Inescapable (15 page)

Sheriff Saul Ford sat at a table
with Avery, grilling him about the dead man found on the road to Kingdom. Sheriff Ford, an imposing man over six feet tall and built like a football player, scowled at Avery as if he were purposely holding back information. And Avery seemed to wither under the sheriff's displeasure.

“There just ain't anything else I can tell you,” Avery said, the pitch of his voice getting higher each time he spoke. “Like I said, I just got out to check on the car 'cause I thought someone might be in trouble. That's all there is to it.”

“I pass lots of cars parked on the side of the road,” the sheriff growled, “but I don't get out and look at 'em. Doesn't make sense.”

“He's told you over and over that we don't get many cars on that road,” Cora interjected, obviously getting impatient with Ford's interrogation of her friend. “Why do you keep askin' the same questions? We don't know the man. He's a stranger. Avery did the right thing by notifyin' you. Why don't you leave him alone?”

“I don't remember askin' you for your opinion, ma'am,” he snapped. “When I'm ready to talk to you, I'll tell you. Now, hush up.”

“Wait a minute, Sheriff,” Clay said. “That's no way to talk to Mrs. Menlo. These people aren't suspects. There's no need to be rude.”

Ford stood to his feet. “Oh, there's not? Well, maybe I oughta take you in for questioning, young man. Seems to me you're the only person here that don't belong.”

Clay gave the sheriff a slow smile, but his eyes simmered with anger. “I think that's a fine idea. But first let me make a call to our family lawyer and see what he thinks about that idea. My guess is that he'd have a problem with it since you have no evidence that this poor man's death wasn't accidental. And no evidence that I ever knew him. What do you suppose our high-priced Seattle lawyer will have to say?”

I half expected the sheriff to come unglued at Clay's confrontational attitude, but instead he grimaced like he was in pain and sat back down. My guess was that the bad-mannered lawman had gone up against lawyers in the past and wasn't willing to go down that road again.

“Well, I guess he coulda gotten out of his car for some particular reason,” he said in a subdued voice. “Maybe to relieve himself.” He tipped his hat toward Cora and me. “Sorry to be blunt, ladies. Then he slipped and fell down the ravine, hittin' his head on the rocks below.”

Clay sighed audibly. “So if you're convinced it's an accident, why are you grilling Mr. Menninger? It's after midnight, and everyone's tired.”

The sheriff glared at him. “Gotta cover all the angles, boy. That's the least the dead man deserves, don't you think?”

Clay shrugged. “Of course. But before you spend any more time bothering innocent people, why don't you apply your efforts toward determining how the man actually died? Doesn't that make more sense?”

I could barely comprehend the back-and-forth patter between Clay and the sheriff. It was as if I were underwater, trying to understand them but not quite able to make out their words. I didn't know the dead man's identity, but I certainly knew why he was in Kingdom.

Try as I might, though, I couldn't find the courage to speak up. Couldn't say the words that would reveal the truth. All I could do was sit and watch the bizarre scene unfolding in the dining room. Thankfully, except for asking my name, the sheriff didn't question me. He probably equated my silence and spacey demeanor with shock. And maybe he was right. Questions kept bouncing back and forth in my head like out-of-control Ping-Pong balls.

Was the man's death really an accident? If so, would anyone ever trace him to me? And if it wasn't an accident, who killed him? I found the possible answer to that question more frightening than anything else. Only a few people knew about the stranger who'd been tormenting me. And there was only one person I could think of who might be capable of killing him—my father. Even though he claimed to be part of a religion that believed in peace toward your fellowman, I'd seen his rage up close and personal. I knew what he was capable of. But would he actually kill someone? I found that extremely hard to accept.

“Guess that's it for now,” Sheriff Ford said. “We'll be back tomorrow, lookin' around. We need to find out more about this guy. Contact his family. That kinda stuff. Then we'll have the doc in Washington take a shot at him. If he don't think there's anything hinky about the way this man met his Maker, we'll pack 'im up and send 'im on home. Otherwise, I gotta call in the KBI and ship the body to the coroner's office. Hate havin' those Bureau boys around. Snooty bunch of college boys that think they know everything. Couldn't find their—” He stopped and looked at Cora and me. “Well, you get my drift.”

