With my car in gear, I drove around Lawrenceville. There was too much on my mind to sit at home and think. I found myself outside of Norma’s house. Unsure if I should pull into the driveway, or keep driving, I felt the steering wheel turn under my hands. She always said we were welcome to stop by anytime, I was about to find out if she meant it.
As my finger found the doorbell, the door opened. “Hi dear, come on in.”
“I’m sorry to bother you… I just… I was in the neighborhood and…”
“Oh, nonsense, come on in.” Norma opened the door wider for me to walk past her. “I’m happy you’re here, it’s no bother at all.”
“Really?”
“You’re welcome here anytime. I’ve told all of you girls that.”
“Thanks, Norma. I wasn’t sure if it was too weird to just show up.”
“Not weird at all. Do you want a cup of tea?”
“Oh, that would be lovely.”
I followed Norma into the living room, where she motioned for me to sit down. “Get comfortable and I’ll be back.”
Framed photographs of flowers filled the walls of Norma’s living room. I hadn’t noticed the lack of family photos before. I let my body relax into the sofa as I waited for Norma to arrive with the tea. The house was quiet and gave me the much-needed peace I had been searching for.
“Here we are, dear.” Norma set the teapot and cups on the coffee table and poured a cup and handed it to me. “Are you alright? You look like something is bothering you.”
“Thank you.” I held the warm cup between my hands. “I’m okay. It’s just been a long day.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” She picked up her cup and sat down in the chair closest to me.
“Well, I’d love to… but… it’s confidential… you know, work stuff.” I took a sip of the hot tea.
“I understand. You must have so much to deal with.”
“I do, but I like my job. I like being able to help people.”
“Yes, I bet that is nice.” She took a drink. “I used to like helping people, too.”
“What did you do for work?”
“Oh, you know. I guess it was kind of the same thing you do.”
“You were a social worker? I can see that in you. You’re so easy to talk to.”
“Thank you, dear. So are you.” Her smile pushed up her glasses.
“It’s just that… oh, I don’t know how to say it.” My eyes went to the mug in my hands. “It’s just hard to know about all the awful people in the world.”
“Oh, honey, don’t I know it.” She reached over and patted my knee with her hand. “Such a sad world we live in. It’s nice to have good friends.” The smile on her face warmed me as much as the tea.
“It is nice, probably the only thing that helps on days like today. Speaking of friends, where are Maggie and the girls?”
“Maggie took the girls to a therapist out of town today. It was something the court asked her to do. They’ve been gone most of the day, and I’m not sure when they’ll be back. Maggie said something about taking them to the mall and letting them get some new clothes.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Maggie seems like a really great mom. It’s so nice that you let them move in, it must be such a relief for her.”
“It’s been so nice having them here. It used to get so lonely before I met you girls. I’m grateful every day when I think about our group.”
“It has been nice getting to know you all. It sounds strange, but you ladies are the only friends I have.” I felt my cheeks flush. “That’s pretty pathetic, isn’t it?”
“Not at all, not after everything you’ve been through. You’re a strong woman, Val. It must have been so scary for you in a new town, all alone.”
“It wasn’t, really. It was lonely, but Gabriel helped me through some of the hardest times.”
“I’m glad you found comfort in his companionship. Pets are one of the special things we often take for granted.”
“That’s true. I don’t know what I would have done without his love.” I felt a tear roll down my cheek. “Today is my son’s birthday. He’s twenty, no longer a boy… and I missed all of it.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” She put her hand out for me to take.
“Today has always been the hardest day of the year for me. I think back to everything I missed out on and wonder if he had a good life. I wonder where I would be if I was allowed to keep him, if I would have had more kids, or if I would have found someone to spend my life with.” My eyes went to my engagement ring. “I mean, I have someone wonderful now, but what would life have been like if he wasn’t stolen from me?”
“I believe everything happens for a reason. I know how crass that sounds, but I think your son had an amazing life. I know it in my heart. You will find him, and you will learn about the loving parents he had, and all those years of worrying will be over.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Trust me. I know when you find your son, you'll be grateful he had the life he did and not the one with your mom and her awful husband. If he hadn’t been taken from you, you would have never left home. He would have grown up in a toxic environment. I can’t imagine the pain this caused you, but I know it was for all the right reasons. Now, when you get to see him, he will meet his incredibly smart, put-together mother. And he will love you for it.”
I wiped the tears off my nose with the sleeve of my cardigan, the same one I wiped my prints off Seth’s door just hours before. “Hmmm.” The thought of me being well put together forced out a laugh. “Thank you, Norma. I’ve never talked about this with anyone before who understood my pain.”
“Oh, honey, I understand more than you know.”
I tilted my head waiting for her to continue.
She smiled. “I’m so glad you came by this afternoon.”
“Me, too. A talk with you was just what I needed.”
