Ginny swallowed another mouthful of spaghetti and shook her head. “Not for several days.” She snorted, and Martin recognized how much like him she was sometimes.
She said, “That’s a record for him. The last time was just about getting my stuff from the apartment, that’s all. He wasn’t ugly to me or anything.”
“You didn’t tell him where you’re working?”
“I wouldn’t do that. Not that it would be too hard for him to figure out.” She sighed and put the plate down again. “I can’t wait until this divorce is over. Mary calls me every day and now you, with your deadbolt.”
“You haven’t seen him around the parking lot?” Martin raised his right eyebrow like an evil villain.
Ginny shook her head. “No. I swear. I would have told you.”
Putting the key in the new lock from the outside, he worked the bolt back and forth a couple of times before pushing the door closed and trying it from the inside. He was pleased with himself and perched on the arm of the sofa. “I got an extra key for the manager, one for your roommate, when you get one, and there’s one for you. Don’t give any keys to anyone else.” He handed her three keys, not confessing that he’d kept a fourth one for himself.
“I’m not stupid.”
Martin patted her on the shoulder. “I didn’t say you were, Sis. It’s just better if keys to your apartment aren’t all over town. Did you put that dowel in the track of your sliding back door like I told you?”
“Yes, Brother Dear. You want to check?”
Martin went into her bedroom and returned a few moments later. “That’ll work.”
“Are you happy now?”
“What do you do all the time now that you’re working nights?”
“Why?” She thought she knew what was coming.
“You aren’t seeing someone else, are you? Another guy?”
“What if I am?”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? You haven’t even decided what to do with the baby yet.”
“Have you been following me? All this time I’ve been feeling like it was Alan following me, but it was my own brother. How can you manage that when you’re supposed to be at work?”
“Don’t you think Sellers will get angry if he thinks you’re seeing someone else?”
Ginny backed toward the kitchen with her plate. “If he’s already angry, what difference will it make?”
“So what are you going to do about the baby?” He sounded like a broken record, but he couldn’t help it. She needed to make a final decision.
Ginny turned from the sink and stared up at her brother. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll get rid of it.”
“You mean it? I can find a clinic for you.”
“I’ve been discussing it with my counselor, Martin. And if I need a clinic, I already know where some are.” She wore a big frown. “Just let me alone, and I’ll tell you when I’ve decided what to do.” She rinsed her plate and silverware off and put them into the dishwasher, not looking at him. She scraped the leftovers into a small plastic container and put the pot in the sink, turning on the water to fill it up. When she faced her brother, who was leaning on the doorjamb watching her, her face had turned pink.
Her look unsettled him. He wished he could do more to protect her without smothering her. He’d like to lock her up somewhere until Alan Sellers became a nonissue, whenever that would be. “You’re still scared, aren’t you?” He crossed his arms, the screwdriver still in one hand.
“I wish if he was going to try something, he’d go ahead and do it.” She pushed past him and walked back into the living room. “I’ve really got to get ready for work now.”
Martin followed her. “I know you’re tired of me playing big brother, but I just want you to know I’m worried. I’m doing all I can to get out on the street to protect you.” He hadn’t told her he’d asked to go back to sergeant. The decision wasn’t completely about her anyway, and he didn’t want her to think it was. Still, he’d feel better if he could get out there fast. He might hear something, and he could keep a better eye on Sellers.
She hugged him. “Quit worrying. I’m being as careful as I can.”
“I’m not trying to scare you, but I’ve had a couple of the guys drive by his apartment several times. They haven’t seen any sign of him or anyone else. I think he’s up to something. I just don’t know what.”
“Maybe he’s gone back to work and just isn’t around like he used to be.” She snorted with contempt, like she didn’t believe her own words.
“Sellers?”
“I don’t know. But if you can help me go get my stuff, maybe we can find out. Listen, I’ve got to get dressed. Thanks for the new lock. Really.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her brother on the cheek, then pulled him by the arm toward the door, opening it.
Stepping out onto the porch, he held onto the door. “You’ll call me if you see anything suspicious.”
Ginny gave him an exaggerated nod. “Yes. I promise. But I’m sure everything’s going to be okay. ‘Bye.”
She held up the new keys and jingled them when he reached his car and gave her a backward glance. “Thanks again, Bro,” she called and closed the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY
DENA
On Saturday morning, Dena, Meredith, and Dena’s best friend, Ellen, a high school drama teacher, drove to the warehouse to attack Dena’s father’s closed legal files. Juliet took the kids for the day. Zack was still out of town.
Dena had promised Luke she’d have all her side of the family’s stuff cleaned out by the end of the summer. The property would be listed for sale in the early fall, if they couldn’t make a deal with the folks who were already interested. The idea of having the money to put her plans into motion had energized her.
She parked in the alley next to an old hotel that needed to be bought and refurbished. The temperature was in the nineties, and the humidity was so bad Dena started perspiring before she could even get inside the door. Heavy, dark clouds bore evidence a rainstorm might be on the way. As far as she was concerned, it couldn’t get there fast enough.
“You’re a good friend to help me with this,” Dena told Ellen as each of them, armed with a flashlight, traipsed up the back alley stairs.
