by K. J. Emrick
But Graham didn’t know that. He only knew that his hands had been all over that backpack for years, and the money too, and sometimes the mere thought of being guilty was enough to make a man confess.
He took another step back, and Jerry took a step toward him, a triumphant smile on his face.
“You were the man who robbed the Northern Adirondack Savings Bank,” Jerry said, stating it as a fact. “You never had an accomplice. You made that up to cover your own tracks.”
Jonathan stepped back again.
Jerry continued to explain exactly what had happened.
“You stole money from a bank in the town where you live. You used a plane crash as misdirection to cover your getaway. You started the plane, and then put in what? A hundred dollars? A thousand? What did it matter when you had so much. Since it was an older propeller plane the thing actually took off by itself without you in it. That was your plan. I looked it up last night online and there’s been several recorded instances of that happening. I watched one on YouTube, actually. Then, all you had to do was go home, and pretend nothing happened, and just wait for the crash. Everyone would assume the robber had been in the plane and that he either fell to his death, or parachuted to safety and got away, and that’s exactly what happened, wasn’t it? I have to admit. It was a pretty crafty plan.”
Cookie clucked her tongue. “It was a very neat plan. Yes, it was. You had us fooled. You’ve kept that money hidden, using just enough of it to live off, a little at a time. Easy enough to spend that much money over twenty-five years, and that’s why there was fifty thousand of it left.”
Jonathan edged back a little more.
“Your girlfriend troubles were what got you caught,” Jerry continued. “Breaking into people’s homes to sleep there, but never taking anything more than a little food. My officers were stumped at that but now we know why. You didn’t need their money. You still had enough of your own for another year or two. When you were in Mara’s place and she came home unexpectedly you got spooked. You ran. How long did it take you to realize you left the backpack behind, I wonder? Well, it didn’t matter because my guys arrested you right after. You haven’t had time to go back for it. You just had time to cook up this story, so you could get out of jail. Fifty thousand dollars bought your freedom, and nearly sent Mara to prison in your place.”
Cookie smiled sweetly at him. “The perfect crime, foiled because you got kicked out of your own home by your girlfriend and decided to use other people’s beds instead.”
Jonathan took one more step back, only to find himself blocked by Officer Loretta Hill. She had her hand on his shoulder, and her smile matched Cookie’s. “Hold it. You aren’t going anywhere.”
It happened so fast. Jonathan Graham spun and grabbed Loretta’s hand at the same time, using it to twist her arm and yank her around and then with his free hand, he grabbed for the gun in her holster.
Jerry was moving to stop him in the same instant.
He never got there. Loretta put an end to it.
Pushing herself back against Jonathan she overbalanced him, then she brought her legs up, kicking her feet against the wall and knocking them both over onto the concrete floor. He took the brunt of the fall as she landed on top of him and with a hard whoosh, the air exploded out of his lungs.
She stood up, snapping her gun snug into its holster again. Jonathan was left panting, on his back, staring at the ceiling.
“Really?” Loretta said as she stood over him. “Did you really think that nonsense from a bad Dwayne Johnson movie was going to work?”
Jonathan’s only response was a loud groan.
Jerry chuckled and hooked his thumbs into his belt. “I should have known you could take care of yourself, Loretta. What he just did was better than a confession, in my book. There’s just one thing, though.”
“That so, Chief? What is it?”
With a shrug, Jerry said, “I kind of like Dwayne Johnson’s movies.”
Chapter 10
It took a while to get the paperwork rewritten. Jerry had to stay and watch over Patrick Flanagan’s shoulder the whole time to make sure he did it right. Loretta actually did most of it.
Cookie had to leave before everything was done. Her daughter Madison was going to be at the bakery soon and she wanted to be there to meet her.
Plus, she needed to make sure that Rick was still in the apartment like he promised and hadn’t run away from his problems. She had a bet going with herself about which outcome was more likely, but it was almost even money.
She thought that perhaps Mara would be released in time to get a ride home with her. It was the least she could do after falsely accusing her. When she had suggested it to Jerry, however, he only shook his head and pulled her aside to explain.
“Mara didn’t have anything to do with the bank robbery,” he pointed out, “but that doesn’t mean she’s innocent here. She tampered with evidence in an ongoing investigation. She attempted to steal the money for herself. That’s why it was hidden in that locked cabinet. Graham never had to pick the lock to find it because it wasn’t in there until Mara put it there.”
“So you’re the only one who picked the lock?” she teased him.
“Yup. But I had a warrant.”
“I know that,” she assured him. “But, she’s not the criminal here. She wanted that money as a way to get out of this town, if only for a little while. All her life she’s dreamed of leaving Widow’s Rest and something has always stopped her. Then this big backpack full of money just shows up in her house? The temptation was too much for her. Who knows? Maybe she would have turned it in if we hadn’t come around accusing her of being part of a bank robbery. That would be enough to scare anyone, I think.”
He looked at her skeptically. “You really think she would have turned it in?”
“Eventually,” she told him with a wink. Then she had kissed him on the cheek. “There’s good in everyone, you know.”
