Streamline

by Jennifer Lane

  Leo shook his head. His father actually seemed to think he could justify his actions. “What’d you do to the lieutenant?” he demanded.

  “I called them both into my office,” his father began. “And I — I confronted them about the affair. I dismissed Bill — it’s never the man’s fault in that situation. I mean, have you seen how beautiful Darnell is? Of course I couldn’t resist her…”

  “Focus on your breathing, Darnell,” Ina said. “A little slower, a little deeper.”

  Darnell nodded. She cowered in her chair like a frightened child.

  “Commander Scott knew about your affair, but he didn’t tell anyone?”

  Darnell’s voice quivered. “It was the worst day of my life. I worked so hard to become a lieutenant, and the commander threatened to tear it all down. He’d seen us kissing, apparently, and told us both our careers would be ruined. He was so hateful. He was angriest with me. He told me I was wrecking Bill’s marriage…I was a whore…” She shuddered. “Those eyes…He — he dismissed Bill from his office.

  I didn’t want him to go. I was so scared to be alone with the commander.” She looked up, eyes wild.

  “You’re doing fine, Darnell.”

  “T-T-The commander told me our fate was up to me. If I’d try, try — ” She closed her eyes for a moment. “If I’d try to satisfy him, to please him, maybe he’d ignore the affair. Maybe he wouldn’t court martial us both.” Darnell covered her mouth with a trembling hand.

  Her rocking motion reminded Ina of Leo as he’d described how his father beat him. The commander had cut a wide swath of destruction.

  “I didn’t know what to do,” Darnell cried. “I didn’t want to destroy Bill’s career. It was all my fault we were in this mess. So — so I let him.” She clenched her teeth. “I let the commander take me. Right there in his office.” Her breathing was ragged and shallow. Tears spilled down her cheeks. “I just laid there. I didn’t say no.” Ina struggled to mask her disgust. “The commander raped you.”

  “No.” Darnell shook her head. “I didn’t fight him. I didn’t say no.”

  “You did not consent, Darnell! He blackmailed you into having sex with him! What else were you to do?” Darnel stopped her rocking for a moment and slowly raised her eyes. “I’m dirty,” she muttered. “I’m a whore. It’s a good thing Bill died, because I don’t deserve him.”

  “She wanted it all along,” CS said. “Darnell had refused me for years, but this situation finally gave her the opportunity. I knew she always wanted me.”

  Leo’s stomach churned. “You raped her.”

  “That’s what Bill said!” his father thundered. “I did no such thing!

  We — we made a deal, that’s all. An even exchange: she’d submit to me, and I wouldn’t prosecute them.”

  “But Mr. Walsh found out?” Leo asked.

  CS swallowed. “The July fourth barbecue. It was so hot that night.” He paused and looked straight ahead.

  It seemed to Leo like his father had gone somewhere else.

  “It’d been a week since I chewed them out for the affair, and when Bill and I started laughing about how drunk Denny was, it seemed to break the ice. I’m not sure why Denny got so hammered — maybe it was the pressure of the promotion he and Bill were gunning for.

  But JoAnne was sure ticked off at him.” CS sighed. “We were watching JoAnne and Patti try to wrestle a drink away from Denny when I put my foot in my mouth. I told Bill his wife was good looking, but nothing like Darnell — guy talk, you know. I was trying to pay him a compliment for bedding a girl like that.”

  Leo shuddered.

  “That’s when Bill looked at me like he’d figured something out.

  He accused me of rape. I told him he was crazy, and I explained how Darnell agreed to it, to save him. But he wouldn’t back down. He said the captain would court martial me when he found out! Can you believe that? Then he grabbed Patti and hightailed it out of there before I had a chance to explain any further.” CS shook his head. “A little while later JoAnne asked me to help get Denny home. I knew I had to prevent Bill from destroying me, from destroying our family. I had to make things right.”

  “Darnell, did you murder Bill?”

  Darnell blanched. “No! I loved him! Denny Rose murdered Bill.”

  “Why?” Ina asked. “What was his motive?”

