Point of Attraction

by Margaret Van Der Wolf

  “Mrs. Gainsworth,” Roberts started out. “Do you have any idea who would do this?”

  She opened her mouth to answer, but Nick burst out with, “I fucking told you who did this!”

  Georgie saw Roberts’ pleading look to Mason, and she reached for Nick to calm him down, but he jerked as if to pull away, then leaned into her instead. “You know it was Jeffrey.”

  Mason shifted on his feet. “Nick. Let’s do this by the book. First, we narrow down the field...”

  “Yeah, and while you’re narrowing down the field,” Nick shot back, “the little fucker is hightailing it out of town.”

  “That is a possibility,” Mason said to Roberts. “It appears the man never came home last night.”

  Roberts raised his dark brown eyes and leveled their trained patience on Mason as he asked, “And you know this because?”

  It was a mere flicker of a pause, but that flitting silence solidified, until Mason spoke. “We took a drive to his place last night.”

  The change in Mason’s voice was slight, but Georgie heard it, and she realized just how out of the policeman’s rule Mason had stepped by going with her and Nick.

  Roberts slapped shut his notebook and leaned forward, facial muscles tight. Georgie didn’t think his eyes could get any more piercing, but they did.

  “I need to speak with you outside,” he said to Mason, but Georgie quickly reached up to keep Mason where he was.

  “Please, Officer Roberts, Mason and Nick did nothing wrong,” Georgie said, and added, “I made sure they did nothing out of order.”

  The wooden chair complained as Roberts sat back full weight in the seat, his face a flashing neon sign of annoyed frustration, if not flat out anger. His eyebrow shot straight up. “Well this just gets better and better, doesn’t it.”

  When Georgie heard Tonie let out a small whistle, she knew she’d put Mason’s foot in even deeper. She and Nick had dragged Mason into a bad place, and now she had added to that blunder. Great. No matter what she said now, it would only add more dirt to the grave. Even in thought, the word, grave, sent a chill up her spine.

  “Just so I’m clear on this,” Roberts said, his voice hiding none of the anger now, yet he remained strangely composed. “You, a police officer already on administrative leave, took two civilians to the house of a possibly dangerous suspect? Didn’t call the police, no back up, no warrant.” His sigh was deep. “Just took it upon yourself to take matters into your own hands.”

  “At that time there was no probable cause...” Mason stopped. Even to Georgie, the argument sounded shallow this evening.

  Though nothing about Roberts had changed, Georgie could feel the heat of all that Roberts was holding in.

  “When did this become more about a cop on administrative leave and less about a guy on his way to becoming a deadly threat to Georgie Girl here?” Nick asked.

  Her Nick backed down for no one, Georgie thought, but she wondered if Roberts even heard Nick, his attention was so set on Mason now. It was difficult for her to believe this was the same person Mason considered a good man? Then she remembered Mason the morning he came into her shop; and like Mason, this Roberts was a police officer first, Mason’s co-worker second.

  “Montgomery,” Roberts finally said, “stupid isn’t your style, but this...”

  Mason’s body tensed against her as he let out a gush of air, his fingers almost hurtful as they curled slightly, almost a grip, then loosened to a caress.

  “We had no plate number, not even a letter,” Mason explained.

  “Just a dark colored Durango,” Nick added, “and a mighty pissed-off guy who owns one.”

  “Just what were we suppose to call in?” Mason asked, mockery accenting his question. “That we’re certain this guy’s the one?” He pointed to himself and Nick. “Hell, we’re in love with the guy for all this.”

  “All this?” Roberts asked. Finally, Georgie saw a flicker of surprise in the man’s dark eyes. “Okay. I’m missing a step in time-line. What am I not getting here?” he pressed. “I thought we were talking about the doll impaled to the tree up the road. Now you’re talking dark Durangos and plates?”

  Georgie felt Mason take a deep breath to say something, probably retell the tale starting with the rose, but hadn’t it really started with Raggs? Nick darted forward in his chair, both arms on the table.

  “Officer Clark,” Nick said to Tonie. “Can we have some privacy here?”

  “She’s fine,” Roberts said, but Nick held up a hand, asking for patience.

