by Jessica Beck
“Maybe. Maybe not,” Van said.
“About that list,” Jake said when a doctor came in. He was scowling about something, and seeing us didn’t brighten his mood any.
“You’ll both have to leave. I need to examine my patient.”
There was no arguing with that. “Okay, but we’ll be back,” I told Van.
“Until I recover my memory, at least enough to remember who hit me, there’s no need for that. In fact, I’m asking you to drop your unofficial investigation right here and now. Let the police handle it.”
“You’re certainly free to ask us anything you’d like to,” Jake said.
“I mean it!” Van said, clearly agitated by my husband’s response. “I don’t want you digging around in my life.”
“Why? Are you afraid of what we might find?” I asked him sweetly.
“Get out!” Van shouted.
“You two need to leave right now,” the doctor ordered. “You’re clearly upsetting my patient.”
“He’s not nearly as upset as he’s going to be once we figure out what’s going on,” I said. Was that a glimpse of momentary fear in Van’s eyes when I said it?
The door opened, and Officer Bradley stepped in. “Is there a problem here?”
“No. We were just leaving,” Jake said.
“For now,” I added, more out of spite than anything else.
Once we were out in the hallway, I asked Jake something that had just crossed my mind. “Jake, is it possible that Van knows who clobbered him last night?”
Jake looked surprised by my question. “If he knew that, why wouldn’t he tell the police?”
“What if he plans on dealing with it himself?” I asked.
“What makes you ask that?”
“I thought I caught a hint of something in his eyes a moment ago,” I admitted. “It’s nothing I can be sure of, but I think it’s at least within the realm of possibility.”
“If it’s true, then I’m doubly glad there’s a guard on his door,” Jake said.
“Why is that?”
“It will serve to keep Van inside as well as keeping the bad guy out,” Jake said. “What’s our next move?”
“Let’s go see if Bob Casto is in any better shape to talk than he was earlier,” I suggested.
“That sounds like a plan to me,” Jake replied, and we went off in search of Van’s former business partner’s room.
Chapter 11
“Hang on a second,” I told Jake as we approached Bob Casto’s room. The door had been propped open, and there were several voices coming from inside. We lingered outside in the hallway for a few moments, and sure enough, Casto himself finally spoke.
“I would have gotten away with it, too, if I hadn’t had a bit of bad luck in the end.”
“Quiet down, Bob!” Wes Granger said urgently. “You’re still out of your mind on drugs.”
“You quiet down, Wes. I’ve never seen things clearer in my entire life,” Bob answered. “I’m telling you the truth. I’m not one bit sorry about it, either. He deserved exactly what he got.”
“Robert!” Aunt Irma said.
“It’s true. Every last bit of it!”
We were waiting for Casto to incriminate himself further when Wes popped his head out through the door opening. He got up in Jake’s face, and I wondered if the man really was foolish enough to try to intimidate my husband. “How long have you been standing there listening in on a private conversation?”
“How much privacy could you really expect with the door propped wide open?” Jake asked him, never flinching or backing up even one inch. “That was quite an interesting talk you were having just now.”
“Bob’s out of his mind on drugs,” Wes said, stepping back and taking a gentler tone than he had before. “You can’t believe anything he’s saying. Half an hour ago, he claimed to be a pitcher for the New York Yankees.”
“I don’t know. He seemed pretty lucid just now to me,” I said. “It kind of sounded as though he were confessing to attacking Van Rayburn.”
“He wasn’t even talking about Van,” Wes said haltingly. There was little doubt the man was lying to protect his cousin. “It was about something else entirely.”
“Sure it was,” Jake said, the tone of his voice proving that he didn’t believe it for one second. Neither did I.
“Clearly you weren’t standing there all that long. A few minutes ago he was telling us all about nearly screwing some guy named Pickering in Union Grove in a land deal that would have netted him twenty grand in three days.”
“What was the bad luck at the end?” I asked.
“The guy’s secretary, some woman named Hickman, reread the contracts before she’d let him sign the last version, and she found the loophole Bob had slipped in at the last second. Our family and theirs have had a feud for years, but Pickering let his greed get the better of him, and Bob was determined to take advantage of it. That wasn’t about Van Rayburn at all.”
“Why don’t we believe you?” Jake asked him.
“Go to Union Square and ask the man yourself. He’ll tell you it’s true.” Wes stepped back into the room as he added, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s family and friends only in Bob’s room right now.”
If he could have slammed the door, I was sure that he would have, but the hospital’s doors were designed not to slam even under the most trying circumstances.
“Could he be telling the truth?” I asked Jake once we were alone in the hallway again.
“I suppose anything is possible,” he said as he pulled out his phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“I’ve got a friend in the Union Square police department who owes me a favor,” he said. “Give me one second.”
It didn’t surprise me to learn that Jake had cultivated friendships on the various local police forces, especially since he’d once been the interim chief of the April Springs squad. After a few minutes, he rejoined me.
