A Flicker of Doubt (Book 4 in the Candlemaking Mysteries)

by Tim Myers

  “Of course you do,” she said. “You may ride with me, if you don’t mind.”

  She started for the door, and I told Eve, “I should be back in an hour.”

  “What’s all this about?” Eve asked me in a hushed voice.

  “She’s Cyrus’s sister. I convinced her to come to Micah’s Ridge to talk to him.”

  “Are you coming, Mr. Black?”

  The woman refused to call me Harrison. I decided to let it go.

  I was expecting something nice, but not a chauffer-driven limousine. I joined her in back as the heavyset driver held the door for me.’

  “Thanks,” I said. “I didn’t realize there was a chauffeur service in Micah’s Ridge.”

  ‘There isn’t I met the lady at the airport in Charlotte and drove her here.”

  I couldn’t imagine what that bill would look like, but then again, I wasn’t paying it.

  When Ruth saw I wasn’t getting in, she said from the back without showing herself, “Sometime today, Mr. Black.”

  I tried to squelch my laugh, but the driver had no reaction at all.

  As the car started to pull away, Ruth Nash said, “I debated bringing you along, Mr. Black. How can I be certain my brother doesn’t have a very good reason not to see you?”

  “Ma’am, you go in alone and I’ll wait in the car. All I need to know is that he’s okay.”

  She arched one well-sculpted eyebrow. “Mr. Black, enough of this charade. What is the real motivation behind your actions?”

  “I told you, this started because of a land deal, but I’m sincerely concerned about your brother. You don’t care much for me, do you?”

  “And is that important to you, that everyone likes you?”

  “Blast it all, I’m not going to let you turn this around against me. I’m the one who called you, remember? I’m worried about your brother, plain and simple. There’s nothing sinister about my interest It’s called friendship, whether you choose to believe it or not”

  We sat in silence for the rest of the ride to Cyrus’s place, which was just fine with me. I hadn’t cared for two words the woman had uttered since our meeting. If I wasn’t so worried about Cyrus, I would have told the driver to pull over and let me out

  We were nearing Cyrus’s (dace when she finally spoke again. I may owe you an apology.”

  “Just one?” I asked.

  That finally cracked the icy exterior. “An excellent point, that Cyrus and I were raised to be cautious of anyone who claimed to want only friendship from us.”

  “What a sad childhood that must have been,” I said.

  She nodded. “While it was true we always had each other, it could be rather lonely at times. If Cyrus has indeed managed to make a friend in you this late in life, I’m pleased.”

  “Don’t be too happy about it He wouldn’t see me, remember? If I’ve done something to offend him, tell him I’m sorry, would you?’

  The car rolled silently to a stop, and I saw that we’d arrived. I started to follow her out of the car when she put a delicately gloved hand on my shoulder. “Mr. Black, would you do me a favor and let me see Cyrus alone?”

  “Ma’am, he’s your brother. I’m just here as a concerned friend.”

  “Yes, I’m beginning to believe that I’ll make up the losses due to your absence at4he candleshop when I return.”

  “You see there? You just lost, me. I don’t want Cyrus’s money, and I don’t want yours, either.”

  She said, “Oh dear, I’m not very good at this. I am trying, though.”

  “Your grandkids must be scared to death of you.”

  She smiled gently. “Actually they seem to be quite taken with me. I can’t say the same for their father, though.”

  “I don’t doubt it,” I said

  The driver stepped aside as she started for the door. “Aren’t you going with her?” I asked.

  “It’s not part of my job description,” the man said.

  “You don’t look like the kind of guy who memorizes the employee handbook. Why not give her a little moral support?”

  “If you feel that way, why aren’t you going?”

  “She doesn’t want me,” I said, “But she’d probably love to have you.”

  As the driver and I were talking, Ruth went to the door and rang the bell. I recognized the man who answered, and after a brief but fierce conversation, she turned back toward us. “They turned me away from my own home. I won’t stand for it, do you hear me?”

