by Debra Webb
The urge to prompt her to get on with her story nearly drove Melissa to jump up and shake her. She didn’t know how Jonathan stayed so calm when he questioned people.
“Anyway, I found a notepad where he’d scribbled several times and dates.” She frowned. “I was curious because I wasn’t aware that he’d taken any new cases that involved a divorce with a cheating spouse.” She smiled proudly. “He liked following up on those personally.”
Melissa sat on the edge of her seat, used her posture to urge the old woman to get on with it.
“But this was no divorce case,” Ms. O’Linger said. “He’d been following Carol Talbot and Harry Shepherd around.” She ducked her head toward one shoulder. “Of course I didn’t question him about it, but it did appear obvious from his notes that he believed the two were carrying on an—” she looked around the room “—affair.”
“Did you give that notepad to the chief?” Jonathan interjected.
Ms. O’Linger nodded. “Oh, yes. He insisted on having it. Scotty had locked it in his safe.” She pointed to the floor. “He had that installed right after I came to work for him. He gave me the combination with strict instructions that I was never to open it unless it was an emergency.”
“Was there anything else inside?” Melissa asked, her head spinning at the idea that her uncle might actually have been having an affair with his best friend’s wife.
How could she have known these people her whole life and not suspected a thing?
“Nothing else,” Ms. O’Linger assured her. “Just that notepad.”
“Did you look at it before you gave it to the chief?” Jonathan prodded.
Ms. O’Linger’s cheeks pinked. “Well, I didn’t really mean to, but I guess curiosity got the better of me.”
“Had he made any recent entries?” Melissa pressed.
“Yes.” The older woman swiped at the desk. “He was going to that old shack again.”
“The one next to the river?” Jonathan asked for clarification.
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Did he note why he wanted to go there?” Melissa asked, her heart pounding so hard she could scarcely hear herself think.
Sad eyes settled on Melissa. “He was going back to see what was there. He’d followed your uncle to the shack earlier that evening.”
The remainder of the conversation was lost on Melissa. Jonathan continued to chat with Ms. O’Linger, but Melissa zoned out completely.
Her uncle had gone to the shack before Scott Rayburn’s murder.
Before Stevie’s murder.
He’d gone to that rickety old shack. The one where the police had found evidence indicating that Polly had been held there for at least several days.
Harry Shepherd—the man who had been like a father to her—had taken Polly.
Chapter Fourteen
“This won’t do any good.”
Melissa ignored Jonathan’s remark. She didn’t care. She needed to do this.
As soon as the car was in Park, she wrenched open the door and hurried across the parking lot. This hospital was her home several days a week. No one was going to prevent her from getting in to see her uncle. Now. This minute. She had to talk to him. Whether he could answer her or not didn’t matter.
In the lobby she didn’t wait for the elevator. She took the stairs. Jonathan climbed right behind her.
“Melissa,” he called out, “don’t go in there like this.”
He didn’t understand. Polly wasn’t his niece. Jonathan Foley had never connected on that level with anyone. He couldn’t know.
As soon as the thought formed in her brain she felt guilty.
But that wasn’t stopping her from doing this.
Nothing was.
“Melissa, wait!” head nurse Patty Wheeler cried as Melissa charged past the station on the ICU floor.
She ignored her, as well.
“Wait!” the nurse called again.
“Melissa, stop.” Jonathan caught her by the arm.
She shook off his hold. “No. I have to do this.”
Before the nurse could catch up to her, Melissa barged into the ICU cubicle—and stalled.
Her uncle’s bed was empty. The sheets had been rolled into a ball.
Denial rammed into her with the same impact as butting a brick wall at a full run.
“Melissa, I’m sorry.” The nurse, breathless from the rush, put her arm around her. “We tried to call your cell. Your uncle passed away twenty minutes ago.”
The world tilted and bitter bile rushed up into Melissa’s throat.
“I’ve got her.”
Jonathan’s arms were suddenly around her. Patty was asking Melissa questions but she couldn’t answer.
Her uncle was gone.
As much as that hurt, what hurt even more was the idea that he may have taken Polly’s whereabouts with him.
How would they ever find her now?
12:15 p.m.
JONATHAN HAD DONE SOME research while Melissa gathered her composure, curled up in an easy chair in her living room. If Harry Shepherd had been having an affair with Carol Talbot, what were the chances that she had suspected he was up to something?
If they were close, really close, had he shared his plans with her?
In Jonathan’s estimation, the most likely motive was diverting William’s orders. From all accounts, Harry had been beside himself when William joined the military. He’d basically come unglued when the orders for deployment had come down. Having his nephew survive six months was more than he’d hoped for, but having him go back was unthinkable.
How far would a man go to keep a loved one out of harm’s way? Jonathan had never loved anyone like that. He glanced at Melissa, who was attempting to force down a glass of iced tea.
He couldn’t love anyone like that. It wasn’t in him.
He wanted to. He stole another glance at her. He surely wanted to. But she would be the one to pay for that indulgence. If he’d ever possessed the ability to love that deeply, he’d lost it during those endless hours as he’d watched his men die one by one.
