Costume Catastrophe (Zoe Donovan Mystery Book 21) (14 page)

“Okay, I will. Is that it?”

“No. I also heard through the grapevine that Tommy didn’t come into town on Wednesday, as he’d originally told me he did. Stephanie Bird told Ellie that she had drinks with Tommy over the weekend.”

Salinger frowned. “It sounds like you’re almost building a case for Tommy as the shooter, but let’s not forget he was a victim too.”

“I know, but this case is so odd, I feel like we need to stay on top of every clue no matter how minor. You never know when some small detail could end up providing just the clue we need to solve this thing.”

Salinger reached for a file folder that was part of a stack on his desk. “Speaking of new information, I just found out from the medical examiner that Joey had a brain tumor. It was still small, but the neurologist I spoke to said it was located in such a spot that it could very well have affected his behavior.”

“So that could explain the paranoia. I wonder if Joey knew about it.”

“I haven’t been able to find any evidence that he sought medical treatment for a tumor or related symptoms such as headaches. I’m guessing he didn’t know.”

“Okay, all of this seems like it might be relevant information. Now we just need to figure out how everything fits together.”

When I arrived home Levi’s car was in the drive. It seemed all my running around had taken longer than I’d anticipated. I hoped he and Scooter hadn’t had to wait too long. I knew Levi had wanted to have an early night to be fresh for the game tomorrow.

“Sorry I’m late,” I apologized as I walked into the house. “I got a new lead and stopped to chat with Salinger, and I guess it took longer than I realized.”

“No problem. We haven’t been here long. Scooter went up to his room. He wanted to call Tucker to tell him about the maze. Can we talk?”

I set my backpack down on the table. “Sure. What’s on your mind?”

“Somewhere private. Where we can’t be overheard.”

I glanced at Levi, who had about the most serious look on his face I’d ever seen. “Let’s go into Zak’s office. We can close the door. No one will overhear us.”

I led Levi down the hall to the large room and closed the door behind us. I indicated that Levi should have a seat on the sofa, but he ignored my invitation and began to pace.

“What’s on your mind?”

Levi ran his hand through his hair. He looked nervous. “Rachael and I were chatting tonight while the kids played games at the arcade. She told me she’d become pregnant with Joslyn while she was still in high school.”

Uh-oh. Here it came. Levi
was
her father!

“She explained how she made the decision not to tell the father and how she had to hide her pregnancy until after graduation, when she was able to leave town.” Levi took a deep breath before he continued, and I was pretty certain I’d forgotten to breathe altogether. “While she was telling me everything she went through during that difficult time in her life something occurred to me.” Levi looked up and met my eye. I could see he was working up the courage to go on.

“You realized you’re Joslyn’s father,” I blurted out.

“What? No. I’m not Joslyn’s father. Why would you think such a thing?”

“I don’t know,” I defended myself. “You and she have the same coloring.”

“A lot of kids have my coloring, but as far as I know I’m no one’s father.”

I let out a long breath. Talk about relief. “I’m sorry. I guess I jumped to conclusions.”

“Rachael told me that Joey was Joslyn’s father.”

Okay, now that was a new twist. “Did he know?”

“Yeah, he knew. Rachael and Joslyn ran into Tommy five years ago. When he saw Joslyn he suspected Joey might be her father, so he asked Rachael about it. She confided in him that it was true, which I guess made Tommy pretty mad. The thing is, while Joey and I just messed around with Rachael, Tommy really cared about her. She told me that Tommy went to Joey and told him about Joslyn. Tommy felt Joey should step up and help Rachael out financially, but Joey insisted it was her choice to have the kid, and because he was never given the opportunity to have any input on whether or not she kept the baby in the first place, he felt no responsibility for her.”

“Ouch.”

“Yeah. Joey could be pretty self-centered.”

“That must be the argument Tommy referred to.”

“I guess. Anyway, can we get back to the reason for this conversation?”

“Sure. I’m sorry. Go ahead. What did you realize when Rachael was talking to you about her   pregnancy?”

“Is Ellie pregnant?”

I supposed I should have seen this coming. I’m not sure why I hadn’t. “I think that’s something you should discuss with Ellie.”

