Too Many Suspects

by E B Corbin

  Finally Leonard ended their conversation with, “I’d better let Snukie and the others get these vittles out there before we look like pikers with the food.”

  Roxy nodded and grabbed her daughter by the elbow, leading her into the office.

  “You handle this place so well,” Roxanne said thinking about her mother’s remarkable people skills. Her close relationship with the staff probably had a lot to do with the smooth running of the diner.

  Instead of answering, Roxy focused on her surroundings. Her eyes swept over the small space taking in every detail. She wore a slight grin when she turned to her daughter. “I see not much has changed.”

  “Well, I’m not here very often,” Roxanne said. “Snukie takes care of all the office work. Since I seem to do nothing but muck things up when I’m around, I stay away as much as I can.”

  “I think you’re being too hard on yourself,” Roxy said.

  Roxanne shook her head. “I open my mouth and something stupid comes out. I don’t even know anyone’s last name.”

  “Don’t you do the payroll?”

  “No, I hired a service for it. Snukie reports the hours to them every week.” Roxanne bit her lip in embarrassment. “I’m just not cut out for this.”

  “You’ll get the hang of it,” Roxy said. “I thought about using a payroll service. Just never got around to it. It took me several years and a lot of mistakes before things came together for me. You’ve only been here two months.”

  Roxanne stared at her for a moment before voicing the question that had been on her mind. “Does that mean you don’t intend to stay around and take over?”

  Her mother laughed. “What on earth makes you think that? I’m out of here as soon as I find that money.”

  Roxanne didn’t know whether to be relieved or concerned. If Roxy planned to leave again, what authority would Roxanne have over the diner and the farm? Could she do what she wanted? But then, she didn’t even know what that was.

  Roxy noted her confusion. “Did you think I was going to move back permanently and take over?”

  She could only nod.

  “Don’t be silly. The trust still stands. You’re in charge, just like if I really were dead.”

  “The IRS may have something to say about that,” Roxanne said.

  “Oh, poop on the IRS! I’m sure you’ll see that any taxes are paid.” Roxy scrutinized the room one more time then settled on the tattered leather chair in front of the desk. She gestured to the seat behind the desk. “Have a seat. We need to discuss what Conor and Niall came up with in Ohio.”

  - 2 -

  Roxanne slid into the chair behind the desk and stretched her legs. In this closed space, separate from the crowded diner, she could finally collect her thoughts. The events of the past few days felt surreal. Her life had turned into a fast-paced film where something dark lurked around every corner; she needed to find the projector and shut it down.

  “Did you hear what I said?” Roxy angled herself in her daughter’s direct line of vision. “Liam’s old friend in Youngstown just gave us a lead.”

  “I thought he didn’t know where the money was,” Roxanne said. The last she’d heard, Liam had brought the stash across the Atlantic long before he died but no one knew what he did with it.

  With a satisfied look on her face, her mother said, “Right. But he told Conor and Niall that someone might. Jeanette Wilson.”

  “Jeanette Wilson?” The name sounded vaguely familiar. She struggled to place it before making the connection. Tom O’Malley had mentioned a girlfriend of Liam’s when she went to see him with Chester and Callahan. “Are you planning to talk to her?”

  “Of course. Seems to me if anyone would know what Liam did, it would be his girlfriend,” Roxy said.

  Tom’s words came back to Roxanne. He’d said that Jeanette was an alcoholic with frequent memory lapses and blackouts. “I don’t know. Her name was mentioned before but neither Callahan nor Chester seemed to think it was worth following up.”

  Roxy gave her daughter a crosswise look. “Really? Why is that?”

  “Because she has trouble with booze,” Roxanne said. “Serious trouble. I doubt if she remembers anything.”

  “From what I learned, she stopped drinking about five years ago,” Roxy said. “It’s certainly worth a shot.”

  “Do you want me or Callahan to go with you?”

  “No need until we find out what she knows.” She shrugged. “Might be nothing.”

