Chapter Twenty Two

 

Bootsy and Chelsea hugged one another and sobbed with joy.

Devlin leaped to his feet. “I’ll ask the nurses if the monitors changed.” He hurried toward the swinging doors to ICU.

I said. “Squeezing your hand must mean he’s better, even if he’s still too groggy to speak.”

“Oh, Chelsea, please come back tomorrow.” Bootsy reached for the tissue box. “Maybe hearing your voice will help him wake up.” She dabbed at her eyes then blew her nose.

“I get off at noon, and I’ll come straight here from work.”

I said, “Chelsea, you should stay with Sam. Take some time off—as long as you need. Then you can spend time here.”

Devlin returned, and his relief couldn’t be a faked response. Could it? “He is better. His pulse is stronger and his blood pressure is up a little more.” He hugged Chelsea. “Thanks for coming. Your visit made a real difference to Sam.” He hugged me. “And thanks for bringing her.”

“Heather, I don’t want to rush you, but if you want to go on back, we’ll bring Chelsea home later.” Bootsy looked at Chelsea. “That’s if you want to stay and see him again. We’ll have to wait an hour.”

“Oh, yes. I’m staying.”

I bid them all good night and started toward the door.

Devlin followed me. “I’ll walk you out. The parking lot is pretty well lighted, but you shouldn’t be out there alone at this hour.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” I didn’t know what to say and we walked to the elevator without speaking. The strained silence made me uncomfortable.

When the doors opened, there were two women inside. One was weeping silently and the other tried to comfort her. Devlin and I said nothing on the ride down.

As we left the hospital, lightning flashed overhead. The wind gusted and swirled against us, but the heavy air carried the sweet promise of rain.

When we reached my car, Devlin said, “Heather, I know it looks as if I’m guilty, but I swear I didn’t kill Vance or drug Sam.”

Deflecting his denial, I said, “It’s easy to see you’re very fond of your brother. And not loving your stepfather is a long way from hating him enough to kill him.” Probably I meant it, but Kurt’s warning made me wary. Who had a better motive than Devlin?

“Thank God! I thought everyone but Mom and Aunt Kay had me convicted and in prison.”

Lightning flashed again, and clouds obscured the moon and stars. Rascal would be in a panic alone in a storm.

I unlocked the car door. “If not you, then someone close to you is guilty.”

“I know, and it’s hard to believe someone I trust has done these horrible things. I’ve suspected everyone.” He looked haggard, and I realized how deeply he was worried.

He leaned against my car. “After Vance’s death, I even wondered if Mom had killed him. Damn, I’m ashamed I ever considered her as a murderer, but he was such a rotten husband, not that she ever totally knew how rotten. A totally worthless excuse for a man.”

“You can’t blame yourself for examining the facts.” Or me for doing the same.

“Then I wondered if Sam had had one of his bursts of temper. He slams doors and stomps and shouts, but he’s never done anything violent. He wouldn’t even go hunting with Vance because Sam hated the thought of killing anything.” He scrubbed a hand across his face. “How could I lose trust in my family?”

He appeared sincere in his recriminations. I was torn between believing him or the facts that pointed to his involvement. “It’s natural that you’d consider everyone who had access. And that’s what the police are doing. Not accusing, just investigating. I’m sure they’ll find the right person soon.”

“Dear God, I hope so. Mom can’t take much more of this. I’m not sure I can either.” He leaned near and ran his hand down my arm. “I enjoyed seeing you tonight. Thanks for coming. I hope this means you wanted to see me, too.”

Trying for noncommittal, I said, “Of course I was concerned, and I couldn’t let Chelsea come alone. She was in no condition to drive over here.”

Spatters of rain hit us and I got into the car. He waited until I locked the doors and started the engine, then waved and walked back toward the hospital. The rain fell in earnest as I drove away. Doubting Devlin worried me. Was I a traitor to wonder whether Devlin was innocent or just a good actor? Who else had anything to gain by Sam’s death?

***

Soon after the garden center opened the next morning, the parking lot was full and customers gobbled up plants like a swarm of locusts. Obviously, last night’s rain followed by bright sunshine today had inspired gardeners. They came to stock up on supplies and new plants to get a jump on the upcoming long Memorial Day weekend. Steve and his helper stayed busy bringing up more stock while Greg helped load purchases into customers’ cars. With Miguel at the Rockwell job, Walter in jail, and Chelsea at the hospital in McKinney, we needed help from someone who knew about plants and our set up. Chomping down my pride, I’d called Grandpa.

I didn’t know what his plans had been, but he came immediately. Martha and Vicky rang up sales while Grandpa and I answered questions and helped customers make selections. I was ready for a breather when Chelsea called at four.

