Claws for Concern

by Miranda James

  “Seems to me there are two plausible motives for the hit-and-run,” Helen Louise said. “The first is revenge. Someone believes Bill Delaney got away with murder and decided to see justice done. The second is fear. The murderer believes Bill Delaney knows something that could incriminate him.”

  “Exactly what I’ve been thinking,” I said.

  “Sounds reasonable to me,” Frank said.

  “Me, too,” Laura said. “But Dad, whoever the killer is, he isn’t going to be happy to find out you and Jack Pemberton are digging into the case. You could both be putting your lives at risk. I don’t like that.”

  Diesel sat up and warbled. He came to stand beside me and placed a paw on my leg. The tension level in the room had risen suddenly, and he was worried. I scratched his head. “It’s really okay, boy,” I told him.

  “I don’t like it much myself,” I said. “I suppose the police might reopen the case now, or rather the sheriff’s department in Tullahoma. I believe they ran the first investigation. If it were the Athena County Sheriff’s Department, Kanesha would be in charge of it, and I’d be happy not to get any more involved. I have faith in her intelligence and her abilities. I know nothing about her counterpart in Tullahoma.”

  “Unless they’ve turned up compelling new evidence,” Frank said, “I doubt they’re going to reopen the case. I don’t think they’ll consider the hit-and-run reason enough. Reopening the case will cost money, and budgets are tight. They might not be able to afford it.”

  “You realize what you just said will only encourage him.” Laura’s voice had taken on an acid tone. I had never heard her speak like that to her husband.

  “I know that, honey,” Frank said, his tone sharp. “But I don’t think I said anything your father hasn’t probably already figured out for himself.”

  Laura sighed. “You’re right. Sorry I got huffy.”

  Frank grinned. “You know you can’t stay mad at me.”

  Laura rolled her eyes in response.

  I glanced at Helen Louise, and I could see immediately that she was not happy with me. “Your turn,” I said.

  She continued to regard me in silence, and I thought perhaps she was too angry to speak. Then she said, “One of the things I love about you, Charlie, is your caring heart. This man, this stranger, has no real claim to your time or your concern, despite the fact that his biological father happened to be married to your aunt. But you think helping him is the right thing to do to honor your aunt’s love for her husband and the gratitude you feel for all she gave you. I’m not talking about the house and the money, though they’re part of it. She was one of the most wonderful, bighearted, generous women I’ve ever known, and she helped make you who you are. I bless her for that. I’m not happy about your putting yourself at risk over this situation, but I understand your sense of obligation.”

  As she talked, her expression softened, and I not only heard but felt the love in those words. I wasn’t sure I deserved a partner as understanding and supportive, but I was thankful every day that she had come back into my life.

  “Frank, get that bottle out of the fridge, please.” Laura stood, baby Charlie in her arms. “I think it’s time we went home.” She looked from me to Helen Louise and back. “I think there’s nothing more that needs to be said other than: I love you, Dad, so please be careful.” She smiled.

  I felt too overwhelmed by my jumbled emotions at the moment to speak. Diesel rubbed his head against my leg and, as if by reflex, my hand began to stroke his back.

  I managed to pull myself together enough to walk to the front door with my departing daughter and son-in-law and baby Charlie. I kissed the baby’s forehead. He opened his eyes and smiled. Then he yawned and went back to sleep.

  After I saw them out the door, I watched, Diesel at my side, until they drove away. When I closed and locked the door, I turned to see Helen Louise waiting at the foot of the stairs. She held out a hand to me as I walked over. I grasped her hand, and we walked slowly upstairs.

  * * *

  • • •

  Two hours later my ringing phone roused me from sleep. I felt Helen Louise stirring beside me. I watched her for a moment, reluctant to let the outside world intrude. She yawned and pushed strands of dark hair away from her eyes.

  “Hadn’t you better answer that?” she asked.

  Diesel, who must have walked in while we were sleeping, meowed.

  “Unfortunately, yes,” I said as I reached for the receiver. I knew it must be the hospital. “Hello, Charlie Harris speaking.”