Clarissa’s fiancé included, she hoped.
That hadn’t been enough for him to release Mara on the spot, but he’d promised to think about it. Cookie was glad to hear him say that because she really needed to believe what she’d told him. There’s good in everyone.
Was there still good in Rick? She wanted to believe there was. For Clarissa’s sake.
Dash it all, she just wished he’d change his name back to Hamish. She liked him better as a Hamish.
In the parking area behind her bakery, she found a silver Lexus waiting with the engine idling. She heaved a sigh of relief as she parked her car and got out to greet her daughter.
Madison hadn’t been back to Widow’s Rest for a while now. She had started a business for herself as a seamstress, and from the emails she sent Cookie it would appear she was becoming quite successful. More work than she had time for, was the last thing she’d said about it.
That was… oh, my. Had it really been two months since they’d spoken? Life had been so crazy for both of them. After all, Madison was still raising that young son of hers on her own. She’d tried to find a man worthy of being with, but they all fell short. Probably because Madison compared them all to her last husband, and that is a tough act to follow. Such a tragedy that she was alone now. Well, Cookie wouldn’t let her daughter be completely alone. Family came first, after all.
Especially considering why they were here. This was going to take everyone in the family pulling together, if they wanted to make sure Rick got well again.
Her daughter had started to go grey, Cookie noticed, and the gray added smoky highlights to her flame-red hair. Not for the first time, Cookie could see bits of herself in that pretty face. Lines of worry made wrinkles at the corners of her eyes and along her forehead. Everyone got old eventually, she reminded herself, whether it was a state of mind or not.
The greeting she gave was a quick one. “Hi, Mom. Thank you for calling me.” She put her arms around Cookie’s shoulders, hugging her closely. “I’m so sorry this had to fall on you.
I don’t know why Clarissa couldn’t just come to me.”
“She was embarrassed,” Cookie explained. “Or at least that’s what I think. She didn’t want you to think less of her. She fought so hard to have us accept Rick in her life and now this has happened.”
Madison stepped back, frustration deepening the lines around her brow. “I can’t believe he changed his name like that. As if he’s some totally different person.”
“In some ways. Not for the better, either. I think he means it to sound older and more grown up.”
“What it sounds like, if you ask me, is that he’s trying to hide from his responsibilities.” She pushed up the sleeves of her sweater dress, then adjusted the wide belt at her waist like she was getting ready to go to war. The dress was pretty, and feminine, and Cookie was sure it was her own handiwork. “Are we ready to have this conversation with him?”
Cookie linked her arm with her daughter’s. “Yes. For Clarissa’s sake.”
“For our family,” Madison added. “Clarissa has already lost her father, and a step-father as well. I don’t want that girl to have to feel another moment of grief in her whole entire life.”
“I agree. Tell me, how’s her brother doing?” Cookie asked on their way into the bakery. “I would love to see my grandson for a visit, you know.”
“He’s great, Mom. He’s growing like a weed. He’s at a babysitter’s for the day. A local girl who absolutely adores him. They get along great. You know what? A visit out here would be wonderful for him and for me, too. Maybe I’ll come out for a few days or even a week. It will let me be here for Clarissa. Lord knows she’s going to need the support. Where’s all your customers?”
Cookie looked around the empty bakery with her. “I gave them the day off. They’ll be back tomorrow and even hungrier for some baked goods. I decided we needed this time for you and me and Clarissa.”
“And this whole bank robbery thing, too, I’ll bet. How did that turn out?”
“Oh, dear. I’ll have to tell you about that later. It’s a long, long story.”
They went upstairs together. Cream met them at the top, barking softly and panting to see Madison again. She crouched down to scrub her fingers around his neck and chin. “Hey there, Cream. Is my mom treating you all right? How’ve you been?”
“He’s the happiest Chihuahua in the world,” Cookie assured her. “In fact, he just helped solve that whole thing with the bank robbery. He’s a good puppy.”
“Not such a puppy anymore, Mom. He does seem happy, though.”
“Oh my, yes. He’ll be happier when we move into Jerry’s place. He’ll have more room.”
Madison looked up at her, eyebrows raised. “Well, well. Today’s just full of surprises. You two are moving to his place? I thought you were going to stay here in this little apartment forever.”
“I thought so too, once upon a time, but Jerry has that big home of his. Besides, we’re married now. It makes much more sense to move in there.” She gestured around the apartment, closing the door after Cream made his way inside with them. “This way Clarissa and Rick can have this to themselves. It will be a good place for them to live until they get back on their feet.”
Madison stood up to give her another hug. “You never stop looking out for us, do you?”
“Of course. It’s a mother’s job, after all. It’s the same reason you came all this way and put everything aside just to help Clarissa.”
Just as Cookie said her granddaughter’s name, the young woman came rushing out from her room, a tired worn smile on her face, almost knocking her mother over with the ferocity of her embrace.
“Mom, I’m so glad you’re here. I’m sorry I didn’t call you about all of this. I should have told you. I know you always say I can tell you anything I just didn’t know how to tell you this. I’m sorry. Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!”
