"That does sound good." There was a long silence punctuated by the clinking of a coffee cup before Kate said more, "But it sounds like charity ... You've already helped too much Beth ... And the short-term loan—"
"You're paying me back with interest when the home closes—" Beth interjected quickly.
"Still—" Kate said.
"It's not charity Mom, Zoey and I think it's stupid to spend that much on a dress that doesn't get worn much," Kami said firmly and honestly.
"You don't mind second hand, Zoey?" Kate asked.
"No! Plus, I need the Princess to help with style and fashion, Kate."
Kevin cocked his head at that in the dining room. He never thought of that. She was calling his mother by her first name. He was kind of in limbo on what to call her parents. He used Mr. and Mrs. a few times. Other times, he shifted his sentences, so he didn't have to call them anything. But, what the hell? Fair is fair. He decided he would call them by their names.
"I don't know," Kate said with audible indecision.
"Alright, I'll level with you pretty Mommy of my pretty boyfriend, I'm weird—" Zoey said.
Kevin stopped his lightning fast task of typing numbers into a new spreadsheet he had out, so he could hear the next part. He leaned and pretended to look closely at a column for cover.
"Kate," Zoey said, "I think it would be cool to tell people I'm sporting the dress that won the big pageant while I'm sporting your handsome son on my arm."
Kevin wished Kami would quit giggling because he was having trouble hearing.
"And the truth behind that truth my smiley Lady Riley," Zoey said, "I like to wear clothes that smell like other people."
Kevin knew it would let Frank know he wasn't paying full attention to the task at hand, but he had to join the conversation in the kitchen, "It's true Mom. I caught her digging around in my dirty clothes hamper."
The laughter in the kitchen lasted for a while.
Kevin looked at Frank and the quick smile that was hard for the kind man to give let him know he was forgiven. He listened up again when his mother spoke again.
"A little weird? Yes!"
Kevin smiled openly. His mother doing her trademarked question-talking was another sign she was on the mend and on the way back.
"Are you a perfect match for my boy? Oh, hell yes!"
Kevin heard the unmistakable slapping sound of a high-five after that. He let himself have one more moment to enjoy all that just happened in the kitchen before he turned to his uncle. "I think I have a rough idea."
****
Kevin worked Uncle Frank through the numbers and was so intent on that he wasn't aware of much around him. As Frank rubbed his face and looked at the totals, Kevin noticed something. All the women were in the living room. Even Kaley. Beth was carrying on a conversation with Kami and Zoey, but it was a whispered conversation that didn't make much sense. Kevin sensed it was to conceal how hard they were listening in.
Frank banged his fist down on the table hard. "How could she do this to me?"
Kevin shrugged. His uncle's intent look made him think he wanted an explanation. "I think she funneled things through the LLC ... Took most of the money out through loans ... The personal accounts she drained because she had the power to." Kevin pulled up a page on his computer. "It was kind of clever how she sent you the statements and they looked like they came from the bank because she just used the HTML code—" He saw that wasn't what his uncle wanted or needed.
Frank shook his head. "That was easy. The corporate stuff. She had help. I'll bet it was that Financial Planner." Frank seethed with anger as his face reddened.
"It did start around the time those hotel receipts started popping up." Kevin voiced what he thought in his head and he wished he'd thought before he did that.
Frank laughed a strange laugh. "The men. Men not man. If it was one man, I could go punch him out. Might feel better. But, that many men?"
Kevin thought Frank wanted him to say something, but he kept his mouth shut. He didn't have good instincts in situations like that. He noticed Beth and Zoey looking at him like they were ready to help him if he needed it. He saw his mother looking thoughtful and sad. One look she had constantly and the other she never had lately. He saw his pretty sister looking sad, but it was the strange almost pleasant look on his smart oldest sister that made him worry about her more.
"The men I can live with. The money? I worked my fingers to the bone to build my practice and now?" Frank put his head on the table and sobbed. "I'm losing everything. Everything!"
