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MICHAEL WAS NOT HAPPY to find his son standing around at the entrance to the warehouse just talking to one of the girls, who should herself have been working.
As soon as she saw him, the girl took off – Alex did not. “What’s up, Pops?”
“I told you not to call me that!” Michael shouted. He grabbed Alex by the arm and turned him around. “Come with me.”
“What for?”
“Help me find that long tube that came in last week.” He started down the rows and rows of boxed and ready to be ship tiles on the top floor of the warehouse. On the floor below, the equipment used to produce the tiles continued to roar.
“Oh that,” Alex whispered. “He was about to get yelled at for opening the tube to see what was inside, so he was not about to help his father find it. He pretended to look on this shelf and that, all the while stalling for time. Unfortunately for him, his father found the tube on a top shelf, grabbed a ladder, and climbed up.
Michael noticed the opened end, frowned, and handed the tube down to Alex. “You know what’s inside?”
“Dad, I...”
“Well, then, you know who it’s for, right?”
“Jerry?”
“Of course, Jerry.” Michael stepped down and took the tube back. “He’ll have the last word over my dead body.”
“That’s a thought,” Alex whispered as he followed his father back down a middle row.
*
THE NEXT MORNING, JERRY pulled his car to a screeching halt in his parking lot, opened the car door, put one foot out and stood up. In complete and utter shock, he gasped at the huge picture of a nude woman on the side of his building. The caption read, GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS! Just then, a semi-truck traveling down the Interstate loudly honked his horn to show his appreciation.
Jerry said a few choice words, slammed his car door shut, and walked up to the wall. Thankfully, the picture was only taped on, although the tape, he discovered, was an industrial type he knew would not be easily removed. He needed water and a lot of it, but a hose was something he neglected to buy.
Jerry got back in his car and went home to get his garden hose.
Not far away, Crazy Eddie laughed and then checked his video. As he’d hoped, he’d caught all of Jerry’s reaction, and had several excellent shots of the nude. Of course, certain parts of the woman needed a little blurring before he showed it to the more sensitive members of Blue Falls, but that could be easily done when he got home. He hopped in, started his truck, and sped on down the road to do just that.
*
JUST AS TIFFANY FINISHED getting ready for work, Beverly knocked on her bedroom door. “Come in.”
“Have you seen it yet?” she breathed. “Michael put a gigantic picture of a nude woman on the side of Jerry’s building.”
Tiffany hurried to her laptop, turned it on and found Crazy Eddie’s post. “Oh no,” she said, covering her mouth with her hand. “Jerry might just kill Michael this time.”
“I think so too. I hope the sheriff gets there in time.”
“Wait, there’s a second video.” She scrolled up and then watched as Jerry and two of his men sprayed water on the poster, could not remove the tape, and finally ripped it down, one piece at a time. Tiffany closed her laptop and stood up. “Guess we know what everyone will be talking about today at work.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.”
*
WITH NEW BOOKS TO PRICE and old ones to discount, Tiffany was working behind the counter when Alex came in later that afternoon. “How did you like The Tenors?” she asked.
“I didn’t go.”
“You didn’t take some other lucky girl? That was stupid.”
Being called stupid made Alex reel back a little, but it didn’t deter him for long. “I gave them to Gloria and her friend. My sister actually looked like an adult when she left the house. She went to a doctor too. You really got her worried.”
“Good. Girls need to know sex is not a game.”
Alex grinned. “And you know this because...”
Tiffany stared into his eyes, trying to think of the perfect answer. “Because I know better than to date foolish boys who think conquest is a game without consequences.”
It was his turn to stare into her stern, no-nonsense eyes. “I guess that’s it then. I didn’t want to go out with you anyway.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Because my dad is afraid Earl will marry you.” With that, he stormed out and once more let the door slam behind him.
“What?” she managed to stammer. She shook her head and went back to pricing the books. After a time, she looked up. “I’m only eighteen. Why would I marry...oh, for Earl’s money?” She set the last book in a pile of four and carried them to the middle of the store.
A few minutes later, Ben called. “Your coach awaits,” he said.
“You fixed it?”
“I did. It’s as good as new.”
“And it is going to cost me how much?” she asked.
“Well, there’s the cost of the part, the labor, the...”
“Ouch, it sounds expensive.”
“Depends on how much you’ve got.”
“Probably not enough.”
“Guess you’ll have to stick around then. Later,” he said right before he hung up.
“Later,” she whispered. “I couldn’t possibly leave now anyway.”
“What’s that, dear?” Mariam asked, peaking around the end of a bookcase.
“Ben fixed my car, but I haven’t saved enough to pay him yet.”
“Then you’re staying for a while? How delightful, I hoped you would.”
Tiffany sighed. “I just hope Earl doesn’t mind having me around.”
“Oh he doesn’t. Beverly says he seems much happier now that you’re there. I myself could not have stood all those years in that house with only Earl to take care of. That’s why I quit when I thought it appropriate. Besides, I’d saved up enough to buy this place and it was a good time to go. Earl said he understood and I think he was a little relived to have Beverly back. Those two always did understand each other.
That afternoon, the talk was of the nude photo, the sheriff’s stern warnings to both Michael and Jerry, and the news that the tape still wouldn’t come off the side of Jerry’s building. Rumor had it that Jerry went to the next town over, to have a sign printed large enough to cover the tape. Everyone agreed, that considering the expense, Jerry was getting the short end of the stick. Even so, the town waited to see what Jerry would do next.
*
IT WAS TIME TO BRING the sheriff up to speed on what he’d learned, so Rod went to the office early. He exchanged a few words with Millie about Wayne’s retirement party, and then knocked on the sheriff’s office door.
“Come,” said Otis. He was happy to see his deputy and stood up to shake hands with him.
“How’s Lois feeling?”
“Better, finally. What’s up?”
Rod told Otis about the mysterious Charles Hadley, what he learned from Samantha, and then what Levi told him at the nursing home. Otis was truly shocked to hear that Levi had seen Shelley looking out the window before she claimed someone took her baby.
“The thing is,” said Rod, “if you’re going to kill the baby, why stop at the store for milk?”
“Why indeed. Too bad the man who used to own the store died. He might remember who it was.”
“I was going to ask about that. Millie’s dad gave me the names of three people I should talk to. The first is Levi and the second is Lyndell Fagan.”
“Fagan is still in prison.”
“I know, but Jake seems to think Fagan knows something. I’d like to drive to the prison and see if he’ll talk to me.”
“Today?”
“If you can find someone to take my shift?”
“Well, I could let the new guy fly on his own.” Otis paused to consider that. “Sure, drive on up there. I’ll give the warden a call and tell him to expect you.”
“Thanks.”
“By the way, who’s the third person Jake told you to talk to?”
