Beyond Suspicion (12 page)

Twenty-one

Shelby stared at Matt. What surprised her almost as much as seeing him standing there was her own thought that he might have come to help. She opened the curtain and raised the window. Indecision tormented her. He was a liar who'd made a fool of her. He was Matt, the boy who sounded in pain at the police station when he called out to her. Grammy's words came to mind, saying maybe she should let him explain.

“You have two minutes,” she said.

Matt raised his eyebrows and let them drop. “Now I know what they mean by a tough crowd.”

“One minute fifty seconds.”

“Okay.” Matt leaned his elbows on the sill. “But could you pull up a chair and listen for a minute?”

Shelby used her foot to hook the chair and roll it over. She sat with her arms folded across her middle.

“It's true I started out helping my dad. He didn't ask me to do it. It just happened. I wound up liking you and by the end I knew you were innocent, and that's what I told him.”

“When?”

“Huh?”

“When did you decide I was innocent?”

“When you patted the tree.”

That was disarming. But she could not forget all those lies. “Why then?”

He shook his head. “I have no idea, but there you were hiding behind a tree, wanting to get a glimpse of Gina Manelli. I liked that. But after you patted the tree and said it was your new best friend, I just knew.”

“You lied to me. Repeatedly.”

“I did try to tell you early on, after we ran into my friends, but you bolted from the car and wouldn't listen.”

Shelby remembered the moment.

“Shelby, I'm really sorry about lying to you. It was a huge mistake. I just wanted to help find Josh. Please forgive me. Let's start again.”

Shelby measured the way he stood there, his expression, the way he leaned on the sill. He seemed truthful. He sounded sincere, but he had hurt her deeply. Could she forgive such lies? And then she remembered the lies she had told her parents, and even the police.

“Starting again sounds good,” she said.

“Thanks.” He smiled, then got serious. “I heard about the van and the wig. They're getting close.”

“Move back. I'm coming out so we don't have to whisper.”

She climbed out of the window and then they walked away from the house to where his Jeep waited. “Do you want to go for a ride?”

“No, I better be here if someone wakes up.” She leaned against the fence. Moonlight, a soft breeze, and wispy clouds floating in front of stars made her sigh. “It's nice tonight.”

Matt leaned beside her. “How are your parents doing?”

“They seem to have aged ten years in the last two days. Having their parents here is helping.”

“I wish we could do something to find Josh.” Matt put an arm around her shoulders. “I know it's tough. Are you okay?”

That touched her. “I wish I could drive. I want to go to those two wig stores. And I want to find a baseball cap.”

“What?”

Shelby told him about the picture in Myra's office. “I can't be sure, because I don't remember those bright colors. But the emblem was the right shape.”

Matt crossed his arms as he leaned against the fence next to her. “It's probably best to tell the police.” He slid closer until they were shoulder to shoulder.

Shelby's knees felt funny. “Probably. But I still want to check out the wig shops myself.”

“I'll tell my dad about the cap.”

“Do you think he'll take it seriously?”

“Yes, he really is a good cop. I was wondering if your parents and lawyer would let me come get you tomorrow.”

“Sorry, no way would Mom go for that. And if she catches us out here, she'll throw one huge fit.”

“You better go in before we get caught. I'll try and come up with something.”

“Matt, just forget it. There's no sense taking chances after Quick threatened your dad. We better not see each other again. I'll get Valerie to help.”

“Sure.” Without another word they walked back to the house. He gave her a boost back in the window, then set the screen.

“How'd you do that?” Shelby examined the screen. It fit perfectly.

“They have springs that push in and expand.” Matt smiled, started to say something, but changed his mind and walked off. “See you.”

“Bye.” She stood there until his taillights disappeared.

She got ready for bed with two distinct feelings. The first was elation that he had come over and made things right. The second was overwhelming frustration that they couldn't see each other. No way would her mother allow that.

She fell asleep with her hand on the place where their shoulders had touched.

Twenty-two

The morning was a confused whirlwind as the cots were put away and six people shared two bathrooms. Shelby stayed in her pajamas and ate a bowl of cereal while waiting her turn. When the phone rang, her mother snatched it up in the kitchen. Her face hardened as she listened. “Thank you for telling me.” She hung up.

“Shelby, who were you talking to in the backyard last night around midnight?” Worry and anger filled her mother's eyes.

