Bill nodded as he rubbed his face. "I'm good at what I do ... But, sometimes I go a little crazy ... A lot crazy." He looked into Kate's eyes with sincere remorse. "I'm sorry for what I did to Kevin. It was over the line and there was no excuse for that."
It took Kate a while, but finally she nodded. "I sense true regret, so I'm going to capitalize on that."
Bill grinned and used his honed detection skill. "I really can't give any clues to an ongoing investigation, Ma'am."
"Even a small clue?" Kate made the small gesture with her fingers. "Like whether a real estate agent should be dealing with a widow in her pretend grief, or the relatives in their obscured greed."
Kevin smiled at that. His mother was a mixture of his sisters. She was beautiful, but she was smart too. He believed both of his sisters would grow into the dominant traits of each other and end up with the same awesome mix of smarts and beauty as his mother.
"Right—" Bill stroked his chin and pretended to think. "Because you'd deal with the widow if it was a natural death." He pretended to think more. "And with the family if the widow was a homicide suspect."
Kate just nodded her head to affirm his conclusion, but she looked amused at the way the bright detective acted it out.
"Nothing I can tell you." Bill shook his head as he reached into his coat pocket and got a business card for her. "Once my cases get solved one way or the other, I can tip you off if there's a house to be sold."
Kevin was amazed when his mother exchanged her own card with the detective. It was like she made her card appear out of thin air.
"I hope I run into your family again, Kate—" Bill put a palm up. "Purely socially." He let the palm go down slowly before he nodded back at the house. "Let me know how it goes with the relatives." He acted again by putting his hand to his mouth like he misspoke.
Kate laughed and patted Bill's arm as the hand came down.
"Later kids." Detective Bill turned and walked off.
Kaley pulled Kevin toward the car as Kate lingered to take pictures with her phone. She leaned in and whispered to Kevin, "We really need to push Uncle Frank on Mom."
"Why?" Kevin whispered back.
"I think Detective Bill has the hots for her," Kaley said.
Kaley's opinion made Kevin turn his head in time to see the detective giving his mother a look before he stepped inside the home. There was another silver lining in that dark cloud too. It was one more sign his mother was on the mend. He just hoped she wouldn't use the detective to mend her broken heart. That could lead to more heart breaking from a broken family if the smart detective broke that case and the other cases wide open.
****
The next afternoon was the end of the work week, and the teenagers were home alone in the big McConnell home, waiting for the promised segment from the local news anchor, about the latest in the Zelman death. After the picture of Mr. Zelman from a few years earlier faded from the screen and a commercial came on the television, Kami took her long hair and pushed it over her head. "How do I look with a comb-over?"
The other girls laughed.
Kevin sat back on the couch with his arms folded.
Kaley pointed at the TV. "Did you see how when he was younger, he started the comb-over part up higher?"
"Yeah," Zoey said, "I think that's a way you could count the years."
"Like counting the rings of a tree," Kami added.
There was another round of laughter at that.
"It's not nice to make fun of how someone looks. Physical jokes are uncool." Kevin threw that out there angrily. He wasn't sure what he was angry about. He just knew he was angry. He did wonder if some of that was one of the stages the free grief counselor from his school told him. He thought about that nice man who did that for free during his off time in the summer. He was a bald man. A nice, caring, comfortable, and kind of funny bald man. He gripped the hug his folded arms had him in and gave his angry look at his youngest sister who had her hands on her hips.
"You sure have a bug up your ass." Kami matched Kevin's look with her own.
"Kevin, you'll never go bald," Kaley said in a calm tone to calm him down. "Both sides of the family. Heads full of hair. You got the best of both worlds."
"You have movie star hair, Kevin." Zoey gave him a smile after that.
He looked at his sister and his girlfriend. "What if I was missing a leg? That's physical. Would you make fun of me? Baldness is as much a physical trait as skin color. How is it different to make fun of one but not the other?"
"You're right." Zoey's faced looked horrible.
Kevin stood up and squared off with Kami who still had her hands on her hips. "Sure, you're beautiful. That's why it makes it meaner when you make fun of the way someone looks."