“Crazy Eddie”
Otis rolled his eyes just before Rod walked out of his office
*
EARLY THAT MORNING, Crazy Eddie took copies of the pictures he’d taken at Shelley’s funeral to Beverly at the Woodbury mansion, and then drove to Ben’s garage. He rolled down the window, passed two 8 x10 glossies to Ben and nodded.
The photos were of a woman and a man embracing. The first showed an enlargement of the woman’s face and the second, an enlargement of the man’s. “Shelley Woodbury and Charles Hadley?” Ben asked.
Eddie only shrugged, rolled his window back up and drove away.
*
Rod waited for the new deputy to arrive, handed him the keys to the department’s cruiser, and got in his car. He was about to pull out when Nancy called. “Good morning,” he answered.
“THE INSURANCE CHECK came yesterday. I am so relieved.”
“That’s great news,” he said.
“The thing is, I know Lloyd would want me to, but I’m not sure how I feel about spending it.”
“Because no one should profit from the death of a loved one?” he asked.
“That’s it, isn’t it. I was having trouble putting it into words.”
“My dad felt that way when his mom passed and left him several thousand dollars.”
“Did he spend it?”
“He did. My grandmother had a great sense of humor and she left a note attached to her insurance policy. It said, ‘I’m watching you.’” Rod could hear Nancy giggle. “Dad laughed so hard I thought he was going to have a heart attack. Know what he bought with the money first?”
“What?”
“The biggest TV he could find, so they could watch their favorite shows together.”
“That’s a wonderful story. I’d like to meet your dad someday.”
“Maybe you will. He would have loved the town picnic and I intend to make sure he doesn’t miss the next one.”
“Or maybe come for Christmas?” she suggested.
“That too.” Rod remained silent for a little while. “You okay?”
“Better, now that I talked to you.”
“I’ll be out of town this morning. I need to go to the state prison and talk to a guy, but I’ll let you know when I get back.”
“Okay.”
“Are you going to Wayne’s retirement party tomorrow?” he asked.
“I wouldn’t miss it. Wayne has been very good to us since the accident. Will you be there?”
“That’s the plan, barring any bank robberies.”
Nancy giggled again. “Be safe out there, please.”
“Always.”
*
JUST IN CASE LYNDELL Fagan needed to be reminded, Rod had the letter written years before tucked in his pocket. It was simple and to the point.
“You want to know who took the baby? Let’s make a trade. My freedom for all the right answers.”
Lyndell Fagan
If Jake hadn’t recommended Rod talk to Fagan, Rod would have ignored the letter too. Unlike most letters received from prisoners, Fagan’s didn’t mention anything that no one else was supposed to know, thereby enhancing his chances of being heard. Then again, with a reputation for being a habitual liar, maybe Fagan decided it wasn’t worth the trouble.
“One thing Rod knew, that Lyndell Fagan apparently didn’t, was that the statute of limitations had already run out on the attempted bank robbery charge. The initial charge was the assault of an officer, and like Jake said, Fagan could have been out long ago if he had behaved.
Deputy Rod Keller had been in enough prisons to know the drill. No one was allowed to drive right up to the entrance, so he parked and waited for a shuttle to pick him up in the parking lot. Inside the prison lobby, he approached the desk, signed in, and was given a key to a locker. He found the locker, put all his personal items, his weapons, and even his badge inside. He checked to make certain he hadn’t forgotten anything an inmate might use as a weapon, locked the door, and slipped the key in his empty pocket.
His was not a social call, so as soon as he arrived, the prison guard called to have Lyndell Fagan brought to one of the private rooms used by attorneys and their clients. Next, the guard pushed a button, and the large steel gate began to slide to the side. Rod stepped through it, waited while that gate clanged shut, and the second steel gate opened. When it did, he passed though that one too. It never ceased to unnerve him when the second door clanged shut, well aware that he was not getting out until someone opened it again.
Rod was taken to a small room with only one table and two chairs. He chose a chair and waited nearly fifteen minutes for them to bring Lyndell Fagan in. The prisoner knew the drill too, waited for the guard to remove his handcuffs, and then slid into the chair opposite Rod.
“You bring the papers?” Fagan asked. A tall man with a bald head, Fagan had obviously spent most of his time in prison working out and staying fit.
“What papers might those be?”
Fagan frowned. “You’re not here to make a deal?”
“What kind of deal are you hoping to make?”
“Look jerk, don’t pull my chain. I’m about to get out of this place, so if – and that’s a big if – I know something about the kidnapping, why would I tell you free of charge? Otis drops the bank robbing charge and I talk.”
“Makes sense,” said Rod. “I mostly want to know if the baby is dead or alive.”
Fagan turned his body to the side, crossed his legs and laid one arm on the table. “I don’t know, and that’s the truth.”
“You wouldn’t tell me if you killed her, right?”
“Right, but I didn’t kill her.”
“Do you know who did?”
“I don’t know that anyone did.”
Rod paused to consider exactly what Lyndell Fagan was trying to tell him. Fagan looked sincere, but then there were lots of guys who could lie to your face and look just as sincere. Even so, Rod believed him so far. He considered just the right way to ask the next question.
Before he could, Fagan said, “They never found a body, did they?”
“No, they didn’t.”
“Why you digging all this up now?”
Rod chuckled, “Boredom. Small towns don’t offer a cop much excitement. A drunk now and then is about all there is.”
Fagan half smiled. “You see Crazy Eddie much?”
“Nearly every day.”
“He writes me sometimes, just to say he outran one of you cops.”
“That’s what I hear too.”
“Crazy Eddie says he has more power under the hood of that beat up old truck than a jet airplane. I always liked him. He’s crazier than I am, and that’s saying a lot.” Almost immediately, his mood changed from friendly to sad. “I still miss her.”
“Who?”
“Can’t say who. Love makes a man do stupid things and I’ve spent years regretting most of them, but if I could have just one night...” He dropped his gaze. “I was here, she was out there somewhere...probably with another guy, and it makes me crazy. I talk too much.” He rubbed his face with both hands. “I’d like to go home, you know, but not with this bank thing hanging over my head.”
“You want to tell me about the bank robbery?”
“That was another stupid idea. I worked for old Earl and he paid me well, but I’d gotten myself in so much debt, I figured it was the only way out. The gun wasn’t even loaded, but that didn’t matter to the sheriff, then that cop jumped me. I had to hit him, you know, he was going to kill me.” Fagan glanced at the guard who was standing right outside the door “I get really bad headaches in here and they don’t give me much for them.”
Rod did his best to return to the reason he came. “So you didn’t pick up the ransom money?”
Fagan’s frustrated expression said it all. “Why would I try to rob a bank if I had the ransom money? You’re not real bright, are you?”
