Ties That Bind

by Anne Patrick

  "If you don't have any plans this evening, I'll take you out to dinner."

  "I'd like that."

  *****

  Jo hesitated on the porch, filled with both fear and anxiety at the long awaited reunion. She wondered what her mother's reaction would be when she saw her prodigal daughter. Would she welcome her with open arms, quick to erase two years of silence, or would the visit be a rerun of the nightmare reunions she'd had with her brother?

  Finally gathering her nerve, she rapped on the door and waited. It seemed an eternity before the sixty-year-old woman answered.

  "Hi, Mom," Jo greeted her mother from the other side of the screen door.

  "I was wondering if you were going to get the nerve to come and see me," Liz McDaniels spoke as she held the door open.

  Jo thought she looked tired, the loss of her father seemingly taken a toll on her. Jo should have been here for her. She should have swallowed her stupid pride and come long before now. "Sorry, I've been meaning to stop by."

  "I just imagine you've had your hands full."

  Jo swallowed hard and entered the house. She'd been going over this moment in her mind for weeks, anticipating the long overdue visit with her mother. Now that she was here, she wasn't sure what to expect. So much had transpired in the past two years Jo didn't know where to begin to mend the damage.

  As she followed her mother into the living room, Jo noticed that her childhood home hadn't changed, except for some new carpet and the addition of a new sofa and television.

  "I read your profile in this morning's paper. If I wasn't scared before, I am now."

  "The killer only targets professional women in their mid to late thirties."

  "I suppose that leaves me out then, age wise at least." Liz motioned to the sofa.

  Jo waited for her mother to be seated and then joined her. "We're making good progress. Hopefully, we'll have him in custody before he has the chance to kill again."

  "Would you like some coffee?" Liz asked. "Have you had breakfast?"

  "Sheriff Garrett had me over earlier for bacon and eggs."

  Liz folded her hands in her lap. "I hear you and the sheriff have been seeing quite a lot of one another." The smile that accompanied her query indicated her approval.

  "We've gone out a few times. He's a good man and a fine cop."

  "I have Bailey in one of my classes. She's a great kid."

  "She told me, and yes, she is a great kid."

  "Did you get my message I left for you?"

  Jo nodded. "I meant to return your call, but I was in the middle of working on the profile."

  "What you do; is it very dangerous?"

  Jo hesitated. It was the first time her mother had ever inquired about her work. Before her father's death they'd communicated by phone many times since her departure ten years ago, but not once had she asked about what her work entailed.

  "I usually work in the background, evaluating the crime scene and evidence, forming an analysis of what took place between the victim and perpetrator. I'm rarely in any danger."

  "But you have a gun."

  Jo followed her gaze to the opening of Jo's blazer where her 9mm rested against her right side. "I'm required to carry one, and have been trained just like any other federal agent."

  "Of course you have," Liz said. "It's just difficult seeing my little girl with a gun strapped to her side."

  To ease her discomfort, Jo buttoned up her blazer. "That better?"

  Liz sighed. "This is ridiculous, Jo. I feel as if we're strangers."

  "We are, Mom. I mean aside from a few phone calls over the years, you know very little about me."

  "It was your choice to leave here, Jo. No one forced you to go."

  "And my punishment was to be shut off from my family?"

  Liz leaned back, crossing her legs. Running her right hand along the seam of the gray dress slacks, she glanced up at Jo, her expression guarded. "After your father came to his senses, you know you were welcomed anytime."

  "Yeah…well after no communication, it didn't much matter one way or the other."

  When her mother offered no reply, Jo stood and walked to the fireplace where family photos were posed on the mantel. One of her father, dressed in his uniform with Jo at his side, holding his hand, struck a familiar cord. She'd been ten years old when the picture was taken, and the apple of her daddy's eyes. She, in turn, had worshiped the man. He'd been her hero, the one that sparked her desire to someday be in law enforcement.

  Jo turned back to her mother; "Look, I didn't come here today to fight with you about the past."

  "Then why did you come here, Jo?"

  "Because you asked me to…and because I felt I owed you an apology for not being here for you after dad died."

  Liz stood, closing the distance between them. She took Jo's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "If I'd needed you, I would have called, and you would have come."

  Jo smiled, tears forming in her eyes, and when her mother took her into her arms, Jo gave no resistance. She thought of the story she'd read in the Bible last night, the one Austin had suggested. She had a sense of the son's relief at having been welcomed back, the feeling of forgiveness. Now it was her turn. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Mom. I never meant to."

  Liz stepped back but continued to hold Jo's hands. "I know that. You've always been my strong one, Jo, always so independent and strong-willed. It seemed you never needed anyone, not even when you were little."

  Jo grinned.

  "I can remember when you were eleven and had the chicken pox. You were miserable, yet you wouldn't let me comfort you. Sometimes I wish I were that lucky, not to need anyone."

  Perhaps her description had been true at one time, but not anymore she realized. As of lately, she'd found herself almost dependent on Austin and his constant support, and for the first time in her life, she realized she was growing tired of living a nomadic lifestyle. She needed to find a balance in her life, not just for herself, but for those she loved.

