Home Fires (33 page)

“And he did that. You got out of the building alive.”

“There’s something else.” She clutched at his forearm. “He said… before he ran back in the building, Tommy said…”

She halted, caught up in a flash fire of memory. The look of guilt mingled with terror on Tommy Gilbert’s face before he bolted through the rooftop door was seared forever in her mind.

“What did he say?”

“Oh, Mike, he never meant to hurt anyone. He said he did it to help the Judge.”

His eyes narrowed, two slits of brilliant blue mirrored in a dirty face. “Tommy told you he set the fire?”

Rose nodded. “But he didn’t mean to hurt anyone, I know he didn’t. And if Tommy hadn’t shown up to help, I’d still be up there in that office with the Judge. Neither of us would have made it out alive.” She shivered in the hot night air as she imagined that deadly scenario.

“Did he say anything else?”

The last half hour was a smelly, swirling haze of smoky memories, but some things she would never forget. “He said something about trying to help out the Judge… and something about my mother.” She shook her head. “It sounded as if Tommy knew the Judge was having money problems. But how could he have known, Mike? How did Tommy know the Judge was deep in debt?”

“Maybe he overheard you talking. Who knows? Don’t forget, you discovered the same thing yourself.”

“Do you think—” Rose interrupted herself and concentrated hard. So much to take in. So much lost. “Is it possible Tommy was only trying to help the Judge? Do you think he believed that by setting the fire, the Judge would collect insurance money?”

Mike nodded. “We found the gasoline can in the basement.”

“So Tommy was…” She broke off, barely able to bring herself to believe the thought suddenly sparking to mind. How could she speak such a thing aloud? Tommy was no longer alive and able to prove his innocence.

“Tommy’s been our main suspect for some time,” Mike quietly said.

“But you were investigating the Judge. I saw the file.” She stared blankly at Mike, ignoring the implication behind his words. “I saw your file.”

“I have lots of files. Various people were under investigation… including Charles Kendall.”

“But I thought…” She shook her head.

Mike’s arm tightened around her. “What?”

“You and I saw the Judge headed downtown that night, remember? And after Charles’s car burned, you found one of the Judge’s hand-rolled cigars at the scene. I thought the Judge had…”

“Torched Charles’s car?” Mike finished for her. “I wondered about that myself. And I questioned Charles about those cigars. Turns out he filched two of them from His Honor’s coat pocket. Charles dropped the cigar stub when he parked his car that night. But he wasn’t the arsonist, Rosie.” His voice quieted. “Neither was the Judge.”

“So it was Tommy all along,” she said. “Tommy was the one setting all the fires.”

“Yes.”

“If only you had told me.” A wistful look settled on her face as she fingered away a few tears. “I thought you had enough evidence to arrest the Judge. If only you had told me the truth, we never would have had that terrible fight…”

Her voice trailed off as she reflected on the night they had fought and all the harsh, angry words flung out between them. Rose cringed, remembering all the things she had said.

Mike’s arms tightened around her. “I told you once before that I couldn’t talk about the investigation. I wanted to tell you, Rosie, but I couldn’t.”

“Cecilia Rose?” A familiar voice cried out from the crowd.

Rose glanced up and saw Lil, straining against the edges of the growing group of onlookers.

“I’m over here, Lil.”

A fireman standing guard at the edge of the crowd held Lil back with a warning hand. He looked toward Mike, who nodded his approval. Lil broke from the fireman’s hold and scooted beneath the yellow emergency tape stringing the scene. Her eyes were frantic as she reached Rose’s side and caught her in an anxious embrace.

“Thank God you’re all right. Your mama has been beside herself ever since we heard about the fire. She knew you were down here with the Judge.”

“Lil, there’s something I need to tell you. “ Rose drew back from the older woman’s arms and grasped her forearms, steeling herself to deliver the news. “I’m afraid that the Judge…”

Lil’s green eyes glittered sharply, then softened in sudden understanding. “Oh, honey, no. Not Harvey.”

