Zoey got a better grip and sucked in some air.
Kevin noticed that but had to make it harder on her before he made it easier. "I know it's hard but pull him down and back. There's less blood than I expected, but I don't want a drop to get on the floor."
Zoey groaned and grunted, but she got him in the position.
Kevin dabbed with the paper towels. He got one trash bag and put it over Rob's head. He coordinated with Zoey to work the bag over the tattooed upper half of the dead body. He cocked his own head and then decided to put another bag on. He saw Zoey looking at him with a blank expression, so he decided to lighten things up. "I know double-bagging is bad for the environment—"
Zoey laughed a goofy laugh at that. "But, a double douche deserves a double bag."
Kevin laughed as hard as she did. He helped her get Rob on the floor. He got his legs up and prompted her to put a bag on his lower half.
She put on the second bag without him asking her to.
He used the duct tape to secure the top and bottom bags better.
He stood up and tossed the paper towels and duct tape in another trash bag.
She hugged him from the side. "What's the plan?"
"More information first Zoey. How long since you saw him?"
"Over three months. I know for a fact he's had other girlfriends since then." Only a short pause came before she thought of more. "He deals drugs a little too." She kept talking nervously. "He was a jerk who made enemies everywhere he went."
"Texts or calls?" he asked.
"Same time," she answered as she still held the wince from him feeling like he had to ask that.
"He lives an hour away?"
She nodded her head. "South. Just outside of Fairport."
He grinned for a while. "The pass. Curvy roads. Not hard to drive off the road and off a cliff."
"With a knife in his chest, Kevin?"
Kevin shrugged. "I think you lucked into the one possible knife stroke that could be suicidal." He rubbed the back of his neck hard and thought more, but that was the best he could get. He shrugged. "That's all I got. Maybe we hope for the best. The car explodes or catches on fire."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before she gave her reply, "All we can do is our best."
Without any more words, they set about the task of carrying her ex-boyfriend out to stage his death.
****
That night, Taylor drove his SUV with Kevin and Zoey holding hands as they sat in the back without saying much. Taylor watched them in the rear-view mirror for a moment. "Not to put any pressure on you two to stay a couple—"
"I'll allow that kind of pressure, Dad," Zoey said.
"But damn, you sure are a cute couple." Taylor flashed his brows when he caught his daughter's eye in the mirror.
Taylor turned onto the street the Riley house was on. "Son of a bitch."
Kevin and Zoey sat up and looked ahead to see what prompted that.
A black unmarked police car sat in front of the Riley house.
Taylor pulled into the driveway and was the first out of his vehicle.
Detective Bill got out of the car and walked over to greet them.
"Nice to see you Detective." Taylor gave a look that showed it wasn't that nice. "I think I remember telling you no more questions without a lawyer present."
"I know. I know." Bill rubbed the back of his neck, but other than that he concealed his frustration. "I'm following up on something for the Fairport Police." He pointed at Zoey. "Just one question and a phone check for your daughter and I'll be on my way."
By that time, they were all out of the car.
Taylor motioned for Bill. "Turn around. I don't want you reading anything into my girl's look. Hell, I don't even want you taking a deep breath to see if you can smell fear."
"Fair enough." Bill nodded as he turned around with his back facing them.
Kevin was fascinated to see Taylor and Zoey communicating without words. Basically, he shrugged, and she nodded, but there were many subtle nuances to the basic motions.
"Alright," Taylor said.
Bill turned and looked at Zoey. "When's the last time you saw ... And or heard from Rob Eldren?"
"About three months ago," Zoey said calmly, "I broke up with him then."
"He had a lot of domestic violence charges. Did he ever beat you Zoey?" Bill asked.
"And you already broke the rule," Taylor said firmly.
Bill looked at Zoey with intense scrutiny before he nodded. "Just a quick check of your phone."
Zoey pulled her phone out and handed it to him. "Is he alright?"
"Not really." Bill worked the phone for a moment before he handed it back to her. He looked at Taylor. "See, that was painless."
Taylor smirked. "It was a little pain ... Only because you're a little pain in the you know what."
Bill chuckled and smiled. He turned and looked at Kevin. "You alright Kid?"
Kevin nodded. "I'm alright."
Bill looked and noticed Zoey had taken Kevin's hand. He smiled and pointed as he looked at Taylor. "Damn, they make a cute couple."
"I was just saying that." Taylor's shrewd look came back again. "And that's question number three."
Bill shook his head. "Sorry, can't help myself." He looked the three over. "Take care."
No one replied, but they all gave congenial looks as he left.
The teens walked behind the man looking out for them.
"Dad, I know you know part of why I went out with Rob was to get under your skin." Zoey looked up and waited for him to look back.
Taylor looked back and nodded. "I know."
"I'm so sorry for that," Zoey released Kevin's hand to step forward into a hug.
Taylor hugged Zoey back and gave her a pat on the back. "I guess you had to show me a bad boyfriend to make sure I'd appreciate a good one." He winked at Kevin.
Zoey got into a walk holding Taylor's side and she pulled Kevin to her other side. "I did get a good one."
"Yes, you did," Taylor said.