Kevin never saw a grown man cry like that before. He had a hand up in the air to do something but was too afraid.
Beth was sitting next to Frank by that time. She patted his back. "Early on, my husband had ups and downs in business, but he likes to say there's always a way out if you look hard enough."
Frank looked up at her and shook his head.
"There are loans you can get to get you by." Beth said more to convince him. "Business loans."
"She borrowed against the business. The building. All I have are my regular clients and a few uncollectable account receivables." Frank wiped his eyes with a napkin.
"Part of Taylor's investing is business loans," Beth said.
"You're not just saying that because of—" Frank looked at Zoey and then at Kevin.
"It wouldn't be charity, Frank. I've used up all my—" Beth caught herself. "It's hard money and it would be hard to pay back. You shouldn't do it unless you look at bankruptcy first."
"Can't do that. It would kill my reputation." Frank shook his head vehemently. When he stopped, a question hit him, "He can't lend a law firm money because if he has to foreclose, only a lawyer can own one."
"Taylor has a law degree, Frank."
Frank nodded his head and smiled. "One of the smart lawyers who gets a degree and never practices."
"He's one of those and he's one-of-a-kind, but this won't be a kind loan and I don't want you to even think about it if it will lead to problems." Beth swept her hand subtly to encompass the family her family was getting close to.
"I swear, there won't be a problem. And I swear harder I'll work hard to pay off that hard money loan Beth."
Beth nodded. "I'll have him talk to you, but it's his call."
Frank pulled Beth into a hug.
Kevin watched that and was glad that happened because it gave Zoey a chance to slip into the scene. He pulled her onto his lap and put his arms around her.
They both watched as Kate tapped on Beth's shoulder and got her to move down a seat.
Kate sat down and took Frank's hands.
Kevin noticed his sisters sitting down at the table to watch.
Kate looked into Frank's eyes and held his hands for a few moments. "I knew there was another side to my sister. I knew Jenny had secrets. But, I never knew about these secrets. Her secret lives."
Frank nodded. "I know you didn't Kate. You would've done something about it if you knew."
Kate gave Frank a compassionate look. "I want you to know you're a part of this family. You were, and you always will be. Like any family, we're going to get through this. Together."
Frank's tears were back. "I love you." He let that stand for a moment before he looked at his nephew and nieces. "I love all of you."
They all said they loved him too.
Frank pushed the bottle of scotch that was almost gone away from him. He pulled the pecan pie closer and took a bite. "God, that's good."
It was Zoey sitting up in his lap that alerted Kevin to his mother.
Kate's head was on the table and the words she cried out were hard to understand, "That's what ... Exactly ... Jeff's words ... Every time ... He ate my pie."
Frank looked horrible after that.
Beth got Kate up on her feet. "Come on honey. It's been a long day."
Kate was crying so hard it was hard to get her walking.
"One foot in front of the other. One step at a time." Beth got her walking
. She spoke to the teenagers as they passed. "Sometimes it's one step forward and two steps back, but as long as you're moving?"
Kevin thought of how wise and hopeful that was and kept admiring his girlfriend's mother as she helped his mother out of the room.
"How many stupid sayings have we heard since Dad died?" Kaley asked.
"I'm getting tired of your crap," Kevin said. He noticed that making Frank uncomfortable. That was confirmed when the man stood up.
"Thank you for all your help Kevin."
"No problem Uncle Frank."
"Goodnight kids." Frank managed a smile before he turned and walked off.
"He probably would've killed her over all this if she wasn't already killed," Kaley muttered under her breath.
Kevin was about to whisper a response to that when he heard the footsteps stop. He looked toward the front door and saw his uncle's back.
"The jury's out on whether I would've killed her, but the decision's unanimous on wanting to kill her." Frank pulled in a breath and walked out with a little more confidence in his step.
"What the hell is up with you?" Kami said as soon as the door slammed shut.
"Yeah Kaley, you're as bitchy as Kami was when she was in Junior High." Kevin realized he never spoke like that to his older sister before.
