by Ann Mullen
“That creep! How dare he get me all upset like that! Do the cops have any idea where he is?”
“I doubt it. Don’t fret. He’ll show himself eventually. Mark my words.”
Chapter 12
After finding out that Wayne Avery didn’t shoot himself and was still alive, I was angry that he pulled one over on me, but glad he wasn’t dead. It was obvious he had emotional problems that needed to be dealt with, and hopefully, one so young could be saved and put on the right path with a little help from a professional. I would help him get the help he needed.
Of course, he would do time even if he plea-bargained, but eventually he would get his life back—if he wanted it. For some reason, I wasn’t convinced that he had anything to do with the killings in Ruckersville, but I could be wrong. He had lied about not having any bullets. It was one lie after another. All kinds of thoughts were racing through my mind as I pulled up behind Billy in the driveway.
He got out of his truck and walked up to my car. I hit the button to roll the window down. The cold air rushed in.
“You left your truck running, dear,” I said, pointing in the direction of his truck and half-laughing. “Aren’t you going to turn it off?”
“I’m going to park it in the garage, and I want you to do the same thing. With a foot of snow coming, the automobiles would be buried. Back your 4Runner into the garage.”
“Ha! You must be kidding! Me—back my vehicle up into the garage? That’s a joke.”
“Oh, that’s right. I’ve seen you in action. I’ll take care of it.”
Suddenly, I remembered that I was supposed to call the cleanup crew, but I hadn’t. By now, the stench was probably unbearable.
“Ah… Billy,” I said. “I forgot to…”
“… call the cleanup crew. Yes, I know. I took care of the mess when your mother got back. It only took me about fifteen minutes. It wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
“Yuck,” I said, almost gagging at the idea of all that blood. “Are you sure it doesn’t stink in there?”
“Nope. Not at all,” Billy replied.
“I’m not going to see Bambi’s mother’s head hanging on the wall in the garage when you open the door, am I?”
“No. Don’t be silly,” Billy mumbled as he turned to go back to his truck. “It’s hanging in the house.” He chuckled as he walked away.
“What?” I yelled. “What did you say?” Did I hear him right? Did he say the deer head was hanging in the house? It had to be a joke! “Billy!”
“I’m just kidding, `ge ya,” he said as he stood by his truck door. “Go on inside before you freeze.”
I turned off the ignition, grabbed my purse, and pulled out my gloves. After slipping my hands into them, I stepped out of the vehicle onto slippery ground. The snow crunched under my feet as I made my way up to the porch. I held onto the handrails and steadied myself with each step.
Finally, I made it to the front door without falling. I turned and watched in amazement at how easily Billy maneuvered his truck into the garage. He backed it in with ease. Then he got out and walked over to my 4Runner. He got in, turned the vehicle around, and backed it into the garage. I waited for him to get to the porch.
“You make it look so easy,” I said. “I just can’t get the hang of it.”
“I know,” he said as he opened the front door. “That’s why I did it for you. I didn’t want to spend the next hour out here in the cold watching you spin around in circles.”
“I’m not that bad.”
“Yes, you are. I’ve never met anyone who has as much trouble as you do when it comes to backing up.”
As soon as we walked in the house, Athena and Thor greeted us with their usual howling. I bent down and patted each one on the head to appease them. “Have you been good dogs while I was gone?”
They barked a couple of times and then turned and pranced down the hallway, going wherever it is they go when they’ve had enough petting.
“Where’s that silly cat?” I looked around and saw Spice Cat staring down at us from the top of the refrigerator. “Ah, there you are.” I looked back down the hall as I took off my coat. “Is anyone home?”
Mom came out from behind the stairs holding Ethan. She had been in the nursery. “We’re here,” she said as she and Eddie walked out into the hallway. “I was just changing Ethan’s diaper. Maisy fell asleep on the sofa, so Eddie picked her up and put her in her crib.”
“Hello, Jesse,” Eddie said. “I know why your mother loves these kids so much. They’re adorable.”
“Thank you, Eddie,” I said. “Billy and I think so.”
I hung up my coat and then reached out for Ethan.
“How’s my sweet baby?” Mom handed him to me. I held him close as I walked to the nursery to look in on Maisy. What a beautiful little girl, I thought to myself. Billy and I are truly blessed.
Billy walked up behind me and said, “We are blessed.”
“I was just thinking the same thing. You have to stop reading my mind.”
Billy must have felt the vibration of his cell phone, because he turned and walked out of the room before it had a chance to ring. I waited a second before following him.
Mom and Eddie walked with me to the den.
“Robert sent some food over from his restaurant,” Mom said. “Everybody has had something to eat, except you. Are you hungry? I can fix you a plate.”
“Maybe later, Mom. My stomach is all tied up in knots. I don’t think I could handle anything right at the moment.”
“Greg left. He wanted to wait and have a talk with you, but he had things to do. He said he’d see you later.”
“How did he sound? I know he’s depressed. I would be. I was so depressed when Dad died.”
“I was, too.”
“I know you were, Mom. I’m sorry you had to suffer through that.”