Kevin saw his sisters peeking out of the window. He knew the next part might take some acting. He saw how well Zoey acted with the detective. He didn't think he could act at all. He remembered what worked before. Seeing what he made up in his mind as if it was so real, it really happened. He decided not to worry. That worked before, maybe it would work again.
****
The combined families shared a meal together. After the tense encounter with the detective, Kevin was ready to enjoy a nice meal. The food was so delectable, it was absolutely enjoyable. That wasn't the best thing though. His girlfriend's kind mother did more than cook a great meal. She got his mother to the table. He thought of being there emotionally as well as physically and thought at least one out of two was alright. He looked closer at his mother sipping soup. She wasn't saying anything. She wasn't watching or understanding much either. She was probably on some kind of medication. He noticed her looking at Beth every now and then. Looking at her like a child would look at a mother. He realized he had more luck than he thought possible when he thought of how great his new girlfriend's parents were.
"This wine is interesting." Taylor held the glass of red wine up and looked at it.
"It's from a box Dear, so boxed wine or no wine." Beth arched a brow as she gave her husband a smirk.
Taylor smirked back, knocked back a gulp of the cheap wine, winced, and looked at his wife. "Boxed wine is fine."
Kevin kept signaling for Zoey to put more roast beef on his plate for his second helping. He saw Beth watching him. "It's your fault for making it so good."
Beth beamed at that until she saw a look on Kate's face. She leaned over and patted Kate on the shoulder. "And my new girlfriend, seasoned the soup so sensationally."
Kevin did notice the reaction all the others at the table had. He also knew none of them had taken more than a sip of the soup.
"Isn't the soup delicious, Taylor?" Beth had her smirk on more.
Taylor looked slightly fearful until he took in a breath, sighed it out, dipped his spoon reluctantly, and barely tasted the soup again. "So delicious." He swigged more of the horrible tasting wine to get the bad soup taste out of his mouth.
"Mom's usually a great cook." Kami amended that instantly. "I mean always a great cook."
Kevin noticed the remark registered on his mother's face. He was so proud of himself for noticing more, he tried to notice even more. He noticed how Kami had taken the best spot next to Zoey. He thought that might mean she liked her. He thought back and realized he couldn't remember Kami having other girls over regularly. Sure, there were girls who hung around her at school, but he knew that happened when you were popular. He never thought on the irony of that before. Being popular got a lot of people around you, but it didn't guarantee you any friends. He saw Zoey smile at something Kami said. It was good if his girlfriend liked his sister. It was great they had a good time together. As long as that didn't cut into his time.
"Mom's training me to be a great cook, but I'm not there, yet." Zoey smiled at Kevin.
Kevin smiled back. He wished he had the chance to taste her cooking that morning. He would have if they hadn't been too busy killing and concealing.
"It's harder to be a great cook when you have to do it on a budget." Kaley lifted her fork and looked at a piece of roast beef before she ate it quickly.
Kevin saw the looks between Beth, Taylor, and Zoey. He noticed Kami wasn't aware of Kaley's bitterness. After him, she was the least aware in their family. His mother was usually the most aware of everything going on in the life of each child no matter what was going on in her life. That's how she usually was, but not for a while. He decided it was up to him to act on his awareness. "I've been to the grocery store with Mom. This roast beef dinner—" He looked at the boxed wine and could remember seeing the price tag when his mother picked it up. That was something he had he knew other people didn't have. He didn't just remember numbers or words or pictures. He remembered what he saw them on and where he saw them. He had a thought and snapped his head when he smelled what triggered the thought. "Dessert?"
"Brownies," Beth answered with a sweet smile. "From a box mix."
"I'm guessing a few pennies over three dollars a person." Kevin reached and spooned a spoonful of mashed potatoes to go along with the last piece of meat and the last groups of baby green peas. He looked up and Beth was using the calculator on her phone to add items from a receipt she pulled out of her purse.
After a few moments working the calculator and a quick knowing look shared with her husband, Beth grinned at Kevin. "Three pennies over three dollars a person."
"Losing your touch, little Bro," Kami said with a giggle that got Zoey giggling.
Kevin didn't mind that, but he stuck his tongue out at his sister to pretend he minded. After she exchanged tongue gestures with him, he picked up the boxed wine and poured a glassful for Taylor. "The math only works out if you finish the wine off, Sir."
That got everyone at the table laughing except for Kaley.
Kevin was so happy to see his mother laughing. Even if she had no clue what she was laughing about.
Beth pointed, "Zoey, your father's going to need more of Kate's excellent soup to go with that wine."
As the close couple playfully taunted each other with their looks, Kevin held his laughter in along with Kami and Zoey.
There was a lull in the conversation that would've been pleasant if Kaley wasn't acting so strange.
Beth broke the silence when she turned to Taylor. "Honey, Zoey and I talked when we were setting the table."
"And?" Taylor asked with the caution any wise husband would use in that situation.
"We're buying the house the Rileys showed us." Beth shut her mouth and put on a firm look.
Taylor sat back in his chair at the head of the table and crossed his arms.
Zoey leaned forward so she filled his field of vision. "We're buying the house, Dad."
