Utah: A Lucy Ripken Mystery (The Lucy Ripken Mysteries Book 7)

by J. J. Henderson

  "Talking about the Lord is never a waste of time," said Loretta. "Jesus is..."

  "A good name for a Mexican," interrupted Devereaux. "Had three guys named Hay-soos in my high school auto shop and they were all damned fine mechanics. So one or the other of you must have some idea where she...where they...went. Why'd she leave so fast, anyways? She just got here, right?"

  "There's no need to take the name of the Lord in vain, Mr. Devereaux. Regardless of that, judging by the time of your arrival I would have to say that it was perhaps because you were on her case that she elected to depart so abruptly," said Loretta. "By the way, just what is it Lucy has done that merits all this lovely federal attention?"

  "You don't know?" said Devereaux. "You really don't know?"

  Loretta blinked. "I really do not have a clue, sir. Nor does Althea." Loretta crossed her arms on her chest. "So why don't you kindly clue us in?"

  Larsen spoke up. "Your sister is traveling with a fugitive teenager named Ellen Longford. A runaway girl from Tremonton, Utah, whose father was murdered two days ago. I don't really know if you're lying and have read the papers and know the damned story even though you're playing dumb as dogfood, but either way let me update you: at first we thought Ellen had perhaps witnessed the murders and was kidnapped as a result, or taken for ransom or something like that. Something that made sense. But we now have reason to believe the girl herself might have killed her father, and if not, well, at the moment your sister Lucy is the prime suspect. Now, we don't really want to think that either of them did the murder, but until we find them and they can tell us what happened back there in Tremonton, we have no choice but to assume that they...that one or the other of them did it."

  "But my Lucy would never....she's not...she's simply not capable of that kind of...violence," Mrs. Ripken said. "Oh my God." Eyeballing her, they could see real shock. So maybe these two—or at least the mom—didn't know after all.

  "Jesus, help me out," said Loretta. "Oh, Lord, help me."

  "So maybe you want to think about...giving us an idea where they might have gone?" said Larsen. "We have a big problem here."

  "They rented a car," said Loretta. "And they took off."

  "What about this Morris? She may have made up some stuff about the girl, but she does know people up there, right? Doesn't Lucy have friends up in Seattle?" said Devereaux.

  "She does, yes," said Mrs. Ripken.

  "So she could maybe head up that way?"

  "Your guess is as good as mine," said Mrs. Ripken.

  "I don't think so, Mrs. Ripken," said Larsen, shaking his head. "But since you won't volunteer one, I'm going to guess Seattle, and we are going to go up there. If you should happen to hear from your dear daughter, do tell her she'd better turn her ass in soon or we are going to put it on ice. Do you hear me, Mrs. Ripken?"

  "Yes, Mr. Larsen," said Mrs. Ripken.

  "Praise the Lord," said Loretta. "Praise Jesus. God bless you, gentlemen," she said, as they all stood.

  "Yeah, sure, lady," said Devereaux, heading for the door. "Honk if you love Jesus. But don't the ten commandments say you shouldn't tell a lie?"

  "That was Moses, or George Washington," said Loretta. "I'm only a lowly Christian lawyer." She and Mrs. Ripken watched them out. "Bye now." The agents didn't look back.

  "Jesus X. Christ!" said Larsen, in the car. "Fucking hypocritical Christian cunt! Those two know exactly where she's going."

  "She's gotta be going to Seattle," said Devereaux. "Take it easy, Jackman. We'll find her. Like you said, those two know where she is. I wouldn't be at all surprised if that Jesus-babbling sister of hers goes looking for her tonight. We'll stick a tail on her and see what happens. Meanwhile, let's get some dinner and a good night's sleep. At this point we can probably assume that Lucy and Ellen are not about to do each other any harm, right?"

  "I guess," said Larsen. "But one of them may be a killer, man. We have got to find her."

  They waited in silence for a moment behind the closed front door. Then Loretta said, "Those poor policemen. We sure gave them the runaround, didn't we?"

  "I don't think we fooled them for a minute, but yes, we sure...slowed them down, I guess. I just hope it was the right thing to do. And thank you, Loretta, for taking Lucy's side. I wasn't sure if..."

