Chapter Thirteen

“Damn you,” the General exploded when he opened his apartment door, his eyes drilling his daughter’s. He pulled her into a fierce hug and repeated, “Damn you both.”

“Dad, what the…?” Jan said, her voice muffled in her father’s embrace. “What happened?”

“Where have you two been all day? I tried to call you on the cell phone, but I couldn’t get through.”

Jan pulled away, looking confused. “I’m sorry, Dad. I was helping Roman interview some people, so we turned our phones off.” She sidled into the General’s tiny studio apartment with Roman following behind.

The General slammed the front door and glared at Roman. “Who the hell were you interviewing?”

“I’m writing a documentary. I invited Jan along.”

The General pointed his finger at Jan. “You were visiting people who knew Cliff Barker, weren’t you? After we’d agreed to drop Madeline Barker.”

Jan straightened her back. “I felt guilty about Tess, so I asked Roman to help me question some friends and relatives.”

“Dammit, Janny. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were too wrought up after your fall. I didn’t want to add more anxiety to your—”

The General paced the area behind his couch, then pounded his fist on his kitchen counter. “You never could do what I asked you. We had an agreement, I thought. Why couldn’t you abide by it?”

Roman stepped in front of Jan, thinking the General was working himself into a heart attack. “Sir, I’m the one who encouraged her to stick with the Barkers. Something about Cliff stinks to high heaven. We believe—”

The General grabbed his collar. “Then damn you to hell. Here I thought you were protecting my daughter when you’ve put her in more danger.” Roman tried to wrench away, amazed at the strength of the man’s grip. What would calm him down? “Sir, I’ll apologize if I hurt Jan. How have I put her in danger?”

The General released his grip and turned from Roman, clasping his hands as if to massage the tension out of them. He sighed. “Those weren’t joggers who stopped me in the Euc forest.” Turning to gaze at Jan, he continued. “They were a couple of guys who weren’t happy we were looking into Barker’s past. Threatened me. Said if I didn’t make you stop investigating his life, they’d hurt you, Janny.” He closed his eyes. “They pushed me down the ravine to make their point. Said if I got the police involved, you’d suffer more.”

Jan’s face showed horror, but her voice held outrage. “How dare they threaten us?”

Glaring at Roman, the General said, “If it hadn’t been for him, we wouldn’t have a problem.”

Damn. The General was probably right. Roman’s visit to the mayor might have worried the man enough to take action.

Jan touched her father’s cheek. “It’s not Roman’s fault, Dad. I decided it was time to stay the course for once. It’s a big step for me.” She squinted and made a fist. “And now that those creeps have threatened us, no way will we turn tail.”

The General’s shoulders sagged. “They must have been following you, Janny. ’Cause they called to warn me again, saying we hadn’t done what we promised.” He lowered himself into his recliner, looking defeated.

Roman willed himself to stay silent, knowing Jan would have to make the next decision. With what he hoped was a neutral expression, he stole a glance at her.

She walked over to her father and squeezed his shoulder, looking like she was thinking hard. “We’ll call Madeline and let her know we’ve changed our minds about running the memorial. We’ll convince her she still needs our help so we stay on the inside of this situation. Next, we call on Tess, tell her what’s gone on and persuade her to give us information. From now on, we work together. Safety in numbers and all that.”

Roman nodded, trying not to show his eagerness. Adrenaline raged. It was all he could do not to grab Jan and hug her fiercely for her feistiness. Her tight smile and slight shake of her head showed she knew what he had in mind. She made a motion for Roman to sit on the couch then sat down next to him facing her father.

The General looked stunned as he brushed his hand over his snow-white crew cut. “What about the police? They warned us not to call the cops.”

Roman leaned forward. “Can you describe the men who threatened you in the woods?”

The General wagged his head. “Hell no. They wore motorcycle helmets and those pull-down visors that cover all but a guy’s chin. Jeans and T-shirts. One guy had a big bandage on his arm, probably covering a tattoo.”

