All of the jail cells were empty, except for one. Joey was in the cell at the end, closest to the window. Jenny barely recognized him when she entered the depressing room.
He wore a simple, white T-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. She noticed that his shirt had dried blood on one side. A few days’ worth of stubble covered his chin. She had never seen Joey with facial hair, but she thought it looked kind of good on him. His blonde hair was cut short on the back but the front hung haphazardly over his eyes. He stood and brushed it to one side before doing a double take. She was the last person he expected to see.
“This is it. One hour and counting.”
The desk clerk left the room, closing the door firmly behind her. Jenny waited until she could hear the key turning in the lock before she approached her brother.
He stared out at her through the iron bars. He looked worried, almost frightened to see her standing in front of him. Why had she come?
Sensing his fear, Jenny spoke.
“I’m not here to yell at you if that's what you think.”
“I don't know what I think.”
Jenny nodded. She touched her hands to the bars, feeling the cold of the metal beneath her skin.
“You look like hell,” she told him honestly.
His face changed into the same old Joey she knew as a kid.
“Well, I’m in the economy suite. You have to pay extra for the salon treatment.”
Again, Joey ran a hand back through his shaggy, blonde hair. This time, she noticed bruising on the knuckles of his right hand. Could Joey have been the one to give Chief Cartright his black eye? Jenny smiled at the thought.
“So you're happy to see me in here? Is that what you’re smiling about?”
He shook his head as he dropped back down onto his wooden bunk.
“Same old Jenny. You gotta be the best. Only happy when I’m fucking up. Don't worry, Jenny, I'll be the black sheep forever. Whatever makes you look good.”
“Hold on, now!”
She held up her hand to stop his angry tirade.
“Is that what you think I came here for? You think I want to give you hell for getting yourself into this mess? You think I want to rub salt in your wounds?”
When he said nothing, she continued.
“I came here to tell you something. I came to tell you that I'm working on getting you out of here.”
Joey’s jaw dropped.
“What the hell? Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
“I don't know, Jenny. I hardly know you? How do I know what kidding looks like”
“I'm your sister, idiot.”
But she knew that he was right.
“Listen, I had my doubts at first.”
“You assumed I was guilty from the start. I get it, Jen.”
“You’re right. I did, but, someone you know changed my mind. I'll admit it took a bit of convincing.”
“Who?”
“Roy Peters.”
“Of course! Roy!”
Joey let out a sigh of relief. He brought his hands to his face and sank down onto the bed. She couldn't recall ever seeing him look so grateful.
“It’s going to be okay, Joey, ” Jenny said.
She didn't know if that were true, but she wanted to comfort him. She realized with a pang of guilt that she had never said those simple words to him. Even after her parents had died. He needed support and comforting and she had run from him as fast and as far as she could.
“How is Isabelle doing?” he asked, a distressed look washing over his face. “I heard about the house fire from one of the officers here. Is she okay? Was she hurt?”
Jenny shook her head.
“No one was hurt. I was home alone at the time, and Roy got me out of there just in the nick of time. It could have been much worse.”
She paused before adding, “And it was not an accident.”
She watched as his face changed to one of horror.
“You have to tell me everything, Jenny.”
“I heard a smash from the living room before the fire really got underway. I saw a broken, blue bottle with a wet rag in it lying on the carpet in the living room. Next thing I know, the whole house is in flames.”
Joey sat silently, a serious expression on his face.
“What is it?” she asked.
Her hands grasped the cold metal bars even tighter.
“You look like you know something.”
“You said that the bottle you saw in the living room was blue?”
Joey stood up from his bunk and stepped up to the bars, only inches from his big sister. “Are you sure it was blue and not dark green or black?”
“No, it was definitely a blue wine bottle. Light blue. I remembered because it looked just like the one Chloe had in the fridge.”
She paused, her mind suddenly racing. It was definitely blue. It had been just like the bottle of expensive wine she had opened days earlier. It was odd that Chloe had it in her collection with its hefty price tag. She couldn't believe that she had not made that connection until now.
Roy had said the word around town was that Chloe was involved with another man. Entertaining a lover would be reason enough to splurge on a good bottle of wine, but still, Chloe was frugal, and Jenny still couldn't see Chloe making the purchase.
The wine had to have been bought by her lover.
“Joey, did you know Chloe was seeing someone else?” she asked gently.
Joey nodded his head sadly. His eyes were closed.
“Do you know who it was?”
Joey's eyes flashed open.
“If I knew who it was, I would have taken him down. I didn't know who the bastard was, but I definitely knew he existed.”
He slammed the bars with his palms out in anger.
“At first it was the little things. She started dressing nicer and wearing more perfume. Then it was the wine. I knew it wasn't what she usually picked up from the wine store. I checked our joint checking account, but I couldn't find any proof that she purchased it. I figured that meant he brought it with him when he came over to fuck my wife in our marital bed.”
