Organized to Death (30 page)

She wished he had. Had come to hold her. She pushed the thought aside and muttered, “Uh huh.”

“I checked with the investigating officers, and they had searched both of Ted’s garages. No sign of a white car. This morning the judge denied bail on the assault charge. With the two serious charges against him, she thinks he’s a flight risk, which he certainly is. So you won’t have him to worry about anymore.”

“That is a relief.” Tina stood up and looked out the window. Bright sunny day. Thermostat said forty-eight degrees. She began pacing. “You think Crystal found out about him not being a doctor and he murdered her?”

“A big possibility. They’ll be hammering him, trying to get him to admit it.”

Tina thought back to all the hours she’d spent with Ted. Helping him organize his office. Talking to him in the kitchen. Going for walks with him. And last night. She realized he was single-minded and probably ruthless. To say nothing of devious. She guessed he was capable of murder.

So, she should be relieved. But her instincts told her he hadn’t done it. Plus he’d been in the office when Nicky was attacked—she’d been with him. She didn’t think he’d been in town long enough to have an accomplice.

“I hope they don’t give up looking for someone else,” she said.

“Why?” Hank’s tone was sharp.

“I don’t know, Hank.” She walked over to the blazer she’d hung on the back of a chair last night and pulled her worry stone from the pocket. “He just never seemed desperate to me until last night. Someone chased Crystal from her house to Rachel’s—that was desperation. Ted never showed any nervousness when Crystal’s name was mentioned, but he’d get uptight when I questioned him about himself or even looked at his diploma. The problem is, I can’t think of anyone else, except Dr. Stevenson, who had anything to hide. And I can’t see that old man murdering anyone.” But maybe Ted had murdered Crystal and now the two were working together to cover it up? No, she still couldn’t believe it.

“Crystal could have found out any number of secrets, Red.”

“You’re right. It could even be someone we don’t know. But why were Rachel, Charles, and I followed by that white car? It has to be someone we know, and something we either know or could find out.” A sudden thought made her stop worrying the stone. “I wonder who Ted’s mother was? Or is.”

“Now there’s a good question. She’s probably local.”

A chill traveled down Tina’s back. “One of the Lunch Bunch?” She tried to remember if any of them drove a white car. Her mind went blank.

“It’s possible,” Hank said, his voice sounding cautious.

“But after all these years, why would anyone kill someone who found out about an old affair?”

“Does seem pretty radical.”

“The police don’t have any new clues, anything to go on?”

“Not really. A few fibers, hairs, but those have to be matched to something or someone. No handy footprints in the snow or mud. No gun. No witnesses.”

“I wonder how we could find out who Ted’s mother is,” Tina mused.

“Tina! Stay out of this now. Poking around is probably what got Crystal murdered.”

“But I can’t. Someone followed me. Someone shot at Nicky and Rach and followed Charles. We’re all in danger. I can ask questions the police can’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Lunch Bunch ladies knew all about Dr. Stevenson’s affair. No one has asked them, so they’d keep it a secret. They seem to thrive on secrets.”

“Tina, if you ask the wrong one … “

“I’ll start with my mother. You don’t think she’d hurt me?”

“No, of course not.”

“Okay. I’ve got to get going—I want to go to the viewing this afternoon. Will you be there?”

“Yes, keeping an eye on Rach and Nicky.”

“See you there, then.”

What to wear? Tina found a dark gray skirt and silver, silk blouse in her closet and the jacket to go with the skirt. She put the worry stone in the right-hand pocket and transferred her stuff from her everyday purse to one she’d bought for church. Tugged on pantyhose and settled on a pair of black high heels. A dressy watch and she was set.

She carried her purse and shoes downstairs. Uncle Bob stood in the kitchen cooking himself some ham and eggs. Tina hoped he didn’t burn the eggs and smell up the kitchen.

She said hello and asked if her mother had been down yet. “Come and gone.”

“Gone where?”

“Back upstairs. She seemed tired.”

The vacuum cleaner started in the living room. “Maria’s here?” Tina asked.

“It’s Thursday.”

She’d lost track of the days. “I should recruit Maria to go with me on my decluttering jobs. She’d get rid of stuff in no time.”

Uncle Bob grinned at her. “Maria gives new meaning to the phrase ‘suck it up.’”