  “I want what we are about to tell you off the record... for a while,” Nick said. “The less ears that hear this, the better. Officer Clark?” He motioned for Tonie to step outside.

  Georgie wanted to say it was fine if she stayed, but if Nick felt this strongly about it, and Mason was not objecting, they must have a reason. One blabbering outburst on her part was enough.

  Tonie looked to Mason then to her present partner, and probably ranking officer at the moment. When neither man offered a protest, and Roberts motioned her out, Georgie saw and felt Tonie’s anger as she shut her notebook with a smack and literally stomped out of the room. At Tonie’s slamming of the door, Roberts’ eyes settled on Mason.

  No one said anything for a moment, until Mason spoke. “Bear with us here,” he told Roberts, “then you decide what’s relevant or not.” He tapped Georgie’s shoulder. “Go ahead.”

  Georgie swallowed the lump in her throat and thought back. “I guess I have to say it started with the theft of Raggs, my Raggedy Ann Doll, this past Wednesday night.”

  Nick stepped in and told what he suspected was going on; the rose, smudged footprints in the yard, Daisy’s strange behavior, ending with tonight. Now it was Roberts’ turn to take a deep breath after reading over his notes. When he looked up, he stared straight into her eyes. While Mason’s gray hue had quickly prompted Georgie to easily spill out her thoughts, Roberts’s look was demanding it. Instinctively, she bristled and stared right back.

  “Do you think it’s this Jeffrey Sanders?” he asked her, his sharp demeanor now reined in. “Do you think he’s a stalker on his way to turning lethal?”

  Do I, Georgie thought? Did she really think Jeffrey capable of stealing Raggs? Putting a rose on her windshield? Prowling around her house and peeking in her windows? Would he... could he do that to Raggs? A shiver rippled through her and she reached for Mason’s hand and Nick’s.

  “I’m sorry,” she said to Mason and Nick, then looked at Roberts. “But everything in me says... no.”

  “Georgie Girl!” Nick said, tossing up his hands and bringing them down with a slap to his thighs.

  Even Mason let go as he dropped down on one knee to look up into her face.

  “I’ve known Jeffrey for twenty years,” she reasoned. “Why would he do this now? Why?”

  “Think about it!” Nick told her.

  “I am!” she bit back, then calmed down. “Why now? Why all of a sudden, and to such extreme?”

  “Georgie Girl, I sometimes wonder what the fuck holds your ears apart?” Nick snapped, giving her head a poke, and she slapped at his hand.

  “Can you talk to me without using that word?” But she knew he didn’t hear her. He had that bone in his mouth. You just didn’t take a bone from a Pit Bull, no matter how hard she wanted this to go away.

  “While Sam was alive there was never any chance for him,” Nick said. “But Sam died, Georgie Girl. He died. And for three years Jeffrey’s waited and he finally asks you out. And what happens?”

  “Nothing happens. We had two dinners. They weren’t dates. Even if he thought them dates, nothing came of it.”

  “Yes, nothing came of it,” Nick said, his voice saddened, “but you know what? Unfortunately for Jeffrey, Dudley Do-Right entered the scene and Jeffrey’s little dream soured. No third try.”

  “But what about the neighbors saying he was seeing someone?”

  Nick shook his head. “If not for Dudley Do-Right here,
I think it would be you they were talking about.”

  She wanted to shake her head, deny it, make it not real, but she couldn’t. Mason had entered her life.

  “I gather Dudley Do-Right is you?” Roberts pointed at Mason, not expecting an answer. “Once more leaving this Jeffrey out in the cold.” He leaned back in his seat, hand rubbing his chin. “I’ve seen rejected lovers go deadly on less than that. It wouldn’t hurt to have a talk with this Jeffrey. No harm in that.”

  “But...” Georgie tried to explain, but there was no argument she could offer.

  “You,” Roberts pointed at Nick, “will not be going with us. I don’t want a hot head jamming up the works. I’ve never had a case thrown out of court because of any bad police work done by me or mine. It’s not going to happen this time. Are we clear on this?”

  For a second, Georgie thought Nick was going to argue. He and Roberts were in a duel of glares... but to her surprise, Nick nodded.

