Catalyst (15 page)

Lem nodded. "Nikki has been an alcoholic for years.
We thought we had it conquered and she was dry for two years. Those
were the good years but it didn't last." He switched his attention
to Courtney who was taking in every word and smiled. "We all have
problems, don't we?"

"I guess," the girl replied, "but why was she like
that?"

Lem shrugged. "Why is anyone the way they are? When
we were first married, I thought she was happy. Sure, she drank a
little at social events but nothing to excess. One day I came home
from work to find her out cold on the floor. Apparently, she had
been secretly drinking for months but hid it well."

"But why did she have a relapse after so long?" Renee
asked.

"She had a miscarriage and took it hard. Her
personality changed, she began seeing other men and…well, our
marriage went downhill. The rest you know about."

"But we still just can't leave her," Renee
argued.

"I agree," Courtney said. "She seemed really upset
about something to do with your jacket. You were pretty cold. I've
never seen you so mad."

"I was thinking of Renee."

"Me?" Renee gasped. "What have I got to do with
it?"

"You are the best thing that has happened to me," Lem
whispered in a serious voice. "I don't want Nikki to come between
us. When I saw her in the room, I just wanted to get rid of her,
that's all."

"But you offered to drive her here and asked us
along. Why?" Courtney chipped in.

"I couldn't let her drive in her condition and
thought if I was alone with her she might make advances." Lem
coughed. "Even if I rejected them she could still say I'd come on
to her." He gazed at Renee. "She is quite capable of spinning any
sort of story."

"And you thought I'd believe her?"

"Not really," Lem replied and broke into a smile,
"but I didn't want to risk it."

"Oh, Lem," Renee replied. She walked over, placed her
arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. "Thank you."

Lem kissed her back, grinned at Courtney and stood.
"Look, I'll call Petra, that's her sister. How about that for a
compromise?"

****

Petra Garity was an older rotund version of Nikki.
She arrived half an hour later and greeted Renee and Courtney
courteously but was, naturally enough, concerned about her sister.
After seeing Nikki was asleep she returned to the kitchen and
accepted an invitation to have coffee.

"Did you find the jacket for her, Lem?" she asked a
few moments later as she stirred her half-filled mug for the third
time.

"No but what is all the fuss about it, anyway?"

"I'm not sure," Petra replied. "All I know is that
Nikki is in deep financial trouble. Do you know this Patrick
McQuilkin?"

"Not personally."

"There's more to it than just an affair gone bad,"
Petra replied. "The man has some sort of hold over her and she's
scared stiff. That's why she was so upset when she didn't receive
as much as she thought in your settlement. She wasn't just
vindictive towards you but needed the money."

"And she's drinking again," Lem said. "I guess it all
goes together. As soon as any stress comes along, she turns to the
bottle."

"But how will the jacket help?" Renee asked.

Petra looked up and shrugged. "As far as I can work
out she put something valuable in the jacket pocket, or thinks she
did. She's pretty confused, so chances are there's nothing there at
all."

"What is it?" Courtney burst out.

"A necklace or bracelet Patrick McQuilkin gave her
and now demands back."

"But if it was a gift it's her property," Renee
replied.

"You tell her that," Petra responded. "I tried."

"I see," Lem replied. "If she won't tell you, Petra,
she'll tell nobody. You've been her one stable influence over the
years."

"You were too, you know," Petra said and switched her
attention to Renee. "Lem couldn't have done more to try to save
their marriage, you know. She's my sister but I was surprised he
didn't walk out years ago. He's a good man."

"I know he is," Renee replied.

"Hi, cut out talking about me as if I'm not here,"
Lem protested and ruffled Renee's hair. He turned back to Petra.
"Anyhow, thanks for coming over. We'll be off now. Courtney has an
interview at ten."

"Oh, shit," the teenager glanced at her watch and
gasped when she realized it was twenty to the hour in question. "I
forgot how late it is."

"Don't worry," Lem replied. "The college is only a
few blocks from here."

With their priorities changed, the three thanked
Petra and made a hasty departure.

