by Leona Karr
Courtney was busy getting Jamie’s laundry ready for the washer when there was a knock at the door.
“You didn’t order any groceries for today, did you?” Devanna demanded as she went to answer it. “I’m not paying for all the extra stuff you’re buying.”
Courtney bit back a tart reply as her aunt opened the door, and froze with a baby blanket in her hand when she heard Neil’s cheery voice.
“Just thought I’d check on you ladies, and see how you weathered the storm.”
“My goodness, you didn’t need to put yourself out like that,” Devanna said quickly. “We’d stayed nice and dry. No damage to the houseboat at all.”
“That’s good news.”
“I guess you’re busy checking on all your renters.” Devanna made no move to invite him in.
“Only the special ones.”
Courtney came over to the door. “Won’t you come in, Neil?”
“Oh, yes, please do,” Devanna said quickly, stepping back. “We don’t have handsome gentlemen calling on us very often. I forgot my manners.”
Courtney ignored her aunt’s chatter as her eyes settled on Neil. He wore a tan raincoat, and his wavy, dark hair glistened with moisture. She felt a surging warmth just looking at him.
“What a nice surprise,” Courtney said.
“I’m not interrupting anything?”
“Not at all.”
She had played the birthday party over and over again in her mind, and even toyed with the idea of dropping by his office. She wasn’t sure he was interested in pursuing any relationship, but here he was, using the storm as an excuse to come by.
“I was just starting the baby’s washing.”
“She’s such a good little mother,” Devanna said unexpectedly with a notable lack of warmth in the compliment.
“Yes, I know.” He smiled at Courtney. “My sister was very impressed with her and the baby. And so was I.”
Courtney felt her cheeks grow warm as he centered arresting brown eyes on her.
“Would you like some coffee?” Devanna asked rather abruptly, as if she didn’t like the way the conversation was going.
“Thanks. It’s supposed to warm up, but there’s a chill in the air this morning.”
He sat down on the couch and Courtney took a place beside him, letting her aunt do the honors of getting the coffee.
“There’s been a lot of damage from the high waters. The morning paper is full of unfortunate damage. And deaths.” A shadow crossed his face. “Some of them quite close to home.”
“Not anyone in your family?” Courtney asked quickly, her chest tightening.
“Not immediate family,” he assured her. “One of my employees, Harold Jensen.”
Courtney put a hand up to her throat. “Oh, no.”
“You knew him?” Neil gave her a look of total surprise.
“I…I didn’t really know him, but Aunt Devanna did. He came by to see her just the other day.” Courtney shot a look at her aunt. “Mr. Jensen worked for your late husband, didn’t he, Devanna?”
“Not that I remember,” she answered flatly.
Neil looked puzzled. “Jensen must have remembered you, Devanna. Why would he take the time to look you up? How did he know you were here?”
Devanna shrugged and continued to look disinterested in the conversation.
“He said he was working for your company.” Courtney repeated what Jensen had told her. “He saw the rental records on the houseboats, and recognized the name. He wasn’t sure he had the right Devanna Davenport, but what he told me matched my aunt’s background.”
“And you had a good visit with him?” Neil asked Devanna.
“I wasn’t here when he came by,” she answered with a disinterested shrug. “Courtney told me about him, but he never came back.”
“He was very friendly,” Courtney said, remembering the man’s gentle caring way. “How did he die?”
“His body washed up on the far end of the lake during last night’s storm.”
“He drowned?” Courtney gasped.
“No, he didn’t die from drowning.” Neil’s jaw tightened and his eyes darkened. “Jensen was shot.”
“Shot?” Courtney echoed as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.
“How could such a thing happen?” Devanna asked, watching Neil’s face carefully.
“The police aren’t sure. They don’t know how long his body has been in the water—but not long. Jensen didn’t have any next of kin, so they called me to identify the body.” Neil’s voice thickened with emotion. “He was the nicest guy you’d ever want to know.”