Kami's angry face changed to a sad face and was well on its way to a crying face.
Zoey stood up and looked at Kevin like she saw something on his face. "I know Kami's sorry—"
"I am Kevin," Kami said through a cry, "I really am."
"We're all sorry," Zoey continued.
"We are," Kaley agreed.
Zoey stepped closer and took one of Kevin's hands with both her hands as she looked into his eyes. "You're angry about something else, aren't you?"
Kevin nodded.
"Tell me." Zoey pulled him down to sit on the couch. "Tell all of us."
Kevin looked down before he looked up. "I think we're all on board with killing someone who needs killing."
The girls all nodded their heads to agree.
Kevin pointed at the TV set but didn't look at it. "Zelman's wife is a suspect. She might do time. Time for our crime." He looked closely at his sisters and was amazed at what his look was doing to them. He never saw them look that bad from one of his looks before. "You two know me better than Zoey. You know how hard Dad, Mom, and the two of you worked with me. Worked to help me grow a conscience. Worked your butts off to show me how to show empathy." He saw their serious nods and figured they were seeing that time in their minds. "Mom made up the situations. Dad wrote little scripts. Dialogues for my disability. You two acted all the scenes out with me. Over and over, again and again. Until you all got me to the point I could fake it. Fake feeling like I understood. Like I cared. Like I gave a shit!" He pulled in a breath and pushed it out angrily. "My family trained me like a dog ... To teach me how to be a normal human being." He barely stopped himself when it was apparent they were both on the verge of breaking down in tears.
Zoey couldn't take his sisters enduring that much longer. "I think they need to hear the point ... Honey."
Kevin nodded as he muted the volume on the TV. He knew he was hypervigilant enough to see when the story came back on. It gave him time to put some thought into his next words. "How come I'm the only one here who gives a damn about that woman?" He looked at Zoey to include her in it since she was in it in his mind. "How come the one who God robbed of a conscience, has the only Goddamn conscience?"
That question hung in the air and wasn't answered when the front door opened.
Taylor walked in on them and judged them to all be having a good time. "Kids!"
"Adult," Zoey answered.
"Adult," Kami and Kaley answered pleasantly.
"Taylor," Kevin said flatly.
"How was work, Dad?" Zoey asked.
"Let's put it this way," Taylor said, "I'd gladly trade places with any one of the teenagers in my house on summer vacation." He flashed his brows and turned but turned back around to look at Kevin.
Kevin felt Taylor's gaze on him. He was still upset, but he didn't want to take it out on him. He felt he somehow managed to make his face more neutral and less upset.
"Except for Kevin." Taylor beamed at him. "Working his little butt off to keep my girl's butt in school. Working his fake stock portfolio that really isn't fake." He had to stop and chuckle at that. "And setting up the sweet deal for me that's already starting to work out."
Kevin couldn't help being excited by what that implied. "T
hey let you use the company's land as collateral for the whole deal?"
"Yes, Sir." Taylor winked at Kevin. "Expect something in your bank account within a few weeks. A big something." He flashed his brows once more as he often did, before he turned and headed upstairs to change.
"That's awesome Kevin," Kami said.
"How much money is big money, Kevin?" Kaley asked.
"I'm guessing fifty or sixty-thousand, maybe more." He felt his face redden and figured the anger was setting in again. "Everything I make off that deal is going first for your college expenses. Then, for Kami and me for the same thing."
Kaley's eyes watered instantly, and she walked toward him like a zombie from the effect of her gratitude.
Kevin held a palm up. "Get over it. Our argument isn't over."
Kami was almost as filled with gratitude as Kaley was, but she managed to be the calm logical one in her sister's place. "Kev, think of it like a war. We are in a war. In war, sometimes there's a collaberal damage." She cocked her head at the sound of the last part.
"Collateral damage Kami." He didn't care if that hurt her feelings. "It's okay Mrs. Zelman spends her life in prison just so we got to kill to satisfy our killing appetite?"
