Suspicion of Guilt (5 page)

D
enni barely touched her lunch. Not that she didn’t try. Every time she brought the wrap to her mouth, someone asked another question. Finally, she gave up and sipped her iced tea instead. Just as well, she conceded. Her tied-in-knots stomach probably would have rejected any intruders anyway.

The girls, seated amongst the guests, were thankfully on their best behavior—including Fran and Leigh—who had settled into a fragile peace after the tension of the other night.

The nine male liaisons present seemed amiable enough, genuinely interested in the mission. Denni smiled as Mr. Terrie, representing one of the smaller churches, patted his lips with his napkin and addressed her. “This is a unique idea, Miss Mahoney. Intriguing. I can’t help but be impressed with the desire to provide training and guidance to girls who have grown up in foster care.”

Under the table, Reece nudged her knee with his. She turned to him and he winked. A flush crept to her cheeks
and she averted her gaze quickly. “Thank you, Mr. Terrie. I feel as if this is a God idea.”

“What I must question,” broke in Elizabeth Wilson, AKA Cruella De Ville, “Is whether or not it is really necessary to take care of legally adult individuals. Isn’t that what the welfare system is for? Perhaps our funds would be better spent elsewhere.”

Leigh’s eyes flashed across from Denni, but to her credit she kept her mouth shut. Denni fought to maintain a pleasant expression. “The welfare system is for adults who need help…yes. But statistically, once an individual becomes dependent on the state, it’s almost impossible for them to break free, particularly if they become pregnant out of wedlock. After bearing three or four children, these young women are trapped for life and rearing children who are, themselves, in danger of repeating the cycle of foster care and adult dependency on welfare.”

“But surely not in every case,” Elizabeth Wilson challenged. Her cold gaze swept the girls. “Do you feel you’d end up on welfare if not for Miss Mahoney’s charity?”

Denni bristled. And before she could respond, a knowing sense of dread shifted through her and from the corner of her eye, she saw Fran rise to her feet.

“Lady, are you trying to imply we’re all a bunch of charity cases?” Red splotches of rage popped out on Fran’s face and neck.

“Aren’t you?”

“We work and contribute to the household.”

“Really?”

Denni cringed at what she sensed was about to come.

“And where
do
you work?” Elizabeth asked, her lips
twisting into what Denni could have sworn was a smug smile, as though she knew the answer to the question before she ever asked. Pity welled up in Denni’s heart as Fran sputtered. “Well, I…I’m trying to find a job.”

“I see…”

“I don’t think you do see, Miss Wilson.” Leigh leaned forward in her chair and fixed the pinched old maid with an intimidating glare. “Fran is right. We all work to pay our way here. Fran is pounding the pavement every day trying to find a job. We’re a family and we’ll stay together even if it means you and your kind can’t find it in your hearts to see the merits of this sort of program.”

Pounding the pavement
was a bit of a stretch, but maternal pride at Leigh’s loyalty to her “sister” nearly caused tears to rise to the surface. Denni held them in check.

“Are there any other questions before we begin the tour?” Denni asked, deliberately focusing her attention away from Elizabeth. She breathed a heavy sigh when the woman fixed her gaze on Cate. The sweet girl grew red and placed a protective hand over her growing belly.

“What would be the screening process to determine who is allowed to live in the centers?”

“First of all. These are homes, not centers,” Denni replied. “Second of all, the only criteria I find necessary other than the obvious one of being out of the foster-care system and in need of mentoring, is that the girls be willing either to work full-time or go to school.”

“Surely you aren’t suggesting college?”

Leigh was bristling again, and Denni spoke up swiftly. “As a matter of fact, all five of my girls are in school and doing a great job.”

Elizabeth’s brow rose and her gaze darted once more to Cate’s stomach.

“Cate takes classes over the Internet,” Denni said, smiling broadly at the girl. “Next year she’ll register for classes at the university.”

“And how will she pay for these classes? Will part of the funding you’re requesting go toward that?”

“No.” As far as Denni was concerned, this was the first reasonable question Elizabeth had asked so far. “Our Cate received a scholarship that will cover all expenses, including books. And for the others, there are also scholarships or government grants, and if necessary, student loans. These girls want it badly enough that nothing will stop them from getting an education.”