  “Yes, ma’am, but I was afraid that might happen. So what do you want to do now?”

  “If that cretin thinks he’s going to keep me away from my brother, he’s sadly mistaken. Mr. Black, would you be so kind as to escort me to the local police department? I believe it’s time to go in with force.”

  “Do you want to talk to a lawyer first?”

  She snapped, “I want the Marines, young man, can you understand that? Now direct the driver to the nearest police precinct”

  I sat up front and led the driver to Sheriff Morton’s office. I stuck out a hand as he drove and said, “By the way, I’m Harrison.”

  “My name’s John,” he said as he took it briefly, all the while shepherding the limo through what passed for early morning traffic in Micah’s Ridge. “So she’s going to sic the cops on them, huh?”

  “I think she’d prefer a band of mercenaries, and after talking to her fifteen minutes, I don’t doubt she could raise one.”

  “Should be interesting,” he said. When we got to the police department I held Ruth’s door open for her myself:

  We found the sheriff wading through a mass of paperwork on his desk. He grunted when he saw me, then came to full attention the second he spotted Ruth.

  “Mrs. Nash, I didn’t know you were in town.”

  “I just arrived. That’s why I’m here, sheriff. I was rebuffed by some Neanderthal at my own front door. I am still a partial owner of that building. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”

  He scratched his head, then said, “Who’s keeping you out? Surely it’s not Cyrus.”

  “I haven’t seen my brother yet,” she said loudly. “That’s why we’re here.”

  “And why are you with her?” he asked me.

  “I’m a concerned citizen,” I said.

  “He’s here with me, Sheriff. Now round up your men and come with me.”

  I swear I thought he’d refuse her, or at least try to stall, but the sheriff jumped three feet when she snapped at him.

  “I’ll follow you in the patrol car,” the sheriff said. “You need a ride?” he asked me, obviously wanting to know how I’d managed to get myself so involved in the situation.

  Before I could reply, Ruth said, “He’s coming with me, sheriff. I mean it, I expect reinforcements.”

  He nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll make it happen.”

  “See that you do,” she said coldly. I was beginning to wonder if there was anyone she liked when she turned to John and said, “Young man, can you find your way back to my ancestral home without Mr. Black’s guidance?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Then do so. Mr. Black, you will ride in back with me.”

  I climbed in the back of the limo, and we left to visit Cyrus again, this time with our very own cavalry.

  I wasn’t about to sit quietly by for this round. I followed discretely behind as Ruth returned to front door with the sheriff at her side. As we approached, half a dozen patrol cars pulled in behind us. It would be the perfect time to rob any business in Micah’s Ridge, since all the town’s police protection was evidently with us.

  The sheriff pounded on the front door with his fist. “Open up.”

  I saw one of the bullies who’d run me off the property earlier swing the door back. “What’s with all the racket?’

  The sheriff started to push past him, but the man stood his ground. Morton said, “The noise was to get your attention. Now are you going to move, or do my men move you?”

&nb
sp; He looked past the sheriff at all of his eager deputies and said, “I don’t get paid enough for that. Be my guest”

  He stepped aside, and Ruth moved in, Morton half a step behind her and me on their heels. The guard was joined by his fellow employee, and as they started to leave, I said, “Shouldn’t you stop them?’

  Morton shot me a dirty look, then called out “Hang around, I’m not finished with you.”

  “We’re just paid employees,” one of the men said.

  “So who’s paying you?’ • When neither man would answer, Morton said. That’s what I thought Magnum, Pruitt, keep an eye on those two.”

  We walked into the shadows of the house, and Ruth called out for her brother. In a feeble voice we heard him acknowledge our call from the heavily draped living room. “I’m here.”

  Walking into the dreary space, I saw the ramp I’d noticed from outside.

  “Cyrus, must you play these games? Walk out of the shadows to where we can see you.”

  His voice was softer still as he answered, ‘That’s just it. I can’t walk anymore.” Cyrus Walters rolled toward us in a wheelchair.

