"That we can pull up on the laptop here." Kami pointed and looked proud when Kevin nodded his head.
"And the message could say something like, 'I know what you did to Ruth' and tell her to put the money back or else—" Zoey added excitedly.
Kaley followed all that and her eyes opened wide. "And that's what made her kill herself with the pills."
Kevin took the nodding and lack of argument from the others as acceptance of his plan. He looked at Kami. "There's a pay phone behind the library. You can call the police with an anonymous tip to say Ruth's being abused."
Kami looked appreciative, but curious. "Why me?"
Kevin explained what he knew and was surprised she didn't seem to know, "You're good at voices. Impressions. Playing characters." He thought of what that added up to and what he was trying to say. "You're the best at acting."
Kami's beautiful face turned sweet and the sweetness stayed until her big sister soured it.
"You mean the best at lying." Kaley's smirk grew when Kami scrunched her nose at the snarky remark.
Nonie stirred and mumbled from the couch.
Kevin was surprised by that, but he wasn't surprised when the girls looked at him. "See if you can get at least half that bottle of vodka in the kitchen down her." He rubbed his face. "If she tries to throw up—" He pointed. "Use that little pillow on the couch to hold the puke in. Suffocate her if you have to, but don't mark her up." He gently pulled Ruth to get her going.
Zoey got on Ruth's other side.
****
Ruth looked at Zoey while they walked down the narrow hallway. Kevin and Zoey got Ruth into bed.
Ruth didn't want to let go of Kevin's hand.
Kevin leaned over and gave her a sweet kiss on the forehead.
Ruth closed her eyes for a moment, but when she opened them, she looked fearful. "Don't leave me again, George."
Kevin leaned over and thought of the scene she must be seeing in her mind to help him pull off the scene he was about to act with sincerity. "I won't."
Zoey was intuitive enough to leave before Kevin did.
Kevin walked out backwards to keep his reassuring look he was surprised was working on her.
Zoey pulled him into a long kiss the moment he got into the hallway.
There was one thing that kiss made him think then and there. Although the four of them were a killing team, it might be worthwhile to kill without his sisters. He knew what made him think that thought. The kiss he got during that killing had something extra to it that was very intriguing.
****
His girlfriend and his sisters sat and watched in awe as Kevin took down a chocolate malt at the old-fashioned soda fountain in the old drug store in the old part of town the Rileys lived in when they were younger and poorer. Kevin sat back on his stool and looked at his sisters sweetly. "You guys are the best. You let me do my Dad jam."
Kami explained to Zoey, "Dad always brought him here after he took him to the library."
"Dad brought me here for my after-soccer shake," Kaley said.
"And this was the Dad and Kami jam after I jammed in dance class," Kami said.
Zoey just nodded knowing no words needed to be said while the Riley kids were having the fond memories.
"Oh, crap!" Kevin's hands were up to his head. He endured the throbbing pain enough to explain to Zoey. "Brain freeze."
Zoey patted him on the back, but she did laugh along with his sisters who seemed like they'd seen that happen in that place before.
"Well, I'll be. It's the Riley family." A pretty woman in her thirties stepped behind the fountain counter. She motioned for the preteen boy who had served them to step over. "This is my son, Jackson."
The Rileys repeated the boy's name and smiled.
Kevin felt his smile was passable. It was interesting to see the resemblance between the young boy and his mother he knew from the time he was younger than the boy.
Kaley spoke to the woman. "Anne, the last I heard you were a lawyer. In New York City."
Anne nodded, but her smile seemed forced. "I had my fill of Wall Street and decided to come back and work on Main Street."
Kevin saw young Jackson and thought he saw a veiled emotion. He deduced it was a touch of sadness, but he wasn't sure about that.
Anne leaned on the counter. "Father still runs the pharmacy, but that big discount store was about to run him into the ground. I'm turning the place into a coffee shop, a deli—" She pointed to the next space over that was the attached small store that had been a vital part of the core of the old town section decades ago. "And I'm putting in a yoga and exercise studio next door."