****

The community college was a buzz of activity with
Saturday classes in full operation.

After they found a parking spot, Courtney said, "See
you guys later."

Renee glanced at Lem and smiled. "Sometimes I feel so
old and I mother her, while at other times she's like a kid sister
giving me advice."

"Make it permanent, then," Lem whispered. He avoided
Renee's eyes and watched Courtney, who had turned to wave before
disappearing inside the building.

"What do you mean?" Renee replied.

"Move into my apartment and bring Courtney. I can't
board her by myself." He flushed. "I'm still old fashioned, I
guess."

"But my work? It's a long drive back to Mount Vernon
everyday."

"Not impossible, though. Also, it will give your
father a chance to work out his situation. I have a feeling he's
torn between Amy and yourself. He would never ask you to leave but
needs a life of his own."

"S'pose." Renee bit her bottom lip. "Oh Lem, I'd love
to be with you all the time but can I think about it over
Christmas? Courtney won't start here until January."

"Sure. All our lives are in a state of flux, aren't
they?"

Renee smiled and leaned so her head was against his
shoulder with his arm tucked around her. "All positive, Lem," she
whispered.

****

Forty minutes later Courtney appeared and almost
skipped across the car lot. "It's a go." She laughed. "But they
want to see you inside."

"Who, Lem or me?" Renee asked.

"Both of you," Courtney said. "You don't mind, do
you?"

"We're honored," Lem said in a serious voice. "Come
on, Renee. Let's go and see the professor."

A woman met the pair, introduced herself as Doctor
Dorothy Infield and showed them into a modest office refurnished in
the 1930s style. Somehow, this enhanced the college as a place with
character and personality.

"No doubt Courtney told you we are happy to accept
her as a student," the dean began. "Thank you both for coming in."
She reached for a folder. "There's a slight discrepancy here.
Courtney told us her grandmother had agreed to pay her full tuition
fees, so she won't need a student loan, yet she named you as her
next of kin." She glanced up. "Are either of you related to
her?"

Renee glanced at Lem. "No. We're just friends who
care for her."

"We received an interesting report from Courtney's
original school, a private girls' school, I believe. They hinted
there were domestic problems but neither of you are mentioned in
this information. Can you elaborate?"

Lem glanced at Renee. "Do you want the full story,
Doctor?" he said.

"Please," Doctor Infield replied. "The students who
come here are often extremely bright but for one reason or another,
have had problems in their lives. If we know their history, it can
help us to help them. Courtney appears to come into this category.
Anything you say will, of course, be completely confidential."

"Okay," Lem replied. "We were complete strangers
until…" With Renee's help, he told the dean Courtney's story.

"So when we came home, she came too," Renee
concluded. "I guess we've given her the security she needs. She
didn't want to tell her grandmother about the attack and her mother
cannot be found. I guess that's why she named us on her application
form."

Doctor Infield nodded. "It's a story far too common,
I'm afraid. She is a fortunate young lady to have met you both. You
don't mind being her next of kin on our records, then, I take
it."

"No," Renee said and Lem nodded.

They shook hands with the dean and returned to an
impatient Courtney sitting in the car. "God, you were ages. What
kept you?"

"Mainly waiting." Renee lied and handed the girl a
copy of the registration. "You're now an official high school
senior at Northside Community College. I must say I'm impressed
with the place."

"Yeah, it's cool," Courtney replied and turned her
blue eyes to Renee. "So are you going to move in with Lem and give
me the spare room?"

" Cheeky." Renee laughed. "We'll see."

"Lem, tell her," Courtney pleaded. "She doesn't get
on with Grandma, anyhow."

"Women," Lem retorted. "You sort out what you want
and I'll go along with it."

"Fair enough." Courtney turned to Renee. "Well, my
girl. You'd better get your A into G, hadn't you?"

"We'll see," Renee repeated and gazed out the
windshield deep in thought as she drove to Lem's apartment.

****

CHAPTER
14

Monday morning was the usual rush. Renee dropped
Courtney off at the supermarket where she worked and headed for the
office. Even though it was eight-thirty, the place was empty.
Nobody was in the front office and the lights were off.