  “Montgomery, you can ride along, but that’s all. You say nothing. If the guy speaks to you, you don’t answer, not even a nod.”

  “Got it,” Mason said.

  Georgie watched as Roberts rose to his feet. He had to be as tall if not taller than Mason. Younger? Maybe, maybe not. Georgie looked to Roberts’ shoulder. He had stripes, but his seniority over Mason needed no stripes...

  Roberts walked out, while Mason stayed. He was still on his knee, looking up at her. It took a moment before his mouth pulled at one corner. “We’ve stepped slightly out of the calm eye of the storm, haven’t we, George.”

  He rose, pressed his lips to her forehead, then pointed at Nick. “Don’t leave her alone.”

  Chapter seventeen

  “How am I going to keep all this from Paula?” Georgie asked. “Steven can take it. But I worry about Paula and the baby.” She couldn’t help remembering when she almost lost Steven during her first pregnancy.

  Nick ran his fingers through her hair and gave her that soft shake he’d done through all the years they’d known each other. “With that bright yellow police crime-scene tape all over those trees, people will notice and it could hit the news. Better she hear it before hand.” She heard the frustration in his sharp breath. “I’ll call Cassie,” he said. “She’ll know best how to tell Paula. She’ll be okay. Paula’s stronger than you think, Georgie Girl, but if she goes hysterical, Cassie can do her doctor thing with her.”

  While Nick punched in Cassie’s number, Georgie looked in the refrigerator and pulled out the container of orange juice. There was almost enough, she thought, and got herself a glass.

  “Hey, April,” Nick was saying. “Sorry to call so late. I need to talk to Cassie.”

  Georgie poured the juice into the glass and took out her tequila. She didn’t even bother to measure in shots nor did she add ice. Leaning against the counter she swirled the contents as she listened to Nick’s voice. Strange, she thought. As he told the story, it didn’t sound so bad, very benign, just another of his travel-tales... until he came to Raggs.

  Georgie turned away to look out her window. Lights flickered through the wind-tormented shrubbery and trees at the top of the slope.

  The police doing their job, she thought, and forced down the liquid before turning back to Nick.

  “Well, what the fuck do you think I was doing?” he was saying, holding out the phone to stare at it, then put it back to his ear. “I was the one who found her. Yes, we called the cops. Think I’m an idiot? Damn.” He nodded, mouth opening as he struggled to get a word in, failing and tried again before finally succeeding. “Mason and I are pretty sure who did it, but your Pollyanna friend here doesn’t agree.”

  Georgie took another swallow, wishing she could feel the bite of the tequila, wash away the last three days, erase this evening, but when Nick said, “Jeffrey Sanders,” she knew there was no doing away with any of it.

  “What...” He took a breath, nodding at something Cassie was saying, then interrupted. “What we need is for you to go to Paula’s and tell her what I told you.” Again, he nodded, his hand motioning an unseen plea to Cassie. “How the hell do I know. You’re the doctor. Think of something.”

  “Don’t let Paula come here,” Georgie called out. “I don’t want her anywhere near me right now.”

  “You hear her?” Nick asked Cassie. “Make Paula see she can’t do anything here. I’m here, go’na be here, and so will Dudley Do-Right. No, he went with the cops to Jeffrey’s. We need you to keep Paula calm, not go all wacko and stress out the baby. We’ll call Steven. He might not even be home. Probably taking another look at his own situation.” A slight pause again. “Well of course, I noticed. That little Lucy either deals with it or Steven sees the uphill snowball shit and walks away... if he’s smart. Anyway, can you go over and talk to Paula? Thanks, Babe.” This time, the pause made him smile. “But you are a Babe.”

  He placed the phone back in its cradle and looked at her. Georgie took a deep breath, shook her head and did a long exhale.

  “What?” he asked, with a shrug of innocence. “She is a Babe; gay or not, she’s a Babe.”

  “You know why we’re such good friends?” Georgie asked, finally feeling the nirvana of the tequila. “No one else will put up with you... or us, I guess.”

  “That’s true enough,” he said. “Lord only knows how Sam and April put up with you and Cassie.” He tossed his chin up at her drink. “Little stingy with the tequila, aren’t you?”

