Roy was sliding the food onto warm plates when he heard soft footsteps coming down the hall. Jenny arrived in the kitchen doorway a moment later, her hair in a towel.
He was expecting her to be in the same, red dress she had worn last night, until he remembered he had brought her duffel bag from the end of her bed. She was constantly surprising him. Instead of being dressed to the nines like she usually was, she looked pretty in jeans and a red sweater. She had on a little bit of makeup, but she really didn’t need any. She was a natural beauty. Around her neck she wore a simple, black beaded necklace.
“Hey.”
He noticed she avoided eye contact when she spoke to him. She crossed the room to the table and took a seat beside Isabelle.
Roy distributed the plates. Isabelle must have listened to what he said about Jenny, because she began telling her at length of her involvement in the preparation of breakfast.
As he tucked into his own food, Roy couldn't help but notice Jenny's happiness and relief as the little girl chatted away to her for the first time. She joined in wholeheartedly, and before long, any awkwardness there had been was distinguished.
Roy was relieved too. He was concerned when he heard through the grapevine that an estranged aunt was to take over Isabelle’s care. He had never met Joey's sister, but judging by how little Joey spoke of her, he didn't think she would be a good fit.
Now watching the two of them together, he could see that Isabelle was in good hands. He only hoped that Jenny would see it too.
Chapter 15
Jenny was still feeling bad about how she and Roy had left things, so she offered to do the dishes. She left Isabelle and Roy to chat without her at the table while she cleared away the plates.
Filling the wide, ceramic sink with hot water, she had time to think. When she was in the shower, an idea had come to mind, and she hadn't been able to get it out of her mind. She just wasn't sure it would work.
She added some dishwashing liquid to the hot water and set the dishes in, one by one, using the time to debate in her head the pros and cons of her her idea.
She had never been especially close with Joey. He had only been just over a year younger than her, but when they were children, it had seemed like a huge difference. They had nothing in common, so far as she could remember. That became obvious the first few time he was whisked home in a police car, a cocky smirk on his face. The life he led had held no interest for her. It was childish and immature. She never wanted any part of it. His behavior and her disagreement with his choices had led to their tension.
She could remember very clearly one night in high school. He was sent home with a warning. The officer told their grandparents he had been caught with a couple of spray cans out at the train tracks. When asked what the hell he thought he was doing, Joey told them all he only wanted spray paint his name on the cars so it could feel like he was getting out of this place every time the train left the station. He wanted strangers to see his name out there in the world beyond Ombrea and wonder about who he was and what he believed in. He claimed it was poetic, but no one was convinced.
After being sent to his room, Jenny confronted him in the hall. It was the week she had been nominated for homecoming queen, and she was feeling very proud of herself at the time. With her chin jutted out, she pointed a finger into his chest and told him to get his life together. You're making it too easy for me to be the favorite, she said. Now she regretted having said it. She couldn't imagine how he must have felt when he heard those words from her mouth. If she were him, she would have hated her.
He must still hate her for saying it.
That settled it. Now was her chance to make it up to her brother. She abandoned him when he needed her most. He was an orphan like her, but he didn’t just lose his parents, he lost everyone. He was crying out for attention and she was too wrapped up in her own life to see to it that he was okay.
She wouldn’t make that mistake again. She would stay in Ombrea to care for Isabelle and fight for her brother’s innocence. Her life could wait.
Jenny was so deep in thought that she didn’t notice when Isabelle left the kitchen to play outside with her dolls. She finished up, drying her hands. When she turned around to hang the towel back over the stove handle, Roy was standing behind her, his mind occupied with serious thoughts of his own.
“I owe you an apology,” he said sheepishly. “I shouldn't be upset that you want to get back to New York. This wasn’t part of your plan. You have a life there and a job. I can’t expect you to give it all up and move back to Ombrea. I wasn’t only thinking of Isabelle either. I was being selfish. I really enjoyed last night,” he said, his face turning pink. “I guess I had hoped there would be more nights like it. I’m not one for casual hookups. But I’m not from the city, either.”
Jenny was surprised to hear what Roy had to say. Did he think she slept with men all the time? Did he think it was just random sex for her?
“You have no need to apologize to me,” she started.
“But I do,” he cut in. “I didn't mean to be a prick. Or make you feel guilty. I'm sure Isabelle will love New York when she has had a chance to settle in. There must be a ton of things to keep a child stimulated there, so many more opportunities than this small town has to offer.”
“I guess so, but,”
“Schools, for one. She would have plenty of friends. I bet you have a really nice place out there.”
Yeah, Jenny thought herself, a gorgeous, one-bedroom that barely fit a bed and her shoe collection. It would be a tight squeeze to add a child and all the toys and clothes she would bring with her. She would have to sell her place and find somewhere bigger to live. It would cost a lot more for a suitable place in the city. She didn’t even know if her job would be there for her when she got back. She hadn’t heard a peep from Joy Magazine.
“Roy, hear me out.” Jenny said, “About last night…”
“Hey, Roy!”