Rose bit her lip and nodded. Her own tears started anew as Lil wept in her arms.

Mike returned from a huddled conference with the medical personnel from the second ambulance still standing by. “Rosie? The paramedics want to take a look at you.”

“There’s no need for that. I’m fine.” She took a deep breath to settle herself.

“Sure you’re all right?”

The few remaining tears on her face disappeared with a quick swipe of her hand. “I don’t need medical attention. I need to go home.”

“Thank you for taking care of our girl.” Lil’s eyes glistened as she grabbed Mike’s hand. “She’s mighty precious to her mother and me.”

“She’s mighty precious to me, too,” he said with a tender smile for Rose.

“Come on, honey,” Lil said. “Your mama’s waiting. Let’s get you home.”

Mike escorted them through the crowd to a police cruiser at the edge of the building. “Officer, these ladies need a ride.”

“But what about my car? It’s here downtown.” Lil worried her hands in a knot as the young policeman opened the back passenger door and stepped aside.

“We’ll get the car later,” Rose replied. In the distance she spied her mother’s bicycle, still chained to the streetlamp where she’d left it hours earlier.

Another lifetime.

“I’ll drive your car home myself,” Mike promised.

Without a word, Lil opened her purse, fished out her keys, and handed them over to Mike. “You’ll find it over at the
Journal
office in their driveway,” she said as she settled herself in the cruiser. “You can’t miss it. It’s parked in Charles Kendall’s private parking space.”

It was time to leave, but she didn’t want to let go. Rose bit her lip hard to take away the pain of leaving him behind. She gripped his hands. “Thank you for everything. Thank you.”

“Go get some rest,” he urged. “We’ll talk later.”

Sympathy and sadness were there in Mike’s eyes, as well as a promise. It was only seeing that promise of a hope for tomorrow that finally gave her the courage to let go of his hands and climb into the waiting car.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

OBITUARY: THE HONORABLE HARVEY JAMES

____________________________________

The James Bay Journal

____________________________________

The Honorable Harvey James, longtime Circuit Court Judge for the County of James Bay, passed away last evening of cardiac arrest.

The Judge was appointed to fill a Circuit Court vacancy and remained on the bench for nearly ten years. Following his retirement from the public sector, he made a distinguished career for himself specializing in the areas of business and real estate law.

The Judge, as he was affectionately called by all who knew him, was a native son of James Bay and the great grandson of its founding father, Horace Harvey James. His passing marks the end of an era for the James family’s presence in our community. The Judge was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary and their son, Jeffrey. He is survived by his sister, Helen Murray, of Los Angeles, California.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

____________________________________

The morning of the Judge’s funeral dawned hot, the temperature hovering at eighty with a promise of hitting ninety before the day was through. Rose held off dressing for the midmorning service as long as possible. The idea of donning a black dress and attending the Judge’s funeral was not the ending she’d had in mind.

The past three days had been a blur. The phone never stopped ringing as friends and neighbors called to verify the news, and offer sympathy and their support. Rose took another phone call, too. Andy Sabatini had heard the news of the tragic events and extended his deadline another few days. Rose shrugged and returned to the somber business at hand. Making a final decision—a decision about anything—would simply have to wait. The only thing she cared about was getting through the next few days.

Wake services for both Tommy and the Judge were held the evening before their funerals. Rose stood soberly beside her mother, Lil, and the Judge’s sister, Helen. She felt wooden and empty as the line of mourners moved past them, murmuring their condolences. Life would go on but it would never be the same. The two separate viewing rooms and the caskets laid out for display were grim reminders. But she was determined not to cry. No amount of tears, nothing anyone could say or do would bring the Judge and Tommy Gilbert back to life.

Even though Mike was on duty, he somehow managed to slip out for a brief sympathy call. Hand in hand they stood before the Judge’s flower-draped mahogany casket and offered a silent prayer.

