She sighed deeply. "I didn't realize Mark was coming here."
Simon watched her. "We need his input and testimony. Why? Is there--"
But a scream sounded inside the house. Lila ran to the back door then through the kitchen. "Meg?"
Meg stood wide-eyed with her hand clutched to her mouth, staring at the two detectives.
Ellison gasped, with a fist against his right eye.
"What the hell?" Simon asked, as he came up behind Lila.
Spence and Willie came in a few seconds later.
"What happened?" Spence asked as he strode towards Meg.
She started to retch and he moved her quickly into the kitchen.
"What'd you do to my Mom?" Willie demanded.
"What did she do to me is more like it," Ellison said loudly. "I'm going to have a fucking black-eye from that." He pointed to the splintered ashtray.
Lila couldn't suppress a smile. "You shouldn't get her upset. She tends to throw things when she's mad."
Ellison looked at her, his right eye partially closed now. "She didn't touch it...it just went here, there and pow. Right in the eye."
"Cool," Willie said softly.
"Neat trick," Smith said, "wonder how they pulled it off."
"They didn't know we were coming, shit for brains." Ellison told Smith. "How could they rig something up?"
They rose and left then, still bickering.
"Grandma," Willie said, "think our house will ever get back to normal?"
She sighed as they both headed for the kitchen. "Define normal."
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Davey called and listened to the phone ring four times before someone answered irritably, "Yes?"
"Is this Gace Stutgart?"
"Yes."
"This is Sheriff Davey Miller from Lacene."
"Lacene...oh, double homicide with love letters. I remember now."
"Am I interrupting you? I can call back."
Gace laughed. "No, that's okay. My secretary is gone and I didn't realize how much I rely on her day to day."
Davey wadded up a message slip and slam dunked it into his waste basket. "At least you have a secretary. I've got an under sheriff who's useless as teats on a boar."
Gace laughed again. "What can I do for you?"
"Well, I'm looking at the handwriting analysis you did. Very interesting. What I'm concerned with is the signature on the last letter."
"Let me get my copies."
Davey heard papers crinkling and muttered curses before Gace was back on the line.
"Okay. I have my copy here. The last item on the letter almost appeared to be some sort of a shorthand letter. I couldn't tell which letter of the alphabet it was. It almost appeared to be part of an infinity symbol or something."
"And if you had to guess which letter it was?"
"My guestimate would be the letter J."
"Not an O like in Oscar?"
"No. The person would have had to be in too much of a hurry. And the rest of the letter was careful and well thought out."
"Okay. Thanks for your help. And if you have any other ideas, be sure to give me a call."
Davey sat for a minute after he clicked the phone closed. He looked at the copy he'd made of the last letter in the box. Then a thought occurred to him. They assumed the letters were in the order received. Maybe that wasn't the case. Maybe the last letter was really the first one received. Not that order would make any difference anyway. He sighed in frustration.
Lee Cobb came in Davey's office and took his hat off. "Hotter than a mother out there. Just got called to PS25 again. Never saw such juvenile delinquents in my life."
Davey just smiled. Lee was exaggeration personified and, if Davey bought into the man's story, they'd be there all day.
"You got the message from Rushburg?" Lee asked him.
"Yeah. They had some problems over at the Cowell place. Seems like Meg up and hit one of the dicks with an ashtray."
"Huh! Ain't she the fiery one. Give her to me an' I'll tame her down."
"Right," Davey said dryly.
"Suppose that means she ain't singin' at Red's tonight. Damn. Hope those guys leave them folks alone soon. It's been a while since I heard that be-u-ti-ful voice of hers."
"That reminds me, I was going to call Spence and make sure she's okay. Go ahead and do your paperwork on the school incident."
He heard Lee trudge to his desk, as he dialed Spence's number.
"Hey, Spence," he said, "everything all right over there?"
But, as he listened to Spence's story he grew skeptical. "You mean she didn't actually throw it? How did it hit him then?"
