“If you didn’t have such an honest face, I’d swear you made that up,” Luke commented between chuckles.
“No,” I explained patiently. “If I made it up, the baby would have actually still been using the spectacular name CeCe and I chose for her.” The smile fell from my face as I continued, “I hope you were serious about me having an honest face, since I want you to feel you can trust me. You know, Fry’s not your only friend in town who wants to help you. CeCe and I want you to know you can count on us.”
“Help me?” Luke looked confused. “Help me with what? I appreciate everything you and CeCe did with the food storage, but now that it’s taken care of I don’t think I need any more help.”
“Actually, you might,” I said gently. “That’s what I came here to talk to you about.” I was just about to launch into everything when the waitress appeared. Luke ordered a beer and the seafood platter. I substituted a diet soda for the beer but also ordered the seafood platter to save time, since I hadn’t given any thought to my menu. When the waitress collected the menus and walked away, I told Luke about Deputy Ben’s visit to the shop that morning.
I quoted Ben whenever my memory allowed and concluded with my impression of the direction the police investigation was taking. I added that I wasn’t trying to be pushy, but I knew he had enough to deal with right now without any additional stress, so maybe if he told the investigators he was at the library working with his crew on Monday when Ms. Eliza was murdered, that would help. He could also point out all the people he was checking with while he looked for his Uncle Barney, which would give him witnesses to back him up and help the sheriff’s department move on.
Luke had been listening intently to the reason for my visit. He never interrupted with questions or comments, and while it was nice that I was allowed to get through it without losing my place, now I was frustrated. I was hoping for some kind of reaction, so we could deal with the anger, worry, or whatever and then get on with figuring out his best option at this point. Instead, Luke just sat there. The only change since I’d stopped talking was that his attention shifted from me to the sweat on his beer mug which was delivered early in my recitation.
It must add insult to injury to lose someone you care about, and then be repeatedly questioned about your alibi, your inheritance, your possible motive, and every other question that implies you might have wanted him dead. I couldn’t imagine trying to deal with losing someone I loved while being subjected to the investigation we knew had to go on if the murderer was ever to be found. My concern was that the investigators might look only as far as Luke’s doorstep and no further.
When Luke finally looked up from his beer mug, he focused his attention on me. “I don’t have an alibi for either murder. On Monday, during the time they believe Ms. Eliza was killed, I wasn’t at the library. Wednesday afternoon after her funeral, which is the time they’ve given for Uncle Barney’s time of death, I wasn’t at the library because I was running around looking for him. Unfortunately, I’m going to have a hard time proving that, if it comes down to it. I drove up to Lafayette Monday morning. That’s where my parents are buried, and I hadn’t been to their graves since I moved back. I didn’t tell anyone because Uncle Barney is the only one I would have said anything to. He’d been so emotional lately I didn’t want to upset him. I realized once I was on the road that I’d left my cell at home. I thought it wasn’t a big deal since I told my crew to expect me after lunch, anyway. Then when I got back into town, Uncle Barney was so upset it took me a while to get him calm enough to even understand why he was angry. I called his doctor’s office on my way to the library, and the investigators have already asked me why that’s the first time I used my cell phone on Monday.”
Luke paused and shook his head as he continued, “On Wednesday, I started checking in with people later in the day, like when I stopped to get Fry to help me look for Uncle Barney. Earlier, when I first started looking for him, I didn’t say anything to anybody. I didn’t want him to be embarrassed by everyone telling him I’d been looking everywhere for him. I really thought I’d find him in those first few hours, and I knew he didn’t want everyone to know he was sitting somewhere, unable to find his way home or something. He was so proud, and he was taking it hard that he couldn’t always think as clearly as he used to. I don’t know why I’m giving you excuses, because obviously I screwed up. In spite of that, I didn’t kill my Uncle Barney or Ms. Eliza,” he said softly. “I don’t want you to wonder, or be afraid to be around me, or . . . .”
“Luke!” I gasped, “I know you didn’t kill anyone.”
