Rosemary Run Box Set

by Kelly Utt

  “There’s something else,” she added. “We have an uninvited guest. A white male in his late fifties or early sixties. I’m calling to not only tell you we’re coming, but to also ask for your advice on how to handle the uninvited guest.”

  “Bring him to Tucson,” Guillermo said without hesitating. “If he doesn’t like that plan, he can take it up with me.”

  “Wonderful,” she said. “Where should we meet?”

  “My brother owns a body shop in the industrial section of town. Martinez Body and Trim. Can you find it?”

  “Yes, I’m sure we can.”

  “Good. I’ll see you there. Five PM.”

  Satisfied, Marcheline hung up the phone, then destroyed the burner with the heel of her boot, and threw it out the window.

  “Get Bill,” she said to Ryan. “Put him in the back. We’re taking him to Tucson.”

  “Tied?”

  “I’ll leave that up to you.”

  24

  Ryan held his head high as he got out of the truck and walked back towards Bill. He knew he had the physical advantage, and he wanted to be sure Bill understood the pecking order. Ryan put his hands on his hips as he approached, puffing his body up to appear as big as possible. Bill looked at him expectantly.

  “Can I offer you a ride?” Ryan asked.

  Bill seemed relieved but hesitant at the same time. “Where are you headed?”

  “I’m afraid I won’t be able to tell you that unless you accept my offer. Even then, you won’t know our final destination until we reach it. I’m sure you understand.”

  “Yeah,” Bill said as he shuffled his feet nervously on the sandy ground. “I do.”

  “Good.”

  “What’s the catch? I mean… What do you want from me?” Bill asked.

  “No catch,” Ryan replied. “To be frank, I’m not sure what we want from you yet. There’s a lot we don’t understand here. But we didn’t think it was right to leave you in the middle of the desert.”

  “That’s quite nice,” Bill replied. “Especially considering I was following you.”

  “Yeah, well, don’t get too excited. I’ll be watching you like a hawk. My wife and baby are in that truck. If you so much as think about trying anything, well, then I’ll handle you any way I see fit,” Ryan explained. His tone was threatening, but appropriate.

  “Understood. My phone isn’t getting a signal here. It was connected when I…”

  “When you rear-ended us?”

  “Yeah,” Bill continued. “But I can’t get anything since ending that call. And I haven’t seen more than a handful of vehicles pass since we’ve been parked here on the side. Not a single one stopped to help. So, yeah, I guess hitching a ride with you is my best bet.”

  “Okay, but you have to leave your phone here,” Ryan said. “My mother-in-law insists. You can get it back when you return for the car.”

  “But…”

  “No buts. No phone or no ride.”

  Bill fiddled with the door handle nervously as he looked around at the desolate landscape. He didn’t have a better option, and they both knew it.

  “Okay,” he agreed, finally. “Let me just get my wallet out of my bag and I’ll leave everything else.”

  He did that, then the two of them walked back to the truck, Ryan’s hand on one of Bill’s arms, guiding him. Marcheline and Sabine had already rearranged seats and were both up front with Amelie. Ryan opened the door to the back seat, then pushed Bill gently inside. Then he walked around to climb in himself.

  Marcheline put the truck in gear and began to drive without so much as making eye contact with Bill. It was a bizarre situation for her to be in. She didn’t want to be too friendly.

  Sabine followed her mom’s lead and stayed facing straight ahead in the passenger seat.

  “Thank you kindly for the ride,” Bill began, his voice soft and timid. He leaned forward slightly and directed his thanks to Marcheline.

  “You’re welcome,” Ryan replied.

  “I wanted to thank… The ladies,” Bill continued.

  “How about you communicate with me for the time being?” Ryan suggested. “We’ll keep this simple.”

  “Okay,” Bill replied. “But I’m not a bad guy. I promise you. I don’t want this to be awkward…”

  “You’ll have to forgive me,” he said. “But I have a hard time thinking a guy who followed me overnight and into the Arizona desert is a good guy. Do you get where I’m coming from?”

  Bill nodded.

  The truck was silent as Amelie chewed on her teething ring in her car seat up front.