  "To be honest I don't know if I was wrong or right, but the last thing I meant to do was scare Lucy off. Although I guess it was for the better, wasn't it? Her leaving, I mean. She and that girl might have been hanging around here when the agents arrived otherwise."

  "You're right. I sure hope Lucy knows what she's up to. This all sounds like a pretty bad thing. I mean, I know Lucy didn't kill anybody, for God's sake...but what about that girl? What do you think happened?"

  "Lord knows, Althea. Lord knows. I don't understand it at all, to tell the truth. But Lucy didn't seem all that bothered by the situation, did she? I mean until I scared her off she seemed pretty relaxed, don't you think?"

  "Lucy is never exactly relaxed, but yes, she didn't seem too worried. At least not by that."

  "I just don't get it. But where did they go, Althea? Do you know?"

  "I have a pretty good idea," she said. "Why?"

  "I need to go to her. I need to...make it right for Lucy and me. You know I never intended to let things get so...it's just that I'm not...oh, Althea, I never had a sister before, and now I feel like I lost her before we even got to know each other."

  "You'll work it out. Lucy's an open-minded woman. Her father raised her that way. But what has she gotten herself in to?"

  "That's why I need to find her. I've got to find that out. She's going to need some legal help...and the girl's going to need some...well...do you think she should get...an abortion?" She felt guilty even asking such a question, but compelled to ask it.

  "Do I? Well..." Althea met her glance. "I come from a time when such a thing was not...girls simply didn't do that. But the government made it legal a long time ago, and...well, there's lots of children in the world who are sorely neglected.”

  "And what, does that mean they shouldn't have been born? Do you believe that, Althea?"

  "I don't know, I...I just think that if a woman—especially a girl like that, so young and in so much...trouble...gets an abortion its her business. And that if it happens early on, in the first few months, then its not really a human, its just...I don't know...a fetus isn't human...is it?"

  "I have always believed that humanity starts at conception, arising as it does from the sexual union as an expression of God's love, and God's will," said Loretta quietly. "I still do. But regardless of that, I want to help Lucy—and Ellen. I think I can. Whatever they decide to do they are going to need help, and legal help can get very expensive. I might be able to..."

  "But if you are against abortion and Ellen decides she wants one and Lucy helps her, what are you going to do?"

  "I don't know," Loretta said, shaking her head. "I really have no idea. Before yesterday I did know, but now I don't."

  "Well, I think Lucy's headed up to Seattle. I wouldn't be surprised if she called from there this evening, just to let me know she made it. If that's where she went. You want to go up there, why don't you wait till morning? That'll give her time to get where she needs to go, and then...well, then maybe she'll be ready to deal with...whatever. Maybe she'll let us know."

  "Sure. Unless the FBI gets there first. But she seems to have done a pretty good job of avoiding them so far. OK, Althea." Loretta knew that Mrs. Ripken was buying Lucy time, too, just in case she, Loretta, decided to change her mind. That was fair enough.

  Loretta thought of going down to the church, and decided against it. The zealots would be there, and her prayers would only get confused by their righteous cacaphony. After dinner she and Althea waited, watching television, hoping that Lucy might call. When the phone rang they both jumped. Althea answered. After hellos and a brief conversation she held a hand over the mouthpiece and said, "It's for you, Loretta. It's Jeff, your husband."<
br />
  She came over and took the phone from Althea, who left the room. "Hi, honey, how are you?" she said.

  "I'm fine. Thank the Lord. But how are you? How was your meeting with your sister?"

  "It was...difficult. I...she had...she has a girl with her, and the girl is pregnant, and..."

  "Pregnant? Who is the girl?"

  "It's complicated, Jeff."

  "Tell me."

  "The girl is a runaway from Utah, they met out there somehow or other, I don't know how, and now the FBI is after her and Lucy because the girl's father is dead, and...Oh, Lord, Jeff, I don't know what...I didn't know what to..."

  "What did you...the FBI is after your sister?"

  "Well, sort of...yes. They think she or the girl killed the girl's father, and...they came here looking for Lucy but she'd already left with the girl. So..."

  "What did you tell them?"

  She didn't know how to lie to him. "I lied."

  "You lied to the FBI? Loretta, did you make yourself an accessory to a crime?"

  "I don't think so. But I didn't know how to explain the truth, Jeff. It was...too complicated. Too..."

  "Where did they go? Lucy and the girl?"