“What about me? Don’t I get any credit for being here?” Meredith turned the key in the lock and swung the door wide, revealing a cavern of darkness, but for an occasional crack of light filtering in through a broken window.
“You’re being paid and, anyway, you owe me for ratting me out to Lucas. Put that cigarette out before you go in there,” Dena said. “I don’t want you burning the place down just when I’m about to get some extra money.”
Meredith didn’t respond to Dena’s comment but threw her cigarette over the side of the stairs into the alley. “Happy?” She hoisted her backpack onto one shoulder and stepped ahead of them.
Ellen stopped and dug in her purse for a moment. “What’s that about?” she whispered, pulling out a scrunchy and gathering her long red hair into it. “You and Meredith at odds over something?”
“Divided loyalties,” Dena whispered back. “She acts like she’s my friend half the time and the other, a spy for Lucas. He and she go back a lot further than she and I do, so what can I expect?”
“I don’t understand. Why would Lucas need her to spy on you?” She tucked her purse under her arm as they skirted broken furniture.
“We’re having a feud over what kind of law I can practice. He doesn’t want me doing family law, and I don’t want him telling me what to do.” Dena fanned herself with her hand. “It sure is oppressive in here.”
Ellen pulled her tee shirt up over her stomach and tied it in a knot. “Some of this old furniture might be worth something.”
Dena glanced at some of the pieces. “We’ll have someone come in and appraise it later. Today we’re going to start shredding files, which I know must be around here
somewhere.” She shined her flashlight over the area to their right, trying to see what her father had stored there.
“Don’t you think in time Lucas will get over whatever he’s worried about? After all, you haven’t been practicing with him that long.”
“I don’t know. Seems like there’s something else going on. It’s more a feeling than anything else. Like today, he didn’t want me coming without Meredith. He lined up the shredder rental himself.” She shrugged. “It could be just that he’s a control freak, which he is.”
“Hmm, is there something dangerous here? I mean, rotten boards or something like that?” Ellen shined her flashlight around the area to her left.
“I don’t think so. Surely he would have mentioned it if things were that bad.”
Dena grasped the back of what, in the dim light, appeared to be an overstuffed chair. A dust cloud mushroomed from it. They both coughed.
“Something he doesn’t want you to know about then,” Ellen said after the coughing fit passed and then a sneeze. “Are you sure he isn’t into anything illegal? Drugs? Gambling? Gun running? Receiving stolen property?”
Dena blew out a gust of air. “Lucas? Are you nuts? You know how straight he is.”
“Maybe he’s just being overprotective.” Ellen pushed a cardboard box aside with her foot. It left a long scrape in the dusty floor.
Dena said, “He’s been too much like that lately as it is. We may be fixing to butt heads again.” She called out, “Meredith, we can’t see you. Shine your light or something.”
“I’m over here, Mrs. Armstrong, can’t you guys keep up?” A light appeared on the far side of the storage area.
“I really appreciate your helping, Ellen,” Dena said. “Sorry it’s such a filthy task. I’ll pay you back somehow.”
They dodged a lot of junk and several interesting looking pieces of furniture until they found an area that contained mostly stacked Permafile boxes gray with dirt and age.
Ellen shook her head. “You’d do the same for me. Besides, we haven’t had much time together lately. It’ll give us an opportunity to catch up while we work.”
Dena set her purse down and searched the walls for light switches. The ones she found only lit up the back half of the area with small, bald bulbs. The rest seemed to be inoperable. At least they had enough to see the boxes that needed to be sorted through.
Ellen began tugging on boxes, lining them up, so the identifying marks all faced the same way. There was a tiny scraping sound and then a sudden squeal, which sent them running toward each other. Dena flashed her light across the floor. “I think it’s a mouse,” she said as she spotted the tail of a tiny, furry creature disappearing behind a broken table leg. She shivered. “I feel like Nancy Drew investigating a crime with her friend George.”
“I’m George? Thanks a lot.” Ellen’s laugh was high-pitched. “I can see why Lucas didn’t want you here alone.”
“George was a girl. Let’s look for some more lights. I don’t want to stick my hand into anything even in the semi-dark, do you?”
“Heck, no. You go back over to that far wall where you were, and I’ll cover this one. There’s got to be another set of switches somewhere. Oh, this makes my flesh crawl.”
“Mine, too.”
“Meredith!” Ellen called. “Why don’t you come help us find some lights?”
“Yeah,” Dena said in a loud voice. “What are you doing, anyway?” She strode over to the corner and started working her way across the long dim wall. Their progress was relatively slow since they each had to climb over boxes and other stuff. God, she didn’t know her father had been such a pack rat. Yuck. The very thought of mice and bugs. She shook her head and hurried to find more lights.
“I’m coming,” Meredith yelled. “I just found some of the neatest things. A collection of stuff from the old Jack Tar Hotel.”
“That was a million years ago,” Dena said.
Thunder rumbled in the distance.
“Oh, great,” Ellen called. “All we need is a thunderstorm. I hope the roof of this joint doesn’t leak.”
“At least it’ll be cooler.”
Large overhead fluorescent lights sputtered and came on.
