by Jane Tesh
Jordan gave me a look full of satisfaction. “I’ll never tell.”
Camden didn’t say much on the ride home. When we pulled into the driveway and parked, I said, “Must be a relief to have this sorted out.”
Camden looked off into whatever black depths he looks into. “He really enjoyed killing. He thought about it all the time. But the worst thing is he never cared for his son. You see where I’m going with this.”
“You don’t know if your father cares for you or not. There could be a legitimate reason why he hasn’t contacted you. Let me find him. Of course, it’ll cost you extra because I’ll have to rent a space ship.”
“No. I think I’ve had enough of the father-son dynamic for a while.”
“Okay. Whenever you’re ready.”
“The only thing I’m ready for is Christmas.”
Chapter Twenty-four
“Glad Tidings of Good Things”
The morning of Christmas Eve, I woke to the smell of pancakes. Downstairs I found Mom and Kary in the kitchen. Mom spooned batter into a pan while Kary used a cookie cutter to cut the cooked pancakes into the shape of Christmas trees. She had powdered sugar on her nose. When Mom wasn’t looking, I gently wiped the sugar off. I’d thanked her before for her diversion, but I thanked her again.
“My pleasure,” she said.
Mom gave me a kiss on the cheek. “Good morning. How many pancakes would you like?”
“Start me off with five.”
Kary arranged five trees on a plate and handed the plate to me. “There you go. The syrup’s on the table.”
Fred, unfortunately, was already at the table, mangling his pancakes. “Morning, Fred.”
He made a noise that probably meant, “Back off.”
No problem. I wasn’t going to sit near him. I set my plate down at the far end of the table and returned to the kitchen for coffee. “Camden up yet?”
“I looked in on him a while ago,” Mom said. “He was sleeping so well, I didn’t bother him. It’s about time he had some decent rest.”
“Well, the killer’s been caught, so that should take care of any nightmares.”
They brought their pancakes to the table and we all sat down. Mom reached for the syrup. She didn’t seem too pleased. “Kary told me about the two of you wrestling down in that tunnel.”
“We were all down in the tunnel, Mom. Camden, Jordan, the Mad Shadow. It was Old Home Week.”
“What were you thinking?”
“You have your wild fashion choices. I wrestle bad guys in tunnels. It’s all about having fun.”
She looked as if she was going to launch into a lecture. Then she said, “Fair enough. But your fun is much more dangerous than mine.”
“Not when I have Wonder Star to watch my back.”
“Well, that’s true. Maybe the two of you have more in common than I thought. Still, that was a crazy thing to do. Galvin did all those awful things just to cover up his own robbery at the museum.”
Jordan had found out something else about Galvin’s son. “Jordan says Bert’s in a mental institution in Richmond. He’s tried to commit suicide several times. All he wanted was to come home. That was the reason for Camden’s crying spell. He was in tune with Bert that day.”
“The poor boy! Will he have to stay there?”
“Jordan’s got somebody working on that. And he’s already confirmed what I suspected about forged receipts.”
Mom poured syrup on her pancakes. “What about the stolen jewelry?”
“Alycia sold it, but Petey’s insured. And he’s very happy the thief wasn’t one of his employees.”
“Then everything’s solved.”
“Pretty much. Syrup, please.”
Kary passed me the syrup. “Brooke called to say she can come spend Christmas Eve with us if someone could pick her up.”
“I’ll be glad to do that.” I soaked up more syrup. “Anybody heard from Ellin?”
They shook their heads. “I need to have a word with that young lady,” Mom said.
We spent a little time in pancake heaven, and then while Mom encouraged Fred to have another stack, I helped Kary mix another batch of batter. She seemed a bit distracted.
“Are you all right?”
She reached for the spatula. “Ralph Galvin purposely kept his son in a mental institution and then went on a killing spree. That is so twisted.” She poured batter into the pan and watched as bubbles formed. “I hope our next case isn’t this bad.”
Our next case. That sounded good, but I had my concerns. “So Wonder Star is still planning to keep the heavens safe?”