Just for a second, I thought I caught a glimpse of something I hadn’t seen in his eyes before now. Vulnerability maybe? As quickly as it appeared, it was gone and the intense concentration was back.
“Didn’t you come here to tell me I needed to come back to Oakman to be interrogated by the sheriff’s office?” Luke asked, looking a little surprised in spite of his controlled demeanor.
“No!” I practically shouted. Well, yes, I actually had, but not in the way that he meant. I wasn’t about to suggest going to the police with an attorney now. Not when he thought I might believe he could be a killer. Especially when the alibis I so brilliantly suggested he share with the investigators didn’t exist. “I came to tell you about the ridiculous assumptions the sheriff’s investigators are making. I know you didn’t kill anyone, and I didn’t want you to be unaware of where things stand.”
Now Luke was smiling. How poised do you have to be to smile at a time like this? Why was he smiling at a time like this, anyway? What was up with that?
“You keep saying you know I didn’t kill anyone. How can you know?” Luke asked through the grin on his face.
It was a warm grin, not a scary, “silence of the lambs” grin, so my conviction where his innocence was concerned remained.
“Don’t take that the wrong way,” Luke added quickly. “You aren’t wrong to believe I had nothing to do with Barney’s or Eliza’s deaths. But after what the deputy told you, how can you be so sure?”
“Because I’m an excellent judge of character,” I answered hurriedly. “Now, do you want to talk about how clever and perceptive I am, or do you want to clue me in on what you’re going to do next?”
“Well, I’m going to finish lunch,” explained a calm and collected Luke. “Then I’ll go back to the cabin and take a few days to figure out what I should do next?”
Since Luke put this to me in the form of a question, I responded, “No, no, no. I don’t think that’s the best idea, Luke. I mean, you are going to be out here for a few days all alone, and what if somebody else in Oakman gets murdered? Then you won’t be just answering questions, you’ll be taking DNA, gun residue, and polygraph tests. Even if you haven’t done anything, they’ll have you walking the perp walk if they find another victim.”
I was being completely serious, but I didn’t get the impression Luke was all that receptive to my concerns, since he was shaking his head and smiling. “Let me guess,” he spit out between chuckles. “You never miss an episode of C.S.I.?”
“I have the DVD Boxed Set, but I don’t think that means you shouldn’t be taking this matter seriously,” I lectured. “I understand if you need some time to think, but please, don’t do it at the fishing cabin alone. Hey, maybe Fry should take a break and come out here with you?”
“I’m sure Fry would make a great babysitter, but I’m not sure how convincing he’d be as an alibi. There’s nobody else out here, so if anyone believed Fry would lie for a friend, I don’t know that we’d be accomplishing anything. Plus, that deputy last night saw me with Fry. Seems likely he’d check out Fry’s real estate if Fry and I are absent from town at the same time, and if they’re really anxious to speak with me,” Luke pointed out with the same kind of reasoning I could have used if he didn’t smell so good. “Generally, I think you’re probably right, though,” Luke conceded. “While I’d like to spend some time examining your reasons for concern over
my safety and well-being, I have to figure out where I’m going to stay for the next few days. Preferably some place I’ll be seen, but not necessarily spoken to, at least not by anyone in uniform.” He contemplated his still full beer for a moment and then suggested, “I could find some out of the way hotel in New Orleans and lay low while I figure out what to do.”
“New Orleans! Of course! Why didn’t I think of that? Fry has a nice little place down in the French Quarter. That’s where he stays when he’s overindulged while partying with friends, or when there’s something going on in the Quarter that he wants to do. You could stay there, but I really think alone is a bad idea. Will you please consider relaxing with Fry in the French Quarter for a few days to figure things out?” I asked, still convinced it was a better solution under the circumstances.
“Wouldn’t investigators be just as likely to locate me at Fry’s place in New Orleans as they would if I stayed at Fry’s fishing cabin?” Luke wondered out loud.
