Riley came into the kitchen and crawled up in Elliot’s lap, her arms around his neck. “You said you would help me with my spelling words before dinner.”
“So I did. Let me finish talking with your mother, and I’ll be right there.”
Kate jumped to her feet. “That’s okay. You go ahead. I need to fold the laundry.”
She forced a smile and gently tugged one of Riley’s braids as she brushed past her on the way to the utility room, glad to have her conversation with Elliot interrupted. But there was no escaping the big decision that only she could make. Was she really going to let fear render her incapable of saying yes to the most wonderful man she could ever hope for?
Chapter 21
Liam stood in Colleen’s garage and tapped the dried mud off his boots, then entered the utility room and strolled nonchalantly into the kitchen, where Colleen was making dinner.
“Something smells terrific,” Liam said.
Colleen smiled. “Fried chicken and twice-baked potatoes. Hope you’re hungry.”
“You kidding? I’m starved.”
“Where have you been?” Colleen said.
“What do you mean?”
“I called your cell and left a message and then called the poultry plant. Your supervisor said you had asked to leave an hour early.”
“Oh, that.” Liam suddenly felt hot, his mind grappling for a believable answer. “I told her we had some papers to sign. The truth is, I just needed to get out of there. I’ve had it with that place. In fact, after the distributions are made and I’ve got the money in hand, I’m going to give notice.”
Colleen stopped stirring whatever was on the stove and looked up. “You’re quitting? When did you decide that?”
“I’ve been thinking about it since Mom died. I think she’d be pleased if I used my inheritance money to go into business for myself.”
“Doing what, Liam?”
“I want to start a handyman business. I know how to fix almost anything. I think once word gets out, I’ll be busy all the time.”
“What if it doesn’t pan out?” Colleen said. “Are you really going to throw away a job you’ve held for nearly thirty years? It’s risky to switch jobs at your age.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell you. You’re already expecting me to fail.”
“I suppose I’m projecting my feelings onto you. I’m too big a coward to make a change like that. There’s security in having tenure, and I’ve learned to focus on the positives and overlook the things I dislike about teaching.”
Liam sat at the table. “But I dislike everything about working at the poultry plant. My job is monotonous. It doesn’t pay enough, and there’s no such thing as tenure. Any of us could get caught in a layoff. Standing all day makes my feet hurt. And the stink gives me a headache. I’ve stayed there because it’s a steady job. Now I want to see what I can do on my own. Can’t you just be happy for me?”
Colleen sighed. “Of course I can. But I’ll never feel comfortable spending Mom’s money unless it’s to help find whoever killed her.”
Liam studied his sister’s face. It hurt him to see her so sad. “We’ve already talked about that. I think you’re making a big mistake blowing your inheritance on what will probably be a dead end. I don’t think Mom or Dad would want you doing that.”
“I have to do what I think is right,” Colleen said. “And would you please return my calls when I leave you a message? I needed you to stop and get bread and some of that deli corned beef for your lunch tomorrow. I hate going out after dinner.”
“Sorry, I’ll go right now, before dinner. Just so you know, I did check my messages when I left work. Then I turned off my phone while I drove around to think. This is a big step. I need to have a plan.”
“You’re really serious?” Colleen said.
“Very. I’m counting the days until I hold that inheritance check in my hands. If we had to lose Mom, at least I can honor her by bettering myself with the money she left.”
“Why am I just now finding out about this?” Colleen arched her eyebrows.
“Because I’m just now realizing this is what I want. I haven’t told anyone else.”
“Well, I’m not spending a penny of that money on myself until I find out who killed our mother—even if I have to pay a private investigator.”
“That’s just crazy,” Liam said, more forcefully than he intended. He softened his tone. “Do you really think Mom would want you to obsess over this? No matter what happened, you can’t change it.”
“Finding her killer is the only thing that will bring me closure.” Colleen put the lid on the pan and turned off the stove. “I’m as determined in my endeavor as you are in yours. At least if I spend my share and fail, I’ll still have a job.”
Liam ignored her sarcasm and stood. “I’d better get going. Anything else you need from the store?”
“Couldn’t hurt to get another gallon of milk.”
“All right.” Liam grabbed his keys. “I’ll be right back.”
He walked out to the garage, his head spinning. What could Colleen possibly uncover? Even if she put a PI on it, what was there to find out? The only threat to his getting his inheritance money was Jesse Cummings—and he would make sure the kid stayed too terrified to open his mouth.
t
Jesse double-checked the lock on his bedroom window. It would be dark soon. The only thing scarier than living with a death threat was living with the fear that the killer could sneak up on him again. For some reason, the second threat was even more terrifying than the first. He was tempted to talk to the sheriff this time. But without knowing what the killer looked like, how could the sheriff protect his family? All Jesse could do now was stick to his denial and pray that the guy got caught.
A knock at the door caused Jesse to jump. “Who is it?” he said, his heart racing.