Laughing, Tina poured orange juice, coffee, and put two slices of bread in the toaster. She was in the mood for a toasted peanut butter sandwich. It could serve as both breakfast and lunch since it was so late in the morning.

When she sat down to eat, she asked her uncle, “What are you going to do today?”

“Go to the wake this afternoon with your mother. You going?”

“We can all go together.”

“You’re a good girl.” Uncle Bob patted her hand.

“Thank you, kind sir. It feels good to me to be good.”

“Good.”

They both laughed a little.

“I guess I should read the paper,” Tina said, looking around for it. “Hank told me I made the front page. Where is it?”

“Laura took it upstairs.”

Tina stopped chewing her sandwich. “Why? She never does that.”

“Maybe she was hoping you wouldn’t miss it. She wasn’t thrilled with the article.”

“Why not?” Alarmed, Tina put the sandwich down and stared at Uncle Bob.

He cleared his throat. “It implied a romantic relationship between you and that Ted character.”

The doorbell rang and the light flashed over the kitchen doorway. Princess hopped up and nudged Uncle Bob’s leg.

“I’ll get it,” Tina said.

“We’ll go with you.” Uncle Bob and Princess followed her to the door. Her backup team gave her courage.

Brandon stood on the porch, his face a thundercloud. He waved the newspaper at her. “Is this why you won’t talk to me? You’ve been seeing this Ted, this fraud, this quack, this … this—”

Tina had never seen Brandon, the lawyer, at a loss for words before. She stared at him a moment, then tugged his arm and pulled him inside.

“Don’t be silly,” she said, throwing the word silly back at him. “I had absolutely no interest in Ted.”
No, not Ted
, she thought.
Hank. It’s Hank that turns my knees to jelly and makes me quiver inside
.

She turned and walked into the living room, everyone following. Maria was now vacuuming the dining room, the drone starting to give Tina a headache. She hoped there wouldn’t be a crash before Maria sucked up something she didn’t like today. Tina didn’t need the distraction.

After sitting down on the couch, she said, “The paper lied, Brandon. Ted and I did not have a romantic relationship. It was strictly business.”

Uncle Bob and Princess stood in the doorway while Brandon paced. When Tina glanced at Uncle Bob, he waved at her and walked away. Such an understanding man.

“Sit down,” she snapped at Brandon. “I can’t talk to you with my neck in this position. I’m tired, damn it. I was scared out of my mind last night, and you come storming in here … “She was surprised to find herself crying again.

Surprised and angry. She decided to swear off men. Maybe forever. One she tries to help commits suicide. Another is a fraud and attacks her. A third won’t let his feelings show, so she doesn’t know if he just feels sorry for her and wants to protect her or if he really is attracted to her. And this one. This one wants to smother her and fit her into his idea of the mold a woman should adhere to.

Brandon sat down next to her and tried to put his arms around her. She pushed him away. “Go away. This isn’t working. You’re always criticizing me. You just don’t make me feel good anymore. Go back to work. We’re done.” Her anger stopped her tears, and she watched him, stunned when tears came to his eyes.

“No, Tina. No, I couldn’t bear it if we … “He took a deep breath and stood up again. “I love you. You know that. I only want what’s best for you.”

“What
you think
is best for me, Brandon. Find yourself an old-fashioned girl who wants to be pampered. I’m sure there are some still out there. Get a young one you can mold. This isn’t working for us.”

“But it used to be so good.”

“It always is in the beginning. Until we find out what each person really wants and realize we can’t meet expectations. Or, if we can, it works. This isn’t. You have an image of what your lover should be like, and I don’t fit. That frustrates you and makes me angry with you for trying to push me into your ideal. You mean well, Brandon. I know that. And I’m sure some other woman will find your”—she almost said smothering and bit it back—“your concern charming. I just don’t.”

Without warning, Brandon sat on the couch again and tried to take her in his arms. “I can’t let you go. I can’t.”

Tina didn’t want to push him away again, but she did, as gently as she could. She took his face in her hands. “You know, deep down, it’s not working for us. You know that, Brandon. Give it up.”

He bowed his head, and she took her hands away. Without another word, he stood up and left.

She sat, heard the front door close, then rested her head wearily against the back of the couch. Drained, she could no longer cry. She would miss him. He had been her rock. Someone to lean on when she got back to Newport. But she didn’t need that anymore.

