Fear Familiar Bundle (157 page)

Jennifer gripped the telephone and a sympathetic Mrs. Whipple handed her a cup of fresh black coffee. "In the time that you left and his mother arrived to get him, something happened to him. He simply disappeared. Just like Mimi."

"Tommy is a very self-reliant young man." Eugene sighed.

The defeat in that one sigh made Jennifer stand up. "I'm coming over to check on you."

"No."

"What?" Jennifer was astounded. Eugene had never told her not to come over.

"This is terrible. I need some time alone to think. Time to remember. I want to write down everything that transpired between Tommy and me before I walked away. I want to make notes about every car that was parked at the library. Anyone I passed as I walked away. I need to do this and I need utter quiet so I can think."

There was wisdom in Eugene's plan, but Jennifer also felt a creeping suspicion that he was too upset for company. That troubled her.

"I'm supposed to go to a political rally tonight. May I stop by after the rally?" She waited for his answer.

"Of course, and bring James with you. He might have some new ideas about this business. And don't ask— I've never heard you mention politics, so you must be going with that reporter. I may be old, but I'm not senile. Yet."

That tiny bit of feistiness in Eugene's tone took a burden of worry off Jennifer's shoulders. "We'll be by about ten or so. James has to go to the paper and write the story, so we won't be able to stay long."

"By that time, maybe Tommy and Mimi will be home."

"Maybe they will." She knew the words were empty as she spoke them.

J
ENNIFER SHIFTED
her weight in the hard metal chair that made up the spectator area at the Fairhope rally. She'd listened to more than a dozen boring speeches by politicians running for everything from local to state office. The entire evening would have been entirely boring had it not been for James's acute powers of observation and humorous asides.

"Who's up next?" she asked. The woman who had walked to the podium looked familiar, but Jennifer hadn't bothered much with Alabama politics since moving to Mobile.

"Anna Green for the state legislature. She's a school board member, famous— or infamous as the case may be— for her mudslinging in public meetings." James inched forward in his chair.

Around them the crowd stilled as Anna cleared her throat and looked over the gathering. "The future of our children is at stake here, and that's why I've decided to take my campaign from the school board to the state house! We can no longer sit back and let the moguls of television, rock music and publishing destroy our children and our society. They are the enemy and we must attack." Anna Green lifted a clenched fist at the roar of applause from the audience of two thousand at the city park.

"I can't believe this," Jennifer whispered to James as she watched the faces of the crowd. "These people are buying into that propaganda. Anna Green can't possibly make children safe by attacking movie moguls."

"But she can make these adults think that she can. She's tapped into a real fear. These people are worried about their children and grandchildren. They want to believe that someone more powerful than they are can promise safety." James made a few notes on his pad as Anna Green continued her speech.

"Our world has turned violent. Television, movies, rock videos, even books, have portrayed violence as the answer to all problems. Our children are victims of molesters, abductors and perverts. They are even victims of other children who have been taught to shoot, beat or murder by example. I say we must act now. Violence on television must be stopped. Books must be burned. Instigators of violence and cruelty must be punished."

Jennifer felt her skin shiver with the raw power that Anna Green generated. She spoke with fervor and passion, and the crowd was swayed by her emotion as much as by her words. A chill settled over Jennifer as she listened.

"Burn the books!" someone in the audience yelled out.

"Burn the movies!" a woman cried.

"This is scary," Jennifer whispered. "It's mob mentality."

"And carefully orchestrated." James held his pen poised. "I heard Anna Green speak two weeks ago, and there wasn't a mention of her campaign against movies and books. She's playing on the fears brought about by Mimi's and Tommy's disappearance."

"Doesn't she realize she can push this crowd in the wrong direction. These people are truly frightened for their children."

James's jaw was clenched. "If she does realize it, I don't know that she cares. She's found a hot button, and it's irresistible."