“I really enjoyed being Wonder Star, but I might try something new next time.”
Not exactly what I wanted to hear. “Tell you what. I’ll do all the leg work like Archie, and you can stay here and ponder everything like Nero Wolfe.”
She raised the spatula in a warning manner. “I’ve read Rex Stout and I’m not sure I like the comparison. I’ll be Archie, and you can stay home and ponder.”
“How about if we try the Nick and Nora thing and be the crime fighting married couple? We could even have a little dog.”
“I’m not ready for that.”
“We could name him Scooby, so I’ll remember not to undervalue you.”
“I would like to thank you for not interfering. I know you wanted to.”
“I did.”
She turned the pancakes. “So with you backing off and your mother here, this has been one of the best Christmases I can remember.”
“Me, too.” Different, but okay.
From upstairs, we heard Camden singing “Every Valley.”
He was okay, too.
***
That evening, we all went to the chorale’s performance of the “Messiah.” Every valley was exalted and every mountain and hill made low. Afterwards, we stopped by the park and enjoyed the Alternative Messiah’s rendition of “And the Glory of the Lord.” The glory of the Lord was revealed, or I should say, re-vee-led, thanks to Buddy’s earnest plunking and Evelene’s wild hammering. It was a true measure of my acceptance of Mom’s new look that I didn’t flinch when I saw her eyeing Evelene’s nose ring.
At home, Kary played carols on the piano while we made the Christmas Eve feast. Brooke assured me she felt well enough to come over for a few hours, and her doctor had given her the okay, so I picked her up at the hospital and brought her to 302 Grace. Before dinner, we took some time to remember Jared. Camden said a few words about his friend, and Kary said a prayer, saying she was certain that Jared was now with his heavenly Father and the family he always longed for.
We waited a while, thinking Ellin would show up. When she didn’t, we went ahead with dinner. Mom had outdone herself with roast chicken, sweet potato casserole, green peas with dumplings, and fresh biscuits. We ate so much we decided to save the coconut cake and pecan pie until after we opened presents.
Fred sat over in one corner, scowling at his new sweater and NASA calendar, while the rest of us sat around the tree. I put on a Santa hat and passed out the gifts. Kary had wrapped up a gift certificate to Carlene’s and the New Black Eagle Jazz Band’s latest CD for me. As I expected, the leopard pattern was well represented. Camden had found a leopard pocketbook at Tamara’s, which was expensive enough, even with his discount, to be from the both of us to Mom. Mom had some earrings for Kary, and Kary had a scarf for her. Both of them were delighted with their bracelets from Royalle’s, although Mom gave me a look as if questioning my decision to give Kary such an expensive gift.
“Petey gave me a good deal,” I said. “I couldn’t pass it up.”
Kary put her bracelet on and admired it from all angles. “I love it. Look at all the little stars.”
“For the best crime fighter in the heave
ns.”
This earned me a kiss from Kary and another look from Mom.
Mom had gotten Camden a light blue shirt and a silky blue tie with a diamond pattern. He thanked her and then opened his UFO book. “This is great, Kary, thanks.”
“You don’t have that one, do you?” Kary asked.
“No, I don’t.”
I couldn’t leave it alone. “See anyone you know?”
He balled up the wrapping paper and threw it at me. I retaliated, and then everyone joined in the battle. Brooke watched, bemused, as Camden and Kary used the sofa as a barrier against the onslaught of paper balls and wadded tissue Mom and I laid down from behind the tree. Cindy went into an orgy of delight trying to catch the paper. Her antics landed her upside down under the tree, tangling her claws in the Christmas tree skirt. She shook herself free and streaked for the kitchen, trailing tissue paper and ribbons.
Mom called a truce. “Brooke hasn’t opened her special gift.”
We came back to our seats. Brooke brushed pieces of ribbon out of her hair. She unwrapped the box and grimaced at her Parkie. “Thanks a lot. You get the guys at Spencer’s Gifts to make this up?”
“Read what it says.”
