The Turn

by Carolina Mac

  Renee sobbed and struggled to get away from him, but Max held fast to her skunky hair. He backhanded her across the face and with a tasseled loafer, kicked a Fisher-Price garage half way across the kitchen. Little people rolled out of their cars and flew under the table.

  Max dragged her by the hair to the stove and dropped her on the floor. “Start cooking.”

  TRAVIS slouched down in the driver’s seat, smoked half a pack of Marlborough red and listened to Annie sing. Blaine had made a CD of her singing with her band, but it was private. He had made it for himself, and it had taken months before he shared a copy with Farrell. That’s when Travis had heard it—in Farrell’s truck—and he badgered Blacky for a copy until he got one. Hearing her voice close to him, kept him sane.

  Several hours later after nothing happened that was even remotely interesting, Jack parked the cube van behind him and took over the surveillance. Travis headed home to get some sleep.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Saturday, September 8th.

  Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE was up at six drinking coffee on the back porch, watching Lexi run around the barren yard and thinking about his botched-up date with Olivia.

  He’d been emotionally on the brink of something, since bringing the boxes home from Abilene and seeing the pictures of his childhood. None of those feelings would be resolved until he found out the truth about what had happened, but the man said to wait, and he’d have to wait. There was no way around it. Some things you didn’t, or couldn’t, mess with.

  Then Olivia bringing up Fab brought back all the guilt he had over his failure to rescue her and bring her home safe to Carm. Overload. That’s what it was.

  What’s happening? Am I gonna have a breakdown or some fuckin thing? I don’t have time. Maybe I need to talk to Annie.

  Hyde Park Area. Austin.

  TRAVIS relieved Jack and Greg at seven a.m. down the block from the Endicott home. He hadn’t been in place more than fifteen minutes when the dentist came out and jumped into his Beemer.

  Travis set his coffee container in the cupholder and started his truck. He followed a long way behind, not worrying too much because he had the tracker in place on the Beemer. When Endicott took the ramp for route two ninety west, Travis reached for his cell.

  “Hey, boss, seems like we’re taking a trip out of town this morning. Heading west. I’ll keep you posted.”

  “Good. Don’t lose him.”

  “Not possible.”

  Hill Country. West of Austin.

  MAX had made appointments to see two cabin rentals offered by a Johnson City realtor. He was approaching the turn off for the first one when he noticed the big silver Ford pickup—the same pickup he’d seen parked down the block from his house—following him two vehicles back.

  The cops are following me. Shit.

  Then he smiled. “They think they can outsmart me? That’s a joke.”

  Just like Renee this morning, being all sweet to me and offering to make my breakfast. I’ve got her where I want her. Should have put her in her place a long time ago.

  Green Garden Center. Austin.

  BLAINE and Carm arrived at Olivia’s nursery at half past nine, and the place was bustling with customers. Olivia was nowhere in sight. The girl on cash had a big lineup of people pulling flat trolleys of plants behind them waiting to check out.

  “She could use more help,” Blaine said to Carm in Spanish.

  “Si, concurrido.”

  “Today we’ll pick the pavers for the paths, the fountain and the things that come before the plants,” he said in Spanish. “But if you see trees or plants that you love, we’ll write the names down from the tags. I don’t know much about foliage.”

  Carm pulled a little notebook out of her pocket and Blaine grabbed an empty trolley. They left the crowded building and headed outside.

  Olivia was with an older couple in a section marked ‘fruit trees’ and it looked like the two couldn’t decide between peach and pear.

  “What about fruit trees?” asked Blaine. “It would be nice to pick a peach in the yard.”

  “Si, bueno.”

  “We’ll ask Olivia to add some in.”

  Olivia finished with her customers and jogged towards them wearing shorts and a tank. Her skin was tanned from working outdoors and she had an athletic glow about her. “Hey, glad y’all could make it. Anything I can help with?”