  “Do you have any other ideas about where to look? According to Tom O’Malley, it’s most likely to be around the cabin somewhere. Liam couldn’t have traveled far without a car.”

  “Jeanette had wheels. I still think it’s worth talking to her.”

  Roxanne nodded. “When are you going?”

  “As soon as we can get out of here today. Conor wanted to go directly to her place but I convinced him to stop here first. I didn’t want Tom and Susan to think I took Chester’s death lightly.” Roxy dropped her gaze to the floor and paused for a moment. “I don’t and I never will.”

  “Neither will I.” Roxanne sighed.

  Roxy grabbed the desk top to help her stand and tried to hide the small grimace of pain from her daughter.

  “Your back is bothering you,” Roxanne said. “Why don’t you let it go until tomorrow? I’m sure Jeanette will still be around.”

  “Can’t. I want to approach her with both Conor and Niall. Niall is leaving tonight. He’s taking his brother’s body home to Carrigaholt for burial and doesn’t know if he can return. His ma’s taking it hard.”

  “Can’t blame her,” Roxanne said. “Dying of some disease or old age is bad enough, but to get blown up is horrid.”

  A light tap at the office door got Roxy’s attention. In two steps she opened the door to the kitchen.

  Callahan’s sister, Pam, looked apologetic as she entered the small room. “Sorry, I hate to interrupt, but my Mom and Dad are leaving soon. I thought you might want to say good-bye.”

  “Already?” Roxy asked. “I haven’t had much time to visit with them. How long are they staying in town?”

  “We’re all leaving tomorrow. Paul and I have to back at work on Monday, and Mom and Dad’s flight leaves early Tuesday morning.”

  “I’m sorry you can’t stay longer,” Roxanne said coming around from her position behind the desk to join in the conversation.

  “They need to get back for some embassy function in Quito on Wednesday,” Pamela said with a quick lift of her shoulders. “Besides, Mom finds it hard dealing with the snow and temperature. They’ve been near the equator for almost fifteen years. Their blood has thinned, I’m sure.”

  “I’ll try to catch them before they leave,” Roxy gave the woman a hug before slipping out the door.

  When Pam made no attempt to follow, Roxanne grew uneasy. Was Pam going to use this private moment to berate her for causing Chester’s death? She wouldn’t blame her if she did.

  Instead, Callahan’s sister gave her a tentative smile and said, “Can we talk a minute?”

  “Sure, have a seat.” Roxanne gestured to the chair Roxy had just vacated and waited for her to begin.

  “This may sound like none of my business, but I’d like to know your intentions with my brother,” Pamela said.

  The unexpected request struck Roxanne mute. She raised her hands palms out, and managed to mutter, “Uh… my intentions?”

  “Yeah, we’re thrilled that John has finally expressed an interest in someone again but we’re worried you don’t understand the implications.”

  “I’m afraid you’ve lost me,” Roxanne said. “John and I are not… serious. At least I don’t think so.”

  “You’re not even considering it?”

  “Well, I must admit I like him a lot, but we’ve never discussed our relationship in terms of the
future.” Roxanne felt uncomfortable talking about her feelings for Callahan with his sister. Where was she going with this?

  Pam stared at her hands for a second, then lifted her eyes to Roxanne. “Do you know about Elle?”

  Who was this Elle person? Was Pam trying to let her down easy? If her brother wanted Roxanne to know something about his past, surely he would have told her. But she needed to hear more about this woman and her connection to Callahan. Finally, Roxanne said, “No, I don’t think he ever mentioned her. Who is she?”

  “His fiancée,” Pam said.

  Roxanne’s lungs deflated and she felt her heart skip a beat. “He’s engaged?”

  “He was almost engaged. Elle’s dead.”

  “Oh.” Not knowing how to respond, Roxanne fidgeted in her chair.

  Pam gave her an understanding smile. “I’m telling you because he’s been through a lot of heartbreak and pain. We don’t want to see him hurt again.”