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Harris,” a male voice said. “I’m a nurse at Athena Medical Center, and I’m calling you on behalf of one of our patients, a Mr. William Delaney. He is awake and resting comfortably. He would like to talk to you when you have time to come see him.”

  “Thank you for calling,” I said. “Please let him know that I’ll be there in about thirty or forty minutes.”

  “Sure thing.”

  I replaced the receiver and turned to Helen Louise and Diesel. “The hospital,” I said. “Bill Delaney would like me to visit. He’s awake and resting comfortably.”

  “What time is it?” Helen Louise asked. She yawned again, and that made me yawn.

  I checked the bedside clock. “Three forty-seven.” I turned back to her. She placed a hand on my chest, and I covered it with my own hand. Then I grasped her hand, pulled it to my lips, and kissed it.

  Helen Louise smiled. “Are you going?”

  I sighed. “Yes, though I’d much rather stay right here with you.”

  Diesel warbled.

  “And with you, too, silly boy,” I said. The cat chirped and looked smug. “I need to shower first.”

  “Go ahead,” Helen Louise said. “Diesel and I will be right here.” She stroked the cat’s head, and he began to purr.

  I threw back the covers and slipped out of bed. I turned for a moment to look at my beloved, and I wanted to climb right back into bed and pull her into my arms again. But duty called.

  Forty minutes later I arrived at the hospital. I checked at the front desk to find out Delaney’s room number. He was on the third floor. I headed to the elevator.

  The door was ajar. I knocked, and a hoarse voice called out, “Come in.”

  I left the door halfway open after I entered the room. I approached the bed, shocked by Delaney’s appearance even though I had seen him earlier in the emergency room. His head was still bandaged, but he seemed alert. His legs had casts, and they protruded from the covers on the bed. Both arms had bandages, and his face appeared haggard. I noticed two scraped places on his face, one on his chin and the other on his left cheek. His eyes were sunken, and he looked much older than his sixty-six years.

  “Thanks for coming.”

  “I’m sorry you were injured so badly.” I moved closer to the bed. “I hope you’re getting pain medication because I’m sure you’re hurting.” I pulled up a chair, positioned it close to the bed so he could see me, and sat.

  “Don’t feel much of anything right now,” he said.

  “Do you remember what happened?”

  “No.” He looked away as if embarrassed. “Too drunk. I don’t remember leaving the apartment.” He frowned as he turned his head to face me again. “Don’t know how I got downtown. I was so lit I don’t see how I made it down the stairs without killing myself.”

  I had wondered about that myself. His apartment was several miles from the town square. How had he managed to walk that far in his condition? Probably took the bus, I thought. He couldn’t have walked that distance.

  “You must have got on the bus somewhere near your apartment,” I said.

  “Maybe,” Delaney replied. “Got a bus pass.”

  “The police will find out,” I said. “I’m sure the driver would remember.”

  “Probably so.”

  �
��My daughter and son-in-law happened to be there when it happened,” I said. “They saw the whole thing.”

  Delaney frowned. “I don’t remember anything. Can you tell me what they saw?”

  “Sure.” I related the story to him. “Now, my daughter is sure that driver deliberately hit you. Do you know anyone who would have a reason to do that?”

  Delaney looked startled, and for a moment he also looked afraid. Then his expression turned bland. “No.”

  He was lying. I knew by his reaction he had an idea who had run him down. Why wouldn’t he give me a name? Who was he protecting?

  TWENTY

  “Are you sure about that?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” Delaney replied. “I appreciate you coming to the hospital, but I really got no claim on you. You’ve been kind, but I can’t impose on you anymore.”

  He wanted to get rid of me, and that convinced me he was lying about the hit-and-run driver. I didn’t think now was the time to press him on the subject, however. He looked beaten down and vulnerable due to his condition, and I couldn’t force myself to play a bad-cop routine when he was like this. I would give him a day or two to think about it, because he had obviously had no idea someone tried to kill him until I told him. After he thought about that nasty fact he might change his mind about talking to me.

