"He told me that he wanted to be angry, but couldn't figure out who to be angry at. It wasn't Mom's fault, God didn't do it on purpose, and the doctors had done everything they could for her. He said that he worried sometimes that maybe Mom had come into contact with something on the farm that gave her cancer, but he knew that wasn't true, it was just an illogical fear." Polly rubbed Henry's arm. "He cried a lot right after she died. He didn't think I knew it, but I did. He'd go to bed at night and cry by himself. Sometimes I sat outside his doorway and listened until he fell asleep."
"Did you ever tell him that?" Henry asked. 'You were so young. How did you handle it?"
"It wasn't every night and after a few months, he stopped. It kind of made me feel good to know that he loved her and missed her. Sometimes I cried into my blanket, but it was okay. And no, I never told him. Actually, I forgot about it for a long time. I didn't remember that he'd done that until I was in college."
"Death does a number on us."
"But it's such a normal part of life."
"Only because we haven't figured out how to stop it. You know, most of us would like to live a very long time. Longer than we have."
"I know I do," Polly said. "I have things to do and all of this crap that is happening in my life right now is wasting good time."
"Speaking of that, how was the ride this morning?"
Polly cut her sandwich in half and took a bite. "It kinda sucked," she said around a mouthful of bread and tenderloin. "I think I saw my truck when we turned into Ralph Bedford's lane."
Henry shook his head and set his jaw. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. I needed to be home when Mrs. Hastings called. It all worked out."
They both turned toward the door to the living room when they heard Rebecca's voice, "Polly? How long was I asleep?"
"Come on in, sweetie. Henry brought lunch. Do you want half my sandwich?"
Rebecca came over to the table and sat down beside Henry. Polly pushed the container over to her and tossed ketchup packets across.
"This smells good," Rebecca said. "Thanks."
"You slept for a couple of hours. Do you feel better?"
"I think so." Rebecca turned to look at Henry and said, "Do you know that I love you?"
Polly's eyes filled and she waited.
"I do know that," Henry said, putting his arm around her shoulder. "And I love you too."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
"Since I have extra time today, would it be okay if I went to your office to see Jessie and the baby?" Rebecca asked after lunch.
"Are you sure?" Polly asked. "I know Jessie would love to have you, but it's going to make for a long afternoon."
"Can I use your phone and call her?" Rebecca asked. "If she says yes, can I go? I'll take a book and my sketch pad. I just don't want to..." her voice trailed off.
"Of course." Polly took out her phone and swiped it to Jessie's phone number and handed it to Rebecca.
Jessie was thrilled to have Rebecca's company. Both girls missed spending time with each other, even though there was such a large difference in their ages. Rebecca scurried around gathering her things.
Henry shook his head and smiled. "That little girl knows her own mind. She's not going to be easy to stop once she gets an idea."
"No kidding," Polly said. "Do you mind running her back to your shop?"
"I have some things I should probably check on anyway."
"Thanks for this, then," Polly said. She wanted to complain about the fact that she couldn't take Rebecca herself, but decided she'd done much too much complaining this last week about the things she couldn't do. It was time to completely move past the frustration.
She chuckled to herself.
"What?" Henry asked.
"Oh nothing. I'm just laughing at myself."
"You're sure?"
"Yeah. I'm being a whiny butt in my head. I'll get over it." She looked at two expectant dogs at her feet. "Say, why don't you take Han with you and leave him with Jessie and Rebecca for the afternoon. I'll take Obiwan down to the office with me."
Henry knelt down and patted his knee. Han put a paw on it and leaned forward. When Henry tapped his own cheek, the dog gave him a quick lick and wagged his tail.
"When did you two learn that?" Polly asked.
"We've been practicing all sorts of things. I told you he was going to be my boy." He spoke to the dog. "Of course I'll take you to the shop. Dad said he likes having you visit. I should take you over there every day so that you don't turn into a lazy mama's boy like your big brother."
Polly laughed. "You're such a goofball. Both of you."