Jenny was cut off when Isabelle arrived in the doorway. Perfect timing, kid, she thought sarcastically. It looked like her conversation with Roy would have to have to wait until a later time.
“What's up, kid?” he said, looking over at Jenny and smiling apologetically.
“Will you teach me how to fish?” Isabelle asked eagerly.
She had his battered, green, bait box in her hand. She must have found it on the deck while she was outside playing.
“Of course I can.”
He rose to his feet and ruffled her hair with his hand.
“I’ll just have to dig out the fishing poles.”
“Oh, great!” Isabelle exclaimed.
Jenny smiled warmly. She had never seen the girl so happy.
“Do you think I will catch anything out there?”
“There are fish in that lake, so why the heck not?”
Jenny regarded the interaction between Roy and her niece. This would be the perfect home to raise Isabelle. It was secluded and there was plenty of land around to explore. A child could grow up here capable of conquering anything and with confidence in herself and her abilities. Jenny wondered how she and Joey would have turned out if they’d had a chance to grow up in such idyllic surroundings.
“Are you going to come too, Jenny?” Isabelle asked eagerly.
“I think I’m going to skip this one,” Jenny told her gently. “But you guys have fun. I just have to head out for a bit, but then I'll be back to see what you caught. Promise.”
“Okay.”
Isabelle looked a little unsure. Jenny couldn't blame her. She would be insecure about people leaving if she had been through the hell that little girl had endured over the past week.
“Come home soon then.”
Jenny was touched that the little girl had referred to the cabin as home, even if it wasn’t.
“You go on ahead,” Roy told Isabelle, “and keep that dog from eating anything in the bait box, will you?”
With Isabelle out of sight, he turned to Jenny.
> “ Hey, where are you headed? You sure you should be going out alone?”
“It's something I should have done a long time ago,” Jenny told him softly. “I’m going to see Joey.”
Chapter 16
Jenny drove her silver Neon back into town and towards the Ombrea police station, an anxious feeling in her tummy. She was nervous, but she had to push through it.
The townspeople had obviously heard about the fire and turned to stare as she passed them in the streets. Neither she nor Roy had been back into town since the incident.
Roy had mentioned to her that the fire chief was an old friend. He agreed to give Roy a call when the results of his investigation came in. Roy had told him flat out that it was arson and his friend did not disagree, but there was procedure to follow. When the investigation was complete, they could start to come up with a plan for how to proceed.
When the Ombrea police station came into view, Jenny look a long, deep breath. It felt as if she were heading into enemy territory. She didn't know what she would do if she saw Chief Cartright there. She wasn’t up for another unpleasant confrontation.
She found a spot in the lot and locked her vehicle. She tried to appear confident as she strode up the front steps and through the two sets of double doors. It was a large, modern building, quite impressive for a town with such a low crime rate.
The same desk clerk was on duty as when she first arrived in town. If the woman recognized Jenny, she didn't show it.
“Can I help you, ma'am?”
“I'm here to see Joey Dale.”
The woman studied Jenny carefully.
“May I ask why?”
“Do I need to have a reason to see him?” Jenny asked her. “He is still here, right? He hasn't been transported elsewhere?”
“There won't be a prisoner transfer until closer to the court date,” the woman said officiously. “If you want to speak to him before then, I am going to have to clear it with the Chief”
Damn it, Jenny thought. How would she get around this. The desk clerk wasn't going to let her through . Jenny would have to play by the rules if she were going to get anywhere.
“Okay, call him then.” Jenny nodded toward the phone on the woman’s left. “I'm assuming he is in his office.”
“He could be out on a call. I'd have to check,” she said, pointing in the direction of the blue plastic chairs lining the opposite wall. “Take a seat while I find may have to page him.”
“I have all the time in the world.”
Jenny forced a polite smile. She took a seat, placing her handbag on the chair beside her.
This wasn't going to be easy. Chief Cartright was going to give her the run-around. He may even send her away entirely, she considered as she waited. With any luck at all he would just have the clerk pass on his message. It would be better if she didn't have to face him.
Twenty minutes later, she was still waiting. The clerk had placed the phone back down ten minutes earlier, but had yet to raise her head from her paperwork to tell Jenny what was going on. Jenny placed a hand on the handle of her handbag, but willed herself to hold on for just a few more minutes. If he were playing a game with her, she couldn’t crack too early. She could wait.
Suddenly, the clerk stood from her seat and waved her over impatiently.
“Chief Cartright is a very busy man, but he agreed to see you now. Try not to take up too much of his time. You can go in now.”
Just as he had done the first time she had come to his office, Chief Cartright stood from behind the desk when Jenny entered. She left the door open, deciding it was safer to do so.
The bruise over his right eye was beginning to fade, but it was still rather noticeable. She made a mental note the last time she saw him to check Roy's hands to see if he was the one who had delivered the blow, but apart from a few callouses they were undamaged. Who it was that hit Chief Cartright was a mystery.
