Fear Familiar Bundle (167 page)

Jennifer's fingers clutched the telephone. "Do you believe Eugene could harm Tommy?"

Mrs. Franklin started to cry. "No. No, I don't. But he may know something that could help them find my boy. They say they just really want a chance to talk to him, at length."

Jennifer waited a few seconds. "Mrs. Franklin, if Eugene knew anything, he'd willingly tell the police. He's cooperated in every way."

"They said he might remember something. You know, being at the jail and all. They said sometimes people remember things they've forgotten."

"Does that sound like intimidation to you?"

"Tommy is a good boy. He's never harmed anyone. He even looks out for all the birds and animals in the yard. Why would someone do this to him?" She sobbed, completely out of control.

"Mrs. Franklin, Eugene and I are looking for Tommy. I promise you that we're doing everything we can. And I believe the clues to these missing children may lie in Eugene's books. But it isn't because he's taken them. It's someone else." She took a breath. "But if you believe that signing papers against Eugene will help, then you have to do that. You have to do whatever you believe it takes to find your son."

Mrs. Franklin's tears slowed considerably. "I won't sign those papers. I can't do that to Mr. Legander. If I did, Tommy would never forgive me. I'm sorry I disturbed you." Her voice caught on a sob and she hung up the phone.

"Bad news?" James, now fully dressed, went to the counter to pour himself another cup of coffee. He refilled Jennifer's mug before taking the seat across from her at the table. "By the way, that black cat is gone. There's not a trace of him in the house, and I found the back door pushed open. I'll bet he went back to Eugene's. Now, what's going on?"

"Someone's pulling strings at the police department."

"Anna Green?"

"That's my best guess."

"I'm going down right now to check the docket to see if Crush reported that break and entry." James checked his watch. "I'll give you a call in about thirty minutes, after I check in at the newspaper. Then I think we need to make a trip to the library."

"For what?"

"If anyone can give us a list of redheaded children, it'll be Martha Whipple. That way we won't have to upset Eugene with our suspicions."

Jennifer's face broke into a smile. "You're a genius, James Tenet."

He smiled at her as he set his coffee cup down and stood to leave. "You know, it scares me when you start handing out compliments." He picked up the cellular phone. "And I'll run by the phone company with this to find out exactly who it belongs to."

W
HEN SHE GOT OUT
of James's car at the library, Jennifer was still mulling over the significance of the fact that the telephone they'd discovered was actually the property of J. P. Frost,
and
that Crush had failed to report the blood in his house, or the illegal entry. The trouble was that not one single piece of evidence against Crush was strong enough to force law officers to act against him. The telephone could have been put in Crush's home. They'd broken in to find it, so someone else could just as easily have broken in to put it there. And after the terrible row that had occurred during Crush's show, even such a publicity hound might shy away from calling the police to examine an unexplained bloodstain.

There was also the little matter that they
had
broken in. Not exactly a position of strength when they were making accusations about someone else.

On the other hand, Crush Bonbon's possession of the telephone and lack of action in calling the police was extremely suspicious. Especially if he had the children.

Side by side, James and Jennifer climbed the white stone steps that marked the entrance to the graceful old building from which Tommy Franklin had disappeared. On either side of the steps, two plaster lions seemed to gaze into the distance, as if they had seen plenty but were unwilling to speak.

"Ready?" James's question was more one of mental preparedness than physical ability.

"As I'll ever be. I've thought of one child, Charlie McNair. He's quite a carrot top. I'm sure Ms. Whipple can supply the entire list. You can tell she adores those children."

"And she's more than a little fond of Eugene, I'd say." James grinned at her. "I was watching her during his reading. She absolutely hung on his every word."

Martha Whipple looked up over her glasses as James and Jennifer approached the children's desk. "How is Eugene?" she asked, her eyes darkening with concern. "I know how hard this is on him. I've been worried to death, but I didn't want to call him for fear I'd interrupt his work." An expression of dismay crossed her face. "He is working on that wonderful book, isn't he?"