Shelby put down her toast. “Matt came over to apologize.”

“I didn't hear anyone at the door.”

“I went out my window…”

“The window?” Her voice rose in anger. “He came to your bedroom window?”

“Yes.” She steeled herself to tell the truth. “We talked about twenty minutes then he left. I told him I couldn't see him again. But I forgave him, Mom. You should, too.”

Her mother lifted one hand and rubbed the back of her neck. “I told you I can't worry about anything except Josh. How could you do this to me, Shelby, how?” Her mother left the kitchen.

Shelby sank further in her chair. Pretty soon all of them would be in there yelling at her. She waited and when no one stormed in, she headed for the bathroom. As she passed the living room she saw the others in front of the TV. No one spoke to her. Her mother's door was closed but she heard voices. Since Roger was in the living room, she had to be on the phone. What if she called Detective Rutherford?

She spent longer in the shower than necessary and took even longer dressing. After trying and failing to read her book, she gave up and tossed it to the foot of the bed. She hadn't done anything wrong; she was halfway to being an adult. They should trust her judgment once in a while. Time to leave her room. She tried to act nonchalant on the way to the living room, but there was no one there to see. Her grandparents and Roger were gone.

“Shelby, come in here,” her mother called from the kitchen.

Bracing for an argument, she walked in. Her mother was seated at the table with a strange woman drinking coffee. She had short dark hair, framing a pretty round face. Dressed in a blouse and slacks, she gave Shelby a pleasant greeting. “Hello, Shelby.”

“Shelby, this is Mrs. Rutherford. I invited her over to discuss things.”

The blood rushed to her feet. Matt's mother? “It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Rutherford.” She couldn't believe the words sounded so normal, considering her mind wasn't working.

“It's very nice to meet you. I apologized to your mother for Matt's late-night visit, which will never happen again.”

Shelby wanted to sink through the floor.

“Ann and I agree on a few things,” her mother said, clearly pleased. “Matt is sorry for trying to be a detective. I understand what he was trying to do and I'll ask Mr. Quick to drop the whole matter.”

“Thank you,” Ann Rutherford said. “I'm very upset about this situation.”

“We also agree that a sophomore is way too young to be seeing a senior.” Her mother squinted at her. “So, your friendship is over.”

“Yes,” agreed Mrs. Rutherford, “and I will be discussing this with Matt. I'm happy that you've forgiven him, but this is where it ends.” She stood up. “I'm praying that Josh is found very soon, Melissa, and I feel terrible that your problems have been compounded by worries about my son. He won't be bothering you again.”

Shelby stood there in silence. It was as if she were invisible. As if she had no say in her own life. The women said their good-byes and Ann Rutherford left through the kitchen door.

As her mother closed it, she faced Shelby with a withering glare. “I hope I never have to do something like that again.”

Shelby still couldn't move, much less say anything.

“Everyone has gone to the police station, in case you were wondering. I couldn't go, because of you and that boy. That problem has been solved, thankfully, but if you ever climb out of the window at night again to meet a boy, you'll be grounded.”

“You blew this all out of proportion,” Shelby managed to say.

“In your mind, yes, I probably did. But in my mind, you were heading into a huge mess.” She pressed her temples. “I'm getting a sick headache. I'll be in my room.”

Shelby wandered over to the sink and drank a glass of water. Too bad someone had seen her outside with Matt. It ruined the warm feelings she had this morning, remembering how nice it was being out there with him. When this was all over, she'd find a way to talk to him one last time. She rinsed her glass and put it in the drainer. It was time to see if Valerie and Rachel would help.

Twenty-three

The next morning, a little red Corolla turned into the driveway with Valerie driving and Rachel riding shotgun. Shelby slid into the backseat behind Valerie. “I'm so glad you guys did this for me.”

“No problem,” Valerie said. “How's your mom and Roger?”

Shelby ducked her head as she buckled in. “Barely hanging in there…you know.” It was nice of Valerie to think of them, but she didn't know exactly what to say to explain what it was like at home. It seemed like a thick, cold fog had settled in the house and no amount of sun could make it go away.

“I know, sure,” Valerie said, sounding a little uncomfortable. “I mean, well, we know how tough it's been on them and you.”

And it's still tough, thought Shelby, twenty-four-hours-a-day tough.

