“I still don’t understand why we’re being visited by a detective,” the woman repeated after they all sat down on a pair of velvet settees.
“Thank you for allowing me into your home,” said Wayne, trying to create an atmosphere of at least temporary normality.
“Your daughter, Calia, just told me that Mort Townsend is her father,” Wayne started off.
The woman trembled a moment and then stared at Wayne intensely. “Yes, that’s right, and I’m Mort’s wife, Heidi Townsend. I haven’t heard from Mort for several days. Where is he?”
“Does this happen often?” Wayne asked. “Is it usual for Mort to stay away for a few more days?”
“Mort is a busy man,” Heidi snapped at him. “He travels a lot. Of course, sometimes he stays a little longer than expected.”
A long pause surrounded the three of them.
“But why has a detective come to my home now?” Heidi’s eyes flashed open. “Has he gotten in trouble?”
“What kind of trouble would he get into?” asked Wayne, nervously.
“Let’s just stop this game of ping-pong.” Heidi flung her head back. “Answer me straight. Where is Mort? What’s going on?”
Wayne couldn’t bring himself to tell them yet. It would be too sudden. “What kind of trouble could Mort possibly be in?” he repeated.
Suddenly Heidi turned pale. “Mort’s come to harm, hasn’t he?” Her voice rose.
Calia lashed out instantly. “Why do you always think the worse, Mom? I’m sure Dad’s just busier than usual this time around. Obviously, he didn’t have time to contact us. So he’s sending a message through the detective.”
“Dad didn’t have time?” Heidi’s face distorted. “That’s ridiculous. How long does it take to make a call? This is not like him. He doesn’t send messages to me through other people.”
Calia suddenly looked alarmed. “No it’s not like him,” she agreed.
Wayne knew he had to take control of what he felt was an oncoming storm. He couldn’t hold back any longer.
“You’re right,” Wayne said then slowly. “Mort did not send me with a message, exactly.”
“Well, I’m glad I’m right about something,” snapped Heidi.
“May I talk to you openly in front of your daughter?” Wayne asked then.
“Of course, I’m not a child, I’m eighteen,” Calia responded intensely.
“Say what you have to, right now!” Heidi consented.
“Actually, Mort did come to harm,” Wayne spoke as carefully as he could.
“Harm? What happened?” Calia began trembling.
“Your father was found murdered on the beach in Key Biscayne a few days ago.” Wayne looked at her carefully.
“What?” Calia looked as if she would faint. “Murdered? A few days ago?” She grabbed onto the edge of the settee. “Is this is a bad joke?”
“I’m really, really sorry,” said Wayne, wishing he could do something to ease the pain.
“Murdered?” Heidi’s voice rose, and she looked at Wayne as if he’d done it himself. “How do you know that?”
“How do I know that he was murdered?” asked Wayne.
“Yes,” Heidi hissed furiously. “He could have had a terrible accident, couldn’t he? Or for all we know he could have gone off the deep end and harmed himself.”
“Dad would never harm himself,” Calia yelled shrilly.
“What happened exactly, tell me!” Heidi insisted.
Wayne was reluctant to give them all the details at the moment. It would be too much to absorb all at once. As it was, Calia seemed completely uncomprehending and frozen.
“Dad had clinics he worked at in Key Biscayne,” Calia said slowly, trying to put the pieces together. “He was there every week for half a week or so. Then he’d come home to us. He always said he was so happy to be here. We made him so happy.”
“Yes, you did. I’m sure of it,” said Wayne.
“Why didn’t you inform us immediately?” Heidi’s voice got louder. “Mort’s been gone several days by now.”
Wayne barely knew how to answer. “We didn’t know about you,” he finally said.
“Didn’t know about us? What are you talking about?” Heidi grew unnerved.
“Of course we had the information about Mort’s clinics in Nashville, but we didn’t know that he had a second family.” The words just came out on their own.
Heidi froze completely. “A second family? What are you talking about?”
Wayne closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Mort had been living a double life, each one completely separate from the other. How was it possible? Why did he do this? Wayne had no idea how to handle it. He was in way over his head.
“We’re doing our best to find out all the details of Mort’s life,” Wayne said, circumventing the question.
“Answer me!” Heidi’s voice rose sharply. “What do you mean a second family?”
“He doesn’t know what he’s talking about, Mom.” Calia walked over to her. “He told us already that the police in Key Biscayne didn’t even know about us. He doesn’t either. They’re imagining all kinds of crazy things.”
“None of this makes sense.” Heidi began wringing her hands.
Wayne saw a shadow at the side door then. He turned and saw a young man about seventeen, a little younger than Calia, standing there. He was slim and jumpy with rumpled hair.
