by Curry, Edna
Looking around the mess, Maggie said furiously, “Damn it, not again! Why can’t we have a day of peace, even for a funeral? Crooks have no respect for the dead.”
“What did you mean, again?” Luke asked Maggie.
Maggie said, “We came home to a mess like this after Bart’s funeral, too.”
Luke glanced at Candi who had turned white. “What’s the matter?”
Candi whispered, “That’s what Jolene said. That this all goes back to Daddy somehow.”
“Oh, dear,” Maggie said.
“What could she have meant?” Candi asked. “Daddy lived in Las Vegas, and now Jolene was there before she died, too.”
Amanda shook her finger at Candi. “I told Bart he’d bring us nothing but trouble running off to Sin City. The Bible says children suffer for the sins of the father, you know.”
“Oh, Gram!”
“Yeah. Don’t listen to me. Kids never listen to their elders anymore. I’m going to check out my stuff, if anything is left after those hoodlums got into it.” With an indignant sniff, Amanda stepped carefully around the strewn clothing on the floor and headed down the hall to her bedroom.
Jessie woke and started to whimper.
“We’ll miss our flight,” Candi said with a panic.
Luke took the baby. “Get what you can salvage and then let’s go. We can stop at your place in Minnesota for the rest or buy it.”
“Yes,” Maggie agreed. “I’ll deal with all of this after I get back.” They both hurried down the hall.
Luke changed Jessie and warmed her a bottle, then as she drank her milk, talked to Curt.
“Is it just Gram’s old fashioned morals talking, do you think? About the sins of the fathers, I mean?” Curt asked.
“I wonder. I don’t like coincidences. And that’s too much of one with the prior burglary after the father’s funeral.”
“Too damn much of a coincidence,” Curt agreed. “There has to be a connection.”
“I think so, too. If so, there’s probably a connection between the deaths, as well. Maybe the Minneapolis neighbor was right and her dad did come to a bad end instead of having an accident.”
“Could be,” Curt agreed. “I’ll find out what I can from the office.”
“Try to scare up a copy of the police report from the break-in after Bart’s funeral, too, okay?”
“Sure thing.” He left . A moment later the women appeared with their luggage.
Luke stood, handed Jessie to Candi, and took the luggage. “We have to leave or we’ll miss our flight.”
Chapter 12
The next morning, back in Minneapolis, Candi and her family stood at Jolene’s graveside and listened to Amanda’s pastor’s words of commitment. After the service they each took a red rose from the bouquet on her coffin and slowly walked away.
Candi gripped her coat close as the cold April wind whipped around them. The gray sky reflected her somber mood.
Neighbors and friends had turned out for the short service and the family greeted them and thanked them for coming. Candi noticed Luke talking to a white haired man using a cane. She recognized him as Ben Johnson, the man who lived across the street from Amanda. Her grandmother had introduced them when they’d arrived home last night. A couple of girls Jolene had attended high school with had also come.
Maggie, Amanda and Candi stopped at Bart’s grave for a moment and Maggie said, “I’m glad we were able to bring her home to rest beside her daddy. It just seems right, doesn’t it?”
Candi nodded and said, “Do you think she’s with Daddy now?”
“Of course she is,” Amanda declared. “The Bible is clear. We will see our loved ones again.”
Maggie said bitterly, “If so, when it’s my turn to go, I’m going to ask Bart if he ever regretted leaving me and the girls for his silly gambling. Whether he still thinks it was worth the sacrifice. I share the blame, though. I should have gone with him.”
Candi’s head snapped toward her mother. “Daddy didn’t just leave you? He asked you to go, too?”
Maggie nodded. “But I was so bitter about his wanting to live in Las Vegas, I couldn’t agree. I was afraid the gambling would become a habit and would take over our lives. He swore it wouldn’t, but I didn’t trust him. I guess I should have. We’d at least have all been together.”
