by Darla Jones
Jeff held her close and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m glad you told me. I’m sorry you had to go through such a terrible ordeal.” He slowly shook his head from side to side, his expression gloomy.
After a time, LynAnn pulled herself far enough out of his arms to study his face. “When you mentioned you did covert operations in Afghanistan, I wanted to tell you Todd was a marine there and he did covert operations, too. He was there about the same time you were. I’m not comparing the two of you, if that’s what you’re thinking.” She paused to run her hand over the cheek he liked to rub. “But it is quite a coincidence. You know, if you had met him you would have liked him.”
Jeff’s lips curved in a faint smile. “I’m sure I would. I guess we both have excellent taste in women.”
“I saw Todd tonight. I know it was him.” LynAnn’s body began to tremble. “Jeff, please believe me.” She reached for his shoulders as if she were going to shake him. “It was Todd.” Her hands clung to his shoulders. “He smiled at me and then he waved.”
Her tears flowed once more, and Jeff gathered her in his arms and began kissing them away and then held her some more. When her body ceased quivering, he said, “Mom’s right, you’ve been under so much stress, first the break in, the SUV, the assault, the man with Cassie, and then the boys, I think your mind is playing tricks on you.”
She tugged her body away and protested, “No, I tell you it was him, but Todd wouldn’t do all these hurtful things to me.”
Jeff tried to reason with her. “You saw someone who looked like Todd, and your mind let you imagine it was him. Think about it. You know Todd is dead. It wasn’t him.” He hauled her little body into his arms once more.
Eventually, she withdrew from his hold and gazed into his deep blue eyes. “Maybe you’re right,” she admitted at last, “he must have looked like Todd, but why did he smile and wave?” she asked, still not certain Jeff was correct.
“It was a come-on,” he answered quickly. “It’s something men do to catch a woman’s attention.”
“A come-on…of course, it was. The room was fairly dark, and the blond man was far away.” Now feeling embarrassed, she hung her head. “I’m sorry about running out of there like a possessed woman,” she apologized. “I must have looked ridiculous and poor you. You must have felt like a fool.”
He chortled. “You’re not the first woman who ran away from me on the dance floor, but I must admit you surely can run with those short little legs.”
Despite herself, she uttered a little laugh. “Tell me about the other women.”
“What other women?” he asked with a twinkle in his eye. He thought a second before he replied. “There was one, I think I may have pinched her butt,” he teased.
“Ooh,” she moaned, “you wouldn’t,” and gave him a swat on the arm.
His fingers snapping like lobster claws, he playfully reached around to her backside and tried to grab her behind and she shoved his hands away. “Don’t put anything past me,” he taunted, with a mischievous look on his face.
There was more teasing and laughing and somehow they ended up lying across the couch. Then there were more sweet kisses. Eventually they walked up the stairs to bed. He led her to her bedroom and stopped at the doorway. “Put on your nighty and I’ll come back and tuck you into bed.”
“In your dreams, mister. I can tuck myself into bed.” She adamantly refused.
But he was very serious. “After everything I heard tonight I want to baby you a little.”
“I’m fine now. Please, you’ve done so much for me. How can I ever thank you?”
“By letting me tuck you into bed. I’ll be back soon,” he responded once more, and she reluctantly gave in.
After he went out the door, she stripped off her generic church dress and slipped into her cotton nightshirt and settled under the blankets. In a few minutes, Jeff gave the door a soft rap and entered. His eyes were fixed on hers as he neared the bed and then fussed with her covers. Finally, kneeling beside the bed, his blue eyes never left hers as they probed deep into hers. So deep he seemed to reach the very essence of her being. He kissed her then, with a slow, sweet gentleness making her heart leap. “Sleep well. I adore you, sweetheart.” He spoke the words as tenderly as his kiss had been. And then he was gone.
LynAnn drew in a deep breath. She had scarcely taken in air.
****
Jeff couldn’t sleep. There were too many unanswered questions about Todd Johnson going through his mind. LynAnn was certain he wasn’t a dirty cop, but could she be blinded by the love she had for him? What kind of criminal affairs was he involved in? If he didn’t commit suicide as LynAnn thought, then murder was the only way to explain his death. But who would murder him and why? Why would his father blame LynAnn for his death? Shutting his eyes, he expelled a long breath. This evening, the tiny woman reminded him of a shell-shocked combat soldier.
Chapter 15
On Sunday morning, Jeff drove LynAnn and her children back to her apartment. She wanted to go to church, and it gave him a chance to spend some time with his parents and have a talk with his father. He needed advice, and the retired judge could help.
“What was really wrong with LynAnn last night?” Robert Kelley wanted to know. They were seated in his father’s library with the door closed so his mother couldn’t hear.
“You didn’t buy what I told you last evening about someone following her?”
“Of course not.” The judge folded his hands on the desk and waited for the real explanation. “She looked near to a complete emotional collapse.”
Jeff winced as if a pain shot through his body and glanced around the room where thick law books lined the walls. “LynAnn thought she saw her dead husband.”
“Sounds like she’s losing it,” Robert surmised, slowly shaking his gray head.