Kaley was back, and she spoke sharply, "That Zelman asshole killed Dad's dream, Kevin."
"And that was a reason to kill him." He realized he'd never argued that strongly with his sisters before. He didn't like it. He hated it. He loved his sisters too much to love arguing with them like that. "But, that's not a reason to give his wife a life that isn't worth living."
They all turned their heads at the footsteps with alarm.
"Alright—" Uncle Frank smiled his friendly smile. "The only teenagers in this town I can stand."
Kevin did a better job at saying hello to his uncle.
Frank pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. "Which bedroom should I use to change into my swimming trunks?"
"Trunks?" Kami said.
"Not as bad as britches," Kaley said.
Zoey decided to jump in on lightening the mood up. "You could do what Kevin does and just drop trousers anywhere."
"Trousers." Kami giggled and that got the other girls giggling.
Kevin pointed. "Any of the downstairs bedrooms, Uncle. They're all for guests." He reached for the remote but stopped himself when he saw it was only a teaser for the segment while the station ran many more commercials.
Kaley waited until she heard the sound of a door shutting on one of the downstairs bedrooms "Are you saying we need to stop killing?"
"No—" Kevin shook his head, but stopped when he thought better of it. "Maybe ... If we can't be sure no innocent person gets hurt. Sent to prison. Sentenced to death." He could tell that argument was working.
They all let the somber mood in the room last until the women they heard at the door came into the room.
"Zoey!" Kate was excited. She pulled Beth over. "Your mother is the greatest sales closer ever."
"Really?" Zoey seemed to welcome the pleasant distraction of the excited women.
"Yes!" Kate looked at her teenagers. "Momma Riley got a big listing on a big Holden Hills home." She took Beth's hand. "All because of my cute, chic, closer."
Beth waved her hand in a gesture for Kate. "Oh, go on." She made a sly face. "I mean it. Go on and on bragging about me."
Kate laughed along with Beth at that.
The girls laughed, but Kevin didn't.
"Oh, say the line." Kate pressed when Beth hesitated. "Come on, I want the kids to hear how a closer closes."
Beth took a moment to get into character. "I know you two know Carol Blanton well. Carol sells homes. No arguing with that. Carol sells because of who she knows." Beth turned and looked respectfully at Kate. "Kate Riley sells homes because of what she does."
Kevin had to admit it was a strong closing. He saw the girls were still a bit in awe of that. He started clapping and got up on his feet. He had the girls standing up in a standing ovation instantly.
Kate held her hands like she was displaying Beth as a work of fine art.
Beth gave a bow like she was a seasoned performer.
The women turned to leave.
"Mom, the Riley kids and me—" Zoey was interrupted.
"It's 'I' or 'myself' Zoey." Kevin had no regret over correcting her. He was a little angry at her. He had reasoned it out before he said that. Neither mother would be upset by that because he was her tutor. He knew they would buy that and think nothing of it. He knew his girlfriend would get it and he didn't care. He wanted that cut to cut.
Zoey gulped, but got back to the task at hand. "Anyway, Moms ... The Riley kids and—" She gave Kevin a quick cold smirk. "Me, myself, and I—" She looked back at the mothers with a loving look. "Have planned a child-free night for you and the old dudes."
"Antoine's is delivering French cuisine," Kaley said.
"And us kids—" Kami smirked quickly at Kevin. "Us, ourselves, and we—" She looked back at the mothers lovingly. "Are delivering ourselves to the Riley home for a sleep-over."
"That's wonderful kids," Beth said with a hop.
Kate hopped too. "So wonderful."
Beth gave a shrewd look to Zoey. "I'm approving a sleep-over, but not a sleep-under, honey."
"Mom!" Zoey shot back.
That was funny enough it even got Kevin laughing.
The mothers left, and they were about to pick up the argument again, but Kevin caught the segment coming up and turned up the volume.
The screen showed pictures of Zelman, but this time, that was followed by pictures of his younger blonde wife.
