A New Attitude

by Charlotte Hughes

  All at once, she jerked back.

  Sam looked at her, noted the panic in her eyes. Damn, he’d rushed her. “Are you okay?” he asked, mentally chiding himself.

  She glanced away quickly. “I don’t know.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what to say…to think.”

  “Sometimes it’s better not to think.”

  She met his gaze. “I shouldn’t be doing this. Sam, I’m still legally married.”

  “I know you are,” he said, “and I know how seriously you take it, even if your husband doesn’t. But what we just did wasn’t wrong, Marilee. It’s not wrong to need simple human affection.”

  She looked at him. “Is that what that was?”

  “Not exactly.”

  She stared dumbly. “What then?”

  He sighed. “Dammit, Marilee, I’ve had a thing for you since high school. From the first time I laid eyes on you. But you only had eyes for Grady, the football hero. He screwed up royally when he let you go.” He shook his head. “I don’t know what to say. Only that I care for you. More than I’ve ever cared for a woman in my entire life,” he added. He looked at her, the expression on his face that of a man who fears he’s about to be booted out the door.

  Marilee pondered it. “I like you too, Sam, but I’m not foolish enough to jump from one relationship to another. I’ve been married sixteen years. I know what Grady did was wrong, but that doesn’t negate all the years I spent as his wife.” She paused. “My whole life has changed. I don’t know who I am, or where I belong. I don’t know if I’ll ever get my son back. I’m certainly in no position to get romantically involved with a man.”

  “I’m not trying to rush you, Marilee, although I know it seems that way. I couldn’t help myself just now.” He gazed at her. He just wanted her to tell him he had a chance with her. It was the first time in his life he’d considering begging a woman to care for him, and the experience was humbling. His voice trembled when he spoke. “I’ll promise you this, Marilee. If I’m ever lucky enough to win your love, it’ll be for keeps. No changing partners midstream.”

  She sat there for a moment, genuinely touched. “Do you know what that means to me? To hear you say those words after what Grady did to me?” Sam shook his head slightly. “It feels wonderful,” she said, “to know you care for me as you do.”

  He nodded. “But?”

  “It’s scary.”

  “Do you think I’m not scared, Marilee? Here I am going out on a limb, and I don’t know what’s going to happen with you and your husband.”

  She frowned. “What are you talking about? I’m finished with him.”

  He took her hand in his. “Things could change, babe. Don’t think that doesn’t have me worried.”

  Marilee was prevented from answering when the phone rang. Picking it up, she listened to the caller for a moment. “Irby. What do you want?”

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “No, I’m not okay. How do you think I am, after last night?”

  “Please don’t shout, Marilee.”

  “I’ll shout if I feel like it.”

  “Listen, Tom’s wife has been calling all morning.”

  “Imagine that,” she said, sarcasm slipping into her voice. “Don’t call me again. I don’t work for you anymore, remember?” She hung up.

  “Good for you,” Sam whispered.

  She looked at him. “Not really. Now I have to find another job. Do you know anybody who needs someone to bake cakes?”

  “Are you strapped for money?” Sam asked, suspecting she would never admit to it, not even to him.

  “I’m fine,” she said.

  The phone rang again. Marilee lifted it from the receiver and let it fall back. “I have to think,” she said.

  “Why don’t we talk over a cup of coffee,” Sam suggested. He stood, lifting her in his arms as he did so. She balked. “Hush,” he said. “I need to take a look at that ankle.”

  He carried her into the kitchen and sat her in a chair at the table, taking a moment to check her injury. “It’s still swollen,” he said, “but not as bad as last night. I’ll grab another ice pack from the freezer.” Once he’d retrieved it, as well as a couple of paper towels, he wrapped the ice pack and very gently placed it on her ankle. “Sit tight while I make coffee.”

  “I don’t have time to sit,” Marilee told him. “I have to act.”

  “First, we need a plan.” He thought about it while he waited for the coffee to finish dripping. Finally, he carried two steaming cups to the table.