“Good observation, Walter,” Roman said, pleased the General was calmer and starting to analyze. “Anything unusual about their shoes and hands? Smells? The way they spoke?”

The General gave him a wry smile. “You’re thinking if I can’t identify these guys, calling the police is useless?”

Roman shrugged. “I’m not against informing the police even if the creeps warned you not to. The thing is, with such scant information, the cops won’t be able to help us very much.”

Jan popped up off the couch and walked to the little bay-windowed dining room, white-faced. She hugged herself, seeming to be coiled with unspent energy. When she returned to the General, she looked determined. “A man on a motorcycle scared me yesterday morning on my walk. He came at me and I fainted.” She pointed to the side of her face. “This is the result.”

“Janny!” the General exploded. “Why didn’t you say something?” He glanced at Roman. “Did she tell you?

Roman nodded. Had he brought these attacks on by his actions?

Jan stood in front of the two men, framed by the General’s flat screen TV. “I had no idea the man might be intent on frightening me because of Barker. I figured it was a creepy kid, thrilled by the chance to play chicken with me, who got scared off when I fainted.” She held up her hand. “I was only out for a minute and the guy was gone when I woke up. I talked to Pete about the incident and he agreed there was nothing reportable to the police.” She made a fist. “If only we had something to give to the police or the Tribune. But we don’t have enough information to go to the newspaper, do we Roman?”

He shook his head. “Tess threatened you and one of the sons warned Walter. Now we’ve got a couple of unidentifiable bikers bullying you and Walter. What could the police or the newspapers put together?”

“Tess wants us to minimize the memorial, her brother begs us to honor Tess’s request, and the two bikers demand we drop out of the ceremony altogether,” Jan mused. “Although we think Cliff Barker’s history is the problem, the police might not agree. Could be Mayor Simpson is the jumpy one who doesn’t want rain on his parade. Maybe he’s worried about bad publicity before his big announcement at the memorial. It’s also possible this has nothing to with the kids’ wishes to stop the memorial or Cliff Barker being dirty.”

Roman nodded, appreciating the way her mind worked. “We won’t know until you re-enlist as the funeral planner. Plus talk to Tess. Beg for her help, all the while hoping she’s not the one who’s following us or sending out people to threaten Walter.”

The General pulled himself out of his chair and stood, working his way to his customary ramrod posture. Jan smiled at her dad, encouraging him. “What do you think, Pop? Do we storm the beach or signal a retreat?”

The General growled out his answer. “It’s one thing if they threaten me; another when they frighten my daughter. I’m mad and ready to take a stand against these wisenheimers.” He picked up his cell phone. “We let Pete know what happened and get his advice about bringing in the police. You’re right, Janny. We have no idea who the enemy is even though we think there is one. Until we can identify our rivals, no one can help us.”

The General faced Roman. “Stand up, Keller.”

“Yes, sir?” Roman said as he rose with only inches of space between them.

Pointing his finger at Jan, but keeping his eyes on Roman, the General barked, “She thinks you’re a short timer and I suspect she’s right. But for however long you stay, she’s our top priority, protecting her. Not the story. Do I make myself clear?”

“Absolutely, sir,” Roman said, automatically. Yet he wondered if he could pledge loyalty to people rather than search for their weak spots. He was afraid to look at Jan, knowing she already doubted his ability to choose people over his obsession for truth. Would the General believe him? If the old guy threw him out, Roman would lose time and inroads on Cliff Barker’ story. He’d also lose Jan.

A short timer with people. She’d said it, as had the General. In response, Roman straightened his shoulders and gave the General a determined look. He might not be around long, but while he remained in Arroyo Grande, he’d watch over Jan.

“Absolutely, sir,” Roman repeated, this time glancing at Jan. The concern on her face pained him. He held out a hand to her, relieved when she took it and her expression softened.

The General nodded briskly and opened his phone. “You guys call Tess and Madeline. I’ll update Pete. We’ve got three days before Sidney’s memorial, followed by Cliff’s. Lots to be done for both and too little time to do it, especially while we’re watching each others’ backs.”

