She chuckled.
“What? Are you writing a book?” Liz asked.
He offered a gentle smile.
“No, I’m just intrigued by this story. It’s so sad and at the same time, compelling. Look at it – beautiful girl, forbidden romance, death, rebellion, even politics or at the very least ambition - a lot of elements that tend to draw you to it,” Jett said.
“You forgot about the wicked witch,” Liz said.
“Well, that too,” he said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me to find out Edna was behind all of it but the only thing that would make me doubt that is Mallorie,” she said.
“Come again?” Jett asked.
“She had to know if something happened to Marie that caring for Mallorie would fall to her and Edna didn’t like being a mother the first time. I can’t see her being too thrilled to start over twenty-something years later,” Liz said.
Jett frowned as he considered her words.
“You’re right. That doesn’t make any sense. Then again, maybe she really loved her daughter and didn’t know how to show it and had nothing at all to do with her death. Did Marie have any enemies that you’re aware of?” he asked.
“Well, she was a beautiful girl and it seems like beautiful girls always make enemies somewhere. But she had a sweet disposition, I can’t imagine anyone holding a grudge against her,” she said.
“Her daddy was a politician with his share of enemies,” Jett said.
“True, but I don’t know anybody that hated Earl enough to do something like that. And I know he loved Marie. He even had the city police to keep an eye on her in the months after Lee died,” Liz said.
“Must be nice to have a police force to provide security for your daughter. I’ll bet they loved that,” Jett said.
“Oh, they didn’t mind. A couple of the younger officers almost fought to watch after her. Bill Kantrell used to laugh about it. But he did his part too – after all, Earl was his friend and most powerful ally. Besides, I think Bill enjoyed watching a pretty girl and getting paid to do it,” she said.
“If the police were watching her, how did she commit suicide?” He asked.
“Earl ended the surveillance about two weeks before Marie died. I can’t say that I blame him. She was starting to act more like her old self so there was no reason to suspect anything would happen to her,” Liz said.
“And yet it did,” Jett said.
“I wonder sometimes how things might have turned out had she not died. I like to think that maybe she would have went on to a happy life. It certainly would been a happier life for Mallorie. But,” she said she sat her cup on the counter next to the coffee pot, “We’ll never know.”
Jett shook his head sadly.
“I reckon not.”
***
Alicia sat alone in her office. She had just finished looking over a few research papers. It was a tedious chore but she usually didn’t mind because it did give her a break from the classroom — even more now because it gave her a break from the intense search for the question of the existence of multiple dimensions and how to cross over from one to the other. If only J.D. and Rose could tell her something, anything, to point her in the right direction. Alicia felt as though her research was just a system of blind guesswork. It was not a comforting thought for an analytical mind such as hers.
On the flip side, there was the reappearance of both J.D. and Rose – both in dreams and the once per week physical contact. If nothing else that proved the existence of at least one other dimension. There were still the questions of why, how, and when it became possible to reappear from the dead. A visitor from the past or future might sound like some fantastic sci-fi story, but coming back from the grave? In her mind, that went well beyond such fantasies.
On a more personal level, she really didn’t care what the answers were. Alicia was just happy to be reunited with her husband. Though she treasured their first – and to date only – physical visit, the nocturnal drop-ins were something special.
In the dream world, she and J.D. could visit essentially anywhere they desired. They could also appear at any age and any calendar year in their past. It was as though they lived in a photo album; a sort of nostalgia driven virtual reality.
She enjoyed the recent visit to Cumberland Falls with J.D. It reminded her of their first few months dating when they would hike the trails on the state park and go to the overlook where he would hold her and they would just relax and enjoy the beauty of the rushing Cumberland River. What made that visit even more special was seeing Maggie and Dan hiking the same trails and enjoying some of the same experiences.
It was J.D.’s idea to include the kids. He missed Maggie too and he was still her father. And although he loved Dan like a son already, he wanted to see the two of them together again.
Last night’s dream was altogether different. They were at an upscale hotel in Atlanta. She remembered that they visited a judicial conference there in 1996 while Maggie stayed with her grandparents. During that trip J.D. managed to make it to only one seminar. They spent three wonderful days without cell phones, computers, televisions schedules, or interruptions. The time not spent in bed was spent in the Jacuzzi. The focus was only on pleasing each other.
Last night, they got the opportunity to revisit that hotel room with the magnificent view of the Olympic Village. But there were no gold medals for the games in which they indulged. She felt flush at the memory. Thinking of where they would be and what they would do tonight made her heart race faster. She felt like a newlywed again.
Alicia took a deep breath in an attempt to calm down a bit. She needed to focus. There was work to finish – not just grading papers either.
Regardless, she was determined to enjoy her second chance with the only man she ever loved. At the moment however, work came first.
***
Bud opted to join Mallorie as she drove to the office.
“How does it feel to be chauffeured to the newspaper by a hot blonde?” She asked with a laugh.
He looked at the Spartan confines of the Jeep.
“If you had a smoother riding vehicle, I could get real used to it,” Bud said.
“By smoother riding vehicle you mean your ‘67 Mustang? Please,” Mallorie said dismissively.
