Claws For Concern

NINETEEN

I regretted those last two words the moment they were out of my mouth because I foresaw nothing but difficulties in involving myself in a twenty-year-old quadruple homicide case. I also knew that I couldn’t back out now, not with Aunt Dottie’s voice in my head urging me to do whatever I could to help Uncle Del’s son.

“That’s great, Charlie,” Jack said. “How about we get together tomorrow and talk about it? That is, if you’ve got time. I can come to Athena or, if you’d rather, you can come here. My wife knows all about this and is really looking forward to meeting you.”

“I’ll have to call you back later today about getting together,” I said. “I need to discuss this with my family first. I made the decision only a minute ago, and they need to know about it. There’s also more to tell you from this end, but I can’t go into it right now.”

“Okay, whatever works. Call me when you’re ready,” Jack said.

“Will do.” I ended the call.

I sat in the car, trying to plan how I was going to present my decision to Helen Louise and my children. I didn’t think any of them would be really happy with me about this. Sean would be more upset than anyone else. He was the one who usually nagged me the most about my knack for getting involved in murder cases.

I switched off the air conditioner and the ignition. Time to go in and get it over with, I told myself.

Diesel greeted me at the door with a loud recital of things he had to tell me. A couple of the meows sounded like complaints because no matter whom I left him with, he was always aggravated that I left him behind when I went anywhere. I rubbed his head several times, which had the desired effect. I seemed to be forgiven.

“He was perfectly happy with me and baby Charlie until he heard you pull into the garage.” Helen Louise gave me a kiss. “I guess that’s when he remembered that you abandoned him.”

I laughed. “He’s the nagging wife I never had, or at least it feels that way sometimes.” I kissed Helen Louise back. “Are Laura and Frank still here? I didn’t notice whether their car was parked on the street.”

“They’re in the living room getting Charlie ready to go home,” Helen Louise said. “They haven’t said much of anything about Bill Delaney because Laura couldn’t wait to see the baby. How is he?”

“Two broken legs and skinned up in various places, including his head,” I said. “My impression was that he would be okay. They didn’t find any signs of internal injuries.”

“Thank goodness. That poor man,” Helen Louise said. “I hope they catch the driver.”

“I do, too.” I helped myself to a can of diet soda from the fridge before I joined Helen Louise at the table. Diesel had evidently gone back to check on the baby after he finished chastising me and being petted.

Frank stepped into the kitchen. “Thanks for looking after Charlie.” He smiled. “My only regret is that you didn’t get to do it a bit longer today.”

Helen Louise and I smiled. “Next weekend,” I said. “Hopefully things will be calmer then.” Seeing Frank start to turn away, I said, “If y’all can stay a few more minutes, there’s something I really need to talk to you about.”

“Sure,” Frank said. “Let me get Laura.” He disappeared into the hallway.

“I need to remind Laura about the milk she brought over. I gave Charlie one bottle a little while ago, but there’s another one in the fridge,” Helen Louise said.

I nodded. Moments later Laura and Frank came into the kitchen. Laura held my sleeping grandson. Diesel kept pace beside her. “What is it you want to talk about, Dad?” Frank pulled out a chair for her, and once she was settled he took the vacant chair across from her. Diesel stretched out on the floor beside Laura’s chair.

“Before I forget it, there’s one bottle of milk left,” Helen Louise said. “I forgot to tell you earlier.”

“Thanks,” Frank said. “I’ll grab it before we leave.”

“Go ahead, Dad,” Laura said. “We’re listening.”

Here goes, I thought. “You all already know that I feel a sense of responsibility for Bill Delaney’s welfare, thanks to his connection to Aunt Dottie, tenuous as it is after all these years.”

They all nodded. Helen Louise’s eyes narrowed as she regarded me intently. I had a feeling she had figured out what I was going to say to them.