His breath came out in a long sigh. "Well I guess stranger things have happened, but I don't know when. At least they didn't arrest her for assault on an officer. Hang in there. Keep me posted."
Lila sat across from Father Damien in his church office. She noticed, not for the first time, he was handsome in his own way. Dark brown hair, with a wayward piece always falling on his forehead, his even, white smile and his sympathetic brown eyes. But then she told herself it was not the face that was handsome, but his animation. When he talked of The Bible or church matters, his face lit up and his eyes crinkled at the corners. He looked like a different person, one who had come alive.
They chatted briefly, after she gave him a sizeable donation check, before she said, "Father...about Chad's funeral--"
"I understand it was beautiful," he said smoothly, "and well attended. For that I am grateful. I lit and candle and said prayers here. You know I wouldn't attend the wake, of course."
"Yes," she said quickly, "I know Father. And I wanted you to know that after Chad died, I let Jake make the decisions. He was a rock, where I was not. All I could do was lash out in anger. I was so very angry. I still am--" her voice broke, but she continued, "so mad that he had to die. What do I do with it, Father? What do I do with the anger? How can I keep going when he's gone?"
Then she added bitterly, "It should have been me."
"Lila," he said gently, "you loved him with all your heart, all your soul, with your strength and your mind. Now, love God and Jesus the same." His voice was softer now, "Angels of the Lord came and took him to a place that is ultimately better than this earth. Blessed are the faithful. He was faithful. Blessed are the humble. He was humble. You ask, My God, why have thou forsaken me? But, he has not. He has lifted you up. And your son will always be with you in spirit."
But she looked uncomfortable now. "That's the thing, Father. We think Chad's spirit is still in the house." And she told him of the strange happenings.
He was silent for a moment. Then leaning forward, making a steeple with his hands in front of his lips, he said, "If you believe in God, demons do also and they shudder. Whenever unclean spirits behold Him they would fall down before Him. We have the authority to cast out demons."
"I've never seen them. It's just been Meg."
"Because you believe. They will not appear before you. You're too faithful." His eyes softened as he looked at her. "And you are beautiful in spirit, loving in nature."
She blushed at that and she looked down. "Thank you Father. I appreciate you talking with me today."
"Any time. My door is always open to you."
After she'd left, Father looked at the check. Five thousand dollars. Enough to fix The Book stand at the altar with plenty left over. God does provide, he thought.
Spence watched his brother walk through the kitchen door at Jake's house. "Mark!" he said enthusiastically, before he rose to hug the man. "Thanks for coming here so soon."
"Couldn't let you fight this on your own. You mean too much to me."
"Horse shit," Spence said with a laugh. "Willie, meet my brother Mark."
"Hey." Willie stood and shook hands.
They all sat after Spence retrieved a bottle of scotch, a bottle of tequila and two glasses.
"How's Meg?" Mark asked after a sip of his scotch.
"She's upstairs,
" Spence said, after explaining the unusual happenings of the day, "and we're expecting the university people any minute. I don't know what to tell them. She's really out of commission."
The doorbell rang then.
"Seven o'clock, right on the nose. I'll be back in a few."
While Willie and Mark talked sports, Spence greeted Renee and Lex at the front door.
"Wow," Renee said, after Spence explained about Meg, and he also let them know it was Maria's day off, and she'd gone to her sister's house.
Renee said, "You think Meg would mind if I went up?"
Spence looked doubtful. "I don't know. She was pretty upset and then sleeping a while ago when I went up to check on her."
Renee said quickly, "I've had some luck with people in hairy situations, let me just try. If she says no, or if she's sleeping, I'll come right back down."
Turning to Lex, she said, "Can you wait for me?"
He nodded before Spence said, "Come in the kitchen. All guys in there."
Renee took the stairs two at a time after Spence told her which room Meg was in. She knocked and opened the door.
