The Right Call (25 page)

“I can’t believe how much I love this little guy,” Brill said. “Having the two of you living here has turned out to be an enormous blessing.”

Vanessa came and stood next to her, putting one arm around Brill’s waist. “You and Dad and Emily have been wonderful. I could’ve never made it without you. I can’t believe I’ve only got one more year of school. Once I have my teaching degree, I’ll be able to support us.”

“I’m proud of you, honey. I know it hasn’t been easy, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard you complain.”

Vanessa picked up Carter’s little hand and studied his fingers. “I’ve never once wished I’d made a different choice. But I can never thank the three of you enough for all you’re doing to help with Carter.”

“Well, it works both ways. That little scamp has pulled this family together. I can hardly bear the thought of you leaving us. I know it’s inevitable. You need some time to be on your own.”

Vanessa was quiet for a moment, and then said, “What if I don’t have time to be on my own?”

“I’m not following you, honey.”
Or maybe I am.

“Mom, what if the feelings Ethan and I have for each other lead to marriage? Would it be a mistake if I never experienced my independence? Would I regret it the rest of my life?”

Brill smiled. “I never did. I married your dad right out of college. Living on campus is all the independence either of us ever had. And you had two years of that.”

“True.”

“Your dad and I were head over heels in love. It’s a miracle we passed our finals. All we could think about was being together.”

Vanessa suddenly seemed far away.

“Where’d you go?”

“Mom, can I ask you a personal question?”

“Go on.”

“Do you think Dad’s having an affair had anything to do with the fact that he married so young and never really dated around?”

Brill was rendered mute for a moment by her daughter’s candor. “I’m not entirely comfortable discussing this with you, Vanessa. The woman was someone your dad had a crush on in high school. They ran into each other at Starbucks at a time when I was paying more attention to my career than to your father. He was vulnerable, and he stepped out of bounds. I don’t think the outcome would have been any different if he’d dated a hundred women.”

“Okay. It’s just something I’ve wondered about. So you don’t think either of us would regret not having that time to be on our own?”

Brill took Vanessa’s hand and walked with her over to the bed and sat. “I can’t tell you or Ethan how you would feel. All I can tell you is that your dad and I were crazy in love and there was no better place for us than to be together. I never regretted marrying your father right out of college. And I don’t think he had any regrets either. Why don’t you ask him?”

“I might—just to get a male perspective.”

“I couldn’t be happier that you and Ethan love each other.” Brill picked up a lock of Vanessa’s hair. “Just don’t get ahead of yourselves. Let things unfold naturally. If it’s meant to be for a lifetime, you’ll know.”

“How?”

“You just will.”

Vanessa got up and stood at the window, looking up at the moon. “Do you have any idea how good it feels to have hope for the future in the midst of all this gloom and doom?”

“I do. I’m glad you have Ethan to love.”

“It’s wonderful—and a little scary. It was hard losing Ty. But I think I’d die if anything happened to Ethan.”

Chapter 30

Stedman
stood at the kitchen counter, spreading a thin layer of margarine across the last heel of bread and wishing he had the fifty bucks he blew on lottery tickets in the past month.

He looked through the window at the fiery pink morning sky and heard his grandmother’s TV blaring. Had she noticed his truck missing yet? It seemed smart to park it around the block and stay out of sight—at least until Ethan made up his mind whether or not he was willing to go to Chief Jessup with the conspiracy information. It had to be overwhelming for Ethan to find out that his cousin had been eliminated—and about the deal Stedman made with Grant Wolski.

Stedman certainly couldn’t defend himself. Agreeing to kill a man so he could keep gambling toppled the scales of moral indecency. But how did it come to that? When did gambling cease to be entertainment and become a fix he couldn’t do without? The thrill of winning was like a shot of cocaine—and he always needed another. Hadn’t his gambling compulsion alienated his girlfriend, his parents, and his grandmother? Hadn’t it cost him his financial freedom and his integrity—and likely his job? The only thing left to lose was his life—and that was certainly in question.

What would he do if Ethan decided not to get involved? How long could he stay at home with the lights out before Grant and the others figured out he was hiding there, crouched in the dark like a kid scared of what might come out of his closet?

Then again, what right did he have to expect anyone else to get sucked into something this dangerous? What if he hadn’t been careful enough? What if somehow Grant knew about his late-night meeting with Ethan? What if Davison had already put a price on their heads?