“What’s all the commotion?” the young man asked.
“What are you doing here, Nate?” Heidi zeroed in. “You have homework to do.”
“This is my brother, Nate,” Calia said in a low tone, as if she were trying to hold things together.
“Hello, Nate.” Wayne took a step toward him.
“Who are you and what are you doing in my house?” Nate looked at Wayne suspiciously. “I’ve never seen you before.”
“Nate is naturally nervous,” said Heidi, rushing over to him. “I’ll tell Nate the news myself slowly, later.”
“Tell me what news?” Nate’s eyes began squinting. “I’m not nervous. I’m just smarter than others.”
“Dad is dead, he’s gone,” Calia burst out. “This man is a detective who came here to tell us that. Dad was found in Key Biscayne on the beach.”
“We’re not sure what happened, though,” Heidi jumped in. “No one’s positive yet.”
“There’s no reason to keep the truth from Nate, or pretend Dad’s alive!” Calia wouldn’t have it.
“Dead?” Nate came to a full stop. “I don’t believe it!”
“It’s true, it’s true.” Heidi suddenly began sobbing.
Nate ground his foot on the floor feverishly.
“Are you okay, Nate?” Wayne asked slowly.
“I’m not okay and I’m not surprised, either,” Nate answered quickly. “I always told Mom and Calia that one day we’d all be like dead fish swimming in the ocean, doomed.”
The heaviness and horror in the room intensified greatly. Wayne had to break into it; he decided to take action.
“I’m going to call the police in Key Biscayne now,” he said. “They need to know about you.”
“Then what?” Heidi spoke in a raspy tone, having trouble breathing.
“Then the police in Key Biscayne will be in immediate touch with the force here in Nashville,” said Wayne. “The story will go out all over the local news so we can get clues to help find the killer.”
“Our lives will be blasted all over the news?” Calia was beside herself. “What will they say about us?”
“We have to do it,” said Wayne, somberly. “We need help finding the killer.”
“The killer?” Nate echoed those words, as if tasting each one of them. “Why would the cops blast the news in Nashville if Dad was killed down in the Keys? That’s where the police should be looking.”
“They are,” said Wayne, fascinated by Nate. He seemed to flip into different moods each moment.
Nate stared at Wayne strangely. “Are there any suspects yet? Even one who could have done it?”
Wayne felt chilled. Now Nate was suddenly so cool and calm.
“Not yet,” said Wayne. “There are a few persons of possible interest, but nothing solid at all.”
Nate shook his head swiftly. “Dumb ass cops,” he said bitterly. “Soon it will be too late to find out who did it. Killers cover their tracks like poisonous snakes. The worst murders go cold in an instant.”
“Yes, it’s true,” Wayne murmured, wondering how Nate knew all about it.
*
Wayne walked to the corner of the room and immediately called the police in Key Biscayne.
“Let me talk to Dowl,” Wayne said the second someone picked up. “There’s an emergency here.”
Dowl got on immediately. “What’s the emergency?” he asked hoarsely.
“Okay,” Wayne breathed, “I’ve got big news for you. Sit down.”
“Tell me what it is!” Dowl sounded nervous.
“Mort has a second family in Nashville. I’m in their home right now, talking to them.”
A shocked silence greeted Wayne on the other end. “Are you crazy?”
“No, it’s true,” said Wayne.
“You’re positive?” Dowl finally asked.
“I am,” said Wayne. “We’ve got to spread the news of his death all over Nashville, and contact the cops here immediately.”
“Absolutely,” Dowl agreed. “We’ll set up a call line for leads to come in from there, ASAP.”
“I want Olivia up here working this with me now, too,” Wayne continued.
“Certainly, she should fly right up,” Dowl agreed. “What’s going to happen, though, when the family in Key Biscayne finds out there’s a second one in Nashville?”
“All hell’s gonna break loose,” Wayne responded. “And a lot more’s about to come out. Get ready!”
“I’m ready,” mumbled Dowl, half alarmed.
“The family up here’s got a hell of a lot on their plate,” Wayne continued. “They’ve got to deal with the father’s death and also just found out that he has a second family.”
“God.” Dowl could barely take it all in. “I’m sure the police in Nashville are going to want to talk to all of them. They have to. The sooner the better, actually.”
“I agree,” said Wayne.
“And we’re going to need to talk to them too,” Dowl added. “Don’t leave them alone right now. They’ve got to be reeling.”
“No, I’m staying here for now,” Wayne agreed.
“Do you want us to call Olivia for you and tell her to go up there?” Dowl asked.
“Absolutely not,” said Wayne, irritated. “I have plenty of time to call her and tell her about this myself.”