  “Denny and Bill were competing for a promotion. I was too horrified to attend the court martial, but I read in the papers that Denny was an alcoholic who’d hit his ex-wife, and that night, the night Bill died, well, Denny got blitzed. He claimed he couldn’t remember what happened.” Her mouth curled in a sneer. “Some excuse.” Ina’s phone rang, and she ignored it. “How long was it between Commander Scott calling you into his office and the murder?”

  “One week.” She looked down. “I wouldn’t talk to Bill. I couldn’t after what happened to me. I guess I blamed him.” Darnell began to cry again.

  This is a traumatized, grieving woman, Ina thought. Not a murderer covering her track s.

  Darnell sniffed. “The last time I saw Bill I was so mean, so cold.

  He died before I could say I was sorry. He died before I could say goodbye.”

  The office phone rang again, and again Ina didn’t answer.

  “Darnell, do you think the murder could have something to do with Commander Scott learning about your affair?” She wiped her cheeks and shook her head. “Denny was convicted.

  He’s guilty. Nobody thinks that.”

  “Leo Scott thinks that.”

  Darnell froze, her face flushing deep red.

  “Last night Leo broke into my office,” Ina explained. “I caught him after he’d read one or more of my charts. I think he was after yours, Lieutenant.”

  Darnell opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

  “Leo told me he and Bill’s daughter didn’t believe Denny was guilty. I think Leo believed you might be the murderer. I think he had to read your chart to find out.”

  Darnell finally found her voice. “How the hell did he break in here? He read my chart?”

  “He came in when the cleaning crew had the door unlocked, and somehow he found my desk key. I obviously wasn’t careful enough with my records.” Ina felt her face grow hot. “I’m so sorry. If you must take legal action against me, I can refer you to another psychologist.

  But I think you need to work through the aftermath of this sexual assault, Darnell.”

  This time when the irritating noise of the phone interrupted them, Ina picked up the receiver in a huff. “Yes?”

  “This is Midshipman Sour, ma’am.”

  “What is it, Tom?”

  “I’m sorry to bother you, ma’am, but I thought you’d want to hear this. Midshipman Dulce, uh, Leo’s roommate, just confessed that he kept a gun in their room, and now it’s missing.”

  “He had a gun?”

  “Yes, ma’am. And he thinks Leo took it.” Ina froze. Leo Scott wasn’t only a suicide risk. He was a homicide risk too.

  Leo felt completely overwhelmed as his father continued spilling his story. It was as if he watched the scene from outside his body. He’d lowered the gun an inch, but still held it aimed at CS, who wouldn’t stop unfurling this horrific tale.

  “I helped Denny inside his house,” CS said. “It was too tough to get him upstairs, so I tossed him on the sofa. He passed out pretty quick. JoAnne was totally embarrassed. She kept thanking me for helping them.”

  CS stared off into space. “I was terrified of losing my freedom, losing my family, if Bill said anything.” He locked his eyes on Leo.

  “I did this for you, Leo! What kind of future would you have if your father was accused of rape?”

  Leo looked away. What kind of future do I have if my father is a murderer?

  “I came back here and waited,” CS said. “You took Audrey home and went to bed. After about an hour, I drove to Bill’s house. I don’t know what I was thinking…I was going to talk to him, try to convince him
not to tell anyone. I found him out back, sitting by himself having another drink.

  “When I got closer, I couldn’t believe it. Bill was crying! And right then I knew I’d never convince him to keep his mouth shut. That little bitch would try to save Darnell. He’d try to help her even if it destroyed his career. Well, I couldn’t let him destroy mine.” Leo tightened his grip on the weapon, his stomach in knots.

  Here it came.

  “Bill was drunk, and it was easier than I thought. I gripped his neck, and I…”

  His father’s voice faded, but after a few moments he said, “I strangled him.”

  Leo felt as if he were encased in lead, too heavy to move. Almost too heavy to think.

  “Afterward I panicked.” CS continued his relentless confession.

  “All I could think about was Denny lying on his sofa, passed out, and that Denny and Bill were vying for the same promotion. Heck, I taunted them about it every day, trying to shove a stick up their butts to motivate them. It was just too easy.”