Meg sat propped up with pillows, her hair fanning out over the pillows and coverlet.
"Meg?" Renee said softly, as she approached the bed. "I heard you had some problems today."
Meg nodded. Renee sat on the bed and took Meg's hand in hers. "Want to tell me about it?"
Meg looked at her and nodded. "So confused. I was so very confused. And angry. They were accusing me. Going after me."
Renee's sensations started then, mirroring Meg's. She closed her eyes.
Meg continued, "It was like I went back in time. Back to the murders. I relived the horror, the blood everywhere."
Images flashed in Renee's mind, savage pictures of two people butchered. "Yes," she gasped, trying to ground herself in reality, as she half focused on Meg then the sensation of the coverlet. "I see."
"Then I was sick," Meg continued, "and I heard someone screaming. Sirens. Pap's voice. Neighbors whispering. The wind was strong and dirt blew on my face and my hands. And the smell...the smell was ugly. Like a dead animal. I couldn't get it off me for weeks, even taking three showers a day."
Renee forced herself to breathe deeply.
"Who are you?" Meg said. "What are you?"
"I am a telepath," Renee said as she opened her eyes, "and what we have right now is an energy bond."
"So you can understand how I'm feeling?"
"Yes, I can, although sometimes it's a mixed blessing for me."
"You've experienced murders like this one?"
"Not exactly." Renee paused. "So tell me about the times when things moved in the house."
Meg sat up higher. "The first time I remember is at the wake."
"Plenty of energy in the house then I'll bet."
"I suppose. Lila, my mother, was dragging her feet getting ready and hadn't helped Maria or me with the preparations."
"Then you were angry." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes. I went upstairs and all the jars on my mother's dresser were on the floor. She said they moved on their own. I didn't believe her."
"Go on."
"The second time, still the night of the wake, Daddy Jake was in the kitchen and a glass flew out of his hands and hit him on the head. He said he couldn't move."
"And how were you feeling that time?"
Ruefully, Meg admitted, "Angry again. My parents were fighting and that always upsets me."
"Any other times?"
"The third time, I just heard about from Maria. It was the night that...well Spence and I had a fight in the workout room, the next room over from mine."
"And you were mad then, too?"
"Yes. Very much so. Maria and Lila told me glasses and decanters flew off the sideboard after the thing shook up and down several times."
Renee nodded. "Whew. That thing must weigh a ton. And today?"
Meg let out a breath. "Today was too scary. The living room end table bounced up and down a few times. Then the ashtray circled around the detective's head, then hit him in the face at least three times."
Smiling, Renee finally let go of Meg's hand and her associated sensations. "Don't be scared. He probably deserved it."
*****
Willie sat in the kitchen with a big smile on his face. He was one of the men, for now. Even his shoulder had stopped hurting. He watched as Spence sipped tequila, Mark sipped scotch, and Lex drank a glass of dark wine.
"Those cops have crossed the line," Spence declared.
"Probably just doing their jobs," Lex said. "Some of them are born for it. Takes a certain personality to do what they do."
"Yeah," Spence countered, "it takes an asshole."
Willie's phone jangled. It was a text from Joe, saying, 'BIBO, CRBT.' He showed it to Spence. "See what I mean? He's crying real big tears this time, and drinking beer."
"Great." Mark said, looking at it, "How old is this kid?"
"Eighteen, like me." Willie's fingers flew as he text back, 'GAL, PITA.'
"What are you saying back to him?" Spence said with a grin.
"Get a life, pain in the ass."
Mark and Lex smiled while Spence laughed.
Willie put his phone on vibrate, only to have it go off again in his pocket. "Cool," he said as he watched the message come up, "it's from Dana."
"Only kids could be this hyper," Mark said.
"What's it say?" Spence asked. "You never told me about her."
Willie replied, "Thought it was a lost cause. She says 'BIBO' so she must be at the same party as Joe. She also says, 'GMBA, L8RG8R.'"
