Let Me Call You Sweetheart

94

Kerry called Robin at three-thirty. She and Alison were at the computer, Robin told her, playing one of the games Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Grace had given her. Kerry told her the plan: “I have to work late tonight and be on the way by seven tomorrow. Jonathan and Grace really would like to have you stay with them, and I’d feel good knowing you’re there.”

“Why was Mr. Palumbo parked outside our school and why did he drive me home and why is he parked outside now? Is it because I’m in really big danger?”

Kerry tried to sound matter-of-fact. “Hate to disappoint you, but it’s just a precaution, Rob. The case is really coming to a head.”

“Cool. I like Mr. Palumbo, and, okay, I’ll stay with Aunt Grace and Uncle Jonathan. I like them too. But what about you? Will Mr. Palumbo stay in front of the house for you?”

“I won’t be home till late, and when I get there, the local cops will drive by every fifteen minutes or so. That’s all I need.”

“Be careful, Mom.” For a moment, Robin’s bravado vanished, and she sounded like a frightened little girl.

“You be careful, sweetheart. Do your homework.”

“I will. And I’m going to ask Aunt Grace if I can pull out her old photo albums again. I love looking at the old clothes and hairstyles, and if I remember it right, they are arranged in the order they were taken. I thought I might get some ideas, since our next assignment in camera class is to create a family album so that it really tells a story.”

“Yeah, there are some great pictures there. I used to love to go through those albums when I was house-sitting,” Kerry reminisced. “I used to count to see how many different servants Aunt Grace and Uncle Jonathan grew up with. I still think about them sometimes when I’m pushing the vacuum or folding the wash.”

Robin giggled. “Well, hang in there. You may win the lottery someday. Love you, Mom.”

At five-thirty, Geoff phoned from his car. “You’ll never guess where I am.” He didn’t wait for an answer. “I was in court this afternoon. Jason Arnott had been trying to reach me. He left a message.”

“Jason Arnott!” Kerry exclaimed.

“Yes. When I got back to him a few minutes ago, he said he has to talk to me immediately. He wants me to take his case.”

“Would you represent him?”

“I couldn’t because he’s connected to the Reardon case, and I wouldn’t if I could. I told him that, but he still insists on seeing me.”

“Geoff! Don’t let him tell you anything that would have lawyer-client privilege.”

Geoff chuckled. “Thank you, Kerry. I never would have thought of that.”

Kerry laughed with him, then explained the arrangement she had made for Robin for the night. “I’m working late right here. When I start home I’ll let the Hohokus cops know I’m on the way.

It’s all set.”

“Now be sure you do.” His voice became firm. “The more I’ve thought about you going into Smith’s house alone last night, the more I realize what a lousy idea it was. You could have been there when he was shot, just the way Mark Young was gunned down with Haskell.”

Geoff signed off after promising to call and report to Kerry after he had seen Arnott.

It was eight o’clock before Kerry had finished the work she needed to do in preparing for an upcoming case. Then once again she reached for the voluminous Reardon file.

She looked closely at the pictures of the death scene. In his letter, Dr. Smith had described entering the house that night and finding Suzanne’s body. Kerry closed her eyes at the awful prospect of ever finding Robin like that. Smith said he had deliberately removed the “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” card because he was so sure Skip had murdered Suzanne in a fit of jealous rage, and he didn’t want him to escape maximum punishment, to get off with a reduced sentence.

She believed what Smith had written-most people don’t lie when they plan to kill themselves, she reasoned. And what Dr. Smith had written also supports Skip Reardon’s story. So now, Kerry thought, the murderer is the man who visited that house between the time Skip left at around six-thirty, and when the doctor arrived at around nine o’clock.

Jason Arnott? Jimmy Weeks? Which one had killed Suzanne? she wondered.

At nine-thirty Kerry dosed the file. She hadn’t come up with any new angles in her plan to question Arnott tomorrow. If I were in his boots, she thought, I’d claim that Suzanne gave me the picture frame that last day because she was afraid a couple of pearls were getting loose and wanted me to have it fixed. Then, when she was found dead, I didn’t want to become involved in a murder investigation, so I kept the frame.

A story like that could easily hold up in court because it was entirely plausible. The jewelry, however, was a different story. It all came back to the jewelry. It she could prove that Arnott gave Suzanne those valuable antique pieces, there was no way he could get away with saying it was a gift of pure friendship.

At ten o’clock she left the now-quiet office and went into the parking lot. Realizing suddenly that she was starving, she drove to the Arena diner around the corner and had a hamburger, french fries and coffee.

Substitute a cola for the coffee, and you have Robin’s favorite meal, she thought, sighing inwardly. I have to say I miss my baby.

The momma and the baby…

The momma and the baby…

Why did that singsong phrase keep echoing in her head? she wondered again. Something about it seemed wrong, so terribly wrong. But what was it?

She should have called and said good night to Robin before she left her office, she realized suddenly. Why hadn’t she? Kerry ate quickly and got back in the car. It was twenty of eleven, much too late to call. She was just pulling out of the lot when the car phone rang. It was Jonathan.

“Kerry,” he said, his voice low and taut, “Robin is in with Grace. She doesn’t know I’m calling. She didn’t want me to worry you. But after she fell asleep she had a terrible nightmare. I really think you should come over. So much has been going on. She needs you.”

“I’ll be right there.” Kerry switched the turn signal from the right to the left one, pressed her foot on the accelerator and rushed to get to her child.