  “Thank you,” Marilee said, hoping the coffee would clear her head. It was bad enough she had to worry about a dead body, a slight hangover and a bad ankle, but now she had the added stress of Sam kissing her senseless. Not to mention the embarrassment she felt for allowing Sam to witness her state of mind the evening before. She looked at him. “I’m sorry I went off the deep end last night. I really lost it there for a while.”

  “Don’t be silly. You had every right to be upset.”

  Once again, the telephone rang. Marilee hobbled over to it. She was not surprised to find Irby on the other end.

  “Marilee, we have to talk. The situation is desperate.”

  “Tell me, what part of I quit do you not understand?”

  “You can’t quit, I need you.”

  “You need to be locked up.”

  “Listen, Debbie thinks I’ve done something to make you quit.”

  “Smart woman, that Debbie. Goodbye.”

  “Wait! I’m willing to give you a substantial raise and a promotion,” he said.

  “And what will my new title be? Assistant body snatcher?”

  “You’ll make enough money so you don’t have to dress in that silly wig and play in a nightclub.”

  “It’s not a nightclub. Have a good life.” She slammed down the phone, and then took it off the hook. Suddenly, she paled. “Oh, no!”

  “What is it?”

  “My wig! Was I wearing it when I came in last night?”

  He shook his head. “Your hair was plastered to your scalp.”

  “Sam, I’ve lost my wig.”

  “You look better without it.”

  She shook her head. “You don’t understand. I was wearing it last night when I helped Irby. It must’ve fallen off somewhere. Ruby gave it to me. If the police find it, they might be able to trace it to her.”

  Sam nodded. “You’re right, we do have to find it. Could it have fallen off at the girlfriend’s house?”

  “I don’t know. I was pretty upset at the time.”

  He looked thoughtful. “Here’s what we’ll do. You follow me out to where you left the car. Once I find it, you drive away, and I’ll report the accident on my cell phone. After I look for the wig.”

  Marilee felt a sense of dread. As much as she didn’t want to return to the scene of the accident, she knew it was the only way.

  She dressed quickly. Sam decided not to take the time to go home and change clothes, although it was obvious he’d slept in his jeans and shirt; instead, he finger-combed his hair and decided it would have to do for now. He and Marilee had more pressing matters.

  They were on their way out the door when a tall man with graying hair came up the front walk. “Excuse me,” he said. “Are you Marilee Abernathy?”

  Marilee sucked her breath in sharply. He was obviously a detective. She’d been found out. “Are you from the police department?”

  The man looked surprised. “No, ma’am. I’m Ed Rogers. Your attorney asked me to do a home study with regard to your son. You were expecting me today, weren’t you?”

  Marilee felt her stomach tighten and feared she would have another anxiety attack on the spot. The child advocate! Of all times for him to show up. “Uh, no,” she managed to say.

  “Mr. Radford didn’t call you? He’s the one who scheduled the appointment.”

  “I haven’t heard from my attorney.”

  “Have I come at a bad time?”

  “Uh, w
ell—”

  Sam stuck out his hand. “Mr. Rogers, I’m Sam Brewer, Mrs. Abernathy’s neighbor,” he added. “Mrs. Abernathy has just learned that a dear friend of hers was in an automobile accident last night. She’s too upset to drive so I’m taking her to check on him. We thought you were the police, here to notify us.”

  Marilee was relieved that Sam had come up with a good story on such short notice.

  “I’m sorry to hear about your friend,” Rogers said. “Is it serious?”

  Marilee realized she was trembling. “I’m afraid so.”

  “We can certainly reschedule, Mrs. Abernathy.” He reached into his pocket for his business card. “Why don’t you call me when it’s convenient.” He turned toward his car.

  Marilee and Sam exchanged looks. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  They waited until the man had pulled out of the driveway and started down the street before climbing into separate vehicles. Marilee’s palms were wet as she gripped the steering wheel. She could wring Tate Radford’s neck for not calling her, but she couldn’t worry about that right now. She had to find her wig and do something about Tom’s body.