Rod ignored the insult. “Okay, give me one reason to believe you know who was behind the kidnapping.”
Fagan stared Rod down for a little while, and then looked away. “Charles Hadley.”
Rod was completely dumbfounded. “He kidnapped the baby?”
“No, no, man you got it all wrong, but you know who I’m talking about, don’t you? You heard about him, but you’ve drawn a blank, haven’t you? Know why?”
“Why?”
Fagan grinned, “You come back with the papers to get me out of here and I’ll tell you everything I know. Believe me, I know plenty.” He stood up and walked to the door. “GUARD!” he shouted.
Deputy Rod Keller watched as Lyndell Fagan put his hands behind his back and the guard cuffed him again. “Tell Crazy Eddie hello for me, okay?” As soon as Rod nodded, the guard took Fagan away.
When another guard came to walk him out, Rod retraced his footsteps through both huge steel doors, to his locker, out to the shuttle, and then to his car.
“Crazy Eddie,” he muttered as he started his engine and checked for messages on his cellphone. A text from Ben said he might have a picture of Charles Hadley for him and Rod was elated. He returned the text with the words 45 minutes. Hopefully, once he had a picture, either Mariam, Pamela or Birdie could positively identify Charles Hadley.
*
THERE WAS EXCITEMENT in town when Rod got back. People were lined up on Main Street as if expecting a parade and he found it very curious. He turned into Ben’s garage, got out and waited until Ben came out of his office with the photos in hand.
“What’s going on?”
“Jerry got a billboard of his own. He’s got it mounted on the back of his pickup and he’s been driving it all over town.”
“What does it say?”
Ben grinned. “You need to see it for yourself.”
“Thanks for the pictures.” Rod checked his watch, got back in his car and headed for the bookstore. By the time he pulled up in front, Tiffany, Mariam and two of their customers were standing outside on the sidewalk.
“Have you seen Jerry’s billboard?” Mariam excitedly asked Rod when he got out.
“Not yet,” Rod answered. He handed her the photos and then waited for her reaction.
“Yes, that’s him, that’s Charles Hadley, but I never once saw him kiss her. Then again, it looks like they were about to hug...yes, that’s it, he was about to hug her. Oh dear, you best not let Earl see this. He might think...”
Just then, Tiffany’s phone rang. She answered and then said, “It’s Ben. He says Jerry is headed our way.”
Mariam shoved the photos back in Rod’s hand and then shaded her eyes with her hand to make certain she could see the billboard. As soon as Jerry’s truck got close enough for a good look, all of them burst out laughing. Even Rod smiled.
The billboard read:
Free sexually transmitted disease testing
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Woodbury Tile Company
Tiffany caught her breath, “Oh no, now look what I’ve done.”
“Don’t worry dear,” said Mariam, “everyone knows Gloria had it coming. In fact, the mothers of most of the boys are forbidding their sons from ever being in the same room with Gloria.”
“Mariam,” said one of the women as she opened the door to the bookstore. “If they didn’t know about Gloria before, they probably can’t stop their sons now.”
*
WHEN ROD RETURNED TO the office, he was pleased to find Otis still there. “How’s the new guy doing?” he asked as he sat in the chair opposite the sheriff’s desk.
“He sure is the quiet type, isn’t he? Not a peep out of him all afternoon. Oh, he checked in with Millie like he should, but I don’t think I’ve heard him say more than ten words since he got here.” Otis reached in his drawer, tossed Rod a candy bar, broke off a piece of another for himself, and plopped it in his mouth. “Don’t tell Millie, okay?”
“I won’t.”
“What’d Fagan have to say.”
“Charles Hadley?”
Otis abruptly stopped chewing. At length, he finished eating the candy and swallowed. “The guy Mariam saw at the house before the kidnapping?”
“That’s the one.” Rod handed him the photos and waited while Otis carefully examined them. “Crazy Eddie gave them to Ben, who passed them to me. Mariam positively identified him as Charles Hadley.”
“Crazy Eddie say where they were when he took the picture?”
“I have yet to meet him. Maybe he’ll tell you if he can remember.”
“Oh, he remembers. He’s good at logging all his pictures in, and he’s possessive as all get out when it comes to them too. You’re lucky you got these two out of him.” Otis handed them back to Rod. “I wish I had known half this much at the time. I might have caught him.”
“Except Fagan claims Hadley wasn’t the kidnapper.”
“Is that right? Then we’re right back where we started.” Otis blew out a frustrated breath. “You think Fagan is telling the truth?”
“I do, for some reason. If he knows about Charles Hadley, he knows more than we do.”
Otis glanced through his open office door, decided Millie wasn’t going to catch him, and took another bite of his candy bar. “Well, Fagan hung around with Michael a lot, but then all the boys that age did. All the girls wanted to hang around Michael, so all the boys did too. If Michael was behind it, then I’d say, yes, Fagan probably does know.”
“There isn’t one ounce of proof that Michael or his brother had anything to do with it.”
“That’s what I thought too. It was Hadley – it had to be.”
“Except for one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“Why would Fagan give us the name of the kidnapper before you agreed to help him get out of prison?”
“Good point.” Otis said.
“What would it take to get Fagan out of prison?”
“Let me work on that. I know just the judge to ask, but Fagan has to tell us all he knows first.”
“Fair enough,” said Rod. He stood up and put the unopened candy bar on the desk. “A guy always needs one in reserve.”
Otis smiled, quickly stashed it away in his drawer, and picked up the phone just as Rod left.
*
AFTER DINNER, BEVERLY, Earl and Tiffany pored over the pictures of the people at Shelley’s funeral. With a marker, first Earl and then Beverly drew a line across the ones they recognized. After all of them were eliminated, Charles Hadley, whoever he was, simply was not there.
After the two of them left Beverly to her dishes and drifted into the living room, Earl looked more despondent than he had for as long at Tiffany had known him. “What’s up?” she asked.
Earl took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Jason called Beverly. He and Michael have been talking and they think I believe you are my Tiffany.”
“The kidnapped baby?”
“Of course I don’t, but they want you to take a DNA test to prove it.”
Tiffany smiled. No need. Dad had the DNA records made for each of us just in case something happened. You, I mean Beverly can assure your sons, I am not your daughter. I’m a perfect match for both my father and my mother.”
“I am relieved to hear that. They might not believe her, but...”
“Would you like me to have my dad call Michael?” Tiffany asked.
“No. No point in getting your parents mixed up in all this.”
“Well, I’m willing if you need me to.”
“Thank you, Tiffany,” Earl said.
He didn’t look all that happy still. “Something else is bothering you?”
“Well, yes. I am sad to know they think I am that far gone, but it’s my own fault for not talking to them.”
“Why did you stop talking?” she had the courage to ask.
