Kelly slipped her briefcase bag over her shoulder, grabbed her coffee mug, and headed out the front door. As soon as she stepped down to her sidewalk, she spotted Burt across the driveway near the café garden patio. He beckoned her over.
“Perfect timing, Kelly,” he said as she approached. “I was about to call you. Got your message late last night.”
“I figured you would. Are you accompanying Felix this morning when he goes to see the police?”
“Yes, I am, but I’d like to hear what you thought when you went with Jayleen to meet him yesterday.” He gestured toward an empty outside table near the bushes in the garden.
Kelly walked over to the table and deposited her bag and mug. “I’d say Felix Marsted appears to be a good man who is a solid citizen and who’s managed to stay sober for five years until he and his daughter encountered that sleazy, slimy, piece-of-trash Neil Smith.” She sank into the black wrought iron chair and took a deep drink of coffee.
Burt gave her a wide smile. “Tell me how you really feel,” he teased.
“Judging from some of the things I’ve heard from others, this Smith has been a real bastard in several women’s lives. Frankly, it sounds like it’s ‘good riddance’ that he’s gone.”
“That sounds like the opinion of everyone who had anything to do with this guy,” Burt said. “But I’m curious what you thought of Felix. He made it sound over the phone like he was going to confess to the police that he drove the hit-and-run car that killed Neil Smith.”
“That’s exactly what he’s going to do.” Kelly sipped from her mug. “I started asking him questions, and Felix freely admitted that he went looking for Smith after his daughter, Nancy, had a confrontation with him at an Old Town bar. Smith refused to accept that the baby was his, and Nancy became ‘distraught’ in Felix’s words. One night, Felix found Smith at the Halftime Bar and confronted him, but Smith totally rejected him, too. And he accused Nancy of sleeping around. That’s when Felix admits he ‘lost it.’” Kelly took a deep drink of coffee.
Burt’s expression turned solemn. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“No, it’s not,” Kelly said with a sigh. “Felix admitted he grabbed Smith and was going to teach him a lesson but the bartender told him to leave. That’s when Felix went to another bar and started drinking.”
Burt closed his eyes. “Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes. Sad story. I asked him what he remembered when he left the bar. Did he remember getting into his car, for instance. Felix said he did remember being in his own car, but he doesn’t remember what he did after that. Then the next morning he found the damage to the front end of his car, and he concluded he ran his car into Neil Smith the night before.”
Burt stared off into the garden. “That is a sad, sad story, Kelly. And I wish I could say it’s not a familiar one. But alas, it’s all too similar to other recovering alcoholics who fall off the wagon. Sad. Really sad, especially when people are rebuilding their lives.”
Kelly took another deep drink of her strong morning coffee. Not as good as Eduardo’s but good enough to start the day. That little thought from yesterday wiggled into the front of her mind, claiming her attention.
Tell Burt how Felix acted when you mentioned Nancy.
“There was one other thing I noticed while listening to Felix. When I asked him where Nancy was while he was out confronting Neil Smith at the bar, Felix looked really startled. ‘Why do you ask that?’ he said. I told him that I was just curious and wondered if Nancy knew he was going out looking for Smith. Felix said no, he didn’t tell her, which I thought strange because I remember Lisa saying Nancy was worried because her father had gone looking for Neil Smith one night.”
Burt’s gaze narrowed. “That’s interesting.”
“Yes, it is, and so were Felix’s reactions whenever I asked about Nancy.” Kelly leaned back into the wrought iron chair.
Burt peered at Kelly. “Okay, I’ll bite. Why exactly did you ask about Nancy?”
“Because I remember the Halftime bartender telling Jennifer and me that another guy came into the bar that night and said he saw a girl kneeling next to a guy sprawled in a nearby street. So I’ve always wondered who that girl was. Was she a stranger who was walking back from an Old Town party or a bar? Or, was she someone else? Maybe she was Nancy.”
Burt’s smile spread across his face. “Good sleuthing, Kelly. I’m going to call Dan and tell him Felix is coming in this morning. And I’ll tell him what Felix told you yesterday.” Burt pulled his cell phone from his pocket and sprang from his chair. “I’ll let you know how this morning turns out, Kelly.” Burt started to walk away from the table when he suddenly turned around and smiled at Kelly. “Good job, Sherlock.” He winked.