“Jack Pemberton wants to investigate the Barber murders to see if he can solve them,” I said. “He wants me to help him, and I called him a few minutes ago and said I would. And here’s one reason why. Someone attempted to kill Bill Delaney today. I don’t believe it was a random thing. I believe that his life could be in danger as long as the Barber case remains unsolved.”

Helen Louise’s expression of shock reminded me belatedly that she hadn’t heard Laura’s version of the hit-and-run. I hastily explained, and the shock faded, to be replaced by calculation. I knew that meant she had her legal mind-set engaged and was assessing the facts. I loved her ability to analyze and draw reasonable conclusions.

“Seems to me there are two plausible motives for the hit-and-run,” Helen Louise said. “The first is revenge. Someone believes Bill Delaney got away with murder and decided to see justice done. The second is fear. The murderer believes Bill Delaney knows something that could incriminate him.”

“Exactly what I’ve been thinking,” I said.

“Sounds reasonable to me,” Frank said.

“Me, too,” Laura said. “But Dad, whoever the killer is, he isn’t going to be happy to find out you and Jack Pemberton are digging into the case. You could both be putting your lives at risk. I don’t like that.”

Diesel sat up and warbled. He came to stand beside me and placed a paw on my leg. The tension level in the room had risen suddenly, and he was worried. I scratched his head. “It’s really okay, boy,” I told him.

“I don’t like it much myself,” I said. “I suppose the police might reopen the case now, or rather the sheriff’s department in Tullahoma. I believe they ran the first investigation. If it were the Athena County Sheriff’s Department, Kanesha would be in charge of it, and I’d be happy not to get any more involved. I have faith in her intelligence and her abilities. I know nothing about her counterpart in Tullahoma.”

“Unless they’ve turned up compelling new evidence,” Frank said, “I doubt they’re going to reopen the case. I don’t think they’ll consider the hit-and-run reason enough. Reopening the case will cost money, and budgets are tight. They might not be able to afford it.”

“You realize what you just said will only encourage him.” Laura’s voice had taken on an acid tone. I had never heard her speak like that to her husband.

“I know that, honey,” Frank said, his tone sharp. “But I don’t think I said anything your father hasn’t probably already figured out for himself.”

Laura sighed. “You’re right. Sorry I got huffy.”

Frank grinned. “You know you can’t stay mad at me.”

Laura rolled her eyes in response.

I glanced at Helen Louise, and I could see immediately that she was not happy with me. “Your turn,” I said.

She continued to regard me in silence, and I thought perhaps she was too angry to speak. Then she said, “One of the things I love about you, Charlie, is your caring heart. This man, this stranger, has no real claim to your time or your concern, despite the fact that his biological father happened to be married to your aunt. But you think helping him is the right thing to do to honor your aunt’s love for her husband and the gratitude you feel for all she gave you. I’m not talking about the house and the money, though they’re part of it. She was one of the most wonderful, bighearted, generous women I’ve ever known, and she helped make you who you are. I bless her for that. I’m not happy about your putting yourself at risk over this situation, but I understand your sense of obligation.”

As she talked, her expression softened, and I not only heard but felt the love in those words. I wasn’t sure I deserved a partner as understanding and supportive, but I was thankful every day that she had come back into my life.

“Frank, get that bottle out of the fridge, please.” Laura stood, baby Charlie in her arms. “I think it’s time we went home.” She looked from me to Helen Louise and back. “I think there’s nothing more that needs to be said other than: I love you, Dad, so please be careful.” She smiled.

I felt too overwhelmed by my jumbled emotions at the moment to speak. Diesel rubbed his head against my leg and, as if by reflex, my hand began to stroke his back.

I managed to pull myself together enough to walk to the front door with my departing daughter and son-in-law and baby Charlie. I kissed the baby’s forehead. He opened his eyes and smiled. Then he yawned and went back to sleep.

After I saw them out the door, I watched, Diesel at my side, until they drove away. When I closed and locked the door, I turned to see Helen Louise waiting at the foot of the stairs. She held out a hand to me as I walked over. I grasped her hand, and we walked slowly upstairs.

