Murderous Lies (13 page)

“Damn it, Mom!” Rose yelled, the frustration she’d been holding in breaking loose. “Stop retreating into your make-believe world. Talk to me about this. I need you to understand my decisions. Max is a good person.”

“Mom?” Ginger looked at Rose and squinted her eyes. Her head tilted to the side and then she shook it very slowly. “I think you’re confused, miss. My baby and I have been living in this room for a few months now. I don’t know your mom.”

“
You
are my mom. That’s a doll in your hands, not a baby!” Rose ran a hand through her hair, pulling at the roots. “I’m your daughter, Rosemary.”

The nurse approached the bed, shaking her head and pointing at the door. “It’s time for you to leave.”

“I’m going to sleep now,” Ginger proclaimed. “I hope you find your mom, young lady.”

Rose ground her teeth tightly, but stood. It was useless. She couldn’t tell if Ginger was faking or not, but her mom had decided to slip back into her delusions rather than face the truth. Rose followed the nurse into the hallway and closed the door.

“At least you got her calmed down,” the nurse said. “She’d been in a panic for nearly an hour before I called you.”

“She said she saw Max,” Rose said. “How? Did someone visit her before she got upset?”

The nurse shrugged. “Not that I know of. I put her in her room after dinner and she was fine. About an hour and a half later, she started screaming and throwing things around and calling for you. I don’t know what happened.”

Rose closed her eyes, clinging to patience with every ounce of control she could muster. They didn’t even know if her mother had a visitor? What kind of crap establishment was this? If she had more money, she could send her mom somewhere nice, like Woodbridge Manor in Serenity, but that was far out of her price range. It was certainly time to start researching other facilities, however.

When she felt in control of her temper, she looked back at the nurse. “Don’t hesitate to call me through the night if she needs something. I don’t work again until Monday so I’m available all day tomorrow.”

The nurse smiled, a cheerful, fake expression that Rose wanted to smack off the other woman’s face. “I’m sure we’ll be fine, Miss Spelling. Try not to worry.”

M
ax paced the small bedroom inside his mom’s house Sunday morning. He’d been up most of the night, worrying. He wished he’d taken Julie’s original advice and gone to Rose to beg for forgiveness. When Rose saw her mom today, she’d find out he was there last night, and she wouldn’t be happy.

He wished Rose could see why finding the killer was so important to him. In fact, he didn’t understand why it
wasn’t
important to her. She was the one who received a threat on her doorstep. Even if nothing further came of it, that should make her want the truth more, not less.

A light knock sounded on his door. “Max?” his mother called.

“Yeah?”

The door swung open and Sally walked in. For once, a plume of cigarette smoke didn’t follow her. She crossed the room and sat on the small bed, patting the spot next to her. “Come here, son.”

Max obliged, sitting down, though he couldn’t seem to relax his tense shoulders.

“I heard you in here pacing all night,” Sally said. “What’s wrong? Frank told me things are going great at the garage. People in town are even treating me better than they have in years. So, what reason do you have to be so upset?”

Great. On top of everything else, he’d kept his mom awake with his restlessness. “I’m sorry for disturbing you. I don’t mean to be a bother.”

“It’s no bother.” Sally put her arm over his shoulder, surprising him when she hugged him tight against her side. “I’m your mom. I’m supposed to worry.”

That was funny, in a sad way. Max never remembered her seeming concerned or worried about him. She was always worrying about what people said about her. True, being a single mother hadn’t been easy on her and she did the best she could, but sometimes Max had wished for a different sort of childhood.

“It’s Ginger,” he blurted out. “I went to see her.”

“You what?” The snarly tone Max was used to came back with lightning speed. “Why would you do a bonehead thing like that?”

Max stood back up to resume pacing. “It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I’m not so sure. She got really upset, knew who I was, and refused to listen to me. I think I’ve ruined things with Rose now. At least, once she finds out about it.”

“You’re still trying to get Rose?” A scowl wrinkled Sally’s face.

“I told you, Mom, I still love her. I want to be with her forever.”

Sally shook her head and crossed her arms. “How in the world did you turn out to be such a romantic? Your dad knocked me up in the backseat of a car and then refused to acknowledge you, and you still think true love exists?”