Focus, Jonathan. This isn’t about you.
The chief had called and royally chewed out Jonathan for what he called interfering with his investigation. His anger had nothing to do with the investigation. Chief Talbot was furious that Jonathan and Melissa had learned the truth about his wife’s affair. He had warned them both to stay out of the investigation. Apparently he’d already warned most of Bay Minette’s citizens not to talk to Jonathan or Melissa.
William wasn’t even speaking to Melissa. He’d gone to the funeral home to make arrangements for his uncle and had outright refused to allow Melissa to accompany him.
Whatever the chief had told William, it had worked. For now.
Jonathan had no intention of allowing this case to go unsolved any more than he intended to allow Melissa to be treated like the bad guy. She had a right to know the truth. And if William weren’t so riddled with grief over his daughter’s disappearance and his uncle’s suicide, he would see that.
“What do we do now?”
Jonathan met her gaze. Those big blue eyes held more pain than any one human should have to bear. “We move on to the one logical remaining person of interest.”
Melissa nodded. “Carol Talbot.”
“The chief’s actions aren’t completely consistent with those of a man who wants to protect his wife’s reputation. He’s certainly protecting her in every other way. But not on this count. He could easily refute the allegations by charging that Harry had been delusional and suggested these things to Rayburn as a result of those delusions. Harry isn’t here to defend himself or to say otherwise. Neither is Rayburn.”
“You think there’s more.”
Jonathan didn’t want to give Melissa false hope, but she needed the truth right now. He couldn’t ensure she got that from anyone else, but she was getting it from him. “My guess is he doesn’t want her to become more collateral damage in this case. Four p
eople are dead. Polly is still missing. And no one knows a damned thing, particularly the police who are investigating the case.”
“That makes sense.” Melissa shrugged. “Both he and Carol could deny the affair.” She closed her eyes and exhaled a heavy breath. “I didn’t have a clue. I doubt very many others did, either. Now the chief just wants to protect her from what? Accessory to murder? Conspiracy to commit kidnapping?”
“Exactly. Otherwise, why go to such lengths?” The more they discussed the theory, the more convinced Jonathan grew that the chief was covering for something his wife either knew or had done.
“There’s no logical reason.” The same realization that had dawned on him widened Melissa’s eyes. “She knows something. Saw something.” Melissa turned her hands up. “Something that could make her appear guilty.”
“That’s my thinking.”
Fear abruptly froze in her eyes. “Oh, God. She may know…” Melissa hugged her arms around her middle. “She may have witnessed someone hurting Polly. May have had some part in it.” Melissa looked ready to crumple emotionally. “He’s definitely protecting her from any criminal charges.”
Jonathan went to her. He knelt in front of her and took her shoulders in his hands, gave her a gentle shake. “We don’t know that. All we can be relatively certain of is that she knows something. We’re going to operate on the theory that Polly is alive and out there somewhere waiting to be found. Carol may be able to lead us to her.”
Melissa searched his eyes. He tried to show her the hope, the certainty he felt, but she shook her head. “If that’s all she knows—Polly’s location—why wouldn’t the chief just go get Polly and tell the world that his amazing investigative skills are responsible for solving the case? No one would ever know his wife told him where to look. It’s worse than that. I can feel it.”
Jonathan couldn’t deny that possibility. “For now,” he urged, “let’s not lose hope.”
Melissa laughed but the sound was filled with pain. “This coming from the man who wouldn’t give me the slightest inkling of hope that he could ever love me?” She shook her head. “Jonathan, I don’t know how I’d have gotten through this so far without your help.” She touched his face, just the slightest caress of his jaw. “But I know you too well. You can’t love me the way I love you. You said so yourself. I appreciate that you’re trying to keep me bolstered now in this awful, awful time. But don’t pretend you know what you’re talking about when it comes to hope.”
She shook her head. “Or that kind of love. The kind that would make a man go against the grain of all he is to protect the woman he loves the way Chief Talbot is obviously doing for his wife.”
Jonathan stood. “I can’t deny those charges.” He crossed the room and stared out the window. He’d never been any good at moments like this, but he had to try.
Whatever his and Melissa’s past, whatever their present, a child was missing and by God he intended to do whatever he could to find her.
“Let’s go.” He pushed aside the unfamiliar emotions she’d stirred and put on his game face. There was a job to do and he wasn’t about to fall down on getting it done. That he could guarantee.
She pushed to her feet and reached for her purse. “The chief will try to stop us.”
“It won’t be the first time someone tried to stop me.”
Jonathan opened the door for her. His chest squeezed at the scent of her as she walked past him on her way out the door. He booted the sensation aside and followed her. When this was done, he would go back to Chicago and she could get on with her life.
He hoped she found a man who could feel those emotions she cherished so.
That man wasn’t him. He’d known that before he’d answered her plea for help.
She had known it, as well.
CHIEF TALBOT’S HOUSE sat on a side street just off the main thoroughfare. Neat houses lined the street, but only one had a large moving truck parked out front.
