Riddle (14 page)

Kort continued eating silently. He liked working construction but it was far from his life goal. He had every intention of getting his master’s degree and becoming a counselor. On the other hand he needed to work until he had that degree.

Frank sensed his hesitation. “Well, I was just throwing that out there.”

“Thanks Frank. You’re right. I need to keep my head in the game. I didn’t get enough sleep last night and I was careless this morning. It won’t happen again.” Smiling at Frank he added, “Your wife does make good chicken salad.”

Frank smiled back and nodded. “I told you!” They spent the rest of their lunch hour talking about the project until Cindy returned and joined them for coffee.

Chapter 24

As soon as his workday ended Kort called Grace. He considered just knocking on her door but felt strangely uncomfortable doing it. She answered on the first ring almost as though she’d been waiting for his call.

“Hey have you had dinner yet?” He was pretty sure the answer would be no.

Grace laughed. “Nope. Are you offering?”

“I sure am. I thought I’d go home and take a quick shower, then I’ll pick up one of Little Nicky’s famous pizzas and beer or wine and personally deliver it to your door.” He was surprised to feel his heart speed up a little and realized he actually felt nervous. Brushing it off as a reaction to the previous night’s experience he waited for her response.

She hesitated a moment before asking, “Are you sure you want to go there alone? I can go with you.”

That made Kort laugh. The very idea that little five foot nothing Grace would offer to protect him was sweet but funny. “I think I can handle it Grace. But thank you for thinking of me. So, beer or wine, and what kind of whichever?”

“Surprise me. Do you remember which apartment I’m in?”

After assuring her he did remember and delving a bit more into her preference for a beverage he hung up and drove home. He found he was in a particularly good mood and had put the less pleasant events of the day out of his mind until his phone buzzed in his pocket. Glancing at it he saw it was Norma calling. For no more than a second he contemplated answering it, then he simply set it back in the console and ignored the persistent vibrations. A few seconds later the musical tones of a message waiting filled the truck. He decided to ignore that as well. Sooner or later he would have to deal with Norma. He would have to explain what had happened was not going to happen again. They were both obviously a little drunk and lost control of themselves. Aware that might be the truth on his part but not on hers, he figured he would have to prepare a response if she was determined.

Kort parked in the garage and as the door slid down he caught a glimpse of a small black car across the road. It wasn’t in a driveway and it was apparent the engine was running. The garage door was coming down and he squinted trying to see who was driving. The car looked suspiciously like Norma’s. Once inside the house he hurried to look out the kitchen window but the car was already driving off.
“It must have been someone picking up a friend,”
he decided.

He had realized Agnes was not home when her car was not in the garage. He hurried upstairs to shower and change before she returned. He wanted to avoid discussing the previous night and what had happened that morning as long as possible. By the time he finished showering and dressing Norma had attempted to call him several more times and left him three more messages. Shaking his head he shoved the phone into the pocket of his jeans. “I’ll deal with it later,” he thought knowing he would postpone that discussion as long as possible. Agnes still had not returned by the time he got back in his truck and headed out to pick up the pizza.

The rain had started again and the drop in temperatures added sleet to the mixture making the roads slick. The headlights of the passing cars cast a glare on his windshield making driving even more challenging. He parked as close to Little Nicky’s as he could and head bent he dashed to the restaurant. No one was inside and there was a different man behind the counter. When he turned Kort was surprised to see the father of one of his high school friends.  A wide smile crossed the man’s face. “Kort Eriksen! I heard you were back in town!” He hurried around the counter to give Kort a big hug.

“Mr. Castellano, hello,” Kort said awkwardly. “How are you? How is Nick?”

Leaning against the counter he responded. “He’s in the Marines. Little Nicky’s not so little anymore.”

Suddenly Kort made the connection between the name of the pizza place and the owner. “This is your pizza place?”

Nick Castellano nodded. “Yes sir. I retired from the bank and bought this place almost three years ago.” He studied Kort closely. “How are you doing?”