He put his hat back on his balding pate. “I expect this won't be the last time you'll see me.” He shook his head. “This is one weird place.” He pointed his finger at Avery and then swung it around the room at the rest of us. “You religious people act all holy, but you got your skeletons just like everyone else. Hidin' out from the rest of the world don't keep you from payin' for your sins, you know.”

With that, he walked out the front door, slamming it behind him. There was silence in the room for a few seconds.

“Well, I better head on home,” Avery finally said. He shook his head. “That man makes me wish I'd just minded my own business. He's one of the reasons we try to solve our own problems in Kingdom. Sheriff Ford's never made a secret of his dislike for this town and everyone in it. I don't trust him. I really don't.”

Although I didn't say anything, I agreed wholeheartedly with Avery. When Clay brought up an out-of-town attorney, the sheriff seemed to jump from suspecting foul play to assuming the death was accidental so fast it almost made my head spin. Was he planning to search for the truth or sweep the incident under the rug so it would make his life easier? That would certainly keep the “Bureau boys” he detested out of his hair.

“Pshaw,” Cora said, rising from her chair. “You did the right thing callin' the sheriff, Avery. Don't you let that ornery man rattle you. Go on home, but come back tomorrow for breakfast. My treat.”

Avery smiled for the first time since finding the body. His wife, Emily, had passed away almost five years ago, and with Berlene married and gone, Cora's Café was a second home to him. He said his good-byes and left.

“You want me to stay for a while?” Cora asked, looking straight at Clay.

I shook my head. “No, thanks. Clay and I still need to talk. You go on home.”

“Well, at least let me go upstairs and check on Charity once before I leave.”

I nodded at her, and she climbed the stairs, leaving Clay and me alone. Cora had put Charity to bed shortly after Avery arrived. I was thankful my daughter slept so peacefully. Once she went to bed, she was out like a light. The last thing I wanted her to know was that someone had been killed in Kingdom. She was so happy here. I had to wonder if the sheriff's investigation would endanger our future in this small town. If he uncovered too much, it could lead back to me.

I turned my attention to Clay. “You said you wanted to tell me something. Please make it fast. I'm exhausted.”

He got up from where he'd been sitting and came over to my table, pulling up a chair next to me and sitting down. His eyes looked tired. “Any coffee in the kitchen?” he asked. “I've still got to drive back to Belleville tonight. Got a room at a motel there.”

“I figured you were staying with Roger and Mary.”

He shook his head. “Came here to see you, and I didn't want to feel obligated to visit old friends. Too many people know me in Washington.”

“So Roger isn't aware that you're here?”

“Not for certain, though he might suspect it. And I'd rather he not find out, if you don't mind.”

I shrugged. “Like I said, I have no intention of talking to him anyway.”

He smiled. “Good. Now about that coffee?”

“I'll get some.”

“No. I'll get it. You rest. You worked a lot harder than I did tonight.”

“Okay. There's some in the large pot on the stove. Should still be hot. Clean cups are drying next to the sink.”

“No coffeemaker, huh?”

“You remember where you are, right?”

He chuckled. “Yes. I guess it could be worse. I could be grinding the beans.”

I gave him a small smile. “You've got that right.”

He stood up. “I'd almost forgotten how beautiful you are when you smile.”

“Please, don't . . .”

“I know. I'm sorry.” He turned and headed toward the kitchen just as Cora came down the stairs.

“Where is he?” she asked as she came into the room.

I explained that he was getting coffee.

“My goodness,” she huffed. “I don't want him messin' around in my kitchen.”

Before I could stop her, she hurried toward the kitchen door. I thought about calling her back, but it
was
her kitchen. If she didn't want him in there, that was her business. I didn't care. A few seconds later the kitchen door opened and Clay came out.

