“You don’t mind?” Jamie asked.
“Mind? No way. I am so going to spoil him while you’re gone.”
Satisfied, Jamie preceded Shane to the food display, chose her breakfast, then found a secluded little table in a corner of the room before Shane prodded her. “What are you thinking about?”
She sipped at her coffee. “My parents. I knew they were uptight about my brother’s trial but I had no idea anybody had been threatened. When Mom sent me to Tessie’s, I assumed the visit would be short. It wasn’t.”
“You never came home again?”
Jamie Lynn shook her head. “Not until now.” She sighed. “I think if the adults in my life had told me the truth back then, I’d have been much happier. I grew up believing I’d basically been thrown away.”
“Sad.” He covered her closest hand with his for an instant.
“Very. And confusing.”
“How did you reason it out?”
“By concluding that they had chosen my brother’s welfare over mine, and when he had disappointed them they’d washed their hands of all their children.”
“Even though you were totally innocent?”
“Yes.” She met his gaze evenly, meaning to assure him that she had had no personal knowledge of her sibling’s crimes.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Neither does sending me packing and acting as if I no longer existed. Try to see it from the viewpoint of a ten-year-old, Shane. My house had been a war zone ever since R.J. became a teen and started to get into trouble. Things eventually got so bad I used to hide in my room and put a pillow over my head to mute the shouting.” She pressed her fingertips to her temples. “I get a headache just thinking about it.”
“You didn’t hear what was going on right before he was arrested? Not any of it?”
“The first I knew he was in real trouble was when my parents held strategy meetings at the supper table. I remember him denying any involvement in the hit-and-run, then finally admitting he didn’t remember driving.”
“Go on.”
Sighing gently, she met his inquiring gaze. “There’s not much more to tell. I suppose he may have recalled details as time went on, but he never acted guilty around me. Mostly, he seemed sorry and scared.”
“I can understand that. The authorities said he’d killed a man in cold blood.”
Jamie Lynn suppressed a shiver. Hearing Shane put it so bluntly seemed callous. She reached for his hand but he’d already pulled it away. “How can you be so detached? All I have to do is think about what happened that night and my stomach ties in knots.”
“Dad taught me that the only way to get to the truth was to keep your personal thoughts and actions under strict control.” He leaned back in his chair. “It’s a matter of discipline. That’s one of your failings. You get too caught up in proving your own hypothesis and don’t let yourself see the big picture.”
“Meaning, R.J. is as guilty as the judge said.”
“Yes. And he’s right where he belongs.”
“Then why are you helping me?”
“Mostly for my mother,” Shane told her. “I want to give her back the peace of mind she’s lost.”
He didn’t have to claim Marsha was unhappy because of Jamie Lynn’s return to Serenity. It was clearly implied. And he was right, as far as his reasoning went. She’d been over and over the transcripts of the trial and had also sent them to a friend who was studying law in Rhode Island. Everything seemed aboveboard. There were no unexplained irregularities, no indications that the prosecutor or Judge Randall had done anything illegal.
The key had to lie in her brother’s change of plea, she reasoned. Which brought her full circle. Back to her parents’ fear. And her father’s disappearance.
Meeting Shane’s gaze, Jamie Lynn reminded him of their morning plans. “Shouldn’t we be going?”
“It’s not far. We have time.”
“Since R.J. still refuses to let me visit, there’s one more person I’d like to look up while I’m here,” she added, rising and picking up her trash. “Does his old defense attorney go to your church, too?”
“Max Williford? No. He used to. I haven’t seen him around in ages.”
“I tried to find him online. I couldn’t find anything to indicate he’s still practicing law. Don’t you think that’s odd?”
“Not particularly. He may have changed careers in midlife. Lots of folks do that.”
“True.” Pausing until he joined her, she watched his expression closely as she added, “But they don’t usually drop off the face of the earth. Would you mind asking Harlan to look into it for me?”
“Sure.” With a shrug and a casual gesture toward the exit, Shane eased her ahead.
Jamie wished he’d allowed her to walk next to him because she wanted to see how long it took for his concerned expression to fade. Of all the officials involved, Max Williford was the one person besides her brother who was most likely to know what had happened to cause the change of plea halfway through the trial.
She desperately hoped they could locate him. The deep recesses of her mind added, Alive.
TWELVE
Unsettling feelings kept Shane on edge during the drive to Serenity Chapel. He had wondered how long it would be before Jamie Lynn decided to look up her brother’s defense attorney, once she learned his name. The problem was, Shane had already searched. The middle-aged man seemed to have dropped of the face of the earth.
The same as Jamie’s parents did, Shane thought. He supposed that was not an uncommon phenomenon in a crowded city environment. In a small town, however, it was rare that someone wasn’t privy to inside information. Not much stayed private. All he had to do was ask a few loaded questions and an answer should be forthcoming. If his buddies couldn’t tell him, surely a member of his mother’s quilting or knitting group would have enough facts to put them on the right path.
