The Way of the Guilty

by Jennifer Stanley

  “By Edward?” he asked softly.

  Cooper nodded and was about to explain that she and Edward didn’t even know one another and that the attraction was of a baser kind, but decided that such a qualifier wasn’t helpful and might only serve to wound Nathan’s pride.

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “Don’t be angry with me, Cooper, but I’m going through the same thing. I came over Sunday night with the intention of telling you everything I’ve been feeling, but Ashley and Edward were here and then we ended up talking about Miguel . . .” He trailed off and took a swallow of beer.

  “You wanted to tell me about the weekend painting party?” Cooper guessed as a mixture of jealousy and disappointment began to stir in her heart.

  Nathan’s gaze never left her face. “Yes. I ran into an ex-girlfriend from college while I was up there. Her name’s Melissa. She just, um, has some hold over me. Always has. In college she only paid attention to me when it suited her, but now she seems to be much more interested.” He squeezed Cooper’s hand as tears began to pool in her eyes. She balled her free hand into a fist as she tried to picture Melissa as some gorgeous seductress, languidly raising and lowering a paintbrush as she ran her tongue over her lips and gazed at Nathan with naked lust.

  “But that’s all it is, Coop.” He gently shook her hand to reclaim her attention. “A temptation. A pulling toward something shallow, impermanent. My heart belongs to you and it took this stupidity on my part to realize it.”

  Cooper brushed away a tear. Nathan’s words had penetrated through every ounce of confusion she’d been feeling as of late. “You’re right.” Suddenly, the fog surrounding her heart evaporated. “This stuff with Edward . . . it’s not real. I mean, he’s an ex-con, a guy who’s lived in the shadows and moved in circles I only read about in the newspaper, but he’s also someone trying to lift himself above his past. I think I just wanted to witness his transformation. I was in awe of him.” She looked down in shame. “I also think I wanted to take some credit for his change and because he sees me through a very favorable lens.” Sighing, Cooper took a fortifying sip of beer. “But it’s a false image. He doesn’t know me. You do, Nathan. You see me and want me for who I am.”

  Nathan shoved back his chair and lifted Cooper out of hers with a brute strength he’d never exhibited before. It was so sudden that Cooper forgot to breathe.

  “I do see you.” Nathan’s voice turned husky. “And I want you.” He cupped her face in his hands. “But it’s more than that. I love you. You’re everything I need. Now and always.”

  As his words washed over her, warming her through and through, she recalled how they had first met. On a beautiful early spring day, she had run headlong into Nathan in the hall of the high school where Hope Street Church held its worship service.

  The man she loved stood before her just as he had on that day. His eyes were filled with the same tenderness, humor, and kindness. His hands steadied her just as they had a year ago. Grammy was right. She’d known precisely what her granddaughter needed most when she’d told Cooper to reach for the man who loved her for who she was, not who he wanted her to be.

  Nathan was that man.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered. “Please forgive me. You’ve been here all along, but I didn’t realize how much I cared for you until now.”

  He kissed her cheeks, her mouth, her forehead, the lids of her eyes, all the while murmuring, “Apology accepted. Please forgive me, as well. I’ll never make such a foolish mistake again. There’s only you.” His lips sought her mouth. “Only you.” His breath mingled with hers.

  Later, as they lay on Cooper’s bed, talking softly, she introduced Nathan to the kittens. She’d named the male cat Moses, as the clumsy feline had fallen into the toilet within the first few hours of entering the apartment. Cooper had had to rapidly scoop him out of danger, for which he’d repaid her by shredding the skin of her hands and arms.

  “Moses means ‘drawn from the water’,” she informed the mewling bundle of wet fur after he’d slipped into the toilet. “Suitable, don’t you think? And since you’ve got an Old Testament name, your sister shall be called Miriam.” She drizzled some water over Miriam’s forehead and then gave the kittens a saucer of warm milk and a jar of Beech-Nut chicken baby food to celebrate their new names.