• • •

Two hours later my ringing phone roused me from sleep. I felt Helen Louise stirring beside me. I watched her for a moment, reluctant to let the outside world intrude. She yawned and pushed strands of dark hair away from her eyes.

“Hadn’t you better answer that?” she asked.

Diesel, who must have walked in while we were sleeping, meowed.

“Unfortunately, yes,” I said as I reached for the receiver. I knew it must be the hospital. “Hello, Charlie Harris speaking.”

“Good afternoon, Mr. Harris,” a male voice said. “I’m a nurse at Athena Medical Center, and I’m calling you on behalf of one of our patients, a Mr. William Delaney. He is awake and resting comfortably. He would like to talk to you when you have time to come see him.”

“Thank you for calling,” I said. “Please let him know that I’ll be there in about thirty or forty minutes.”

“Sure thing.”

I replaced the receiver and turned to Helen Louise and Diesel. “The hospital,” I said. “Bill Delaney would like me to visit. He’s awake and resting comfortably.”

“What time is it?” Helen Louise asked. She yawned again, and that made me yawn.

I checked the bedside clock. “Three forty-seven.” I turned back to her. She placed a hand on my chest, and I covered it with my own hand. Then I grasped her hand, pulled it to my lips, and kissed it.

Helen Louise smiled. “Are you going?”

I sighed. “Yes, though I’d much rather stay right here with you.”

Diesel warbled.

“And with you, too, silly boy,” I said. The cat chirped and looked smug. “I need to shower first.”

“Go ahead,” Helen Louise said. “Diesel and I will be right here.” She stroked the cat’s head, and he began to purr.

I threw back the covers and slipped out of bed. I turned for a moment to look at my beloved, and I wanted to climb right back into bed and pull her into my arms again. But duty called.

Forty minutes later I arrived at the hospital. I checked at the front desk to find out Delaney’s room number. He was on the third floor. I headed to the elevator.

The door was ajar. I knocked, and a hoarse voice called out, “Come in.”

I left the door halfway open after I entered the room. I approached the bed, shocked by Delaney’s appearance even though I had seen him earlier in the emergency room. His head was still bandaged, but he seemed alert. His legs had casts, and they protruded from the covers on the bed. Both arms had bandages, and his face appeared haggard. I noticed two scraped places on his face, one on his chin and the other on his left cheek. His eyes were sunken, and he looked much older than his sixty-six years.

“Thanks for coming.”

“I’m sorry you were injured so badly.” I moved closer to the bed. “I hope you’re getting pain medication because I’m sure you’re hurting.” I pulled up a chair, positioned it close to the bed so he could see me, and sat.

“Don’t feel much of anything right now,” he said.

“Do you remember what happened?”

“No.” He looked away as if embarrassed. “Too drunk. I don’t remember leaving the apartment.” He frowned as he turned his head to face me again. “Don’t know how I got downtown. I was so lit I don’t see how I made it down the stairs without killing myself.”

I had wondered about that myself. His apartment was several miles from the town square. How had he managed to walk that far in his condition? Probably took the bus, I thought. He couldn’t have walked that distance.

“You must have got on the bus somewhere near your apartment,” I said.

“Maybe,” Delaney replied. “Got a bus pass.”

“The police will find out,” I said. “I’m sure the driver would remember.”

“Probably so.”

“My daughter and son-in-law happened to be there when it happened,” I said. “They saw the whole thing.”

Delaney frowned. “I don’t remember anything. Can you tell me what they saw?”

“Sure.” I related the story to him. “Now, my daughter is sure that driver deliberately hit you. Do you know anyone who would have a reason to do that?”

Delaney looked startled, and for a moment he also looked afraid. Then his expression turned bland. “No.”

He was lying. I knew by his reaction he had an idea who had run him down. Why wouldn’t he give me a name? Who was he protecting?