  "You've always been there for me whether I needed you or not, Mom, and I'm sorry I haven't done the same. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you at Dad's funeral."

  "I know. They needed you more."

  "I don't expect you to understand."

  "Oh, but honey I do understand. I lived with a cop for forty-three years; if there's anything I understand about you, it's your dedication to your work and the people that rely on you."

  Surprised at her admission, Jo chuckled. "Then why have we gone two years without speaking? At least before, there was the occasional phone call."

  "Because, like you, I'm stubborn," Liz said and gave Jo's hands another squeeze. "You got your passion for life from your father. Your stubborn streak came from me."

  Jo's smile widened. "Dad wasn't exactly pliant."

  "Your father was a hard man to live with sometimes, but he was so proud of you, Jo. You should have heard the way he carried on about you with the boys down at the station."

  "If he was so proud of me, Mom, then why didn't he pick up the phone and tell me so?"

  "I suspect for the same reasons you and I haven't spoken in two years—fear and pride."

  Jo knew all about that. It had taken every ounce of her courage to come here today. "You and Dad both knew I'd wanted to be in law enforcement since I was eight-years-old and he took me on my first ride in a patrol car. I thought you would be happy with my decision to pursue my dreams."

  "The lack of support was more my fault than your father's. There wasn't a day that went by when your father walked out the door that I didn't worry he wouldn't come home. We wanted so much more for you, Jo."

  "Like my own medical practice, a husband, and a house full of children. That's not me, Mom. I would have never been happy with the white picket fence and swing-set in the backyard."

  "But don't you get lonely, honey?"

  She immediately thought of Austin, and the time they'd spent apart while she was working on her profile. No one had ever had that kind
of effect on her. "Sometimes," she finally answered, "but I'm usually too busy to think about it."

  "You won't always have your career, Jo. What then?"

  "Then I'll move into one of those retirement villages, find me a rich man, buy an RV and see the country from the ground instead of the air."

  "I give up," Liz said and they both laughed.

  Jo turned loose of her mother's hand. "How about that cup of coffee?" she suggested and led the way into the kitchen.

  Several minutes later, Liz sat at the table while Jo poured them two cups of freshly brewed coffee. Then joining her mother, Jo met her tired expression. "Have you talked to Billy lately?" she asked, recalling the other reason for her visit.

  "Not for a few days. He said the two of you had spoken, but that you weren't very receptive to him."

  "Only because he was on his big brother kick. I'm not the delinquent teenager anymore. I don't need a lecture every time we run into each other."

  "He's probably just worried about you, Jo. I have a feeling you weren't being completely honest with me earlier, that your job does present a danger from time to time."

  "Not often, and besides, I'm not the one he should be worried about."

  "What do you mean?"

  Not wanting to worry her mother she kept her concerns to herself. "He just didn't seem himself."

  "He seemed fine the last time we talked, other than being pretty upset with you."

  "Does Mariah work?" she asked, thinking she might pay her and the kids a visit as well.

  "No. She helps out at church a couple of days a week, but I don't think she gets paid for it."

  "I had a nice visit with her at Slim's cookout. I can't believe how much the kids have grown."

  "Ashley is going to be a handful when she gets older I'm afraid."

  Recalling the comparison her sister-in-law had made of Jo and the little girl, she smiled. "Yeah I suspect she will be." Jo then stood. "I've still got a few errands to run this morning, but if you're not doing anything later, I'd like to take you to lunch?"

  "That'd be nice, Jo, but aren't you working today?"

  "No, I took the day off. Around noon okay?"

  "That'd be fine." Liz stood and walked her to the door. "I'm glad you came by today."

  "I am too, Mom," she said and gave her a hug.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Jo drove across town to Billy's house. A silver mini-van sat parked in the driveway of the modest one-story brick house. Figuring the coast was clear and she wouldn't have to worry about another run-in with her brother, she parked in the street and walked up the drive to the front porch.

  "We're back here, Jo," her sister-in-law called out.

  Jo followed her voice to the fenced backyard.

  "I thought I heard someone pull in. The kids wanted to go for a swim today and I thought we'd better do it before I have to go shopping this afternoon." Mariah held the iron-gate open for Jo to enter.

  Jo followed her to a picnic table on the brick patio, only a few feet away from the above ground pool. "You don't seem very surprised to see me."

  "I just got off the phone with your mom. She said you might stop by."

  "Called to warn you, did she?"

  "Don't be ridiculous. I'm glad you're here, and I haven't heard your mom sound that happy in a long time."

  "Well, you might not be so glad of my visit once you learn the reason I stopped by."

  "It's about Billy." She reached for a pitcher of lemonade and poured two glasses, handing one of them to Jo.

  Jo accepted it with a smile. "What's up with him, Mariah? I don't remember him being this agitated, and I think it's more than my presence here that's bothering him."

  "You're right, he hasn't been himself for quite a while, but to be honest with you, I don't know why. I know he took your father's passing harder than he let on, but it's been two years."

  "He and Dad were never really that close, maybe he regrets that now," Jo offered for lack of any other explanation.

  "I'm sure he does, which explains why he resents you so much. He knows that there was always a special bond between you and your father, or there was until you left."