When I left Norma’s house, I noticed a car turn onto the road. It looked like I had just missed Maggie and the girls. The time with Norma felt a lot like the time with my gram. Her calmness always seemed to ground me. Our visit was just what I needed to shake the stress from the day away. I was glad Lexi wasn’t there. I’m not sure I could face her, not yet anyway.
Chapter Nine
“You’ll never guess what happened today.” Tim hadn’t even shut the door before he finished talking.
I had an indication about what he was going to tell me, but he was right, I could never guess. “I have no idea.”
His words came out in spurts as he caught his breath. “I was sent to do a welfare check… on Seth.”
I crossed my arms as I waited for him to continue.
“You know, Jane’s Seth?”
“Okay…”
“He was dead.”
“Oh, no.” My expression didn’t change.
“Oh, no? That’s all you’ve got? I’ve been waiting all day to tell you about this.”
“You have? Why”
“Are you for real? Val, it’s Seth… as in Jane and Carmen…”
“I know. Sorry, it’s just been a crazy day. So, how did he die? Where was he?”
“He was home. I said we had to do a welfare check.”
“Oh, sorry … so, how’d he die?”
“He was shot… in the back of the head. It looks like he didn’t even see it coming. The TV was on. We checked with his neighbors, but no one even heard a gunshot.”
“That’s strange, isn’t it? How could they not hear a gunshot in the same building?”
“How do you know they are in the same building?” Tim raised his right eyebrow.
“What?” I felt my heart drop. “Oh, I just assumed… from the stories Jane told me.”
“Oh, okay.” He scratched his head. “He was murdered. That kind of thing never happens in Lawrenceville.”
“What does that mean for you? More work? A big investigation? Longer hours?”
“All of the above. But I’m excited a
bout it. It will be a good experience in case we ever move out of this place. Good for the old resume.” He stood against the counter with his arms crossed.
“Wow… so some guy’s death is good for your career?” I felt my eyebrows lift.
“Well, when you put it that way, it doesn’t sound as noble.”
I walked over to him and pulled him into a hug. “No, I’m messing with you. Seth was a dirtbag, so use him as a steppingstone. No judgments here.”
Tim took a step back. “I’m confused. I thought he was okay in your book? You know, since Jane came and confessed to you.”
“I still don’t think he was a very good person. Hey… do you think Ginger had anything to do with this? I mean, I did give her his address.”
“From what I saw, I don’t think a woman is behind this.”
“Oh, so now you’re noble and sexist.”
“What? Women don’t usually use guns to kill… that’s all I meant. Are we fighting? What’s going on here?”
“No, silly… I’m messing with you.”
“Oh, alright… you just don’t seem like yourself today.”
“Sorry… it’s a hard day for me. It’s Gabriel’s birthday.” I bent down and picked up Gabriel and let my tears fall on to his soft, black fur. “He’s twenty today. I missed all of his childhood and now all of his teen years.”
“Ah, Val, I’m so sorry. I should have known what today was.”
“How would you have known? It’s not like I have it written on the calendar. I try to just go through the day as quiet as possible… but today was different.” Gabriel jumped to the floor and circled my legs, reminding me it was dinner time.
“I know, but I love you, and I should have done something to help take your mind off things.”
“No, I don’t think there is anything you can do to take my mind off it. It’s just one of those things. Unless...”
“Unless? Unless what?” Tim put his hand to his chin.
“Unless we find him and I get to meet him. Then, I think I could get through the day.”
“I did start looking after our last talk. So far, I haven’t been able to find anything out. Do you have any idea what adoption agency your mom worked with?”
“No, they never told me anything. When I lived at home, I looked through my mom’s paperwork, but I never found anything. She probably hid it at Chad’s office.”
“Well, we can start with the name of the home you were sent to stay at. Maybe someone there remembers the name of the adoption agency, or maybe there is only one in the area.”
“Hmmm… I never thought of that. I wonder if any of the same people work there. Twenty years is a long time to work in one place.”
“It is, but it’s been done before.” His laugh settled the butterflies in my stomach.
“The place was called Sawyer’s Home for Unwed Girls. It was in Rockingdale, New Hampshire.”
“Have you looked them up to see if they’re still in business?”
“No.” I shook my head and picked up my necklace, moving the broken heart along the chain. “I can’t believe I never thought about doing that.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, Val. You weren’t ready before.”
“I’ve always wanted him with me… I just wasn’t ready for the disappointment. His, not mine.”
“Val, I don’t think he would be disappointed by you. You can only hope for the best. It doesn’t do any good to always prepare for the worst.”
“Oh, my gosh… you sound like a Hallmark card.”
“Ha-ha, very funny.” Tim kissed the top of my head. “Want to see if we can find the place? Where’s your iPad?”
“We don’t have to do it now. I want to hear more about your day.”
“It can wait. Today is your day. Let’s try to get you closer to finding your son.” He walked over to the table and picked up my iPad. “Here.” He handed it to me. “Unlock this thing for Detective Phillips.”
“Oh, good, I’m glad the detective is here.” My tear-stained cheeks lifted with another smile as I held my finger to the home button to unlock the device.
