A Shred of Evidence (22 page)

“You’re
early,” Gordy said.

Eddie grinned. “Can’t stay. Hank’s giving me the good jobs
again. I’m working on a BMW that needs to be ready by five.”

“Does that mean you want takeout?”

“Yeah, give me the special. Maybe a couple of extra rolls.”

Weezie turned and walked toward the kitchen. “Comin’ right up.”

Gordy gave Eddie a slight shove. “So what’ve you been sayin’ to Billy Lewis to make him scared of Ross Hamilton?”

“Like he needed me for that.”

“Billy’s so innocent. What’s the point of fillin’ him with fear?”

“I just want to make sure Billy stays away from him.”

“Gimme a break, Eddie. Hamilton’s never comin’ back to Hank’s, and you know it. If he doesn’t end up in jail, he’ll have to move. People here won’t let this go.”

“Suits me just fine. I’m glad to be rid of him.”

“Did you watch him on the news last night?” Gordy asked.

“Yeah, so what?”

“You think it was all an act?”

Eddie’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, he’s good. But the cops’ll wise up eventually. They’re gonna find proof he did it.”

“Maybe they will. But till they do, how about not fillin’ Billy’s head full of stuff he doesn’t need to know?”

“Sure. Whatever. You happy with his job performance?”

“Yeah, he works hard. Never complains. Wish I had a few more like him.”

Eddie smirked. “Well, if that wife of his gets pregnant, you may get your wish. Let’s hope their parents were smart enough to get them fixed.”

Gordy held Eddie’s gaze and resisted the urge to grab him by the collar. “You’ve got no call to be talkin’ about ’em like they’re animals. Billy and Lisa may be slow, but they have feelings just like you and me! Why are you so cynical anyway? You never used to be like this.”

Eddie cheeks matched the red name embroidered above the pocket of his coveralls. He glanced over at the waitresses and
then stared at the floor. “Sorry, I didn’t really mean that.”

“Yeah, you did. You’re not feelin’ good about yourself, Eddie. That’s your problem and you better deal with it. But don’t you ever say anything like that to me about Billy again.”

Gordy heard the snapping of Weezie’s sandals moving in his direction.

“Okay, Eddie, here you go,” Weezie said. “One fried oyster dinner with extra rolls. I put it on your tab.”

“Thanks. I need to get back to the body shop. See you, Gordo.”

Ellen Jones sat in bed reading the newspaper, a pillow behind her back and a breakfast tray in her lap. She popped the last bite of cinnamon roll into her mouth then chased it with a swallow of coffee. She set down her cup and picked up the red rose Guy had put on the tray and brought it to her nose. “I love our Saturday morning tradition.”

“I do make a mean cinnamon roll,” Guy said.

“And I look so forward to them—and to you bringing me breakfast in bed.”

Guy turned and kissed her cheek. “It’s worth it just to see that girlish look on your face when the aroma of warm cinnamon rolls wafts under your nose. You want another one?”

“No, thanks. I don’t know where I’d put it. I sure hope I can get back to my writing soon.” Ellen opened and closed her right hand. “My fingers are getting better.”

“You ever miss working for the newspaper?”

“I don’t dwell on it.” Ellen closed her eyes and let her thoughts drift back to the past. “Sometimes I miss the smell of the ink. The sound of the presses. The feel of barely dry paper. I miss the satisfaction of being able to report breaking news before the electronic media does. I miss working with Margie. I miss the relationship I built with the community. And I suppose
I miss knowing that what I do makes a difference.”

“That’s a whole lot more
missing
than I realized,” Guy said. “I hope the novel writing will be enough to satisfy you.”

“I think it will. Every now and then, I feel a pang of longing for the old profession. But just a pang. I really need to make friends, though. That’s a big void.”

Guy climbed out of bed and took the tray off Ellen’s lap. “What’re you going to do today?”

“Everything I can to avoid the horde of weekend shoppers. Maybe I’ll take my binoculars and bird book and go walking on the beach.”

“I’ll get this mess cleaned up, then I need to go hide in my office.”

Ellen followed Guy out to the kitchen. She came up behind him, put her arms around his waist, and rested her cheek on his back. “Did I mention I love you?”

“No, I assume you want me only for my cinnamon rolls.”

Ellen smiled and tightened her embrace around his middle. “That’s not true. I love
all
your rolls.”

“It’s a good thing. All this fine eating is starting to hang over my belt buckle.”

Ellen chuckled and nuzzled a moment longer. “I really do enjoy our Saturday mornings. Thanks for making the time.”

Guy set the breakfast trays on the countertop and turned around, his hands resting on Ellen’s shoulders. “It bothers me that you miss your old profession.”

“I hardly ever think about it,” Ellen said.

“Yes, but the minute you did it all came flooding back. I hope my asking you to get out of the newspaper business hasn’t put you in a box.”

Ellen shook her head. “It’s challenging enough writing a novel.” She stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his cheek. “You need to get to work. I’m going bird watching.”