  THEY HAD DRIVEN A DISTANCE when Marilee began to wonder if she would ever find the site. Suddenly, she spied the skid marks she’d made in the gravel the night before, and the flattened weeds on the side of the road. She pulled over and parked.

  “This is the place,” she told Sam once he’d climbed from his truck and stepped up to her window.

  “Okay, I’ll have a quick look.” He walked over to the side of the ditch and gazed down, looking this way and that. He climbed downward into the ditch and looked around. He saw the wig as he started up.

  Marilee sighed her relief when he handed it to her. “Oh, thank goodness.”

  “I’m afraid I have bad news,” Sam said. “The car is gone.”

  Marilee gaped at him. “What?”

  “There’s no car and no body.”

  Marilee climbed from her car and stood at the side of the ditch. She suddenly felt dizzy. “I have to call Irby.”

  Sam retrieved the cell phone from his truck and handed it to her. She dialed the number to the funeral home. Irby picked up on the first ring. “Oh, Marilee, I’m so glad you called. You wouldn’t believe what’s happened. Debbie’s leaving me. She thinks you and I are having an affair. She smelled your perfume on me last night, but she didn’t say anything until just now.”

  Marilee gave a snort. “You and me having an affair? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “Thanks, Marilee. My self-esteem just dropped another notch.”

  “I can’t worry about your manly pride right now, Irby. We have more pressing problems. The car is gone.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. And Tom Bramley’s body is nowhere to be found.”

  “My life is over,” he moaned into the phone. “My wife is packing her bags as we speak, says I’ll never see my children again, and when the police find out about this, my business will be ruined.”

  “One thing at a time,” Marilee said. “We have to tell Debbie the truth.”

  “She’ll kill me.”

  “At this point you have nothing to lose. I’m on my way.”

  “Marilee, wait—”

  For the fourth time that day, she hung up on Irby.

  “Want me to go with you?” Sam asked.

  Marilee shook her head and handed him the cell phone. “I got myself into this, and I’m going to take care of it once and for all.”

  “Okay, but call me first chance you get.”

  MARILEE ARRIVED AT THE FUNERAL HOME in record time, only to find Debbie carrying suitcases to her car. Marilee climbed from her own car and limped over. “Debbie, we have to talk.”

  “I have nothing to say to you, Marilee.” She glanced down. “What happened to your foot?”

  “I sprained my ankle last night.”

  “An acrobat, huh? Gee, how am I supposed to compete with that?”

  “Please, Debbie. You need to hear the truth.”

  “The truth? Okay, question number one. Were you with my husband last night?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “And the two of you have been whispering on the phone all morning. Don’t try to deny it. I picked up the extension, and I specifically heard Irby say how much he needed you. Not only that, he smelled of your perfume when he finally came home last night. How can you steal another woman’s husband after what Grady did to you?”

  “You’ve got it all wrong, and if you’re any kind of friend you’ll hear me out.”

  “Okay, Marilee, you and Irby have five minutes.”

  They found him in his office with his head on the desk. “Oh, Marilee, thank God you’re here!”

  Debbie offered her a bright smile. “Seems Irby’s glad to see you. Isn’t that special?” She turned for the door.

  Marilee blocked her exit. “Sit down and listen, dammit!” Shocked, Debbie did as she was told. Marilee turned to Irby. “Start talking, buster.”

  “You don’t expect me to tell her the truth.”

  “She’s your wife, she deserves to know.”

  “She’ll kill me.”

  “She’ll have to take a number,” Marilee said sweetly. She turned to Debbie. “Before we tell you what really happened last night, I want to say how disappointed I am in you for even thinking I’d have an affair with your husband. Puh-lease!”

  Debbie seemed to take offense. She stood and planted her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with my husband?”

  “That’s what I want to know,” Irby said.

  “Shut up, Irby,” his wife said.