Jennifer felt a current of guilt. She really didn't know if Eugene was working. Lately, they'd both been so caught up in the disappearance of the children that they hadn't discussed his book. "I'm sure it's coming along fine."

"Good." Relief swept her face and she lowered her gaze for a moment to compose herself. "What can I do for you and Mr…?"

"Tenet. James Tenet." Jennifer made the introductions, but she didn't mention that James was a reporter. "We're interested in a list of all the redheaded children who attend story hour here."

Martha Whipple's eyebrows lifted above the dark rim of her glasses. "Now that's a strange one, if I do say so myself. Is this some research for Eugene?"

"Yes."

"No."

James and Jennifer spoke in unison.

"What we mean is that— " Jennifer looked helplessly at James.

"It's for the cover of his book," James said. He pinched Jennifer's hip lightly.

"Right." She started forward, bumping her knee into the counter. "The art department is thinking about a cover with a redheaded child, and we thought it might be fun to feature a local boy or girl."

"Some lucky Mobile child may be featured on the cover of a book?" Martha Whipple was beaming. "How wonderful. Let me get the list."

From the shelf beneath her chair she pulled out a folder and flipped to the last page. "Let's see here. These are the boys and girls who attend story hour. And— " her finger traced down the page "— there's Charlie McNair. Yes, and his sister, Patti. Did you want boys and girls or just one gender?"

"Both." They spoke together again, and this time they all three grinned.

"Okay. And then there's Julie Ralston. She's strawberry blond, but she could be considered a redhead, I suppose. Her brother, Rick, is so very blond, you know." Her finger traced slowly down the list. "And that's it. Charlie and Patti are the true redheads of the lot. But Julie is a possibility."

"Could we have their addresses?"

"You aren't going to stir them up by telling them this and then disappointing them, are you?" She gave Jennifer a stern look. "I've heard from Eugene how fickle the publishing industry can be and you know how easily a child's heart is broken."

"I won't disappoint them," Jennifer promised.

"Then have fun." She waved them away. "I've got to write a letter to the children. There's been some talk about canceling story hour until Mimi and Tommy are found, but I think that's a serious mistake. The children are frightened enough about what's happened to their playmates. Canceling story hour isn't a good idea."

Jennifer was ready to leave the library but she hesitated. "Miss Whipple, would you mind reading the story this week? Eugene has an appointment that he has to keep."

"An appointment?" Mrs. Whipple gave her a look steeped in curiosity. "Eugene never misses story hour."

"This time it can't be helped. If you can't fill in, I'll find someone to take his place to read."

"Love to do it, Miss Barkley. Don't trouble yourself about it at all."

"Thanks. You've been a wonderful friend to Eugene."

James had walked on to the door, but he'd heard the entire exchange. "What appointment does Eugene have?"

"He doesn't have one," Jennifer whispered. "But at this point, I think it best that Eugene doesn't engage in public appearances, especially not with a group of children. I mean what if something happened again. He'd be tarred and feathered and set on fire. They wouldn't wait for an explanation. He'd never leave the library alive."

James guided her through the door with his hand on the small of her back. "I get your drift."

Out in the warm April sunshine Jennifer hesitated. "I need to see Eugene and find that ornery black cat. I'm sure he went back to Eugene's, but I have to be certain."

"He's not ornery, he's just extremely bright." James hefted his car keys. "And I've got to go to work. We have a lot of latitude to work on a story, but I have things stacked up on my desk that have to be taken care of. Why don't we meet for lunch and then go and talk to the parents of those children? We also need to come to some decisions about what we're going to do with that telephone. We're withholding evidence."

Jennifer's look was scornful. "They'll figure out some way to say we were planting it, I'm sure." But her lip caught between her teeth was a truer reflection of her worry.

"We'll figure it out. I'll be by Eugene's for you at noon. Then we'll talk to the McNairs and Ralstons. Together."

Jennifer wanted to kiss him. "You'll go with me?"

"Someone with a clear head and stable personality should go along." He grinned, rewarded with a glint of surprised anger in her eyes.