The kids all nodded but looked sad that their old place was changing.
"Are you keeping the soda fountain?" Kevin asked.
"Yes," Anne answered. She pointed for Kaley. "Father's finishing up."
"He used to call me his little pharmacist," Kaley watched the counter to see when she could go visit the kind old pharmacist who manned it.
Anne patted Kami on the shoulder. "And remember how you used to let me do your makeup, Kami?"
"I do." Kami's eyes opened wide at the anticipation of something coming.
Anne winked at Kami. "There's no way we'll sell out the cosmetics before I have the crew in for the remodel."
Kami seemed to float off her stool. "Free makeup?"
Anne nodded and motioned for Kami to follow her.
Kaley waited until Jackson left before she leaned over to Kevin. "If I happened to pick up some medication and forget to pay for it?"
Kevin noticed Zoey perking up at those words and rationalized it was because she forgot to pay for a lot of things. He leaned over and whispered to Kaley. "What might come in handy is chloroform." He reached and got Kaley's arm as she turned and took a step. He whispered one more item, "Adrenaline ... Might be called Epinephrine."
Zoey gave Kevin a smile like she knew what both items would be used for.
Kevin pointed at her vanilla shake. "Are you done with that?"
Zoey got a grip on the cold glass. "You can have it if you drink it like a grown man and not a little kid."
"You drive a hard bargain." He took more than a sip through the straw but slowed down when he saw her brow raise. He had a pleasant smile at the taste of vanilla after he'd almost overdosed on chocolate.
"Your Dad sounds fun, Kevin."
"He was."
Zoey patted his leg that was right next to hers. "You don't have to talk about him if you don't want to."
"I want to." He felt himself giving her a real smile. Real smiles were usually a real rarity for him. Not so much lately. He thought the reason for that was obvious. Her. "Like I told your folks, he wasn't successful at business." He looked at Anne showing Kami what she was doing to change the old-time business to stay in business. "Dad had a lot of ideas. Most lost money. Once Mom got her real estate career going, he was a stay-at-home Dad." He put a palm up. "I mean, he was a man for sure. More of a laid-back funny type of man than a sportsman or man's type of man, but still manly nonetheless." He put his head down and laughed at himself for a second. "Does any of that make sense?"
Zoey leaned and kissed his forehead as his head came up. "It all makes sense."
Kevin sipped a bit of the shake and then looked at the glass as he swirled the creamy mixture around. "The sickness, the death, the funeral, and Mom after the funeral. It's like all that's either blocked or shaded in my mind." He nodded. "I'm sure it's going to hit me and hit me hard sometime, but all I have now are the memories." He turned and smiled at her and knew for sure that was a good smile. "And they're hella good memories."
Kami came back with Kaley right behind her. "My Mom called and said they're all going home to change before they go to a themed party."
Kevin wasn't sure, but he felt like Kami was stressing urgency in that and thinking they got more from that than she said.
Kaley stepped around Kami and explained to Zoey, "We need to get to your house to catch Beth
before they all go out." She turned and explained to Kevin. "To warn her about Dad's—" She was temporarily silenced by what she was about to say.
"Birthday in two days." Kevin stood and put his hand up to help Zoey off the stool. "We're going to need Beth's help."
"That's gonna be so hard on Mom," Kami said sadly.
"What Beth said," Kaley said.
Kevin was pleased he got it and could explain it to Zoey, "Dad's birthday will be a two steps backwards day."
"More like two miles," Kami said before she leaned over and pulled a paper napkin out of the dispenser to wipe the tears from her pretty face.
Zoey stepped and pulled Kami into a side hug as they walked out.
Kevin hung back and let his sister have his girlfriend. She needed her more than he did in that moment. He was surprised his less emotional sister hugged him from the side as they walked. He was the least emotional and the least touching of the entire Riley family, but he was enjoying the feel and the feeling in that moment.
