Pages of the Past (Bellingwood Book 9) (26 page)

"It's already going through. Tell him we'll call back when we have information."

"Thanks, Stu."

"Is everything okay up there?"

"Just peachy," she said. "We thrive on insanity around here, you know."

Polly thought she heard a chuckle, but he said, "Tell Aaron I'll call."

While she was talking to Stu, Aaron left the office. She figured he would come back when he was finished. This was probably as good a time as any to let Henry know what was going on, but when she looked at the time, she realized there was only a short time left to pick up the kids from school.

She grabbed her coat and keys and walked out, stopping to tell Stephanie where she was going.

"Gonna get the kids," she called out to Sylvie as she ran through the kitchen toward the garage. "Back in a few." She pulled up short at the back door and ran back to the stairs.

"Obiwan! Han! Come down here!" Both dogs came running through the house and down the steps. She grabbed two leashes from the hook inside the door and they followed her into the garage. Obiwan jumped up into the cab, but Han needed help. He was trying to grow into his feet, but hadn't gotten there yet.

Polly had hoped that he was going to be a small dog like his mother, but he was starting to fill out and grow. When they saw his feet growing faster than the rest of him, she and Henry had become concerned. They were running out of room on the bed. What kind of dog had hooked up with the poor mother of this litter?

Sylvie's dog, Padme, was not as thick as the three males. Eliseo's pups were growing too. She couldn't just get lap dogs, she had to have dogs that took the entire chair.

Andrew, Rebecca and Kayla were already crossing the street in front of the elementary school when Polly drove up. She honked and they stopped to wait for her.

"In the back seat," she said. "We're taking a side trip today."

"Why are the dogs here?" Kayla asked.

"I thought it would be fun to take them to the park for a romp."

"Isn't it too cold?"

"You all have your coats and mittens. The dogs would love to play in some of this snow. Come on, it's an adventure."

Kayla didn't seem thrilled, but when Polly glanced in the rear view mirror, she saw Andrew's face alight with excitement. Rebecca pulled a piece of paper out of her backpack and handed it to Kayla.

"Where did you get this?" Kayla asked in a whisper.

"I saved it. You should show Polly."

"I threw it away."

"I know. It's cool, though. Show Polly."

"Show me what?" Polly said.

Kayla took the paper from Rebecca and pushed it down in her opened backpack. "Nothing."

"It's something. Rebecca thought it was important enough to save it. Show me."

"Okay," Kayla huffed and pushed the paper over the seat toward Polly.

Polly glanced at it as she turned into a parking space. She'd come up to the newly restored baseball fields. They'd been destroyed in last summer's tornado, but several fundraisers put together enough money to build new bleachers and a brand new snack shack. They'd finished it just before the season ended last fall and the community was already abuzz with excitement over a new season.

The snow on the ground had been trampled by people and animals, but there were plenty of new scents for the dogs to have a blast.

She snapped leashes on the two dogs and they followed her out of the truck.

"I get Obiwan," Andrew said and took the leash from Polly. "Kayla, you take Han. He likes you. Come on, Rebecca, let's run!"

Polly looked at the sheet of paper that Kayla had handed her. The pre-printed handout asked the question "Who inspires you?"

Kayla had written her paper about Rebecca and gotten an A. Of course Rebecca pulled this out of the trash. This was something Polly wanted to keep for the girl forever. Kayla told of how Rebecca took care of her mother even when she couldn't stay with her every day and how she was a great artist and a good friend. Polly breathed back tears when Kayla talked about missing her own mother and that when Rebecca's mother died, she'd make sure that Rebecca was okay because that's what friends did.

It occurred to Polly that so much had been happening this last week she hadn't taken enough time with Rebecca. Polly thought back to the year after she'd lost her own mother. So much of it was a blur. Her dad and the woman who practically raised her - Mary, and her husband, Sylvester, were the only people who really came into focus. There weren't any friends who listened or let her talk about her mom. Kayla and Rebecca were lucky to have each other.

Polly leaned against the truck and watched the kids and dogs in the snow. Kayla fell down once and Polly started toward her, but the girl stood up, shook herself off and ran after Obiwan. She caught up to him and threw herself at him, hugging his neck. He gave her a sloppy lick on the face and she rubbed it off. When she turned toward Polly to find Han and Rebecca, she had a look of pure joy on her face. She chased the smaller dog and picked him up, then started walking back to the truck.

"Have they done their business enough?" she asked.

"A few times," Polly said. "Are you ready?"

Obiwan was meandering, sniffing and lifting his leg, with Andrew and Rebecca following behind. They were both panting from the chase and their faces were bright red from cold and exertion.

"He's good to go," Andrew said.

"Then I vote we head back to Sycamore House for hot cocoa."