Kort thought before he answered. “Actually I’m doing pretty well. I’m working for Riddle Construction.”

“Chad’s business? Good for you. They’re doing well. At least they were doing well when they started up. I helped them get their first loan.”

“Ah the joys of life in a small town,” Kort observed wryly.

Nick nodded. “So what can I do for you? A hero, pizza?” Kort ordered the pizza and asked if he had enough time to run to the store. “Sure. No problem,” Nick moved behind the counter to begin preparing the order. As Kort turned to go out the door the man from his earlier visit came in. Seeing Kort he scowled. Ignoring him Kort continued out the door. When he returned a short time later there were a few teens gathered around the video game machine in the back and Nick was the only one behind the counter.

Nick smiled as he slid the pizza into a box. “Good timing.” As Kort dug into his pocket to pay for the pizza Nick held his hand up to stop him. “I understand you had a problem with Jimmy when you were here before.”

Surprised that Nick knew about it, Kort raised his eyebrows questioningly.

Nick laughed and shook his head. “He told me. He said your girlfriend is really something else, and he didn’t mean it nicely.” He leaned on the counter and looked at Kort seriously. “I’m sorry that happened. I’m sure you get enough of that.”

Kort shook his head. “It’s not your fault; you have nothing to apologize for.”

“Well consider the pizza my way of making it up to you. You’re welcome here anytime Kort.” He chuckled. “Your girlfriend is welcome here too.”

“Actually she isn’t my girlfriend. I’m just helping her out until she gets her car fixed and moves on. She doesn’t live here. But I appreciate the pizza.” They shook hands over the counter and after saying their good-byes Kort headed to his truck. He didn’t notice the police car parked two rows away from his truck, the car’s lights turned off. Butch watched Kort through narrowed eyes. Every time he saw Kort walking around town, driving that truck wherever he pleased, it made Butch a little angrier. Sooner or Later Kort would slip up and do something. Then Butch would have him where he wanted him.

The rain had turned to sleet and it was close to freezing. Kort turned the heat and the defogger on in the truck and headed for the Timbers. Parking as close to Grace’s building as he could, he hurried up the steps balancing the pizza and a bag with two bottles of wine. When he got to the top of the stairs he was surprised to see Grace standing at the open door of her apartment.

“Are you psychic?” he joked as she took the pizza box from his hands.

“I was watching for you,” Grace called over her shoulder as she took the pizza to the kitchen. Feeling somewhat embarrassed she added, “I’m hungry enough to eat a dozen pizzas.”

Kort pulled the bottles of wine out of the bag. “Red or white?”

Not having wine glasses they drank out of juice glasses and ate the pizza on paper plates. They made small talk about their jobs and the few people they knew in common. They danced around the subject of their pasts, neither of them wanting to spoil the relaxed atmosphere of the evening.

Kort asked if she needed any help unpacking and she laughed. “I really didn’t have anything to unpack except for my clothes. I think I have that under control.” Realizing she had made him uncomfortable she caught herself. “You’ve already done a lot for me. You’ve been a big help and I appreciate it.”

Kort took a sip of his wine and tried to think of an appropriate response. He suddenly felt awkward. “I’m glad I could help.”

The wine had loosened her tongue and taking a breath Grace hesitated a moment before broaching the subject of Desiree’s murder. “I had a talk with Tony at the Inn last night. Did you know his father was the principal at the high school you attended?”

“Really? I had no idea. It’s a small town though, so it doesn’t really surprise me.”

Biting her lip she continued, “Did you know his father committed suicide in the gym?”

Kort’s eyes widened in shock. “No! That’s terrible. Did he tell you that?”

“Actually Mandy at the diner told me and then he mentioned it last night.” She stopped and looked away uncertain if she should go on. “Apparently he pinned a note to his jacket saying he did it for Desiree.”

Kort’s mouth dropped open as he tried to absorb what she was saying. “Why would he do that?” Setting his glass on the coffee table he leaned toward Grace. “What else did he say?”

Grace leaned toward him as well and began to hurriedly repeat what Tony had said as well as how strange his behavior was.