After just seconds with the iPad, Tim’s head dropped. “Oh, no.”
“What?”
“They closed down five years ago.” He scrolled the page. “It says here all of the records older than seven years were destroyed.”
“Figures. It never comes easy.”
“No, don’t get discouraged. We just have to find another way. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” His hand covered his mouth as his eyes widened.
“Wow, that escalated quickly.” I laughed as I bent down to pet Gabe. “Don’t worry, buddy, I’ll save you.”
“Poor choice of words. Sorry, buddy. Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”
“Not so fast, Detective Phillips.” I took the iPad out of his hands and gave him a long, tight hug. “Thank you for trying to turn my day around.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t find any answers for you. Just be patient with me. I will find him.”
“I know you will.” My lips met his for a quick kiss. “Now, let’s talk about your day. I want to hear all about the investigation.”
“Well, there’s not a whole lot I can share.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s still an open investigation.”
“Oh, come on, who am I going to tell?”
“Val, you know the rules. I can tell you it was close to a spotless crime scene.”
“Spotless? I doubt Seth’s place was spotless… his hygiene… or lack of it…”
Tim tilted his head. “Hmmm.”
“What?”
“You really didn’t like this guy, did you?”
“No, I guess not. Sorry. Go on.”
“The place wasn’t spotless, it was a mess. But whoever did this knew what they were doing. They didn’t leave anything behind, at least not that we were able to find.”
“So, if there is no evidence at the scene, what do you do from there?”
“They sent his body to the medical examiner for an autopsy. I’ll go back to his apartment and look around. Maybe find something we missed today. And then all I can really do is wait for the report and see if there are any clues.”
“Clues? What kind of clues?”
“You know… like the kind of gun that was used. How long he'd been sitting there, if he had any drugs in his system. The typical crime investigation stuff.”
“What about witnesses?”
“All the people we interviewed today said they didn’t hear or see anything out of the ordinary. I gave them my business card, maybe they’ll remember something as time passes, if not, then there are no witnesses.”
“Do you know who placed the welfare call?” I felt my heart rate increase.
“No, it was an anonymous tip. Some lady, but we do know it came from the payphone outside of Lawrenceville Pizza.”
I swallowed to push down the lump in my throat. “How do you know that?”
“That’s the easy part. It came up on the caller ID. It’s almost like she knew. We checked with the staff inside, but they said they didn’t notice anyone on the phone. It is kind of hidden out of the way, so it’s doubtful anyone saw her make the call.”
“Why would someone who was involved call it in? That seems pretty dumb. Maybe someone genuinely was worried about him.”
“Doubtful. They said he hadn’t shown up for work… he hasn’t worked in over a decade.”
“Well, maybe it does have to do with drugs… we know he had that job.”
Tim crossed his arms as he leaned back against the counter. “You think he was actively dealing drugs?”
“Don’t you? You searched his apartment, didn’t you find his stash or money?”
“No money, and just a couple boxes of Jane’s old pills, oh, and some marijuana, probably just enough for his personal use though.”
“Couldn’t the killer have taken the drugs? If he owed someone money, wouldn’t they have taken his stash?”<
br />
“Probably, but there was nothing out of place. It appeared he was just sitting watching TV and didn’t even know anyone came inside.”
“No forced entry?”
“Nope, the door was unlocked with no signs of it being tampered with. Not even a fingerprint on it. They've either done this before or watched enough crime shows to know how not to leave a trail behind.”
“Have you been in contact with Ginger? I know you said it didn’t look like something a woman could have done… but don’t you think you should at least talk to her? I mean, she was at his place not that long ago trying to get information about Jane’s death.”
“Yeah, we’ll be talking to her, but I really don’t think it was her. We think it was probably a drug dealer or something. It would explain why no one in the building wants to talk to us.”
“Look at Mr. Confidentiality, spilling the beans so easily.”
His face shaded red. “Shit.”
“It’s alright, I won’t tell anyone.” I winked as I twisted my hair around my index finger.
“Maybe you should have been the detective. You’ve got a way of making people talk.”
“Or maybe it’s all those episodes of Snapped that make me think about things differently.”
“Whatever it is, you’re pretty amazing. I love you, Val.”
The idea they would be looking into the case was both comforting and unsettling. I wanted to know who stole my chance at ending Seth’s life, but I also hoped there were no witnesses who could place me there, or at the payphone. I had no idea how I would explain it to Tim, or anyone else. I’m just grateful Lawrenceville hadn’t invested in town-wide surveillance cameras. The room started to spin and go dark when I remembered seeing the blinking red lights at Lawrenceville pizza.
Chapter Ten
Seth’s murder was front page in the Village News. News around here travels as fast as gasoline ignites a fire. What wasn’t whispered about in the local grocery store always found its way into our only newspaper. Murder in Lawrenceville was big news, it wasn’t something that happened every day. The crime rate here kept the detectives in town asleep most of the time.
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