Taking Jamie’s arm when she slowed her pace, Shane guided her to the front entrance. The double doors swung open. A crew-cut greeter with a smile as wide as the Mississippi Delta handed Jamie a bulletin and pumped Shane’s hand. “Welcome, welcome. Glad to have you with us.”
“Thanks, Don. I’d like you to meet Jamie Lynn Henderson. She lived here a long time ago.”
To Shane’s relief and approval, the magnanimous greeter shook Jamie’s hand as if she were the most important person present. That was one of the secrets of their close-knit church’s success. Everybody was welcome and accepted. A twinge of guilt rocketed up Shane’s spine, reminding him that he would do well to emulate the genuine openness of the elderly man.
“Have to come early to get a pew in the back,” Don said with a wink. “You’d best get in there and grab a good spot for your guest.”
“Mom promised to save us places.”
“Wouldn’t count on it. Not this morning. Marsha and Kyle headed for Children’s Church when she found out they were shorthanded. I reckon she’ll stay back there.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Does everybody keep track of everybody else around here?” Jamie Lynn asked aside.
Shane chuckled. “Lots of times it’s handy. Like now.”
As she slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow, she leaned closer to whisper, “I’m not sure I’d recognize Randall or Abernathy from the old newspaper photos of the trial. Do you see them yet?”
“No. They usually sit with their wives on the far side of the sanctuary, about halfway back.” He gestured with a tilt of his head. “I never paid attention to what they drove or whether they came early or waited for the service at eleven. We’ll go scope out the parking lot if I don’t spot them pretty soon.”
“Okay.” Her grip tightened.
“Relax. Nothing bad is going to happen to you in chur
ch.” He felt her shiver.
There was plenty of unoccupied space in the sanctuary. Shane chose to escort Jamie Lynn along the back aisle while he checked the congregation for the men they sought. Neither was present. Yet.
“Why don’t I show you around?” Shane suggested. “Give you something to do besides sit here and fret.”
“Sounds like a good plan.”
“Speaking of plans, coming here to meet these guys was my mother’s idea. She should be doing this with us.”
“We could find her and ask her,” Jamie suggested.
He was delighted to see her unwinding a bit as they left the main sanctuary and started down a hallway toward the fellowship hall and kitchen. The nursery, pastor’s office and other Sunday school rooms were also clustered at the rear of the architecturally simple structure.
“We have expansion plans for back here,” Shane explained. “That’s why this part isn’t bricked up fancy on the outside the way the front is. When we’re done, the building will be shaped like a big cross and we’ll have room to expand the core as needed.”
Not receiving any comment, he paused and studied Jamie Lynn’s face. She had paled and was staring out the windows at the paved parking area.
“What is it? What’s wrong? Do you see the judge?”
“No, no, I was just remembering.”
“Something about the case?”
“You could say that.”
Frustrated, he pivoted and cupped her shoulders to look her straight in the eyes. “What? Tell me. It might be important.”
“Only to me,” she said. “Right outside our little country church—the one that used to be in Kittle—is where they arrested my brother. I suppose I should be thankful they didn’t drag him out while the preaching was going on. I just wish they hadn’t done it in front of our friends and neighbors.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, meaning it with all his heart. “Is that when you stopped attending Sunday services?”
“Pretty much. Aunt Tessie managed to drag me to her church a few times, but it was very formal. I didn’t fit. Actually, I didn’t fit anywhere.”
Listening, Shane expected her to complete the statement by saying, I still don’t. Although she did not voice it, the feeling was implied.
“You get along great with kids. Why don’t you help Mom with the little ones this morning while I keep an eye out for our quarry? I can always come get you when and if I spot them.”
Jamie Lynn’s relief was almost tangible. “That’s a wonderful idea—as long as you’re watching to make sure I don’t accidentally endanger the children by being around them.”
“You won’t. Even in a peaceful place like Serenity we have men assigned to watch the doors and hallways during the services. It’s too bad it’s necessary, but the pastor felt it was the wisest course. I’ll also advise him of your presence so he can take more safety measures if he wants.”
“I feel like a pariah.”
You look more like a naive, innocent victim, Shane thought, censoring his response to, “Don’t be silly.”
As he gently cupped her elbow and urged her along, he realized that she was right. She was an outsider. A stranger. Someone who, considering her background, would be slow to trust or be trusted.
It would have been nice to convince himself that there were plenty of local folks who would take to Jamie Lynn and gladly help her find out more about her brother’s sins during his teen years, but he knew better. Men who had grown up there and were now solid citizens were not likely to want to reveal their past mistakes. And the ones who were still lingering on the wrong side of the law were dangerous, especially since her probing might lead to their eventual arrests. Little wonder someone had already decided to scare her off.
“Right in here,” Shane said, knocking on the frame of the glassed-in area of the nursery door. The moment his mother spotted Jamie Lynn, she broke into a wide grin and hurried to welcome her.
The door had barely closed behind the two women when Shane wheeled and started in search of the pastor.
