A Box Full of Trouble

by Carolyn Haines

  He looked insane, laughing and bleeding, his face and neck covered with deep cat scratches. Where are Jocko and Trouble? Erin was worried about the animals, but didn't want to take her eyes off of Zach.

  "Zach, come on out!" Sheriff Bowen's voice boomed from a loudspeaker outside the barn. Erin's heart still pounded in her chest, but she also felt a huge wave of relief. She prayed an ambulance had come as well. Noah wasn't moving.

  "She thought she could live without me, you know? But I knew she couldn't. I gave Shelby Rae everything. Even shot your mama so she could have your father because she wanted him so bad. It was like it was meant to be. One minute I was after that loser, Jeb Daly, and the next minute he was inches from your mother. The opportunity of a lifetime. Don't tell me anyone else could've done better for her." He gingerly started rise again, but this time she didn't stop him. "Now, move out of my way, Erin, so I can go out there."

  I even shot your mother so she could have your father.

  Erin couldn't speak.

  "Cat got your tongue?" Zach looked serious for a moment, then began laughing at his own joke.

  "You killed her. On purpose." Erin could barely get out the words, then they came in a rush. "You murdered my mother so Shelby Rae could marry my father?

  "I said so, didn't I?"

  "She put you up to it, didn't she? Of course she did." She felt her world crumbling all over again. Seven years of lies and pain and now the truth was even more painful than the lies had been.

  Zach's face darkened and his words flew at her with flecks of spit. "Don't you dare talk about Shelby Rae like that, you stuck-up little bitch. I did it for her. She doesn't have to ask me for anything, because I know what she needs and I always have."

  "She asked you to kidnap her, didn't she? You two are insane. And sick. You're murderers!"

  "Stand aside, little girl. Or I'll change my mind about leaving you alive." Zach’s voice was tight and controlled. "The sheriff out there has no goddamn patience and might shoot us both dead just to get it over with." He inclined his head toward Noah. "How much longer do you want him to wait?"

  Later, she wouldn’t remember moving aside for him or dropping the pipe, but only the barn filling with people in uniforms and a kind voice asking if she was all right.

  * * *

  Erin watched as the EMTs shifted Noah onto a backboard so they could transport him to the hospital. He hadn't regained consciousness, but from what she could tell from the EMTs talking to their radio, his vital signs were okay. She could hardly bear to look at his face, which was pinched with pain even though he was out cold.

  Her father came to check on her and Noah, then went back outside to deal with Shelby Rae, who had been hysterical when he first arrived. Another set of EMTs was tending to her and Erin was sure that, by now, she'd been sedated. Erin learned from her father that he'd called the police the second Shelby Rae had called him from inside the house. She couldn’t believe Shelby Rae hadn't bothered to call them herself. Then again, maybe she could.

  The EMTs had Noah all ready to go, and Erin was following them out of the barn when Trouble stepped out of the shadows.

  "There you are. Come here." When Erin tried to pick him up, he dashed back into the shadows. He turned, and she saw his green eyes flicker. Jocko lay motionless on the ground at his feet.

  "Oh, no." Erin rushed to the little dog, fell on her knees, and gently rested a hand on his side. Still breathing, oh thank goodness. "You're going to be okay, buddy. I promise you're going to be okay." She reached over and caressed Trouble. "Thank you." Then she called to the cop who was guarding the scene. "Could I get your help? My dog's been injured. Badly."

  Together they shifted Jocko onto a board, much in the way the EMTs moved Noah, and carried him outside with Trouble close behind.

  Erin called to her father who was standing near a blanket-wrapped Shelby Rae, looking half-angry, half-miserable. "We need to get Jocko to the vet's." Concern softened his face.

  Shelby Rae wailed.

  "He's breathing," Erin said.

  "We'll take a look at him. Not supposed to, but what the hell. I've got dogs." The EMT with Shelby Rae walked over and took the board with Jocko on it, while Bruce held Shelby Rae's arm so she couldn't interfere. "Hey, Jamie," the EMT called.

  Together the two male EMTs lifted the dog into the ambulance, where they could examine him.