"Of all the toadlike things to say. Just when I thought you were going to be nice to me, you imply that I'm a mental midget, that my behavior is questionable, that the parents of these children won't believe anything I say."

"Jennifer, I'd love to stand here and listen to you reel off more amusing little verbal daggers, but we should get going." He ducked down and kissed her. "You're the most remarkable woman I've ever known. Put down your battle sword, I was only teasing. But I will go with you, because this could be difficult."

"Thanks." She shook her head at him. "It's funny. I go from wanting to punch you to wanting to kiss you."

"We'll do some of the latter as soon as we're sure these children are safe. Now, let me drop you off at Eugene's."

J
AMES AND
J
ENNIFER
stood at the curb and watched as a big black cat trotted along the sidewalk toward them. "I hope you haven't been out tom-catting around," Jennifer said sharply.

Familiar didn't dignify her remark with a look. He went past her to the front door and rattled it a few times with his paw.

Spying James, Jennifer, and the cat on the porch, Eugene called out, "Come in, children. I've made a wonderful cheese grits soufflé and fresh-fried mullet. There are days when I simply must return to my childhood diet."

For all of his joviality, Jennifer saw the dark circles under his eyes, which meant he wasn't sleeping. If he wasn't sleeping, then he wasn't working. He was worrying.

"That black rascal has been up to something," Eugene said as he followed Familiar into the kitchen. "He's worked up an appetite. Just as Judy Luno did last night. She was by here earlier, about to pop with some secret information. And as hungry as a tigress." He cut a look first at Jennifer and then at James. "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Not a thing," Jennifer assured him. "We have a few theories, Eugene, but the less you know, the better. Especially since the police are doing their level best to find some excuse to make an arrest."

"That's not unexpected, after last evening's Crush Bonbon show." Eugene served up two plates of steaming food and put them on the table with flatware. "Dig in, you two. I'm going to make Familiar a plate."

James bent down to stroke the cat. "Yes, I'm sure Familiar has earned some chow."

Eugene sat down at the table with them. "Jennifer, I don't want you to be shocked or dismayed, but I'm withdrawing
The Lizard King
from publication."

Jennifer almost choked on a piece of the crisply fried fish that was known along the Gulf Coast as Biloxi bacon. "What?"

"I have my own theories about what's going on with these children, and I believe the only way that they'll ever be returned is if I retire from writing." He got up and paced to the front door, where he stood and composed himself. "I've decided to do that."

"Eugene! You can't let this maniac drive you from the thing you love the most."

Eugene's smile was sad. "No. I love my work. But I don't love it more than these children. I've spent the last few days and nights trying to figure out what I have that this person might want. Not the cats. As fine as they are, there are plenty of cats to be had. Not my home. My garden is lovely, but anyone who loves plants can have one as fine or better. Not my savings. As handsomely as I've been paid in some cases, I've been as extravagant in others." He shrugged. "It has to be my writing. That's all I have that anyone could covet at all."

James put down his fork and stilled Jennifer's protest with one hand. "Wait," he said.

"Wait, my foot. This is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Eugene is a
writer.
He can't quit being what he is. It would kill him. And we can't let this low-life, conniving, sneak-thief, child-snatching, roach-kissing, vermin-infested coward force Eugene into retirement."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," James said. He watched her face go from red anger to white-hot fury.

"This isn't the time to mock me," she warned. "I'll cut off your tongue and serve it to you on a bed of watercress."

James held his laughter, but just barely. "Hear me out, oh, violent one."

Eugene had come closer to the table, intrigued by the expression of delight on James's face. "What is it?" he asked. "What are you thinking?"

"A retirement
announcement.
"

"Like a fake press stunt?" Jennifer's temper evaporated. She was immediately caught with the possibilities.

"Exactly. We do a big story in the newspaper, with a picture, and how sad it all is, but that some health problem has forced you into retirement. We'll draw the son of a gun out of the woodwork if it's your talent that he's trying to destroy."