Henry stood back up and said, "Do you want me to take Obiwan o-u-t-s-i-d-e before we leave?"
"No," she laughed. They'd taken to spelling words that the dogs recognized and it cracked her up. "We'll figure it out. This is why I have bodyguards living here, so I can go ... there ... when I want to. And I'm feeling just ornery enough to want to."
Rebecca came back into the dining room. "Thanks for letting me go. Will you tell Andrew and Kayla where I am?"
"Absolutely. I know they've been missing you, but one more day won't make a difference."
Rebecca started to follow Henry to the back steps, then turned and ran back to Polly to give her a quick hug. "It's all going to be okay. Isn't it?"
"Yes it will, sweet girl. Go have fun."
Polly watched them leave and then said, "Okay, Obiwan. Let's go downstairs and see what's happening. Lazy mama's boy. What a brat that man is. You don't need any silly tricks to prove to me how smart you are."
They went downstairs and Obiwan followed her into her office and settled down in a corner so he could keep an eye on her and on the door.
Polly pulled the stack of mail closer to her, once again dreading what she might find. She tossed several items in the recycling bin, separated out the bills and then, just as she got to the magazines and catalogs, found a nine by twelve envelope addressed to her. There was no return address.
Her heart sank and she reached into the drawer for a letter opener and the pair of tongs she'd kept. She slit the top of the envelope open and peered inside, but couldn't see past the fact that there was another envelope and a folded piece of paper. She dumped them out onto the desktop and using the two tools, opened the piece of paper.
It was another letter from Joey. She felt the blood rush from her face and behind her, Obiwan whimpered.
"Silly tricks. Whatever," she said to him. "You're more sensitive than most people I know.
He walked over to her and put his head on her leg.
"Do you want to know what this is?" she asked. "It's absurd. Just about the time I decide that I'm able to deal with this crap, something else shows up to remind me how little control I have."
She swiped her phone open and dialed Aaron Merritt.
"How are you doing, Polly?" he asked, tentatively.
"I have another letter. I opened the outside envelope and unfolded the letter, but there's a smaller envelope in here that I haven't opened. I don't want to wait for you guys, because you'll take it away before I can see what's in it."
"But you're going to wait for us anyway, right?"
She huffed. "I probably should have opened it before I called if I was going to do that, don't you think?"
"Good girl. What does the letter say?"
She took a deep breath and started to read:
"Dear Polly,
It is difficult to be so close to you, yet be unable to touch your face and hold your hand. I've thought about no one else but you for these last two years and now that we are in the same town, I think you should finally admit that you have missed me too."
She stopped. "How is one person so insane?" she asked Aaron.
"I don't know. Is there more?"
"Yes," she said. "But I don't want to go on."
She heard a car door slam in the background, then another and another. "What are you doing?"
"We're coming up to get the l
etter," he said. "Go ahead."
"I'm closer than you realize and hope that you will soon be able to rid yourself of the extra people who have chosen to interfere in our love. I look forward to spending time with the real Polly Giller.
"Please hurry back to me, Polly. I don't want to be the man that is doing these terrible things, but I don't seem to have a choice. All I can think of is you. M tells me that this is the only way to get your attention. Please forgive me. You are the only one who can stop me."
"Polly?" Aaron said softly into the phone.
"It's my fault," she replied.
"We've been over this. You can't take responsibility for the actions and thoughts of an insane man. No matter what."
"All those years ago I could have said no, but I was attracted to his mind, to his interest in history and literature. How did it go so badly?"
Obiwan nudged her elbow and she unconsciously rubbed his head. He sat up, put his paws on her leg and lifted up to sniff the papers on her desk.
"I'll see you when you get here," Polly said, swiping her phone closed. "Get down, Obiwan. I don't think they'd appreciate doggie drool on their evidence." She pushed the contents of the envelope away and sat back.
Jeff showed up at her door and said, "Hey, are you okay?"
She pointed at the letter. "I got another one."
"I wondered. Stephanie said she thought you were calling the Sheriff. Is there anything we can do?"