  Erin saw that Noah had been loaded into the second ambulance. The bands of the oxygen mask were strapped across the sides of his face, but she couldn't see much else. "Please, can I go with him?" she asked the female EMT who was about to close the door.

  "You family?"

  "No, but..."

  Sheriff Bowen, overhearing, walked over. "Why don't you stay here, Erin? We've called his mama, and she's on her way to the hospital. Noah's unconscious and wouldn't even know you were there. I promise you can go over later, all right?"

  She was torn, but knew it made sense. Plus, she had Trouble and Jocko to watch out for. But she would get to the hospital the minute the animals were taken care of. Trouble sat at her feet. This time when she picked him up, he nuzzled into her arms.

  Zach Wilkins stood against a police car, handcuffed, with another deputy and a state trooper guarding him. He was talking to a stone-faced deputy, smiling and laughing.

  I even shot your mother so she could have your father. Murderer.

  * * *

  Three hours later, Erin was standing at Noah's bedside. He'd just been moved from the emergency room and into a room of his own, but was still not awake. The scans had shown no serious internal damage to his brain, but his left femur was fractured because Zach had pushed him so hard against the SUV. Annette sat in a chair on the other side of the bed, holding her son's hand.

  "Is Mr. Daly coming?" Erin felt shyer than she had the previous night at dinner.

  Annette, who still wore her red polo shirt with the store's logo on it, shook her head. "I don't know if Noah told you—I probably shouldn't even tell you—but his father forced him to bring a package to him out at Honeysuckle Jamboree. We believe it had drugs in it.”

  Erin had heard of the place. In fact, her father had absolutely forbidden her going there as a teenager, even just to explore the empty grounds.

  "Jeb got out of prison and from day one starting hanging out with the wrong people again. He was carrying a gun, and you know it's against the law for him to even own one. Noah told me all about it last night after you left, and I called Sheriff Bowen this morning. They went out there to pick him up first thing. I gather the people out at the jamboree weren't happy to have the law pay them a visit."

  "I'm sorry."

  Annette's frown deepened. "It's no more than he deserves. I never was good at standing up to him, but he does not get to mess with my son. I hope they lock him up for good." She was quiet a moment, looking at Noah. They sat in silence until Annette turned, her friendly eyes resting on Erin. "What about you? You look tired, honey. And how are your dad and Shelby Rae?"

  Erin felt embarrassed, and more than a little responsible for Noah's injury. If only she hadn't called him to tell him where she was going. Her father had said that Noah was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

  "They're questioning Shelby Rae. I don't know that she did anything illegal. I mean, she got Zach to fake her kidnapping, but the ransom money was technically her money. It's complicated. Then Zach killed Julie Berry because he thought she told my dad that Shelby Rae and Zach were having an affair. Which apparently wasn't true. Zach was really weird about Shelby Rae, but she says they were never, you know, lovers. Honestly, I couldn't believe it when Zach really kidnapped her the second time. I mean, why would he do that?"

  "It's like we never really knew Zach," Annette said, lowering her voice as though she didn't want Noah to hear. "I don't understand. He almost killed Noah. He was our friend. If he hadn't confessed, I never would've believed it."

  "There's more, but I'm not sure I can even go into it right
now. I'm sorry."

  "Of course you are, sweetie." She reached over to squeeze Erin's hand. "Listen, will you sit here while I stretch my legs and grab a coffee? We can talk more when I get back, or talk tomorrow. I'm taking a few days off work."

  "Sounds good." Erin tried to make her smile extra bright. None of this was Annette's fault. She and Noah had been dragged into this drama along with Erin and her father seven long years ago.

  Erin moved the chair closer to Noah. He looked much more peaceful now that he was getting oxygen and lying comfortably. She wondered if it wasn't also due to his mother's presence, and the sound of her voice. Erin felt a little jealous of Noah, but reminded herself that nearly all of her memories of being with her mother and father were happy ones. She'd been so lucky.

  Impulsively, she took Noah's hand. It was warm and dry.

  Noah's breathing changed and became suddenly deeper. His face looked confused, and he fitfully turned his head from side to side. Finally, he relaxed some and opened his eyes. Erin knew she should run for a nurse, but she didn't want to let go of him. She waited until he figured out where he was. "Hey," she said.