"I sell houses," Kate said.
Kevin thought watching the McConnell's fleeting looks at each other was like watching a tennis match on a three-sided court. He saw Taylor shake his head at his wife and daughter, with a grin on his face that preceded a chuckle.
Beth leaned over and patted Kate on the leg. "And you just sold us a beautiful home in Holden Hills."
Kevin saw Kami holding Zoey tightly and crying tears of joy. He looked at Kaley, but she was somewhere else in her mind. He reached across the table and held hands with her parents. "With the life insurance money and the real estate commission, we'll be doing better than getting by, for better than a year." He looked at his mother. "And Mom's getting better too."
Zoey leaned forward, "Kevin, you know what all that 'better' means, right?"
"No, what?" Kevin answered and was pleased to see he could tell a joke was on the way by the look on her cute face.
"It means you better stay my boyfriend."
Those who laughed before, all laughed hard and long at that.
The laughter and the laughing mood was broken when Kaley used the serving fork to hold up the big piece of roast left on the platter and spoke to it, "I wonder how you get the job killing animals."
The next looks shared between the young women and the special young man who wasn't especially good at reading looks, showed him reading those looks very well.
****
It was a few nights later, but a lot had happened. Beth cooked another good meal they finished up, but Taylor had to go out of town on business, so he wasn't there.
"I think I should get more listings in Holden Hills," Kate said as she stood up and gathered up her plate and utensils.
The others froze in place. They had all noticed more conversation and more presence from Kate in the conversation, but that was more than they expected. It was looking toward the future and that was delightful from the woman who was having such a hard time letting go of the past.
"We just became full-fledged card-carrying members of that snooty country club, Girlfriend." Beth took Kate's plate from her.
"And that's how the rich get richer." Kaley shook her head before she turned to leave.
Kevin knew she was headed toward her room. He knew he needed to talk to her. To try and help her. He knew his limits. He wasn't that great at talking. He was worse at helping. He knew Beth noticed Kaley. He was happy to see Zoey noticing him noticing Kaley. He hoped she would just read his mind like she did and go take care of his sister like he knew she could. He saw her about to do that, but there was an interruption.
"Uncle Frank," Kaley said with a quick nod before she turned and went down the hallway to her bedroom.
Frank noticed that, but he was too agitated to do more than notice that. He walked straight to Kevin who was still at the table. He set a laptop computer down in front of Kevin. "I have a ... A client." He leaned over and pulled up a spreadsheet. He set down a ledger and a stack of checkbooks and a box of receipts. He leaned over and whispered to Kevin, "And a lawyer's client always has strict confidentiality."
Kevin nodded and got right to work. He thought he hid the shock well when he noticed the names on the accounts, but he saw Zoey watching him and knew he didn't hide it from her. She knew something was up. He just hoped she didn't let anyone else know that.
Zoey gave Kevin a knowing look before she turned and gave Frank a kind one. "Do you want some coffee?"
Frank shook his head. "Maybe a beer ... No, something hard. Scotch or whiskey."
"I'll fix it Zoey." Beth pulled out the chair at the head of the table for Frank. After he was seated, she leaned over, "And I think Kate's pecan pie would go well with either liquor."
Frank looked up and nodded his appreciation.
Kevin felt the tension from his Uncle, so he tuned in on the conversation that was starting among the remaining women. It was often hard for him when there were a lot of different conversations going on, but never hard to work with numbers and pay attention to anything else going on
. Numbers weren't something he had to think about. Numbers were on a different level that was deeper and more natural than words in conversations.
"Mother and other Mother," Zoey said from the kitchen.
Kevin smiled. He knew that was Zoey's voice when she was pitching. She could sell. She sold him the instant he met her. This conversation would be as interesting as the complicated concealed financial transactions he was decoding and deciphering. Just as interesting and much less heartbreaking.
"Kami needs a knock-your-eyes out dress to beat the other beautiful bimbos at that senseless and sexist beauty pageant," Zoey said.
"You could've said that nicer," Kami said with mock irritation.
Kevin smiled at the laughter he heard from the kitchen. The smile lingered when he heard his mother's laugh was almost like she normally laughed. He dropped the smile instantly when he saw Uncle Frank's look that he guessed was a mixture of angry and sad. It was too complicated for him to guess more precisely. He looked at the screen full of numbers and kept his face blank out of kindness.
"And now that Zoey has a boyfriend who's passable, presentable, and acceptable enough to go to a school dance—" Kami said.
"And you could've said that nicer—" Zoey said.
The thought of finally going to a school dance with the girlfriend he finally had, made it nearly impossible for Kevin to keep a smile off his face, but somehow, he managed.
"We thought we would get one excellent gown that Kami wears first—" Zoey said.
"And Shorty wears hand-me-down after we cut it down," Kami said.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea girls," Beth said.
Kevin thought that was the most interesting part of the conversation. He realized he was getting better at reading people. He was sure Beth was in on it. He was certain the person they were selling was his mother. He thought the odds on making the sale were in the upper ninety-percentile. Due to her condition. The longshot was her coming around a little.
The Killing Rileys- First Love, First Kills Page 4