“Miss Dale,” he said, directing her to the chair in front of his desk, “take a seat, please.”
Jenny sat down and placed her bag on the floor.
“I have a lot of work to do.”
“I know. Your secretary made a point of telling me four times.”
He smiled briefly.
“She is good like that. I'd offer you a beverage of some kind, but I honestly can't have you in my office for too long. I've got important police work to do today.”
Jenny almost burst out laughing. His untroubled attitude was an obvious show, and she could see right through it.
“I want to see my brother.”
Now she had his attention.
Chief Cartright folded his hands together and leaned forward over his desk.
“Whatever could you want to see him about?”
“Like I said,” Jenny responded calmly. “He's my little brother.”
“I'll remind you that your little brother is under arrest for second degree murder.”
“I want to see him, and I am well within my rights to do so.”
Chief Cartright sat back in his seat.
“And what exactly do you plan to discuss?”
“I was thinking I would update him on how the Lakers are doing this season. Maybe I’ll fill him in on what’s happening on Days of Our Lives. They don’t have TV in jail, do they?” Jenny didn't know where her new-found sense of confidence came from, but she liked it. “So, can I go through, or do you have something against the Lakers?”
“Visiting hours are by appointment only”
“Then , please, get out your appointment book and pencil me in.”
He shook his head. For a minute, she thought he was really going to send her away. She was certain that her sarcastic attitude wasn’t gaining her any points.
To Jenny’s surprise, Cartright reached for his desk phone instead. He called over to the desk clerk.
“Jenny Dale is here to see her brother Joey. Please escort her to the holding cells.”
When he hung up the phone, he looked directly into Jenny’s eyes, his stare meant to intimidated her.
“You have one hour. Make sure you save some time to say good bye. Your brother is going away for a long time.
“Thanks, Chief. You’ve been so helpful.”
Jenny rose to her feet as the desk clerk stepped inside the office to show her to Joey’s cell.
The desk clerk removed a heavy set of metal keys from a chain on her belt. She shuffled through them until she found the correct one and slid it into the keyhole of the heavy, steel door before them.
Jenny glanced back at Chief Cartright's open office door. She see him there watching her, but he had remained at his desk, probably in an attempt to show it wasn’t getting to him. Jenny wondered to herself if Chief Cartright was the one who started the fire yesterday. He had been angry and lashed out at her at Norma’s house, but still she couldn't imagine him throwing a Molotov cocktail through her front window. He was a man in a position of authority. He had too much to lose.
“Are you coming or not?” the desk clerk asked, her hand holding open the heavy door.
“I'm coming. Right behind you.”
Jenny followed her through, wincing when the steel door slammed shut behind them.
Chapter 17
The desk clerk's heels click-clacked down the hall at a fast pace. Jenny had to rush to catch up with her. She kept a careful eye on her surroundings, taking in the offices and conference rooms to each side of the hallway. What an elaborate facility she thought to herself. Seems like overkill. There were never going to be enough officers in this small town to fill a station like this.
“The holding cells are just up ahead. You will have to keep your hands and belongings to yourself. You aren't allowed to give him anything. Nothing at all. If you do, I could have you charged.”
Jenny doubted the validity of the claim, but chose not to say so.
“I'll let you in and leave you to it. I'll return for you in one hour. Don't do anything stupid. I have a camera at my desk and will
be monitoring your every move.”
“Creepy,” Jenny murmured under her breath.
“What was that?”
The desk clerk raised a critical eyebrow at her.
“Nothing,” Jenny shook her head. “I didn't say a word.”
The desk clerk was unconvinced. As they approached another door, she extracted her set of keys again and selected one of the older ones. She placed it into the lock and turned, the metal catching on the other side. The door was part of the original station.
Jenny held her breath as the door swung inward. The room beyond was small and dimly lit . Apart from the small window looking out onto the street at one end, the only other right came from a low hanging, fluorescent bulb that flickered every few seconds as if it were about to die.
All of the jail cells were empty, except for one. Joey was in the cell at the end, closest to the window. Jenny barely recognized him when she entered the depressing room.
He wore a simple, white T-shirt and a pair of faded blue jeans. She noticed that his shirt had dried blood on one side. A few days’ worth of stubble covered his chin. She had never seen Joey with facial hair, but she thought it looked kind of good on him. His blonde hair was cut short on the back but the front hung haphazardly over his eyes. He stood and brushed it to one side before doing a double take. She was the last person he expected to see.
“This is it. One hour and counting.”
The desk clerk left the room, closing the door firmly behind her. Jenny waited until she could hear the key turning in the lock before she approached her brother.
He stared out at her through the iron bars. He looked worried, almost frightened to see her standing in front of him. Why had she come?
Sensing his fear, Jenny spoke.
“I’m not here to yell at you if that's what you think.”
“I don't know what I think.”
Jenny nodded. She touched her hands to the bars, feeling the cold of the metal beneath her skin.
“You look like hell,” she told him honestly.
His face changed into the same old Joey she knew as a kid.
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