“Elliot. Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
Elliot came in and shut the door, then sat on the side of the bed, his hands folded between his knees. “I know it wasn’t easy, but you made it through this day.”
“Barely.”
“Want to talk about it?”
Jesse stood leaning against the window, his thumbs hooked on his jeans pockets, and told Elliot about the incident at lunch with Bull Hanson.
“What could I say? I brought it on myself,” Jesse said. “I just sat there and took it with everyone watching. But I really wanted to punch Bull in the nose.”
The corners of Elliot’s mouth twitched. “I’m glad you didn’t. Getting yourself suspended from school would’ve just made everything worse.”
“Plus, Bull would’ve flattened me. One more thing to live down.”
Elliot got up and put his arm around Jesse. “I know it probably seems like nothing will ever be the same. I suppose in one way it won’t. You learned the importance of telling the truth and the consequences of lying. But that doesn’t mean you won’t ever have friends again. Or even that you and Dawson won’t find a way to stay friends.”
“I don’t see how.” Jesse stared at his shoes. “He can’t be friends with me and still be friends with his teammates.”
“That remains to be seen. But it’s possible that God has other friends in mind for you. Friends that you might not have even considered if you and Dawson were still tight.”
“I sure hope so. It’s kind of depressing being the only seventh grader without a friend to hang out with.”
“I know.” Elliot tilted Jesse’s chin. “But you trust God, don’t you?”
“Sure. But He’s probably mad at me for getting myself into this mess.”
“Just talk to Him,” Elliot said. “Tell Him the truth, ask His forgiveness, and then trust Him to make something good out of it. Remember what it says in Romans 8:28? ‘And we know that in all things God works …’”
/> “‘… for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose,’” Jesse said, proud to finish reciting this verse he had memorized in Sunday school. Did “all things” include his lying to save his family? Because right now, he didn’t see another way.
“I know it’s been rough going”—Elliot patted Jesse’s shoulder—“but you will get through this. And things will get better.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Jesse, when I was about your age, my dad stressed the importance of always trying to do the right thing. He said it might be costly in the beginning. But in the long run, it would pay off. It took me a few mistakes to understand what he meant and the wisdom of his words. But I’ve tried to live my life that way.”
“What if I’m not sure what the right thing is?”
Elliot looked into his eyes. “Most of the time, the answer can be found in the Bible. But when in doubt, ask yourself two questions: By making this choice, am I showing that I love God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength? And am I treating the other person the way I want to be treated?”
“I guess I flunked that test a lot lately,” Jesse said.
“We all flunk. Adults too. More times than we would like to admit. Jesus told us that whatever we do to anyone else, we do to Him. Not just the kind things, but also the ugly things.”
“So if I would’ve punched Bull in the nose, even though he deserved it, it would be like punching Jesus.” Jesse sighed. “Doesn’t seem fair.”
“Sometimes it isn’t. But you can never disappoint God by refusing to repay evil with evil. Jesus didn’t even lash out at those who were going to kill Him. He took all the punches on the cross—every cruel or careless word or action of every person who would ever live. He died in our place. That sure wasn’t fair.”
“I guess when you compare it to that,” Jesse said, “being humiliated in the cafeteria was no big deal.”
“I wouldn’t say it was no big deal. It was hurtful and you felt defenseless. But as a Christian, it’s actually you who had the power.”
“I did?”
“Absolutely,” Elliot said. “Because Jesus lives in you, you have His power to choose to do the right thing, no matter what anyone says or does to you. But it requires putting your feelings away and deciding to act instead of react. Does that make sense?”
“I think so. Is it the same as dying to self? We talked about that in Sunday school.”
Elliot nodded. “Our spirits come to life when we’re born again. But it’s a lifelong struggle to put to death our sinful desires and become more like Jesus, which is the process of sanctification. For example, all week long you’ve encountered difficult and sometimes painful situations. But in each instance, you had a choice of responding out of personal feelings or responding out of obedience to God’s Word.”
Jesse felt his cheeks burning. The only reason he didn’t take a swing at Bull was because he was afraid. Obedience had nothing to do with it. Doing the right thing in obedience to God’s Word, especially when he didn’t want to, would be a huge sacrifice. He sure didn’t feel like praying for his enemies or forgiving them.
“What I’m trying to say, Jesse, is that how we feel isn’t as important as how we act. And as Christians, we no longer have to let feelings determine our behavior.”
Jesse folded his arms across his chest. “Sounds pretty impossible.”
“All by yourself it is. But nothing’s impossible with God. He’s always got your back. And the reward will be greater than the sacrifice.”
Jesse let Elliot’s words settle in his mind. “Thanks. I think I get it. I just need to keep asking myself those two questions.”
“Still works for me.” Elliot brushed his hand through Jesse’s hair. “Come on, sport. How about we go see if dinner’s ready? Your mama’s frying up some of that crappie you and Hawk have been catching hand over fist. I saw her making hush puppies too.”