Ellen reached the far end of Seaport Beach, pleased to have recorded seventeen species of birds on today’s list. She fixed her eyes on a couple dozen shore birds meandering in the sudsy surf. Several bore distinctive black-and-white markings and a pinkish tan head and neck. She looked them up in her bird book and decided they were American Avocets—not common in the Panhandle. She marveled at the detail of God’s handiwork and wrote the name on her list, then lay in the warm sand, listening to the sounds of the wind and the surf and the gulls.

Ross Hamilton’s face popped into her head, and she felt compelled to pray
Lord, comfort Ross today. Draw him to Your Son. Help the authorities find Sarah Beth, and Ross and Julie to find closure. Lord, he needs Your forgiveness. He needs to come to a saving knowledge of You. I pray You would use these circumstances to cause him to turn to You. Somehow let him know that You haven’t abandoned Him. That nothing he’s done is beyond the forgiving power of the cross
.

Ellen felt something brush across her arm and her eyes flew open. A scruffy, plump pelican stood staring at her. She sat up and backed away, hoping the creature wouldn’t bite her.

The bird inched forward and looked almost comical as he moved his eyes and tilted his head.

“Oh, you little rascal,” a man said.

Ellen turned around and saw Ned Norton hobbling toward her.

“Porky, you little beggar, leave the lady alone. Oh … Ellen, I didn’t realize it was you.”

Ellen smiled and held up her hand to block the sun. “Nice to see you both again.”

“Mind if I plop down in the sand next to you?” Ned said.

“Not at all. I hope you brought something to feed your friend here.”

Ned sat in the sand and opened the same pouch Ellen remembered from last time. He opened a Ziploc bag and took out a small fish and held it out. “Come on.”

Porky snatched the fish with his bill and swallowed it with one big gulp, then stood staring at Ned.

“I’ve only got two left, and you can jolly well wait a while.” Ned chuckled and closed the pouch. “So how have you been?”

“I’ve done a lot of thinking since we talked the other day.”

“That so?”

Ellen hugged her knees. “I took your advice and started praying for Ross Hamilton. You were right. It’s hard to judge someone when you’re asking the Lord to touch his heart.”

Ned smiled knowingly.

“Did you see the Hamiltons speak to the media?” Ellen said.

“Yes, I did. I’ve invested a lot of prayer in those folks. I wanted to hear what they had to say. I’ve been praying for you, too.”

“Me?”

“I told you I pray for lots of folks.”

“Well, I appreciate it,” Ellen said. “I’ve struggled so much with my attitude about Ross, and that’s starting to change. I’m really glad I listened to you, or I might still be judging him and harboring all kinds of bad feelings, which wouldn’t have served either of us.”

“Sounds like you’ve been building sandcastles.”

Ellen smiled and held out her sore fingers. “Not on the beach, but certainly in my heart. I’m more interested in how God is going to touch Ross than in what the authorities find out about him.”

Ned picked up her left hand and gave it a squeeze. “That’s good. That’s real good.”

Ellen noticed a woman walking a white poodle along the surf. She kept glancing up at them. “Do you know that lady, Ned?”

“Can’t say as I do. But she keeps looking at us like she knows us.”

J
ulie Hamilton awakened to the sound of church bells and for a fleeting moment forgot she was mad at God. But the grief that immobilized her was a grim reminder why she had severed all ties with Him.

She glanced at the clock and could hardly believe it was ten. She wasn’t sure what time she had finally fallen sleep, but it had been long after midnight. She looked over at Ross and could tell by his breathing that he was in a deep sleep. She took his hand and held it to her cheek, trying not to cry and wondering how she would find the courage to face another day—and the bad news it might hold.

She blinked away the vile images that tormented her and thought back on the first time she saw Sarah Beth, even before she was born. It seemed like only yesterday that Dr. Hogan had done the ultrasound …

“Okay, here we go,” Dr. Hogan had said.

Julie looked at Ross. “You sure you want to know the gender?”

“Are you kidding? I’m dying to know.”

Julie felt Ross holding her hand and something cold on her abdomen, but she focused on the monitor and the image of the child in her womb.

Ross laughed. “Look, the baby’s sucking its thumb!”

Julie was amazed. “I’ll never understand how anyone can argue that’s not a baby”

“Has a strong, healthy heartbeat,” Dr. Hogan said. “And look up here—a head full of hair.”

Julie watched in wonderment as Dr. Hogan helped them identify arms and legs and two tiny, perfect feet.

Dr. Hogan got quiet and stood intensely studying the monitor. “Well, that didn’t take long. Okay, last chance. Do you really want to know, or do you want to be surprised?”

Julie clung to Ross’s hand. “I want to know.”

Ross nodded.

Dr. Hogan looked at them, a twinkle in his eyes, the corners of his mouth turning up. “I hope you like pink.”

Julie put her hands to her mouth and breathed in without exhaling.

Dr. Hogan pointed to something on the monitor, but Julie was only half listening. She had always dreamed of having a son
and
a daughter—and now it was becoming a reality.

Six months later, she stood before the congregation at Harmony Community Church, her beautiful baby daughter in her arms, and Ross and Nathaniel standing proudly at her side. With Pastor Helms leading the prayers, they dedicated Sarah Beth to God and promised to raise her to love and follow Jesus …