  “How old is she?” Bill asked.

  Ryan shot him a look.

  “I only ask because I have a granddaughter not much older. She’s ten months old. Looks like your little girl is… What? Six months? They’re a lot of fun at that age. They are little bundles of energy. And so curious about everything around them.”

  “Yeah. Right.”

  Bill went silent again, but seemed to have a hard time keeping quiet. He wanted to talk.

  “My daughter… She’s taking time off work to stay home with the baby. It’s been the most fun to have them both around. Since my work schedule is flexible, I get to hang out with them.”

  Marcheline finally spoke. “If you’re trying to find things you and I have in common, don’t.”

  “I didn’t mean to offend, Ms. Fay. And I don’t want to be a bother. Like I said when we talked on the phone yesterday, I really just wanted to ask you a few questions. This has gotten out of hand.”

  Marcheline glanced in the rearview mirror, making eye contact now. “You know what? Go right ahead.”

  “Really?” Bill asked.

  “Why not?” Marcheline replied. “We have time to kill.”

  “I don’t think… I’m not sure…”

  “Anything you would say to me alone can be said in front of my daughter and son-in-law,” Marcheline clarified. “I’d like to know what was worth you tracking me down like this. So, you have my attention. Go ahead.”

  Bill looked at Ryan for permission. Ryan nodded. “She’s the one in charge,” Ryan clarified. “You’d be wise to do what she says.”

  Bill was a bundle of nerves. The more Marcheline thought about him, the more she felt sorry for him. He didn’t appear to be much of a threat. Although she knew that his connections might be.

  “Okay,” Bill mumbled. “This is unconventional. But I’ll go ahead. Ms. Fay, I wanted to ask you about the letter you sent to Chester Loor. His father, Norman, received it and forwarded it to me.”

  “I told you on the phone,” Marcheline replied. “I didn’t send a letter.”

  Sabine opened her eyes wide and gave her mom a sideways glance, trying not to let Bill see her expression.

  “That’s why I said on the phone it was you or someone posing as you,” Bill explained. “I fully realize that possibility. And I don’t mean to accuse you of anything, Ms. Fay.”

  “And I told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Okay,” he said, trying to figure out his next move.

  “Who knows you were following me?” Marcheline asked pointedly.

  “No one,” Bill said. He sounded sincere. “I work alone, Ms. Fay. When I’m finished with a case, I take my findings to the appropriate parties. Those may include the person who hired me, the person whose defense my findings may support, and sometimes the police or attorneys involved. But I’m very careful. I never want to falsely accuse anyone or stir up something before I know exactly what’s going on and what the consequences will be. I take pride in being accurate and careful.”

  “So you’re telling me you followed us this far without another soul knowing what you were doing?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Kind of dangerous, isn’t it?” Marcheline asked.

  “Right,” Ryan added. “We could be murderers, for all you know.”

  Bill looked at him, snapping his head away quickly. He wasn
’t sure whether to take Ryan’s comments seriously.

  “I don’t know,” Bill replied. “It’s just what I do. I like to work alone. I’ve been doing it for decades.”

  “Who were you talking to when you rear-ended us?” Ryan asked. “You said you were on the phone and not paying attention.”

  “Well, now, I can explain that,” Bill said. “I have a friend on the force and I called to tell him where I was.”

  Marcheline set up straighter in her seat, upset by this revelation.

  “But I didn’t tell him your name, Ms. Fay. I promise.”

  “Why should I believe you?” Marcheline asked.

  “Because I’m a good guy. Like I told you. I’m an honest guy. I swear,” Bill pleaded, trying hard to convince them. “Do you know a man named Chester Loor?”

  Marcheline paused. She’d known this question was coming. She’d thought long and hard about what her answer would be.

  “Mom, don’t,” Sabine said, her first statement since Bill had gotten in the car.

  Marcheline looked at her daughter curiously. It was hard to get a read on what Sabine was thinking. She seemed to be on Marcheline’s side. But she was curious about her father and wanted to unravel the mystery that surrounded him. Marcheline wasn’t sure how Sabine wanted her to proceed.