Their expressions were blank.
"Giggling my butt off, later gator," Willie translated.
As the men talked football, Willie sent Dana a return text: 'BAS, FWIW, HAGN.' Big ass smile, for what it's worth, have a good night.
To his surprise, he got a text back immediately. 'We r look for coc. AI?' He frowned, and text back, 'U sur?' Cocaine was one thing he'd never tried. It scared him too much.
'S.'
'Try Kaylee.'
'H&K, HAGN.'
Willie sat back and wondered where the party was and why he wasn't invited. Then, he thought it was probably a stoner party anyway.
Spence watched the expressions flit across Willie's face. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Just a party I wasn't invited to."
"Well it's a school night. And you took off school today, remember?"
"They could have at least called. Joe's just trying to make me feel bad."
Mark said, "You sure you want to be at a party where they're drinking beer?"
"Hell," Willie replied, "everyone around me drinks. Just look at you guys."
"You're not old enough," Lex added.
Willie laughed. "I'm not old enough for anything. But I am old enough for homework and chores."
"Wish I could go back there again," Mark said, "no worries except girls, allowance, homework, college applications and chores."
The three toasted to that and Willie shook his head.
"So Spence," Mark said, "when is the preliminary hearing before the grand jury?"
"Don't know yet," Spence said, before he sucked an after-shot lemon. "Expecting a call from Simon anytime now. I'm surprised he hasn't called you tonight to firm up your testimony."
But Simon had taken a detour to Roadhouse Inn. He meant to go to the Cowell house, but on his way, Tammy had called him and she'd said things he wanted to hear.
He faced her now in the shabby motel room, naked. She'd stripped him down when she came in the room.
She wore a black lace bra, a slip of g-string panties, garter belt, black stockings and three inch black heels.
Her eyes narrowed as he moved towards her. "You can't touch me tonight, Simon," she whispered. "That will be your punishment for making me wait so long."
He groaned. His erection was hard as a rock and he was ready to burst. As he was almost upon her,
one of her hands shot out and held his shoulder firmly. He smelled her strong perfume, as she said, "You can look, but you can't touch."
Her other hand came across and shoved both cups of her bra lower to show her large, brown nipples.
He groaned again and touched his groin. "Then, can you get me off Tammy? Please..."
Slowly, she lifted her heavy black hair and let it drop. Her hand meandered to her nipple, while her finger circled it slowly.
Simon watched in fascination. None of his other women had been into sex like this. Most of them even wanted the lights off.
She smiled, as if reading his thoughts. "The longer you make me wait for your company, Simon, the longer you'll have to wait." She pinched the nipple and sucked in a breath.
Her hand shot out and guided his hand to her mound. "See how wet that is?" she said softly, as he groaned again. "That's for you, Simon. Next time."
*****
Renee came downstairs an hour after first speaking with Meg. As she approached the kitchen she heard loud laughter.
Standing against the doorjamb, arms folded, she said, "Picture this."
Lex and Mark were arm wrestling, with Spence and Willie pounding the table. She watched Lex's blue shirt strain against his back muscles and she noticed he'd loosened his shirt and a few buttons were undone now. What an image, she thought.
She saw, even before he won, that Lex was stronger than Mark. "Bravo!" she said, before the men finally realized she was there.
"How's Meg?" Spence asked.
"She's good. She's coming down for a bite to eat soon."
"How was it?" Lex asked, while she noticed a slight slur to his voice.
"Went well," she replied briskly. "I'll tell you about it in the car. I drive."
On the way back to pick up her car at the university, they discussed Meg.
"She's definitely a PK Agent," Renee told Lex. "She paralyzed the father on the night of her brother's wake, along with smashing items on the mother's dresser."
"Interesting."
"And if that's not enough, she moved items downstairs one night while she was upstairs. Like a long distance PK. Then today, she managed to club some detective with an ashtray without even touching it."
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