“How are things about Matt?” Rachel asked with real concern in her eyes. She turned a little in her seat so she could talk to Shelby face-to-face. Shelby silently thanked Rachel for changing the subject. It would be so much easier talking about Matt than the emotional upheaval at home.

“It's all good. Last night Mom apologized for going overboard and we had a nice talk. Grammy thinks she should give Matt another chance. She's thinking about it. After you called this morning, Mom said going out for a hamburger with you guys would do me good.”

Valerie grinned in the rearview mirror as she backed the car out of the driveway. “We're just the right kind of friends to keep you out of trouble.”

Shelby rolled her eyes. “If she only knew.” They were about to go on a spy mission and no telling what would happen. She could only imagine what her mother would say if the three of them wound up in trouble.

“I would have climbed out to see Matt, too,” Rachel said, adding a practice twang: “Tha-yat boy sounds mighty fiii-ine.”

They laughed and even Shelby smiled.

“And so he's a senior?” Valerie straightened the wheel and drove away from the house.

“He is.”

Rachel faced forward. “Way to go, girl.”

“Okay, you can cut that out. He was just helping me find Josh.” Shelby couldn't see through the windshield so she scooted to the middle of the backseat and buckled in. “I don't know anything about him.”

“I called Brandon,” Rachel said. “Some of the guys play ball on the weekend and he says Matt's nice.”

Shelby's jaw dropped. The last they had heard, Rachel had only been crushing on Brandon, and now they were talking on the phone? “You called Brandon? What's up with that?”

Rachel grinned sheepishly and shrugged. “Um…okay, look. I wanted to talk to him and this was a really good excuse.”

“I can't believe you didn't tell me,” Valerie said, lightly smacking Rachel's hand. “What else don't we know?”

“It wasn't any big deal or anything.” Rachel blushed. “But we talked a really long time.”

Valerie and Shelby squealed.

“So are you two going out or anything?” asked Shelby. It was good to be gossiping with her friends again. She felt happy for Rachel—and a little ashamed of the annoying twinge of jealousy. Their lives were still so normal. Why did hers have to be so messed up?

“I wish.” Rachel shook her head sadly.

“Hey, we can double,” Valerie said. “Andrew and I are going out next Friday. My parents are starting in on me about being too serious, doubling might help.”

Leave it to Valerie to say just the right thing. Of course she already had a boyfriend. And there was that twinge of jealousy again.

“That would be great!” Rachel turned sideways to see both of them. “Should I ask him out?”

“Yes!” Valerie shouted at the same time Shelby said, “Do it!”

Rachel took a deep breath while clasping her hands under her chin. “Okay, I'll do it!” She faced forward. “I'll ask him Monday at school, if I don't hyperventilate and pass out first.”

Conversation ceased as they neared their destination and tried to find the right street. The first wig store was in a strip mall where they had never shopped.

Valerie parked in front of the shop. “Okay, here goes nothing.”

As Shelby got out she realized that she hadn't even thought about taking the time to dress for the mission. Valerie, in a white tank under a blue jacket over white skinny jeans, minced carefully onto the sidewalk in blue, sandal platforms. Rachel, in a sapphire-colored tunic and black capris, came slap-slapping around the front of the car on rhinestone-covered strappy sliders with two-inch heels.

Shelby smoothed her pink tee over her jeans and felt like Big Foot as she joined them at the door of the wig shop in her white cross-trainers. She decided to forgive herself. Fashion wasn't a priority for her right now.

Inside, a cancer patient was trying on wigs with her daughters' help. The girls had to be younger than twelve. Shelby and her two friends read each other's thoughts about how lucky they were to have healthy mothers. Shelby felt a guilty pang about the way she kept adding to her mother's worries.

At the counter, Valerie and Rachel hung back. An older woman, tall and trim, greeted them. Shelby had decided that honesty would garner the most sympathy and get them the information they needed.

“Hi,” she said in a quiet tone. “My name is Shelby Palmer.”

The name registered in the clerk's eyes with an interested flare, but nothing more. Shelby figured that the clerk, accustomed to serving ill clients, learned to hide her reactions well. “You've heard about me and about Josh?”

“Yes, I'm sorry about your brother. He's on our prayer list at church.” Her tone was sincere and full of sympathy.

“Thank you, that's nice,” Shelby said, feeling moved. “If you haven't already talked to the police, you should know that they found a blond wig that may have been the kidnapper's. We thought she might be trying to replace it. Did anyone you don't know come in recently and buy a wig?”