Jesse was hungry. But not even his mother’s cooking could distract him from the guarded secret that weighed heavily on his mind. For his family’s sake, he would bear it alone. One slip of the tongue—and someone could die.
Chapter 22
Virgil sat at his desk, sipping his first cup of coffee.
It had been seven days since Billy Gene and Jason began the covert assignment to keep a close eye on Jesse Cummings. So far, they had not noticed anything out of the ordinary. Kate said there were no unidentified calls on Jesse’s cell phone or emails on his computer. And that he seemed more relaxed. His schoolwork wasn’t suffering.
Virgil questioned how long he could afford to invest valuable manpower this way when nothing supported his gut feeling that Jesse might have been coerced into recanting his story.
Kevin knocked on his open door. “You said you wanted to talk to me before the morning briefing.”
“Come in and have a seat,” Virgil said.
Kevin sat in the vinyl chair next to Virgil’s desk, his navy uniform shirt clean and pressed, his wavy red hair neatly combed.
Virgil mused. “I’ve done some soul searching since you posed your poignant question asking whether I would have gone to this extreme had the situation not involved Kate’s son.”
“Listen, Sheriff, I’m really sorry about that. I was out of line.”
Virgil held up his palm. “No, you weren’t. You’re the one person who has earned the right to ask it. The answer is yes. I honestly think I’m treating this case as I would any case, given these same circumstances. But I need your opinion about something. I’m aware that it’s putting pressure on the whole department for me to keep Billy Gene and Jason out on covert assignment. The practical side of me says it’s time to stop wasting manpower on a dead end. But my gut instinct tells me Jesse isn’t telling us everything. What’s your take on it?”
“Truthfully?” Kevin leaned forward, his hands folded between his knees. “I think we can make better use of Billy Gene and Jason right now. We’ve got a string of assaults, thefts, domestic violence cases, some gang-related vandalism, and a dog-fighting ring that aren’t getting enough attention. We’re doing the best we can to pick up the slack, but things are getting missed. I know the relationship you have with the Cummings family. And if we knew for certain that Jesse was a witness, I’d agree to do whatever it took to protect him. But at some point, without any evidence to the contrary, we have to accept his admission that he made the whole thing up.”
“So you think we should shut it down and get Billy Gene and Jason back working other cases?”
“I would.”
Virgil took a sip of coffee. “All right. Suspend the operation effective immediately.”
“But you think it’s a mistake?”
“I don’t know, Kevin. My gut is right more times than it’s wrong. But maybe I’m too close to it.”
t
That afternoon, Liam sat next to Colleen in the office of Randal Holmes, their mother’s estate attorney. The big moment had finally come. He was about to be freed from the ball and chain of debt, freed to pursue a better future.
His mind wandered back to the river and those final moments with his mother. He wished he had thought to say thank you. The sound of Randal’s voice caused him to come back to the present.
“It gives me enormous pleasure to present each of you with a distribution check for your half of the trust.” Randal’s thick white hair was a sharp contrast to his three-piece charcoal suit. He handed each of them a letter with a check paper-clipped to it. “One hundred and seventy-five thousand, two hundred and eighty-four dollars each. That’s after my fee. The letter gives a full accounting. All I need is Colleen’s signature on these papers, and your mother’s trust will be officially closed.” He smiled warmly and handed the papers and an expensive-looking fountain pen to Colleen. “It was an honor working with Dixie all these years. Your mom was one of the most
determined ladies I’ve ever known. After your dad passed away, she was intentional about living modestly so she’d never have to touch the principal on her investments. And she succeeded because she never lost sight of her goal to leave her children a significant portion of what she and their father had saved and invested over the years. I have to believe they’re both smiling down on us at this very moment.”
Liam stared at the check, still trying to process what it would mean to his future. “We don’t owe taxes on this money, right?”
“That’s correct,” Randal said. “But you do need to report it to the IRS when you do this year’s taxes. I filed K-1 forms with the federal government and with the state of Arkansas so that these agencies know that neither of you has any outstanding fiduciary responsibilities as beneficiaries of the trust. You will be getting copies of those in the mail.”
Colleen handed the signed papers back to Randal and dabbed her eyes. “I can’t thank you enough for all you did to help Mom all those years and for advising me along the way. And for handling these final details.”
“That goes for me too.” Liam wiped his sweaty palm on his trousers and shook Randal’s hand. “Seriously, man. Thanks. This is exactly what Mom wanted.”
“It is, indeed,” Randal said. “Give me a call if you have any questions. But this officially closes out your mom’s trust.”
Colleen rose to her feet, her pale face expressionless. “Thanks again, Mr. Holmes.”
“You are very welcome.”
Liam felt almost giddy as he slid his arm around Colleen and walked out of Randal Holmes’s office, the fear he’d been carrying now turned to relief.
“I guess it’s finally over,” Liam said.
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