  Moses and Miriam took to Nathan immediately. They scaled up his chest and pounced on the strings of his sweatshirt hood while he stroked them behind the ears. They attacked his long graceful fingers with their tiny teeth and claws, purring in contentment when he pushed them off his belly and dangled one of his socks just out of reach.

  “This is one of those times I regret living out in the sticks,” Cooper said after her stomach grumbled for the second time. “We can’t just run out for a quick bite to eat.”

  Nathan tucked a lock of Cooper’s disheveled hair behind her ear. “I’ll go out and get anything you want. Just name it and it’s yours.”

  Cooper laughed. “You sound like a genie. But it’s freezing and I’m too hungry to wait another minute. Luckily,” she grinned, “I know of an excellent restaurant within walking distance. I’m sure Mama would love the company. I’ll just call to make sure she’s got enough for the two of us.”

  Maggie was delighted by the request. “I had the strangest notion I oughta roast a big chicken tonight. Good thing I heeded that inner voice. Come on down. You and Nathan can set the table while I make the gravy.”

  Nathan was meticulously placing forks and knives on top of paper napkins covered with designs of conversation hearts when Grammy shuffled into the kitchen. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Nathan and a smile blossomed on her face. She quickly regained control of her features and pretended to be assessing him with disapproval.

  “Now, now, young man. You stop that women’s work and come over here and give me a hug!” she commanded, her eyes twinkling.

  Nathan instantly obeyed. “I figured Mr. Lee wouldn’t mind sharing his three generations of lovely ladies with me,” he stated while Grammy grinned at Cooper around Nathan’s shoulder.

  Cooper’s father materialized behind Grammy and clapped Nathan on the shoulder. “I’d be right thrilled to have you join us for every meal. It sure is nice to even up the numbers a bit.”

  Maggie served Nathan first, piling his plate so full of food that his eyes grew wide at the sight. Earl spoke a short grace and then there was a lengthy silence as the diners focused on Maggie’s roast chicken, greens, and wild rice. Grammy took most of the canned cranberry sauce for herself, but when she tried to pick up a thick slice of the jellied stuff with her fork, it slid onto her chest and down to her lap, leaving a red stain as it oozed down her sweater.

  Grammy examined the mess nonchalantly. “Shoot, I never liked this snowman sweater, anyhow,” she remarked wryly, plucking the wayward jelly from her lap and popping it into her mouth. “Why old ladies wear clothes with cutesy puppy dogs and snowmen is beyond me. I guess somebody thought it was a good idea to dress us gray-hairs like babies. Reckon it’s ’cause we kinda eat more like babies as we get up in years.” She swallowed. “Do we have any more cranberry sauce, Maggie?”

  Cooper volunteered to get more from the pantry, and as she shuffled through sundry canned goods, the phone rang. Maggie and Earl had a strict rule about refusing to accept telephone calls during mealtimes, so the speaker volume was turned down low. However, Cooper could hear Ashley’s stricken voice through the answering machine. Her sister cried, “If anyone’s listening, please pick up!”

  Cooper leapt for the phone.

  “I’m here!” she quickly assured her sister and carried the receiver into the dining room.

  “Oh, Coop!” Ashley exclaimed sorrowfully. “You’ll never believe this, but someone else connected to Lincoln’s dealership has been killed!”

  Stepping into the dining room, Cooper closed the door leading to the kitchen and leaned against the solid wood for support. “Who?”

  “Maria’s
son. She’s the title clerk at the dealership and just the sweetest soul on this earth! Always a smile for everyone, always a kind word to me whenever I stopped by . . .” Ashley sniffed. “Her son was murdered, Cooper! Shot in the back of the head like some—”

  “I’m so sorry, Ashley.” Cooper didn’t want her sister to complete the image. “What was his name? Maria’s son?”

  “Hector Gutierrez. You might have seen the story about him in today’s paper.” Ashley was quiet for a moment. “Those policemen were back. McNamara and Wiser. Lincoln told them he’d only met Hector once or twice and very briefly, but that the young man had never worked for any of the Love dealerships. He couldn’t think of a single thread that could tie Hector and Miguel together, but apparently the investigators are certain there must be a connection.”