“I defy you to find a vehicle built today as solid as that,” he said.
“How many motors have you put in that thing?” She asked.
“Four motors and to date, five transmissions, three full paint jobs, and I’ve lost track of the body work. But in all fairness, I intentionally damaged two of those motors and transmissions to keep from losing the car when I got divorced from my last two ex-wives,” he said.
“Why would you want to keep it?” Mallorie asked.
“Because it’s mine. When I came back from Vietnam it’s the first thing I bought. I guess I love it because it reminds me that I’m alive. As long as I have it, I’ll always remember what I survived. If I could make it through that hell, I can pretty survive anything – including ex-wives,” Bud said.
“I suppose I can understand that – and respect it. You know, you could always keep the Mustang and get another car for everyday use though,” she countered.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to. That’s part of my charm,” he said.
Mallorie answered him by rolling her eyes. Bud laughed as he watched her.
A few minutes later she parked the Jeep in front of the paper.
“You never did say why you’re coming in early,” Mallorie said.
“I need to talk to Jett about a few things, plus I want him to go on a couple of calls with me,” Bud said as he stepped out of the vehicle.
She unsnapped her seatbelt and joined him on the sidewalk.
“Uh...would you like for me to wait out a couple minutes before I come on?” He asked.
She gave him a puzzled look.
“What on earth for?” Mallorie asked.
“Well, us showing up together might lead p
eople to talk and I don’t want you to be potentially embarrassed by gossip,” Bud said.
“Let’em talk - I don’t care. Besides, if it’s true, it’s not really gossip,” she said.
He stepped aside and gestured for her to go ahead of him.
“Then by all means, after you my dear,” Bud said.
They entered the building and Mallorie took her place behind the counter.
“Good morning Liz,” she called out.
“Mornin ‘sweetie. Coffee’s ready in the break room,” her voice called out from her office.
“Good, I need some,” Bud said.
“I’d say you’ve been getting plenty,” Liz muttered under her breath.
Bud made his way into the break room and settled on his old News-Democrat mug. It was a holdover from a set of company mugs he ordered in 1997. He filled it up and headed to Jett’s office. The door was ajar when he knocked to announce his presence.
“Got a few minutes?” Bud asked as Jett looked up from his legal pad.
He nodded as Bud entered and closed the door behind him.
“You look like I feel,” Jett said.
“So did Marie pay you a visit too or did you get the request for an investigation from Rose?” Bud asked.
“My sweet wife,” he answered.
“I figured,” Bud said.
Jett put down his pen and rubbed his eyes.
“When do we start?” He asked.
“Looks like you already have,” Bud said glancing at the legal pad.
“Just trying to get my bearings. I’m new to homicide investigations,” Jett said.
“I’m not exactly an old hand at it,” Bud replied.
“Between the two of us we have investigated plenty of criminal activity – but as journalists. We have no authority to subpoena witnesses or make arrests,” Jett said.
“But since the case is closed, we can pull public records. And I do know this case well...maybe too well. I know many of the principals involved. Oddly enough, most of them are still alive,” Bud muttered as took a sip of his coffee.
“Okay, let’s start there. Let’s go over what you know about Marie’s death and what public records we can gather. There should be a file in the sheriff’s office,” Jett said.
“City hall. Crystal Springs PD worked the scene,” Bud said.
Jett looked a little surprised as he started scribbling on the legal pad again.
“I thought that place is outside of the city limits,” he said.
“It is. But they found the body and since it was a suicide – or at least ruled one – the sheriff’s department was more than willing to let them handle the paperwork and the expense of the autopsy,” Bud said.
“Autopsy report. That should be part of the file at city hall. Do you remember who performed it?” Jett asked.
Bud nodded.
“It was done in Lexington at the request of the county coroner at the time,” he said.
“And that was? C’mon Bud, don’t make me guess,” Jett said.
“Dr. Frasier Malone,” Bud answered.
Jett looked like someone hit him with a bucket of cold water.
“And you trusted his judgment?” He asked incredulously.
“To be honest, no one had any reason to dispute his findings, especially then,” Bud said as he looked at the floor. “And it was sometime before...your injury and the all of the problems that followed.”
He could see Jett’s jaw tighten and the anger that could not be hidden. Few people saw this side of him, Bud thought as Jett put the pad and pen on the desk and strolled over to the window. As if on cue, Bud noticed the slightest limp.
“He’s still alive you know. But I don’t know what kind of life he has in that prison,” Bud said.
“The one he created for himself,” Jett said, still looking out the window.
“Look...he’ll have to be interviewed. When that time comes, I’ll take care of it – alone,” Bud said.
“No. I want to be there too,” Jett said.
“No way. If you snap and try to kill him I won’t be able to stop you. Not that I would blame you a bit but I’d hate for the boys to graduate from college with you in prison,” Bud said.
“I don’t like him in the least but I don’t want to kill him. I mean he didn’t cripple me or try to kill me,” Jett said.
“He just ended your football career and left you with a lifetime of pain in your ankle,” Bud said.