  “Of course not,” Roxanne said. She wished this conversation would end. Nothing Callahan had done or said ever led her to believe he was serious about their relationship. She had to admit, at least to herself, that there were times she longed to hear him say he wanted something more with her.

  She’d attempted to take it a step further when they got together after Chester’s murder and he’d been more than willing. Unfortunately, they were interrupted when the sheriff had a heart attack and the prisoners escaped.

  “What I’m going to tell you needs to remain between the two of us. No one else can ever hear of it.” Pam picked at a hangnail then looked up at Roxanne. “If John found out…”

  “I won’t say anything,” Roxanne said. She felt her muscles tense as she waited to learn some deep, dark secret she wasn’t sure she even wanted to know.

  The other woman leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice. “You need to know what you’re getting into with John. Please don’t think I have anything but the best intentions.”

  “O—kay.” Roxanne wished she would get on with it.

  Pam started with a sigh. “I’m sure you’ve heard about the Benghazi situation.”

  That came out of left field. Roxanne nodded slowly wondering where this was going.

  “John and Elle worked together at the embassy in Tripoli about five or six years ago. John was stationed there as part of DSS and Elle was an assistant to some assistant to the ambassador. They’d both attended Georgetown although Elle was three years ahead of John in school. Her father was a career diplomat at State and she’d grown up living all over the world.

  “When John asked my opinion on a ring he’d purchased, I knew it was serious. He was going to ask her to marry him. John had been stationed at Benghazi for two months before the attack and he was anxious to see Elle again.

  “Although she was stationed in Tripoli, when she found out the ambassador was visiting Benghazi to review plans to establish a new cultural center and modernize a hospital, she finagled a way to be included in the trip. They were thrilled to see each other again.” Pam paused to take a deep breath. “They planned to slip out to a local restaurant one evening after the ambassador had finished with his meetings and retired to his quarters. As they were about to leave the compound an alarm sounded and another Diplomatic Security Service agent started shouting ‘Attack! Attack!’ over the loudspeakers. John and Elle were caught in automatic weapons fire, dodging RPGs and grenades. Elle was hit in the arm with some flying debris but not severely. John tried to find a safe place to leave her while he joined the other agents in trying to stop the attack. She insisted she could take care of herself and hide somewhere.”

  Roxanne sat stunned. “How horrible! I know about Benghazi, of course, everyone does. But I had no idea Callahan was there.”

  Pam nodded. “He doesn’t talk about it.”

  “So, what happened to Elle? I thought only the ambassador and his aide died. I didn’t hear about any others.”

  “Elle hid in a storage closet on the first floor. When the attackers set fire to the building she was overcome with smoke, the same as the ambassador. Since she wasn’t listed as an official part of the delegation, her death was never reported in the news.”

  “Jesus,” Roxanne muttered. “That doesn’t seem right.”

  “A lot of things about that situation weren’t right,” Pam said. “John was devastated. It also made him question his choice of career.”

  “That’s understandable.” Roxanne rubbed her forehead. “But I don’t see what it has to do with me.”

  “You’re the first person John has showed any interest in since Elle died. He’s been doing his job; he’s too responsible not to. But for the longest time, he put up a wall around himself that none of us could break through. We were surprised to see that wall coming down in his interactions with you.”

  Roxanne couldn’t take credit for helping to lift Callahan’s spirits, not when she’d cost him the life of someone dear to him. She swung back and forth in the desk chair afraid to look his sister in the eye. Did she know about her part in Chester’s death? Maybe Callahan never mentioned it to his family. Every time Roxanne tried to bring it up, he changed the subject. She didn’t feel right keeping the knowledge from them. “You know Chester’s death is my fault.”

  Pam shook her head. “We know what happened. It’s not your fault. You didn’t pull the trigger.”