"Nah. They're coming to get this." She pointed at the smaller envelope. "I don't even know what's in that one."
Jeff sat down and Obiwan wandered over for attention. "Where's the other dog?" Jeff asked.
"He went to the shop with Henry."
"That one is all puppy," Jeff said. " I remember when this boy showed up." He bent over and rubbed Obiwan's neck. "He was the cutest pup I'd ever seen."
Polly nodded and glanced at the letter and envelope, then sat up and pounded the top of her desk.
Obiwan looked up and Jeff jumped. "What?" he asked.
"I told myself upstairs to quit being a whiny butt about this. The jerk isn't going to own my emotions any longer. The Sheriff can have it and I'm moving on."
"That's great news." Jeff stood up. "Don't go anywhere. I have something to show you." He patted his leg. "Come on, Obiwan. I have treats for you in my office."
"You're too good to us," Polly said to his back.
He came back and put another piece of paper on the desk in front of Polly, then handed Obiwan a treat.
"What do you think?" he asked. "Sal and Sylvie haven't seen it yet, but I thought maybe you needed a little fun today."
Polly had seen initial sketches of the sign and logo for the coffee shop, but here it was in color. The words 'Sweet Bean' were set into a line drawing of a dachshund.
"They'll love it," she said.
"I wanted this finished so we could advertise. We'll put signs in the window so the curious people will know what we're doing."
"It's great. Thank you." She pushed the paper back across the desk at him.
"No, you keep that. It's yours."
~~~
Polly looked up when she heard voices in the outer office. Stephanie knocked on the door to announce Sheriff Merritt and Marla Lane.
Obiwan wagged his tail at Aaron and as Polly watched, gave Agent Lane a curious look as if he weren't sure what to make of her.
"I'm sorry, Polly," Aaron said.
She didn't respond, but pointed at the envelopes and sheet of paper on the edge of her desk. Agent Lane took several pairs of disposable gloves out of a jacket pocket, handed one pair to Aaron and much to Polly's surprise, handed a second to her. The third she slipped onto her own hands.
"You've already touched this?" she asked Polly.
"Just the outside envelope. I shook everything out onto my desk and used these," Polly held up the kitchen tongs, "to open the letter."
"I see." The woman opened the letter again, slipped it into a clear plastic bag that she pulled from the same jacket pocket and flattened it out. "Is there anything you can see in this letter that gives us good information?"
Polly shook her head. "Just more insane ramblings. That's all I can see."
"Sheriff Merritt," Marla Lane said, "He mentions that he is closer than Polly realizes. Have your men checked the woods behind this place? And what about the barn?"
"The barn is quite active during the day," Aaron said. "Polly's employee is quite familiar with everything happening down there and if someone was hiding, he'd know it."
Using her index finger, Agent Lane slipped the second envelope open. Polly could have done that. The tip of the flap was the only thing sealed shut.
"What's in there?" Polly asked, as the woman peered inside and said nothing for longer than Polly thought necessary.
"It's hair, but it doesn't look like human hair." Marla Lane's brows creased as she peered in the envelope. She held it over to Aaron, who shook his head.
"May I see?" Polly asked. As long as it wasn't another photograph, she could handle this.
Agent Lane leaned over the desk, and bent the envelope open so Polly could see inside.
"It's horse hair," Polly said with a frown. She slipped a glove on her right hand. "May I?"
"Sure."
Polly pulled a hank out and looked at it, then dropped it back into the envelope. "It's not dark enough for the Percherons. We need to ask Eliseo about the donkeys."
She stood up and said, "Am I safe enough if you accompany me to the barn or do I need to contact my bodyguards?"
Aaron smiled at her. "We'll be good. Let's talk to Eliseo."
Obiwan jumped up to follow her and wagged his tail when she headed for the side door leading to the barn.
She held the first gate open for Aaron and Agent Lane, then went on ahead of them. Obiwan bolted for the pasture and ran to greet Nat and Nan who were standing against the south fence line.