“And he insulted both Rose to the point that J.D. tried to slug him,” Jett said.
“I remember that but I never found what the insult was,” Bud said.
“Me either. They wouldn’t tell me for fear of what I might try. But I’ve mellowed since then. For those reasons and others, I don’t like him but his devious ways caught up with him. I don’t to kill him. I want him to enjoy his remaining years...locked away in a prison,” Jett said.
“Do you really believe you can question him with a clear mind?” Bud asked.
“Yes I do. Besides, he needs to be reminded that some of his victims are living a life without the painkillers that made him so wealthy,” Jett said.
Bud didn’t respond. Few people knew that while Jett was recovering from surgery that Dr. Malone offered him very expensive – and very habit forming – pain medication at no charge. Lucky for Jett that both Rose and J.D. had an idea of what Malone was attempting. Over the years the doctor treated many people for various injuries and offered free pain meds for a limited time. That time was just long enough for the injured party to become so addicted to the medication they would pay any price for the relief the little pills brought. For his efforts, Malone became a very wealthy man over the years. He was very popular in town because he donated money and time to so many worthy local causes. Many of the most prominent people in town were shocked when the always cheerful and generous doctor was arrested and convicted on drug charges courtesy of information gleaned from a man called Ducky.
Edna Atkins was particularly shocked and dismayed when her country club buddy and sometimes dance partner was sent packing to prison in LaGrange. Bud remembered Earl telling him she took it as hard as a death in the family.
He wondered if she took it as hard as Marie’s death. And then he wondered if Edna might be more than just a friend, that maybe she was a longtime client. Bud was certain there was no romantic involvement there. From what he could gather, neither was the type to enjoy such forbidden pleasures. He now wondered if Malone was now capable of enjoying another set forbidden pleasures if he wanted to or not.
“I’m going with you,” Jett repeated.
“We’ll talk more about it when the time comes,” Bud said, hoping to drop the subject.
“I’ll talk to Alvin. I’ll see if he can get that file to us as quietly as possible,” Jett said.
“That’s a good idea – no sense in making more waves than we have to,” Bud said.
“Are you going to tell Mallorie what you’re doing?” Jett asked as he returned to the squeaky desk chair.
“I’m still mulling the virtue and wisdom of doing so,” Bud said as emptied his mug.
“She has a right to know,” Jett said.
“I know she does,” Bud answered quietly. “It’s just that...there are going to be some things come out that’s going to hurt her and maybe badly,” Bud said.
“You mean the two-year or so drunk that Earl pulled?” Jett asked.
“You have been working on this,” Bud commented.
Jett picked up the legal pad and pen again.
“Not really. I’ve just been listening to Liz,” he said.
Bud sat the cup on the desk and reached for his pouch of tobacco.
“Well, she’s a pretty good source. Liz lived through like I did. She saw the hoops we jumped through to keep Earl in office,” he said.
“And everything you did to take care of Mallorie,” Jett added.
Bud loaded his jaw.
“Somebody had to. It just seemed like the ri
ght thing to do. Edna wanted to give her for adoption but Earl – as drunk as he was – wouldn’t have it. You know, that’s the only time I saw him stand up to her. But the problem was, he was in no shape to do it and Edna flatly refused to. She wouldn’t even change a diaper. A baby cramped her style. She couldn’t traipse all over the place visiting astrologers and the like. Some of the neighbors took care of the baby for a while but they had no intention of making a long-term commitment. When they came to me and asked me to talk to Earl about giving her up, I knew something had to be done because Earl wouldn’t budge,” Bud said.
“Couldn’t the court have taken her?” Jett asked.
“Yes, they could have but his career and maybe his life would have been over. So I talked to Edna about getting Katie and the girls to take care of the baby. It was fine with her - she didn’t care as long as it wasn’t her having to do it. So, I called Katie and explained the situation and she was happy to help out. For that matter, so was Dan,” Bud said.
Jett smiled at the memory of his in-laws.
“I can hear Katie talking to Dan and him just saying, ‘If that’s what you want to do honey,’“ he said.
“And Rose just connected with the baby from day one. I don’t think she expected to but she did. And to a lesser extent, so did Violet,” Bud said.
Jett handed him a Styrofoam cup and a napkin.
“Liz said you paid for Mallorie’s care out of your own pocket,” he said.
Bud nodded.
“She made a big deal out of that but the truth was that the girls would have taken care of her for free and if there was some type of need, Katie and Dan would have gladly seen to it,” he said.
“They would have made great parents for Mallorie. And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she would’ve had the greatest big sisters in the world,” Jett said.
“You’re right but again, Earl blocked any attempt to make that happen,” Bud said.
“I know Earl was your friend – at least in those days – but was his career worth it? Wouldn’t Mallorie have been better served with the Elkins’?” Jett asked.
Bud nodded sadly and then spat in the cup.
“Yes, she would’ve been but I wasn’t worried about Earl’s career. I was worried about his life. Had he lost Mallorie, it would have killed him – that was his last link to Marie. So, I tried to do the best I could for everyone concerned. I know failed both of them but I...didn’t know what else to do,” Bud said.
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