Eye of the Beholder (16 page)

“To do what?”

“Let her sleep it off on the couch at my apartment.”

Ellen stared at him blankly.

“As God is my witness, nothing inappropriate happened.”

“I thought you had better judgment than that! What were you thinking?”

“It was late. I had no idea
what
to do with her. All I wanted to do was get some sleep. Kinsey crashed on the couch and I slept in the bedroom. The next morning, I drove straight home.”

“If your conscience is clear, why are you so bent on telling me this in the middle of the night?”

Guy formed a tent with his fingers. “Because Monday after work, I found a bag of cocaine behind the couch cushion. I figured it had to be Kinsey’s, so I confronted her with it.”

“And?”

“She didn’t even know what it was until I told her. I’m convinced she didn’t have anything to do with it.”

Ellen turned to him, her eyes probing. “It just magically appeared?”

“Let me back up and put this in perspective.” Guy explained how angry he had been that Mina had interrupted their conversation and how he had stubbornly opted not to finish telling Ellen the whole story. He also told her everything that had happened from the first break-in at his apartment until the second, and why he had been reluctant to turn the cocaine over to the police. “I should have told you all this before.”

“How could you be so irresponsible?”

“I have no excuse. I’m sorry, honey. I hope you’ll forgive me. I’ve told you everything.”

“A day late and a dollar short, Counselor.” Ellen grabbed a
pillow and hugged it. “You really think someone related to the Brinkmont case planted the cocaine, hoping to frame you?”

“It makes more sense than anything else.”

“But why didn’t whoever put it there call the police and tell them you had it? What’s the point of planting something if it’s not reported?”

“I don’t know. That’s the one missing link. But I’m convinced it’s all related.”

Guy sat at the kitchen table with Owen while Hailey made French toast. Ellen shuffled in and poured herself a cup of coffee.

“Morning, Mom,” Owen said. “How’d you sleep?”

“Not well. The bed was comfortable, but I just had a lot on my mind. How come you’re not at work?”

“I took the day off in case there was something I could help you with.”

“How sweet of you. I’m not thinking straight and could probably use a nudge in the right direction.”

So now I’m chopped liver?
Guy wondered if Owen and Hailey had noticed that Ellen hadn’t even acknowledged his presence.

“Dad says he’s going to talk to Investigator Backus first thing this morning.”

“Good.”

“Think you ought to go with him?”

Ellen took a sip of coffee, her eyes fixed on the table. “I don’t think that’s necessary. While he’s doing that, I think I’ll get the ball rolling with the insurance company. So many things have to be replaced it’s hard to know where to begin.”

“Honey, don’t forget the DVD we put in the safety deposit box,” Guy said. “With all our possessions documented on tape, it shouldn’t take long to get a check from the insurance company.”

“Was that ever smart thinking,” Hailey said. “Leave it to a lawyer.”

Ellen took another sip of coffee and said nothing.

“Dad, how about if I go with you to the police station?” Owen said. “It’ll be a good way for me to hear all the facts laid out. I’ve got the big picture, but I’d like to have a better sense of how the three incidents fit together.”

Ellen glanced at Guy and then set her gaze on Owen. “Yes, I think that’s an excellent idea. I’m sure it will be … enlightening.”

Gordy Jameson sat in his office at the crab shack, reading Wednesday’s newspaper. He heard the front door open. “Good morning, Billy.”

“Hi, Mister G. I will work now.”

Gordy got up and went out to the dining area and unlocked the door to the deck. “You look mighty chipper this morning.”

Billy’s head bobbed. “To-day is Bible study. El-len will come to my house.”

“Have you talked to her lately?”

“No, but it is Wednes-day. She will come.”

Gordy held open the door to the deck and let Billy squeeze past him, then went out to the kitchen.

“Pam, I just read somethin’ troubling in the paper: Ellen and Guy Jones’s house was ransacked yesterday.”

“That’s awful. Do they know who did it?”

“Not according to the paper.”

“Maybe you should call them.”

“Yeah, I think I will.”

“What’ve you got there?” Gordy started to stick his finger into a bowl of something chocolate-looking and quickly pulled it away before Pam could swat him.

“That’s the batter for my triple chocolate mousse cake.”

“Did we sell out already?”

“Yes, and Weezie left me a note to be sure and make some more.”

“You’re turnin’ out to be a real asset, you know that?”

Pam laughed. “Yes, a real ‘cash cow,’ to quote Weezie.”

“I’m serious. Keep this up and I may have to add a bake shop to this place so you can sell your desserts to go.”

“Ah,
sell
. Now that’s a novel idea. Why didn’t I think of that?”

Gordy smiled. “Hey, I’m gettin’ better. I’ve limited myself to only twelve ‘free dessert’ coupons per day.”

“That’s two pies on the house.”

“And a dozen happy customers who’ll come back again.”

“I know.” She slid into his arms. “I honestly don’t care whether we sell them or give them away. It’s just fun being a part of this. Just don’t tell Weezie.”

Gordy pressed his lips to her cheek. “Think I’ll try calling the Joneses.”

He went back in his office and flipped through his Rolodex until he found the Js, then picked up the receiver and dialed.

“Hello.”

“Ellen?”

“No, this is her daughter-in-law. Hold on, I’ll get her.”

“Hello.”

“Ellen, it’s Gordy. I wasn’t sure I’d catch you at the house after what happened.”

“Actually, you didn’t. I’ve forwarded my calls to Owen and Hailey’s.”

“I hope I’m not botherin’ you, but I was wonderin’ if there’s anything Pam and I can do?”