“Guilt, mostly.”
“Why guilt?”
“I should have told the sheriff about the warm baby bottle. If I had, he would have forced Shelley to tell us who had taken the baby. That was just another in a long line of bad decisions. I was wrong to pay the ransom and wrong to get involved with Shelley in the first place. I accused Michael of making bad decisions and then didn’t do any better myself. It was just wiser if I stayed out of other people’s lives.”
“Even the lives of your grandchildren?”
“Especially my grandchildren. So much might have been different if I hadn’t made Michael marry Pamela.”
“Don’t beat yourself up too much. Michael could have said no.”
“I threatened to take him out of my will if he did. He was just a stupid kid at the time.”
“Like his son,” Tiffany muttered.
“Alex?”
“He’s been trying to get me to go out with him, but he’s not my type.”
Finally, Earl brightened. “Good for you. Is Ben Coulter your type?”
“Maybe, but I’m not looking to settle down. I’ve got half the country yet to see before I do that.”
“Well, you can’t go wrong if you decide Ben is the one.”
“Providing I never have to eat any more of his famous beans.”
At that, Earl finally laughed. “Don’t you have a date tonight?”
“I believe I do,” she said quickly starting for the stairs. “He volunteered the two of us to help with the decorations for Deputy Griffin’s going away party. Wish me luck, I normally fall off ladders at such functions.”
*
THE DEPUTY’S RETIREMENT party was to be held on the third floor of the building where many a town hall meeting had taken place. It was two floors directly above the Sheriff’s office, and by the time Ben and Tiffany arrived, several others were already there. The decorators included Millie, the sheriff’s wife, and the two part-time deputies. Ben made the introductions and then took Tiffany to the stage. “We get to decorate the stage.” He handed Tiffany a roll of white crepe paper streamers. Just as she feared, he unfolded a step ladder, handed her a roll of scotch tape, and then said, “Start up there.”
“I can’t.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I can only decorate when there is music, and it better be good music, too.” She watched him pull out his phone, choose an album, turn up the volume, and set his phone on a nearby table. “That’s too bad,” she muttered much too softly for him to hear. She took a step up, then another, and waited until she was sure she had her balance. It was too bad his taste in music matched hers. She was still on the hunt to discover his faults, and so far, he had none, which was impossible. He probably snores, she told herself, but then a wife doesn’t find that out until after the wedding. Tiffany giggled and took another step up, “Wedding? What am I saying?”
“Who’s getting married?” Ben abruptly asked.
She looked down at him and shrugged. “Most people do eventually.”
“Even you?”
“Of course me. I want at least twenty children and an old shoe to live in?”
“Twenty, have you any idea what it costs...”
“Yes I do, I come from a very large family. Hand me a roll of pink crepe paper please. If we’re going to do this, we should do it right.”
“You’re the boss,” he said, “He grabbed one off the table and handed it to her.
She taped the ends of the pink and white streamers together and then taped both to the wall. Next, she carefully got down, handed the white roll to Ben, and began to loosely wrap the pink one around the white one. She put her finger in the middle of his chest and made him back up. “You could twist yours a little more often.”
He handed the white roll back to her, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. “Tiffany?”
She laughed, and tried to set both rolls of streamers on top of his head. “What?”
“Too feminine.”
“Oh.” He was right, and just as she was trying to think how to correct the streamer problem, he kissed her. She tried to get him to let her go before he embarrassed her, but when he wouldn’t, she couldn’t help but give in. After all, a kiss like that one didn’t come along every day.
“Marry me?” he asked finally.
“Really? You have an old shoe for me to live in?”
“Say yes, and I’ll find one.”
Tiffany tossed her head back, laughed and pulled out of his arms. “My father taught me never to make snap judgements.”
“Then you’ll think about it?”
“Constantly,” she promised. She meant it too, and the rest of the evening was spent hanging blue and green streamers, blowing up balloons, decorating tables, and exchanging happy glances with Ben. If that wasn’t love, she hoped never to find out.
*
OTIS DID HIS MAGIC and got the judge to agree to Fagan’s terms, so Rod made a second trip to the prison the next day, hoping to get back in time for Wayne’s party. He stowed his things in a locker and then once more walked through the clanging steel doors. He was taken to the same interview room, and waited nearly twenty minutes for the guard to bring Lyndell Fagan in.
There was a silly grin on his face when Fagan sat down. “You need me, right?”
“Right,” Rod answered. “The sheriff got a judge to commute your sentence, but he’s not going to sign it until you tell me what you know.”
Fagan studied Rods eyes for a long moment. “You swear you’re telling the truth?”
“Do you swear to tell me the truth?”
Slowly, Fagan smiled. “I like you, and that’s saying a lot.”
“So, do we have a deal?” Rod pressed.
“Deal.”
“Tell me about Hadley?”
“Well, you can’t find him because he’s in here. Charles Hadley is, or was, Shelley Woodbury’s brother. They had a sweet starving kids racket going until Shelley was murdered, then the FBI got hold of a picture of her, and it matched photographs taken of a woman making certain bank deposits. They put two and two together and wham, he’s locked up in here for twenty-five to life.”
“So he didn’t take the baby and he didn’t kill his sister?”
“Kill her? She was his bread and butter. The way he tells it, she could charm people into doing anything she wanted, including donating tons of money to his scam of a charity.”
Rod found the history lesson interesting, but it still wasn’t what he needed to know. “Okay, so who did kidnap the baby?”
“Her ex-husband.”
“Who was...”
“I’m getting to that. You see, the baby wasn’t Earl’s and Earl knew that from the very beginning. I doubt he ever even slept with Shelley. It was just a platonic relationship, if you know what I mean.”
“Go on.”
“I would love to know how she talked old Earl into marrying her and claiming the baby was his. Hadley says that’s what set her ex-husband off – Earl claiming to be the baby’s father. That little girl was her ex’s and he wasn’t about to let another man raise her.”
“Hold on a minute. You mean the baby is still alive?”
“Sure, man. He took the child, took the money, hated Shelley enough to kill her for letting Earl put his name on the baby’s birth certificate, and pulled off the perfect crime.”
“How do you know all this?”
“Hadley talked, man. So what do you say? You going to tell Otis to let me out of here?”
Rod nodded. “Your papers should be coming through early next week. Think you can stay out of trouble until then?”
“Really? You wouldn’t lie to me?”
“No I wouldn’t.”
“Hey, can you have Crazy Eddie pick me up? I’m dying to see what his truck really can do.”
“I’ll see what I can arrange. One more question.”
“You want to know who Shelley’s ex-husband is?”
“That’s right.”
“It’s...”