  His eyes blazed as he focused on his sister. “Blast it all, Ruthie, what right do you have to be here?”

  “Are you saying I need permission to come into my own home, the place I was raised? Nonsense, your thugs weren’t about to keep me out Now what’s all this about? Why are you in that chair?”

  “I’ve lost the use of my legs,” he said as he buried his head in his hands.

  She was beside him in a heartbeat “Cyrus, is that why you wouldn’t see anyone?”

  “I was afraid it was getting worse,” he said. “I couldn’t stand to look you in the eye, Harrison.”

  Ruth asked, “So it’s true then, you two are friends?”

  Cyrus nodded. “More than I even realized. He’s the only one who wouldn’t give up. He got you here, didn’t he? Only there’s nothing you can do, Big Sister. I can’t walk.”

  “When did this happen?” I asked. “The last time I saw you, you were hale and hearty and striding down your river path.”

  “It came on me overnight,” Cyrus said. Thankfully the new doctor came to the house to see me. Greg Runion brought him by. He’s been giving me injections every day, or else I’d be completely paralyzed by now.”

  “Do you mean to tell me that you didn’t at least consult a specialist? Cyrus, did he rot your brain as well?”

  “I couldn’t walk, that’s all I knew,” Cyrus said. “Dr. Jefferson’s done something about the pain, but he said my case was hopeless.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Ruth said. She told Morton, “Call the hospital. Have them send an ambulance immediately. Then find out the identity of this quack who’s been treating him. Do it now, sheriff.”

  Morton jumped as if he’d been snake bit “Yes, ma’am, I’m on it”

  “I won’t go to the hospital,” Cyrus said. “They kill people there.”

  “Well, they cure them there, too, little brother. You’ve been a perfect fool about this; you know that don’t you? Don’t worry though, we’ll make it better.

  - Where is that confounded ambulance?”

  As if materializing at her request I heard the sirens approach.

  One of the deputies stepped into the room. “Boss, what should we do about those guys you had us watch?”

  ‘Take them in,” Morton snapped. “And you can charge them while you’re at it”

  “With what?” The deputy looked even more confused.

  “Make it disturbing the peace, kidnapping, you can even claim they were resisting arrest for all I care. I just want to sit on them until we can find out who hired them.” “

  “Yes, sir,” the deputy said and left

  Two paramedics came in with a gurney between them. “What’s happening here?”

  Ruth pointed to Cyrus and said, ‘Take him to the hospital. He believes something is wrong with his legs, but he’s going to resist, I warn you.”

  “I’m not going to the hospital,” Cyrus repeated.

  Ruth got down in his face and said, “Little brother, do you really feel like going up against me?”

  “No,” he said, the fight suddenly gone out of him.

  “That’s better,” Ruth said, softening with capitulation. “Will it help if I ride there with you?”

  One of the paramedics said, “Sony, ma’am, I’m afraid you can’t do that”

  “Young man, I could stand here and threaten you with the fact that one wing of your hospital was endowed my father, but I won’t Instead, I’ll just say that if you do anything to keep me away from my brother, you’ll be working in the hospital furnace room before nightfall.”

  While the paramedic was making up his mind, the other said, “Ma’am, we’d be delighted to have you ride with us.”

  “Very good,” Ruth said, pleased with the minor victory. “Is there any way my brother can avoid being strapped down to that thing and ride upright?”

  “I’m sorry, but for his safety, it would be best if we could do it our way.”

  She nodded. “So be it.” Ruth turned to her brother. “I’m going to be right beside you the entire way. Don’t worry, Cyrus, I’m here now.”

  I followed them out, and said, “Should I take the limo and join you at the hospital?”

  Ruth said, “No, have the driver take you back to the candleshop. I’ll call you later. One second, please,” she said as she walked quickly to me. In a low voice, she added, “I’m sorry I doubted you, Mr. Black.”