The crowd roared approval again and the woman stood at the podium, her smile wide and welcoming. "We can fight this together," she said. "We must make a world where our children are safe."

"And the government controls everything we read, watch and think," James added under his breath.

Jennifer cast him a quick glance. She'd been so busy thinking of Eugene and his books that she'd failed to realize that in this issue, James Tenet and the newspaper stood to lose as much, or more. Freedom of the press was the first principle of democracy, and though Anna Green hadn't proposed muzzling the press, it wouldn't be far behind in an attempt to control the air waves and the publishing business.

"Let's go," James said.

"Where?" Jennifer asked, startled by his sudden decision to leave.

"I want to be backstage as soon as Anna Green steps down. I have a few questions for her."

Jennifer scrambled to her feet and followed James through the rows of chairs and then among the groups of men and women who were standing in the back.

Another speaker had taken the microphone, but Lester Havens did not have the issue or emotion that Anna Green had stirred. The audience milled and talked among itself, completely ignoring the quiet voice that proposed tax increases for school programs and reform of government programs.

James and Jennifer arrived to find Anna Green already swarmed by reporters. Several of the major dailies and television stations in the South had sent photographers and reporters. "Someone must have tipped them off that Anna was going to start a new thrust to her campaign," James whispered to Jennifer as he pointed out the men and women he knew by name and who they worked for. "This is an impressive turnout."

As they drew closer they could see that Anna was using the limelight to full advantage. Television cameras were whirring as the lights focused hot and white on her. "We have a local writer in town who's been linked to the disappearance of two children. I'm not accusing Eugene Legander of foul play, but I do think this is a perfect opportunity to examine the link between books, movies and the violence that follows."

Jennifer started to barrel forward, but James grabbed her arm. "Wait," he whispered.

"But— "

"Jumping in there will only make you and Eugene look worse. Just wait."

A tall, thin reporter with a microphone stepped out of the crowd. "I've read Mr. Legander's books. They seem more fantasy and lively imagination than dangerous dogma. In fact, my two children love his books. I find it hard to believe that Eugene Legander's books have prompted anyone to acts of violence."

"The world is full of unstable kooks, Mr. Grisham. Not everyone is able to discern between fiction and day-to-day life."

"If that's the case, surely Mr. Legander can't be held responsible for the irrational acts of defective personalities."

"He can, and he will." Anna Green's square chin lifted. "We are all responsible for the children of this country. No one, not even a writer, should have carte blanche to act and write with impunity."

"There was another politician with that viewpoint," the reporter said, holding his ground. "His name was Hitler."

Only James's strong hand on her arm kept Jennifer from rushing forward to hug the reporter. "Stay back," he whispered, drawing her closer to him. "That's Gary Grisham. I know him well, and he can handle himself."

Jennifer settled down, all too aware that James kept his hand just above her elbow. His grip was more supportive than restraining, and she felt a touch of anticipation nip along her skin. In the midst of complete turmoil, she was vitally aware of the man who stood beside her.

"This is supposed to be a press conference, Mr. Grisham, not a platform for you to express your views of history." Anna Green was angry but composed. "I'm giving up a secure seat on the City-County Board of Education to run for legislative office because I believe I have some solutions to problems. If you don't like my solutions, don't vote for me." She pointed to another reporter. "Yes, Gloria, what is your question?"

"Are you proposing a statewide ban on certain television programs and authors? If so, who are those authors and what are the programs?"

"I haven't prepared a comprehensive list, but my staff is working along those lines."

James listened to the question-and-answer session until Anna Green left.

"She's a dangerous woman," he said, turning Jennifer out of the crowd toward his car.

"What about the other speakers?"

"I think I should write this story." He checked his watch. "Anna took the sting out of the night. There's not a politician there who will try to upstage that act. This rally's over." His light touch on her waist grew firmer. "Jennifer?"

She turned to face him, surprised at how close he was. Looking into his eyes, she forgot for a moment her concern for Eugene and the problems Anna Green's speech would start. There was only James, his brown eyes caught between longing and determination.