*
DEPUTY WAYNE GRIFFIN’S retirement party wasn’t meant to be anything elaborate and even what there was, seemed to embarrass him. A large square cake, with the words, “Good Luck!” sat on a table beside paper plates, forks, large bowls of punch and paper cups. By the time Rod showed up, Nancy and Willie had already come and gone, and so had several others who needed to get back to their jobs and their fields. It was just as well. Rod was still stunned by the name of the man Fagan said was the kidnapper, and couldn’t seem to think about anything else. The problem was, he had not one shred of proof. All he had was the word of a convict known far and wide as a habitual liar. The next step was to talk to Hadley and see if Shelley’s brother could confirm it.
As soon as the crowd grew to a respectable size, Otis presented his faithful deputy with a small, gold retirement badge and pinned it on the lapel of his shirt. Two ladies cut the cake and handed out slices on paper plates, while another woman filled cups with punch.
After a few more jokes and handshakes, Wayne hugged Millie, picked up his suitcase and then he was gone with Otis following him out.
When Rod went back for a second piece of cake, Millie said, “You should try eating lunch once in a while.”
“Didn’t have enough time today.” He took a bite and then asked, “Where is Wayne off to?”
“Ireland. He’s been there on vacation every year forever and loves it there. He owns a small house, and is looking forward to just kicking back and watching the sunsets.”
“You ever meet his wife?”
“Nope, she was history long before I came on board. Too bad he never had any kids the way he loves them around here. He even likes the teenagers and they like him.”
“I wonder why he never married again.”
“I asked him once and he only shrugged.”
“He was working here during the kidnapping, right? I didn’t find much about his part of the investigation in the file.”
“You wouldn’t, would you? He took the week before and the week after July 4th off every year. We get paid for the 4th working or not, and that way he got an extra day.”
“That was smart.”
“I think so.” Millie handed him her empty plate, giggled and then headed for the door, “Gotta get back to work before Otis digs another candy bar out of his desk.”
*
WHEN OTIS GOT BACK, he manned the switchboard until Millie returned, and was surprised to see who was seated in his office waiting for him. “Birdie? I don’t remember you ever coming to see me. What can I do for you?” He took his place behind his desk and then folded his arms.
She looked pale, somber and close to tears. “Please, just listen,” she managed to say. She nervously glanced at the open door and was relieved to see Rod standing there. She turned her attention back to Otis, and continued, “That night, I heard a baby cry. At first, I thought it was a cat, but it kept crying. I didn’t have any guests with a baby, so I got up and went to see what it was. The crying was coming from the kitchen, so I opened the door and went in. Except for the light over the stove, it was dark and the baby was in a carrier next to a diaper bag on the table. I was about to pick the baby up when I felt a gun in my back.
Otis wrinkled his brow. “The night of the kidnapping?”
“Please,” said Birdie, “just let me say it. I’ve waited years to tell you.”
“Go on,” said Otis. He nodded when Rod came in and quietly took a seat in the chair next to Birdie.
“He said,” birdie continued, “if I told anyone, he would kill me. He already had a bottle of milk warming in the microwave and when the timer went off, he told me to see if it was the right temperature. I was so scared; my hands shook when I poured some on my wrist. It was okay, so I put the cap on and when he told me to feed her, I did what he said.”
“Baby Tiffany?”
“I didn’t know whose baby it was until the next day. He had a key to my place, you know, a key I’d given him. The baby didn’t drink much before she fell asleep. He put the gun away, put the bottle in the bag, and picked it up while I put the baby back in the carrier. Right before he left, he said if I told, he would claim he found one of the baby’s shoes in my bedroom. And if I tried to run, he would hunt me down. I was trapped. I’ve been trapped all these years.”
“Birdie, why didn’t you come to me?” asked the puzzled sheriff. “We could have protected you.”
“Because you wouldn’t have believed me. I threatened Earl in front of witnesses. I claimed it was his fault I had to give up my baby, and someday I would make him pay for it.” Birdie paused long enough to finally take a breath. “I thought about telling you a thousand times, but you wouldn’t have believed me.”
The still perplexed Otis said, “I would have taken your word against Michael’s any...”
A tear finally ran down Birdie’s cheek. “It wasn’t Michael – it was Wayne Griffin.”
Otis abruptly leaned forward. “Wayne? Are you sure?”
Rod quickly confirmed it “Fagan told me Wayne was Shelley’s ex-husband and the baby’s natural father.”
“But he wasn’t even in town...” Otis started, before he paused to think it over. “He could have been, though.”
Birdie wiped her tears away with a tissue she found in her purse, “He’s gone for good, right? I mean, I saw him get in the cab. He’ll come for me if...”
Otis stood up. “Rod, follow Birdie home and stay with her until I call.”
“Yes, Sir,” Rod said. He helped the visibly exhausted Birdie get up and then escorted her out.
Otis found the number online, grabbed the phone, and called airport security in Des Moines. “Sherriff Otis Pierce in Blue Falls, I need you to arrest Wayne Griffin, and whatever you do, don’t let him get on a plane...Yes, I’ll fax you a picture right away.” He put his hand over the phone to muffle the sound and shouted, “Millie, get me a picture of Wayne and do it now!”
*
WHILE HE WAITED WITH Birdie to keep her safe, Rod called Nancy.
“You’re back?” she happily asked.
“Where are you?”
“I’m at home? Where should I be?”
“Nancy, it was Wayne Griffin who kidnapped Tiffany Woodbury.”
“What?” Without thinking, she pulled a chair away from the table and sat down. “You must be wrong.”
“I wish I were, but it’s been confirmed. He killed Shelley Woodbury too.”
Nancy was speechless until she finally said, “I just got a chill. You mean a killer was at my house at night checking on us? But he seemed to truly care.”
“I’m sure he did. Want me to come by later and explain it?”
“Please.”
“It might be late.”
“I doubt I’ll be able to sleep anyway.”
*
AT JUST AFTER 9:00 pm, when Wayne Griffin stepped out of the taxi at the airport, the police arrested him, patted him down, and put him in cuffs. He hung his head as they put him in a waiting patrol car, and after it pulled away from the curb, Wayne’s gold retirement pin lay in the gutter.
As soon as he got the call, Otis notified Rod and said to meet him at Earl’s.
*
IT WAS LATE WHEN OTIS and Rod pulled up in front of Earl Woodbury’s mansion. Beverly was surprised. She greeted them and then glanced back at Earl to see if she should let them in. Earl nodded, so she opened the door wider.
“Where’s Tiffany?” Rod asked, taking his hat off his head. “She’ll want to hear this.”
“Someone looking for me?” Tiffany asked as she came out of the kitchen with an apple in her hand. “Oh, it’s you. You find the kidnapper yet?”
“As a matter of fact, we have,” said Otis. “Mind if we sit. It might take a while to tell this story.”