Elizabeth nodded, but her gaze hadn’t left Cate. “I assume the child will be placed with a family?”

Cate frowned and shook her head. “I’m keeping my baby.”

“Do you think that’s wise? How will you take care of a baby when you need someone else to take care of you?”

It was a deliberate jab, and Denni felt like decking the nasty woman. How could anyone call themselves a Christian and be so mean?

Mr. Terrie cleared his throat. “We are not here to judge the girls, Miss Wilson. I’m sure you’ll agree that society does enough of that.”

Denni could have hugged him on the spot.

Mr. Clark, who had stuffed himself with three chicken wraps and avoided the entire unpleasant scene, now came up for air. “These are wonderful.”

“Thank you.” Denni couldn’t resist a grin and a nudge on Reece’s arm. “But you should be complimenting our cook. The detective, here, saved the day when the caterer failed to show up.”

“Fabulous.” The pudgy liaison kissed the tips of his fingers Italian-style.

“Thanks,” Reece said. “It was my honor to rescue a damsel in distress.

Leigh snorted and muttered under her breath. Reece’s brows narrowed in obvious anticipation as he waited for her to take the offensive in a verbal battle. Denni breathed a silent prayer that Leigh would just for once keep it together where Reece was concerned.

The girl cleared her throat and plucked at her napkin, clearly willing to save her barb for another day.

“I can’t imagine the caterer not showing up. Didn’t you cancel?”

Surprise lifted Denni’s brows at Elizabeth’s question. “No, we didn’t. But coincidentally, that’s exactly what the caterer claims happened.”

“How did you know about it?” Reece asked sharply.

For the first time, Elizabeth’s composure faltered. “I just…Linda is my sister.”

Reece scowled. “Linda?”

“The caterer,” Denni murmured. “I see. You thought the luncheon had been cancelled, according to your sister, but you showed up anyway?”

“I—” She shrugged. “I suppose so.”

Reece opened his mouth to speak again, but Denni sent a hard kick in his direction, hoping to make contact beneath the table. A pained expression covered his face, and he snapped his mouth shut as he clearly got the message.

Now was not the time for Reece to give in to his cop nature and start interrogating her guests. The guy had all the instincts of a guppy. How he’d ever made it on the police force this long was a mystery to her.

Elizabeth…

Of course. The woman had once been turned down as a potential foster parent because of a felony drug conviction. Denni had been the one to break the news. And Elizabeth had been furious, had insisted the arrest had been a mistake. But that was five years ago. They’d seen each other at church since then, and Elizabeth had always been cordial. Surely she couldn’t be holding a grudge…

Oh, criminy. I’m getting as suspicious as Reece
.

She glanced up to find Elizabeth looking at her, resentment marring her features. “I believe we’re ready for the tour now, Miss Mahoney. If we dare tour an all-female house.” Mr. Terrie’s teasing grin and fatherly tone effectively smoothed out the rough tension that seemed to have everyone on edge.

He placed an arm about Cate’s shoulders. Fear sprang to the girl’s eyes, and Denni held her breath.

“When is the blessed event to take place, young lady?” he asked.

A tentative smile touched Cate’s lips as he dropped his arm as though nothing were amiss, but Denni knew he had to sense Cate’s resistance. “In about a month.”

“Parenting is the most precious gift God granted to his human creation,” he said. “He’ll guide you as you raise this child up to love Him.”

Elizabeth clamped her lips together and brushed past the rest of the group.

Tears welled in Cate’s eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Denni sent a silent praise heavenward. Sweet, sweet Cate. You see? Not all men are out to hurt you. A lump formed in her throat as she followed the group, while the
girls led the way through the dining room into the kitchen where they had agreed they would begin the tour.

A warm hand wrapped hers and she looked up, immediately captured by Reece’s gentle gaze. He leaned in close to her ear. “You handled the luncheon superbly. The men were eating out of your hand. You have nothing to worry about.”

Joy rose inside her, but crashed before reaching her lips as Mr. Jordan’s voice carried through the kitchen from the deck just outside. “There may be a bit of a problem, Miss Mahoney.”

