Once that gauze came off, and she saw where her hair had been burned away, she’d be lucky to ever have a man look at her again. That thought gnawed away at her like—
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.
****
Jacob pored over all the end of the year paperwork in his office and spent the hour leading up to his lunch with an intern that had just started. Finally, at ten after noon, he left and headed to a new restaurant that had just opened down the street from the offices of The Springwood Daily.
He immediately spotted Leslie and Ami in a booth near the corner. They smiled and waved as he walked over.
“Sorry I’m a little late. Had to run a new intern through a spiel.” He said, picking up the menu in front of him.
“It’s okay, Jacob. I just wanted to apologize for showing up out of the blue the other day.” Leslie said.
He sighed, not looking up from the menu. “I’m just glad Lyn was asleep. It’s no problem. Besides, it was nice to see Ami up and around.” He stole a warm glance at her, and she smiled. His heart leaped a little in his chest. She had their father’s eyes and his smile. He hadn’t really looked closely at her a few days ago because he was so worried about Lyn waking and seeing Leslie and wondering who Ami was.
“I see you’re wearing the tie I got you.” Ami said proudly.
Jacob glanced down at the gray tie with guitars all over it. He knew it had to be Leslie’s influence and probably really her gift to him. But it had been from Ami.
His sister.
“Yeah. It’s pretty sharp.” He said with a smile. Ami beamed back at him as the waitress stepped up to get their order.
After she left, Leslie spoke. “Jacob, I have to get back to work after next week.”
He looked at her. “Really? Well—“
“I’d like to meet my other brother before I leave. I mean—if I can.” Ami interrupted with a pleading look.
Jacob looked at her and took a deep breath. Her brown hair framed longing blue eyes and a pout. “Well…I suppose that can be arranged. It’s just that, it’s been so busy between the holidays and everything else, I haven’t been able to find the right time to explain things to Justin.”
Leslie and Ami were silent for a few moments.
“And, like I said, he’s going through that miscarriage and all—“
Jacob’s phone rang, and he dug it out of his pocket, glancing at the screen.
“Well, speak of the devil.”
****
Justin had ducked around the corner, after trying to follow the man on the phone, when Jacob answered. “Hey, bro…I was just talking about—“
“Jacob, I’m at Springwood Medical Suites. I just heard some foreign dude on the phone talking about a Tammy Cauley. He’s a doctor, I’m pretty sure. I followed him int—“
“Whoa, Justin. Hang on. You’re sure you heard that name?”
“Yes! And I tried to follow him, but he went into a door with a key card.” He hissed, still leaning against the wall, peeking around the corner at the door.
He heard Jacob sigh on his end. “Well, there could be more than one Tammy Cauley around. Justin, you need to get home and be with Camryn.”
He sighed, rolling his eyes. “Camryn doesn’t want to be bothered. Doesn’t this bug you any? Considering how Tammy is?”
“Of course, but Justin, there could be another Tammy Cauley.”
Frustrated, Justin shook his head. “Fine. You’re the mayor. Find out if there is.” He said with finality, ending the call.
****
Tammy opened the door, her mouth partially opening in surprise to see the same guy who had been up at the hospital to see Lyn. He smiled at her. “Hi. Do you remember me? We met in the hospital?”
She slowly nodded. “Yeah…Leo right?”
He beamed. “You remembered.”
She stood there, gazing into his smile. Something about this guy was familiar, yet she was sure she’d never met him.
“Anyhow, I happened to remember Brian telling me where you lived. Hope I’m not intruding by coming over. Your brother’s not around, is he?”
Tammy shook her head. “No. I mean, he’s not here. And…you’re not intruding,” she said, a small inviting smile creeping onto her lips before she let him in.
****
“Justin, wait! Justin?” Jacob looked at his phone to see the call had ended. “Ah, damn.” He cursed.
“What’s wrong?” Ami asked.
He looked at her. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
Leslie raised one skeptic eyebrow. “Really? Jacob, you were getting so huffy on the phone, you drew stares.” She said.
He exhaled, puffing out his cheeks.
“It’s about her, isn’t it?” Ami asked, a solemn look on her face.
Jacob looked at her, and his heart suddenly felt heavy. “Yeah.” He said, finding it hard to lie. “It is.”
****
Allen Harrison sat in his office, busily approving stories to run in the next day’s edition of the newspaper when he heard a knock on his door.
“Come in.”
The door opened, and he looked up to see the young woman who had entered. One of his newest staff members, Kathy Richards, a short blonde.
“Hi, Kathy. What can I do for you?”
She stepped up closer to his desk. “Um…I feel really awkward about this, but I feel it’s a great possibility for a story.”
Allen’s eyes lit up. “That’s great, Kathy. No need to feel awkward. Tell me about it.”
She drew in a deep breath. “Well, I just got back from lunch at that new place down the street. I know I was supposed to be reviewing it, but…something sort of happened while I was there. I was at a table, not too far from Mayor Barnes, and he wasn’t alone. There was a woman and young girl with him. Neither one of them was his sister, but he gave the girl a hug before he left.”