“Did Jensen have money?” Devanna asked, her eyes suddenly alive with interest. “Some people go around without a dime in their pockets, but have a bank account that would choke a horse.”
“No.” Neil shook his head. “Jensen lived modestly. The police are baffled about a motive.”
“He might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Devanna offered. “It happens that way sometimes.”
“I’m really sorry, Neil,” Courtney said gently, and impulsively took his hand. It was obvious Neil had a deep affection for the deceased man. “Is there anything we can do?”
“I’m not sure. He doesn’t have a close family. I’m the one who will have to make arrangements as soon as the police release the body.”
“How soon will that be?”
“There’ll be a complete investigation. Unless he committed suicide, someone killed him and dumped his body in the lake.”
Courtney frowned. “He didn’t seem the least bit despondent to me. He gave the impression he was enjoying life.”
“I don’t believe for a minute that he killed himself.” Neil straightened his shoulders as if fighting back a surge of anger. “Well, I guess I’d better get back to the office. If you two are all right—”
“We’re fine,” Courtney assured him. “I’m very sorry about Mr. Jensen’s tragic end.”
“It’s a mystery, isn’t it?” Devanna commented with a knowing nod.
“I’ll tell Detective McGrady that you visited with Jensen recently, Courtney. He may want to talk with you. Something that Jensen said might be of help.”
“I can’t think of anything, but I’d be glad to answer his questions.”
“Good,” he said and turned to leave.
“Come again,” Devanna invited in one of her rare efforts at hospitality.
Something in her eyes didn’t echo the invitation, and Courtney knew with certainty that for some reason her aunt did not like Neil.
“I’ll walk out to the steps with you,” Courtney offered. She didn’t want him going away without some personal exchange between them. Just seeing him again had ignited feelings she’d been trying to dismiss in her daydreams about him. Common sense told her she’d been warned not to get involved, but when he gave her that engaging smile, she forgot to be sensible.
Once out of her aunt’s hearing, Neil ordered, “Tell me the truth now. What’s going on with you? You look beat down to a stub.”
“I didn’t do well handling the storm. I hated being shut in close quarters. The heavy downpour and constant motion got on my nerves.”
As she looked around, she couldn’t believe how high the houseboat was floating on the water. She shivered. What if the mooring chain had given way and the houseboat had been sent crashing against the shoreline?
“There’s no need to be scared,” he quickly reassured her, seeing a flicker of fright in her eyes. “You’re safe enough inside the houseboat.”
“I’ve never been around water very much. A city swimming pool is challenge enough for me, and I only tried it a couple of times.” She felt a little foolish that she’d expressed her fears.
“You seemed to enjoy taking a spin in my boat,” he reminded gently, trying to lighten her mood. Growing up in Manitou, water was such a part of his life, he couldn’t imagine someone being terrified of it.
“Oh, I did enjoy myself,” sh
e assured him. “I think the constant floating sensation beneath my feet wears me down.” She paused. “And there’s just something about the houseboat that I can’t quite define. I think it’s well named, Nevermore. That’s the way I feel about it.”
“Living on the water is a different experience,” he agreed. “But nothing to be afraid of.”
She visibly straightened her shoulders. “My imagination runs away from me sometimes. My mother used to say that I had a sixth sense about things when I was a little girl, and ever since I got here, I’ve been fighting some inner apprehension that I can’t quite define.” She gave a deprecating laugh. “I suppose it has something to do with my being a new mother. It’s natural, I guess, to worry whether you’re doing the right thing or not.”
“It can’t be easy raising a child on your own,” he observed. “But from what I see of Jamie, he seems to be thriving. And it’s obvious your aunt is willing to help with the baby. Why don’t you relax, and let her take over more?”
“I guess I should,” Courtney admitted. “She’s ready and willing any time I ask her.” Even when I don’t ask her.
“What is it?” he asked, seeing her frown.