Candi swallowed her anger. She’d blamed her father for deserting them for so many years, only to learn he hadn’t. The past was gone now, never to return. She hugged Maggie. “Try to let it go, Mom. Bitterness will eat you up. For your health’s sake, forgive him and try to forget.”
Maggie nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I try, Candi. Honestly, I do try to forgive him and myself. I don’t think I’m succeeding, though.”
“I know. For what it’s worth, Jolene never believed he was involved in anything illegal in Las Vegas. She firmly believed Daddy was a good man, through and through.”
“I know. Jolene saw the best in him. I wish I could, too.”
Candi sighed. “Maybe she was too trusting. That might have contributed to getting her killed.”
“It’s not right for her to have died so young. I know it’s wrong to hate, too, but I can’t help it. I hate whoever killed her. I hope they rot in jail forever.”
“The FBI will catch them, Mom.” Candi hugged her again. She wished she were as confident the agents would catch the killers as she’d said she was.
She hated to think Luke might leave her soon. She’d gotten so used to having him nearby. She depended on him for so much and missed him when he was out of her sight.
God, she realized with a jolt, she was in love with him! How could she have fallen for a man who moved around the country wherever a government agency sent him?
She couldn’t love such a man, no matter how much he resembled the wonderful hero in her mystery novel.
This was real life! She needed stability, especially now, if she got custody of Jessie. And she had to! Jolene had counted on her to take care of her baby.
She pushed the thought of loving Luke aside and said, “Come on. It’s starting to rain. Let’s go home.”
Arm in arm, they hurried through the cold rain back to their cars, where Luke and Curt waited with Jessie.
***
Maggie drove and Amanda insisted on sitting in the back with her granddaughter. “We’re flying back to Florida tomorrow. I need to hold her all I can,” Amanda declared.
Maggie insisted on stopping for take-out food. “I don’t think any of us want to cook tonight,” she said. “Chinese, okay?”
“Fine with me,” Amanda said. “Get me chicken and pea pods. I’ll make the hot tea at home to go with it.”
“I love chicken and pea pods,” Candi agreed.
Curt and Luke had followed in their rental car, so when she drove through the restaurant’s order window, they followed and ordered food, too. Maggie leaned out and invited the two agents to come eat at the house with them.
Half an hour later, they’d all gathered around the big kitchen table, eating a variety of Chinese food. Jessie had fallen asleep on the way home and Maggie had tucked her into bed while the others put the food on the table.
Amanda made tea and grumbled, “With company, we should be eating at the dining room table, if it wasn’t covered with all Candi’s papers.”
“This is fine, Amanda,” Luke assured her, seating her at the table.
“I’ve never seen so much paper and so many gadgets as Candi put in my dining room,” Amanda complained. “Are you sure you need so much stuff to write a book?”
“Yes, Gram, I need all that stuff.” She’d explained what everything was for the night before. Amanda’s eyes had gone wide when she first saw her dining room turned into an office. “You’re only grumpy because you’re tired after all the stress and traveling, Gram.”
Candi sighed and helped herself to chicken and peapods, hoping Gram would cheer up soon. Maggie and Amanda were flying back to Florida tomorrow. She had
to work and she couldn’t with both of them hovering.
“Humph,” Amanda said. “In my day, we used a typewriter. And not one of those electric ones, either.”
“A computer is faster, Gram. It can make corrections, move words around and do lots of things a typewriter can’t do.”
“Humph. What’s the hurry?”
“My contract has a deadline,” Candi said, gritting her teeth. The book was going way too slow. Her editor had granted more time, but Candi had to get back to work soon. Would she be able to concentrate with all that had happened? She had to, that’s all.
Candi remembered she hadn’t brought in the mail and went to get it from the mailbox outside the front door. She turned off the alarm, got the mail and then reset the alarm.
Amanda trailed along and watched her. “Electric buttons on the doors. Turn this on, punch this right away or an alarm will go off. How am I going to remember all that stuff?” She sat back down at the kitchen table and poured herself another cup of tea.