“Anytime, Burt,” Kelly said with a smile as she slid her laptop out of her shoulder bag. Once the familiar spreadsheet appeared on the screen, Kelly returned to the peaceful world of numbers. Balancing accounts, revenues, expenses. Obeying their own laws of logic. No matter how unbalanced and difficult the numbers appeared, she could always solve the problem. Everything had to be in balance at the end. Assets had to equal liabilities plus equity. Always. If only people and their behaviors could be as logical as the numbers.
Several minutes passed while Kelly disappeared into the numbers, her coffee mug being discreetly refilled without her even asking, and the spreadsheet columns growing in length. Then another familiar voice came from across the garden.
“What a great spot to work, Kelly,” Lisa called as she walked down the flagstone path. “Mind if I join you and study for a test?”
Kelly beckoned her friend over. “Sure thing. You can also catch me up on Greg’s rehab. You said his leg is getting stronger.”
“I can spot a difference. The other PTs aren’t saying anything yet, but I know Greg and his body. And I think I saw a tiny bit more movement when he’s doing those stretches. A week from now, I bet it’ll be noticeable.”
“Atta boy, Greg,” Kelly said as she saved her spreadsheet and clicked her laptop into sleep mode. She shoved it to the side. “You know how Greg is about personal challenges. He’s probably going to be the fastest-improving PT patient in the orthopedic center.”
Lisa laughed as she settled into a chair across the table. “Absolutely. He’ll even get the PTs themselves involved.” She withdrew a textbook and notebook from her oversized bag. “I’d better follow your example and work on these assignments while I have some time between classes.”
“Work beckons,” Kelly said, reaching for her laptop again. However, she never had the chance to click it back to life because another rather familiar voice sounded from the driveway.
“Lisa! Lisa!” Nancy called and waved as she hurried from the driveway and into the garden patio.
“Ohhhhh, goodness,” Lisa said, her voice revealing her disappointment even if her face did not.
“There goes the study time,” Kelly said, shoving her laptop aside once more. “Nancy is bound to be upset, considering her father has gone with Burt to the police department.”
“It was late when I heard her phone message, so I couldn’t call her last night,” Lisa said quietly.
Nancy rushed up, breathless. “I’m so glad to find you here! My father has gone to the police department. He’s going to tell them he ran into Neil with his car!”
“Oh, no,” Lisa said, looking at Nancy. “Your father ran into Neil Smith? I could barely understand your phone message last night.”
Nancy sank into the chair beside Lisa. “That’s what he’s going to tell them! He left with Burt just a few minutes ago!”
Kelly couldn’t help noticing Nancy’s choice of words. She didn’t directly answer Lisa’s question. “I’m sure your father wants to get this off his chest, Nancy,” Kelly offered. “I met your father yesterday afternoon with Jayleen. He’s a good man. I’m sure he didn’t deliberately try to kil
l Neil Smith.”
Nancy stared at Kelly, and Kelly could see the fear in Nancy’s eyes. “Of course he didn’t! My father would never hurt anyone!”
Lisa waved at waitress Julie. “You need to calm down, Nancy. You want to be able to give your father all your support. Why don’t you sit back and take a deep breath. I’ll order your favorite drink, okay?”
Julie walked up, notepad in hand. “What can I get you folks?”
“My friend will have a cherry-flavored cola, please. And I’ll have an iced tea. No sugar,” Lisa said.
“And I’ll have an iced coffee, Julie, if you would be so kind,” Kelly added. “And one of Pete’s wonderful cinnamon rolls if any are left. Put all of it on my bill, please.”
“You got it,” Julie said, scribbling as she walked away.
Kelly glanced at Nancy and saw that her whole body seemed tense. Her eyes darted right and left, from Lisa to Kelly to the café and back. Kelly observed Nancy for a long moment. Something was out of sync with Nancy’s reaction to her father’s confession to the police. It didn’t feel right, and Kelly suspected she knew why.