“Sam’s still not fully conscious, and the doctors haven’t figured out why. The attending physician called in a specialist.”

I asked, “What have they told you?”

“Both agreed that Sam ingested something bad besides the sleeping pills, but we’re waiting on one blood test from a more extensively equipped lab at Baylor Hospital in Dallas.”

“Are Bootsy and Devlin both there?”

“Yes, but Bootsy looks as if she’ll be a patient here soon. This is too much for her. How are things there?”

“Fine,” I lied.

“Are they?” She sounded surprised and, I thought, a bit disappointed we could do well without her. “I hope you’re busy, but I’m sorry you’re short-handed. I’ve been feeling guilty. You guys must be run ragged.”

I gave in and confessed, “Okay, we were, but Grandpa’s helping out.”

“Ohmygosh! You asked your grandfather to come over? I know how much you want to manage without him. Oh, Heather, asking him to fill in must have killed you.”

“Calling him was hard, but I’m over it. Took him all of three seconds to get here, by the way. I’ll bet he was looking at the number of cars in the parking lot and waiting for my call.” At least he’d waited until I asked for help. A few months ago, he wouldn’t have.

“I’m totally sorry me not being there left you in a bind and you had to call him.”

I looked across the plant shed where Grandpa was giving Indian Hawthorns the hard sell to Mrs. Baxter. “Don’t be. Grandpa’s having way too much fun visiting with customers. You just take care of yourself and keep us posted on Sam’s progress.”

When Miguel came in at five, Grandpa left. “Los hombres, they work without me tomorrow so I can help you here. They work not at all on Saturday but promise to be back on Tuesday. Juan, he comes here tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Miguel. Everything okay at Rockwell’s?”

“Sí. We finish everything, and next week, we put sod over the trenches left from the sprinkler system. It’s gonna be perfect. Señora Rockwell, she will love it.” He looked at me and nodded toward my grandfather. “Seeing Dick helping here, it is good.”

I stared at him.

He grinned. “Means no longer are you afraid he don’t trust you. You, now you really are the boss,” he tapped his head, “in here, and in here,” he tapped his heart. “Es verdad, no?”

He turned and strode toward a customer before I could think of anything to reply.

***

At five until six, Chelsea called again. “Sam slips in and out of consciousness. Even when he’s awake, he can’t speak.”

“Have Kay and Wyatt been to visit?”

“Ugghh, yes. Thank heavens, not for long. She acted nervous as a staked-out goat at a tiger convention. Since Sam’s a little better, they’re going ahead with the reading of the will and the dinner tomorrow. Doesn’t make sense to me, but that’s what Mr. Wyatt said.”

“You must be exhausted. When are you coming back?”

“Bootsy and Devlin are bringing me home after the eight o’clock visit. We’ll return in the morning and then leave for Gamble Grove about three.”

“I guess you’re not worried any longer about them accepting you. I get to say I told you so.”

“They’ve been so nice to me. Even that evil witch Kay was nice in front of them.”

“I can’t believe she knows how. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow evening.”

***

I dragged myself up the stairs and let Rascal out to run through the tree nursery. He came when I called, and we went back up for our supper. Kibble with water sauce for him, yogurt and a banana for me.

Looking forward to a short evening followed by a long soak in the tub, I curled up on my loveseat to eat. I’d finished the yogurt and peeled the banana when the phone rang.

Kurt was on the line. “Can you come to the police station? I know it’s late, but I have those two kids here. Danny won’t talk. The one called Hector might, but he and his mom want you here first.”

“Me?” I asked around a mouthful of banana.

“That’s what they say. Damndest thing I ever heard. The kid and his mom don’t trust cops, but they turned down getting a lawyer. Instead, the mom insists you be present.”

“Okay, I’ll be right there.” I jerked my grimy T-shirt over my head. I rushed through the shower and put on a bright blue floral shirt, jeans, and sandals then sprayed on cologne. After locking my apartment door, I hurried down the stairs to my car.

On the way to the police station, I picked up my cell and punched the button to dial my grandparents and let them know where I’d gone and that one of the kids might talk.

Grandma said, “Dick’s down there now visiting Walter.”

“Maybe I’ll see him.”

“Heather, thank you for asking your grandfather’s help today. He’s tired, but pepped up at the same time.”

“Sure,” I said, suddenly feeling guilty I’d been against him on the premises. “People like Grandpa, respond to him. Good thing. We’d have been in a pinch without him today.”

“Hmm, are Chelsea and Sam Rockwell getting serious?”

“Looks that way. Guess I’d better start looking for a new shop assistant.”