“Maybe, but I’m asking you. Best friend to best friend. Is Ellie pregnant?”

Levi frowned when I didn’t answer. “She is, isn’t she?”

I wasn’t sure what to say. Levi actually looked angry. I wasn’t expecting angry.

“Answer me!” he shouted. “Is Ellie pregnant?”

“Yes.”

Suddenly all the anger left Levi’s body and he looked like he was going to cry. “Brady?”

At first I wasn’t sure what Levi was asking, but then I realized he was assuming Brady was the baby’s father. I guess that made sense; Ellie and Brady had been dating when Ellie conceived. “No, not Brady.”

“Then who?”

I just looked at Levi. I watched his expression as he put all the pieces together. “Oh, God, it’s me. Ellie is pregnant with my baby.”

I got up and crossed the room. I took Levi’s hand in mine.

“Why didn’t she tell me?”

“She’s going to, but she’s scared.”

“Scared? Of me? Why on earth would she be scared of me?”

“She knows how you feel about having kids. You’ve made it very clear that you don’t want any. I think she feels bad about what happened and doesn’t want to ruin your life. She loves you and she cares a great deal about your happiness.”

Levi walked over and sat down on the sofa. He didn’t say anything, but I could see he was in shock.

“I think it would be best for you to wait to talk to Ellie about this until you’ve had a chance to process everything,” I said softly.

“Yeah,” Levi said, his eyes devoid of light. “That might be a good idea.”

Chapter 10

Saturday, October 29

Another sleepless night, but this time it had nothing to do with Joey’s death or the identity of the possible killer. Poor Levi. Once the reality of the situation sank in, I could see he was completely overwhelmed. It was a lot to take in, especially for a person who’d never really seen himself as a father. It was too bad he’d had all that dropped into his lap the night before the big game, but at least he had something else to focus on. My dilemma, I realized, was that I had no idea whether I should say anything to Ellie. Part of me felt it wasn’t my place to get in the middle of it, while another felt I already was in the middle and should warn her about the situation.

“I can’t believe how nervous I am,” Ellie commented when I picked her up for the game.

“Nervous?”

“About the game. I hope the boys do well. I know everyone has been working really hard and I’d love for them to win.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Where are Zak and the kids?”

“They went on ahead. They wanted seats on the fifty-yard line, so they went to the field hours ago. I didn’t want to go that early, so they’re saving us seats. Do you want to drop Shep over at our place so he isn’t alone all day?”

“That would be great. I’ll grab him. You might want to move your purse.” Ellie nodded to the bag on the backseat. “Shep likes to eat phones.”

“It’s not my bag, it’s Alex’s. Zak had this car last night. She must have left it behind when he brought her home. I’ll stick it in the trunk for now.”

I put the bag in the trunk while Ellie went in to fetch Shep.

“So, did Alex have fun at the dance?” Ellie asked as she came back to the car with the dog.

“She really did.” I smiled. “She was talking a mile a minute when she got home, which is a very un-Alex thing to do. I guess the not-a-date turned into a sort-of-date and she got her first kiss.”

“Aww. How sweet.”

“I thought Zak was going to have an aneurism when Alex proudly announced that Tony had kissed her good night. I really never pegged him as the overprotective-papa type, but he certainly played the role to a T last night. I can’t imagine how he’s going to be with our own daughter.”

“Your daughter? Is there something you aren’t telling me?”

“No, I’m not pregnant. I was referring to a metaphorical future daughter.”

We dropped Shep at the house, then headed into town and the high school. It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for football. The sun had dried most of the rain puddles and it looked as if we were in for about as awesome a day as they came. Too bad I was too stressed out to enjoy it.

“So, how’s the murder investigation coming along?” Ellie asked as we drove through town.

I filled her in on everything I’d discovered the previous evening.

“After everything we’ve learned I can’t make up my mind about Tommy,” Ellie said. “I mean, he did get shot. The fact that he was a victim of whoever is running around with a gun seems to indicate that he isn’t the killer—unless the wound was self-inflicted of course.”

“Actually, I had a similar thought, but Salinger said the angle was off for his wound to have been self-inflicted.”