“What did he say?” I asked.
“He knows the parties involved, so he’s going over to Pickering’s office to get confirmation right now. I suspect that it’s true, though. Jan knows the man, and he has a running grudge with half the town.”
“Is Jan a man or a woman?” I asked with a smile.
“He’s a man. Why, does it matter?”
“No, I was just curious,” I said.
Jake raised an eyebrow in my direction. “Suzanne, why are you suddenly so jumpy about me being around other women?”
I thought about what he asked before I automatically denied it. There was a little truth in what he’d just asked me. “I guess I don’t like the idea of you having lunch with Ellie,” I finally admitted.
“Just because she’s a woman? Would you feel the same way if Grace had won me in the auction instead?”
“First of all, as you pointed out earlier, Ellie didn’t win you. It’s important that you remember that. Second, you’re free to have lunch with whomever you please. Ellie’s a barracuda, though. I wouldn’t even trust her with my stepfather.”
“I have trouble believing she’d go after Phillip,” Jake said with the hint of a grin.
“It’s not funny, Jake.”
“Not even just a little?” he asked me, a full-blown smile on his face now.
I couldn’t resist. I smiled in return. “I know I’m just being silly. Do you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” he said as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me soundly. “Woman, there’s no one else for me but you, plain and simple. Okay?”
“Okay,” I said happily.
“Hey, if you two are going to keep that up, you should get a room,” a familiar voice said just down the hallway.
Jake and I broke our embrace as we both turned to see Grace Gauge approaching.
; “What are you doing here?” I asked Grace. We hadn’t been spending nearly enough time together lately, and I missed her company. That was the only problem with being so in love with my husband. If I didn’t make time for the people in my life who were important to me, they might just end up slipping away.
“As a matter of fact, I was looking for you,” she said.
“Well, you found me. What’s up?”
Grace glanced at Jake, who got the hint immediately. “Would anybody else like some coffee?” It was becoming his standard excuse for making himself scarce.
“I would,” I said, thankful that my husband had picked up on the subtle clue. Why shouldn’t he, though? After all, he was still a first-class detective.
“Make it three,” Grace said gratefully.
“I’ll be back in five minutes,” Jake said, and then he looked at Grace and asked, “Or should I make it ten?”
“No, five should be fine,” she said as she kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Hey, it’s just coffee,” he said with a smile. I was glad that what I’d told Jake earlier had been true. There hadn’t been a single jealous vibe when Grace had kissed my husband. For some reason, Ellie just pushed my buttons.
“Now, what’s up?” I asked her once Jake was gone on his self-imposed exile.
“It’s about Stephen,” Grace said.
Stephen Grant, our illustrious young police chief, also happened to be Grace’s boyfriend. “What about him?”
“Have you noticed anything different about him lately?” she asked me earnestly.
“Other than the fact that he’s working too hard? No, not that I can think of. Why?”
Grace looked a bit exasperated by my response. “Maybe it’s just my imagination.”
“Grace, what is it?”
She looked as though she were about to cry. “I don’t know. He just seems so distant lately. Did Jake ever act like that when he was chief of police?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” I said, hoping that it was true. The two of them were great together, and I would have liked nothing better than for them to make things work.
“But did Jake ever act aloof when he was working as a cop?”
“No,” I had to answer honestly, no matter how much it pained me to do so. I didn’t like refuting her theory, but I owed Grace the truth. “But different people handle stress in different ways,” I quickly amended.
“Well, he’s never handled it like this before. Something’s going on with him.”
“Have you tried coming out and asking him?” I suggested.
“The direct approach, huh? I’ve thought about it,” she admitted.
“What’s stopping you?” I asked.
“Maybe I’m afraid of what his answer will be,” she said softly.
There was nothing I could say to that, but there was something I could do. I wrapped my arms around my best friend besides my husband and hugged her fiercely. As I did, I could feel the tears escaping from her, and that went on for at least thirty seconds. She finally calmed though, and as Grace pulled away, she dabbed at her cheeks with a tissue in her hand. “Sorry about that.”
“Grace, you have nothing to apologize for. Did that help any?”
She looked at me and smiled slightly. “You know what? It did. At least a little.”
“So, are you going to talk to him?”
“I’m not sure I’ve got the courage,” she answered.
“Grace Gauge, you are one of the strongest people I’ve ever known,” I told her.
“But still not as strong as your mother, right?” she asked, getting a little of the sunshine back in her smile.
“Well, that’s a pretty high bar. Momma is fierce, you know?”
“You don’t have to tell me,” she answered as Jake tentatively approached.
“Is this a bad time?” he asked gently. “I can take a few more laps around the hospital, but the coffee might get cold if I do.”
“Bring it on,” Grace said with a grin. “It’s fine.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, noting her red eyes and the tissue still clutched in her hand.
“I’m positive,” she said as she took one of the paper cups from him. “That’s delicious. What does Barton do to this to make it so good?”