Jeff leaped to his feet and began pacing. “Maybe she is,” he had to agree. “But after you and Mom left last evening she told me about him and I need your help.” He gave him a condensed version of the information she had related to him. “I need to find out all I can about Todd Johnson, the police department where he worked, and his family. Why would Todd’s father blame her for his death?”
Grim faced and troubled, Jeff continued to pace the floor.
“You actually saw his death certificate? You’re not taking LynAnn’s word for it…his death was a suicide?”
He nodded, “Yes, I saw it. Where do we go from here?”
“Sit down, son.” He tipped his head to a chair and Jeff wearily dropped into it. “I’m not sure what your intentions are with this woman, but don’t act hastily. After the condition I saw her in last evening, I’m concerned about her mental status.”
Jeff was out of his chair like a clown popping out of a jack-in-the-box and around the desk in two seconds flat. “No, Dad, she’s under too much stress. She’s about pushed to her limit.” He tried to defend LynAnn not realizing he’d raised his voice to his father.
“Calm down, son.” The elder Kelley waved him to a seat again. “You’re a reasonable man and you’ve always thought problems through based on fact. Now think about it, what do we really know about this woman?” Jeff wanted to protest again but his father wouldn’t allow it and continued, “You’re so taken in by her, I don’t think you’re being realistic.”
His head flung back in the chair, Jeff rubbed his cheek and tried to consider his father’s remarks. Perhaps he was right. Where LynAnn was concerned he thought with his heart and not his head. Perhaps he should hire a private investigator to check into her background. “How can we find out more about her?” he asked after some thought.
“You start with the police force where her husband worked and go from there,” his logical father replied. “Then see if you can find what her husband was really doing. It is possible the man actually did kill himself, and LynAnn can’t bring herself to believe it.”
“I suppose you could be right.” His lips tightened while he slowly nodded his hea
d.
“Dad, Pap, breakfast is ready,” Jon called out and their conversation ended.
Robert put his arm around his son’s shoulders as they headed to the kitchen. “Go slow, son. She’s a beautiful woman, but don’t get too involved until you get some facts.”
With a determined set to his jaw, Jeff nodded.
After breakfast, he and Jon headed to LynAnn’s house. His father was right when he said he wasn’t being logical, but when he looked at LynAnn, when he held her in his arms and kissed her, his mind didn’t function logically. He had gotten himself too deeply involved. This wasn’t his usual approach with women. He decided he had to take a step back, a giant step.
When he reached LynAnn’s home, he found both she and Jean, sitting in her living room. Jean’s cheeks were red and her eyes were swollen as if she’d been crying. “How are you, Jean?” he asked out of courtesy, already knowing the answer.
“Not too good, Jeff. Maybe you can explain the male mind to me.”
“You mean Stu is still being a jerk?” He tried to make light of the situation.
“There’s more.” Jean frowned. “Last evening when I got off work he was coming up the steps from the laundry room in the basement. When I asked him what he was doing there he gave me this mumbo jumbo about looking for a shirt.”
“Could it be possible?” He was trying to take his father’s advice and think rationally.
Jean shrugged, “Maybe, I guess, but he looked like a kid who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Like he was guilty of something.”
“Perhaps he felt guilty because you ran into him. Do you know where he’s staying?”
Jeff didn’t get a reply. LynAnn’s phone rang interrupting them, and she reached for her purse to answer it.
“It’s Sandy,” LynAnn told them with a smile when she read the ID. Sandy called daily with a report on her aunt’s condition.
“Hi, Sandy. How’s Aunt Sara?” The pretty woman’s facial expression quickly changed, and she uttered a low groan and squeezed her eyes shut. “When?” she asked, and there was a long pause and she groaned again. “I’ll call him. Do you have his number?” She scribbled down a phone number. “I’ll call you back after I make the arrangements.”
“LynAnn, what is it?” From her tone, he knew the news about her aunt was bad.
She buried her face in her hands. “Aunt Sara died about half an hour ago. She had been doing better, but she had another stroke, and when the nurse went to check on her, she was dead.” When she lifted her head, tears streamed down her cheeks.
He was at her side immediately and led her to the sofa to sit down. “Sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I know you loved her very much.”
Jean settled on the other side of her and gave her a hug. “I’m so sorry, LynAnn.”
She nodded her thanks to both of them and then wrapped her arms around Jeff’s torso.
After a time, her tears diminished and she gained control of herself. Almost as if she’d put her mind in a robot mode, she made several calls and arranged her aunt’s funeral. “There will be a short, one-hour viewing before the funeral on Tuesday,” she announced when she was done.
In his mind, Jeff went over his work schedule and there was nothing so pressing he couldn’t postpone on Tuesday. “I’m going with you. I don’t want you to go through this alone,” he firmly stated.
“Thank you, but it’s not necessary, Jeff. I’ll be fine,” the stubborn little woman declared firmly, declining his offer.
He doubted she would be able to manage the ordeal alone, especially after last evening. Too much had happened too quickly. Yes, she was a strong woman, but last evening he learned how very fragile she could be and now there was more turmoil in her life. So much for backing off, he was plunging in again head first.