Nancy was feeling guilty. Guilty that her father was taking the blame for a crime he did not commit. Kelly’s suspicions about Nancy pushed forward again, demanding her attention. Nancy felt guilty because she knew her father didn’t kill Neil Smith. She killed him. Deliberate or not, Nancy drove her car directly into Smith that night. And Nancy was the young woman seen kneeling beside Smith’s body as he lay dead in the street.
Kelly leaned back in the wrought iron chair and listened to Lisa try to soothe and relax Nancy in her best professional psychologist and therapist manner. Julie returned with Nancy’s cherry cola, Lisa’s iced tea, and Kelly’s refilled iced coffee and cinnamon roll. Kelly savored the yummy cinnamon pastry then took a deep drink of the cold liquid before she spoke.
“Your father is a good man, Nancy. I saw that when I met him. He would never intentionally hurt Neil Smith. He was simply being a protective father.”
Nancy chewed her lip. “My dad would never hurt anyone. Ever!” she swore.
“I’m sure he wouldn’t,” Lisa concurred in a soothing voice.
“And your father loves you very, very much,” Kelly continued in a calm voice. “And I’m sure he would do anything for you.”
Lisa glanced at Kelly with a quizzical expression. Nancy didn’t answer. She just stared into the garden, then took a sip of her cherry cola.
“He would try to protect you from any harm, if he could. Wouldn’t he, Nancy?”
Nancy chewed her lip again. “Yes, of course,” she said in a quiet voice.
Kelly paused for a few seconds then ventured, “In fact, I suspect your father would even take the blame for something so you would not have to suffer.”
Lisa stared at Kelly then shifted her gaze to Nancy. Kelly kept her gaze directly on Nancy’s face, watching the different emotions flash across it. Nancy didn’t speak, just kept staring into the garden.
Finally, Kelly spoke again. “You drove the car that hit Neil Smith, didn’t you, Nancy?” she asked gently.
Nancy immediately bent her head and stared at her hands. Finally, she answered in a soft voice. “Yes. I ran into Neil that night. I waited for him in my car, hoping to talk to him again. But when he came out, Neil had a girl with him. She got into her own car and left, but I heard him telling her the same things he told me months ago. And . . . and I got mad. Just seeing him sweet-talking her and kissing her . . . just like he did with me. It made me so mad that I wanted to pay him back.”
Nancy suddenly looked up, her anxious gaze shifting between Lisa and Kelly. “I just meant to hurt him. I didn’t mean to kill him! Honest! When I saw him lying in the street, not moving, I got out of the car and ran over to him. I . . . I was hoping to see him open his eyes or something . . . see me. But he didn’t.”
Her anxious gaze sought her lap once again. “That’s when I got scared. Really scared. I ran back to the car and drove off. I just wanted to get home and . . . and hide from everything. I was so scared . . . I didn’t even see the guy on the bicycle at the corner. Until I heard that awful sound.” Nancy raised her head again and stared at Lisa, her gaze pleading. “I swear I didn’t even see Greg on his bike, Lisa! I swear! I would never have hit him if I had. I’m so sorry! So very sorry!”
Lisa reached over and placed her hand on Nancy’s arm. “I know you didn’t mean it, Nancy. You didn’t hit Greg on purpose.”
“No, I would never do that. You know that! I . . . I was just so scared! So very scared.” Nancy stared down at her lap again.
Kelly chose that moment to catch Lisa’s eye briefly then said, “You’ll have to tell the police all of this, Nancy. You know that, don’t you?”
Nancy’s shoulders drooped; in fact, her whole body seemed to droop at Kelly’s words. “Yes, I know,” she said softly.
“You won’t have to go alone, though.” Kelly caught Lisa’s glance again and watched the light of agreement appear in her friend’s eyes.
“That’s right, Nancy. You won’t have to be alone,” Lisa said in her calm therapist’s voice. “I’ll go with you.”
Nancy’s head jerked up quickly. She stared at Lisa, gratitude unmistakable in her gaze. “You’d do that for me?” she asked, clearly incredulous.
“Of course I would, Nancy,” Lisa said, giving her a little smile. “I’m your friend.”
“Ohhhhh, thank you, thank you, Lisa!” Nancy said, heartfelt.