  “We’re checking out the first list you gave us and writing in our choices,” said Blaine. “Don’t waste time on us, you’re busy today.”

  “Saturdays are like a zoo here.” She smiled. “Make a note of all your favorites and we’ll talk later.”

  “I’ll call you tonight?”

  She nodded and hurried off to help a customer.

  Dental Office. Downtown Austin.

  MAX drove straight to his office when he got back to the city and placed a call to his lawyer. “Listen to this crap, Simon, the cops hauled me in for questioning for no good reason, made me sit in a little room for hours. They let me go because they had to and now they have a tail on me.”

  “They must have given you a reason they wanted to talk to you, Max. What was it?”

  “They said I’d been emailing JoAnne Engels. The girl that was killed downtown.”

  “And were you?”

  “I was on a dating site, Simon, but I was discreet.”

  “Max, I can hardly believe it. Doesn’t sound like you at all.”

  “It was a mistake, and I know that now. Can you make the cops stop following me?”

  “I know Chief Calhoun, I’ll talk to him.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  My trip this morning was for nothing. I couldn’t rent either one of those cabins with the cops watching me. I’ll have to find something else.

  He scrolled through his contacts until he found Ed Ryerson, his insurance man. “Hey, Ed, Max Endicott, we haven’t talked for a while.”

  “I believe I called to see if you wanted a review of your policies after the children were born, but you were busy.” Ed sounded a bit testy.

  “Business is better now, and I have to think about the future. Raising triplets isn’t going to be cheap.”

  “Protecting your family is important, and your children’s education is a consideration as well.”

  “My practice has expanded, and I can afford heftier premiums. I want to double up on my policies.”

  “For both yourself, and for Renee?”

  Especially for Renee.

  “Yes, can you take care of it?”

  “Sure.”

  “When will those new numbers take effect.”

  “As soon as I make the changes. I’ll do it first thing Monday morning when I get to the office, and fax you the revised policies for a signature. Is that okay?”

  “Sure, it’s just something I’ve been meaning to do, and now it’s done.”

  Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange.

  ANNIE took a tray into the master suite and laid out lunch for her and Jesse on the old oak table in front of the windows. She walked over to the bed where Jesse lay on top of the duvet with his boots off. “Hey, cowboy, you’re holed up good in here, but you’re not fooling me.”

  “What good am I, Ace? I work for two days and then I can’t get off the bed all weekend.”

  Annie sat down on the side of the bed and held him in her arms. “You’re everything to me, sugar, and I want you around for a long time. You weren’t ready to go into the city for a full day of work, let alone two in a row. You thought you were, but your body is saying you made a mistake.”

  “I was good for one day, but not two in a row.”

  “See,” she leaned closer and kissed him on the mouth. “You learned something. We can work it out. Next week, you can work on Monday and… Thursday. We’ll test it out with a two-day rest in between. I’ll have Travis pick you up.”

  Jesse managed a smile. “I love you, Ace.”

  Annie held out h
er hand. “Let’s have lunch.”

  Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BLAINE pulled through the gate and his cell rang. “Afternoon Chief. You working on a Saturday?”

  “I had a not-so-friendly call from Doctor Endicott’s lawyer accusing me of having eyes on his client for no reason.”

  “Oh, we have a reason, but he must have spotted Travis.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Call Endicott personally and assure him the tail has been removed and he’s in the clear.”

  The Chief chuckled. “My pleasure. Have you got something else you can use?”

  “I’ll use the junk truck.”

  The Chief was laughing when the call ended.

  Blaine backed his Ram down the drive and Jack and the boys helped him unload everything Carm had taken a fancy to. She was glowing as she watched them place everything in a row next to the carriage house. She hadn’t been this happy in months.

  When they finished Blaine spoke to Jack. “Endicott made Travis. We have to use the Junk truck.”

  Jack grinned. “No problem.”