“Holy crap. I remember him. He was a real nerdy principal. I spent a lot of time in his office. He was always watching me. I knew he didn’t like me because I was always in trouble.”

Grace’s voice dropped, “Maybe that wasn’t why he disliked you. If he knew you and Desiree were involved it may have been something else.”

Staring into her eyes he asked softly, “You think he was jealous?”

“I don’t know. But it sounds as though he was unbalanced.” They stared silently at one another for a few moments before Grace said, “Maybe he killed her.”

Kort resisted the impulse to hug her. Hearing someone he hardly knew saying she believed in his innocence was wonderful. “I can’t believe that. You would have to have seen him. He was like a caricature of a geeky high school principal.”

“Who would have thought he’d be obsessed with a high school cheerleader?” Grace countered.

A thousand thoughts filled Kort’s mind. Then he sobered. “No one will ever know for certain Grace. He’s dead. He was never a suspect. They got their scapegoat. I served my time and I have to try to put it in the past.”

“But it isn’t fair Kort! You should be able to clear your name. If you’re going to live in Riddle you need to find some kind of peace.”

He leaned back on the couch. “You know, I don’t think it would even matter if he had left a signed letter confessing. I was always an outcast. There will always be people who will think I did it. I broke the rules. As far as they know I dated a white girl.”

“That’s ridiculous. This is the twenty first century. People don’t think that way anymore.”

Kort was on his feet now, pacing the small living room. “This is a small town Grace. You’ve seen how people react when they see me. It’s been this way my entire life. I think there were people who were glad when I was arrested, not because justice was being served but because it confirmed what they always believed. I was a bad person who was bound to do bad things.”

Shaking her head Grace asked softly, “Why stay here? Why not go some place where no one knows you?”

He sat down again. “Right now I can’t go anywhere. It’s part of my parole. I’m not sure I would leave even if I could. Maybe I need to straighten things out in my own head first.”

Grace instinctively took his hand in hers. “There are people who know you’re innocent.”

Staring at her small white hand covering his he felt his throat tighten. He hadn’t felt like crying for a very long time. Taking his silence for discomfort Grace removed her hand from his and picked up her glass of wine. Then she told him about Tony’s invitation to go to the fair.

Kort studied her thoughtfully. “Do you think he knows more than he’s saying?”

Grace shrugged. She felt awkward, as though she had somehow overstepped and intruded on a part of his life he wanted to forget.

“How would you feel about going? He said a group of people are going and I can come along too. If he does know anything else maybe he’ll say something.” The possibility he might learn the truth beckoned teasingly.

Grace cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. “You want me to accept and say I invited you to come with me? I’ll do it. It’s worth a try. He may slip up and say something, if he knows anything.”

Kort grinned at her. “I don’t know where you came from Grace Donahue but I’m damned glad you car broke down when it did.” For the first time in a long time Kort considered he might be able to clear his name.

He was about to say something else when his phone buzzed loudly. Taking it out, he apologized. When he saw it was Norma calling again he shook his head and ignored the call.

“I can go in the other room if you need to take that,” Grace offered when she saw his discomfort.

He shook his head. “No. I really don’t want to talk to her.”

Her eyebrows went up questioningly.

“It’s a long story.” Smiling awkwardly he continued, “It’s getting late though. I should be going. We both have work in the morning.” As he stood up he drained the last of the wine from his glass. “How about if I pick you up tomorrow morning and give you a ride to work? That’s a long walk when you have to be on your feet all day.”

“I don’t have to be in until four o’clock. But thanks for the offer.” She carried the paper plates and her glass into the kitchen. “At least I’ll be walking downhill.”

“No you won’t. I’ll take a late lunch and pick you up at three thirty,” he said firmly.

“Kort I don’t want you to have trouble at work. I can manage. You’ve done enough already.”

He walked to stand in front of her aware of how short she was next to him. “I will pick you up. Does Tony work tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure. Why?” Looking up at him she was conscious again of how tall and broad his was.