Earl sat up straight. “Is Tiffany still alive?”
“We think she is. It was Wayne Griffin who took her and we think he’s been hiding her in Ireland all these years.”
Earl took a very deep breath as though he’d been holding it forever. “Thank God.”
“Wayne kidnapped her?” Beverly asked.
Otis began to explain, and then turned it over to Rod to fill in the blanks. When Rod finished, he waited to see if Earl had any questions.
“I knew Tiffany was not mine,” Earl admitted, but I would have raised her as my own. You think Wayne used the money to take care of Tiffany?”
“Probably,” Rod answered.
“Then it was well spent after all.”
“Nice to see you talking again, old man,” said Otis. “I suspect we should let your rest now.”
“One more thing, Sheriff,” Earl said as he stood up.
“What’s that?”
“Tell Fagan he’s got his old job back at the factory if he wants it.”
“I’ll do that,” said Otis.
*
JUST AS OTIS AND ROD walked out the door, Tiffany got a text from her father. For a very long time, she stared at the message, returned the text, and then turned her phone off.
“Is something wrong?” Beverly asked.
“No, just my father asking where I am,” she lied. “It is time for me to be on my way anyway. I’ve decided to start college in the fall, and there is a lot I want to see before I do.”
“What about Ben?” Beverly asked.
“We’ll stay in touch,” Tiffany answered.
When she stood up, so did Earl. “I was hoping you might like to see Ireland with me.” When Tiffany suddenly went into his arms, Earl gladly wrapped his around her.
“There is nothing I’d like better than to spend more time with you and Beverly, but I have stayed too long as it is.” Trying not to linger any longer, she pulled away and started for the stairs. “Time to pack.”
“You’re leaving in the morning?” Beverly asked.
Tiffany stopped and turned back. “That’s the plan. Don’t worry, I’ll pick up breakfast somewhere on the way.” With that, she hurried into her room and closed the door. She plopped down on the edge of her bed, pulled her phone out and reread the text. “Why?” she muttered. She wanted to cry, but Tiffany was never very good at hiding swollen eyes. Besides, crying always gave her a headache. No, she had to save her tears for the next economy motel she happened to find – in a town very far away from Blue Falls.
*
IT WAS NEARLY MIDNIGHT when Rod drove down the lane and parked in front of Nancy’s house. Her lights were still on and even before he got up the steps, she opened the door.
Instantly she went in his arms. “I keep hearing noises.”
“Don’t worry, he’s in the Des Moines city jail and he’ll be going away for a very long time.”
She walked with him to the sofa and sat beside him. “They won’t believe it, you know, all the farmers. I’m having a hard time believing it myself.”
He put his arm around her and when he did, she snuggled closer. “Otis is beside himself. Wayne was right under his nose the whole time and he never once guessed.”
“So what did happen?”
They talked long into the night and when he finally kissed her, she welcomed it. “I know it’s too soon,” he said, “but I’m hoping someday you will marry me.”
“It’s not too soon,” she whispered as she returned the passion in his kiss.
*
EARL WAS STILL HOME when Tiffany started downstairs the next morning. He relieved her of her big suitcase, while she went back for her smaller one and her laptop. Together they walked to her car, where he helped her load up.
“Are you sure you can’t stay for breakfast?” Beverly asked from the open doorway.
“I’m sure, but thank you.” Tiffany went back, hugged Beverly and then hurried back to her car before tears began to cloud her eyes. She gave Earl one last quick hug, got in her car and drove away.
That was the easy part. The hard part was yet to come.
Tiffany took several deep breaths, and then slowly drove up Main Street. As she pulled into Ben’s garage and got out, she muttered, “Quick and easy.” She expected him to be working in one of his three garages. Instead he came out of the office and this time his hands were not all greasy.
“Come to say goodbye?” he asked as he walked to her.
She frowned, “I forgot how fast news travels in this town.”
“Where are you going?”
The tone in his voice was stern and not at all what she expected. But then, she didn’t know what she expected. “Wherever the wind blows me.”
“I see. Are you coming back?”
“Ben, try to understand. Someday you’ll fall in love again, so will I and we’ll both be better off for it.”
“Do I have anything to say about it?”
“I can’t stay and I can’t come back.”
“Why?” he demanded.
“I can’t tell you that either.’ She stared into the eyes she loved – the same eyes that took her breath away her first day in Blue Falls. This time there was pain in them. She forced herself to look away, before she was tempted to fall into his arms and hold on forever. “Goodbye, Ben.” She got back in her car, backed up, and then drove back down Main Street toward the interstate onramp. “Don’t look back,” she said, “Just don’t look back.”
A few minutes out of town, Tiffany pulled onto the frontage road and then turned down a road called Lonely Lane. She hadn’t gone far before she pulled over and got out of her car. Never had she felt such agony as she did having to say goodbye to Ben, and fighting the urge to cry was nearly impossible. Tiffany closed her car door, and then took several deep breaths to calm herself down. She wasn’t thinking clearly – how could she be? One moment she wanted to run all the way back to Ben, and the next she was convinced she was doing what she absolutely had to do. Suddenly, she drew in a sharp breath. She promised to let Mariam know before she left. She could call her, but how many goodbyes could she handle before totally losing it?
Mariam would just have to forgive her.
It was then that she saw Crazy Eddie’s truck coming up the lane. She watched him pull up behind her, and to her amazement, he got out and walked to her. “Finally, we meet,” she said far more cheerfully than she felt.
“You can’t go,” he said. “Ben needs you. This whole town needs you.”
Tiffany hung her head. “My dad wants me to come home.”
Eddie pointed east. “That’s funny, you’re headed west and home is that way.”
“I know.” She took another deep breath and tried to avoid looking in his eyes.
“Wanna tell me what’s wrong?”
“I can’t. It doesn’t matter now, none of it matters now.” She turned away and reached for the handle of her car door.
“You’re name isn’t really Tiffany Clark, is it.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because I called every detective Clark in the state of Rhode Island, and none of them have a daughter named Tiffany.”
She tried to be flippant about it, “Wrong state apparently.”
“Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to your car registration.”
When she started to open her door, he blocked it with his hand. “It’s not Ben you’re running from, is it?” He got no answer, so Eddie continued, “If you leave before finding out the truth, you’ll just come back eventually.” He pulled a photograph out of his pocket and handed it to her.
Tiffany stared at the picture for several moments before she asked, “May I keep it?”
This time it was Eddie who didn’t answer. Instead, he let go of her car door, turned around and walked back to his truck. Crazy Eddie got in, revved his engine, pulled away, and took off down the lane at record speed.
It took a while for Tiffany to admit he was right. She would come back eventually – she would have to. Then again, maybe the pain would be gone by then. Ben would be married and maybe she would be too, although she doubted she could ever love again – not like that.