  "To...somewhere north of here. I don't know."

  "And this girl whose father is dead is pregnant?"

  "Yes. They came to the clinic where I was witnessing. Oh, Jeff, it was awful, Lucy was..."

  "Wait a minute. Lucy was bringing this girl to an abortion clinic? And you let them...you helped them get away?"

  "I didn't help them. They ran...they drove off...but...I stopped them at the...we all stopped them there, at the clinic...then later Lucy and Ellen...that's the girl...left Althea's house. That's when the FBI showed up."

  He was silent for a moment, and then spoke in his tone of thunderous self-righteousness, meaning he was very angry. "May the Lord forgive you for what you've done, Loretta. May Jesus find mercy in his..."

  "Wait, Jeff, don't, please," she cried out. "Don't condemn me. I didn't mean to let this happen this way, but Lucy...she's my sister, Jeff. I didn't...I couldn't just...I've never been in a situation like this, with someone I know involved. It was...different."

  He paused, and then began again, softer and more personal now. "Well you know how I felt about your...taking this trip alone. You know I had my doubts. It seems that they were...justified, Loretta. It seems that you have become...confused." He stopped. The silence grew between them.

  Out of nowhere she began speaking...her own mind! "Well, yes, I am confused, Jeff. I am confused for the first time in what seems like years. It is really hard, being confused this way, but you know what else? It is also good, I think, to be confused. Remember Jesus on the cross, Jeff? Remember His doubts? Sometimes it isn't wrong to not know what exactly is right. I think it tests your faith. My faith is...being tested right now, Jeff. You have to..."

  "I can't believe that you are saying these things to me, Loretta. I can't believe you are invoking the name of our Lord in this..."

  "Well I am. And I am also going to Seattle tomorrow, to find Lucy and to help her and this girl with their troubles. I am going to do my best to stop the abortion if I can, but that is not my only concern. If I make it my only concern I am going to lose the sister I just found, and I do not want to do that. Can you understand that, Jeffrey?"

  He paused. "You...your sister can protect herself, and the girl. Your...our job is to protect the unborn against the killers. If you have forgotten that, then...all is lost. You should be on your knees, begging for forgiveness. I will pray for you."

  "Please do that, Jeffrey. Pray for me with an open heart." When he didn't respond she said. "I'll be back when this is settled. Give my love to the kids. I hope everyone is well. Goodbye, Jeffrey." She put the phone down and burst into tears.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE DVD

  From the minute of Ellen's first revelation on the northbound bus, Lucy forced herself to not pass judgement. How could she presume to know what choices Ellen thought she had when she stabbed her father? How could Lucy ever fathom the depths of paranoia, self-loathing, and horror the girl had lived with? It had to have been the only decision Ellen could make.

  Ellen's second revelation, about being adopted, had clouded the other issue, that of the abortion, for Lucy. Did it make a difference, that the father of Ellen's baby was not her blood father? Other than removing the awful Oedipal stigma from the scene, did it make his actions less heinous? No. He had taken brutal advantage of a child for years on end. Years enough to drive her to murder. And yet, it did tamp down Lucy’s burning certainty that Ellen had no choice but abortion. Might there be another way?

  She knew her thinking was flawed, and yet she had to honor her instincts. Maybe the Lorettas of the world, with their radical moral commitment to their cause, had begun to influence her. She hated to think that, but there was no denying her feelings. When it was an ignorant man spewing the "pro-life" line, or the repulsive evil of incest was involved, she found it easy to resist. Coming from Loretta, even with her Jesus-babble, it had more force.

  Robin met them at the bus station in Tacoma. They headed north in fast, heavy traffic on I-5, Seattle-bound. Lucy and Robin sat in front, Ellen and Claud in back. Ellen soon fell asleep, leaning against the dog with her mouth hanging open, a woman-child masked in racoon eye makeup. Lucy resisted the urge to reach back and wipe Ellen's face clean. Robin spoke softly. "Luce, I saw the papers. You've got yourself in the thick of it, haven't you? Jesus, you didn't tell me there's a dead guy involved. What the hell's up?"

  "I just found out myself. You don't want to know."

  "I need to know. You can't...you didn't have anything to do with...her father's death, did you?"