He frowned at her. “Okay,” he said, prompting her to continue.
She sighed. “So…that wasn’t the weird part. He got some call and kind of freaked. People were staring, but I don’t think he realized it. And I heard the name Tammy Cauley mentioned. If I’m not mistaken, isn’t that the name his sister’s alter goes by?”
****
Unable to get the incident at the medical building out of his mind, Justin found himself swinging over by his brother’s place. If Tammy was still present, perhaps she could shed some light on why a foreign man, probably a physician, was mentioning her name in what had seemed to be a frenetic phone call.
He pulled up in time to see a figure with his sister on the porch. As soon as the car approached, the figure quickly waved to his sister, keeping his face averted as he casually trotted over to the car parked in front. Before Justin could shut the car off, the guy had left, nearly peeling off.
He got out of the car, awkwardly with the brace, trying to hurry and went up to where Tammy had quickly vanished back inside. He banged on the door. “Come on, Tammy! Open up!”
There was no response, and he tried to open the door. It was locked. He maneuvered himself off the porch, going around to the back which was unlocked. He went right in, searching the place for her, finding the bathroom door shut and heard the shower going.
“Uh huh. Real convenient.” He muttered, folding his arms.
He walked into the living room and stood gazing out into the cloudy afternoon.
Who the hell was that joker?
“I’m not going anywhere until I get answers from you, Tammy.” He muttered to himself.
Chapter 26
Jacob hadn’t been back at his office for ten minutes when Allen Harrison’s call came in. “Jacob, one of my staff members saw you at The Main Street Café. What’s this about a phone call concerning Tammy?”
Jacob sat back in his desk chair, hesitating. He closed his eyes, replying. “It was my brother. He was at physical therapy and overheard this doctor on the phone talking about a Tammy Cauley. I don’t know what it
’s about. Honestly, I think he may have misunderstood the guy. He’s been through a lot of stress with Camryn lately.”
There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
“Jacob, will you be at your office this afternoon? I think we need to talk.”
****
Robin was in court for another case most of the morning and was relieved when the judge finally called for a recess. She took the time to step outside the courtroom and make a few calls.
She had four missed calls on her phone. One was from Justin.
She bit her lip and reluctantly listened to his voicemail.
****
About forty-five minutes later, Allen Harrison arrived at City Hall and entered Jacob’s office. Jacob remained eased back in his desk chair, listening in concern as Allen Harrison explained to him what he’d found in Brian Shirk’s desk after he was killed.
“I handed it all over to Lyn’s lawyer. I felt it was best.”
Jacob closed his eyes. “So Robin knows about this.” He said.
Allen hung his head. “I’m sorry for keeping this from you. I figured you would know by now for sure.”
Jacob lightly laughed to himself. “Yeah, I should have.”
Allen gazed at him with concern. “Kathy said you were with another woman and young girl.”
Jacob nodded. “Yes, Leslie Marlen, an old friend of mine and her daughter. They’re getting ready to head back home so we were just catching up.”
Allen nodded. “So how is Lyn doing?”
Jacob looked down before answering. “About as well as can be expected for someone who’s been through all that she has.”
****
Tammy opened the bathroom door, stepping into the hall.
“Tammy?”
She jumped, nearly dropping the towel she had wrapped around her. Justin stepped over to her, shaking his head. “Oh, come off it. You knew I was here. I’ve never seen such a quick exit to the bathroom in my life.” He went on, folding his arms. “So, want to tell me who the guy was that was here that took off like a bat out of hell when I pulled up?”
****
Robin re-focused once court was back in session, and two hours later, the judge reached a verdict with the case. After getting things squared away with her client, Robin headed back to her office, actually kicking her shoes off and flopping back onto the sofa in there.
It had been a long day and a struggle to remain focused on the case at hand. Especially when she was unable to get her mind off Lyn’s case, and most of all, Jacob. Then she got that message from Justin about hearing a doctor on a cell phone mentioning Tammy Cauley’s name. She was lucky she could even cross examine her witness after that.
She looked over at the paperwork that awaited her on her desk. She sighed, getting up to go over and handle it, just as a noise sounded from out in the lobby. She gulped, hearing Jacob’s voice. The tone told her he was not very happy.
“I need to see Miss Langley, right now.”
****
Tammy readjusted the towel around her. “He’s just a friend, Justin. Relax.”
Justin narrowed his eyes at her. “Who. Is. He?”
She sighed, closing her eyes. “He came up to see me in the hospital. Well, not me. Lyn. But he’s a friend of Brian’s.”
Justin sighed. “You need to watch it, Tammy. You’re supposed to be acting as Lyn.”
“I am! God, I’m actually nauseous all the time from it. Give me a break.”
Justin released a deep breath. “Fine. As long as you tell me something. And please be honest.”
She returned his reluctant sigh. “What?”
He stared at her intensely. “Why would I overhear a foreign doctor talking about you during a phone call?”