  I rose. “I’ve been glad to help, although I really haven’t done much. Is there anything you need?”

  He shook his head, then winced. “No, thanks. Like I said, you’ve done more than enough. Right now I just need to rest.”

  “All right,” I said. “But if you change your mind, I’m only a phone call away.”

  He nodded, then closed his eyes. I stood there a moment longer, but he didn’t move or open his eyes. I turned and left the room, pulling the door halfway closed as it had been when I arrived.

  As I approached my car in the parking lot a few minutes later, I remembered I needed to call Jack Pemberton and fill him in on today’s events. I didn’t like talking on the phone while I was driving, even though I now had a car—purchased last month—that allowed me to sync my cell phone to its audio system and talk hands-free. I had used the feature only twice, but, while it was convenient, I was still concerned that I might get distracted. Even though I had conversations when there were people in the car with me and managed not to have accidents, a phone conversation didn’t feel the same.

  When I arrived home, Helen Louise and Diesel greeted me at the back door. I kissed Helen Louise before I gave Diesel a scratch on the head, and he didn’t seem to mind.

  “You’re back sooner than I expected,” Helen Louise said.

  “Sooner than I expected also,” I replied. “He says he doesn’t really remember anything, other than that he thinks he took the bus to get downtown from his apartment. After that he’s pretty blank.”

  “Did you tell him what Laura saw?”

  I nodded. “Right after that he suddenly didn’t want to impose on me anymore. Thanked me for my help but pretty much told me to buzz off. Not rudely, though.”

  “Maybe he didn’t believe you about the deliberate hit,” Helen Louise said.

  “I’m pretty sure he did, although he denied knowledge of anyone who would want to injure or kill him. I decided there was no point in arguing with him today. He looks pretty pitiful.” I described his appearance to Helen Louise.

  She grimaced. “Poor man, I hope he’s going to be able to recover from this.”

  “He’ll get excellent care at the hospital,” I said, “but I have no idea how long they’ll keep him there. When I go back to see him in a day or two, he might know more about what the plan is for his rehab.”

  “I hope he’s sensible and confides in you, or at least in the police,” Helen Louise said.

  “We’ll see,” I replied. “What are your plans for the rest of the afternoon and this evening?”

  “Depends on what you have in mind,” Helen Louise said.

  “I need to call Jack Pemberton and bring him up-to-date on the latest events,” I said. “Plus arrange to get together to plan our investigation. That shouldn’t take more than an hour. I’d say we might go out for dinner, but Diesel would have to be on his own. Unless Stewart and Haskell are going to be here.”

  Hearing his name, the cat meowed loudly. I always suspected he understood the word alone. He wouldn’t be happy left in the house by himself. I wouldn’t be happy, either. I knew I spoiled him terribly, but he was a member of the family.

  “I’d just as soon stay at home for dinner,” Helen Louise said. “I thought I might run home, have a quick shower and change. I have the ingredients for what I’d like to cook, and I’ll bring them back with me.”

  “Wouldn’t you rather cook at your house?” I said. “Diesel and I can come to your place if you’d prefer.”

  “I’d rather come back here.” Helen Louise gave me a kiss before she picked up her purse from the counter. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

  The muffled sounds of a cell phone ringtone emanated from her purse. Helen Louise dug the phone out and frowned when she saw who was calling. “The bistro,” she said to me before she answered.

  I heard only her side of the conversation, and it didn’t take long to figure out that one of her employees had injured himself and was out of commission for the rest of the day. Helen Louise ended the call after promising to be there in about half an hour. She put the phone away.

  “Sorry, love.” She grimaced.

  “Who’s hurt?”

  “Henry cut his left hand pretty badly, and a friend who was in the bistro when it happened has taken him to the emergency room. They’re shorthanded now, so I’m going to have to go in and work. Probably tomorrow, too, because I don’t imagine Henry will be able to do much.”

  “You get going. I’m sorry your day away ended like this, but even sorrier for poor Henry.” I slid my arm around her and pulled her to me for another kiss. After several highly satisfying seconds she pulled away.