Melissa was out of the car before Jonathan could shut down the engine. Every word she’d said to him was true. But in the silence on the drive over here those words had gotten to him anyway. Left him feeling empty and aching.
Strange for a guy who prided himself on feeling nothing.
He caught up with Melissa on the sidewalk. She marched right up to the house and walked through the open door.
“Where’s Mrs. Talbot?” she demanded of one of the men who were obviously movers.
The man shrugged. “The owners aren’t here.”
Melissa turned to Jonathan. “We just spoke to the chief a few hours ago. They can’t have suddenly disappeared.”
Jonathan hitched a thumb toward the street. “Where are the Talbots moving to?”
Another of the movers stopped his work and scratched his head. “Gatlinburg. Up in northeast Tennessee. We’re supposed to have all this—” he gestured to the boxes and furnishings “—up there by tomorrow.”
Jonathan and Melissa exchanged a glance. “Has Mrs. Talbot already left for the new house?” she asked.
“Don’t know.” He nodded toward the door. “You can ask him. He’s the owner.”
Jonathan turned to face the chief. The shade of red coloring his face warned that he was not happy to find the two of them there.
“You’re trespassing on private property, Mr. Foley.”
His voice was far too quiet, far too controlled. “We came to see Mrs. Talbot.” No point in lying. “We have a few questions about Harry Shepherd for her.”
The chief ignored Jonathan’s statement and shifted his attention to Melissa. “Now, Melissa, I know you’re all torn up and that’s completely understandable. But you’ve got to talk some sense into your friend. When I give an order I expect folks to follow it. I’m doing all I can to find little Polly. But I can’t do that if I have to keep an eye on the two of you.”
Melissa shook her head. “Sorry, Chief.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I just can’t believe Uncle Harry killed himself and I thought maybe Mrs. Talbot could help me understand what was going through his mind. It’s just so awful.”
Jonathan had to hand it to her, she’d even fooled him there for a second.
Chief Talbot patted her on the shoulder. “I’ll see what I can find out. I’m hoping something Harry confided in her will give us some clue as to where Polly is. Carol has been a good friend to him through all this.” He shook his head. “I still can’t understand what he was doing. Maybe Price and Rayburn were up to no good and Harry found out. They may have taken little Polly to blackmail Harry. We just don’t know yet. But you have my word that I won’t stop until I know the whole truth.”
He puffed out a weary breath. “Right now, I need your help. This has been real hard on Carol, too. She never has gotten over our little Sherry’s death. Polly’s disappearance and all that mess over at the river have torn her all to pieces. That’s why she moved on up to the new house. She needed to get away from this tragedy to save her peace of mind.” He patted Melissa again. “But don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere until we find Polly and this case is sewed up. You have my word on that.”
“Thank you, Chief.” Melissa swiped her eyes. “I know you’ll be glad to retire like you’d planned and join your wife.”
“Yes, ma’am, but not until my job here is done.”
11:18 p.m.
“YOU’RE SURE THAT’S IT?” Melissa peered up at the grand log house. “I can’t believe the chief was able to buy something like this up here.” Housing prices in the Gatlinburg area were far higher than those down in Bay Minette.
“It’s the one.” Jonathan shoved his cell phone into his pocket. “According to my sources—”
His sources. He never gave up names. She’d overheard far too many of his conversations back when they were together.
“—the chief has saved a serious chunk of change during his career. He also recently sold the property near the river.”
Melissa cringed at the thought of that river. Polly hadn�
�t been found in the water but she could still be out there somewhere.
“I don’t remember hearing about that.” But then she wasn’t one to listen to gossip or rumors. She focused on work, taking all the overtime the hospital would allow. She’d saved quite a chunk of change, as he put it, herself over the past three years. As much as she loved the Shepherd home, she’d always hoped to move on with her life. Maybe go back to Birmingham or Montgomery. Maybe even Huntsville. But with Will, Polly and Harry, the concept just kept fading into the future.
Harry was gone now. Her heart squeezed at the thought. Whatever he’d done the final days of his life, he’d been a good uncle to her and Will for most of their lives.
All the emotions associated with his death would have to be sorted out later…when Polly was home.
Or buried.
She closed her eyes and exiled the thought. Polly had to be alive. All they needed was someone to tell them where Harry had taken her…and why. That last part wasn’t entirely necessary, but it would be nice to know why he’d done this. She could guess, as Jonathan had, but she needed to know.
Jonathan hadn’t said much on the way here. She couldn’t blame him. She’d said some awful things to him. Most had been true, but she’d been raised better than to say something hurtful.
“Someone’s home,” Jonathan said, pointing to the massive front windows on the first floor.
Melissa squinted to make out the figure moving around in what she presumed to be the main living area. “That’s Carol.”
Carol moved about the room, but Melissa couldn’t determine what she was doing. Putting things away maybe? Didn’t seem likely since the moving truck hadn’t arrived. The movers had said they were expected tomorrow.
Carol stopped suddenly, picked something up from what appeared to be a table and placed it against her ear.
Melissa stared harder. A phone. Cell phone probably, judging by its size.