The male news anchor's voice boomed out in a stereotypical tone, "Channel Twelve, 'The News That Is News' is proud to be the first to break this news. Monica Zelman's beautician was approached by the blonde bombshell and asked if she and her boyfriend could find someone to kill her wealthy husband, Irving Zelman." The news anchor turned to his side for a closeup from a side camera. "We've received confirmation from more than one confidential source that the police were in the middle of a sting operation to catch Monica Zelman in the act. The act of solicitation of murder."
Kevin and the women all shared quick looks during the long pause the newsman left.
"We'll have more on this story as the story unfolds." The news anchor spoke during a slow turn. "And Christina, do you think we'll catch any of those rainstorms moving from the West?"
Kevin shook his head at the news banter as he turned the television off.
Kami came and squeezed in between him and Zoey. She put her hands to his face to make him look her in the face as Kaley sat down on the other side of him. "You showed us the problem, Kevin. The TV showed us the solution."
Kevin couldn't remember Kami ever figuring something out before he did. He quashed the irritation over that. That wasn't fair, and it wasn't right. He had to swallow his pride and ask. "What's that, Kami?"
Kami explained, "It's not wrong. It's right. Right to blame someone after we kill, if they did bad. Bad enough to deserve the blame."
Kevin nodded. It was deep. It made sense.
"We follow the killings for those needing killing with blamings for those needing blaming." Zoey looked up and thought back over that before she nodded.
Kevin turned and smiled at Kaley. "Seriously, our smart titles are in serious jeopardy."
"I know." Kaley put her arm around him.
They all leaned in and hugged in one pile on the big couch.
When the young women leaned off of him, he saw the older women walking through in their bathing suits. He noticed them looking at him and guessed he had a strange look on his face. "It's your fault ladies. A young man isn't supposed to see his Mom and his girlfriend's Mom looking hot." He put his hands over his eyes.
All the women laughed hard and he laughed along.
"But, that's all a man my age wants to see," Taylor said.
"I second that," Frank said.
That got them all laughing before the te
enagers got out and let the grownups have the house and the evening to themselves.
****
A little later, Kevin was on the older, cheaper couch in his home with his sisters sitting on either side of him. He could tell something was up with them. He wished nothing was up. He was so tired of trying to read people. Trying to use intuition. He didn't want to dwell in the world of feelings then. He wanted some time off. Time to think on strange things. Time to feel the warm comfort of little known facts like a comforting blanket. He saw his sisters turning to him.
"Kevin, we need to talk to you," Kaley said.
"Does this have something to do with what you whispered to Zoey about pulling the bandage off?" Kevin asked.
"Damn!" Kaley shook her head. "You hear like a hawk." She put her palm up. "I mean, like a rabbit." She changed it again. "No, like a dog."
Kevin laughed hard at that and explained when they looked at him. "It's funny. All the stupid crap I know, and I don't know if a rabbit has super hearing."
"You'd think rabbits do because of the big ears," Kaley said.
Kami covered her ears. "But, maybe the cute floppy ears muffle the sound."
Kevin laughed more before he gave each of his sisters an adoring look. "I think that's the first time we've talked about dumb things like that ... Since Dad died."
His sisters nodded and smiled at that thought.
Kami touched Kevin's arm. "This is a serious talk honey."
"Go ahead and rip the bandage off." Kevin took in a breath and relaxed. He was still a little wound up from the biggest talk he ever gave his sisters. It would be hard to endure another hard talk, but maybe it was better to get it over with. Maybe this was the day for hard talks.
"Zoey is my friend, so she tells me things—" Kami gulped. "Like a friend should." She froze up.
Kaley took her hands and turned Kevin to face her. "Zoey says she's tried. She's gone slow. She's tried more ways than one."
He searched Kaley's face for any clue but didn't have a clue. "What the hell are you trying to tell me?"
Kami took her hands and turned his face. "You have a problem being intimate."
"Nonie!" Kaley looked like she regretted yelling that but was glad she got his attention. "I think ... We all think ... It's hard for you to be intimate with a woman ... Because of her being intimate—"
The Killing Rileys- First Love, First Kills Page 12