  Noah squeezed her hand. "It's you."

  "It's me."

  "How did we get here?" he asked.

  Erin sighed. "It's kind of a long story. Everything's okay though. I promise. Your mom's here, and she'll be right back."

  "So we're alone, like on a date. Which date would this be? Second? Third?"

  "Let me see." Erin thought a minute. "Fourth, if you count hanging out at the dock together. Fifth if you count us being together in the barn when I hit Zach over the head with a pipe so he wouldn't kill you."

  "You did that?"

  "Yep."

  Noah closed his eyes, and his lips curved into a slight, satisfied smile. "You're one bad ass girlfriend. But maybe we could just go to a movie next time?"

  Chapter Ten

  Noah had his arm around Erin's shoulders as they crossed the park's grassy hillside, and told himself it was only because he wanted to be close to her. The truth was that he was still a little unsteady from his head injury. Fortunately, the pain had dulled to a shadow with the help of continuous ibuprofen, because there was no way he was going to miss watching these fireworks with her. The Rotary Club always did a great display, and he was anxious to make new memories with Erin.

  His mother followed a few steps behind. She'd been quiet throughout dinner at the house, where Noah had grilled brats and served them with sauerkraut, which Erin had never had before. There was apple pie and a Thermos of coffee in the basket his mother carried.

  Noah had been stunned and proud to learn that his mother had called the sheriff and parole officer on his father. She showed the parole officer the two ounces of pot and five thousand dollars in cash her husband had stashed in the crawlspace. After he was picked up at the jamboree, he was only too eager to snitch on the prison counselor who was going to handle selling the drugs on the inside. It made Noah sick to think of what a stupid ass his father was.

  "Let's put our blanket over there." Erin pointed to a small rise.

  "Too bad we couldn't bring Trouble and Jocko," Noah said. "It's like half our team isn't here. But I guess you never know how animals are going to react to fireworks."

  "Tammy Lynn will be back for Trouble tomorrow night. She's going to stay over, then head back home. I'd love for you both to meet her, except things are pretty weird at the house right now." Erin shook out a plaid blanket and straightened it over the grass. "Dad hired a lawyer for Shelby Rae, even though she's not charged with anything right now. Zach hasn't said she was involved in Julie's murder. My dad says he'll probably be locked up in a mental institution because he's insane."

  "Your dad's a good man." Noah's mother knelt on the blanket and opened the basket. Noah had smelled the pie baking that morning and had barely been able to stay out of it as it cooled.

  "I don't know what's going to happen with him and Shelby Rae. She cries a lot, but he's sleeping in a guest room and disappears to the office first thing in the morning. He may even be there right now.”

  Darkness fell quickly. Noah's mother set the small camp chair she'd brought a couple feet above the blanket, leaving Noah and Erin alone to watch the fireworks together.

  "How's your head?" Erin gently stroked Noah's hair.

  "It's good. Really good."

  Erin took her hand away and smiled.

  "Oh, no you don't. If you're going to stop doing that, then I'm going to tell you for the next year that it feels like hell, so you won't stop." Taking her hand, he placed it comically back on top of his head.

  They both laughed. She did continue stroking his hair, and he rested his hand on her knee as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

  When the fireworks began, they watched in awe as the colors exploded against the clear July sky. Noah couldn't remember ever being so happy, and he was already beginning to think what it would be like when she went back to school. He was eager to make plans to get into school himself, even if it meant working two jobs while he was there. UK had a great design and architecture school. Or maybe he could go to Cincinnati. It wasn't far from Lexington. He didn't want to be far from Erin, ever again.

  Erin squeezed his hand. "Let's make sure we come back right to this spot next year. It's perfect." She rested her head on his shoulder.

  It was as if she'd been reading his mind. "Definitely." He kissed the top of her head, and she looked up at him and smiled, the bright stars of fireworks stars reflected in her eyes.