  Carm stayed in the yard showing all her purchases to Rick and Andy while Blaine went inside to grab a beer. He’d been outside all morning and the day was heating up. Annie called the minute he walked towards the Sub-Zero. “Hey, sweetheart.”

  “You sound tired, Mom. Is Jesse okay?”

  “Not so much. He wouldn’t want y’all to know this, but he was wiped from yesterday. We had a little talk and we decided—mostly me—that he would come to the office on Mondays and Thursdays for the next while and see how that pans out.”

  “Sure, Mom, that’s fine. He doesn’t have to come at all. You know that, right?”

  “Course I do, but he’s antsy without long days of manual labor in the barn.”

  “I’m thinking of taking my bike out tomorrow and I might ride out to the ranch.”

  “Sure, come for dinner. Bringing anybody?”

  “I hope so.”

  “Okay, good. Come anytime and plan on staying for dinner. Jesse will be pleased.”

  “Thanks, Mom. Love you.”

  Hyde Park Area. Austin.

  MAX drove home from the office with his plan all worked out. He stopped at a market and picked up a bouquet of roses and a bottle of wine.

  This is going to be so perfect.

  “Hey, Renee, I’m home. I brought you something, sweetheart.”

  Renee limped down the staircase into the front hall, a lump the size of an egg on her forehead, her right eye swollen and ringed in black and blue bruising. “Sweetheart? You’re calling me sweetheart now? I can’t believe you, Max. You are some piece of work.”

  Max enfolded her in his arms and kissed her. “Everybody needs a second chance. I called a sitter and I’m taking you out to dinner.” He shoved the flowers at her. “Here, put these in some water.”

  “I don’t want to go out, Max. Look at my goddam face.”

  “Put some makeup on and nobody will notice.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding. I’m not going out.”

  Max could feel the heat tingling at the back of his neck.

  I’m not going to blow this.

  “Okay, you’re right. You’d be more comfortable staying in. I’m going to order from the Greek place on the corner. They deliver.”

  Renee sighed. “Okay.” She shuffled to the kitchen with the flowers and looked through the cabinets for a vase. “Where were you all day?”

  “That’s what I want to talk to you about.” Max flashed her his best perfect smile. I was thinking that we needed some time away together to put our marriage back on solid ground. We don’t need a counsellor like that Liz woman, we can do it ourselves if we try hard enough.”

  Renee studied his face. “I’m dying to hear what you came up with, Max.”

  “I rented a cabin for a week out in hill country and we’re taking a vacation. You arrange for your mother to take the kids, and I’ll have Hannah reschedule everybody for next week.”

  “When are we going on this magic trip?”

  “Tomorrow night.”

  Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  BEFORE he crashed for the night, Blaine called Olivia to firm up the bike ride for the following day. He liked her, but he’d been responsible for a shaky start and wallowing in his usual sinkhole of pessimism, he was unsure he could turn things around.

  She sounded sleepy when she answered. “Did I wake you?”

  “I dozed off watching the news. Busy day out in the heat. How did you and Carm make out choosing things?”

  “Great, she hasn’t been this happy for a long while.”

  “I’m glad for her.”

  “I hope we’re still on for our ride tomorrow.”

  “Sure. I haven’t checked my bike, but it should be running okay. What time?”

  “I’ll let you sleep in. How about one?”

  “One is fine. I’ll have time to do some laundry in the morning.”

  “Umm… I called Annie and told her we’d ride out to the ranch. Would you mind that?”

  “No, of course not. Is that your mother? You call her Annie?”

  “Uh huh. Annie Powell.”

  He heard Olivia gasp a little. “Annie Powell, like the Powell Corp. Annie Powell?”

  Blaine chuckled. “That’s my Mom.”

  “Jeeze Louise, I should have connected that, but you just said Blackmore without the Powell and I didn’t trig into it.”

  “Now that I have my own agency, it’s easier to just use Blackmore.”

  “It would be.”