"Eliseo?" she called out. "Are you here?"
He came out of the feed room, sweat dripping off his forehead. He drew a handkerchief out of a back pocket and wiped his face, then wiped his hands clean. "I was pulling down hay. How can I help you?"
"This is FBI Agent Marla Lane," Aaron said. "She's investigating the kidnappings. Polly got some strange hair in the mail today and we'd like to check your donkeys. Polly says it isn't dark enough for the horses."
"May I see?" Eliseo asked.
Agent Lane opened the envelope again.
After looking at the hair, Eliseo said, "She's right, it didn't come from the horses. They're brushed often enough that I would have noticed that much clipped off. Let's see what the little boys look like. I'll be right back with them."
He went into the feed room and then came back out and gave a sharp whistle. He handed the bag of carrots to Polly and said, "You keep them occupied while I check their tails."
Polly sat down on a bench and put the bag beside her. She fed carrot bits to Tom first and then Huck. The donkeys nuzzled her shoulders and pushed their heads under her hands, looking for more. She was glad to oblige.
That was one thing she appreciated about her animals. They were always glad to see her, no matter how long she'd been away. There was no judgment and no expectation, just affection.
"Yes, ma'am," Eliseo said. "It looks as if our boys have had some unexpected grooming. See here?" He held Huck's tail up. "Just a few snips on the underneath of both their tails. It wasn't noticeable from afar."
"When do you think this might have happened?" Aaron asked.
He nodded as Polly fed the donkeys more carrots. They were thrilled to be part of the action. Tom stepped close to Agent Lane, looking for attention. She took a step back, so Polly put her hand on his halter and drew him back with another carrot bit.
"I haven't given them a good brushing since last Thursday or Friday," Eliseo said. "I would have noticed it then." He put his hand on Huck's head. "That was Thursday. They have the run of the place and with the weather so nice, I haven
't been locking them in the barn." He shrugged. "It's easier than replacing doors."
"So anyone has access to them during the day?" Agent Lane asked.
"Yes" he said. "I'm not sure what else to say. If I'd thought they were in danger, I would have done something different." He turned his head toward Aaron. "Are they in danger?"
Aaron shook his head. "I don't think so. This was meant to scare Polly, to tell her that they're close enough to cut the hair off a donkey's tail." He chuckled. "That's something I would have liked to have seen. How in the world did they get those donkeys to be so obedient?"
Eliseo patted Huck's head. "You see how quickly they respond to treats." At the word, both donkeys looked up at him. "No, you beggars, you've had enough."
Polly handed him the bag of carrots and leaned in to hug Tom's neck. "You two have to be more careful of strangers," she said. "What am I going to do with you?"
Agent Lane put her hand out to shake Eliseo's. He took it and said, "If you think I need to lock the barn and take the donkeys out to my place, I can call Doc Ogden and borrow his trailer."
"I'm sure they're safe enough," she responded. "Thank you for your time. Miss Giller?"
"Yes?" Polly said.
"Are you ready to go back up to the house? We have other things to look into this afternoon and should be on our way."
The woman spun on her heels and headed back the way they'd come. Polly gave a perplexed look to both Eliseo and Aaron and mouthed "What?" to the Sheriff.
He shrugged and said, "Thank you, Eliseo. Let us know if you see anything else out of place, will you?"
"Of course, Sheriff. But I think we'd all appreciate it if you'd hurry and find these men so we can stop worrying about Polly."
"I'd appreciate it, too. This has gone on much too long for my taste and I'm ready to have my office back."
They looked up to discover that Marla Lane had cleared the barn and was striding up the sidewalk to the house.
"She's intense," Eliseo said.
"But she knows this case," Aaron replied.
Polly pursed her lips. "A lot of knowledge isn't worth a hill of beans..." She chuckled. "Did I just say hill of beans? Who am I? Anyway, she doesn't know the area, she doesn't know Joey and she doesn't know me. I think she could invest more time trying to understand those three things."
The River Rolls On (Bellingwood Book 10) Page 18