Tracie Peterson (18 page)

Cara smiled politely, while Harry took control. “We’ll have coffee and orange juice.” He looked to Cara for confirmation.

Nodding her head, she felt herself relax a bit. Harry seemed quite capable of taking charge, but his way was so much more desirable than Kerns’.

“I’ll give you a chance to look over the menus and bring your drinks right out.”

After the waitress had disappeared, Harry turned to Cara. “How’d I do? Did I keep the crowds back?”

“Okay, you’re hired,” Cara said in mock exasperation. “But only on a trial basis.”

“Can I go look in the store?” Brianna interrupted. Cracker Barrel was divided into two parts, a store filled with craft items and a restaurant with old-fashioned meals.

“Sure, honey, but don’t be surprised if someone asks you for your autograph.”

“Cool! I’ll sign, Brianna Rachelle Kessler.” She pretended to write the letters in the air.

“That’ll keep ’em happy,” Harry joined in.

Brianna suddenly stopped writing and stared at Harry intensely. “What’s your last name?”

Harry looked at her seriously, as if he was considering whether her question merited an answer. Then without warning, he whipped out a leather billfold and flashed his badge in Brianna’s face. “What’s it say on my identification?”

“Harold T. Oberlin,” Brianna read. “What’s the T stand for?”

“Thomas.”

“Like the guy in the Bible? The one who doubted Jesus was alive?”

“Guilty as charged. Only I believe Jesus is very much alive.”

Brianna smiled. “Me too.” She leaned closer to Harry. “I like the name Oberlin. I think it would make a great last name. Don’t you, Mom?” She grinned at her mother and hurried off to the store.

“What was that all about?” Harry asked, putting his wallet away and opening the menu.

“Oh, just Brianna being a funny little girl.”

The waitress reappeared with the beverages, and Cara allowed Harry to order for all of them. Once the waitress had gone her way, Harry surprised her by asking about Teri Davis. “Have you been coping all right with the news of her death?”

“I think the business of the campaign has kept my mind from being too consumed. But I do plan to get to the bottom of it.”

Cara paused for a moment, her thoughts drifting to the young woman. “I hardly knew her at all, but I keep reminding myself her situation could be the same for a hundred other girls. It could even happen to Brianna.”

“No.” Harry shook his head. “Brianna has a stable home and a mother who loves her very much. As I recall from the paper’s article, Teri was an orphan and had been in no less than ten different foster homes.”

“I know,” Cara replied. The subject caused her to grow quite thoughtful. “I can’t help but believe there are other kids out there just like her. There’s a lot I want to do with my newfound power.” She laughed a bit. “Well, whatever power there really is playing second fiddle to Kerns. Anyway, I want to help as many people as possible, and I think I’ll need strong people like you to help me out.”

“Your wish is my command,” Harry whispered.

Cara sighed. “If only that were true.”

“What would you wish for first?” questioned Harry. His eyes seemed to search the depths of hers for answers she couldn’t give.

“I’d wish for all this to go away.”

Twenty-Six

The months of November and December passed quickly, and before Cara knew it the new year had begun. She’d tried to give Brianna as much of her free time as possible, while in the back of her mind were visions of the handsome patrolman who had shared Christmas with them.

The transitional period of changing one governor for another was running more smoothly than anyone had expected. For Cara, there was very little to do. Kerns kept her busy with insignificant tasks while he appointed his staff and ordered changes for his office. The big surprise came when Kerns announced that he was buying a palatial new home in Clarion Estates. It would be this home, and not Cedar Crest, in which he and his family would reside. Cedar Crest would be used as a public house, with meetings, tours, and special events allowed to take place there.

“It’s an ancient monstrosity,” Kerns told Cara when she’d questioned his decision. “I have no desire to spend the next eight years sitting in that Victorian dump.”

“It’s hardly a dump,” she protested, trying to ignore his reference to eight years. “It’s a very elegant and graceful home. Plus, the people of Kansas might take offense at you rejecting the governor’s mansion. You might be limited to the four years you were lucky enough to get.”

Kerns hadn’t cared for her attitude, and Cara hadn’t concerned herself with his. However, as punishment for her outburst, Kerns put her in charge of issuing pink slips to most of the former governor’s staff. This was a job Cara didn’t relish at all.