The second viewing room behind the front parlor held fewer flowers and even fewer people. Tommy Gilbert’s graduation picture rested on top of the closed wooden casket. Rose and Mike took seats in the front row and spent a few moments in quiet meditation. She gave his hand a grateful squeeze as they finally left the room. No matter what type of spin the town gossips put on things, Mike knew the truth. He’d been up there on the roof with her that night. It seemed fitting and right that the two of them should be together to pay their respects and say their final good-byes.

Next morning, the funeral bells tolled. The church filled as friends and neighbors, former clients, plus a good portion of the legal community, crowded together in the polished wooden pews to mourn the Judge. Rose escorted her mother and Lil down the long center aisle toward seats reserved for them in the family’s front pew. Irene’s metal walker slowed their progress long enough for Rose to catch a familiar scent of spicy aftershave wafting from a pew. She chanced a quick glance sideways and spied gold braid on a smart black dress uniform. Mike sat at the end of the row of uniformed personnel. They had time to exchange only the briefest of smiles as she passed by his pew.

Irene and Lil sobbed through the service, but Rose found no need for tears. She’d faced the worst three days ago, and somewhere in a pew close behind sat a man who knew the truth. A man who held her heart. And even though there hadn’t been a chance yet for the two of them to talk, knowing Mike was in the church brought a sense of peace and comfort. She could get through anything, even this sorrowful liturgy, knowing he was there. Rose stood between her mother and Lil, clutching their hands tight as the final prayers were read and the Judge was laid to rest.

Later that afternoon, she attended the service for Tommy Gilbert. This time, Mike sat beside her, holding her hand as the priest chanted prayers for the dead over Tommy’s casket. And when it all was over and Tommy Gilbert finally laid to rest, the two of them silently departed and headed for Mike’s cabin.

Rose kicked off her sandals and flopped down at the end of the old wooden dock. Mike’s boat was tied up to one side. She dangled her feet over the edge and splashed them through the warm water. Her somber black dress was gone, replaced by a pair of faded red shorts and comfortable t-shirt.

Mike joined her moments later. He’d swapped his dress uniform for a pair of khaki shorts, t-shirt, and sandals. His eyes scanned the horizon. “I don’t think you’ll be sitting there for long. Looks like it’s going to rain.”

“I don’t care. It’s so peaceful out here. Have a seat.” She patted the dock. “The water feels wonderful. You should try it.” She swished her feet in wide lazy circles as Mike sank down beside her. The hair on his legs was bleached by the sun, and she shivered as their bare legs touched. The feel of a hard muscular thigh as it brushed against her own brought the first flush of pleasure to what had been a most terrible day.

“What have you got in there?” Her eyebrows arched at the sight of the bulky sack at his side.

“It was down at the station. I brought it back last night.” He handed it to her. “I think it belongs to you.”

She weighed the heavy sack. “What is it?”

“Open it.”

Rose’s eyes widened as she peeked inside, then drew out the long wooden plaque. The edges were charred, but the embossed finish was still plain to read.
Gallagher and James, Attorneys and Counselors at Law.

“We found it in the hallway outside the Judge’s office,” Mike said.

“He said he had something to show me. This must be what he went home to get that night.” Her eyes misted over and she hugged the plaque against her heart. It still held a faint smell of smoke, but she didn’t care. She’d thought everything was gone, but she had this. It would remind her of the Judge, of Jeff, and all the dreams they had shared.

“They read the Judge’s will yesterday afternoon,” she said in a halting voice. “He left his sister the house and everything in it. The rest he set up in a trust—all the property and his offices downtown. He put it in my name.”

“He left his practice and the real estate to you?”

Rose nodded. “I doubt it will amount to much once I pay off his gambling debts. But I never expected anything to begin with. He was more than generous to me when he was alive.” She swallowed hard. “I am going to miss him.”

“He was a good man,” Mike said.

Her gaze traveled across the still water, searching the horizon. Low gray clouds gathered far away as a soft rumble of thunder sounded in the distance. “I hope he knew how much he meant to me,” she said after a moment.

“I’m sure he did.” Mike reached out and caressed her back in long, even strokes.