Iris Avenue (34 page)

“What makes you think you can trust me with this information about you and Theo?”

“Please,” Ava said. “What can you do? You’ve been sleeping with the star witness in the biggest case of your career. That’s kind of risky behavior, don’t you think? Taking advantage of the abandoned wife, now the recently widowed mother of three? You need me to make this case and you can’t afford to do anything to jeopardize that.”

“You’re as bad as Theo was,” Jamie said. “That money he left you has Brad’s blood all over it.”

“Have you ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black?” she asked him. “Do you think I don’t know where you went yesterday morning?”

Jamie looked shocked and Ava laughed.

“Don’t worry, Jamie. I’m good at keeping secrets. You make sure my family stays safe and you have nothing to worry about.”

It started to rain.

Ava stood up and said, “I’m cold. I’m going home.”

Neither of them spoke as they walked back. As soon as they got back to the house, Jamie retrieved his cell phone and went up to his room. Ava busied herself in the kitchen. She was washing vegetables in the sink when Theresa brought the kids home. She settled the bigger kids in the family room, put Little Fitz down in his playpen full of toys, and then joined Ava in the kitchen.

Jamie came down the hall with his coat on, carrying his suitcase and laptop case. He didn’t look at Ava.

“I’m going back to D.C. and I’ll coordinate our next tasks from there,” he told Theresa. “You’re in charge here.”

Then he turned to Ava.

“Mrs. Fitzpatrick, I want to thank you for your hospitality and for putting up with so many of us at the expense of your business. If all goes well, we should have some resolution within the next few months. Meanwhile, if you need anything, please tell Theresa.”

He held out his hand but Ava said, “I’m sorry, my hands are wet,” and held up her hands, which were covered in elbow-length rubber gloves.

Jamie dropped his hand and took a deep breath.

“Okay,” he said. “I guess that’s it.”

“You have a safe trip,” Ava said, and turned away.

Jamie hesitated briefly, but did not respond. He said a quick good-bye to the kids and then went out the back door. Ava could hear the car start up and then the gravel crunch as he backed his car into the alley and drove away.

Theresa asked if there was anything she could do to help, but Ava said there wasn’t. She pulled off her gloves, picked up the phone, and punched in a familiar number.

“Scott,” she said, when he answered. “It’s Ava. I’m making that beef stew you like so much and wondered if you’d care to join us for dinner. We’ve been missing you. You’ll come? That’s great news. See you soon.”

Ava hummed under her breath as she set the table. She added place settings for the remaining agents, her children, herself, and then one for Scott, right at the head of the table.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I’m grateful for my parents, family, and friends. I give special thanks to first readers Terry Hutchison, Ella McComas, and Joan Turner; and to John Gillispie and Mitzi Cyrus proofread
ing. I wish dogs lived forever, especially June Bug, Henry, and Daisy.

Books by Pamela Grandstaff

Rose Hill Mysteries:

Rose Hill

Morning Glory Circle

Iris Avenue

Peony Street

Daisy Lane

Lilac Avenue

For Children:

June Bug Days and Firefly Nights

Ella’s New Hat and Her Terrible Cat