The woman's eyebrows narrowed. “I pretty much know all my customers since most are repeats. But, yesterday, a woman did come in around lunchtime and bought one that was totally inappropriate for her. Let me think.” She opened a drawer and pulled out some pink tickets and flipped through them.

A surge of hope rose in Shelby. Rachel and Valerie moved up beside her to lean on the counter.

The clerk suddenly stopped and let her hands fall on the tickets. “I forgot. The woman paid cash. I'm afraid there won't be any record of her name.”

“Oh, no,” Rachel said.

“Which wig did she buy?” Valerie asked.

“It was long, straight, and carrot-colored. It didn't go well with her complexion but she didn't care. She said it was for a costume party. Afterward she didn't want a wig box or Styrofoam head. She just shoved it in her purse.”

“Did you notice anything else?” Shelby asked. “Something that would help us identify her?”

“Plain, short brown hair. Tan pantsuit. Nothing stood out as far as her appearance. But she didn't act like someone who had heard devastating news.”

“Did you see what car she drove or anything?”

“Another customer came in as she left. I saw her run across the street and hop in a red pickup truck. That's all I saw.”

“Thank you, you've been very helpful,” Shelby said. A red pickup.

“You're welcome. And if she comes in again, I'll get more information from her. Should I…?”

“You should call the police if that happens,” said Shelby.

Back in the car Shelby told Valerie to head for Roger's office. “Time to play a hunch. If the kidnapper really had a baseball cap from Roger's company, he or she might work there. Let's see how many red pickups are in the parking lot and get license numbers.” She pulled out a small notebook and pencil from her purse.

The parking lot was empty of red pickups.

“That's it,” Rachel said. “Why don't we go get some lunch and try again later?”

“Okay,” Shelby said. “We can try the supermarkets and then cruise by the office around closing. If it's the man who works there, maybe she picks him up at closing time.”

“Call your mom,” Valerie told her. “Tell her we want to go to the mall and see if she'll let you.”

“Good idea.” Shelby took out her phone. Her mother agreed with a reminder to be home for dinner by six.

They ate then drove past Andrew, Brandon, and Matt's houses to try and catch a glimpse of them. Matt's Jeep was the only one parked in his drive. Rachel and Valerie amused themselves by wondering what Andrew and Brandon were doing. At four-thirty they drove back to Roger's company and parked in a spot where they could watch the entrance but not be seen.

“This is kind of a long shot, isn't it?” asked Rachel after half an hour.

“It's the only kind of shot we've got,” said Shelby.

“I just don't want you to be disappointed.”

“I know,” said Shelby. “But sitting here is a whole lot better than doing nothing.”

The girls both nodded.

They sat in unaccustomed silence for another half hour, eyes glued to the entrance to the parking lot. And then, at about a quarter past five, they saw it.

“There,” pointed Valerie, “that's a red pickup pulling in.”

The girls strained to watch as the pickup rolled into the parking lot and parked at a handicapped spot near the door. They watched the man inside hang up a sign on his rearview mirror. He got out. All they could see was his back as he strode to the door and inside.

“He's too far away to be sure. Oh, darn it!” Shelby dug under the seats. “I dropped the pencil.”

“Let me go,” Rachel said. “He won't know me if he comes back. I'll get his license number.”

“Found it.” Shelby handed her the pencil and notebook.

Rachel slap-slapped across the parking lot, stopped in back of the pickup, and jotted down the number. Then she darted inside the building.

Valerie and Shelby gasped.

“What is she doing?” Valerie screeched.

“She's going to ruin everything.” Shelby moaned with her eyes glued to the front door.

When it swung open, Rachel walked out then hit the ground wobble-running, trying hard not to lose a shoe. Shelby crossed her fingers until Rachel threw herself into the car. “Duck down, Shelby, right now.”

Shelby did. “Why, what happened?”

“I'll tell you in a minute but you can't be seen.”

“Rachel, talk,” Valerie ordered.

“I asked the lady at the reception desk who the man was who just came in,” Rachel said. “At first she was going to refuse, but I said I thought he was my uncle and I hadn't seen him in two years. I didn't want to embarrass myself if it wasn't him.”

“What did she say?” Shelby's back began to hurt from scrunching on the floor.

“She said he was Harlan Tuttle, Myra's brother.”