“Which may let him off the hook as a murder suspect, but he did lie about when he got into town and he did check himself out of the hospital and then basically disappear. Something smells fishy.”

“I agree. It also seems significant to me that it appears Joey was dating Tommy’s sister. Tommy and Joey had an argument over the way Joey treated Rachael, which would indicate to me that he wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea that his baby sister was dating the scumbag who’d turned his back on the woman he loved during her time of need.”

“This whole thing is pretty twisted. Do you remember why Tommy and Rachael broke up in the first place?”

I thought about it. “I’m not sure, but I seem to remember that Rachael broke up with Tommy to date Levi.”

“Who then dumped her, causing her to hook up with Joey.”

I slowed the car and pulled up to a stoplight. I turned and looked at Ellie. “Levi told me that Tommy really cared about Rachael, and I do remember Levi and Tommy having a falling out after Levi started dating Rachael. I wonder if the fact that Tommy showed up in town at the same time Rachael moved back is related.”

“You think Tommy was really in town to see Rachael?”

“I think it makes an interesting theory, although if Tommy’s sister has moved back to Ashton Falls that could provide a reason for his visit as well.”

“I still don’t get why he lied about the timing of his arrival. If he was out with Stephanie it seems like he would realize there would be people in town who’d remember seeing them together.”

“Yeah, that is strange. I guess he might not realize I would doubt his statement and look into things further. He might have stopped by to talk to me on Wednesday in order to create an alibi for the time Joey was shot.” I pulled forward when the light turned green.

“Why would he need an alibi unless he’s the one who shot Joey?”

“Exactly.” My phone buzzed just as I pulled into the high school parking lot. It was Zak.

“Hey, Zak. We just got here.”

“Have you spoken to Levi this morning?”

“No. Why?”

“He’s not here. His assistant coach just pulled me aside and let me know he never showed. They’ve been calling him, but he isn’t picking up.”

I felt my heart sink to my toes. I couldn’t help but remember the witch’s words when she informed me that Tommy wasn’t the one who was to follow. Surely it wasn’t Levi. Though he had been upset last night. Maybe he’d gone home and drowned his sorrows in a bottle of scotch.

“Has anyone gone by his apartment?”

“No. Everyone kept thinking he’d show up any minute.”

“I’m going to head over to his place to check on him. I’ll call you when I get there.”

“What happened?” Ellie asked. Her face was as white as a sheet. I knew I needed to keep it together and not give in to the panic I was feeling for her sake.

“Levi never showed up at the school. I’m heading over to his apartment. Do you want to come or wait here with Zak?”

“I’m coming.”

I started the car and pulled out of the lot and back onto the highway. Levi’s apartment was only a couple of minutes away. Hopefully we’d find him sleeping off a bender and not… well, I didn’t want to think about that.

“Wait here,” I said to Ellie when we pulled up in front of the apartment building.

“I’m coming with you.”

“I know you want to, but I’m not sure what we’ll find, so I think it’s best that you and the baby wait while I check it out.”

“You think he’s the second victim. The one from the note you got that first night.”

“I hope not, but at this point I don’t know. I’ll only be a minute. If I don’t come back in two minutes, call 911.”

With that I got out of the car and quickly made my way to Levi’s unit.

I knocked, but he didn’t answer. I tried the doorknob; it wasn’t locked. I gasped when I let myself in. It looked like there’d been a struggle. I held my breath as I made my way to Levi’s bedroom. The bed was mussed, as if he’d slept in it, and his phone was on the bedside table, but the room was otherwise empty.

There was no way Levi would just have left without taking his phone. Levi was in a serious relationship with his cell and I never saw the two of them apart.

I picked up Levi’s phone and put it in my pocket. Ellie was waiting, so I decided to return to the car before I called Salinger. I felt my heart skip a beat when I found Tommy sitting in the backseat of my car, chatting with Ellie.

“Tommy. What are you doing here?” I asked as calmly as I could. Ellie looked nervous, but at least she wasn’t totally freaking out. “I figured you’d be at the big game.”

“Figured the same thing about you.”

“Levi forgot his phone, so he asked Ellie and me to come pick it up. We’re heading back to the school now.”