  “Except they were Hispanic men of about the same age and both met violent ends,” Cooper surmised unhappily. “Do you know where Maria’s son worked?”

  “No, but Maria and Hector were from Mexico. Just like Miguel,” Ashley confirmed. “Now the police have two unsolved cases! But it’s almost worse this time because we know that Hector has a family—someone will definitely mourn him and want answers about this senseless killing!” Ashley’s anger fueled Cooper’s desire to take action immediately. “Poor Maria! What can I do to comfort her? What words can I offer to a near stranger whose only child has been murdered?”

  Cooper could hear the sounds of Nathan and her family continuing their dinner. Laughter mingled with the clinking of silverware and Ashley’s subtle weeping seemed incongruent with the companionable murmurs emanating from the next room.

  “You’ll do what women do during times like this,” she counseled, keeping her voice strong in order to soothe her sister. “You’ll bring Maria food and flowers, you’ll sit with her and look at photographs of her son, and you’ll pray for her.” Cooper gripped the phone tightly in her hand. “And I haven’t forgotten Miguel, Ashley. Edward and I are going in search of answers this weekend. We’re on the right track with this China White stuff. I can just feel it.”

  “Will you come to Maria’s house with me on Saturday?” Ashley asked hopefully.

  “I can’t. The Sunrise members and I have committed to sprucing up a school in the East End.” She paused. “Bring Lincoln. Comfort Maria together.”

  Her sister sighed. “All right. Can you put Mama on now? I want her to teach me how to cook her famous beef stew so I can bring Maria something I’ve made with my own hands.” She chuckled once, dryly. “But I want it to be edible and for that, I need Mama.”

  “Sure. And Ashley? I’m not going to give up,” Cooper said. “Miguel. Hector. I won’t let their deaths go unexplained. They will not be lost in some police station file cabinet. I promise.”

  Ashley whispered, “I believe you, but I also want you to be really careful. This killer, whoever it is, places no value on a human life. If he killed both Miguel and Hector, then he did something unspeakable and then tossed them away like they were bags of trash. Didn’t even bother to hide their bodies.” She paused for a moment. “Maybe those boys were supposed to serve as warnings, I don’t know, but promise me you’ll guard yourself. Promise me you’ll be smart enough to stay out of danger.”

  Thinking about her recent conversation with Rich Johnson, Cooper was able to infuse her voice with confidence. “I promise. I’m not going in there alone, Ashley. Someone will be watching from the shadows.”

  12

  “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

  2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

  Saturday was Valentine’s Day. Maggie had risen earlier than usual in order to make heart-shaped Linzer cookies, hazelnut meringue sweetheart cookies, and squares of raspberry truffle fudge. Her special treats had been custom-ordered and had to be delivered to half a dozen sandwich shops by mid-morning, so the house had been replete with the scents of baking cookies since dawn on Friday.

  Cooper joined her mother a few minutes after seven and spent an hour packaging the cooled and decorated confections. By the time she had entered the kitchen, Cooper knew Maggie had already been up for three or four hours and would be in need of a break. Her kindness was rewarded with a tired but grateful smile from Maggie and an entire tray of raspberry truffle fudge.

  “You take this to your Bible study friends. Y’all are gonna get mighty hungry fixin’ up that school today.” She drew Cooper into her pillowy bosom and squeezed her tightly. “Do you and Nathan have special plans for tonight?”

  After breathing in her mother’s familiar perfume of warm dough and cinnamon, Cooper released her and returned to the task of applying the gold-foil Magnolia’s Marvels labels to each two-pack cookie bag. “We decided to celebrate tomorrow. The restaurants are so crowded tonight and I can’t stomach the price inflation . . .”

  “In other words, y’all didn’t make any plans and now you’re left out in the cold!” Maggie laughed.

  Cooper’s laughter mingled with her mother’s. “In a nutshell!” After a brief pause, she said, “You know, Mama, Nathan and I kind of had a falling-out. This space started growing between us. Neither of us saw it coming, but we started drifting away from each other and toward people who weren’t really a good fit. The great news is that we worked things out, but not in time to celebrate Valentine’s Day.”