****
“Ok…I think their graves are right over there.” Leslie said, pointing out an area in the cemetery where John and Sylvia Barnes were buried. She glanced at her daughter, who had paused with a gulp, holding the bouquet of flowers they had just gotten before coming. “Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked her daughter.
Ami slowly nodded. “Yeah, mom. Like you said, we have to go back. And I can’t just not visit my own father’s grave.”
Leslie remained silent as they made their way over to the grave markers where John and Sylvia had been laid to rest so many years ago. Leslie sighed sadly to herself, blinking back tears.
She had already been in Milltown for a few years when the accident happened. The only way she’d learned about it was through her father, who’d had an old friend on the police force in Springwood at the time. It had been a shock then that she still felt today as she stood behind her daughter.
Ami kneeled down, placing the flowers atop John’s grave. Leslie felt her eyes blurring and had to turn away. She looked out toward the wrought iron fence surrounding the cemetery.
She sighed, closing her eyes. She really hated how everything had turned out. She knew what she and Jacob had once would never be salvaged now…all because of one stupid encounter. Then, she chided herself for even calling it that, considering she’d conceived Ami during it.
She shook her head, turning back to her daughter. “Hey, sweetie, are you read—Oh, my God!”
****
Jacob followed Robin’s secretary into the office.
“Miss Langley, Mayor Barnes needs to see you.” She said, obviously flustered from Jacob’s brisk appearance.
She nodded. “Thank you.” She told her as she turned to go, closing the door behind her.
Jacob stood there, looking very discomfited. “Why didn’t you tell me what was found in Brian Shirk’s desk?”
****
Tammy backed up against the wall, appearing floored. “A doctor was talking about me?”
Justin nodded. “Yeah. What’s that about?”
She closed her eyes, gulping.
“Tammy, talk to me. What’s going on?”
The phone rang, and she quickly bolted to answer it, leaving Justin to roll his eyes in impatience.
****
Allen drove home that afternoon with so much on his mind; he wasn’t even aware of the ambulance behind him until they turned their siren on and drove around him. Their lights going around, he watched as they turned into the Saint Christopher Cemetery up ahead.
“The cemetery?” he asked aloud to himself. Curious, and sensing a possible news story, he followed the ambulance through the wrought iron gates.
Chapter 27
Justin followed Tammy into the front room where she stood with the phone to her ear, stock still. She didn’t say a word, and after several moments, silently hung up the phone.
“Who was it?” Justin asked.
“Her,” he heard Tammy mutter under her breath to herself.
Justin frowned. “Who?”
When she still wouldn’t answer him, he stepped over and picked up the phone, seeing one voicemail. He hit the button, quickly putting it to his ear to listen.
****
Robin stood there, gulping. “Jacob, I was going to tell you.”
“Oh, really? When? After this mess finally goes to court? For Christ’s sake, Robin, I’m her brother! I should have been told. And we-“he cut himself off, turning away and shaking his head.
She closed her eyes and put up her hands. “Jacob, I know you have every right to be mad at me. And I’m sorry I never told you. I wanted to investigate things a little further before I told you anything. Hopefully, I could have a little better explanation. But so far, we keep running into walls.”
Jacob stood there in silence, his head down.
“And…while we’re talking about this…there is something else you may as well know.”
Jacob met her eyes. He said nothing, which only made her voice shake more as she spoke. “I found out, through a good source, while trying to investigate …Lyn got pregnant as Tammy…and had an abortion.”
****
Leslie stood there, mortified, tears running down her face as a pa
ramedic asked her questions. They had Ami on a stretcher with oxygen under her nose.
“You say she just got out of the hospital for a blood transfusion?”
“Yes. And she has a history of migraines. That’s what caused her to need the blood. She had a migraine and stepped in front of a semi and got hit.”
The paramedic swung a frown over in Ami’s direction. “Has she ever had a seizure before?”
Leslie shook her head. “No, not that I’m aware of. Is that what happened?”
“I don’t know. Ma’am, you were the only one here. You say you only turned around for five seconds, and she was on the ground?”
“Yes. She wanted to come see her father’s grave, and it got too emotional for me. I turned around, and when I turned back, she was laying sprawled over their grave.”
He sighed. “Well, the way she fell, and the mark on her forehead, suggests she hit her head on the gravestone. How she fell is yet to be determined, considering she’s still unconscious.” He went on. “Tests will have to be run. You want to follow us to the hospital?”
She nodded, turning to head toward the car, wishing Jacob would call her back. She climbed into the driver’s seat, following the ambulance out moments later as Allen Harrison approached the area where they had been…spotting the Barnes’ grave.
****
Toby was busy showing a customer the features of a refurbished CD tower as Dan sat behind the counter of Cyber-Fix, his mind everywhere else but there. He hadn’t spoken to anyone since Christmas Eve. Barnes-wise at least. Something told him to just back off and stay to himself for a while until he could figure out what to do. He hated going to shrinks like Becky was doing. “Thanks!” The customer’s voice brought him back to reality as he turned to leave.
Burned by Deception (The Dark Side of Springwood Book 2) Page 17