“I’m sitting on the county road over near Brennan’s house, waiting for a semi to speed by.”

The local truckers and Wachobe were at odds. The town no longer allowed semis to drive up and down Main Street, which enraged the truckers enough to hold a sit in, parking their trucks all over Main Street right before the July 4th celebration this year. The parade had to be cancelled because the police chief couldn’t get them to move, even when he slapped them with fines. The town refused to revoke the new law. Lately, the truckers had taken to speeding up and down the county roads in defiance.

“Any luck yet?”

“No, it’s been a quiet night.”

“Well, it’s been a busy day. Erica and Maury went to Wayne Engles’ funeral today. They found out Matthew Gleason is engaged to marry Beth Smith. Do you think Gumby and Max know that?”

“I don’t know. I can call and ask Gumby. He’ll tell me.”

“Do he and Max talk about Brennan’s case with you?”

“Sometimes, when the sheriff isn’t looking.”

“Do they have any idea who killed Wayne Engle?”

“Darlin’, they think Brennan did it.”

“Why?”

“You know why. But I keep throwing out different ideas. They seem to listen. They’re looking hard at the three wild cards from the Watkins Glen festival: Matthew and Suzanne Gleason and Elizabeth Smith. The case will crack soon. They’ve only been on it a couple days.” Ray sucked in air. “I gotta go. I gotta guy doing about seventy-five.”

The phone went dead. I pictured Ray in full pursuit and then let that image go. It was easier to not to think about his work. I just kept the faith that he did it well and safely.

I was the only person in the jail waiting room. Wednesday must be a slow night. Either that or everyone else came over after dinner. My stomach growled, and I wished we’d done the same.

Danny reappeared after fifteen minutes. He had a worried frown.

I stood up and put my arm around his shoulder, no easy feat now that he’d grown taller than me. “How’s your dad?”

“Okay.”

“Just okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you happen to ask him about Brennan?”

“Brennan’s good, too. He’s teaching my dad how to play chess. Catherine brought them a chess board.”

“She’s so nice.” I had to admit it. No wonder Ray had taken up with her after me. How lucky I was he’d come back. “Did your dad say anything else?”

Danny hesitated. “He said he’s going to change his plea to guilty.”

My jaw went slack.

Danny rushed on. “He said he stole the Ferrari and sold it. He said it was time to set the right example for me and to take responsibility for his actions.”

Wow. I fumbled for the right response. “You must be very proud of him.”

A tear slipped down Danny’s cheek. “But what if he gets killed in prison?”

I hugged Danny closer. “Catherine and Ray will make sure everyone takes good care of him.”

The frown lines didn’t leave Danny’s forehead but I couldn’t bring myself to promise Danny that nothing would happen to his dad. I’d lost my mom young. I knew for a fact anything can happen.

“Let’s go home.” I squeezed him again. “I need pizza. Don’t you think pizza sounds good?”

After a moment, he nodded and let me lead him out the door and into the parking lot.

But I was certain he felt the shadow of the jail looming over us, just as I did.