****
The next afternoon, Kevin sat in the small conference room with Kami at Uncle Frank's office. Kaley and Zoey came in dressed up in nice clothes. They sat quietly while Kevin finished a phone call with one of the two phones on the conference table.
Kevin saw Kami gesturing and he realized she was complimenting both girls on how nice they were dressed. He spoke after listening to the complaining client on the other end of the line, "I looked at the file Mister Bladesworth, and I was blown away by the Federal preemption argument my Uncle used to blow the other side away. I'm just a kid working the phone for him, but it seems like as much business as you do, you might want to keep a lawyer with arguments like that in your corner." He knew the young women were giving him proud looks for that. That didn't match the proud way he felt. He wondered if he could speak like that face-to-face. There was something about doing it over the phone that made it easier. Uncle Frank made it easier too, when he told him and his sister they could get nasty to collect the law firm bills if they had to.
Zoey flashed her brows at Kevin.
Kevin flashed his back. "If you can pay half, why not just pay it off?" He remembered his Uncle told him it was good to keep your mouth shut after you threw out a figure, but he was a little nervous and let one word slip out. "Sir." He was nervous after that about something else. He could tell the deadbeat client Kami was calling was back on the line. He wanted to show Zoey how well he could close. He thought of how embarrassing it would be if he didn't and his sister did. "Thank you, Sir and our Account Manager will call you back promptly to get the payment over the phone."
Zoey leaned over and patted Kevin.
That was all Kevin was looking for.
Kami got Zoey's eye before she spoke on the phone, "My Uncle Frank just wanted me to call you about that overdue payment. I swear Mister Hannigan, you must be a super successful businessman to have legal bills that high."
Kevin felt his brows knitting as he texted the Accounts Manager. It wasn't fair how she used her feminine charm. It was so easy, and she'd been doing that all afternoon. He had to scan the massive files to pick out something he could use to close. All his pretty sister had to do was use her innate prettiness that even translated over the phone to people who couldn't see her.
Kami laughed a coquettish laugh. "Yes, Sir Mister Hannigan. I'll have our Accounts Manager call you promptly."
Kevin was about to say something to the look Kami gave him that was one of the easiest looks to read. It was her competitive look. He saw her look that way with Kaley many times a day. It was rare for her to give him that look, but the look was so common, it was easy to place.
"Taylor, can you believe how good my collection department is," Uncle Frank bragged as he stood at the door.
"I might have to borrow that team myself Frank," Taylor proudly added.
"How did the college tour go Kaley?" Uncle Frank asked.
"It was awesome and with Taylor's connections," Kaley gave him a thankful look. "I might get hooked up."
"That's great!" Frank looked at Zoey. "Are you going there too, Miss Zoey?"
"I just went along for the ride." Zoey gave Taylor a shrewd look. "And to appease my sweet Daddy who thought he could use Kaley to get me excited about college."
Taylor chuckled before he took a step forward. "Did it work?"
"We'll see," Zoey said.
Kevin wondered if she was beating herself up over thinking she was dumb again. He decided to be ready with a pep talk if he needed to be.
Frank patted Taylor on the back. "That big client you referred to me and the big accounts my niece and nephew collected on give me some big news for you—" Uncle Frank grinned a happy grin. "You big gorgeous hunk of a businessman."
Taylor laughed and looked the part of a gorgeous hunk of a businessman.
"Let's go to my office," Frank nodded, turned and left.
Taylor flashed his brows at the young adults before he turned and left.
"You think that school could be the school, Kaley?" Kami asked.
Kaley nodded her head. "I do."
"It's an Ivier Ivy League than the one you got into." Kevin saw how excited she was and that was exciting him.
Kaley smiled at his excitement before she took a moment to look at the others. "I think we all need to consider the schools we all go to."
"Why?" Kevin asked.
"We need to stay together. Live together." Kaley looked like she was about to say more.