Government employees, at least those appointed by new administrations, knew that their jobs were temporary. They weren’t protected by civil service rules and regulations. Even so, it didn’t make Cara’s job any easier. She felt a personal responsibility to these people.

“Hey, got time for lunch?” Melissa Jordon stood in the doorway still decked out in her navy wool coat.

Cara looked around at the disheveled mess her office had become. “I think lunch sounds like a wonderful idea.”

“Good. I’ve got a few things I want to discuss with you.”

“Regarding?”

Melissa glanced around before mouthing, “Teri.”

Cara nodded and went to the coatrack where her khaki trench coat awaited duty. “Let’s go.”

“Where?” Melissa asked as Cara grabbed her purse and joined her.

“Well, they’ll never miss me here, so why don’t we go all out and head for someplace nice. Say Paisano’s? I have a craving for Italian.”

“That does sound good.”

“Janey, I’m going to lunch,” Cara told a gray-haired woman who had just come into the outer office. “I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but I have my beeper, so if you need me just call.”

The woman flashed a smile. “Running out on us, eh?”

“As far away as possible,” Cara said with a laugh. She liked the older woman and was sorry to see her go. Fortunately, Janey was retiring and would not face one of the ominous pink slips.

“So you have a beeper now?” Melissa questioned. They took the stairs to avoid the long wait at the archaic main elevator.

“Kerns insisted, and the next thing I knew Russell was handing them out like candy.”

Melissa laughed and led the way. A brisk January wind blew steadily against their faces and Cara shivered. “It feels like snow,” she murmured and happily jumped into Melissa’s compact car. “Brrr!”

“The weatherman didn’t say snow, but he did promise cold and lots of it. I hope you have clear weather for the
inauguration. They do it on the south steps of the Capitol building, you know.” It was more a statement than a question.

“Yes, I’ve been apprised of that very thing. I was told to dress warm but not too flashy. I should appear poised and refined, but not overly elegant.”

“I’m surprised they don’t show up with a rack of costumes and let Russell Owens pick out your dress,” Melissa said dryly.

“Oh, he does give final approval,” Cara replied, and Melissa rolled her eyes. “But enough of Russell and this nightmare. What have you found out about Teri and Jamie?”

“Not much. I managed to get back into her house,” Melissa said with a coy smile. “I have a friend in the sheriff’s department. Anyway, I scoured that house from one end to the other and didn’t find so much as a pacifier. I’ve researched hospital and clinic records, at least those I could bribe someone to let me see, and I went through
The Capital-Journal
notices of birth for the last year.”

“But?” Cara questioned, knowing the answer before Melissa gave it.

“But there is no record of Teri giving birth to Jamie.”

“Did you look under her assumed name?”

“Sure, but again, there was nothing. My guess is Teri had the baby at home or in the care of a midwife who kept her mouth shut.”

“But the baby would have to have a birth certificate.”

Melissa shrugged and pulled into the restaurant parking lot. “Apparently, this baby didn’t. I have an appointment to talk privately with the coroner. He’s been on vacation for three weeks, and before that he was tied up in some kind of criminal trial and wouldn’t grant interviews to anyone.”

“What do you hope to find out from him?” Cara asked. “I mean, he’s already established the cause of death as a drug overdose.”

Melissa shut off the engine and turned to explain. “He didn’t say what condition the body was in. He can tell me whether there were multiple track marks on Teri’s body. That would show us if she was a regular drug user. He could also say whether there were signs of foul play—strange bruising or broken bones. He can probably even establish whether or not Teri had ever given birth.”

“I never thought of that! Melissa, that’s great thinking. I wish I had someone like you around on a full-time basis.” As soon as the words were out of Cara’s mouth she formed a plan. “Why not?”

Melissa stared at her. “Why not what?”

“I’ve just issued all those termination notices, so why don’t you come to work for me? I know you like your job at the paper, but working for me would allow you to get into places a regular reporter couldn’t go. You know what to look for, and you could keep me up to speed on what Kerns is planning and how I should respond.”

“I don’t know about that. You’re talking a major lifestyle change. Long hours and low pay. Hey,” she declared with a grin, “sounds like working for the paper!”