  “How’d you get Audrey’s dad to the woods behind the Walshes’?” CS sighed. “I went to Denny’s. The door was unlocked. I told him he needed to come with me, that he’d better follow my orders, and he did. He was still drunk. I got him into my car somehow and dragged him into the woods. It was hard, but we made it. I left him there and came home. I burned the gloves I wore and went to bed.” Finally. The horrific story was over. Leo repositioned the gun.

  “You’re calling the cops to tell them exactly what you just told me.” His father smiled sadly. “No, Leo. I’m not doing that.” He rose from his chair. “I spent too many years in juvie, in youth homes. I’m not going back to lockup.”

  Leo’s heart thumped a terrified beat. Te amo, Audrey.

  71. Eye of the Hurricane

  Leo stood riveted by those stormy hazel eyes and was dismayed to feel the gun in his hand tremble. Leo hoped CS wouldn’t notice.

  “You think you can make me turn myself in,” his father scoffed.

  His deep, smooth voice sent chills through Leo.

  “And what’s your plan if I refuse?”

  Leo’s mouth felt dry. “If you won’t turn yourself in, I’l be forced to shoot you.”

  “You’ll never get away with it,” CS said with a laugh. “Someone always finds out.”

  “You’re the one always preaching responsibility!” Leo shouted. “I won’t lie about what I’ve done. I won’t hide. I’ll spend the rest of my life in prison.” His voice trembled. “My life’s over, anyway.” Tightening his grip on the weapon, Leo’s arm miraculously stopped shaking. “The way I see it, a Scott man belongs in prison. If you refuse to go, I will.”

  The smug look melted off his father’s face. “Why are you doing this alone, Leo? Why didn’t you tell your mother or Jason when you figured out what I’d done?”

  “I wanted to, sir. But I’m trying to spare Mom and Jase. They still have a chance to be happy. If Mom knows you’re a murderer, she’ll feel even worse for not protecting us from you. She’ll never recover from the guilt. If Cam finds out you murdered her dad, I can’t see her staying with Jase, and he’ll be crushed. I’ve already let Audrey go to save her from that.”

  “You broke up with Audrey?”

  Leo nodded miserably.

  His father looked confused. “If you kill me, how will you prevent anyone from discovering what I’ve done?”

  “I’ll make a deal with the prosecutor: a full confession only if they let Mr. Rose go free without naming Mr. Walsh’s real murderer.”

  “You’d go to prison for the rest of your life?” He looked baffled.

  “You’re sacrificing yourself…for me?” For his mother, for Jason, for Cameron, even for Lt. Keaton, but Leo simply said, “Not for you. For Audrey.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I love her.”

  “In my whole life, nobody’s ever sacrificed himself for me,” CS said, his voice trembling with tears. Leo watched him withdraw into himself, into his narcissistic wounds. Sensing an ache in his arm, he gave the gun a definitive shake. He dreaded what his father would do next.

  CS took a deep breath, seeming to come to a decision. He stepped forward. “Give me the gun, Leo.”

  “No.” When he took another step, Leo warned, “Don’t come closer or I’ll shoot.”

  CS inched forward. “Give me the gun.” Leo’s breaths came in short rasps. “No, sir.” His father was coming for him, and now was the time to pull the trigger — now or never. CS would go Scott-free once again. He’d lie, manipulate, and threaten his way out of this unless Leo acted now.

  Shoot him! he screamed inside his head. His father was almost on him now, and his finger tensed on the trigger, trapped in fear and indecision. Suddenly his father was right in front of him, and his hands enveloped his and slid the weapon away.

  “You and I both know you’d never pull the trigger,” CS said matter-of-factly. “You’re not like me. You’re not a killer.”

  Leo stood, panicked now that he’d been stripped of his one source of power. He braced himself for a beating.

  But his father didn’t hit him. He looked down at the gun, slowly running his fingers over the barrel, appearing deep in thought.

  Leo’s shoulders tensed. Would his father kill him or kill himself?

  “You’re not like me,” CS repeated softly. “You have integrity…

  You do what’s right. You’re strong.” His father stared at the gun. “I’m worthless,” he whispered. “I don’t deserve a son like you.” He looked up and pleaded, “What do I do?”