She turned the award around. “‘For Excellence in Investigative Reporting’?” She gave the Parkie a closer look. “This—this is a real one! But the Avenger was a hoax—most of it.”
“The award isn’t for the Avenger. It’s for exposing Ralph Galvin’s ‘Your Turn’ scam. Without your help, I never would’ve figured it all out.”
She kept turning it around in her hands, examining it from all angles. “A real one.”
“Your new editor agreed you deserved it.”
“Chance Baseford okayed this? Now I know I’m dreaming.”
Mom reached under the tree. “Here’s one more box for you, Davey.”
The box was long and thin. I thought I knew what was in it. “A Christmas tie. I need one.” I tore off the bow and unwrapped the gold paper. “Or a gift certificate to Ned’s House of Porn.”
“I don’t think so, dear.”
The long, thin box had been a disguise for something small wrapped in green tissue paper. When I felt the smooth round object, I knew what it was and felt oddly relieved. “Dad’s watch.”
She beamed. “Let’s hear it.”
I held it in my hand for a while. I remembered how it would be warm from his hand and smelling faintly of tobacco. I remembered the steady ticking and the satisfying click of the latch. Up popped the lid. “Twelfth Street Rag” burst out in happy, jingly sound. I couldn’t say anything.
Mom was bursting with pride. “Cam found it. I called your cousin Victoria and let her talk to Cam. As soon as he took the phone, he knew where it was. Your Uncle Louie had let Victoria’s son play with it, and it was behind the bookcase in their old den. No one had been down there in years. Neal says to tell you he’s sorry. He doesn’t even remember playing with it.”
“That’s okay.” I closed the lid. “I’m really glad to have it. Thanks.”
Mom kissed my cheek. “Merry Christmas.” Then she had to kiss Camden and Kary and Brooke and even Fred. In the midst of all this goodwill toward men, the doorbell rang.
Camden got up. “It’s for me.” He went to the door and opened it. There stood Ellin, all in emerald green, her earrings like gold stars. She smiled and handed him a large package wrapped in blue. “Merry Christmas.”
He tossed the package aside. “I’ve got something for you, too.” He caught her in his arms, and gave her a long kiss.
We were all leaning around so we could see. When they finished, we applauded and called, “Encore!”
Camden went to the tree and found her gift. “First she has to open her present.”
I didn’t think Ellin could blush, but her cheeks turned the same becoming shade of pink as the new lace nightgown. “This is beautiful, Cam, thank you.”
“You have to come over more often,” he said. “We have to find some way to make this work.”
“I’d like that,” she said.
The phone rang, causing Camden to look up. “It’s for you, Randall.”
“The Avenger calling to thank me for clearing his name.”
Camden had a curious expression. “No. It’s something quite special.”
Special? I picked up the phone and heard E. Walter Winthrop’s peeved tone.
“Mister Randall, excuse me for interrupting you at home this evening, but I need to know a few things.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Your daughter’s full name?”
I had to swallow hard before speaking. “Lindsey Marie Randall.”
“And something she liked to do?”
“She loved to dance. What’s all this about?”
“Excellent.” I heard papers shuffle. “Mister Randall, I wish to establish the Lindsey Marie Randall Memorial Scholarship for underprivileged children, specifically those who wish to further their education in the arts. May I have your permission to do so?”
Now I couldn’t speak at all. Camden took the phone. I hadn’t even noticed he was there.
“Mister Winthrop, Mister Randall accepts your most generous and thoughtful offer.”
“Good,” I heard the reedy voice say. “I’ll call him next week with all the details. Good night.”
Camden hung up the phone. “Merry Christmas, Randall.”
He went back to Ellin. I went back to the island. Kary had given Cindy a ribbon to play with so she could gather up the rest of the ribbons and paper in a garbage bag. Mom was in the kitchen, stirring up batter for another batch of cookies.
“Who in the world was that calling on Christmas Eve, Davey?”
I sat down at the counter. I knew if I didn’t hold on to something, I would float away.
“Mom,” I said, “I’m going to tell you all about it.”
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