She wasn’t sure what she needed. With a twinge, she admitted to herself that she’d miss the sex.

She opened her eyes to see her mother standing in the doorway. The vacuum was silent. How much had her mother heard? How upset would she be?

“It’s over?” Laura asked, entering the room.

“Yes. We just didn’t fit, Mom.”

“I know.” Laura sat where Brandon had just been. They didn’t hug. It would have felt awkward for both of them.

“Where’s the newspaper? It seems I need to know what it said so I can defend myself against a rather ugly implication.”

“I’ll go get it. I didn’t think it would help you to read it, but I see your point.”

Tina put her feet up on the couch. Her shoes were still in the kitchen, along with the half-eaten peanut butter sandwich. Glancing at her watch, she saw they’d need to get to the funeral home soon. Food was out of the question now.

Laura arrived back with the paper, handed it to Tina, and sat in a chair while Tina read it. She tossed it on the floor when finished. “I can’t believe … “

“I know,” her mother said. “Don’t worry about it. The people who matter know the truth.”

“I’ll have to testify.” She shuddered.

Laura frowned. “Maybe it won’t come to that.”

“We can hope. I need to freshen up and get to the wake.”

“Uncle Bob and I will go with you,” Laura said, her voice firm. She stood up, her movements brisk.

“That would be nice.” Tina stood up and smiled at her mother’s startled reaction. “Mothers and uncles are allowed some hovering. Even boyfriends can do a bit. But no smothering!”

Laura raised an eyebrow. “I see.”

They smiled at each other. Then Tina turned to go upstairs.

The four of them arrived at the funeral home just after three o’clock. Several people stared at Princess, but Uncle Bob, Laura, Tina, and Princess were all used to that.

They waited while a couple Tina knew vaguely knelt at the prie-dieu. The casket was closed, but Tina couldn’t help remembering the last time she’d seen Crystal. She ordered herself to remain calm and stared at an arrangement of white lilies while the couple finished. She and her mother knelt then, and Tina prayed for Crystal’s soul and for the killer to be found soon. Both stood up at the same time, and Uncle Bob knelt for a few moments, Princess standing quietly next to him, then joined them.

Charles stood off to one side, Mrs. Morris beside him, then Rachel and Nicky. Laura led the way to shake hands with Charles and Nicky and to hug Mrs. Morris and Rachel.

Tina did the same, noticing how fragile Rachel felt when they hugged. She murmured “I’m sorry,” not knowing what else to say.

After the condolences, they moved to the section of the room where chairs were put out. Most people stood in groups, and Tina realized that the crowd was more subdued than most, even for a wake. Conversations were awkward. Laura and Uncle Bob gravitated toward a small group Laura socialized with from church.

Tina saw Hank leaning against a wall where he had a good view of everything. She realized he seemed so alone. No one approached him. It was as if he had a sign around his neck—“Do not come near.”

She watched him watch her walk toward him. She felt his intense interest. A warm feeling came over her. The scent of the lilies, cloying up close, faded into a pleasant aroma, and she was conscious of her body moving, her hips and arms swinging ever so slightly. His eyes held hers, and the closer she came, the more light-headed she felt.

When she was close enough to touch him, she stopped and licked her lips. “I broke off with Brandon.” Now the flush was hotter from embarrassment. She had offered herself to him by blurting that out. Had she ruined it?

His expression took on a blank look, his eyes shuttered. “Why?” he asked, his voice expressionless.

She felt dizzy. Realized she hadn’t eaten much lately. Took a deep breath and told herself to get a grip.

“Because he annoyed me.”

Hank laughed. “Good reason, Red. So, you want to go steady with me? I probably never annoy you.”

She stood staring at him for a few seconds. Then turned to walk away. Or tried to. Hank grabbed her elbow.

“I’m bad at this,” he said in her ear. “If it weren’t a wake, I’d kiss you. Forgive me?”

She felt cold, as if she’d dived into an icy pool of water. She realized she was afraid. It would be dangerous to get involved with Hank, but she knew she was drawn to that idea, had always been. Now that she knew she didn’t need or even want the type of safety Brandon offered, she could admit to herself that she loved Hank. Had always loved Hank, from the time she first saw him as a composed little boy. The little boy who had turned into Hank the Hunk. She shivered.