“Don’t be too hasty. Maybe she’ll want to continue working for a while. Besides, she’s supposedly been in love before and it didn’t last.”

“This time is different. Can’t explain it exactly, but she’s different.” I turned into the police station parking lot. “Gotta go, Grandma. Love you.”

I parked next to Grandpa’s car and spotted Miguel’s pickup a few spaces away. Inside, I asked the officer on duty to tell Kurt I’d arrived. I was nervous, wondering why Leah wanted me present. True I’d known Yolanda since we were in school, but I hardly knew Leah. Maybe she needed someone unofficial to bolster her. Having a kid in trouble had to be hard.

In less than a minute, Kurt appeared. His smiling appraisal made me glad I’d taken time to shower and change clothes. He ushered me back to an interview room. Officer Jack Winston stood at one side. Hector and his mother were seated at a table, and both looked terrified. Leah leaped to her feet when I came in.

She rushed over and grabbed my hands. “You must help us. They think my Hector stole a watch from this man, the one you asked about."

I looked from her to Kurt, who shook his head, then back at her. “I’m sure that’s not the case, Leah. Hector must have seen my friend drop the watch. Hector and his friend only picked it up, then sold it to an antique dealer. That’s where I found it.”

She glanced over her shoulder at Kurt, then turned back to me. “That’s what the cops said, but I don’t know if I can believe them.” She leaned close and lowered her voice. “If Hector says he did this, they might say he pushed the man and stole his watch. Maybe even that he and Danny hit the man in order to get his money.” Tears streamed down her face. “My son could go to jail.”

“No one thinks Hector hurt Walter.” I slid my arm around her shoulders. “Leah, here’s what we know. Walter Sims is my friend who works at the garden center. He remembers falling after he’d been drinking. He’s sure he wasn’t pushed, that he simply stumbled, but he heard laughter behind him. He thought it was teens, but he didn’t see them.”

Kurt said, “The antique dealer is prepared to identify the person who sold him the watch. He’s already given us a description that fits Hector. It’ll be better for Hector if he volunteers the information without forcing a lineup.”

We walked toward the table where Hector was still seated.

I patted Leah’s arm. “It’ll be okay. Maybe if he confesses, he’ll only get probation, or maybe something like community service.”

Kurt shook his head. “No charges have been brought against either boy, Mrs. Dolan.”

With a sigh, Leah’s shoulders sagged and she turned to her son. “Tell them exactly what happened. And it had better be the truth, son. If you had told Heather the other day, we wouldn’t be here now.”

Hector looked down and mumbled, “Yeah, it was like she said. We saw this old guy in the cemetery,” he looked at his mom and winced. “When we climbed over the fence, he was already there. We laughed at him. You know, he looked crazy the way he was walking crooked, stumbling, and talking to himself.”

Leah was crying, but she watched her son. I put my arm around her shoulders again to offer support. Kurt handed her a box of tissues.

Hector looked ready to cry himself. “This one time he fell really hard on the gravel under one of the lights. I thought he like passed out. Then, he got back up, you know, and we saw him brush at his face and hands. I think he hurt himself. There was something lying on the rocks. The old guy staggered off toward the back.” He shrugged. “We waited until he was gone and went to look. That’s when we picked up the watch.”

“And you’re the one who sold it,” Kurt said.

Hector shrugged again. “Yeah. Me and Danny came up with the story. Danny lives close to those people who own the store. He was afraid they’d remember him. I waited until the lady went to the bank, you know, so I wouldn’t have to talk to both of them.”

Kurt leaned on the table in front of Hector. “Okay, this is important. Tell us what time you saw the man fall.”

Hector looked at his mother. I was afraid he was going to lie.

Apparently so was Leah, because she shook her finger at him. “Tell the truth!”

His lips trembled. “I like, climbed out my window at midnight and met Danny at the corner.” He sighed and glanced at his mother before looking back down. “We walked over to the cemetery, you know, the long way to avoid the main streets. Guess it was maybe thirty minutes later we got there.”

Officer Winston asked, “How long did you stay?”

“We hung around for like way more than an hour, then left. The old guy was still there. Wasn’t nothin’ to do, so we went home. When I climbed back into my room, it was a few minutes after two-thirty.”

I could hardly breathe. That cinched it. Walter had an alibi even the DA and that awful Judge Farley would have to recognize.

“And where was the man when you left?” Kurt asked.

“At the back, you know, near where the fountain is. Old guy pulled a bottle from his pocket soon as he sat down. Surprised it didn’t break when he fell. When we left, he was just sitting there crying and drinking. We laughed at him because he was so weird. But it was kind of sad, you know, him just sitting there crying in the cemetery.”