She was rambling, and Cookie could see the lines of tears on her cheeks. She was dressed, even if her yellow blouse did not go with those blue khakis and her socks didn’t match. She’d obviously thrown on the first things she came to. It all made Cookie wonder what kind of morning she’d had with Rick.
Speaking of that, where was he?
“I came as soon as I heard,” Madison told Clarissa. “I love you, daughter. I always will. We can get through anything, as long as we do it together.”
More tears flushed from Clarissa’s eyes. “I know that. I’m sorry. I ran to Grandma Cookie because I knew she would be here and wouldn’t judge and all I needed was a place to collect myself for a day or two. I needed to be me again, before I could help Rick. Does that make sense?”
Madison held her daughter out at arm’s length. “It makes perfect sense.”
“I tried to be what Rick needed, or what I thought he needed, but now I know I can only help him when I’m strong. It’s going to be okay, Mom. I promise.”
“Hey, now. You don’t have to explain yourself to me. You only need to start trusting me. I would have been there for you if you asked for my help. No judgment, just me helping my daughter. Don’t cut me out like that ever again, okay? Your grandmother loves you and will move Heaven and Earth for you with her bare hands.”
“That’s true,” Cookie said, beaming under the compliment.
“But,” Madison added, “I’m your mother. I would burn the sky to ash if that’s what it took to keep you safe. I would drain the sea with a spoon if I had to. And, I will personally kick the backside of any man who hurts my baby girl in any way. Never underestimate the love of a mother, okay?”
Clarissa swallowed. Maybe only now, for the first time in her life, did she realize how much her family loved her. She nodded and wiped the tears away with the heels of her palms. “I won’t ever leave you out of my life again, Mom. I promise.”
“Good.”
This time the three of them hugged each other, and the love Cookie felt from the three generations of her family was something she could never put into words. It was the greatest feeling ever. Better than chocolate. Better than chocolate covered pretzels. Better than chocolate covered pretzels dipped in peanut butter.
Yes. Just that good.
“Now,” Madison said when they finally let go of each other, “speaking of men who want to hurt you, where is this boyfriend of yours? He has to understand that if he’s going to stay in your life then he’s going to get help for his problems.”
Cookie nodded. “Just what I told her.”
“That’s right. You listen to your grandmother. There’s no two ways about this, Clarissa. We’ll talk with him for as long as it takes but then he’s going to a drug rehab, or the hospital, or whoever will take him.”
Clarissa’s gaze went down the hallway, and her eyes filled with a pride that was unmistakable.
Cookie turned to look that way, and Madison with her.
They saw Rick, standing just outside the guest bedroom, a sheepish look on his face. He was dressed too, although he’d obviously taken more time getting ready than Clarissa had. His hair was neatly combed this morning, and his shoes were laced up, and everything was in place. He seemed to be standing a little taller. He’d even shaved for the first time since being here under Cookie’s roof. His cheeks were wet, like Clarissa’s. Like he’d been crying with her.
In his hand was a cheap duffle bag, stuffed full enough that it was straining the zipper.
“There he is,” Madison said, her expression suddenly severe and her voice decidedly unfriendly. “There’s the man trying to ruin my daughter’s life.”
Rick offered no argument to that. Cookie had to admit it was probably the smartest thing he could have done in that moment.
Madison held Clarissa close to her side. “This is my daughter,” she growled at Rick. “This girl is a beautiful, wonderful person and I will not stand by and let her life be ruined by your addiction. You will get help if you want to continue to be in her life. You will have all of our support while you get yourself better. Clarissa’s, and mine, and Cook
ie’s, and everyone else in our circle because we’re family and that’s what family does.”
Cream padded out to stand right in front of Cookie. He sat down, and he barked twice, which Cookie took to be chihuahua for, Me too.
“Yes,” Cookie translated, “and Cream too. We’re all here for you, Rick.”
“You can believe them,” Clarissa said to him. “They mean it.”
“But,” Madison tried to continue. She had to stop and start over when her voice cracked. “But, you will get yourself better first. That’s the deal. We are all here for you, whatever you need, but if you want to be with Clarissa you have to get rid of this addiction that’s ruining both of your lives.”
It was a tense moment in the little apartment as they waited to see what Rick’s reaction would be. With a sigh, he said just two words to them.
“I know.”
Cookie wasn’t sure what she had expected from him, but it wasn’t that. Now she understood why he had the duffle bag. She understood why both of them had been crying. They’d already been talking through everything, well before she and Madison arrived. He’d already made his decision.
He knew he needed to shake the demon of addiction that had him in its grip. He knew what he needed to do, and he was ready to do it.
Hiking the bag with his things in it up onto his shoulder, Rick looked from Cookie to Madison. “Can one of you give me a ride? I have an appointment at an in-house treatment facility. Clarissa and I called them this morning and they said they had a place for me if I could get there by this afternoon I just… need some help getting there.”
Clarissa was beaming with pride at him again. Cookie found that she felt a little bit of that for him herself. This was a big step he was taking. Admitting he had a problem was the first step to recovery, or so Cookie had always read. Asking for help was quite possibly just as hard, if not harder.