  “There is nothing wrong with your husband, I’m just not interested. For goodness’ sake, Debbie, he’s like a brother to me. Okay, Irby, you have the floor.”

  He remained quiet.

  “Time’s up. If you won’t tell her, I will. Debbie, you’d better sit back down.”

  Marilee began. Five minutes later Debbie wore a look of horror. She walked over to her husband’s desk and slapped his baseball cap off his head. “How could you?”

  “I know it was wrong, honey, but I panicked.” He retrieved his cap and put it back on his head.

  “He was also a little drunk at the time.” Marilee didn’t bother to mention she’d drunk a couple of beers herself.

  “Why did you allow him to talk you into it?” Debbie demanded.

  “He blackmailed me.” Marilee told her about her night job and how she was trying to make extra money to replenish her savings account after using most of it to pay her lawyer. “Irby threatened to tell everyone in town I was working in a nightclub if I didn’t help him. I was afraid it might stand in the way of my getting Josh back.”

  Debbie slapped the cap off Irby’s head once again. This time he didn’t bother to pick it up off the floor. “Of all the low-down, rotten things to do to Marilee. I don’t even like you anymore, Irby Denton.” She turned to Marilee. “Can you ever forgive me? It’s just, well, after Irby called me a rag mop—” Tears filled her eyes. “And he kept comparing me to you, and you kept coming out on top. Oh, Marilee, I am so sorry. So very sorry.”

  The women hugged.

  Irby sighed his relief. “Thank God that’s settled.”

  “Shut up, Irby,” they said in unison.

  “Where do you suppose the car and body are now?” Debbie asked.

  Marilee shook her head. “Perhaps someone saw the car and notified the police.”

  “Tom’s wife would have been told by now,” Irby said, “and she would have called us.” He shrugged. “I checked the hospital. Guy at the desk said it was a slow night, only a handful of people in the emergency room. By the way, Esmerelda Cunningham was one of them.”

  “Esmerelda is in the hospital?” Marilee asked. “Did anyone say what was wrong with her?”

  “No, but I was told she was being a real pain in the butt. Don’t worry, she’s too mean to die.” He paused. “I a
lso checked with the morgue. Nothing.”

  Debbie sighed. “This is crazy. What are we going to do?”

  “There’s nothing to do,” Marilee replied, “but wait.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  MARILEE WAS PACING THE FLOOR when the telephone rang. She snatched it up, hoping it was news about Tom. Irby spoke from the other end.

  “Marilee, that was a cruel thing to do to me,” he said. “If you were trying to get even with me, it worked.”

  “Irby, what are you talking about?”

  “The car isn’t gone, and you know it.”

  “What?”

  “It’s right where we left it.”

  “That’s ridiculous. I saw for myself it was gone.”

  “Well, obviously you went to the wrong spot.”

  “I did not go to the wrong spot, Irby Denton. The road was dug up, and the grass had been flattened from the weight of the car. Not only that, my wig was there.” She paused. “Are you drinking again?”

  “I’m completely sober. If you don’t believe me, come see the car for yourself. I’m standing here looking at it as we speak.”

  “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  When Marilee arrived, Irby was sitting in his truck smoking a cigarette. She knew he’d given up the habit years before, but under the circumstances she wasn’t surprised to find him puffing away. She was about ready to take up smoking as well.

  Irby climbed out of the truck, and they walked toward the ditch. He looked at her. “Well?”

  “Oh, my Lord. Is Tom’s body still inside?” When he nodded gravely, she continued, “Who would take a car with a dead person in it and then return it?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. Frankly, I don’t know what to think anymore, but it’s time I put an end to it. I’m calling the police.”

  “And telling them what?”

  “That I’ve been out looking for Tom ever since his wife called. That I saw the skid marks and checked it out. Simple as that.” He looked weary. “Go home, Marilee. I’ll take care of it.”

  She hesitated. “You’ll stay until the police arrive, right? Just in case somebody else decides to take the car?”