“I’m sorry we all had to suffer through it, but dying is a part of life.”
“It certainly is.”
“Poor little Greg. He’s so sad. It was all I could do to keep from crying when he talked about his dad.”
Billy must have walked out back because he wasn’t in the den when we walked in. Mom and Eddie sat down on the sofa beside each other.
“Why did Billy have to run out after you this time?” Mom asked. “He got a call from his secretary, and then he said that he had to go save you from yourself. Of course, I laughed. I thought he was joking.”
“I set off the alarm at the office. I was trying to get there in time to catch a call…”
“From the kid who pulled a gun on you in the hospital parking garage. That’s right, Missy. I know all about the kid and the gun and the call. When were you going to tell me about him?”
“Never, unless I had to. You know how you get when a kid’s involved in anything. You blame the parents, and sometimes that’s not the case. To make it easier on me, I don’t tell you everything.”
“I’ve learned a lot since those days, young lady. I read the papers and I watch the news on television. Criminals are getting younger every day. That’s just the way it goes. Kids mature earlier than they did in my time, so it only stands to reason they would get into trouble at an earlier age.”
“My mother is such a whiz,” I said, looking over at Eddie. “She really knows how kids think, no matter what age they are.”
“Any man would be lucky to have your mother as his wife,” Eddie replied.
A red flag went up. Was he planning on asking my mother to marry him? He’d better think again. My mother isn’t marrying anyone she’s only known for a few short months. No way. I wouldn’t stand for it. Oh, no… I’ve turned into my mother!
“Yes, he would,” I agreed. “Mom is the absolute best.” I looked down at Ethan who had fallen asleep in my arms. “I guess this little fellow needs his crib.”
I got up and walked out of the room, leaving Mom to deal with Eddie’s remarks. Whatever was going to happen between them was going to happen. I decided
to keep my nose out of it… for now. As I turned to go into the nursery, I glanced back down the hallway and saw Eddie lean over and kiss Mom on the cheek. She smiled like a school girl. I laid Ethan down in his crib one second before the phone rang. I raced to the living room to answer it.
“Hello,” I said.
“Jesse, this is Sarah.”
“Hello, Sarah. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing a little better. Jenny and Beth helped us make the arrangements, but they’ve gone home now. Greg stopped by for a bit. He’s so handsome… just like his father.”
“Yes, he is.” I could tell that Sarah needed someone to talk to, so I listened.
“Robert sent over some food, and it’s a good thing he did, because people have been dropping by most of the day.”
“I was going to come over as soon as I got home. Would it be all right if Mom and I came over for a few minutes?”
I assumed that Mom would want to go with me. Billy had already been over earlier, and Eddie hardly knew Sarah and the chief. He might feel uncomfortable. He could stay here and keep Billy company—not that Billy needed company. What he probably needed were a couple of days alone.
“It’s time to cut down the trees.”
“What trees?”
“Why, our Christmas trees, of course! Everyone goes go out into the woods about a week or so before Christmas and cuts down their own tree. Then they take it home to decorate. The next day we have a tree lighting ceremony here at our house. It’s a family thing. You missed it last year, but you don’t have to this time. I’m ready and I want to do it now. Daniel’s service is in two days, and I want our tree to be up. Daniel loved Christmas more than any of my other kids. Oh, don’t get me wrong, they all loved Christmas, but Daniel would get excited starting around Thanksgiving. By the time Christmas morning got here, he would be the first one banging on our bedroom door. He really loved the tree lights.”
“I think I’d like that, but I’m going to have to leave Mom at home. I don’t want her traipsing around in the snow through the woods. She can visit with you later,” I said.
“I understand.”
“It’s so typical of the Blackhawk family to do something together. I’m so glad that I’m a part of it, Sarah. I couldn’t have married a better man than Billy.”
“Billy deserves a good woman, and he got one with you.”
“Thanks, Sarah. I’m so glad you feel that way. Not to change the subject, but if you want to go cut down trees, I suggest we do it now. We’re supposed to get a foot of snow tonight.”
“That’s what I hear. Beth won’t be here because she’s pregnant and doesn’t need to be out in the woods stomping through snow, bushes, and thicket. Adam should be here any minute. He’s going to cut down a tree for Jenny, too. Greg’s coming back. He said he was going to have a big tree just like he and his dad had planned. Robert’s going to cut down two trees. He usually puts one in his restaurant. His employees decorate it. They adore him.”
“I can see why. He’s a Blackhawk.”
“I’m going to say something and I don’t want you to think badly of me, okay?”
“I would never think badly of you. Why… you’re like a mother to me. I love you.”
She cried softly into the phone.
“Please don’t cry. You’re going to make me cry.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll do my best.”
“What did you want to say?”
“I really care a lot for Ruth, but you’re the one Billy will spend the rest of his life with. His love for you is something very special. He told me that when you walked into his office that day, he knew the two of you would be together forever. He also said it didn’t take him long to figure out that you were going to be a handful. I’m glad it worked out.”
“I’m glad, too. Thank you for saying that. It means a lot to me. So, he really told you that?”
“He sure did. The day he brought you into the clinic, he told me that you were the one.”