“I think my aunt’s deep attachment to Jamie is interfering with her sleep. The other night she imagined that she heard him crying, and she got up in the middle of the night to get him. Either that, or she’s sleepwalking. I’ve decided to keep my door locked.”
“Probably a good idea,” he agreed. “I have to agree that your aunt’s a bit of a puzzle.”
“Thanks for coming. I…I really appreciate it.”
“Maribeth would like to see you again—and so would I.”
A pleased smile hovered on her lips, and he was tempted to pull her close, but before he could give in to the temptation, she stepped back.
She didn’t say anything, but he got the message. Her pleasure in seeing him wasn’t going to be a green light for any romantic advances. Normally, he would have shrugged it off. He’d enjoyed the friendship of many women he’d never dated romantically, and it certainly made sense to include Courtney in that category. The problem was, he didn’t feel very sensible. Just being with her stirred desires that went beyond platonic.
He cleared his throat and said as casually as he could, “Goodbye then. And anytime you need anything, let me know. That’s what friends are for. Agreed?”
“I could use a friend.” Courtney wondered if it would be possible to enjoy a friendly relationship with Neil and still remain free of a tangled romantic situation that could break her heart. Falling for Neil Ellsworth had all kinds of Danger signs posted around it.
“Good. It’s settled then. I’ll be in touch. Once I’ve finalized arrangements for Jensen, I’ll let you know, in case you’d like to go.”
“Yes, I would very much like to pay my respects.”
A funeral wasn’t exactly Neil’s idea of the perfect date, but he was glad there would be an occasion to see Courtney again.
As he drove back to the office, he couldn’t help but wonder why Jensen made an effort to see Devanna when she denied remembering him. He had been a quiet man who lived simply and privately. The thought that someone would shoot him and dump his body in the lake was unbelievable, and Neil’s hands tightened on the steering wheel just thinking about it.
When Courtney went back in the houseboat, Devanna was getting ready to take off in her van again.
“Going shopping?”
“Don’t need anything,” the older woman answered flatly.
She never brought back any packages, or asked Courtney if she needed anything picked up from the stores. What she did with her time away from the houseboat was a mystery.
Even though Courtney could have taken drives in her own car, the long trip to Manitou had blunted her pleasure in being behind the wheel. Also, there was the matter of spending money unnecessarily on gas. The drain on her finances was already more than she had expected. Devanna never seemed to be around when the groceries were delivered.
NEIL WAS IN HIS OFFICE, a few days later, when Detective McGrady came in to see him. He was a ruddy-faced, middle-aged man who was tall and loose-jointed. He looked as if he might have his horse tethered around the corner of the building. His relaxed manner gave the impression he had all the time in the world to listen to anything anyone had to say. A family man with six children of his own, McGrady had the trust of the community when it came to handling out-of-control youths, or getting to the bottom of more serious crimes.
“Hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“Not at all. Have a seat,” Neil offered, anxious to find out what, if anything, the detective had learned about Jensen’s death.
As McGrady sat down in a chair, he spread his long legs out in front of him and gazed around the office. “You’ve fixed it up since your dad had it. I remember coming in here when our first kid was born.”
Neil wasn’t fooled. All the homey chat was just a warm-up. He smiled and waited.
“Well, now, this whole thing about Jensen is a shocker, isn’t it? Everybody says he was a real nice guy.”
“He was,” Neil said firmly.
“Not an enemy in the world? Is that what you’re saying? Interesting?” He rubbed his chin. “Well, then he must have shot himself somehow, and the storm pulled his body out into the lake.”
“I don’t believe it. No, he didn’t commit suicide. Jensen was more well-adjusted and satisfied with life than anyone else in the office. He was always calming the rest of us when we got in a rage.”
“Well, now that leaves us with a bit of a puzzle, doesn’t it?”
“Who in the world would want to shoot a nice guy like Harold?” Neil shook his head. “None of it makes sense. He didn’t have any enemies. It must have been an accidental shooting.”