  Marcheline eyed Bill in the rearview mirror. “You’re the one that’s new here,” she said. “How about you tell us more about yourself?”

  Sabine nodded, happy with this diversion. Ryan shrugged his shoulders.

  “Like what?” Bill asked. “What would you like to know?”

  “I’d like to know how you ended up a private investigator, since you claim you’re such a good guy,” Marcheline began. “I mean, I’m sure there aren’t all bad guys in your profession. But I don’t exactly think of them as good guys either. What’s the story there?”

  “I started out in the military,” Bill said. “I was military police. As a young man, I was sent to the Middle East to police soldiers stationed on active duty there. I guess I showed a curiosity not everyone has, and I soon became involved in military investigations. It was usually simple stuff, like answering questions surrounding soldiers who had gone absent without leave or those who had been involved in skirmishes. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those little investigations showed me just how much I love the thrill of solving a good mystery.”

  “Sounds like you’re a real American hero,” Ryan said sarcastically. “We have a regular G.I. Joe, right here in our truck.”

  Bill laughed. He still wasn’t sure how to take Ryan and was scared of him. But Bill also thought Ryan was funny. He liked his wit and the way he was protective of the women in his life.

  “I served six years in the military, and then I returned home to Chicago. I actually attended a police academy for a short time as a rookie cop. But I knew it would take a while to work my way into investigations and I was eager to go ahead and get out on my own. So, I took the leap and hung out my shingle. I haven’t looked back since.”

  “Do you follow any lead that someone pays you to follow?” Marcheline asked. “Or do you use your own judgment about what is worthy of your time?”

  “Oh, I use my own judgment,” Bill replied. “I have to if I want to stay in business. You know how that goes, Ms. Fay. You’re a successful businesswoman. I’m sure you know all too well that you have to listen to your own gut. It’s what carries you through the tough decisions and the hard times.”

  Marcheline smiled. “We can agree on that much.”

  “I guess you’re wondering why I am here then, having followed you this far.”

  “Yeah, haven’t we already said so?” Ryan added.

  “I’ll admit,” Bill continued. “It was my gut. Something told me there was more to the story and that I needed to take a leap. Chester and his father seem like good people. I know Chester got mixed up in a lot of bad stuff. A lot of gang-related nonsense he never would have found himself in the middle of if he had grown up in a different neighborhood. But when I sit with him and talk with him, I just get a sense he is inherently good. It feels like he needs somebody on his side so he isn’t overlooked by a system trained to forget about him.”

  Marcheline raised her eyebrows and shook her head. Bill had a good read on Chester, she’d give him that. She would have described Chester almost exactly the same way had she been asked.

  “And I have to say,” Bill continued. “I get the same sense about you, Ms. Fay. I researched you on the Internet, and people say such glowing things about you. From all accounts, you’re well-loved in your adopted hometown of Rosemary Run. Your employees are happy to work for you. And I can tell by being in your presence now that you’re kind and good.”

  “That’s very nice of you,” Marcheline said. “I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome,” Bill affirmed. “That’s why none of this adds up for me. Hear me out… Leena Bisset is the woman who accused Chester of rape when she was just a teenager. Now, granted, that’s not all Chester is in for.”

  “It’s not?” Marcheline asked, urgency in her voice.

  “No, it’s not. He’s doing time for drug possession. Marijuana. It’s a shame, really. If Chester lived in a state where marijuana was legalized, such as Colorado, he wouldn’t be serving time right now at all.

  “Oh, dear,” Marcheline said, glancing at Sabine and then at Ryan. “Tell me more.”

  “The rape accusation put him on their radar. Chester was sentenced to supervised probation after that, and it was during that same period he failed a random drug test. They searched his vehicle and subsequently found a stash of marijuana. Since he was already on probation, it was an automatic conviction.”

  “Are you telling me that this Leena girl who accused Chester of rape isn’t the reason he’s in prison right now?” Ryan asked.

  “Not directly, no,” Bill replied. “But it was that rape accusation that got him into the system and sent him down the wrong path. Who is to say it wouldn’t have happened, anyway? But I want to learn more.”