“Not really, Gordy. The house is a mess, but the insurance company will get over there today and assess the damage. I hope we’ll be able to get back in there soon.”

“Any idea who did it?”

“It may be tied to a case Guy was working on. The police have asked us not to give specifics while the investigation is going on.”

“That makes sense. By the way, Billy’s here workin’ this morning and thinks you’re gonna do a Bible study today with
him and Lisa. You need me to tell him anything?”

“No. As eager as those kids are, I don’t have the heart to cancel.”

“Sounds like you’ve got a full plate. Why don’t you swing by here any time and I’ll send some fish and chips home with you so you and your family won’t have to deal with fixing something to eat. It’s the least I can do.”

Guy left the police station and drove eight blocks before he realized Owen hadn’t said a word. “Why are you so quiet?”

Owen shrugged.

“Whatever you’re thinking you might as well get off your chest.”

“All right,” Owen said. “Are you nuts? What possessed you to let Kinsey Abbot spend the night at your apartment?”

“You heard what I told Investigator Backus. She was drunk.”

“Come on, Dad. It was completely out of line. You could’ve just as easily put her up in a motel.”

“I was afraid she might fall and hurt herself. Or wander off. She was really smashed.”

“So Kinsey’s got a drinking problem?”

“She’s not a drunk, if that’s what you mean. She just likes to party once in a while.”

“Fine. Let her. But since when is she
your
responsibility? If you’d treat Mom with as much TLC, maybe you wouldn’t be having problems.”

“That’s a little simplistic.”

Owen shook his head. “You’d have chewed me up and spit me out if I had done this to Hailey.”

“I didn’t do this
to
your mother. Look, I made a bad judgment call. All I wanted to do was keep Kinsey off the street till she sobered up.”

“What are you, the enabler? The woman needs to be talking to someone in AA.”

“Owen, you’re blowing this way out of proportion. I’m done talking about Kinsey.”

“Okay. Then let’s talk about Mom.”

“What about her?”

“I saw the way she avoided you at breakfast. Did you tell her everything?”

“Absolutely.”

“Does she believe you?”

“She knows I wouldn’t lie to her.”

“Did you ask her to forgive you?”

Guy breathed in and forced it out. “Why don’t you let
me
handle your mother?”

“Because you’re doing a lousy job, Dad!” Owen sat back in his seat and stared out the window. “Look, I don’t mean to be disrespectful. But I’ve watched your relationship with Mom go downhill since Hailey and I moved here, and I don’t understand what’s going on. You taught me everything I know about respecting women and how to love my wife. You were a great role model. So why’d you stop taking your own advice?”

“I didn’t. Marriage requires ongoing adjustments. We’ve just gotten a little out of sync.”

“Is that what you call it? You’ve hardly said a civil word to Mom in weeks. And then you pull this stunt with Kinsey. What do you expect her to think?”

“I expect her to know that I love her and would never be unfaithful.”

“Kind of hard to make that one stick when your actions don’t match your words!”

Guy made a sharp turn onto a side street, pulled over to the curb, and clamped his fingers around Owen’s wrist. “Don’t you
ever
question my faithfulness to your mother! I made a bad judgment call. But I’ve been committed to Ellen since I slid that ring on her finger. I won’t tolerate you or anyone else suggesting otherwise.” Guy turned loose of Owen’s wrist and
clutched the steering wheel, his heart racing.

“You shouldn’t have told me to get it off my chest if you didn’t want to hear it. If you and Mom had been communicating all along, I doubt if trust would even be an issue. But you have to admit, this looks bad.”

“I know how it looks, son.”

Guy’s cell phone rang. He took it out of his pocket and hit the talk button. “Hello.”

“It’s Brent. Anything new happening?”

“Owen and I just left the police station. I had a long talk with the investigator who’s handling the break-in at the house. He’s already talked to Investigator Hamlin up there. They’re leaning toward all three break-ins being related to the Brinkmont case.”

“I was on the phone this morning with the Brinkmont higher ups,” Brent said. “They’re pretty rattled about this. A couple of them are considering hiring bodyguards. That’s not a bad idea for you either.”

“Seems a bit extreme.”

“I guarantee you, if I’d gotten the threat, I’d be thinking about it. I’ve got to run. I need to be in a meeting. Keep me posted on what’s happening there. Oh … do you know what Kinsey had on her itinerary today?”

“Yeah, she was going to do some research on that new case you gave us. I think she planned to be out until after lunch.”

“All right. Talk to you later.”

Guy disconnected the call and put the phone in his pocket. “What’s the deal?” Owen said.

“Uh, nothing. Just Brent checking in.” Guy made a U-turn and got back on Main Street.
Bodyguards? This thing is getting out of hand
.

 16
 

L
ate Wednesday afternoon, Guy Jones stood at the window and watched Ellen pull into the driveway behind his Mercedes. She seemed to be fumbling for something on the passenger seat, then slid out of the car and went up on the porch, holding a white sack under her arm and one in each hand.

Guy opened the front door and held it. “What’ve you got there?”

“Fish and chips, compliments of Gordy.”

“Looks like everybody’s on the same page.”

“What do you mean?”

“Come see for yourself.”

Ellen followed him into the kitchen, surprised to see covered dishes laid out on the countertop and stove. “What’s all this?”

Hailey went over and pulled the foil back on several of the containers and closed her eyes, letting the aroma waft under her nose. “Well, let’s see. Mina brought over a chicken-and-rice casserole that looks yummy. Blanche brought a brisket. Julie brought a big pan of lasagna with garlic bread and a salad—and a promise to bring tomorrow night’s dinner.”