  Leo blinked rapidly, willing himself to speak. “It’s all right, Dad. You–you turn yourself in. You can do it. You do it for your family, to set things straight.”

  His father returned to his desk chair and crumpled, holding the gun in his lap. Leo listened to the ticking clock and his stream of racing thoughts.

  When his father shot his arm out toward his desk, Leo flinched.

  But CS just set the gun down. After a few moments, he picked up the phone.

  Leo held his breath.

  “Connect me with the police,” he said.

  During the ensuing wait, he looked up at Leo. Without unlocking his gaze, he told the police, “This is Commander James Scott at eleven thirty-seven Ridgeway. I want to turn myself in for the murder of Bill Walsh. Please send officers to my home.” Leo was bombarded with relief as CS hung up. The wave of emotion brought stinging tears as he stumbled backward into a chair.

  “I wish my parents were here,” his father said. “I’d be a different man if they’d survived that car crash. I miss my father, Leo.”

  “I miss my father too,” Leo rasped, then forged ahead. The words tumbled out as his voice hitched with tears. “I wanted you to do the right thing for once. You always told me to do the right thing, but you never did — you never thought about anyone but yourself.

  You beat me when I needed a hug. You criticized me when I needed praise. I just wanted you to be proud of me. It was stupid…a stupid little-boy wish that will never come true.”

  “I’ve never been prouder of you,” CS said in a voice Leo had never heard before. “I’m so proud to be your father…I’m sorry you can’t be proud of me,” he choked out before walling himself in with silence.

  They gazed at each other through tears, waiting for the police to arrive.

  A few minutes later Leo started when he heard the front door swing open. He’d heard no police sirens. But instead of men in uniform, Jason rushed in.

  “Leo!” he shouted, looking relieved then desperate when he saw CS and the gun on the desk. “What’s going on? We looked for you at the airport! You got kicked out of the Academy?” Jason’s words came out in a breathless jumble, and he couldn’t seem to decide where to focus his attention. “You’re back from the Gulf?” he asked his father.

  Mary appeared behind Jason at the tail end of his questions.

  Leaning on her canes, she narrowed her eyes at CS. “Wha
t’s happening, James?”

  His father looked straight at him. “Leo discovered something about me at the Academy.” He paused. “I murdered Bill Walsh.” Leo nodded, watching his mother and brother recoil. He felt incredibly sad for his family. They’d never live this down. They’d never recover. But maybe the Roses and even the Walshes now had a fighting chance.

  Jason shook his head. “No, it was Darnell Keaton!”

  “What?” Mary asked.

  “It was not Lt. Keaton,” Leo said. “I broke in to my psychologist’s office and read her chart. Then I just knew it was Dad.”

  “How?” Jason asked.

  Leo turned to look at his father. “I guess part of me has always known. You acted so weird whenever I mentioned the Roses. And you treated Mr. Rose so nice in prison — that wasn’t like you. You seemed sad and kind of guilty all the time, like you’d given up.” Leo turned to his mom. “Lt. Keaton hated me, Mom. She hated me because of my last name. Then I found out Dad had blackmailed her.”

  “What do you mean, blackmailed her?”

  Leo looked at his father. “Dad forced the lieutenant, um, to have sex with him when he discovered she was having an affair with Mr. Walsh.”

  His mother covered her mouth.

  “And then Mr. Walsh found out and threatened to tell Captain Payson. To stop him from talking, Dad killed him.” Leo took a deep breath, struggling to get his last words out. “Then he framed Audrey’s dad.”

  His mother leaned back against the wall as she sobbed, while Jason stood frozen.

  “You destroyed us, James!” she shrieked. In a burst of fury she threw herself forward.

  His father rose from his chair when he saw her coming. She pummeled his chest with her fists. He just took it, trying to steady her so she wouldn’t fall.

  “You murdered a man! You let Denny rot in prison!” she screamed through her sobs. “You cheated on me again! You’re a predator! You ruined my life!”

  Pain distorted his father’s face.

  Leo glanced at Jason, but his overwhelmed brother was useless.