Suspicion of Guilt

by Tracey V. Bateman

  “You cold?” he asked.

  Nervous laughter bubbled from Denni. “In this stuffy room? I don’t think so.”

  “My gift is in the truck. Will you come outside with me?”

  “You shouldn’t have gotten me a gift, Reece.”

  “Only a creep goes to a birthday party without a gift.”

  “You could never be a creep.” The words left her before she thought.

  Reece’s eyes grew dark with emotion. He slipped his arm around her, resting his palm against the small of her back. “Come on.”

  Warmth spread out from his fingers, across her back and Denni could no more have refused his simple request than she could have woven gold from her hair.

  Once outside, in the glow of the porch light, Reece waved her toward the swing. “I’ll be right back.”

  Denni exhaled a breath as she sat in the coolness of the summer night. A gentle breeze sang through the leaves and she could have sworn a love song was being composed on her behalf.

  “Here you go.”

  She smiled at Reece and took the gift he held out. He dropped into the swing next to her. Denni could feel his tension as she slowly removed the gorgeous purple ribbon and tore into the paper. A soft gasp escaped her and quick tears sprang to her eyes. “Oh, Reece.” In a beautiful cherrywood frame was an eight-by-ten photograph of Denni and her mother. One that had nearly been destroyed in the flooded basement. Lovingly, she fingered the edges of the picture frame.

  “You like it?” he whispered.

  “How can you even ask?” She stared at him. “How did you do this?”

  “I sent it away to a shop in Kansas City that restores old photos. I just happened to get it back last week and knew it would make a perfect birthday gift.”

  “It does,” she said. “It’s the most perfect gift I’ve ever received.” Without even considering the implications, she moved close and wrapped her arms around his neck, she pressed her mouth close to his ear. “Thank you, Reece. From the bottom of my heart.”

  She felt his quick intake of breath and his fingers pressed against her back. She pulled away, inches from his face. He squinted and fixed her with his gaze, searching.

  Denni smiled and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, then slipped out of his grasp before he could take it further. Nothing had changed. Not her feelings, and not the aching reality that he didn’t share her faith.

  The door opened and Keri poked her head out. “All right, birthday girl, the candles are all lit. Get in here before someone calls the fire department.”

  “Denni is mocking you.” Mother’s voice hissed in her ear. And the old hag knew she couldn’t say anything back. The whole room would hear. She glared at Mother, but that didn’t shut her up. “Look at her. She’s having a good time, isn’t she?”

  Denni was smiling, especially at the detective.

  Anger burned.

  “Do you think Denni deserves to have a good time?”

  No, no she didn’t deserve it. Not at all.

  “When? When will you make her pay?”

  “Patience, Mother,” she whispered, then glanced about to be sure no one had heard her.

  A ring of laughter rose up from the crowd in the room. She must have missed the joke. Now everyone was filing out of the room toward the kitchen. Everyone but Denni. Denni was headed her way.

  She gritted her teeth as Denni walked by and winked, as though everything were fine between them. As though they were best friends. What kind of reality did Denni Mahoney live in?

  “What are you doing all by yourself in a corner? Go mingle.” Denni grinned. She had never seen Denni so happy. But all that was about to change.

  “Ask her where she’s going,” Mother commanded in her ear.

  “Where are you going, Denni?”

  “Down to the laundry room to get a case of pop from the shelf. This is one thirsty bunch.”

  Silent glee flowed through her. Her opportunity. She’d waited like a trooper through the opening of the gifts, the blowing out of the candles. And now, her patience was about to pay off. Because Denni was going down to the basement. And basements were the perfect places to get rid of unwanted things. And people. And this was it. She’d waited long enough.

  Watching Denni leave the room, her heart began to pound. Finally. Finally, Denni was going to get what she deserved.

  She started to follow her.

  “Wait!”

  “What, Mother?”

  “You can’t just follow her. What if someone is watching?”

  That was true. She’d detour through the kitchen.

  Her palms dampened in anticipation and she slowly made her way toward the kitchen. Only Ruth stood in the room, her hands plunged into a sinkful of sudsy water.

  This was getting better and better.

  “Where is everyone?” Mother asked.

  “Where is everyone?” she repeated to Ruth.

  “Oh, hi, sweetie. You know they all had to go out and take a look at the new fence.”

  “I see. Maybe I’ll join them.”

  “You do that, honey.”

  With a cautious glance around, she slipped toward the basement. No one was in sight as she slowly opened the basement door and closed it behind her. Her hand touched the light switch on the wall at the top of the stairs and pressed it down. Darkness overwhelmed the room. She pulled her flashlight from her waistband and switched it on. Slowly she descended the stairs.

  A shadow that could only be Denni, poked her head out of the laundry room at the bottom of the stairs. She squinted against the light shining in her eyes. “Who is it? Wh-what are you doing?”

  Oh, no. She wasn’t about to speak and give herself away. Before Denni could react, she snatched the crescent wrench from the table next to the laundry-room door. She knew what she had to do. Her arm came up, just as Denni’s eyes went wide with horror.