“Cora's getting the coffee,” he said, coming back over to the table. “Guess I'm not welcome in her kitchen.”

“Clay, I'm really tired. Please say what you came here to say and then go. Don't drag this out.”

“Okay, okay.” He leaned closer to me. “Look, Lizzie. I know what you must think of me, but I just want one chance to explain. That's all.” He tried to take my hand, but I pulled it away.

He sat up straight and folded his arms across his chest. “Well, here it is. I cared deeply for you back then—when we were together. But my hormones were out of control. If I had to do it over again, I never would have . . . I mean, I talked you into something you weren't ready for, and it was wrong. You can hate me for it, but there are a lot of boys out there who are just too dumb to realize the consequences of their actions until they're older. It doesn't make them bad. It makes them immature and stupid. And that was me.”

He uncrossed his arms and ran a hand through his thick hair. “When I found out about the baby, I went to my parents. I told them I loved you and wanted to marry you. My father came unglued. Threatened to disown me. I guess it was a couple days later when he drove to Kingdom and attempted to buy you off.”

“You mean tried to get me to kill our child?”

He nodded slowly. “You've got to believe me; I didn't know anything about it. Not until after we moved. I was furious.”

“But you still didn't come after me.”

“No. No, I didn't. Not then.”

“Why?” I asked, trying to keep from crying. “It was terrible here. My father . . . Well, he made my life a living hell.”

Clay took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I'm so sorry. But I couldn't leave.”

I started to ask him why again, but then Cora came into the room with a pot of coffee and two cups. She set them on the table. “I'm goin' now,” she said to me. “You need anything else?”

“No, this is great. Thanks, Cora.”

She hesitated a moment. I could tell she was worried.

“I'm fine. Really. You go home. I'll see you in the morning.”

“Okay, but sleep in. I can handle the Saturday morning crowd. They're not in a hurry anyway. Only reason they gather here is to gab.”

I smiled at her. “Thanks, but you wake me up. I want to help.”

Cora glared at Clay. “You be nice to this girl. You hear me? Don't you confuse her.”

Clay nodded at her. “It's not my intention, Cora. I promise.”

She stared at him a few more seconds and then went to get her coat and hat. I said good-bye to her once more as she went out the front door. A few seconds later I heard her car start up.

“She cares a great deal about you,” Clay said. “I'm glad.”

“Answer my question,” I said in clipped tones. “Why didn't you come for me?”

He sighed deeply. “My father had a major heart attack only days after we got to Seattle. He was very sick for a long time and died later that year.” He swiped at his eyes with his hand. “I should have contacted you, Lizzie. But I was worried about him—and my mother. She had a breakdown, and I had to care for her. Even though I wanted to be with you, I couldn't find a way to leave.”

I clasped my hand to my chest. “Oh, my goodness, Clay. I had no idea. If only I'd known. . . .”

He waved his hand at me. “Don't even go there. It's not your fault. If my head had been clearer, I would have found a way to get word to you sooner. Unfortunately, by the time I tried to let you know what was going on, you were gone.”

“You tried to find me?”

“Yes. Some old friends from school told me you'd left Kingdom, but no one knew where you were. I sent several letters to your parents but never got a response.”

My head was spinning. Had I made a terrible mistake? Had Clay actually loved me all along? The possibility was too much for me to handle right now. I suddenly felt faint and put my head in my hands, feeling as if I were on a train speeding out of control. Too much was happening at one time, and all my emotions seemed to be on a collision course.

Clay reached for me. This time I let him take my hand. “I'm sorry. I didn't come here to make things worse for you, but I had to explain. To let you know that I didn't desert you on purpose.”

I gazed into his eyes. “What do you want now, Clay? Where do we go from here?”

He stared past me, sadness evident in his expression. “I'm not here to ask anything of you, Lizzie. Really. All I want is for you to take the check I brought and let me help you in any other way I can.” His eyes bored into mine. “Someday, if possible, I'd like to meet my daughter. And I'd like to be a part of your lives. In any way you'll let me in.”