Roman’s mind was a maelstrom of emotions. On the one hand, he wished the week were over, so Jan could be safe. But the end of the week also signaled the end of his time with her. He visualized his normal schedule, packed with short stints writing in Santa Barbara intermixed with longer stays in LA and New York where he prepared his scripts for television. Each new project brought extra complications into his life, but the bottom line was he’d lived out of a suitcase for the majority of his career.

When Jan tightened her grip on his hand, the gesture made his heart ache. It was true, he was a short timer, and for the first time he hated owning up to it.

****

“We stay together, dammit,” the General commanded from the rear seat of the Beemer, growling the words.

“But I don’t have a bed for you, Dad. Roman’s got his little blow-up bed and I’ve got the couch. I will not have you sleeping on the floor. Your back…”

“I could go bunk with Bella, if that would help,” Roman offered.

Jan huffed. “Dad can not sleep on your blow-up bed, Roman. Period.”

“Beds. Christ on a crutch,” the General muttered. “How did I raise a daughter with an aversion to beds? Might as well be a four letter word to you, girl.”

Roman chuckled, but turned his laughter to a throat clearing when Jan glared at him.

The last thing Jan had expected was for the two men to share a joke together. The idea pleased her even as she pretended irritation. “Today Bella and I planned furniture for all the major rooms. I’ve told her what I want for the bedrooms…” she fumbled for a time frame. “Uh…I’ll buy that furniture soon…after the living room, dining room, and study are finished.”

“Aversion to beds,” the General reiterated.

“Do they have therapists who specialize in bed issues?” Roman asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

The General guffawed.

“That’s enough, you two. I’ve got a plan. Dad, how about you watch over Bella for the next few nights, until my beds arrive. Roman said he slept okay on the blow-up bed. He’ll likely make it through a couple more nights,” she said, giving him a look that said he didn’t deserve better.

Roman laughed. The General mumbled, “If the beds arrive.”

Jan ignored him. “If Bella and her sister haven’t eaten, we’ll order in some food. You know how she likes a party.”

Roman reached over and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Bella will make us gin and tonics and we’ll drink to Sidney. After we eat, we’ll do a little work on the memorial to make her happy. Then we surprise Tess with a visit to her house.”

Mentally, Jan added one more evening event. Roman had promised “a talk” tonight, to finish the conversation about “them.” True, she wanted to hear what he had to say. Yet, after watching his smooth manipulation of people in interviews all day, she wondered if she’d ever be able to determine when he was sincere. Plus, it was differing opinions of what constituted a relationship that had spoiled what she had with Frank. She wasn’t even in a relationship with Roman. She barely knew the man. Couldn’t she enjoy their time together without strings? What if they indulged in a pleasant necking session instead?

But just that…a little harmless necking.

As they turned onto her street, Jan’s spirits lifted. What woman wouldn’t enjoy kissing Roman Keller? And she liked the idea of Roman and her father sharing a joke, even if she was the brunt of it this time. What’s more, she looked forward to making Bella happy by eating dinner with her and oohing and aahing over Bella’s “desecration” plans for Jan’s home.

A warning bell pulsed in her head. She might be getting too involved in these people’s lives when she’d promised herself she was leaving the event planning business. Now she was crafting ways to keep Bella happy. Making her own house a home. Nurturing Elwood. And Roman? At least she knew she’d be free of him in a week.

“There’s a car in front of your house, Jazz. Tess again?” Roman asked.

Jan peered through the windshield, trying to determine the make of the car. One person inside it. A man. “Drive by, Roman. Go straight to Bella’s. I’ll try to figure out who it is.”

Roman slowed the car and cruised past.

Jan blinked, unable to believe what she was seeing.

After parking the car in front of Bella’s, Roman turned off the motor and turned to Jan. “Know him?”

Her stomach felt hollow, like she hadn’t eaten for days. “Sure do,” she said, “It’s Frank.”