  Chapter Eighteen

  A scream tore at Denni’s throat, but no sound escaped. The sickening thud of something smashing against her skull exploded in her head, along with pain such as she’d never known.

  The ground rose up to meet her. Blackness invaded her world. As if in a dream, she felt fingers wrap around her ankles and pull her…where? Her body wouldn’t obey her commands. Fight. Scream. Fight. Scream. Dear God, why can’t I move? Am I dying?

  She heard footsteps, then someone stepped over her. A door closed…Then she smelled gas. Tears filled her eyes. She was going to die. And she’d never told Reece she loved him. She would never know the joy of watching him surrender his heart to Jesus.

  Send someone to him, Lord. Please let me see him in Heaven some day.

  General consensus was that the addition to the fence looked a little odd, but that it worked and that was what mattered most. Reece accepted the praise and the criticism and figured as long as Buffy stayed in her own back yard he had successfully met his objective.

  Reece smelled the gas as soon as he came inside the house. He glanced at Ruth, who was wiping up the counter.

  “Where’s the gas smell coming from, Ruth?”

  “What do you mean? I don’t smell any…Oh, yes I do. Mercy! I didn’t even notice.”

  He turned and blocked the entrance. “Stay outside. Gas is leaking from somewhere. I’m going to check it out.” He glanced at Ruth. “You join Mac and the others outside, all right?”

  “Where’s Denni?”

  “I don’t know. Last I saw her she was headed down to the basement to get another case of pop. But come to think of it, she should have been back by now.”

  How long did it take to get a case of soda? Reece headed toward the basement steps. The smell of gas stung his nose, becoming stronger the closer he got to the basement. When he opened the door, it was almost overwhelming.

  Without looking back, he plunged into the darkness of the basement. “Denni!”

  “Reece?” Raven called from upstairs, shining a flashlight down the stairs. “What’s going on? I smell gas.”

 
“Bring me that flashlight.”

  An instant later she handed it to him.

  “Where’s the light switch?” Reece called.

  “Right here, I got it.”

  Immediately the darkness fled. He looked around. There was no sign of Denni. “Denni!”

  No answer.

  Raven joined him. “Here. The door to the laundry room is locked from the inside.” She pounded on the door. “Denni! Denn! Open up!”

  “Move out of the way,” Reece ordered. He raised his foot high and kicked with as much force as he possessed. The door smashed open.

  Oh, God, please let her be okay, he prayed at the sight of the woman he loved laid out facedown on the cold concrete.

  Raven covered her mouth as a cough rose from within her chest. “That smell is bad. I’m feeling a little disoriented. We have to get her out of here now. She’s already been down here long enough that it’s dangerous.”

  Reece knelt and gathered Denni in his arms. “I’ll get you out of here, sweetheart.” He cradled her head in his hand as he carried her up the steps. He was mildly aware that his palm had become sticky with what could only be fresh blood. This was no accident. Whoever did this hadn’t meant for Denni to leave that laundry room alive.

  Please, please God. Don’t let her die.

  Denni heard the sound of her own moan as she slowly approached consciousness. Panic lit a fire in her stomach. Something was over her face! Were they trying to suffocate her?

  “It’s all right, Denn.” The sound of Raven’s voice sent a wave of relief over her. “It’s only an oxygen mask on your face. You’re being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Somebody up there must think you’re pretty special, because if you had been in that room five more minutes, you’d most likely be dead or brain-damaged at the very least.”

  Denni nodded. She remembered praying at the very end. Praying for Reece. Thank you for sparing my life, Lord.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw the door open. Raven looked toward the creaking.

  “Is she awake?”

  Denni’s heart jumped at the sound of Reece’s voice.

  Raven glanced back down, squeezed her hand, and winked. “Someone down here thinks you’re pretty special too. He kicked down the door and carried you out of that room.” She gave her a broad wink. “Sounds like a man in love. Know what I mean?”

  Denni gave a weary nod. She was too tired to argue. In a flash, Raven moved away and Reece stood over her. He covered her hand, his warmth chasing away the cold from her fingers. “The doctor says you’re going to be all right.”

  “Thanks to you,” she said, her voice muffled through the mask.

  He nodded, acknowledging the truth of what he’d done, but the tenderness in his eyes held no pride or ego. Just a calm acceptance. “Can you remember who hit you?”

  Denni closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to focus. All she remembered was a woman’s form. Something coming toward her head, falling, being dragged by her ankles. Her shirt had hiked up and the concrete on her stomach had been uncomfortably cold.

  She opened her eyes and looked into his. The gentle concern reflected in his gaze melted her heart. Reece was such a good man. If only He could accept God’s love for him…

  “Sorry. I can’t remember any more, and I didn’t get a look at the person anyway.” Frustrated, she pulled the mask from her face. “I can’t talk with this thing on.”

  Reece slowly moved her hand away and replaced the mask. “Then we’ll wait until you can talk. Don’t take that off until the doctor gives you the all-clear. Understand?”

  His gentle reprimand felt more like a request and Denni couldn’t refuse. She nodded.

  “Just let me talk,” Reece said softly.

  He raised her hand to his lips and gently pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Then he lifted her hand to his cheek until she could feel the warm scratchy growth beneath her palm.