  “It feels like I did.” A wave of remorse rolled over her, pushing her deeper into the chair. Why had she insisted on going alone to Chester’s farmhouse that day? If she had waited at Kate’s B&B as she’d been told, those thugs wouldn’t have come after her and Chester wouldn’t have been gunned down.

  “So that’s why you’ve been avoiding John.” Pam stared off to the side for a few seconds, then straightened. “I can see why you feel guilty but you’ve got to get over it.”

  “I don’t know if I can,” Roxanne said. “I like John, I really do. But I can’t help imagining that one day he’ll look at me and see the person responsible for his grandfather’s death.”

  Pam shook her head. “Not gonna happen. Besides, I think if you hold back any feeling you might have for him, that would be a much deeper blow than losing Chester.”

  “You think he cares about me that much?” Roxanne had a hard time believing it. But she knew she didn’t want to lose whatever had developed between them. She couldn’t deal with another sad ending after her failed relationships in the past.

  “I can’t speak for John. He doesn’t talk much about his emotions, at least not to the family. I just have a gut feeling that you are, or could be, important to him.” Pam started to rise. “Trust me, I don’t usually go poking my nose into John’s life. I just wanted you to know.”

  Roxanne struggled to come up with a reply. Something that reassured the woman in front of her but didn’t make any promises. She watched the hands on the old-fashioned clock on the desk. The seconds ticked by slowly, until she thought her head would explode if she didn’t come up with a response. “I…I appreciate your concern, I really do. But I…”

  Pam held out her hand to silence her. “Look, just forget I said anything. I’m sorry, I should have kept my big mouth shut.”

  “No, no. I’m grateful you told me the backstory. I won’t mention our little chat. I’m flattered you think I’m important enough to John to bring it up. But I’m not sure you’re assumptions about us are accurate.”

  “You’re using him?” The amazement on Pam’s face gave way to a frown.

  “No. I would never do that. I’m…attracted to Callahan. I’ll admit that. But I’m at a stage in my life where things are happening so fast and changing so much, I’m not even sure who I am anymore. I don’t want to find out I made another mistake when things settle down.”

  Pam nodded. “I get that. Please forgive me for barging in here. I like you, Roxanne, and thought there was a possibility t
hat we could be friends.”

  Even though she wasn’t a hugger, Roxanne crossed the room and put her arm around Pam’s shoulders. “I’m hoping we can be friends no matter how my relationship with Callahan turns out.”

  Pam smiled at her. “I hope so too. Now, I’d better get back out there before my family sends a search party.” With that, she squeezed Roxanne’s hand and hurried out of the office.

  Roxanne returned to sit at the desk, feeling utterly confused. Under a veneer of warmth and concern, Pam had just delivered a warning. Why else had she felt obligated to tell her about Elle? The point seemed to be that John wasn’t as strong as he seemed when it came to matters of the heart. Once he committed himself, he was all in. And if things went south, he wasn’t so good at recovery.

  So if she wasn’t serious about him, it was best not to mess around with him.

  The warning had come at an odd time in her relationship with him—that vulnerable pause before anything solidified.

  She and Callahan hadn’t been alone together since her attempt at seduction a few days ago. Neither of them had been happy about the interruption. But when faced with the escape of the two men who’d shot Chester, there was no question what took precedence. Between getting his family settled at the farm, preparing for the funeral and keeping up-to-date on the search for Pearse and Seamus, there had been little time to even speak to each other.

  Roxanne let out a sigh as she brushed back her hair with her hands. There were no easy answers for any of this—and too many guests in the diner awaited her.

  - 3 -

  Roxanne sat at the island in Roxy’s cabin the following morning; she rubbed her eyes at the bright sunlight filtering through the blinds. Conor settled on the stool next to her and joined her in watching Roxy scoop scrambled eggs from the pan onto three plates.

  She’d tossed and turned all night, unable to come to any decision about Callahan. Now she pushed those thoughts from her mind to concentrate on the matter at hand.

  “So, did you find out anything from Jeanette Wilson?” Roxanne wanted to know.