Renee frowned and headed through the empty room.
Again, everything was quiet with the computers blank and silent. It
was like a Sunday, not Monday morning. She reached her own office
and was about to walk in when she heard a cough and turned.

A pale and drawn Annette Usborne stood at the door.
"I tried to text you, Renee," she said in a soft voice, "then sent
you an email. Didn't you get the message?"

Renee could see something was wrong. "What is it,
Annette? I've been in Seattle all weekend and my father never
bothers to use the computer to get email messages."

"It's Dad," Annette said and her lips quivered.

"Is he ill?"

"Worse than that. He had a heart attack yesterday
morning and died. We've closed the business today. I guessed you
may have missed my message and came down here, just in case."

"Oh, my God," Renee responded. "I'm so sorry,
Annette. Is there anything I can do?"

"We have an answering phone switched on but perhaps
you could stay for an hour in case anyone arrives. As you can see,
all the office staff has been told not to come in."

"And your Dad's funeral."

"Thursday. Can you carry on with Rosa Escantia's case
tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Thanks," Annette said and burst into tears. "There
was no warning. Dad was only sixty-four. I thought he'd have
another twenty years."

Renee grimaced. Death at any time was tragic but when
it arrived without warning... She placed an arm around the weeping
woman and guided her to a seat. "Are you sure there's nothing I can
do?"

"Please stay," Annette whispered.

"I can stay all day if you wish Annette."

"No." She took a handkerchief out and dabbed her
eyes. "I know we haven't got on very well and even Dad realized at
the end that my brother is a chauvinistic slob with no skills,
whatsoever." She glanced up. "He told me you were an asset to the
firm and made me so annoyed."

"Why?" said Renee in a whisper.

"Dad was the old school. You know, you have a son to
follow in your footsteps, take over the firm and become yourself
for the next generation. He never discouraged me when I decided to
become a lawyer but never encouraged me either." She stopped and
cried quiet tears. "Poor Dad. I think he realized years ago William
wasn't suited to be a lawyer. That's why he gave us equal shares in
the firm after he bought out old Doug Westendarp. He had to support
his son but acknowledged me, too. Then you were employed, so keen,
qualified and…"

"If your father was so sexist why was I
employed?"

Annette glanced up. "You're a young attractive
redhead. It was your good looks and curvy figure that got you the
job." She sniffed back more tears. "I'm afraid my father was that
way inclined."

"Oh hell," Renee responded.

"But you proved to be an excellent lawyer," Annette
continued. "And I was jealous. I had managed to prove to Dad I was
better than William and you came along and outperformed me in
almost every way. That's why I've been so critical of you and
outright nasty at times."

"You have," Renee replied. "I've considered leaving
but you're a good lawyer, Annette. I always knew that."

"So will you stay with the firm? It's going to be a
tough battle with William Junior in charge."

"In charge?"

"Probably." Annette sniffed. "Dad still owned
fifty-one percent of the company shares. William and I have twenty
percent each and the rest is owned by a handful of Doug's
relations. Knowing Dad, I'm sure he'll leave his shares to William.
Old traditions die hard, you know."

"I see," Renee replied. "With William Junior in
charge, I don't think I'll last long." She glanced up and smiled.
"But I'll stay in the meantime. Okay?"

"Thanks." Annette briefly touched Renee's arm and
left.

****

Defense Attorney Renee Bonnett looked as nervous as
her client when the jury filed back into the courtroom that
Thursday afternoon after only two hours deliberation.

"This can be a good sign," she whispered to Rosa
Escantia but they both knew it was probably the opposite.

The jury took their seats and the foreperson, a
middle-aged white woman, who throughout the trial had sat
tight-lipped and listened to the evidence without any sign of
emotion, stood up. It looked bad!

Judge Rebecca Telles read the small piece of paper
handed to her by the clerk and cast her eyes around the court. The
mainly Hispanic spectators were seated in two distinct groups with
Rosa's friends and relations on one side, while her late husband's
relations filled the seats opposite.