Candi patted her arm. “You’re tired, Gram. Let’s not think about it tonight. You’ll remember it fast, once we go through it a couple more times after you come home from Florida.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” Amanda said, pursing her lips as they returned to the kitchen.
“You said you want to baby-sit Jessie, sometimes. I’ll feel better with the alarm system working if Jessie’s here, Gram. You wouldn’t want anyone to try to break in again, would you?”
She glanced at Luke, who smiled at her. She swallowed and pleasure sang along her veins. His eyes had watched her often since they’d come home. Was he hoping for some time alone with her before he left? She definitely wanted to get naked with him again. If only they dared.
What was she thinking? They couldn’t make love with her mother and Gram in the house. She bit her lip, considering. After they left tomorrow, if Luke was still here….
“No, I don’t want another break-in,” Gram agreed, pulling Candi out of her reverie. “What’s in the mail?”
“Some sympathy cards,” Candi said, going through the stack and handing them over to Amanda.
Amanda took them, glanced through the return addresses and laid them on the end of the kitchen counter. “I’m too tired to deal with them tonight. I’ll write the thank you notes in the morning. I’m going to bed.” She shuffled off to her bedroom.
“Goodnight, Gram,” Candi said. Then she frowned. “Mom, here’s a letter from Mr. Thomas, your lawyer. But it’s addressed to me. I wonder why?”
Luke grinned at her. “Best way to find out is to open it.”
“Smartass!” She tossed him a sassy look, slit the envelope and read the letter. “He saw Jolene’s obit in the paper and wants me to come see him as soon as possible. I wonder why?”
“Hm,” Maggie said. “Jolene didn’t have any property I know of. Could it concern Jessie’s custody?”
Candi blanched and turned to her mother in panic. “I can’t lose Jessie, Mom. She’s all we have left of Jolene.”
Maggie hugged her. “I know, baby. I don’t think you’ll have a problem. But there’s sure to be legalities to be dealt with.”
“I suppose. I’ll call Mr. Thomas first thing in the morning.”
“Good idea. Let Mr. Thomas help. Amanda and I will fly back for the hearing, too, if you want.”
“I’d like that. Thanks, Mom.”
“I’m going to bed, too. Goodnight, Honey. Goodnight, Luke.” Maggie disappeared down the hall.
Luke stood, rinsed his cup and put it into the dishwasher. “Are you sure you’ll be all right here tonight? Want me to sleep on the couch?”
“I’d rather you slept with me,” she whispered boldly.
He looked at her in surprise and grinned. “Do we dare?”
She sighed and shook her head. “I’m only kidding. Mom would kill me.” Then she smiled. “Gram might be okay with it, though. She’s always been more lenient than Mom.”
“She has?”
She nodded. “Yes. But you’re welcome to sleep on the couch if you don’t mind.”
He took her in his arms and kissed her. “I’d do anything for you, Candi.”
She kissed him back over and over until she finally pulled back and said, “I’d better get to sleep.”
Luke hesitated. “Shall I go with you to see the lawyer in the morning? I mean, I’ll accompany you anyway, but if you want, I’ll go in with you to hear what the problem is, in case I can help.”
“Thanks. I think I’m starting to depend on you too much.” She sent him a rueful smile.
“I like it.” He shouldn’t like it. He was getting way too attached to her and Jessie. He sighed. Best to get back to business. “You still have unlimited internet access, don’t you?”
“Of course,” she said guessing the reason for his question. “You’ve used it before. Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks. I need to check into the office.” He released her and watched her move down the hall to her own room. His heart pounded as he realized he’d fallen in love with this woman. He didn’t ever want to let her go.
If only he dared take a chance on love again.
He retrieved his laptop from his car and logged on, pulling in his email. Bill reported George had returned to the Top Notch Casino, but the hotel hadn’t reported any more robberies. Several other Las Vegas hotels had, however. Because the MO’s were similar, Bill surmised those were part of the same operation.
Luke phoned Curt and he and his partner discussed their findings in more detail. “Did you check on Charles, Jolene’s former boyfriend?”