They piled back into the truck. Somehow Han had managed to squeeze himself between Rebecca and Kayla, perfectly happy with the attention they offered.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Kayla, Rebecca and Andrew were settled upstairs with homework and hot cocoa. Polly stopped in the main kitchen on her way back to the office, but Sylvie and Rachel were both head down in a frothy concoction at the stove top, so she slipped on through.

She had just settled at her desk when Helen Oswald stormed in. "Where's my brother?"

"I don't know," Polly said. "I just got back from picking up the kids. What happened?"

"That son of a bitch. I'll kill him myself."

"Aaron?"

"No, not Aaron. Price Sutton. You won't believe what he had the audacity to do."

Polly shook her head. It seemed better to just let Helen storm for a few moments.

"He's shutting down the shelter. He's trying to intimidate me."

Aaron walked in and said, "What happened?"

Helen spun on him and jabbed a finger in his chest. "Fix this. Fix this right now. I got a call from Fuller at the shelter. They were just served an eviction notice. He's not even giving them ninety days."

"Who? Sutton?"

"Damned right, Sutton. He owns that building."

"Helen, I would have expected you to move out of his building."

"Don't give me that. We did. Twice. Each time he ended up buying whatever building we were located in. If that jackass thinks he's going to intimidate me, he has another think coming. I'm done. I've played the game far too long. I don't care who this exposes, he's not hurting those children. He has no right."

"Calm down." Aaron pulled out a chair and tried to move Helen into it.

"I will not calm down."

"Helen. You're in the middle of Iowa. You can't do anything from up here."

"Yes I can. There are a million reporters in that city that would like to hear from me about this. I don't care how old the scandal is, some of those people are still in power and they won't like the press. He has pushed this too far. First a murder and then attempted murder and now this. I was willing to be patient right up until this point."

"Helen."

She jerked the chair so hard that Polly flinched.

"Stop it!" she yelled.

Aaron shut the door and sent a look of apology at Polly. This wasn't her fight. She was only an observer.

"Helen. This isn't the right time or place."

"When's the right time? Your friend was killed. I was a target. How many more people have to be hurt before you stand up against this man?"

"You don't understand." Aaron wilted and dropped into the chair that had taken abuse from his sister.

That was enough to calm Helen back down. She sat on the corner of Polly's desk in front of her brother. "I do understand. But it's time for this to be over and you're the only person who can stop it. When Albert was killed, you became the keeper of this secret."

"There are others," he said quietly.

"But they aren't as honorable. Their careers still rely on the secret. They've put in their time. Let them retire or face the music. He's threatening us now."

Aaron took her hand. "I know you're right. But there are some good men who got caught up in this without understanding who they were dealing with."

"They might've been naive then, but no longer. They're living on borrowed time. Sutton has been intimidating them with his threats. Make it stop now, Aaron. Please."

Aaron took out his phone and dialed. "Digger? I think it's time. When can they be ready?"

He listened and nodded, then said. "They've got an eye on him? He's going to try to do something. They know that, right?"

A few more nods. "What about the girls. What if he leaks it? They're in position?" Aaron listened again and then said, "I know. We've talked about this. It's just more than I want to be responsible for."

Polly knew that any assumptions she was making about this conversation had to be way off base, but she was about to go out of her mind with curiosity. Here it was playing out right in front of her and she had no idea what Aaron and Helen were talking about. Big city politics, girls, leaks, cops. She was sure that Digger was in touch with the FBI. That was the only connection she could make.

"I'll make the call," Aaron said. "Thanks for everything."

He put his phone down on her desk and looked up at his sister. "Two hours. I call him in two hours."

Helen leaned in and hugged him. "After all these years, that's all that is left. It will be over, Aaron. You can come home again."

"No," he said, shaking his head. "No, I can't. It will be worse now, you know. I won't be able to set foot in that city. Every cop will have my name. They aren't going to know enough details about the whole thing. They'll just know I forced some of their bosses to leave in a hurry. I wasn't on the force long enough to make friends. Just Albert and everyone thought he was a conspiracy nut."

"What about the kids at the shelter?" she asked.

"We'll work that out once he's in custody and the list is safe."

"D'ya think he made copies?"

"Probably. But they'll find them. No one wants those girls to go through any more than they did. Their lives are as normal as possible now. It's been thirty years."

"You and I both know that for some of them, time has made no difference. And for those who made a good life, they don't need to face this again."

"I don't know what you're telling me, Helen. First you want me to take him down, no matter what and now you're telling me that the girls have to be a priority."

"It's not easy. Nothin's easy. But that threat needs to be gone."

"You're right. Things are in motion now. We just have to wait."

As if she weren't even in the room, Aaron and Helen moved to Polly's office door and left.

"What?" she asked when they were in the main hallway. "What's in motion? What threat? What girls?"

Jeff came in. "Are you talking to yourself?"

"Apparently." Polly patted her shoulders. "I'm still visible, right? You have no trouble seeing me here."