Zoey was the first to finish that thought. "So we can keep our stories and each other straight together?"
"That—" Kaley's look turned shrewd. "And kill together."
Kevin watched the others carefully, so he'd be careful not to miss anything. He thought it was odd how no one disagreed with that. But then, it didn't seem odd at all.
After a comfortable silence ensued, Zoey stood up and took Kaley's hand. "I want you to meet Gina who does the criminal defense cases."
"Does she defend murderers?" Kaley asked excitedly.
Zoey nodded and pulled Kaley into a quick walk.
Kevin stacked up the files.
Kami gave him all her files except for one. "I'm giving that Elsa bitch another try."
"Have to beat my perfect record?" Kevin asked.
"Have to beat your record to beat your ass, little Brother." Kami went about punching the numbers in.
Kevin wasn't bothered by his sister competing with him. The more he thought on it, the better it made him feel about himself. About how he was coming along in overcoming his challenges.
****
Kevin dropped the files off with the receptionist and walked by his uncle's office. He stopped when he heard the voices through the open door.
"In all the years I've loaned money, that's the fastest payback I've ever been paid back, Frank." Taylor's voice was filled with admiration.
"You helped me so much. The loan, the referral, taking care of the family that still claims me as family—" Frank's voice trembled.
Kevin slid his feet on the carpet to get to a spot where he could see the men. He saw Frank giving Taylor a long look. He saw Taylor taking the look. He couldn't place the look given or taken, but he did make a mental note to try and look like his girlfriend's father when another man was giving him thanks. It was the right look at the right time.
Frank put his hand on Taylor's shoulder. "I hate to ask for more help, but—"
"Ask away, my friend," Taylor said.
Kevin could tell Uncle Frank was having a hard time getting to the point. He figured it must be a hard point to get to. He understood that. There were times he took so long to get to a hard point, he forgot what the point was.
"I know you take Kate to the country club to help her make connections ... Get listings—" Frank cleared his throat after that.
Kevin saw his uncle, but he was watching Taylor more closely. It was intriguing how the handsome man stood tall and still, but something about his demeanor made him seem open, acce
pting, and non-threatening. He pondered how much of that was natural or learned. He wished he could learn to use his body to communicate with other people that well. It would sure make life a lot easier.
"I want to tag along when you all go clubbing." Frank kept his mouth shut after that.
Kevin equated the silence after the question with what his uncle told him earlier about negotiation. He was counting the seconds to see how long it took for Taylor to answer.
"Sure thing Frank." Taylor patted Frank on the shoulder. "I think we'd make a fun foursome." One solid pat followed that. "And you could make some good business connections."
"It's not about connections or fun, Taylor." Frank pulled in a deep breath for fortitude. "It's about Kate."
Kevin didn't count the seconds of that long pause, but he felt the tension of the silence as he wracked his brain to guess where his uncle was headed.
"I don't think I'm ready for another relationship. I'm sure Kate is nowhere near ready, but when the time comes—" Frank sighed out what was left of the big breath he took in earlier.
"You want to make sure some crass country club cad hasn't snatched up that beautiful woman?" Taylor asked.
Kevin's brows went up high on his forehead as those words echoed in his ears.
"Yes!" Frank said.
Kevin walked off without being fully aware of the range of emotions his face went through before it settled on a pleasant smile.
****
On the afternoon of his father's birthday, Kevin and the other teenagers stood in their swimming suits, as Taylor lit the candles on the cake for the beloved deceased man. After cake and ice cream was handed out to everyone, Kevin lingered near his mother and his girlfriend's mother.
Beth snuck a look at Kate before she stepped in front of her. "I think all Frank and Taylor will do is drink hard drinks, smoke smelly cigars, and grill greasy steaks." She'd pointed the two men out for that. She turned and pointed to the teenagers who were clustered in a group eating the dessert. "All our kids will do is beg the men to let them drink and yell most of the night."
The Killing Rileys- First Love, First Kills Page 9