She was less than a few miles away from the reason she came, and what would it hurt to have a look, that’s all, just see what she could see, and then be on her way. She didn’t have to stay, she didn’t have to tell anyone, and she didn’t have to admit Crazy Eddie was right. Yet, he was right!
At length, Tiffany got back in her car, drove back to the interstate and headed toward Blue Falls. At the next off-ramp, she turned and then drove into the parking lot of Birdie’s Bed and Breakfast. For a long moment, she stared through the window at the pretty woman standing behind the lobby counter – the same woman as the one in the picture. Birdie had not noticed her yet, so there was still time to drive away and forget the whole thing. Then again, she was already there and inside that door was the answer to so many questions.
Tiffany abruptly opened her car door. “Do it!” she commanded as she got out and boldly went inside.
“Hello,” said Birdie. “Need a room?”
“No, I was just... if you’re busy, I can come back sometime.” She was about to turn around and run when Birdie answered.
“I’m not busy. Are you Tiffany Clark?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
Birdie left the back of the counter and motioned for Tiffany to have a seat on the sofa. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Bravo for putting Gloria in her place. She needed someone to point out her nonsense.”
Tiffany decided to stand, and then sat as soon as Birdie took a seat. "You'd not think so if you knew."
"Knew what?"
Tiffany sighed. “Oh, everything is so screwed up. I just found out last night myself. Don't you see? I can't marry Ben. His mother said that the last thing she ever wanted, was for her son to have Michael for a father-in-law."
Birdie’s mouth dropped. “Wait, slow down, you lost me.”
Slowing down was not something Tiffany was familiar with. “And I’ve lied to everyone about practically everything. I’m not from Rhode Island, I lived all, well not all, but most of my life in Cedar Rapids. Even my car didn’t really break down. My dad told me how to make it look like it did. So you see, it’s all a lie, except that I do love Ben, I love him more than I thought I could ever love anyone. I took some hair out of Earl's comb and sent it to my father. He's a detective and my DNA matches.”
“You’re Earl’s daughter?” a shocked Birdie asked.
“Not his daughter, his granddaughter.”
Even more stunned, Birdie whispered, “Are you sure?”
Tiffany wrinkled her brow. “Positive, unless someone else used Earl’s comb, but I can’t imagine anyone could have, Beverly is a very good housekeeper, and...”
“Tiffany?”
“What.”
“If Michael is your father, who do you think your mother is?”
“You, but it could be someone else. Knowing what I know about Michael, he did get around back then. Even so, Beverly said you had to give a baby away, and I thought, I mean, I hoped you might know for sure.”
Birdie couldn't help but smile. “I have a copy of my DNA chart upstairs.”
“Really? We could send it to my dad...ah, my adopted dad, and...”
Birdie grabbed Tiffany’s hand and rushed her up the stairs. She unlocked her bedroom door, ran to a desk drawer and found what she was looking for. She laid it on the desk and flattened it out so Tiffany could take a picture with her cellphone. A moment later, Tiffany sent the picture to her dad, and then practically collapsed on the edge of Birdie’s bed. She immediately sat back up. “It shouldn’t take too long. Dad is pretty good at this sort of thing.”
Standing not far from the bed, Birdie drew in a much needed breath and folded her arms. “There is a possibility we are not a match, you know.”
“Really? Who else was Michael involved with?”
Birdie rolled her eyes and went to sit beside Tiffany. “I doubt even Michael remembers, but I have not heard of anyone else having to give a baby away. My father was a congressman and my pregnancy embarrassed him.”
Tiffany simply could not contain her excitement, and just as abruptly got up to pace the floor. “Really? I didn’t know that part. How old were you?”
“Sixteen. I turned seventeen right before you...or my daughter was born.”
“But it was a girl, right?”
“Right. I only got to see her for an hour and then she was gone.”
“My mom, my other mom, said that’s how that sort of thing usually happens. Of course, my birth mother might not have wanted me, or want me now. They warned me over and over to expect that.” Tiffany wrinkled her brow. “Would you want me?”
A tear came to Birdie’s eye. “More than life itself.”
“Wait, hold everything! I know how to find out even faster than my dad can. Someone wrote something on my baby blanket. Do you know what it was?”
Birdie slowly stood up and this time she truly struggled to hold back her tears. “Blue Falls.”
Tiffany caught her breath. “That’s it then, you’re the one! Gosh, it took ages to find Blue Falls on a map because it’s so small, you see, and who could have guessed it was right here in Iowa. I didn’t think to enlarge the map at first and when I did, there it was. As soon as I graduated, I...”
“Tiffany?”
“What?”
“I don’t mean to interrupt your history lesson, but don’t you think you should notify your dad before he goes to all the trouble of confirming our DNA match?”
“Oh, he’ll do it anyway. He’s fussy like that, then he and Mom will fly out to thank you for giving them a good, but sometimes flighty daughter. Flighty they call me, but I don’t mind.”
“They aren’t hurt that you wanted to find me?”
“Gosh no, and won’t they be thrilled that I’m not another Gloria?”
Birdie smiled. “Your half-sister, whom you degraded in front of the whole town?”
Tiffany slumped. “That’s what I mean. And would you believe, Alex tried to ask me out, but Birdie, I never once thought Michael might be my father. If Beverly had not told me about you, I never would have thought to test Earl’s DNA.”
“Remind me to thank Beverly.” She drew closer and touched her daughter’s dark hair, the same dark hair as Michael’s.
“You can hug me, if you want,” said Tiffany, “but you can’t cry or I’ll cry and I might never stop.”
“I promise,” Birdie said as she gently took her long lost daughter into her arms. She closed her eyes and held her for a very long time before she let go.
“I must get my willpower from you,” Tiffany said. “I didn’t cry either.”
“Are you hungry? Do you want something to drink?”
“You got anything for breakfast? Beverly would have fed me, but I just wanted out of this town before I ended up married to Ben.”
“You broke up with him?”
“Yes, and just this morning. It was awful, just awful.”
Birdie didn’t hesitate before she pulled her phone out of her pocket and placed a call. “Ben, Tiffany is here with me and she has something to tell you. Come now.” She hung up before Ben had a chance to answer.
“Oh, now you’ve done it,” said Tiffany as she followed Birdie down the stairs, through the lobby, and into the kitchen.
Birdie turned on the lights, stopped, turned around, and took hold of her daughter’s arms. “I’m not going to let Michael ruin your life the way he ruined mine, Nora Coulter will get over it and Ben is strong enough to resist anything Michael could ever throw at him. Besides, Michael doesn’t have to be a part of your life unless you want him to. He swore he was not your father, and I will be happy to throw that in his face as often as I can.”