“Oh, please say you’ll at least consider it,” Cara pleaded. “I’ll see to it that you get a decent salary and the hours will be up to you.”

“Are you sure Kerns is going to approve of my joining the team?”

“He’ll have nothing to say about it,” Cara replied. “I’m entitled to chose my own staff. Will you think about it?”

“Okay. I’ll talk to Peter and see what he thinks. I know you’re right about getting into places that normally would have closed their doors to me, and it makes a lot of sense. However, you and I both know that Kerns will have someone watching both of us. He may very well not realize we know the connection to him and Teri Davis, but he does know that you aren’t a willing party to this gubernatorial affair.”

****

Bob Kerns was enjoying his newfound attention. He was exactly where he wanted to be, and the power rush was
incredible. Spread out on his desk were the plans for his new home in Clarion Estates. The three-story brick palace was perfect. Located at the end of a cul-de-sac, Kerns gave strong consideration to buying up the lots surrounding the circle in order to keep the home isolated and even more commanding.

“Danielle’s here,” Serena announced, coming into his office.

“Send her in and call Russell. Tell him to bring the results of our investigation on Teri Davis.”

Serena nodded. “I’ve also set up your next Association meeting. The men will be here at nine.” Serena had turned to leave but stopped rather abruptly. “Oh, and your inaugural committee called with some problem about entertainment, but I referred them to Russell.”

“Good girl. That’s one mess I don’t need. The parties can be someone else’s baby, but I want them elaborate and very, very public.”

“You’ve got it,” Serena promised and left in search of Russell Owens.

Danielle came into the office as though sharing a revolving door with Serena. “Hi, Dad. Serena said there was news?”

“That’s right. Russ will be here shortly and we can go over what the private investigator found out.” Kerns motioned her to a seat.

“So what did they discover?” Danielle asked, not even taking off her coat before sitting down.

“I’d rather you hear the entire matter from the reports. I might forget something. Ah, here’s Russell now.”

“Sorry, I was tied up with the inaugural committee. I’ve brought the papers given to me by the investigator.” He put the folder on the desk in front of Kerns.

“Good. Close the door and you can explain them to Danielle.”

Russell appeared to grimace a bit, but he did as Kerns directed. Taking the chair beside Danielle, he reached across the desk and took the file up once more. “Well, it seems that after a thorough investigation,” he began, “the cause of death by heroin overdose cannot be disputed.”

“But Teri was never into drugs!” Danielle protested.

“Maybe you just never knew about it,” Kerns replied. “It seems, from our records, that Teri had a long history of trouble with drugs. It’s probably why she dropped out of college.”

“That doesn’t make sense. What about the baby?” Danielle questioned.

Russell thumbed through the papers, all the while shaking his head. He pushed up the gold wire-framed glasses and spoke, “There’s nothing here about Teri having a baby. However, she did share the house with a woman who did have a small infant. Ah, here.” He pulled out a typewritten sheet of paper and handed it to Danielle.

“The woman has disappeared from sight. It’s thought that perhaps she had something to do with Teri’s death. The authorities are still seeking her,” Russell concluded.

“Why haven’t I read about this in the papers?” Danielle asked in disbelief.

Kerns gave her a tolerant smile. “They can’t very well carry on an undercover investigation if they announce to the world exactly what it is they are investigating, now can they?”

“That’s right, Danielle.” Russell picked up the torch and ran. “They certainly don’t want to alert Teri’s roommate to the fact that they know of her existence or her presumed involvement.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Danielle replied reluctantly. “And that woman had a baby?”

“Yes,” Russell answered. “A six-month-old girl. That accounts for why you found diapers and cereal boxes in Teri’s trash.”

“I don’t understand, though. If Teri died from heroin, and you say she had a history of drug problems, why would there be any concern about someone else being responsible for her death?”

She’s a smart one,
Kerns thought, eyeing her with a misplaced sense of pride. “Perhaps Teri didn’t take an overdose. Maybe she had just shot up, and while she was high this woman shot her up again. Who knows? We do know that somehow she got in the river. Maybe she overdosed and then this roommate of hers disposed of her body. There’s no way to tell until we find the woman.”