“Is that better?” Meredith hollered.
“Where were you five minutes ago?” Dena was relieved they’d be able to see their way around.
“Did you hear what I said?” Meredith strode back toward them. “I wonder who owns the Jack Tar stuff?”
“It depends on whether the antique mall folks are using any of the storage space up here or not. Lucas said they weren’t supposed to be. If they’re not, it’s either Lucas or me. Or both. C’mon, let’s get started.” Dena switched off her flashlight and set it and her shoulder bag on top of an old barrister’s bookcase. She’d like to be able to acquire the bookcase for herself. She would discuss it with Lucas later.
Ellen sneezed again. “Anybody got a tissue?”
Dena pulled one from her purse and handed it to her. She untied the blue ropes from the end of the box with the lowest numbers marked on the outside. “I guess this is as good a place to begin as any.” Opening the flaps, she glanced down at dozens of manila folders. For the love of God, why couldn’t Lucas agree to hire a shredding company? He was so tight.
Ellen looked over Dena’s shoulder and groaned. “I’m not sure I knew what I was getting into, but I’m here, so just tell me what you’re looking for.”
Meredith headed back toward the door through which they’d come. “I’ll go check on the shredder, and I’m going to ask those guys downstairs if they have any kind of fan we can borrow.”
“It’ll stir up the dust, but maybe they could point it up so we at least have some air circulating,” Dena said.
“Ellen, pull out the metal brads, then look for any other heavy stuff that might jam the shredder, like those huge paper clips. Other than that, watch for formal documents like wills and codicils or anything else that looks too important to shred. Most of it will be outdated stuff, but let me check ‘em if you have any doubts.”
“I vote we drag up a couple of chairs. I think it’s going to be a long day.”
After they were seated, Meredith returned from the opposite direction with a man pushing a large shredder. “There’s an elevator on that side,” she said. Behind the first man, another man carried large standing fan. Meredith had the men plug them both into an extension cord she had carried from downstairs. “Thanks, guys,” she said, beaming.
As they walked away, Ellen turned to Dena and said, “Oh, to be twenty again.”
Meredith made a face. “I’m twenty-two.” They formed an assembly line. Ellen pulled the metal pieces out of each file, Dena examined the contents, and Meredith fed it to the shredder.
The thunder grew closer for a while. A few raindrops pattered on the roof. A slight breeze blew in every few minutes from the direction of the stairwell and the alley door, which they had propped open. Otherwise, except for the grating noise of the shredder, everything was still and quiet. Before long all of them were covered with a layer of grit.
“Remind me next time to bring a radio,” Meredith said later that afternoon after they’d been back from lunch for a while. “By the way, Olympia Grill was a good choice. I love their Greek salad.”
“Remind me next time to try harder to talk Lucas into hiring a service for this,” Dena said. “What was he thinking? And what about his father’s files and his own? What is he doing about them? Here’s another thought. Couldn’t we have had a big bonfire of this stuff at the beach?”
“He’s really anal, you know, Mrs. A.,” Meredith said. “His father was the same way. There are no files. They were destroyed every year after the first five years of Mr. Barlow Senior’s practice, Lucas told me, and he does his own each year. You didn’t know?”
“And so he what, after Mitchell died, came over here and shredded all Mitchell’s old files?”
“Event
ually, after that artificial five-year time limitation you lawyers pulled out of the air from some place.”
“Weird,” Ellen said. “I didn’t think anyone was that compulsive.”
“Yeah, well, Mr. Barlow is,” Meredith said. “And he’s a Virgo to boot.”
“What’s that mean?” Ellen said.
Meredith’s laugh turned into a cough. “They’re persnickety. Nitpickers. You know.”
“Wait,” Ellen whispered, holding up her hand. “I think I hear someone.”
“That’s not even funny.”
“Shhh,” Ellen said. “Turn off the machine.”
The hairs stood up on the back of Dena’s neck.
Meredith whispered. “They’d have to be legitimate to be heard over the shredder. What stalker would make that much noise? It’s probably one of the guys who carried that stuff up.”
Everything was quiet.
“Anyone down there?” Meredith called out. She jogged toward the stairwell.
“Meredith.” Ellen frowned and grabbed Dena’s arm.
“What’s your problem?” Dena patted Ellen’s hand. “No one’s out there.”
“All clear,” Meredith called from the stairs.
Ellen shook her head. “I just have the creeps, I guess.”
“This place is enough to give them to you. Why don’t we quit for today? We’ve done three big boxes.”
“You don’t mind?” Ellen stood up and stretched.
“Nah,” she said and looked at her watch. “It’s nearly four, anyway. Let me just find old lady Heslep’s file, and we’ll call it a day.”
“Remind me who that is?” Ellen asked.
“An old client of my dad’s. I’m preparing a codicil to her will. Her daughter called and said since she was coming into the office, she wanted everything from her old files, notes and all.” She shrugged. “I don’t know what it’s about. People are just weird sometimes.”
Meredith returned and helped Dena sort through some boxes until they found the appropriate one. It dated back to before Dena was born. Ellen filled the empty boxes with file folders and the hardware they’d thrown on the floor.
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