"Seriously, I said that 'rich get richer' crap when I was that age," Zoey added.
Kaley glared at all of them, but even harder at Zoey.
Zoey put a palm up. "Sorry, not my fight."
"It kind of is." Kevin looked at Kaley. "Because of what we did ... What we hid ... We're all connected. Like family. Closer than family."
Kaley glared a while longer until she pulled in a deep breath and blew it out like she was trying to exhale her rage. "I don't know what's going on with me."
"Brother is right," Kami said, "I think we all need to stay as close as we can. All summer. Until we know."
"Know what?" Kaley asked.
"Know everything's alright," Kami answered.
"And know we're all, alright." Zoey added.
Kaley nodded. "Alright."
They were all surprised when Beth appeared at the head of the table. "Young adults, the night is as young as you are, so get out and have some fun."
"I could use some fun." Kevin stood up and lifted Zoey up in the process.
"Yeah—" Kaley covered the sarcasm in that one word when the others looked at her. "Me too!"
****
Not much later, they were all at a favorite hangout for kids who enjoyed putt-putt golf, batting cages, go-karts, and video games. They were at the first hole of the miniature golf course and Kami putted. The putt was skewed when the chic, but loose top came off one shoulder and revealed something scandalous.
Kevin spun around to face the other way. "Kami!"
Kami finished giggling along with Zoey before she explained. "It's Mom's top and it's a little too big for me."
"And a lot too revealing." Kevin bent over, reached in his backpack, and pulled out a hoodie-sweater. He backed up and handed it to Kami behind his back.
"Oh, my God Kevin." Kami held it up. "This is what he brought in case it got too cold for his girlfriend."
"Aah—" Zoey said.
Kevin saw Kaley and was glad she gave him a nicer look than she had before.
Kaley was getting into position for her first putt when two pre-teen girls came running their way.
"What's up?" Kevin asked.
The red-headed girl was the talker of the two, "This creepy guy's hanging out by the windmill and the barn."
"You can play behind us," Zoey said.
"We're pretty tough." Kami patted Kevin on the back. "And our guy is tougher."
"Yeah," Kaley said, "he's a killer." She flashed her brows when the others looked at her.
Kevin pulled his laminated card out and held it up. "We'll switch with you but give us a couple of holes to lead."
"That's not what tough girls and tougher guys do." Kaley was catching a glimpse of the creepy guy as he creeped around the course. "I'm checking it out."
Kevin looked at Zoey and Kami. "Me too." He turned and walked briskly. He heard the last of their conversation and glanced at the last of the interaction as he caught up with Kaley.
Zoey occupied the girls by pulling out her phone. "My girl and I are looking at dresses." She showed a picture to the young girls. "How about that?"
****
By a little pool, Kevin ducked behind a short wall when Kaley did. Kaley spoke as she waited and watched. "It's like a hunt. So basic. So instinctual. So primal."
"Okay, but what are we hunting?" Kevin was wary about where this was going. Most of the wariness was driven by the look on his sister's face and the sound of her voice.
"The hunter." She stood up.
Kevin pointed to a fake igloo that they could skirt around and intercept the man.
They did that and startled the man when he turned around.
Kevin knew he had to act quickly. He thrust his hand out. "Devin Raley—"
The man was short, a little pudgy in the belly, and balder than you would expect for someone in the early thirties. He stuck his hand out and shook hands reflexively. "Joe Kinsey."
"Well, Joe—" Kevin pulled Kaley to his side partly to sell their characters, but mostly to control her. "This is my sister Raylene Raley ... And we'd like to talk to you about the Lord." Kevin saw the strangeness in the man. He sensed something too. He knew if there was enough there for him to sense, it had to be driving his intuitive sister crazy. He felt her muscles tensing and that was confirmed.
"I'm all Lorded up, but thanks anyway." Joe pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. "I lost my grandfather's pocket watch. I'm still looking, but if you find it—"
"We'll let you know." Kaley turned and left after she said that.