  * * *

  Now that all is tickety-boo with Jocko after his mishap with that cretin Zach Wilkins, he's almost back to his annoying self. But his furry brow is furrowed wherever he goes. His human has closed him out of her boudoir, where she now spends most of her days and nights, weeping or moaning for someone to pay attention to her. What little dignity the woman had has fled. Her attire has gone beyond dishabille to downright demented. Nothing she puts on matches up and her hair has lost its silky blonde luster and shows a dark strip of brown at the part. If only I could tell her myself that I spotted several strands of gray yesterday when she swooped down and picked up a startled Jocko and carried him down to the kitchen with her.

  "When is this stupid cat leaving?" she shouted. No one answered because everyone had left the house to get away from her.

  I wonder what will happen to Shelby Rae? I can't see Erin and her father putting up with her behavior forever. Maybe they will simply find new digs and leave her behind. They would certainly be welcome in Wetumpka. Shelby Rae would not.

  Today everyone is home. Erin is in the kitchen cooking up a meal of fried chicken, cornbread, and fresh asparagus. She's telling everyone it's because my beloved human, Tammy Lynn, is on her way back to fetch me, but I believe she is hoping to impress Noah, who is also invited to dinner.

  Did I mention Tammy Lynn is on her way back from Italy to take me home to Wetumpka? Did I mention I'm eager to go?

  As I stroll through the house, I confess to feeling a bit of nostalgia for the place: for the walks by the lake, and the excellent bits of food shared by Erin and her father. That Bruce is such a noble chap. Overhead, I can hear Jocko whining at his human's door. While I will admit to having become slightly fond of Jocko, I despair of his taste in mistresses.

  Bruce is in his office. The door is open just enough for me to slip inside. Wait. How have I missed knowing Noah already arrived and is inside the office as well? Neither of them notices me as I settle beneath a table.

  Noah leans forward in one of the overstuffed leather chairs. His hands are clasped together, and I sense he's nervous. "Remember that day I met my father out at Honeysuckle Jamboree, where the white supremacists were meeting?"

  Bruce interrupts. "Damned shame. I hope there wasn't anyone we know there. You never think something like that will happen in your town."

  "It's pretty far out of town, and to be fair there were license plates from all over. But I did see so
meone I knew there, besides my father. I didn't want to look too hard, you know? But as I was leaving, I saw Earl Potts about to go in. I recognized his truck, and he was behind the wheel."

  "Earl?" Bruce's voice is full of surprise, as well it might be. "I've known Earl for years. He's never expressed any of those kinds of opinions that I know of. Are you certain? I know you weren't in the happiest frame of mind yourself."

  "I'm very sure, sir." Noah says. "But it made me think. About Tionna Owens."

  "Now, wait a minute, son. Let’s be careful here.”

  "Mr. Walsh, I might be wrong, but it's been bugging me since that day. I checked our records on Tionna's car. Earl put Andrew on her brake job the last time it was in. Andrew's a good guy, and he went to tech school, but he doesn't have much experience working solo except doing simple oil changes and rotations."

  I admire Noah's earnestness, and his sense of deduction. Obviously he's learned much from observing me in action.

  "And?"

  Noah lowers his voice. "What if Earl put Andrew to work on her car on purpose, because he didn't want someone who would do a good job? What if he actually turned her away the day she died because he either didn't want to help her or—"

  Bruce interrupts again, sounding gobsmacked. "You think he was hoping her brakes would fail and she would die? Because of her skin color or her lifestyle? Good God, that would make him a monster."

  By the time Erin comes knocking politely on the door, Bruce and Noah have come to an understanding. Bruce will investigate Earl's actions further, and make overtures to Bryn if he finds their suspicions are true. Not to mention he will make sure Earl is prosecuted if possible, and, if not, loses his job and becomes unwelcome in any garage or dealership in the country.

  I follow them out of the room, glad there will be some kind of resolution for Bryn and Tionna, though they may never have real justice. No action can make up for someone we love being taken away from us.

  While I would prefer to wait in the library window awaiting Tammy Lynn's arrival, I allow Erin to pick me up. She calls for Jocko, and he readily gambols down the stairs, tongue flapping, as though he hasn't spent the last two hours whining outside Shelby Rae's door. Noah joins the three of us as we traipse down the path to the dock closest to the house, not the one where I found Julie Berry. He carries two proper rods and reels. They're nothing like the collapsible bendy thingy he usually uses.