  “So, we’re okay for a one o’clock start?”

  “Yep, I’ll be ready to rock. Anything else you want to spring on me?” She giggled.

  “One other thing. I told her we were staying for dinner.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Sunday, September 9th.

  Hyde Park Area. Austin.

  MAX had pulled out all the stops the night before, treating Renee like a queen and making love to her like he meant it. He woke feeling alive and couldn’t wait to start the day.

  He’d regained control and was back in the power seat where he belonged. Max strutted downstairs like a reborn rooster and started the Keurig. It was all falling into place. By tomorrow, he’d have a new life.

  “Good morning,” said Renee as she poured herself a cup of coffee. “I gave the kids bowls of dry cereal, so they’re okay in their cribs for a while.”

  Max gave her the million-dollar smile. “I want to thank you for the wonderful night, Renee. It’s been a long time since we’ve experienced that kind of intimacy between us.”

  “It has been a long time.” She sat down across from him and he could barely stand to look at her bashed-in face.

  Thank God it was dark when I had to touch her.

  “Why don’t you drive the kids to your parents’ place and while you’re gone, I’ll pick up the supplies we’ll need for the cabin and get in touch with Hannah about rescheduling the patients.”

  He’d never helped with any domestic chores before and certainly never picked up groceries, so he wasn’t surprised when Renee eyed him suspiciously. He qualified it. “I’m trying, Renee. This is the new me.”

  Renee nodded her head. “Sure, okay.”

  RENEE spent most of the morning doing laundry and packing for the triplets. Diapers, food, clothes and toys times three for toddlers not yet two years old. Luckily when the multiple birth had been imminent, her mother had purchased folding cribs to keep at her house.

  When Renee was packed and ready to go, Max helped her buckle the kids into their car seats and he loaded all their stuff into the back of the SUV. Max kissed each of the girls goodbye, and Renee shivered. Since the day they were born he’d never give them any affection.

  As she drove out the driveway, he waved. He’d never stopped smiling since he woke in the morning and the constant display of happiness coming from her husband made her more nervous than anything else.<
br />
  Maple Street. Round Rock.

  RENEE backed into her parents’ driveway in Round Rock a half hour after leaving home and parked as close as she could to the house. So much stuff to unload to last the week, although her mother was thrilled that the adored threesome was coming for an extended stay.

  The door opened, and her father jogged down the walk to help her. He held her tight in a hug and peered at her face. “What happened, Renee? Did you have an accident?”

  Her mother was right behind her dad and didn’t have time to give her a glance. She zeroed in on the kids and began unbuckling the jabbering crowd from their car seats.

  “I slipped on one of the toys in the kitchen and hit my head on the counter. My face is a mess and it hurts.”

  Her father pursed his lips and digested her answer before circling the truck and opening the hatch.

  Her mother’s focus was on her granddaughters. “Look how much you’ve grown. Such adorable little girls. Grandma wishes she could tell you apart. Are you Karen, Kathrine or Kaitlin?” No reply. She lifted them out one at a time and set them down on the front lawn.

  Once everything was in the house, Renee took time for a cup of coffee with her mom and dad. They caught up on family things for a while and once the small talk had run out, Renee came out with it. “Can I borrow your hunting rifle, Daddy? Max is planning on doing some hunting while we’re at the cabin.”

  “What’s he hunting for out there? I heard there were wild boars roaming around hill country as well as deer and wild turkeys.”

  Renee shrugged. “He didn’t say.”

  Her father gave her a look. “It matters what he’s hunting for, girl. I want to send the right gun and the right ammunition.”

  “Just pick one, Daddy. It will be fine.”

  “Call him, Renee. You can’t guess.”

  “Okay, Daddy, you’re right. Give me a minute.” She strolled down the hall with her cell, then returned and said, “Deer rifle.”

  Renee hugged the little girls, then hugged both of her parents. “Thanks so much for watching them. Max and I badly need a break.”