It wasn’t the first time he’s heard this speech, but for the first time, it had an impact on him. Maybe that was the reason Sally was quicker to show disapproval than love. She had been trying to prepare him for what she saw as the real world. That was such a sad way to live.

He sat back down, grabbing her in a full hug. “I love you, Ma. You know that.”

She kissed his cheek. “Most of the time.”

Not sure whether she was joking or not, Max didn’t respond.

Sighing, she pulled away. “I’m happy you’re so driven to clear your name, but I really think people are starting to forget about it. Everyone seems to be settling down now.”

“Are you telling me to let it go and just start my life with Rose?” He tried to suppress a grin, knowing that would upset her, but wanting her to face the fact that he would be with Rose, eventually.

Sally’s lip curled. “It’s all about that girl, isn’t it? Clearing your name, it isn’t about justice or finding the killer. You just want Rose.”

He didn’t answer. He had probably forced the issue long enough for one day, and didn’t want to completely alienate his mother if he could help it. Sally had made her opinions about Rose clear, and he didn’t need yet another lecture. It looked like their sweet mother-son moment was over.

“Fine, Max. All I can do is offer advice.” Sally stood and headed for the door. “If you decide not to take it, there’s not much I can do.”

***

R
ose woke to her phone ringing. She’d slept fitfully, waiting for another call from Brentwood. Glancing at the screen, she saw that it wasn’t the asylum, but Kelsey. “Kel?”

“I need your help,” she said, a touch of desperation in her voice. “Bill’s drunk out of his mind. He opened another bottle of Vodka after I went to bed and drank the whole thing. I don’t want the boys seeing him like this. Can you watch them for a few hours while I get him sobered up?”

Sobered up? That was funny. Rose had only met Bill a few times, but he was always zoned out, barely seeming aware of his surroundings. Rose glanced at the clock, seeing that it was only a little after seven. So much for sleeping in on her day off.

“My mom’s having a hard time this weekend. If Brentwood calls I have to go out there immediately,” she said.

“Please, Rose. I don’t have anyone else. You know that. My mom is at work this morning, and I can’t let her know how drunk he is anyway. Bill’s in the bathroom throwing up and it smells like a brewery in here. I need help. I’m afraid I might have to drive him up to Madras to get his stomach pumped at the hospital.”

That did sound more serious than normal, and Kelsey was clearly on the edge of panic. “I guess the twins can come out there with me if Brentwood calls.” There was a good chance if her mother did come out of her delusions today, she wouldn’t want to see Rose anyway. “Let me brush my teeth and I’ll be right over.”

“No,” Kelsey said. “I’ll bring the boys to you. I don’t want you seeing Bill like this.”

Rose wrinkled her nose. “If he’s that bad off, you shouldn’t leave him alone.”

“Damn, you’re right. I’ll just send the boys over. They can go that far without me. I owe you one.” Kelsey disconnected the phone before Rose could reply.

Great. Bryant and Tray wouldn’t take long to get to her door. Rose rushed to the bathroom and raced through her morning routine, wishing she didn’t have to skip the shower. The doorbell rang right as she walked out of the bathroom.

Gizmo rubbed against her legs before racing to the kitchen. He was ready for his breakfast.

“Hang on, buddy. I have to let the boys in.”

As though he understood her, Gizmo stopped at the entrance of the kitchen and sat on his haunches.

The bell rang again, and Rose rushed through the living room. She yanked open the door to find the two blond boys standing on the porch. “Hey guys. Early morning, huh?”

Bryant shrugged and opened the screen, walking inside. “We were up watching cartoons when Dad got home.”

Rose narrowed her eyebrows. “Your dad went somewhere?” She’d never heard of that happening before—according to Kelsey, he never left the house. Maybe he was on more than alcohol and found drugs or something, and that’s why he was more messed up than normal.

Bryant shrugged again. “He goes sometimes, but he always comes back in the morning.”

Tray tapped Rose’s arm. “Aunt Rose, Mom didn’t have time to feed us. Do you have breakfast?”

Rose tried to remember if she had any mix to make pancakes. Not likely. Maybe they could cook French toast. Normally when she watched the boys they’d already eaten. “I’m sure we’ll find something. Later, when it warms up more, we’ll go to the park. Does that sound good?”