Even thought he finally admitted the truth, I was furious Hector had lied to me before and wanted to throttle him now. “The bench is in front of his wife’s grave. I know he’ll be grateful you told the truth. But you know your silence could have cost an innocent man his life. As it is, he’s been in jail for days when he could have been home. Think how terrified you’d be if you were in jail and someone who could help you kept silent. You were very wrong to lie to Detective Steele, and very wrong to sneak out when your mother thought you were sleeping.”

Leah shook her finger at him. “You better not ever do something like this again, Hector Dolan!”

“I know, Mama, I’m sorry.” He looked at his shoes, but I saw him swipe tears from his face.

“I hope you’ve learned your lesson.” I offered Hector my hand.

Hesitantly, he shook it. He looked at me and tears shone in his eyes. “I like tried to call you, you know, but I hung up when your answering machine started. I wanted to tell you where the watch was, you know, without telling my name, but I-I couldn’t. Sorry.”

“You don’t owe me an apology as much as the man who misses his wife so much you thought he was funny. But I wondered who the hang ups were, and I’m glad you’ve straightened everything out.” I was still mad at Hector, but not with his mom. This had to be hard on her, so I told her, “Thank you for your help. This may have saved Walter’s life.”

Kurt followed me into the hall. “That went pretty well. Glad you could come.”

“I’d like to wring both their necks, but at least Hector finally told the truth. What’s going to happen to the boys?”

He shrugged. “Nothing but a lecture. Guess I could get them on trespassing, but then I’d have to charge Mr. Sims with the same thing. Seems pointless. After all, the boys didn’t steal the watch. Can’t charge them for selling something they found.”

Still angry, I said, “Even though they knew whose it was.”

He shook his head and smiled. “And I sure can’t charge Hector with sneaking out of his house. I suspect his mom will take care of that.”

“Yes, I’d bet Leah grounds him for life.” I looked at him and grinned. “This means you can release Walter now, doesn’t it? Can you let him out tonight? If so, I’ll wait and take him home.”

His smile disappeared. “It’s still not up to me. Surely Farley will at least reconsider bail. But they’re just a couple of juveniles who are known troublemakers. I believe they’re telling the truth, but Farley won’t see it that way.”

“He won’t want to. Judge Farley’s hated Walter for years. I-I know they’re waiting and you have to get back in there.”

“Heather, I have to ask you again to stay away from Devlin Douglas.” He looked around then leaned near and lowered his voice. “He’s our main suspect.”

“Mm-hmm, I know that, but I truly don’t think he did it. Someone tried setting up Sam, but Devlin didn’t do that either.”

He gave me an exasperated huff. “Heather, if it’s not him, then the murderer is damn sure someone in that house. Stay away from those people until this is settled.”

My stubborn streak asserted itself. I didn’t like him telling me what to do. “You know I’m supposed to have dinner there tomorrow. You can hardly expect me to cancel now.”

“You’re being stubborn and unreasonable.” That tic appeared in his cheek and he frowned down at me. “Murder is a hell of a lot more serious than a dinner date. Surely you can postpone your evening out until the murderer is arrested.”

His attitude ticked me off. “Do I look like one of those too-stupid-to-live dimwits from an old romance novel who goes rushing off into the dark garden while there’s a killer nearby?”

Realizing we’d raised our voices and people were staring, I took a deep breath to calm myself. I didn’t want to argue or be unreasonable. “This meal follows the reading of Vance Rockwell’s will—and that’s definitely a one-time event. I want to find out what’s in the will, as well as how it relates to Sam being framed and Rockwell’s murder.”

He frowned. “I know what’s there and it won’t help you solve anything.”

I touched his arm. “You know that information, but I want to see how the family responds after hearing it.”

He took a breath then leaned near. “Look, I have something planned for tomorrow in regard to that, but I can’t tell you what.”

“Well, unplan it. They’ll act differently around me than they will around you or other policemen. I might learn something useful.”

“Heather, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Surely you understand what I’m trying to accomplish.”

“I understand you’re being stubborn and irresponsible.” With another angry huff, he turned and went back into the interview room.

I’m sure his exit left me with my jaw hanging open. I puffed my own “Phffft” to the door he closed behind him. How dare he walk out on me! I leaned against the wall, wanting to bang my head against it—or his.

Kurt’s manners were usually impeccable, and I knew I’d pushed him too far. I leaned there a few seconds, wondering if I should go apologize, and hoping he'd be the one to come back and do so. When I noticed officers staring at me for loitering in the hallway, I turned and left.

Darn it, so much for Kurt being my policeman.