  “Talk to you later,” she said. Diesel followed her to the door, warbling all the way. She rubbed his head quickly before she walked out the door. He stood there for at least thirty seconds, but when she didn’t come back through the door he returned to my side.

  Time to call Jack Pemberton. I poured myself a glass of ice water before I settled at the table. Diesel stretched out by my chair.

  Jack answered right away. “Hi, Charlie. What’s been going on?”

  “Hey, Jack,” I said. “Interesting developments involving Bill Delaney. I’m curious to get your take on everything.” He listened while I told him what had happened today and didn’t comment until I finished. That pleased me because I really hated having my train of thought interrupted while I was trying to make sure I didn’t leave out any details. “So what do you think?”

  “First off, I think you’re right. He has some idea of who might want to put him out of the way permanently. Now, whether it’s an old enemy with a score to settle, or the killer in the Barber case trying to get rid of him before he tells what he knows . . .” He paused. “Could be either situation.”

  “True,” I said. “It could also be a vigilante type who thinks he got away with murder and decided to see justice done. I’m inclined to think it’s got to be related to the murders in some way.”

  “Hadn’t thought of the vigilante angle,” Jack said. “I agree that it’s related to the Barber case. That’s what my gut instinct tells me, and it’s hardly ever wrong.”

  “So we’re agreed on that,” I said. “Now, about getting together. I’m available all day tomorrow. If you don’t mind, why don’t you come here? In the afternoon we can go to the hospital to talk to Bill Delaney.” My children would be visiting their respective in-laws with their spouses tomorrow, so my usual Sunday family dinner was canceled. With Helen Louise busy at the bistro, Diesel and I would be on our own.


  “That sounds good. I’d like to meet Delaney. Maybe between the two of us we can encourage him to trust us,” Jack said.

  “Yes, whether he’s guilty or innocent, we need to get him talking to us,” I said.

  “Would ten o’clock work for you?” Jack asked.

  “That’s fine.” I gave him the address.

  “I’ll e-mail you the files I have on the Barber case,” Jack said. “If you have time to look them over before tomorrow morning, that would be great.”

  “No problem,” I said. “I’ve nothing else to do this evening.”

  “Great,” Jack replied. “See you in the morning.” He ended the call.

  I put my phone aside and gazed down at the dozing cat by my chair. “We’re going to have company tomorrow, Diesel. It’s going to be a busy day.” He roused long enough to offer a sleepy meow in acknowledgment before going back to his nap.

  “Uh-oh,” I said as I suddenly realized something. With most of my usual cat-sitters otherwise occupied tomorrow, I had no one to keep an eye on Diesel while Jack and I went to the hospital. I couldn’t remember what Stewart might have told me about his and Haskell’s plans for tomorrow. If they weren’t going to be at home, I’d have to send Jack to the hospital by himself.

  I picked up my phone to send a text to Stewart.

  Hey there. Hope you’re enjoying your day. Are you and Haskell going to be home tomorrow morning?

  I set the phone aside for the moment and got up to refill my water glass. That done, I looked through the fridge to see what my options were for dinner. Sandwich, salad, some hard-boiled eggs. No, I wanted a more substantial meal, although I probably should have gone with a couple hard-boiled eggs and salad. I opened the freezer to find one of Azalea’s casseroles and discovered only one left. Chicken and rice. I took it out and set it on the counter to thaw for an hour or so before I put it in the oven. Casserole plus salad would make a satisfying meal.

  In the meantime I decided a small snack wouldn’t hurt, so I peeled a banana. Diesel knew I was eating so he perked up and became interested in my snack. I pinched off a piece of banana and gave it to him. Cats can’t taste sweet so fruit generally doesn’t interest them. Diesel sniffed at the banana for a moment, then he gulped it down. He looked up at me, obviously wanting more. I gave him one more small piece and ate the rest of the banana myself. I sometimes thought the fact that I shared my food with him was more important than the taste of the food itself.