“Cool!” They both cheered.

At least the boys were easily entertained. Leading the way to the kitchen, Rose felt depression settle down on her. She might be a good ‘aunt,’ but she was definitely a crappy daughter. It would probably be best if she didn’t go out to Brentwood today, especially if it triggered something and upset her mother further. While the boys played on the toys at the park, she’d call and make sure Ginger was okay. Hopefully by next Sunday, things would be back to normal.

M
ax tried Julie’s phone again. It was after 11:00 and she hadn’t checked in yet. She’d never waited so late in the day, and now she wasn’t picking up.

As the line clicked over to voice mail again, a sinking feeling settled in Max’s stomach. “Ma,” he called down the hallway toward his mother’s room, “I’m heading out for a while.”

Sally popped her head outside her door, a glare on her face. “Are you seeing that girl?”

“Don’t start in on Rose again, please.” He stuffed his phone in his pocket. “I’m going to visit Julie, so you have nothing to worry about.”

Her scowl deepened. “Why are you visiting her?”

He forced a smile on his face, hoping his anxiety didn’t show. “She’s my friend. I’ll see you later.”

Turning, he fled from the house before Sally could think of another lecture. Even though he understood his mom better after this morning, he couldn’t handle living in her house much longer. He needed to get out on his own and let her have her life back at the same time. It wasn’t easy on either one of them living together.

Then again, he wasn’t going to make enough money to live by himself just working in Uncle Frank’s garage. Once the police caught the killer, though, the town would be on his side again and he could look for a second job.

When he pulled up to Julie’s apartment complex, nothing looked out of place. Max parked in the visitor section. Julie’s car was in its usual spot beneath the carport. That didn’t help the unease that threaded through his gut. Why wasn’t she answering the phone?

After climbing out of the car, Max pulled his phone from his pocket, trying to decide if he should call Calvin. Then again, what could he tell him? Something felt wrong? It wasn’t as if he and Super Cop were buddies. The asshole would never let Max live it down if he came out here and Julie was fine.

Max twisted his head side to side, trying to unknot the kinks in his neck. There was only one way to make sure Julie was okay.

Taking the steps two at a time, Max stopped at her door and took a deep breath. No matter how much he wanted this feeling of dread to be a product of his overactive imagination, he feared it wasn’t.

He reached out to knock. “Julie? You in there?”

When his fist touched the door, it popped open. The first thing Max noticed was the door jam. The frame was busted out around the part that latched the door closed.

Then, a sweet, coopery smell hit him. Bile rose in Max’s throat. He’d smelled that before in prison. A guy got shanked, and he’d bled out before the guards arrived.

It was the smell of blood and death.

Though he didn’t want to, Max forced himself to look past the door jam. Julie’s body lay in the middle of the room, sprawled next to the coffee table. He couldn’t see her face through the table, but Julie’s pants were ripped halfway down her legs. Smears of dark brown covered the floor next to her, and Max noted some on the walls. Blood. At least it appeared Julie fought and didn’t go down easily.

“Damn!” He stepped back from the door, knowing better than to go inside. There was nothing he could do for Julie now. He had to call Calvin.

When the dispatcher answered, Max didn’t waste time. “I need to talk to Calvin Black. There’s been a murder.”

***

T
he twins yelled with delight as they raced up the jungle gym and down the slide. Rose collapsed onto the bench next to the toys.

Bryant stopped running and looked down at her from the top of a plastic bridge that crossed to the slide. “Aren’t you going to chase us, Aunt Rose?”

She laughed. “I’m exhausted. You boys chase each other.”

He shrugged. “Okay. I’m going to get you Tray.”

Tray let out a girlish shriek and took off running.

Rose checked her phone again. Still no message from Kelsey. It was almost 12:30. Soon, she’d need to fix the boys lunch. Did Bill go to the hospital? Rose wished her friend would keep her better informed about what was happening.

“Hey, Rose!”

Startling and nearly dropping her phone, Rose whipped her head around to the sound of the voice.

Kevin Shilling, one of Jimmy’s posse, walked up behind her, a smile on his face.