Tiffany shrugged, “Yes, but weren’t you jail bait and that’s why...”
“So was Pamela.”
Tiffany put her hand on her stomach. “Birdie, I don’t think I can eat just now. My nerves are a jumbled mess.”
“So are mine.” Birdie turned the lights off, and then ushered Tiffany back into the lobby.”
For the whole of ten minutes, Tiffany talked nonstop while at the same time watching out the window for Ben. “What do I say to him,” she finally asked.
“I’ll handle it.”
As soon as Ben parked, he hopped out of his truck, yanked open the door and headed straight for Tiffany. Just in time, Birdie put her hand out to stop him. “Ben Coulter, I’d like you to meet my daughter.”
That stopped him dead in his tracks, Ben looked first at Tiffany and then at Birdie. “Your daughter?”
“I lied to you,” Tiffany tried to explain. “I had to, I mean it was the only way to find her. and...”
He took Tiffany in his arms. “Are you sure this is not just another one of your stories?”
“I wish it were. I...”
He wouldn’t let her finish. “All I need to hear you say is that you will marry me.”
“Well.” She giggled when he frowned. “Yes, I will marry you, but not too soon, okay? This world is spinning too fast for me as it is.”
“I can wait,” he whispered just before he lowered his lips to hers.
She let him kiss her and then put an arm around Birdie. “I can’t wait to tell Earl. He’ll be so happy, I think, if the news doesn’t kill him. “Birdie...Mom, will you come with me?”
“We both will,” said Ben.
*
IN THE SPACE OF ONLY two days, Earl Woodbury, the man who hadn’t spoken in years, had all the answers he sought, and some he never dreamed of. It was decided Tiffany would stay at the bed and breakfast so she could get to know her mother, and when Ben mentioned Tiffany had agreed to marry him, Earl insisted he pay for the wedding.
Birdie couldn’t wipe the grin off her face and neither could Tiffany.
Everything was finally right with the world including one very special thing – Wayne admitted baby Tiffany was indeed alive and attending a university in Ireland.
“Has she been told the truth?” Tiffany asked.
“Otis is telling her in the morning, Ireland time,” Earl answered. “Legally, she is still my daughter and the least I can do is make sure she has what she needs.” He was thoughtful for a minute. “How would you like to honeymoon in Dublin?”
“Really?” Tiffany asked.
Earl grinned, “All expenses paid.”
“I don’t see how we can pass that up,” Ben admitted.
“And what am I to do with no one to cook for?” Beverly insisted.
“You’re coming too,” he said. “Besides, isn’t it time you married me?”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “It’s about time you asked!”
*
FOR A SECOND TIME, Beverly heard the news before Mariam, and even before the town had time to digest the truth about Wayne Griffin, they had something new to ponder – the girl they knew as Tiffany Clark, was actually the daughter Birdie was forced to give away.
As if the town was not already a buzz about it, Jerry Farrell decided to congratulate Birdie and Tiffany via his new mobile billboard. That was, of course, the very way Michael found out about it.
*
IN THE OFFICE OF THE Woodbury Tile Company, Michael sat in a chair facing the front of his desk with his head in his hands. When the door opened, he shouted, “Get out!”
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” said Earl.
Michael abruptly dropped his hands and stood up. “Dad?”
As if he’d never left, Earl walked to the back of the desk and took his rightful place as owner of the company. He waited while Michael slowly returned to his seat. “About your inheritance.” Earl pulled a paper out of his suit pocket, and then handed it across the desk. “This is an accounting of all the money you’ve charged to “miscellaneous expenses” over the years. I’ve discounted 25 percent as legitimate. The rest is your inheritance.”
“Dad, you can’t...”
“Oh yes I can. I know how much I pay you Michael, and you’ve lived all these years way beyond your means. I let you get away with it because I didn’t care. Now I do. I have three grandchildren, two I turned my back on and one you kept from me.”
“I didn’t keep her from you, Birdie’s parents did.”
Earl smiled, “Nice try. The way I hear it, you swore you were not Tiffany’s father.”
Michael hung his head. “That’s true, I did.”
“Good, at least you’re being honest.” Earl looked out the window for a brief moment. “I was to blame too, but neither of us can change the past. It’s the future that concerns me.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I talked to Jerry this morning and he’s agreed to make certain this little feud of yours doesn’t hurt anyone. Oh, if I were brave, I’d make the two of you knock it off, but then I’d have to face Beverly and Tiffany. You may not know it, but you and Jerry have breathed new life in this town.”
“Is that all? You’re not going to fire me?”
“No, but I suggest you fire that son of yours. He’s old enough to find out what working for a living is like, and now that you’ve already spent your inheritance, he’s not in line to inherit either.”
“What about Gloria?”
“She and Tiffany will be taken care of.”
“Tiffany,” Michael muttered. “Do you think she will see me?”
“I don’t know.” When Earl stood up, he finally noticed the portrait on the wall. “You kept it?”
Michael turned around and looked behind him. “Those were good times, Dad.”
“Yes they were. I miss your mother every day.”
“Dad, why did you marry Shelley?”
“I didn’t. I just agreed to let her live in my house and to give the baby my name.:”
“But why?”
“She said she was in trouble and needed a safe place to be while she had her baby. Turns out, she was in more trouble than I thought and was actually hiding from the FBI.” Earl stood up. “Well, that’s it. When I come back from seeing Shelley’s daughter in Ireland, we’ll have a dinner together, all of us hopefully.” With that, he walked out and left Michael to ponder what little was left of his life.
*
CRAZY EDDIE PICKED Lyndell Fagan up in front of the prison, and nearly killed them both trying to outrun a local sheriff. Eddie paid the ticket in full on the spot.
Earl and Beverly flew to Vegas right away to get married, and invited a thrilled Mariam along to witness the happy event. A month later, Nancy and Rod, together with Ben and Tiffany, were married in a double ceremony on a cloudless day at the lake. Alex, Gloria and all three ex-wives were there, but Birdie forbid Michael to show up, so he spent the day alone in his office.
Tiffany’s family came, including all her adopted brothers and sisters.
In the Dublin airport three days later, Beverly, Ben and Tiffany watched as Earl made his way through the crowd to a young girl holding up a sign with his name on it. They could not hear what was said, but when the girl hugged the legal father she never knew she had, all of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Wayne Griffin pled not guilty. It took all he had left of the ransom money to pay attorney’s fees, but Birdie’s testimony alone was enough to seal his fate. There wasn’t sufficient evidence to charge him with his ex-wife’s murder, but the jury gave him life for the kidnapping.
His daughter did not attend the trial.
It took a while for Earl to get it through the courts, but the money in Shelley’s bank account, plus years of accumulated interest, was eventually sent to her daughter.
~the end~