“Ah, but that’s what makes this apartment perfect. It doesn’t belong to Fry. It belongs to his cousin’s ex-husband, Serge, who travels about ten months out of the year. Fry has a key and permission to use it whenever he wants, because they’re still close friends. I’m pretty sure Fry mentioned Serge was heading to Switzerland a few weeks ago, which would mean he won’t be back in the states for at least another month.” I pulled out my cell phone to call Fry and verify my memory, but no reception was available at Pup Heaven, either. “No bars,” I grumbled looking around. “I see the pay phone next to the restrooms is out of order. You can call him to ask directions as you head into New Orleans. He can also tell you what time he’ll meet you there with the key. I guess we should get back to the cabin to pack up your stuff.”
“Nothing to pack,” Luke informed me. “I didn’t even take my things out of my car yet. I was looking around the fishing pier and cabin when you showed up.”
“Good,” I said, hoping he didn’t notice I was a little disappointed that he didn’t need me to help him get his stuff together. “That means you can get on the road even sooner.”
The waitress came over to see if we needed anything, so I requested a diet soda to go. Luke, who was sipping his ice water, having abandoned his beer without drinking any, said he didn’t need anything and just the check would be fine.
I insisted on paying, but Luke insisted more. Since he’s bigger than me, I let him.
When we arrived back at the cabin, I asked, “My drink is a little lacking in the ice department, so do you mind if I get some from the freezer?”
“I can save you a trip up the stairs. I stopped on my way and bought a bag of ice for my cooler. It’s right over here. Here, let me get you some,” he said, reaching for my cup.
“Thanks. That will make my trip back home better,” I said thinking of the diet soda on ice, my favorite tunes and most comfortable shades that combine to make any trip sweet. Now I didn’t even have to worry about the Luke situation anymore either. I’d just give Fry a call once I was in cell tower range and ask him to stick with Luke whether Luke liked it or not – and for that matter, whether he was aware of it or not. Fry didn’t mind a little stalking now and then if it was for a good cause. Luke had been through enough. Fry was the best man to keep an eye on him for a few days. CeCe and I would do our part by covering the shop without our number one employee. Although it was always easier with Fry, CeCe and I had been known to battle back a few hormone meltdowns ourselves. It was definitely for a good cause, so we would do whatever needed to be done. I guess that . . . .
“Shit!” Luke yelled, bringing me out of my thoughts.
My reflex reaction was to think Swear Bear! Fortunately, it took only a split second for me to realize where I was, realize I needed to get out more and register something was wrong.
“What’s wrong?” I yelled, heading toward where he was crouched over the ice chest.
“Nothing,” he assured me. “I’m fine.” As I reached him, I saw that he was not so much fine as in pain. “I was chipping some ice off of this big piece, and an ice chip hit me in the eye. It’ll be fine in a minute. I just need to blink a few times until I can focus with this eye again. See?”
Although Luke was blinking his left eye, when he pulled his hand away, the right eye was shut tightly and gave no indication it planned on opening anytime soon.
“Um, Luke. You’re right eye isn’t blinking. It isn’t even opening,” I pointed out helpfully. “Can you open it?”
When he managed to open it a slit, his wince told me it was painful.
“I’m so sorry,” I apologized. “Me and my stupid ice.”
“Maggie, it isn’t your fault. Ice was not a dangerous or unreasonable request,” he said, simultaneously smiling and wincing in pain. “Oh, and here’s your drink.”
As Luke handed me the cup nearly filled with ice, I looked inside. My guilt made it difficult to face those ice chips sitting on top, shining back at me, oblivious to the pain they had just inflicted.
“Well, I’d better hit the road,” Luke announced, looking at me with only one functioning eye.
“Absolutely not,” I replied, a bit of the Bossy Bi-atch taking up residence within me. This was due to the scene that flashed into my mind at that moment. Luke was driving down the road with one eye, three lanes of New Orleans interstate traffic flying by. A car from the right side cut him off, but he didn’t see it in time since he could see out of only his left eye. He went off the road, plowed into a light pole at 70mph, and died. Luke was dead and it was all my fault, because I just HAD to have ice!