  Then prove it and call me by my given name.”

  “Harrison it is,” she said.

  “Ruth? Where are you?” her brother called out

  “Tm coming, Cyrus.”

  After they were gone, Morton and I stood outside by the limousine. “I guess I owe you an apology,” he said reluctantly.

  That’s not important right now,” I said. “I just hope there’s a prayer of a chance he’ll walk someday.”

  Morton nodded. “I owe you one,” he said.

  I turned to the driver and said, “I need to get back to the candleshop, John. Do you mind giving me a lift?”

  “You heard the lady. I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  He held the door open for me, but I shook my head. If it’s all the same to you, I’ll ride up front.”

  John smiled softly. “You’re one of kind, Harrison. Most folks love being chauffeured around.”

  I had an idea. “Do you ever get to ride yourself? Give me your cap and I’ll let you travel in style. You can even shut the interior window if you want to.”

  He laughed. “I’d get fired if I did that but thanks for offering.”

  Back at the candleshop, I raised a few eyebrows getting out of a limo, but I just waved to Millie as she came out of her shop to see what the fuss was about John and I shook hands, then he headed off to the hospital.

  “Now I’ve seen it all: Harrison Black riding around town in a limousine.”

  “I thought it might be fun,” I said, keeping my expression level.

  “Harrison, you’re pulling my leg. Ruth Nash’s back In town, isn’t she?”

  I nodded. “I finally got in to see Cyrus.”

  “How is he?”

  “He was in a wheelchair” I said. ‘It doesn’t look good.”

  “Then I’ll say an extra prayer for him tonight,” Millie said.

  “It couldn’t hurt.”

  Millie wasn’t the only one the limo had attracted. Sanora came out of her shop, too. “Harrison, I need to talk to you.”

  From the expression on her face, I knew it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation. “I’ll be right there.”

  She ducked back into her shop, and Millie asked, “What have you done now?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’ve got a feeling I’m about to find out.”

  Chapter 17

  “Harrison, I hate to be another complication for you, so I’ve decided to make the decision my
self and leave River’s Edge.”

  I stared at Sanora, not sure what the best way to react would be. In a heartbeat, I decided to go with full, flat-out honesty, just as Pearly had suggested. “Blast it all, I don’t want you to leave.”

  She looked at me carefully and asked, “Does that mean Heather is going?”

  “How many times am I going to have to say this? Sanora, I want you both here. You’re an important part of River’s Edge, and I’m not talking about the rent you pay, either. You bring us all a classier level of clientele, and more importantly, I like you being a part of the place.”

  “Why, Harrison, I didn’t realize you cared.”

  I ran my fingers through my hair. “Listen, I know I’ve been kind of distracted lately, but I haven’t been playing favorites, I swear it. I’ve been so tied up with everything that’s been happening I haven’t had a chance to be the landlord I should be.”

  She touched my arm lightly. “I know we all make demands on time you don’t have.”

  “I mean it, Sanora, I don’t want you to go. It’s as simple as that.”

  She took it in, then nodded firmly. “Then I won’t leave. If Heather has a problem with me, she’s going to have to just deal with it”

  “Good, I’m glad you’re staying. I’ll run your new lease right over.”

  She smiled slightly. “Before I can change my mind, is that it?”

  “I didn’t say that. I want you to be happy here.”

  She gestured to the river outside. “Why do you think I fought so hard to get back? River’s Edge gets in your blood, you know?”

  “I do,” I said.

  I ran upstairs and grabbed Sanora’s lease, then almost as an afterthought I grabbed Heather’s as well. Maybe I’d be two-for-two today.

  Sanora laughed when I barged back into her pottery shop. “You weren’t kidding, were you?”

  “I even brought you a pen.”

  She took it, started to sign, then stopped.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked. “You’re not going to change your mind, are you?”

  “No, but I hope this isn’t an omen or something. The pen you gave me is out of ink.”

  “Blast it all, I meant to throw that one away.”