  “Reece,” she whispered into the mask.

  He brushed the top of her nose with his index finger. “No talking,” he said. “We had a deal. I want to tell you something.”

  Denni nodded.

  “I know that you can’t be with me unless I believe in God like you do.” He beamed at her. “Well, I’m going to go to church with you.”

  Oh, Reece. That’s not it. Her heart cried out. God, show him that it’s not about pleasing me or going to church. It’s about knowing You.

  She relaxed with his next words. “I can’t promise to understand everything the preacher says or even agree with what I do understand. If a woman with your intelligence believes so strongly in God, there must be something to it.”

  Denni danced on the inside. Reece was coming around. God was drawing him. It wouldn’t be long now until he made that decision about Jesus. The decision that would change his life forever.

  Apparently oblivious to her line of thinking, Reece continued. “The—um the doctor said it’s amazing you made it. The gas line was cut and you were lying right in front of it. If you hadn’t somehow turned your face away, you’d be dead. As it is, the doctor is shocked that you’re doing as well as you are. The levels of gas were high, but not anywhere near the highest levels. Only God could have saved you.”

  Denni’s heart thrilled at the admission coming from his lips.

  The door opened again and Ruth and Mac bustled into the room. Reece released Denni’s hand and stepped back. She followed his movement with her eyes. With a wink and a smile, he promised her that everything would be all right.

  Reece leaned against the wall watching Mac and Ruth fuss over Denni. The nurse had told them only two visitors allowed at a time, but being a cop had its advantages. The petite little brunette, who couldn’t have been more than a year or two out of nursing school, reluctantly agreed that he could stay, as long as he promised not to interfere with the patient’s treatment.

  Denni motioned to Ruth, making the gesture of a person writing. “Paper? You want a pen and paper?” The volume of Ruth’s voice rose as though Denni were deaf. Reece chuckled.

  Ruth rummaged through her purse and produced the items Denni had requested.

  Mac interpreted. “Are the girls okay?”

  “Yeah. Everyone in the house was given a blood test, but you’re the only one who needed treatment.”

  “Where is everyone staying tonight?”

  “Oh, I sprang for a few rooms at the Holiday Inn. Keri’s boys are having fun playing in the swimming pool.”

  Relief flooded Denni’s face. Then she gave the tiniest hint of a sad smile and began to write again. “Did I miss God’s will for my life?”

  “What do you mean, honey?” Ruth asked.

  “Was this all an ego thing? My way of making myself feel better about mom dying when I was just about the same age as these girls? What if my motives for opening Mahoney House were all wrong?”

  Mac took his daughter’s hand. “Only God knows what is in a person’s heart. The heart has the ability to deceive us.”

  Denni scrawled again. “So I could be wrong about this being my purpose.”

  “Everyone was and is made for a reason. God had a plan in mind for you while you were still in your mother’s womb. Remember, there are no accidents. The Bible says so. Finding that purpose is always the tricky thing. But honey. Just because there’s a struggle doesn’t mean God isn’t in control.”

  “And just look,” Ruth said, casting a smile at Reece. “He sent you a protector and a friend. Just imagine where you would be through all these bad incidents if this man hadn’t been there for you.”

  A jolt shot through Reece. And a seed of wonder took root. He’d have to ask Mac to show him the verse in the Bible. Was it true that he wasn’t an accident? Even if his parents thought he was…God had fooled them and created him for a good reason. He stood a little taller. Maybe his purpose was to look out for Denni. Frankly, Reece couldn’t think of a better calling.

  Denni felt like shouting for joy when the doctor pronounced her oxygen
levels stable enough for her to leave the hospital. After a full twenty-four hours lying abed, she was ready to hit the road. Reece and Cate were waiting for her, so, once she’d dressed, she went in search of the pair. She saw them bent over a book in the waiting room. “What’s going on, you two?”

  Cate glanced up, and her red-rimmed eyes filled Denni with alarm. “Hey, are you okay? It’s not the baby is it?”

  She shook her head. “No. It’s something Reece just showed me. In the Bible.”

  “The Bible?” Denni blinked in surprise.

  “Yeah,” Reece said. “It was just sitting here on the table. Think I shouldn’t have picked it up?”

  Denni laughed. “No. I think they probably wish a lot more people would pick it up.” Curiosity nipped her. “What are you so intent on?”

  “Read it to her, please, Reece?” Cate glanced up to meet Denni’s gaze. “It’s beautiful, Denni.”

  Reece cleared his throat and glanced uncertainly at Denni. “Go ahead,” she urged.

  “Well, it says…You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

  He stopped reading and swallowed hard, emotion flickering over his features. “She—uh…” he said jerking a thumb toward Cate, who had teared up once more.

  He passed the girl a tissue. “She just needed a little pep talk.”

  Cate wiped her nose and looked at Denni. “Being at the hospital and having all the nurses think I’m here because I’m in labor just made it more real to me that in a few days, I’m going to be having this baby.”

  “That’s true.” Denni smiled her encouragement.

  “Reece was the only one around, and I just started talking and crying.” She giggled. “Poor guy.”