  “I wouldn’t let all those commercials for rings and roses and candlelight get you down,” Maggie said as she carefully filled a cardboard tray with Linzer cookies. “Your daddy and I’ve been married longer than most of those fancy restaurants have been in business, and we’re not goin’ out for a six-course meal or bottles of wine that cost as much as a whole week’s worth of groceries. We’re gonna do what we do every year.”

  “Watch Roman Holiday and drink homemade apple wine,” Cooper stated mechanically.

  “It’s a fine date, too!” Maggie waved a wooden spoon at her daughter as though warning Cooper not to mock the event. “My point is this: Make your own tradition with your man. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or get stuffed into some teeny-tiny table at a five-star café to prove that you’re sweethearts.”

  Cooper kissed her mother on the cheek. “That’s good advice, Mama,” she said, wondering what Maggie would think if she knew that her oldest child would be spending a romantic evening at a strip club. “I’m going to carry a few of these boxes to your car and then I’m off. Will you check on the kittens today?”

  Maggie clicked her tongue. “Those two are gettin’ mighty spoiled! You’re worse than your Grammy.” She hesitated for a moment and then peered into the pantry. “Bein’ that it’s a special day, I’m gonna give those little darlings a nice tuna-fish lunch. Your daddy had a hankering for tuna but he’ll have to settle for grilled cheese and bacon.”

  Noting that her mother was lost in culinary-related thought, Cooper filled a thermos with coffee, put on her coat and hat, and carried two loaded trays out to Maggie’s gold minivan. The sky was heavy with low, gray clouds and Cooper wondered if the warning Bryant gave during his Friday evening forecast about a Valentine’s Day ice storm would come to pass.

  “Just hold off until we fix up this school,” Cooper commanded the ominous clouds. During the forty-minute drive to the East End, she noticed a lightening above the horizon—the odd, pinkish glow that typically preceded snow. Switching off her Best of the Beatles CD, Cooper scanned several radio stations. All the weather reports sounded dire.

  “Better plan on snuggling with your Valentine at home today,” one meteorologist warned.

  Another said, “Get your errands done this morning, folks. We’re expecting the precipitation to hit the Richmond metro area sometime around noon.”

  “This storm is going to be nasty,” a third promised, sounding rather gleeful. “The western parts of the st
ate are already experiencing power outages by the thousands. Have extra blankets and battery-operated lanterns ready, and remember to use caution when burning candles.”

  The charcoal-gray sky had lightened to a silvery pewter by the time Cooper’s truck bumped across the elementary school’s pot-hole marred lot. She alighted and sniffed the air, which was tinged with a sharply cold, clean, and wet scent. Already, the outside seemed to have fallen silent, as though the city was holding its breath before the oncoming storm.

  Jake, Savannah, Bryant, and Nathan were waiting for Cooper inside the school, making plans to bring Savannah’s vision of painting vibrant murals to life. They decided to start with the main corridor, which was currently a shade of industrial beige. Several other volunteers and school employees listened to Savannah’s proposal, and the principal, a tall African-American man with round spectacles, was clearly enthused by her ideas.

  “Imagine stepping into a garden scene every day.” Savannah swept her arms around the hallway. “These students deserve brightness and beauty in their environment—not just another coat of monotone paint. Let’s stimulate their senses as soon as they walk through the front door!”

  “I’d love to see the long wall in the library painted with storybook characters, too,” a small, elderly lady said. “Quite a few of our fifth-grade students will be joining us this morning. I’d like to let them loose on that wall if we have enough supplies.”

  At that moment, Quinton arrived with Gloria May on one arm and a gallon of paint on the other. “Don’t worry about supplies! The sky’s the limit! My company agreed to sponsor our labors here today. My car is so full that Gloria had to bring our snacks in hers.” He turned to the woman on his arm with an adoring smile. “No one will go hungry while we labor, because Gloria and I baked late into the night.”