  Jo didn't respond. Instead she turned her attention to the pool where Ashley and Bryce were having a water fight with plastic squirt guns. Their screams and giggles spurred another smile.

  "I think a lot of it is he's just trying to do too much," Mariah said, stealing Jo's attention away from the children.

  "How so?"

  "I know he's been doing a lot for your mom. He painted the house for her, and he's been helping with the garden. Not that she's asked him to, mind you. He sees something that needs to be done, he just does it. Doesn't even bother to ask her. It wasn't but a few weeks ago that she called over here and pleaded with me to keep him home for the weekend just so she could get some peace and quiet."

  Jo laughed. Like her, her mother was independent, a trait that Jo was glad she had inherited. "How is he around home?"

  "Since he took that job in Portland, he hasn't been home as much as he used to be. I know he tries to spend as much time as he can with us, though."

  "At Slim's party, you mentioned money being tight, but this time of the year is usually one of the busiest for construction work."

  "He hasn't confided in me about it, but his business has been in trouble for the last year or so. He's had trouble keeping good help, and I don't think he's had the time to get out and drum up new jobs. Hopefully, the one he's working on now will help to pull him out of the slump."

  "Is there anything I can do to help?" Jo offered.

  "I don't see how, and if there were, I doubt he'd accept it. He's a very proud man, Jo."

  Jo was about to comment that her brother was more like their father than he realized when her cell phone rang. "Jo…it's Walt. I've been trying to raise someone on the radios, but I'm not reaching anyone. Do you guys need anymore help out there?"

  Jo stood and excused herself, stepping out of earshot of her sister-in-law. "Out where? What's happened, Walt?"

  "You're not at the scene?"

  "No. I'm at Mariah's. What scene? Has there been another murder?"

  "Yeah, I'd just assumed you'd been called."

  "Is the sheriff on the scene?" she asked, figuring he hadn't called because he knew she had planned on spending time with her mom today.

  "As far as I know."

  "Will you give me the location?"

  "Six and a half miles north on Monroe Road."

  "Thanks." Jo clicked her phone off and rejoined Mariah. "I'm sorry, but I've got to go."

  "Oh…sure…well I'm glad you stopped by."

  "I'll stop by again before I head back home," she promised. Then remembering her lunch date with her mother, she asked, "Would you do me a favor and call Mom and tell her I can't make lunch, that I'll call her later?"

  "Sure."

  "Bye, Aunt Jo," Ashley called out, prompting Jo to turn and wave to her niece and nephew on her way out the gate.

  *****

  Much to Jo's surprise, there was only one patrol car parked at the side of the road when she arrived at the scene. She was even more surprised to find Slim posted at the edge of the woods like a guard dog, his stance almost intimidating with his legs parted and his arms folded across the width of his chest.

  "Hey, Slim," she greeted, "hear we have another one?"

  "Afraid so. Austin called the ER team, they're on their way."

  "He already head back to town?"

  "Yeah, a little while ago."

  Jo started toward the taped off area, but Slim quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Sorry, Jo, I've strict orders not to let anyone down there."

  "I'm sure the sheriff wasn't referring to me."

  "He specified you particularly. Sorry, Jo."

  "First no one calls me to report the discovery and now I'm being denied access to the dump site, what's going on here, Slim?"

  "I don't know, Jo, all I know is
I can't let you down there. Not unless the sheriff okay's it himself."

  Jo thought of her conversation with Austin earlier that morning, how upset he'd seemed that she had struck out on her own. Then going back further she remembered him mentioning having spoken to her supervisor, and the discussion they'd had concerning her ability. She wondered if Isaac had warned Austin to keep her away from the sites so she wouldn't be able to bond further with the killer.

  Giving him her best smile, she attempted to persuade Slim to go against his orders. "Come on, Slim, no one will ever know I was even down there. I promise."

  "Look, Jo, I know you're only wanting to do your job, but for some reason Austin doesn't want you down there, and nothing short of you pulling that gun on me is going to allow that to happen. I've eighteen months till I retire and my pension is what's going to support the Mrs. and me, plus allow us a two-week vacation in Florida every year."

  "You're a stubborn old man, you know that?"

  "So I've been told. Now go on and get out of here."

  *****

  Jo stormed into the sheriff's office and right past a handful of deputies en route to Austin's office. Not even bothering to knock, she threw open the door, meeting the startled expressions of Austin and Deputy Pendergrass. "Can I speak with you, please?" her request sounding more like a demand.

  "That'll be all," Austin said, looking at his deputy. "You might want to close the door on your way out," he added, his eyes shifting to Jo. "Now what can I do for you?"

  "What is going on here?"

  "What do you mean?"

  His aloofness only heightened her anger. "You know what I'm talking about. Why am I being denied access to the scene?"

  "No one's allowed access. I've called the Salt Lake City ER team and they're on the way."

  "So I can see it once they're done?"

  "We should have some photos by then."

  "I don't want to look at photos. I want access to the dumpsite."

  "That's not gonna happen."

  "I need to see the dumpsite, Austin. He's getting closer to his goal. I need access so I can try and figure out what his next move will be."