“Wow! I’m impressed.”
“When can you and Billy come over? Is your mom at your house now? If she isn’t, I’m sure that Geneva would be glad to baby-sit. I can promise you that she’s not going out into the woods.”
“Mom’s here, so we’re good.”
“I’d like to do it soon, because I don’t want to get too tired to join in the fun.”
“How do you feel?”
“I feel fine. Why?”
“The chief said something about you being so tired all the time. I think he’s worried about you. And now with…”
“He’s a man. What do they know about how a woman feels? If she doesn’t fix their breakfast they think she’s sick. Well, I’m not sick. I’m fine.”
“Then let’s go get a Christmas tree.”
“Speaking of being tired, the chief is taking a nap. Jonathan is with Lu Ann. I hope he doesn’t mess things up with her this time. He’ll be here soon. I told him we were going to chop down Christmas trees, and he knows he’d better be here for that. Adam, Greg, and Robert should be here soon. Eli wants to go, too.”
“That sounds good to me. I’ll have a talk with Mom, and then Billy and I will come over soon. Give us a couple of hours. That way we’ll have time to tie up a few loose ends here. Is that okay?”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you in a couple of hours.”
We said our good-byes, and then I hung up the phone. I turned to head down the hallway and met Billy in the process.
“Who was that on the phone?”
“It was your mother. She wants us all to get together and cut down some Christmas trees. It’s a tradition! I’m ready. ”
“Is she up to it? How did she sound?”
“She sounded fine to me. She was sad, but that’s to be expected. It looks as if the whole crew will be at your folks’ house in about two hours.”
“Good. That gives us plenty of time. Captain Waverly just called me on my cell phone. He wanted you to come into the station to discuss your involvement in the case.”
“What involvement in what case?”
“He knows about Wayne Avery confronting you in the parking garage and he wants a statement.”
“Did you tell him that our family is suffering through a crisis right at the moment?”
“Yes, I did and he said that under the circumstances, he would interview you on the phone. He’s going to call back in ten minutes. This could take a while, but it’s better than going into Charlottesville to the police station.”
“I’m surprised that he’s going to talk with me over the phone. Normally, the cops get such joy out of dragging you out of your home especially if the weather is really bad, and hauling you downtown for questioning.”
“They like to see the look on your face when they throw questions at you. They love to trip you up. I told him the young man wore a ski mask and dark clothing. I guess he figures there’s not much else to tell, but he wants to talk with you anyway, especially now since…”
“Since what?”
“There’s something weird going on with this guy, Wayne Avery.”
“What do you mean?”
“The police traced the call to a house on Octonia Road in Stanardsville, but, as I said, when the police arrived, no one was there. They talked with the neighbors, and one claimed to have heard a gunshot, but failed to report it to the police. No one saw anything out of the ordinary. The house belongs to a couple who are out of town on vacation. There wasn’t a break-in, so Wayne Avery had access to the house somehow. The receiver was still lying on the table. One round had been fired into the floor. He really pulled one over on us. I bet he thought it was funny, but I sure didn’t. Anyway, the Crime Scene Technicians are just finishing up.”
“Why would he try to make us think that he killed himself? Idiot. Didn’t he realize we’d find out the truth?”
“He’s young, Jesse. Sometimes kids don’t think straight when they feel penned in. They come up with some elaborate scheme
and think it’s going to work. But it never does.”
“I’m really mad about the whole thing. What’s he trying to get me into? Why did he even bother to contact me?”
“It could’ve had something to do with what you said to him in the parking garage. He might have thought he could use you to get out of this mess if you believed that he was sorry.”
“It’s good to be remorseful, but he’s still got to pay for his crime.”
“When he said he was sorry, you began to have a little faith in him, didn’t you?”
“I thought maybe he had a few redeeming qualities. I thought he wanted to make amends... that he wanted to pay for what he did to Daniel. Boy, was I ever wrong. Just wait until I see this kid face-to-face! And I will see him. Trust me. I’m going to get to the bottom of this if it’s the last thing I ever do!”
“Don’t say that,” Mom said as she walked up to where we were standing in the hallway. “You never know what the last thing you’ll ever do in life will be.”
“That’s true, but I can tell you that I won’t rest until I have a few words with Wayne Avery!”
“I’m sure you won’t, my dear. But for now, can we figure out what we’re going to do next? It’s almost time for dinner. Should I set out some food?”
I tried to get out of the blue funk I had fallen into. I hated it when someone lied to me or tried to use me. And that’s what Wayne Avery had done. I heard the gunshot over the phone, but he didn’t really shoot himself. He just made me think he had. But why? Did he think we wouldn’t find him?
“Jesse,” Mom said. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes,” I replied. I wasn’t really listening since I was lost in my own little world, planning my own form of revenge, but I pretended to be. “Sure.”
“Do you want me to set out some food?”
“Thanks, Mom. That’s a good idea. I have to talk with Captain Waverly, and then we’re going to cut down Christmas trees. Do you want one for your house in Dogwood Valley? I know you’re not there much, but I figured you’d still put up one.”