“An accident, eh? I guess we’ll know when the coroner’s report comes in.” McGrady seemed to ponder the idea. “How do you think a thing like that could happen?”
“Perhaps he was with someone, maybe they were cleaning guns, and one went off.”
“And then what?” McGrady gently prodded.
Neil knew he was grasping at straws, but he couldn’t bring himself to believe that someone would deliberately point a gun at Jensen and shoot the man to death.
“Whoever was with him got scared,” Neil speculated. “Thought he might be accused, and decided to dump the body in the lake, and remain quiet.”
“Mmm, know anybody who was a hunting buddy of Jensen’s?”
“That’s what’s puzzling. Harold talked a lot about going fishing, but I can’t remember him mentioning hunting. Other people in the office might. He was friendly with everyone. Went out of his way to be nice to people.” Neil thought about Jensen’s visit to see Devanna—who didn’t even remember him. He started to mention it to McGrady, but the detective’s pager went off before he could.
McGrady listened, and his relaxed, easygoing manner disappeared. He was instantly on his feet, and headed out of the office. “Robbery. Capital Bank around the corner.”
As the detective bolted out of the building, Neil tried to keep up with his long stride. A small branch bank stood on the corner of a busy intersection a block away.
When they reached the scene, McGrady darted inside the bank while Neil remained outside. The parking lot was full of cars, and policemen on foot were canvassing all the vehicles. Almost immediately, there was a traffic jam as the word spread that the police were checking every car and pedestrian in the area.
No suspects were picked up. Neil returned to the office without seeing McGrady again.
The evening news broadcast gave a detailed account of the robbery. A videotape showed a man with gray hair and full mustache, wearing a cowboy hat, entering the bank almost as soon as it opened.
The newscaster reported that the police believed the robber was familiar with the routine because he waited until the security guard was getting his usual cup of coffee before he came up behind him and silently dro
pped the guard with a gun butt to the head.
Two cashiers and one customer weren’t even aware of the unfolding drama until the robber flashed his gun, and successfully made his escape with a shopping bag filled with money.
Watching a clip of the video on television, Neil had a strange feeling there was something familiar about the man’s figure, but he couldn’t recall having seen him before.
HUMMING THE SONG “Happy Days Are Here Again,” she sat in front of the small locker, and returned a gray wig, mustache and Buzz’s cowboy hat. After emptying out the shopping bag, she began counting bundles of money. The haul was more than she’d hoped for.
She laughed excitedly. “Now I can get on the move again. It’s time.”
Buzz agreed with her. He reminded her that the unexpected discovery of Jensen’s body could be a problem if the police discovered he’d made a second visit to see Devanna.
Smiling, she hugged herself. As soon as she could arrange things, she’d disappear again, and this time she’d have their baby boy with her.
Chapter Five
After Neil made arrangements for Harold Jensen’s burial at the Chapel on the Hill mortuary and cemetery, he advised Courtney that he’d be happy to drive her and Devanna to the services.
“You go,” Devanna told Courtney when they discussed the matter. “I’ll babysit.”
“Are you sure?” Courtney couldn’t understand her aunt’s complete indifference to a man who’d taken the trouble to come and see her. She had showed no interest at all in his tragic death and waved aside any discussion of it.
“Of course, I’m sure.” She bent over the baby, cooing, “You want to stay here with me, don’t you, cutie-pie?”
Courtney hesitated. She’d never been comfortable going off and leaving Jamie with just anybody. But, of course, Devanna was family, Courtney reminded herself, and clearly devoted to the baby.
Obviously, Jamie would be better off staying at the houseboat with Devanna if she really didn’t want to go. Courtney had been a little worried about managing him at the funeral anyway.
Services were scheduled for ten o’clock in the morning, and Neil came by at nine o’clock to pick her up. She’d been wavering about what she should wear, and finally settled on dark blue slacks and a matching fitted tunic. She wore a simple gold necklace and tiny earrings, and her fair hair pulled back into a smooth twist.