Kelly slowly pushed back her chair. “I’ll go phone Burt and ask him if he could stay at the police department and meet you both. He can shepherd you through the process. Burt knows everyone. He’ll make sure you have a sympathetic ear, Nancy.”
Nancy looked up at Kelly, her eyes starting to glisten. “Thank you, Kelly. I appreciate that more than you know.”
Twenty
Three weeks later
Kelly reached into the pocket of her dress for a tissue. She tried to move inconspicuously so the rest of the guests standing in Mimi and Burt’s backyard wouldn’t notice. She’d put several tissues in her pocket before she and Steve left their home this afternoon. Kelly knew she’d need them. She was right. Watching Jennifer and Pete standing beneath the flower-bedecked arbor in the shade, Kelly felt the tears form behind her eyes. Out of nowhere.
Jennifer looked beautiful in the ivory silk dress she’d had made for the wedding. The gifted seamstress had met Kelly and Jennifer during one of Kelly’s many sleuthing adventures. The dress was a simple and elegant style that could easily be used for other social occasions. Pete was also handsome in his dark blue suit.
Both Jennifer and Pete fairly radiated, Kelly thought to herself. As if a special light was shining inside them. Jennifer had confided in Kelly that she’d wanted to wear a lovely pastel green but decided on an ivory color so as to be traditional. One of the few times in her life she’d ever been traditional, Jennifer joked.
Of course, that thought brought more tears to Kelly’s eyes, which she stealthily wiped away. Steve slipped his arm around her waist. He leaned over and whispered, “Check out Cassie. She can barely stand still.”
Kelly glanced over at Cassie, who was beaming at Jennifer and Pete beneath the arbor. Cassie and Eric had decorated the arbor with flowers from Mimi’s backyard and the café patio garden. Cassie held a small bouquet of flowers that matched Jennifer’s bouquet of colorful late summer blooms—bright yellow daisies and red roses. Cassie almost danced in place, her happiness was so obvious.
The minister spoke the familiar-sounding words of the marriage ceremony. Both Jennifer and Pete had written their own vows. Kelly looked around at all of the people standing in a semicircle, watching Jennifer and Pete. If Mimi and Burt smiled any wider, their faces would crack. Megan and Marty beamed. Eduardo’s huge smile was contagious. Even Greg was grinning beside Lisa. He’d gotten permi
ssion from his doctor at the rehab center to come. His broken leg was stretched out on a jumbo-sized scooter chair. Somehow Greg was able to manage over the grassy backyard. He had vowed he wasn’t going to miss the wedding cake.
Kelly felt her eyes misting again as she watched Jennifer and Pete pledge their love to one another. Steve drew her closer to his side, then she felt his warm lips on the side of her cheek.
At that moment Pete and Jennifer kissed and all the guests broke into spontaneous applause. Kelly used that moment to quickly wipe her eyes again. Now it was time to celebrate. Cassie jumped up and down several times and ran into the swarm of friends surrounding Jennifer and Pete, who welcomed her into their embrace. Marty and Megan joined Kelly and Steve as everyone crowded around the newlyweds, waiting to congratulate the happy couple.
“Now it’s time to party,” Marty teased. “When do you think they’ll cut that yummy-looking cake?”
Megan simply rolled her eyes as Kelly and Steve laughed out loud.
• • •
“Oh, wow, my feet are sore from these shoes,” Megan said, rubbing the sole of one foot. “I don’t understand. They’ve always fit perfectly.”
“Is this the first time you’ve worn the shoes since you had Molly?” Mimi asked as she held one of the chocolate brownies Cassie had made for the wedding reception.
“Yeah, I think so,” Megan said. “Why?”
“Well, pregnancy often makes our feet get a little bigger.” Mimi grinned at Megan before taking a bite of the brownie. Then Mimi closed her eyes and emitted an “Ummmmmmm” sound of enjoyment.
“Oh, wow, I didn’t know that,” Megan said before sipping her Fat Tire ale.
“How’s that leg doing?” Steve called to Greg, who was steering the scooter chair toward the group seated in the shady patio.
“Coming along,” Greg said as he steered his scooter chair to a stop at the edge of the group of friends. “Hey, Marty, have you sampled that lasagna Julie made? It’s some of the best I ever tasted.”
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