  "Me? No, of course not. Gimme a break, Rob." She swallowed. "But..." her voice trailed off. She couldn't bring herself to say it. "But..." She shifted her eyes towards the rear.

  Robin barely whispered. "She killed her father? Oh my God." She gripped the wheel with both hands. "And you're...hiding her? My God, Lucy, what have you gotten yourself..."

  "Her adoptive father. He's...he was not her biological father. And she's pregnant by him. And I am not going to the police until and unless we find a good lawyer, understood?"

  "Fuck the moon and stars, Lucy. This is big time crazy. Whatever you say. Only..."

  "What?"

  "What now?"

  Lucy glanced back at the sleeping Ellen. "Did you try any lawyers?"

  "Several. Not as simple as I figured. What I keep hearing is she'll be sent back. Now that there's this other craziness I don't have any idea. But I'm sure they'll want to extradite her."

  "No way. No way she can get a fair hearing in Utah."

  "Fair?! Lucy, she murdered her own father."

  "Sssshhhh! You'll wake her," Lucy said.

  "No she won't. I'm already awake," Ellen said softly.

  "Oh," Lucy said abruptly. "Well...

  "When we get to Seattle I'll...you can let me off. I have some money. I don't want to make your life crazy, Lucy. I'll be all right. I'm...." Her voice cracking, she stopped.

  "Forget about it, Ellen. You're not making my life crazy." She looked at Robin. "I am. It's my goddamned choice," she said. "I don't care what anybody says!"

  "Hey, Ellen, I'm sorry," Robin said over her shoulder. "I just...gotta look out for my pal here, and..."

  "Don't worry, Ellen," Lucy said. "We're in safe hands. Rob likes to worry, but she's gonna take care of us." She put a hand on Robin's arm, and squeezed a thank you. "So where are we going?"

  "To my house now. Tomorrow, to the ferry. You're housesitting a cabin on Bainbridge."

  "Braindead Island? Isn't it like suburban hell out there?"

  "Parts. But this cabin is way back in the woods. You'll see. We're going there in the morning. Tonight you can stay with me and Dan."

  "Dan?"

  "Dan. Lucy, I told you...the kayak guy, remember?"

  "Right, right. Sorry, I’ve be
en to say the least distracted. Mr. Backwoods."

  "More like backwaters. He's a 'yak nut. He moved in with me a couple of months ago. But he's...sensitive. He knows all about you two, by the way, so there's no use..."

  "What? What did you tell..."

  "Only what was necessary. But don't worry, I trust the guy." She patted Lucy's arm. "He's totally simpatico."

  "If you say so. Dan. I can live with that. You guys have a DVD player?"

  "Yeah. What, you wanna rent a movie?"

  "Not exactly," Lucy said.

  They got off the freeway and headed up to Robin's place on Queen Anne. Her house canted off the west side of the hill, with a view of the Sound and the Olympics. They stopped on the street and the gate opened to reveal a bearded, fortyish guy in khakis and a blue jean shirt talking on a cell phone. Ellen opened the back door and Claud took off up the street. Lucy jumped out and whistled. Down the block he skidded to a halt, swung around, and headed back. The guy pocketed the phone. "Hi," he said, hand extended. "You must be Lucy. I'm Dan. Dan Wainwright. Robin's told me all about you."

  "Hi," Lucy said. "I'm sure you've heard an earful," she smiled as they shook hands.

  "Things are exciting these days, eh?" he said, and turned to Ellen. "Hi, Ellen. I'm Dan. How ya doin'?" Lucy liked his offhand manner.

  "OK," she said.

  "Who was that on the phone?" Robin asked as they unloaded the car.

  "Zack up on San Juan. Wants me to guide a trip this week. Babe, you know I haven't hammered a nail in three weeks. We could use the money, honey. You guys wanna go kayaking for a few days? Make yourselves scarce?"

  God it was tempting, to disappear. "I don't think so," said Lucy. "We've got some stuff to deal with."

  "Yeah right," Dan said. "I guess you do at that." They entered the yard and descended a shady wooden staircase to the house. "Come on in," Dan said at the door, and they followed him into the living room, wood-floored and sparsely furnished in Robin's minimalist style. At the other end of the room the sun setting over the Olympics filled a picture window. "Me and Rob set up the office as guest bedroom. You guys'll have to share a fold-out bed, but..."