Stedman sighed. Or what if he was just being paranoid? He welcomed the first rays of sun through the window. At least now he could see what he was doing. He poured a glass of water, then folded the piece of bread and butter and walked over to the kitchen table and sat. He remembered it was Memorial Day and had a sinking feeling that on this day next year, his family might be putting flowers on
his
grave.

Click. Click. Click
.

What was that? He stopped chewing and listened intently. There it was again! Someone was jiggling the handle on the door!

He wiped his hands on his T-shirt and grabbed the gun he had gotten from Grant and intended to use on Tal Davison. He darted into the living room and crouched down behind the couch, his hands shaking, the blaring of his grandmother’s TV drowning out the thumping of his heart. At least if he had to shoot, she would never hear it.

Ethan stood on the back deck at his aunt and uncle’s house, a mug of coffee in his hands, and watched the sun peek over the milky white foothills, turning the backyard into a shimmering carpet of green. He could tell it was going to be another hot day.

His late-night encounter with Stedman gave him a headache, and he never did fall asleep. Could he afford not to share this information with Brill, even if it ruined the holiday for the Jessups? Unless he intervened on Stedman’s behalf, Win Davison and those he paid to kill Tal and Drew were going to get away with it.

Ethan took a sip of lukewarm coffee and moved his gaze beyond the misty hills to the Great Smoky Mountains. How did a straight arrow like Drew get pulled into this sick drama? Would he ever be able to accept Drew’s death until he had the answer?

He downed the last of the coffee. Stedman needed his help. As disgusted as he was with the guy, did he have the heart to turn his back on what had obviously been a difficult confession and a plea for help?

Ethan heard the glass door slide open.

“There you are.”

He turned toward the voice and saw his uncle Ralph standing in the doorway.

“I wanted to catch you before you left. I know you and Vanessa want to take it easy today. But if you’re out and about, stop by.”

“Not today. But I promise we will after things calm down and we feel more sociable, okay?”
Plus I’m about to wreck the day for the Jessups.

“
If you change your mind,” Ralph said, “you’re welcome to drop in unannounced. We’re having three couples over. You know Tonya and Hank Mason. The other two are neighbors. There’s plenty of food, and we’re not going to run out of homemade ice cream.”

There was a long moment of uncomfortable silence.

Finally Ralph stepped outside. “Look, Ethan. I hate this tension between us. You know I’d do just about anything for you. You’re the son I never had, and I love you like you were my own. But we’re different when it comes to how we deal with family issues.”

“Uncle Ralph, you don’t
deal
with family issues. You’ve turned a deaf ear for fifteen years.”

“You’re entitled to your opinion, but I don’t need to hear it.”

“Okay, what about forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors? The
Lord’s
prayer doesn’t leave much room for opinion.”

“I don’t need a guilt trip, Ethan. My disagreement with Richard is complicated.”

“Not really. Uncle Richard said some hurtful things and apologized—but that wasn’t good enough for you.”

“I told you it’s not that simple.”

“Keep telling yourself that. But you could put an end to this feud, if you wanted to. You won’t accept Richard’s apology—and it’s crippling the whole family!”

“Ethan”—Ralph shook his head—“you really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Then tell me what I don’t know because I’m sick of it! Your brother lost his son, and it’s absolutely cold of you to ignore it.”

“That’s exactly what Richard
wanted
me to do.” Ralph’s voice quivered. “Oh, he’s not going to admit it to the rest of the family, but it’s the truth.”

“What are you talking about?”

Ralph’s face turned pink, and he looked away. “Just forget it. I’ve said too much.”

“Or not enough. Since this wall between you and Uncle Richard has affected me my whole life, don’t you think I deserve to know whatever it is you’re not saying?”

“It’s ugly, Ethan.”

“How can it be any uglier than your indifference?”

“Well, I don’t want to talk about it.”

“I don’t really care what
you
want, Uncle Ralph. You’re hurting the rest of us, and it’s got to stop. This has gone on for fifteen years. Get
over
it!”

Ralph put his hands in his pockets and looked down at the ground.

“I’m sorry if I made you mad,” Ethan said. “I’ve just lost the closest thing to a brother I’ll ever have—and yours is across town and you won’t even talk to him. Don’t expect any sympathy from me.”

“You have no idea why I’ve stayed away from Richard’s family.”

“All I need to know is that he apologized.”

“No, he didn’t!” Ralph said. “Not really. He said the words, but his heart never changed.”