Jenny nodded glumly. She still couldn't believe her best friend had been leading this secret life. Chloe had never said a word to her about another man. It wasn’t that unusual though. She was her husband’s sister after all. Even the best people make mistakes, their grandmother always said.
“If he came while you were at work, then he must be a local man.”
Jenny reached for her purse and dug through its contents until she found a pad of paper and a pen.
“Maybe he bought the wine locally, too. I can check the wine store on my way home and see what I can find out.”
“Home?” Joey asked, raising his brow.
“You’re still staying at the house, then?”
“No, someplace else.”
Joey looked at her, confused.
“At Roy's cabin. He kindly offered to put us up for a while. We've been waiting for the fire chief to call and let us know when we can do something about your house.”
Joey blew out a low whistle.
“Is that so?”
“Your daughter is staying there too. It's nothing like that,” she lied. “It’s purely platonic, don’t worry.”
“Sounds pretty cozy to me.”
He gave her a quick, half smile before returning to a frown.
“Check out the wine store and see what you can find out about that blue bottle. If you remember the store at all, you know it’s only a tiny place. If the wine has ever been in stock there, Lawrence, who owns it now, will be able to tell you exactly who bought it. And thank him for me”
“Will do.”
Jenny looked up at the sound of the holding cell door being unlocked. She put her hand through the cell bars and took her younger brother's hand tightly within her own.
“It is going to be okay, Joey. I promise.” she murmured again before being escorted ou
t.
Chapter 18
Jenny felt like a weight had been lifted from her chest when she left her brother. Their talk had gone more smoothly than she could have ever imagined. Maybe they were getting back on track.
She made sure to stop at Chief Cartright's office door, despite the desk clerk's claims that he would be too busy to talk to her again. She found him at the window, his back to the door as if he were contemplating something. She knocked softly on the wooden door frame. She had to smile when he looked surprised to find her there.
“I'm heading out, Chief. Thanks for letting me in to see my brother. We had a good chat”
“I hope you clue in that your brother is nothing but a criminal and a con man. We found him at the scene with his service uniform drenched in blood. It was his police issued handgun that did her in, you know. You can’t ignore the evidence.”
“I like to think a man is innocent until proven guilty.”
“When your man has guilt written all over him, you have to face reality, Miss Dale. Joey will be going to prison. That's his life story.”
“We will have to see about that.” Jenny said as she walked away from his office.
She suddenly wished she hadn't thought to stop in.
Chief Cartright was right. The evidence did point to her brother and unless they could come up with some evidence of their own he would spend his life behind bars.
Jenny unlocked her car and took a seat inside. She willed herself to stay calm. Chief Cartright was a stubborn fool with a very large stick up his ass. He obviously had it out for Joey. That would explain why he wasn't willing to consider his innocence.
Jenny looked back up at the police building. To her surprise, Chief Cartright was standing ominously on the steps of the building. She hated his leering eyes. There was something so unsettling about them. They made her stomach churn.
As she started the Neon's engine, he raised a hand and waved a slow goodbye.
* * *
Roy was helping Isabelle cut firewood when he heard the phone ring inside the cabin.
He made her promise she wouldn't work while he was gone and then he hurried inside, desperate not to miss the call. He made it just in time.
“Hello.”
“Roy?”
The reception up by the lake wasn't the best.
“It's Adam Miller. From the fire department”
Roy squeezed the phone tighter.
“Yes. You finished your investigation then?” Roy asked. “What did you find out about that bottle?”
“Well, you were right. It was definitely a Molotov cocktail that started the blaze. It’s my belief that the perpetrator hoped the house would burn down and thus destroy any evidence left behind from the murder of Chloe Dale.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Roy agreed.
He cast a cautious look outside to see if Isabelle was behaving herself. She sat on the stump while the dog laid his head on her lap. They had certainly become quite the pair.
“I'm still running a few tests at the lab. I can’t say for sure what accelerant was used, but I think it may turn out to be engine oil. It has a unique smell to it. I'll call back with the results, but I know it's the blue wine bottle you were most interested in when we last spoke, Roy.”
“Yes. So it’s definitely a wine bottle, then?”
“It looks to be quite an expensive brand. Instead of a paper label, this bottle had the word wine etched into the glass. Luckily, we managed to find the shard with the wording on it. It helped to identify the brand, if nothing else. It's called Rosaceae.”
“That is good news. Did you find anything else?”
“We’re still working on it, Roy. It's not like the television shows, where it's all done and dusted in half an hour. I knew you were eager for some news so I called with what we have so far.”
Roy thought he could sense some doubt in Miller’s voice.
“You won’t be telling anyone I gave you this information, right? We had an agreement, Roy. I expect you to keep your word.”
“Of course, Chief. I won’t breathe a word of it.”
Roy nodded, even though the Chief couldn’t see him.
“I'll bring over that forty-year-old bottle of scotch in the next day or two. You’ll love it, I swear.”
“You are a good man, Roy Peters.”
“You too, Adam. Thanks for calling.”