Being the son of a legendary sheriff was not nearly enough to equip him for amateur detective work. Being Sam’s widow wasn’t enough to protect his mother, either, even though Harlan had vowed to look out for her. They needed professional help. They needed the sage advice of former detective Logan Malloy.
And they needed it yesterday.
* * *
“Of course you can help me,” Marsha told Jamie Lynn, giving her arm a motherly pat. “Children are the future of the church. We value them highly.”
“I love their innocence,” Jamie said. “Truth to tell, I envy them such carefree lives.”
Though she nodded, Marsha seemed to lose some of her earlier joy. “Not all of them. We have some parents who send their kids to us because they know we’ll feed them if they’re hungry and clothe them when they have that need. We’re glad to do it, of course. It’s just sad that it’s necessary.”
“Your son is a good father. I can’t imagine any woman leaving—” she felt her cheeks warming “—a sweet child like Kyle.”
“Shane and Roz were mismatched from the get-go. I tried to warn him but she had him fooled. Took him for the house he built for her and a brand-new car. I’m just thankful she didn’t want to share custody of Kyle.”
“I thought they lived on a farm.” Jamie busied herself gathering and sorting scattered building blocks so she could listen to Marsha without appearing overly interested.
“That’s the old Colton place. I gave it to Shane to take care of when I married Otis. Might as well. He’ll inherit it anyway, someday.”
“Not soon, I hope,” Jamie said with a smile.
“Good Lord willin’, I’ll be around a while yet,” the older woman said brightly. “Have you gotten any results from that internet search?”
Jamie’s brow furrowed. “What internet search?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought...”
Straightening, Jamie positioned herself directly in front of Marsha and stared into her eyes. “What search?”
“The one Shane mentioned,” Marsha said, acting reluctant. “I thought you two would be doing that together, especially since he stayed with you in the motel last night.”
“We were not together. I had my room and Shane had a separate one.”
“Well, of course you did. I just meant, if one of you was going to use the internet at the motel, it would make sense if you joined forces.” She was fanning herself theatrically with her hands. “Mercy, is it hot in here?”
“Not as hot as it’s going to be if I find out your son has been acting against me.”
“Why would he do that?”
“To protect you. He’s told me more than once that he’s only involved in my problems for your sake. He sees himself as his father’s replacement, your guardian.”
Marsha sobered. “I know. He’s very like his daddy in some ways. Men of Sam’s generation tended to see women as needing coddling instead of as equals—or even their betters.” A wistful look led to the beginnings of a grin. “Bless their hearts, they haven’t got a clue what makes us tick. Never did.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t explained it to him.”
That brought a giggle. “Oh, honey, don’t think I haven’t tried. Shane’s heart’s in the right place. He’s just acting the way his daddy used to, convinced he has to be involved in everything I do to make sure it’s done right.”
“That doesn’t drive you crazy?”
Marsha laughed. “Totally bonkers. But he’s a good son and a good man, so I don’t complain. And, now that I have Otis, it’s not as noticeable. I can see my son starting to do it with you, though.”
“Only because he thinks he had to save my life several times.”
“Are you positive he’s
wrong?” Marsha was frowning and peering at Jamie. “Shane hasn’t told me half of what I’ve learned from talking to Harlan. You may be in serious trouble, girl. If I were you, I’d be real careful.”
“I’m not going to run away like my mother did,” Jamie declared.
“Fair enough.” Lowering her voice and checking to make sure there were no curious children close by, Marsha said, “Just see that you don’t end up disappearing the way your own daddy did.”
Jamie shivered. Pausing, she gathered her thoughts. “You sound as if you know what happened to him.”
“No, but if my Sam had been leading the investigation he might have gotten some answers. All the town law ever said was that Ray Sr. was missing. Watching your poor mama struggling after that was like standing at a railroad crossing and waiting for a train wreck.
“I was so caught up in my own mourning during that time I probably missed a lot of the signs, but everybody agreed. Alice wasn’t just grieving. She was terrified.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because she never went out, never answered the door or her phone, let the farm go to ruin and eventually took off in the dead of night. Does that sound normal to you?”
Picturing the run-down condition of her former home, Jamie Lynn pressed her lips into a thin line and grew pensive. Finally, she said, “I doubt I’d recognize normal if I had a handbook with pictures and instructions. I grew up thinking right and wrong were easy to tell apart and happiness was what you felt when your mama made your favorite dessert or your daddy fixed a flat tire on your bicycle.”
“A child’s view.” The older woman gave her an encouraging pat. “We all go through stages of growth, Jamie Lynn, and I don’t mean getting taller. In I Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul said he used to think as a child, then put away childish things to press on toward the goal that had been set for him in Christ Jesus. Maybe it’s time for you to consider looking into that.”
“I have a goal,” she insisted. “I intend to find the truth.”
When Marsha reached for her hand and clasped it tenderly, Jamie was emotionally touched. Aunt Tessie was loving, but not at all demonstrative. Since arriving back in Serenity, Jamie figured she’d been hugged and patted and comforted more than during her whole fourteen years away. It was overwhelming.
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