Denni closed the door behind the last guest. She plopped onto the large rust-colored sofa with a defeated groan. “There’s no way I can get all those things fixed within a month.”

Reece’s heart went out to her. After facing down Elizabeth and pretty much overpowering her objections, to have structural and repair problems crop up and threaten to keep the sponsors from committing just seemed cruel.

“You’re in luck.”

Leigh turned to him, not bothering to mask her contempt. “Are you hallucinating again, Corrigan? How can you get luck out of rotten boards and bad plumbing?”

Reece returned Leigh’s glare. Apparently the brief truce was over. But that was okay. Let the little twerp insult him. One look at the pained expression on Denni’s face and his mind was made up. No more arguing with the girls. He was taking the high road on this one.

“It just so happens that I work with a group of amateur carpenters and plumbers.” Most of the guys on his shift were married with families and tinkered around
their houses on their days off. They’d love the chance to try out their tool belts. The ones their wives tried to hide just before calling professionals to take care of household repairs.

“How about it?”

Denni’s brow furrowed and the right side of her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth. “I don’t know…”

Reece drew a sharp breath at the longing filling him. When had he become so chivalrous? As a cop, he was sworn to serve and protect, but he’d never had the impulse to protect and serve one single woman before.

“What you’re trying to do here is important, Denni. If you succeed with only one out of these five girls, it will make our job easier. Make society better by one person becoming educated and stopping the cycle. So consider it our contribution.”

Leigh snorted and, this time, didn’t hold back her retort as she had during lunch. “If you want to make a contribution, how about giving us the cash to get someone out here who knows what he’s doing?”

“Leigh!” Denni’s face glowed with embarrassment, as though Leigh’s rudeness was somehow her fault.

“It’s all right. Leigh’s got a point. I could pay for part of the repairs, or I could spend that money on supplies and get all the repairs finished.” He gave Leigh a look that caused her nose ring to move with her flared nostrils. “What do you think would be the smartest course of action?”

She shrugged. “Twist it all you want, Corrigan. But we both know you’re not doing this for the betterment of society or to help the needy. You’re just trying to find evidence to pin on one of us.”

“You scared?” Reece shot back, rattled by her as
tute accusation and forgetting his resolve to take the “high road.”

A sneer marred her face. “Of you? Not in a million years.” She glanced at Denni. “I have to get ready for work.” Without another word, she stormed out of the room.

“Well, I think it’s a fantastic idea,” Fran offered.

Reece figured her opinion was more a desire to take the opposite position from Leigh. Still, he pounced on the fragile support. “You see? That’s one of your girls with a little common sense. What about the rest of you?”

“I think it’s a good idea, too,” Cate said timidly. “We really can’t afford it otherwise, even if everyone pitches in extra. And it’s not like any of us are really around much anyway, so he can’t bug us that much. So I vote yes.”

Reece smirked “All right. That’s two votes yes, one vote no.”

“I’m with Leigh.” Shelley walked to the couch and sat next to Denni. “Don’t let him fool you, Denni. He’s playing you just to get information. First he fixes lunch, now he wants to fix the house? Why this sudden interest? Huh? Leigh’s right. He’s just trying to get something on us.”

“So…that’s two and two,” Reece said, deliberately choosing not to respond to Shelley’s accusation, which was only partly true.

Holding his breath, he looked at Rissa, the tiebreaker. “Well,” the chubby faux-Southern belle said, a twinkle lighting her eyes, “I think it’s a marvelous idea.”

“Well, we’ve never voted on anything before.” Shelley’s biting tone shot down Reece’s optimism. “It’s Denni’s decision, anyway, not ours.”

Denni looked at the girls. “No. Shelley, you’re wrong. This is a decision we all have to make. This is
a good thing. I’m adding my vote to Fran, Cate and Rissa. I can’t think of a solid reason to refuse Reece’s offer.”

“How about the fact that he thinks one of us ripped you off and flooded the basement?”

Denni took Shelley’s hand, but her eyes were fixed on Reece and he got the message loud and clear, even before she spoke.

“No one here has anything to hide, so if Detective Corrigan is just trying to weasel his way into our lives in order to find something to incriminate one of you, he’s going to be working hard to repair the deck and the plumbing for no reason.”