Chapter 19
The Ombrea liquor store was harder to find than Jenny remembered. She drove twice down the street she thought it was on, but there was no sign of it. She couldn't ask one of the locals for directions. It would be all over town that she was a drunk if she seemed desperate to find the liquor store on a weekday afternoon.
She laughed to herself. This place was so predictable.
Frustrated, she turned at the end of the block. She would have to do another drive around to see if she could spot it this time. The store had a small, red sign tucked away on the window, and she was finding it hard to drive and spot it among the other shop windows at the same time.
She pulled ahead into an open parking space. Maybe the search would go better on foot. She stuffed her notepad and pen into her bag and set out, locking the car securely behind her.
Jenny kept her eyes on the store windows as she walked down the block. She ignored the stares of the people as she passed, her mind on the task at hand. She thought she could see the red sign up ahead between the florist shop and a lawyer’s office.
A hand suddenly touched her arm, and Jenny spun around, her guard up. Her mood softened when she found Norma standing before her with arms full of shopping bags.
“Oh, I’m so sorry to have startled you, dear.” Norma's smile was faint. “I just wanted to say hello and check in on how things are going. How is little Isabelle doing?”
“Well, thank you. She's been coping with everything just fine.”
“Good, good. You'll say hello for me?”
Norma waited until Jenny nodded.
“Thank you. So where are the two of you staying now? At the Best Western?'
“No, we’re staying with a friend.”
Even though Jenny trusted Norma, she thought it best to stick to the basics. “Someone was nice enough to put us up for a few nights while we figure this whole thing out.”
“Yes. It has been a really nasty business, hasn't it?” Norma nodded thoughtfully. “I’m so glad you are both safe.”
“Me too,” Jenny said honestly. “But if you don't mind, I’d best be getting on. I have a few errands to run before I head back.”
“Of course, dear, I understand you are busy, busy, busy right now.”
Norma paused for a moment. She looked a little unsure of herself.
“You know, you and Isabelle are always welcome to come by for something to eat or a cup of tea. You both are always welcome. I'm always at home.”
Jenny was touched. Since arriving back in Ombrea, Norma had been the only person who had extended the hand of friendship to her. It was a very sweet gesture.
“Of course. I'll make sure we come by in the next day or so, okay?”
Norma nodded, her smile wider.
“That would be grand. I’d best be on my way”
“Absolutely. See you later, dear.”
Norma continued on down the street with a spring in her step. Jenny made a mental note to go over to take Norma up on her invitation. She was sure Isabelle would consider it a real treat to see her old friend again.
Jenny was about to hurry on to the liquor store when she caught sight of someone ahead. She was a ways down the block, but she quickly tucked in close to the awning of a nearby store to keep herself out of sight.
Chief Cartright stood in the liquor store doorway, a brown, paper bag in his hand. He looked up and down the street as if he were trying to find someone. She moved in closer to the shelter of the awning, her heart racing a mile a minute. It appeared that he hadn't seen her because he started walking up the street away from her, the b
ag swinging in his hand.
Jenny remained for a couple more minutes in her hiding spot before stepping out onto the sidewalk. She hadn't expected to see Chief Cartright again so soon, especially not at the very store where she was heading to get some answers about the case. If he had been as busy as his desk clerk had insisted he was, he wouldn't have had the time to make a stop at the liquor store. She knew he was unmarried. Someone had mentioned it in passing at the wake.
Could Chief Cartright be Chloe’s mystery man? He was older than she was, but that didn’t mean much these days. He was handsome in his own way. A little too serious for Jenny's taste. She didn't think he would be Chloe's cup of tea either, but there’s no accounting for taste as they say. Maybe Chloe had taken a liking to the Chief.
She wished she had seen what he had in that bag.
When Jenny entered the liquor store, she found it to be quite dim and dusty. It looked exactly the same as it had the last time she was there. That was a lifetime ago.
There were only three or four small shelves and an old cooler on the side wall stocked with chilled beverages. It was a big step down from the large liquor stores she had encountered in New York. There, you could find one open at any hour and only a couple of minutes away no matter where you were. In Ombrea, if you missed opening hours, you had no choice but to do without until the next day.
The old bell above the door chimed when she entered the store. The tacky, blue, plastic curtain behind the counter shook as an older man stepped through carrying the newspaper. He set the paper down on the counter and cleaned his glasses before pushing them onto his face to get a better look at her. It was clear he knew who she was, but he gave her a curt nod and left her to shop in peace.
Jenny started to hunt for the blue wine bottle. She scoured each and every shelf in the store just in case it had been misplaced, but no matter how hard she looked, she found that the matching bottle was nowhere to be seen. She even checked the cooler, pulling forward a few bottles to check in the back, was so sure she would find it there. Her only other choice was to talk to the shop owner and see what he knew about it.
He looked up curiously when she approached, his eyes looking over her hands for any sign of a purchase. When it was clear they had to speak, he set his newspaper aside and placed his hands on the counter.
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