“About what? Let’s get this out in the open.”

“I don’t think … look, I’m sorry I said anything. Just forget it.”

Ralph turned to go, and Ethan grabbed his wrist. “I don’t want to forget it. Please … tell me what it is that’s hurting you so much. Why can’t you forgive Richard?”

“It’s not me who won’t forgive! It’s him.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s no secret that Richard blamed me for baby Abigail’s death. Gwen and I were babysitting her at the time, and Gwen ran to the store while the baby was down for a nap. I was watching football when she died in her sleep. I guess he needed to blame someone.”

“The doctor said it was a crib death. He knows you weren’t responsible. He said some things in his grief that he didn’t mean.”

“Well, he also said something he absolutely
did
mean.”

“What?”

Ralph’s chin quivered. “He said … that I already
killed
one of his kids … and to stay away from Drew.”

The words pierced Ethan down to his soul. He couldn’t imagine the Uncle Richard he knew saying something that cruel. “I am
so
sorry, Uncle Ralph. That must’ve been devastating.”

“Do you think?” Ralph paused to gain his composure. “
That’s
why I didn’t have a relationship with Drew. It’s not that I didn’t want it.”

“But Uncle Richard apologized, didn’t he?”

“He said the words, but I didn’t believe him. His apology gained him favor with the family. And I got blamed for the rift.”

“Do Mom and Dad know this?”

“They know. They think
I
need to forgive Richard, and I think it’s the other way around.”

“Why don’t you just talk to Richard about it? People change.”

“What difference does it make now? He doesn’t have to worry about me being around Drew anymore.” Ralph stood slump-shouldered and didn’t lift his gaze. “Sorry to dump all this on you, but you wanted to know. I’m going to go out to the kitchen and help Gwen get things ready for the cookout. I hope you have a relaxing day with Vanessa.”

Ethan drove past Stedman’s duplex, surprised to not see his truck parked in the driveway. Where else would he be? Why hadn’t he at least returned Ethan’s phone calls? Or answered his texts?

Ethan glanced at his watch. It was already seven thirty. Maybe Stedman left to get a breakfast biscuit or something. His mouth watered at the thought, and he suddenly regretted turning down Aunt Gwen’s offer to fix him bacon and eggs. There was a McDonald’s on Forest Parkway. Why not get a quick breakfast and wait there for Stedman to call? It would be easier to think on a full stomach.

He drove around the block and pulled up in front of Stedman’s duplex. He grabbed a notepad and pencil out of the glove box and scribbled a note telling Stedman what time he had come by and to call him so they could talk about Ethan’s decision.

He folded the note and looked up and down the street and didn’t see anyone. He got out of the car and jogged around to the right side of the duplex, behind the bushes badly in need of trimming, to the door adjacent to the driveway.

He bent down and pushed the note through the metal mail chute. As he stood, the air was flooded with the distinctive stench of body odor—and a second later his neck was in a vice.

He clawed at someone’s hairy arm, gasping for air, his glasses falling off his face, his head feeling as if it would explode. Seconds passed and everything started to turn to gray fuzz, then the attacker loosened his grip and grabbed him by the hair. Ethan felt the tip of a knife pressed against his neck.

“Listen to me. I’m only going to say this once: Whatever you think you heard … whatever you think you know …
forget
it”—he moved his lips to Ethan’s ear and slid the knife ever so slightly across his throat—“or I’ll deliver your girlfriend and her baby to you piece by piece.” The guy yanked his hair. “Is that clear?”

Ethan managed to form the word
yes
before he ran out of wind.

“I’m going to let go of you now. If you make a sound—so much as a whimper—I’ll slice you from ear to ear and let you bleed out right here. I have no real reason to let you live, other than I’m feeling generous. Understand?”

Ethan felt his head bob slightly.

“I want you to face the door and count out loud to fifty. If you repeat any of Stedman’s crazy, mixed-up accusations—to anyone, cops or not—I’ll filet your girlfriend and her kid. And then I’ll come after you. Do you get that?”

“Yeah. I-I get it.”

“On the other hand, if you forget about Stedman and the pack of lies he told you, life will go on just like before, the danger will have passed, and we can all breathe easy. Isn’t that what we want?”

Ethan forced his head to move up and down, but everything in him screamed in defiance.

“You can’t win this hand, kid. Take my advice and fold before you lose everything. Now start counting …”