"I need to go to the office. Now."

She stared up at him, watching the way his lips shaped the words. She'd kissed him once, and the memory made her flush. She also realized that she hadn't listened to anything he'd said. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Rain check. On dinner?" He looked at her.

"Of course." She understood. He had to go to the office. The Anna Green story was bigger than he'd anticipated. "Certainly."

"I'm terribly sorry, but this book burning business will have major repercussions. Once again, Alabama will be the laughingstock."

Jennifer shook her head, her dark mahogany hair gleaming in the fading light of the day. "I need to see about Eugene. It's been a terrible day." They'd discussed Tommy Franklin's disappearance, but James hadn't had any new information to add. The newspaper had assigned another reporter to cover the story.

"How is he?" James slid his arm around her waist, expertly maneuvering her through the people who laughed and talked as the political rally continued.

"He's very upset about the children."

"Tough break that he was the last one seen with Tommy."

Jennifer stopped. "How did you know that?" She'd told James everything about Tommy's disappearance. Everything except that.

James looked down at the ground, then back up at her. "You didn't know that Crush did a special show? At five. I heard it on the radio as I went to pick you up."

Jennifer felt the rush of blood to her face, and then the deadly cooling that indicated she was beyond angry. "I'll shove that microphone down his throat. I'll boil him in oil until the meat falls off his bones. I'll— "

"Hush, darling," James said as he pulled her into his arms. "Hush," he whispered. Several passersby had stopped to listen to her vile threats with amazement and then wariness.

"That despicable, cretinous, waddle-mouthed viper."

James pressed her tighter, conscious of the way her firm back narrowed at her tiny waist and then flared into generous hips. She was all woman— even if she talked like a sailor. His body responded to his thoughts and suddenly Jennifer was silent.

At the first pressure against her side, Jennifer lost all train of thought. She'd been enjoying the simple pleasure of dog-cussing Crush Bonbon. The act of saying how she felt about Crush out loud had been very gratifying. And then she'd found herself talking against the clean, starched front of James's shirt— not at all a bad position in which to vent her anger. But now? She eased back and he made no effort to hold her.

"Sorry," she mumbled, unable to meet his gaze.

He lifted her chin with a gentle finger until their eyes met. "You should be," he said, not bothering to hide his grin. "You should have your mouth washed out with soap."

"And
you
should have your mind washed out," she responded.

"A much more complicated process." He chuckled at the outraged expression on her face. "You do have an interesting vocabulary, not to mention your effect on me."

"I've noticed." She squared her shoulders. "Now, I believe you were going to take me home." She couldn't let him see that the brief exchange had affected her in exactly the same way. She could still feel the ironed stiffness of his shirt beneath her cheek, and the swell of muscle beneath it. His chest was lean and hard and it felt wonderful.

"To the car, milady." He gave a formal bow, still mocking her.

"You are the most infuriating man," she rasped. "Just when I think you're nice, you turn into a devil."

"Just when I think you're a lady, you open your mouth and the most outrageous words fly out."

The urge to kick him in the shins was strong, but Jennifer refused to lower her standard of behavior any more. How had the evening gone from one of partnership in horror over Anna Green's speech to sparring? It was almost as if he'd deliberately…She swung around to face him. "You manipulated me into saying those things, didn't you?"

His smile had changed from one of torment to one of appreciation. "It's easier to see you fiesty than worried half to death. Besides, you have to admit, you're easy to goad into an argument."

"You toad-poking Neanderthal." She advanced toward him. "You want to fight? Well, I'm ready."

James saw the fire of battle in her eyes and took a step back in mock horror. As he watched, the expression on her face shifted from grim to disbelieving and then to worry. "What?" He turned around to see Crush Bonbon hurrying away from Anna Green's campaign bus. Right behind him were Anna Green, Chief Craig Bixley, and two police officers.