“I asked him the same thing just now,” Jake admitted. “Apparently he puts a touch of chocolate and a whisper of cinnamon in it. It’s pretty wonderful, isn’t it?”
“It’s so good I’m stealing his recipe for the donut shop,” I said after taking a sip of my own.
“I’m sure he’d be glad to give it to you freely,” Jake said.
“You’re probably right, but what fun would that be? Just think about how much fun Emma and I will have trying to replicate it.”
I realized that it was nearly time for dinner. “Are you hungry, Grace?”
“I’m suddenly famished,” she said. There was no doubt in my mind the cathartic release of tears had spurred her hunger. “Should we see what Barton’s serving in the cafeteria?”
“He’s off duty tonight,” Jake said, clearly sad about the fact. “I ran into him on his way out. He’s got a date with Emma, so his assistant is cooking dinner.”
That was sad news indeed. “Anybody up for the Boxcar Grill?” I suggested.
“That sounds wonderful,” Grace said. “I’ll follow you there. I parked right behind you in the parking lot.”
“Then let’s go eat,” I said.
As we drove back into town, Jake asked, “Do I even want to know what that was all about?”
“Stephen is being a little distant, and Grace is worried about him,” I admitted. I was sure that my best friend wouldn’t mind me sharing with Jake. In fact, I knew that she would have expected me to. My husband and I were close friends as well as being married to each other, a very convenient arrangement indeed.
“It’s a tough job, and he’s still young. Being in charge can take its toll. I’m sure it’s nothing.”
I had a sudden thought. “You wouldn’t talk to him, would you?”
Jake looked instantly uncomfortable about the prospect. “About his relationship?”
He made it sound as though I’d asked him to take a bribe. “Come on. It’s not that hard.”
“Maybe not for you, but we’re guys, remember?”
“Just feel him out,” I said. “For me?”
“I’ll try, but I’m not making any promises,” Jake said glumly. I had a hunch that he’d rather face down a mad-dog killer than talk to another guy about his feelings, but I knew just as certainly that he’d do it for me.
“Thanks,” I said.
I looked in my rearview mirror and waved at Grace, who was following close behind me. She waved back, and we both grinned like a couple of kids.
“You’re lucky to have each other in your lives,” Jake said after noticing the exchange. “It’s rare to keep a friend as long as you have.”
“I plan to continue it, too,” I said. “When do you think you’ll hear back from Jan about Pickering?”
“That’s right. I forgot to tell you. He called while I was out taking our coffee for a walk. It all checks out. He asked around, and it pretty much happened the way Wes described it.”
“Okay. Thanks for checking,” I said.
“Why don’t you look satisfied with the answer?” Jake asked me.
“Even if it’s a true story, it doesn’t necessarily mean that Casto didn’t try to kill Van. You know that, don’t you?”
“I do. He stays on our list of suspects.”
“Are we ever going to start narrowing it down?” I asked as we neared the Boxcar’s parking lot.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get to the bottom of this,” Jake said, trying his best to assure me.
“Maybe. I just hope it’s in tim
e to save Van from another attack.”
“So do I,” Jake agreed. “I don’t need anybody else haunting my nightmares.”
“Do you really have bad dreams about things like that?” I asked, knowing that there were nights when my husband barely slept but never getting a straight answer about the cause.
“More than I care to admit,” he said. “You know, that could be all that’s wrong with the chief. He’s just feeling the weight of responsibility of his job.”
“It didn’t seem to bother you, though,” I said.
“That’s not a fair comparison. Not only am I older, but I’ve had a great deal more experience in law enforcement than he has. He’ll come around. She just needs to give him some time.”
“But you’ll still talk to him, right?” I asked.
“Right,” he agreed. After a moment, he put on a brave face. “Let’s go eat. I’m suddenly starving.”
“Sounds good to me,” I said.
Chapter 11
“Don’t you ever cook anymore?” I asked Momma as we joined them at one of the few tables not completely occupied.
“It’s my night to cook,” Phillip said proudly. “So I gave Dot the choice. We could eat here, or I could make my killer nine-alarm chili.”
“I opted for the safety of my digestive tract,” Momma said with a smile.
“I thought you liked my chili,” Phillip protested.
She patted her husband’s hand. “When I have a cold or the slightest bit of congestion, there’s nothing I’d rather have in the world,” Momma replied.
“It does tend to clean out your nasal passages, doesn’t it?” he asked proudly.
“Why aren’t you cooking, Suzanne?” Momma asked me. “And don’t say you’ve been at the donut shop all day. I came by for a treat, and Emma told me that you were gone.”
“Since when did you start eating donuts?” I asked her. Momma got my treats occasionally, but generally there was more reason than to simply satisfy her sweet tooth when she popped in on me at work.
“I get cravings, too,” she said, though she couldn’t meet my gaze as she said it.
“Momma, were you checking up on me?”