Kevin smiled a smile he thought his character would smile before he turned and caught up with Kaley.
Kaley stopped him behind the igloo and pulled him into a desperate hug. "I'm afraid Kevin."
He patted her back and could tell he was inept at that, but at least he tried. "Afraid of what?"
She pulled back from the hug and looked into his eyes. "What if there are people who like to kill? Need to kill? Is it wrong? Are those people bad people if they kill people who need to be killed?"
"I don't know." He shook his head, thought on the question again, and gave the only answer that kept coming up. "I really don't know."
She nodded like that was good enough for the time being.
They walked back toward the others.
"Raylene? Seriously, Kevin. You see me as a Raylene?"
He wanted to come up with a joke, but he just snorted into a laugh attack and that kept going when she joined in.
****
Before long, Kevin and Kaley were seriously competing in the game while Kami and Zoey were showing each other pictures of dresses and playfully talking smack to each other. Zoey held up a picture.
Kami shook her head. "The pageant is not a Goth-Emo-Punk-Alt theme honey." She showed a picture.
"What is it with girls like you and the whole princess obsession?" Zoey gave Kevin a look.
"It's not a choice Zoey, if you're as beautiful as a princess, the princess stuff is a no-brainer." Kami scrunched her nose like a woman with a princess attitude would.
"Alright—" Zoey shook her head. "I give. You win."
"I win?" Kami asked.
"You win." Zoey's brows knitted as she read something on her phone. "Hey, I didn't get to the second page of the search results, but that guy—" She waited for them to look at her. "The creepy guy." She used her finger to scroll down. "He's a registered sex offender."
Kevin went over and looked over her shoulder. He saw Kami looking too. He realized he'd been in this situation before. Not meeting a sex offender. But waiting for others to read something he read instantly. Finally, Kami nodded, and Zoey scrolled some more. He read the last lines swiftly and stood up str
aight. "Wow!"
"Good thing we switched spots with those little cuties," Zoey said.
"Yeah, and good thing Kevin and Kaley put some fear in him," Kami said.
Kevin nodded. "Good thing." He looked around and Kaley was nowhere to be found. He looked back and knew the other two caught his alarm. He pointed at the two young girls who were playing closer than they agreed. "Distract them—"
He turned and jogged until he was out of view of the young girls. Then, he ran flat out toward the place he guessed was the best place for what he hoped wasn't happening to happen.
****
The barn was painted red, but it was basically an oversized shed that was trimmed to look the part. The sounds prompted Kevin to step inside quickly.
The tiny barn was dimly lit and one of the cheap lights was out, so it took a while for his eyes to adjust.
The shine of the light hit the shaft of the golf club.
Kevin's eyes adjusted enough to see Kaley bring the head of the club down on the man's skull. He felt something hit his shirt and he wasn't sure if it was brain matter or blood splatter. He was repulsed by that. But, the way the man's limp body on the ground jerked and twitched from the angry blow got him past that.
"Feels so damn good ... You got to get in on this little brother."
"No, you're the hunter who hunted the hunter. All yours." Kevin heard her catching her breath. He thought he heard a slight breath from the man whose life was being beaten out of him. "You need to wrap it up." He pointed. "That spot on the side where the skull's split open."
"You're a good man." Kaley sucked in a full breath. She hit her first strike in silence, but every strike after that matched a word. "You ... Like ... Little ... Girls ... How ... Do ... You ... Like ... This ... Girl?"
Kevin heard the moan from the man and heard nothing after that. He stepped and squatted. He felt the man's pulse on his neck. "Okay." He stood up. "I'm running back to get the girls in on the plan."
"What's the plan, Kevin?"
"We're making it up as we go, Sweetie." He realized he never called her a pet name before. He guessed he did it to bring her out of the state she was in. It was kind of funny, but he didn't want to laugh. He didn't want her to think he was laughing at her.
The Killing Rileys- First Love, First Kills Page 5