“What I meant to say,” I corrected myself, “was I don’t think you should drive. At least not until your eye has been checked out by a doctor.”
“No way,” Luke countered. “I don’t need a doctor I just need a few days to . . . .”
Luke stopped in mid-sentence and a slight smile formed on his face. “I’m not going to a doctor,” he began. “But if you’re worried, you can drive me to New Orleans and leave me at Fry’s cousin’s ex-husband’s place, or wherever I find to stay.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll drive you. But I’m not leaving you alone in a strange place, blind in one eye,” I stated in what I hoped was a tone that left no room for negotiation. “I’ll stay with you until Fry gets there. Then he and I will trade places.”
Oh, I expected resistance from Mr. Big and Strong who didn’t need a doctor. I was prepared to list pros and cons, paint horrible scenarios to the alternatives, whatever it took to convince him that this was safer.
Luke stood quietly for a few seconds considering how best to argue his side, I suspected.
“Sounds good. Let’s go,” was his response.
CHAPTER 9
“Here,” I said handing him my cell phone after we’d been driving for a while. “Check to see if I have any bars yet.” About five minute later I did.
“Just be sure they understand I’m not kidnapping you or anything,” Luke said handing the phone back to me.
CeCe and Fry were at the shop when I called. I talked to Fry first who was relaying parts of the conversation to CeCe. He was immediately on board and sprang into action. I could hear him dialing his cell phone as he handed CeCe’s phone back to her and said, “Take it easy, CeCe.”
“Bye, Fry,” CeCe laughed at their favorite exit lines. Then she was back talking to me. “Now tell me what you’re doing, because Fry was talking and moving so fast I didn’t catch that.”
“Fry’s meeting Luke and me at the Hard Rock Café. Then he and Luke are going to stay in the French Quarter at Serge’s place, and I’m going to come home. I know this leaves you in the shop by yourself for a few hours, but I’ll make it up to you. We’re going to be without Fry for a few days, so I’ll do some time working the shop by myself, and you can have some goof off time. Just let me know when you want to go,” I offered.
“It’s fine Maggie,” CeCe graciously allowed. “Tell me what I can do to help.”
“Well,” I tried t
o decide if I was pushing my luck to ask another favor so soon. Since CeCe offered, I decided to go for it, “I was wondering if you had heard anything else from Ben?”
“Deputy Ben,” CeCe automatically corrected me, “and no, he hasn’t been back. Why?”
“Um, here’s the thing,” I tried to think of a way to put my request tactfully but decided that would take time, and CeCe wouldn’t expect that from me, anyway. “I wondered if you would keep an eye on him. I could do it, but I think it comes more naturally for you.”
“How am I supposed to keep an eye on Deputy Ben? It’s not like I can just – wait. I know. I’ll set up the neighborhood watch meeting for tomorrow night,” CeCe suggested.
“Good thinking,” I said. “I can help keep an eye on him at the meeting, and then you can keep him busy afterward. Maybe when it’s over you can invite him out for coffee or something. You know, pick his brain. See what he knows,” I offered.
“You know you’re right. I could play it real cool. Finesse some info out of him. Maybe blow this case wide open,” CeCe said excitedly.
“Uh, yeah, or you could at least keep him busy and get to have coffee with him,” I said.
“Oh, whoopee,” she deadpanned. “No, this is strictly business. Simply to help Luke. Maybe I’ll try to follow him after work. You know, tail him. See where he goes. Maybe it’ll give us a lead.”
She was really getting into this now. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. You never know with CeCe, but I wasn’t going to worry about that right now. We could have an in depth discussion about how wise or unwise that might be when I got home.
“Well,” I said cautiously, “just be careful.” CeCe and I disconnected after telling each other to behave and stay out of trouble, which was our usual sign off.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I apologized to Luke. “I forgot to ask you if you wanted to talk to Fry when I had him on the phone.” He was still staring out the window. I didn’t think he heard me. “Luke?”
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