  “Then what do you hope to find by following us?” Ryan asked. “This whole thing seems so over dramatized.”

  “Norman Loor, Chester’s father, won a large sum in the state lottery last year.”

  “Interesting turn of events,” Marcheline remarked.

  “Yeah, for sure,” Bill agreed. “With his winnings, he hired me. Chester had always said he hadn’t raped Leena. Even though knowing the truth won’t change his drug conviction, Norman wanted to get to the bottom of it and clear his son's name. Not for legal reasons as much as, for reasons of the family’s honor and good name.”

  “Although maybe, a parole board would have more compassion if they knew the whole story,” Marcheline added.

  “That’s exactly it, Ms. Fay. If I were to find out for sure that Chester didn’t rape Leena Bisset, I’d certainly bring that to the parole board’s attention. Norman has hired a new attorney who would assist with that task. She’s a good lady, too. No one has any ill will here. We just want to uncover the truth.”

  The truck was quiet for a few moments as this new information sunk in.

  “Ms. Fay?” Bill asked quietly. “It seems to me like you have a really nice life in Rosemary Run. I stopped by your winery and your beautiful home. I’d sure hate it if you left town because of my inquiry.”

  Marcheline kept looking straight ahead. She didn’t make eye contact with Bill this time. After an uncomfortable silence, Ryan spoke for her.

  “Let’s talk hypotheticals here for a minute, Bill,” he began. “Because I think you might actually be a good guy.”

  “Okay, go ahead.”

  “What if you found your Leena Bisset, and she confirmed that Chester Loor never raped her?”

  “That would be great,” Bill replied.

  “And what if?” Ryan continued. “What if there were extenuating circumstances as to why she accused him in the first place. What if she were in danger from someone else,
unrelated to Chester?”

  “I can fill in some of those blanks myself,” Bill replied. “Like, what if there was uncertainty about the paternity of Leena’s unborn child, for instance?”

  Sabine sniffled and wiped tears from her eyes. She couldn’t help it.

  “Hypothetically,” Ryan continued. “What if you’re right?”

  “Then I’d want to assure Leena that I don’t mean her any harm,” Bill said. “I’d like to hear what happened to her so it could be explained to Chester, Norman, and the parole board that holds Chester’s fate in their hands. I would also like to offer my assistance to Leena herself. If she were in danger, then I’d want to do my part to help protect her. And I would venture a guess that Chester and Norman would support me in doing so.”

  25

  Marcheline’s mind spun in a dizzying whirl as she drove the rest of the way to Tucson. She hadn’t expected to be met with kindness like this. She hadn’t expected someone in Bill’s position to be on her side. She berated herself for having thought about harming the man. And she began to think about what Ryan had said about her trauma causing inappropriate reactions. She wondered if she was overreacting. Maybe she was even losing it completely. If she had exaggerated the danger, might her assessment of other things have been off? And if so, was she walking away from her happy life in Rosemary Run too soon?

  By the time they arrived in Tucson, Marcheline was having second thoughts about turning Bill over to Guillermo. She was also having second thoughts about adopting a new identity without first assessing the threat more carefully.

  With time running short and a lot at stake, Marcheline decided she’d have a heart to heart talk with Bill before meeting Guillermo at his brother’s body shop. She pulled into a burger joint where they could sit together outside at a picnic table under a covered awning. She knew it would do them all some good to get out into the fresh air, and they needed something to eat. Ryan went inside to place an order for the group, while Marcheline, Sabine, Amelie, and Bill got situated outside.

  Bill looked better to Marcheline than he had at first. He’d been to the bathroom and had cleaned himself up a bit, so that surely helped. But Marcheline was beginning to see him in a different light, which probably helped her impression of his appearance. It had been easy to think of him as unattractive when she thought he was a bad guy. But now, she noticed the crinkle under his eyes when he smiled, and the way his cheeks got rosy when he talked about his daughter and granddaughter. He was becoming human to her. He was becoming real. He was a man who people loved and respected. She could see that clearly now.