  “There was just enough orange juice for one glass, and as much as I love you. Ain’t no way in hell I was letting you have it.”

  “That’s okay,” he said, going to the bottle and poured half a small glass. “I like mine straight up.”

  “Don’t we all,” she countered, and began to laugh at her thoughts of the double meaning.

  “Whoa there. Just how much shit did you put in that?”

  The laughter died, shoved away by visions of Raggs, and pinching her eyes shut didn’t make them go away. Nothing did.

  “It’s like losing Mom all over again,” she said, voice shaky as tears welled hot in her eyes. Max brushed against her leg and Daisy whimpered at the laundry room door.

  “Hey, hey,” Nick said, as Georgie found herself pulled to him, his large hand capping and patting her head. “Let’s call Steven. Come on. Go wash your face.”

  She nodded as she drew away from the citadel of his hold. He waved a finger and scrunched up his face. “Go on. You’re all smudged up.”

  Georgie smacked his chest.

  He rubbed the offending hand. “You have to be calm when you talk to him.”

  As she went up the hall, she heard him open the door for Daisy.

  “Come on, Girl,” he said. “Everyone’s gone now.”

  Both Daisy and Max ran to catch up with her. Georgie knelt and smoothed a hand over their heads. It took great effort to straighten and turn on the faucet. The cool water felt good on her face. Nick was right, she thought, looking into the mirror. She was a mess, in more ways than one.

  ~~0~~

  Once more seated at the Kitchen table, Georgie pushed in Steven’s speed dial number. Half expecting to get his message or pager, it surprised her when Steven answered. She really thought he would be with Lucy trying to work things out.

  “This is something Lucy needs to figure out herself,” he said. “Not sure, but I think there’s something deeper bothering her. When she’s ready, she’ll tell me. If she doesn’t, then...” Georgie heard his long sad sigh and easily visualized him shrugging. “Then it can’t be saved. If we can’t talk about what hurts us, then what is there? What’s up, Mom? I know you didn’t call me this late just to ask me about Lucy.”

  “I’m putting you on speaker,” she said, looked to Nick, took a hard swallow of nothing, and started in with the events. Though it was easier to recount this time, the whole thing was painfully surreal.

  “I’m coming over,” Steven said when she finished.

  “No!” she spurted out, saw Nick motion
her to clam down, and pulled herself in. “There’s no need. Nick is here and Mason will be here too. The police are looking into it.”

  “I don’t like this. Is this the same Sanders that does your shop accounting?”

  “Yes. But you know, I just don’t think he would do this. I...”

  “Oh, for God’s sakes,” Nick said.

  “I gather Uncle Nick thinks it is.”

  “Yes, he does. The police are probably at Jeffrey’s now. Mason is with them.”

  For a moment, there was no response. The whole thing had been a lot for her to take in, so she knew Steven must be struggling with it too. Who wouldn’t?

  “I think it’s good Cassie is the one telling Paula,” Steven finally said. “I better get off the phone so Paula can get through. She’ll want to talk to you. Let me know what the police have to say. I have to try and get some sleep. I’m putting in some volunteer time at St. V.’s ER for extra credits. If Uncle Nick leaves, let me know. I don’t want you alone. I’ll come over.”

  “I’m fine, but thank you for caring. Love my kids.”

  “Love you too.”

  When she heard the click at the other end, she hung up and looked to Nick. “You should take off your jacket.”

  He glanced down at himself, surprise pulling up his eyebrows, mouth slightly open. “Didn’t realize I still had it on.”

  He disappeared down the hallway into the living room and came right back minus the leatherwear. Georgie supposed he tucked it behind the couch; his peg on the wall, so-to-speak... a habit she and Sam only smiled at. Daisy and Max finally settled in their nightly curl-up on the floor near her.

  “Shouldn’t Roberts and his group be at Jeffrey’s by now?” she asked, staring down at her tilted empty glass and not really expecting an answer. The nagging doubt began trifling with her. How could someone she thought she knew so well, change so suddenly? While she sensed Jeffrey wanted more than friendship from her, she just didn’t see him obsessed, though he was finicky; a neat freak, Emmee once called him. One obsession for another?