“Sandy will be with me. I’m sure she won’t leave my side.” She tried to convince him she could handle her aunt’s funeral, but he rubbed his cheek. “Really, Jeff, I appreciate your offer, but I’ll be able to cope. I knew Aunt Sara couldn’t go on the way she was, and I prepared myself for the worst, and now the worst is here.”
In his mind the discussion was not over. The tiny woman, his Miata, had another hurdle to get over and he intended to be there for her. Besides, he might find some information about her from her friend, Sandy. He was going with her.
****
The following day, Jeff arrived early at his office. He wanted to go over his schedule and speak with Trent about taking over some of his appointments the following day and hopefully he could talk with Stu about what was going on with him. “How’s that cute little boy of yours?” Andrea gave him her usual greeting and then her face became animated. “Judith was selected for a role in another play.” She was so proud of her daughter, if the woman were a bird, she would have spread her tail feathers and laid an egg.
“Great. By the way, I’m taking tomorrow off.”
“Jeff, is something wrong?” Her voice raised an octave in surprise because he rarely missed work.
“LynAnn’s aunt died and she needs me right now. There’ve been too many weird events happening lately.”
The nosy woman looked puzzled, “What sort of events?” she wanted to know.
He was sorry he’d said anything. “She’s been under a lot of stress.” He didn’t want to say more.
“Is there anything I can do?” Andrea kindly offered.
“No, thanks. I appreciate your offer though.” He turned and disappeared into his oak paneled office. Settling himself at his desk, he booted up his computer, brought up his email, and opened the one from the Delta Daily. Todd’s obituary complete with a picture emerged. Dressed in his Pennsylvania State Police uniform, he was a good looking man and although Matt looked like his mother, there was a resemblance to his father also. First, he scanned the write up and then he read it through the second time more slowly. It didn’t mention suicide, of course, but the usual next of kin, his military service, and the date of his funeral service were listed. His heart was heavy with sadness as he studied the grainy photo…A picture of the man LynAnn had loved so much.
Finally, he scrolled down the rest of his emails and then checked his list of appointments. There was a rap at his door and he was surprised when Stu strolled in. His friend’s chiseled face looked as if he were playing poker: no smile, no frown, devoid of expression and no clue as to what was on his mind.
“Speak of the devil.” Jeff greeted him with a smile, happy to see the man had sobered up.
Stu unceremoniously flopped in the leather guest chair across the desk from him. He didn’t return his smile. “There’s a reason I came to see you this morning.” His cheeks were gaunt and drawn. “I feel I must move on.”
“What?” Jeff was taken back. “Where do you plan on going?”
Uneasy now, Stu crossed his arms over his big chest and then crossed his long legs. “I’m moving back to upstate New York with my family.”
Jeff was blown away by what he heard. “What about Jean? Does she know this? Isn’t she your family?”
No,” he grunted, and his jaw clenched and his lips pulled downward. He quickly rose from the chair and bent over the desk toward him. Suddenly, the two men were at eye level with only a few inches between their faces. “Look Jeff, I’ve butted out about you and LynAnn and now you need to butt out of my personal business.” His face flamed with anger. He was angrier than Jeff had ever seen him.
Jeff held up his hands in front of his chest. “Okay, I got it. I’m sorry I asked. I care about both of you. I think you might be making a hasty decision. Are you sure you’ve thought this through?”
Stu nodded. “I’m sure.” His answer was definite as if he had come to his decision after much consideration.
There was nothing more he could say. Whatever was eating at the man, he’d decided he needed a fresh start. “Keep me informed of your plans. You’ve been a good friend. We’re all going to miss you.”
Stu stood and ambled to the door and then turne
d back to face him. “I’ve made the right decision.” Turning again, he walked out the door and calmly closed it behind him.
Jeff stared in disbelief at the closed door. Surely his friend would change his mind when he gave his decision more thought. Something else had been bothering him about Stu though. The day LynAnn’s apartment was ransacked he said he and Jean had been upstairs all afternoon and heard nothing. How could it be possible? Wouldn’t they hear those dishes being smashed?
But knowing he had much to do before he went with LynAnn, he dismissed the puzzle from his mind and began making arrangements for the following day. Then he phoned LynAnn at work. “Hi, sweetheart, I’m going with you tomorrow. I took the day off.”
“Jeff, please. I’ll be fine.”
“Trent can handle things around here and I won’t take no for an answer. What time should I pick you up?”
Chapter 16
They reached Philipsburg by nine o’clock the following morning. The quiet little town reminded Jeff of so many other small towns in this day of a sluggish economy. As he drove down Main Street, store fronts were empty and there were several Going Out Of Business signs in windows. Some boarded up buildings were past the repairable stage and needed torn down.
He stole a glance at LynAnn. Her uneasiness became evident as soon as they reached the town. Her lips sagged downwards, and she grasped her hands together so tightly they blanched.
“There’s where we used to live.” Her tone flat, she pointed out the buff brick Baptist Church with its high white steeple and the parsonage next to it. “Turn right at the next intersection.” In monotone, she gave directions to her friend’s house.