He chuckled. "Yep. You're all there."

"Good. I was worried. They talked and talked, telling me nothing, then left as if I didn't even exist. It was a bit disconcerting. But it will be over in a couple of hours. I did get that much."

"You poor thing. You don't like not being part of all the excitement, do you?"

"It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't happening right in front of me."

"We're taking off," he said.

"Who's we?"

"I'm taking Stephanie and Kayla home."

Polly looked at him quizzically.

"Her car is in the shop."

"Okay?"

"No big deal, just a few things she had to put off before."

"Jeff?"

He bent over her desk and said in an undertone, "You be quiet and don't give me any trouble. You've done more than this for people."

"Only if you stop giving me trouble about what I do."

"Deal. We'll be in tomorrow morning after taking Kayla to school."

Polly nodded and got up to follow him out of the office. She wondered how long Sylvie was staying tonight. When she got to the kitchen, Sylvie and Rachel were gone and the lights were turned off. She ran up the back steps and into the apartment. Jessie and Rebecca were watching "Ghostbusters" in the media room.

"What the heck time is it?" Polly asked.

Jessie looked up. "Hi Polly. I came home a few minutes early. There wasn't much going on. Henry told me to lock up and leave. He said he'd be here before long."

"It's empty around here and it feels strange," Polly said. "Are you spending the evening with your mom, Rebecca?"

"Evelyn said she'd be awake six thirty. Is that okay?"

"Sure."

"Is everything okay, Polly?" Jessie asked.

"It feels strange here today. Everyone is where should be, but there's usually more activity. What do you think about pizza tonight? I could order it and have Henry pick up."

They both nodded and turned back to the television. Polly walked into the kitchen and called Henry.

"Hey sweet stuff, what's up?" he asked.

"Where are you?"

"I'm about twenty minutes out. What do you need?"

"Can you pick up pizza if I call it in? It might be a few minutes. I need to check with everyone over on the other side."

"Sure. Meet you in the kitchen downstairs?"

"Thanks. I'll see you later."

"Are you okay? You sound weird."

"I feel upside down. Like something's missing. People left today and no one said good-bye."

"You don't think they're upset at you, do you?"

"No, that's not it. I just feel a little invisible."

"You aren't that. And when I get home, I'll touch you all over and make sure that all of you is still there."

"Stop that," she whispered. "There are kids in the room."

"No one is here with me."

"I'm hanging up now. I have to order pizza. You be good."

Polly headed for the front door. There were a lot of steps in this place. "I'm going over to the addition to get pizza orders," she called out, knowing that neither of the girls really cared whether she was gone or not. They were engrossed in the movie.

She placed the pizza order and told everyone when they could meet in the kitchen, then went in and turned the lights back on, set the table, and sat down to wait.

By the time Henry came in the back door, she had gone through the refrigerator and found leftover cake. Sylvie left presents on purpose for those who were always foraging. There was enough for everyone and Polly also found two opened containers of ice cream. That would do.

Henry helped her set the pizzas out on the prep table and then kissed her, long and deep.

"What's that for?" she gasped.

"You seem like you need it."

"I'll always take it, but I don't think I need it."

"Well, I do." He kissed her again and when he broke away, she stepped back, breathing heavily.

"You still do that to me," she said. "I don't care how long we've been together. You still wipe me out when you kiss me like that."

"Good. Now round up our guests and I'll get the girls upstairs. I have some things I need to drop on my desk. Are the dogs okay?"

"I think so." Polly shook her head. "I still feel dazed, but thank you."

He winked at her and as she stood in the middle of the kitchen, she realized that her heart might be racing, but her feet weren't moving.

~~~

Henry, Polly, Helen, Lydia and Aaron were still at the table in the kitchen. Rebecca had gone back to her mother's room for the evening and Jessie wanted to spend time talking to her friend in Colorado on Facebook.

Aaron looked at his phone and said, "I need to make a phone call. Might I use your offices, Polly?"

"Sure," she said, waving that way. "Then are you going to finally tell us what has been happening?"

He looked at her in confusion, gave a quick shake of his head, and walked away.

"What was that?" she asked.

"Who knows," Helen responded.

Lydia jumped up. "I'm nervous about this call he's making, so let's clean up." She picked up the rest of the paper plates and took them to the trash can. Within minutes the kitchen was spotless.

"Do you want to come upstairs?" Polly asked. "Jessie's in her room and it's much more comfortable than sitting around down here."

"Sure," Helen said. "I've had enough napping and sitting by myself today."

Lydia gave her a look.

"Well, haven't you had enough of sitting by myself with me today?" Helen asked with a laugh. "We've played cards and talked about family issues for far too long."

"Go on upstairs with Henry," Polly said. "I'll tell Aaron what we're doing."

Henry gave a cough as she turned to leave the kitchen.