“Yeah. He’s still around, living well and gambling. No visible means of support.”
Luke laughed. “He has a doting, wealthy mom, though, Curt. I met her in Florida. She’s probably sending him money.”
“Oh. I suppose we can forget him, then.”
“How about Allen Henderson, the Top Notch hotel owner?”
“He’s cooperating so far. He has too much to lose so I don’t think he’s involved, but we’re still checking him out.”
Luke told Curt about George’s threats to claim Jessie. “I’m quite sure he’s after something he thinks Jolene passed to Candi. He’s using the baby as leverage to try to get it.”
“Right,” Curt agreed. “My gut says George isn’t the father type. He wants something else.”
“Definitely. But what? We haven’t come up with anything except that cryptic message torn out of his address book.”
“Did you ask Candi if it meant anything to her? What was the birthday gift she is supposed to take good care of?”
Luke’s laugh came out as a bark. “Yeah, I asked her. Bart gave both girls IBM common stock that year.”
“Stock? Why watch that? Or take care of it?”
“Evidently he wanted them to pay attention so they’d learn about investments. So they’d know how to do their own finances in the future after he wasn’t around anymore,” Luke explained.
“Humph. Another dead end, huh?”
“I guess so.”
“But something about this doesn’t sound right to me. Why did Jolene carry the letter in her purse in a hidden pocket?” Curt asked.
“Who knows? Because it was Bart’s last note to her? Women do sentimental stuff like that. Candi says Jolene was especially close to her daddy, even after the divorce.”
“Doesn’t seem likely the guys following Jolene only wanted the letter. George had it and Jolene claimed it, you said, didn’t you? So he’d already read it. Why go to all this trouble to get it back?”
“Yeah. Doesn’t make much sense,” Luke agreed. “We’re missing something here. If it is the letter he wants, why didn’t he burn it when he had it the first time?”
“And why all the talk about blackmail? Whatever they want must be important for them to go to all this expense, wouldn’t you think?” Curt asked. “I mean, chasing all over the country after Jolene and her family wasn’t cheap.”
“Tru
e. And we still don’t know if they’ve given up or are still out there.”
“I know,” Curt said with a sigh. “My gut feeling says this isn’t over yet. Keep your eyes open.”
“You, too.”
***
Candi left Jessie with her mother and grandmother the next morning. She carefully explained the security system to Maggie and set the alarm. Then she and Luke drove to the lawyer’s office.
“Are you nervous?” Luke asked as they walked into the old-fashioned, but expensively furnished waiting room.
“Yes,” Candi admitted. “All my memories of this place are bad ones. I came here with Mom when she got a divorce and settled Dad’s estate after he died.”
Luke grimaced. “Those weren’t good memories.”
A tall, thin secretary motioned them to a chair and punched a button to signal Mr. Thomas they had arrived. In moments, the buzzer sounded and she escorted them into his wood-paneled office.
With his hand outstretched to greet them, Mr. Thomas rose from behind a huge cherry wood desk. He was a heavy-set man with a shiny bald head and piercing blue eyes.
“Candi, my dear, I just learned about Jolene’s death a few days ago. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you.” Candi introduced Luke and then blurted, “Is this about Jessie, Mr. Thomas?”
Mr. Thomas nodded. “In a way.” He waved them to chairs in front of his desk and buzzed his secretary to bring him Jolene’s file.
Then he continued, “Jolene came to me a few days ago. She made a will and asked me to try to help you keep Jessie away from George. She wrote a letter with her wishes for me to give to you. I think we also need to give a copy to whichever family court judge will hear the case.”
Jolene had tried to care for her daughter. Thank God. Candi’s throat closed over a huge lump of love for her sister. When she could speak again, she asked, “Do you think Jolene had a premonition she would be killed?”
Mr. Thomas nodded. “She told me she was being followed and in danger and thought you were, too. I tried to convince her to go to the police, but she refused. She insisted the men following her would take her baby if she did.”