Chapter 27
“Your father could have forged that paper,” Hayley said as she set three rows of corn taco shells down on a baking pan and slid them in the oven in her kitchen.
“Sergio doesn’t think so. The signature matches a few other signed documents Otis had in a file drawer,” Gemma said, shredding lettuce and chopping tomatoes on a cutting board.
Hayley was deeply skeptical about what the police found after meticulously going through all of the late Otis Pearson’s belongings recovered at his cabin in the hopes of finding a reason someone would want him dead.
What turned up was a signed will from Otis, nothing official or notarized, but stating it was his wish that Danny be bequeathed the remaining amount of his life savings in the event of his death.
“So does this mean Sergio’s going to drop the theft charge?” Hayley asked.
“It looks that way. Although he was still mad at Dad for jumping the gun and taking the money before the investigation was completed and the will was recovered,” Gemma said, scraping the lettuce and tomatoes off the cutting board and onto the plate.
Hayley stirred a bubbling skillet of seasoned taco meat with a wooden spoon. “Well, he’s still in the doghouse. He came here with the Boston Mafia on his tail and put us all in danger.”
“He didn’t know they were chasing him until after he got here. And Dad told me he used most of his inheritance from Otis to pay off his debt so those two guys who were following him around have already gone back to Boston. Everything’s fine now,” Gemma said, sliding a block of cheddar cheese up and down a steel shredder. “I just hate thinking of him staying all alone in that fleabag motel.”
Hayley tasted a small piece of sizzling taco meat to test the seasoning.
She added some more chili pepper. “If I let him come stay here again, you and Dustin need to know . . .”
“It’s only temporary. You’re never getting back together. We get it, Mom. Seriously. But we hardly ever see him and he’s only going to be in town a few more days and it would be nice having him around,” Gemma said.
“Let me think about,” Hayley said, sighing. “Now go call your brother for supper.”
Gemma smiled, knowing she had won the argument and her mother would cave. She bounced out of the kitchen and called up the stairs. “Tacos are ready!”
Dustin bounded down the stairs with Spanky right behind him.
When Hayley arrived home from work, she hadn’t expected to see Spanky hanging out in Dustin’s room discussing their film adaptation of his horror novel. And Dustin was surprised his mother so readily invited Spanky to stay for supper, unaware she had an ulterior motive.
The boys took their places at the dining room table as Gemma set out the bowl of taco meat, plate of warm shells, and all the fixings.
Hayley retrieved the homemade guacamole she had prepared earlier from the fridge and then joined the kids at the table as they began making their tacos.
“So how’s the book coming along, Spanky?” Hayley casually asked as she watched him stuffing his shell with meat and vegetables.
Spanky shrugged. “Good.”
“Tell us more. It’s all very exciting,” Hayley said. “Have you heard from Mr. Cross yet?”
Spanky shrugged. “No.”
“He’s not supposed to talk about it,” Dustin said, shutting his mother down.
“Why not?”
Spanky took a big bite out of his taco and chewed.
“Who told you not to talk about it?” Hayley asked.
“My mother always yells at me for talking with my mouth full,” Spanky said, bits of taco shell and strands of cheese falling out of his mouth.
“Well, I’ll wait,” Hayley said, determined to find out more.
They all waited as Spanky chewed and chewed and chewed before finally swallowing the food in his mouth in one big gulp.
He went to take another bite of the taco in his hand while the sauce dripped down his hand and onto the table. Hayley reached out and grabbed his wrist before the messy taco could reach his mouth. “Who told you not to talk about it, Spanky?”
“Shane.”
And then he crunched down and bit off another hunk.
“Mr. Cross’s writing assistant?”
Spanky nodded.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
After another big swallow, Spanky wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, “He said it was probably best, at least until Mr. Cross has had a chance to read my book.”
“What else did Shane tell you?” Hayley asked.
But she was too late.
Spanky shoved the remaining taco deep inside his mouth.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Hayley waited patiently.
Even Gemma and Dustin were now curious and leaning forward, impatiently waiting for Spanky to swallow.
Spanky smiled at them as he continued chewing.
Taking his time.
Savoring the spicy taco meat.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Spanky swallowed and everyone at the table held their breath in anticipation.
“Nothing.”
“Really? That’s it? That’s all we get?” Gemma said, throwing her napkin down on the table.
“Shane’s really nice. I think he wants to be a writer too. That’s why he’s trying to help me out. We have a lot in common.”
Spanky reached for another taco shell and began filling it up.
Hayley wasn’t ready to tell the poor boy she had seen his original manuscript lying on top of Crystal Collier’s desk.
No, she had to find out more about this Shane Hardy first.