by R E Swirsky
Chapter 19
Friday, November 18th 5:17 pm
Jack arrived home from the office and parked his car in the garage. He was on his way to the street to bring the recycling bin back inside when he spotted Fred waddling up the street towards him. He removed the bin from the street, put it inside the back door of the garage, and went back out to catch Fred.
"Hey, Fred," Jack shouted.
Fred nodded and puffed heavily as he usually did when he was almost finished with his walk back from town.
"Hi, Jack."
Jack strolled over and onto Fred's property for the first time since the murder. "Can I ask you something, Fred?"
"Oh sure," he responded through heavy breaths. "What's up?"
"Nothing really. It's just that, ever since Donna's death, we hardly talk anymore. I never really talk to anyone anymore..."
"Is that so," Fred said. He scratched his chin and looked at Jack with a puzzled look on his face.
"Yeah," Jack said and smiled sheepishly. "We used to talk a lot, you and me. All of us, you know. Tracey and Donna..."
"Uh huh, we did at that, Jack. But things have changed now. People change."
"I know they do, but I was hoping we could talk."
"We are talking."
"No, I mean really talk...like over a beer, or glass of wine. I want to talk like we used to."
Fred looked at Jack and uneasiness pressed into the wrinkles around Fred's eyes. He looked up to his house. Jack knew he was watching out for Tracey.
"How about you come over for a drink later? Around seven? Just you and me," Jack offered.
"I'd like that," Fred replied and nodded his head. “I gotta go. Tracey will be...well, Tracey..."
Jack had his suspicions about how things were over at the Anderson house.
"Never mind. I'll see you later, then," Jack said.
Fred nodded, turned, and walked into his house.
Jack watched Fred until he disappeared. He scratched at his chin deep in thought.
A few minutes later, he was back in his vehicle and on his way to the wine store. Fred was a unique character, and he liked the finer things in life. Tracey may have called Fred cheap, but Jack saw Fred in an entirely different light. Jack respected Fred. Fred spent his money wisely, but he didn’t hesitate to spend forty dollars on a single bottle of wine. Fred chose where he spent his money carefully, and Fred expected quality and value from everything he purchased.
It was dusk by the time Jack parked outside Gunther's Wine Store. The days were growing shorter. Jack entered the store and pulled the door open. He caught the reflection of a quick flash somewhere behind him. He turned quickly but did not really know where to look. A couple of cars went by with their lights on. He saw a young couple on the other side of the street holding hands and walking slowly. He looked up and down both directions and saw no else.
Had he imagined the flash? Was it just a headlight reflecting in the glass?
Jack went inside but glanced out the front every few minutes as he searched the specialty wines. He settled on two bottles of Don Melchor 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. It was out of his usual price range, but Jack knew Fred would respect such a bottle of wine of this vintage, so he decided to go for it. He suddenly had an abundance of money, and he was sure Fred would appreciate the gesture.
As Jack drove home to prepare for Fred, he scanned down the shadows and doorways of all the dark places. He searched for anyone out of place, but he saw no one.
He made himself a quick dinner: a toasted sandwich with sliced meat, which he downed quickly before starting a fire in the front room. It was the first fire he had lit since Donna's death, and it brought back memories of the last dinner he and Donna had shared over at the Andersons. He missed Donna again, but he forced himself to carry on with preparations for Fred's arrival.
He cleared the coffee table of all the clutter and tidied the room; he replaced the clutter with two wine glasses and the bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. He poked the fire again and laid two larger pieces on top that quickly erupted with flame.
Fred arrived a few minutes after seven. Jack took his coat and hung it in the closet. Fred looked to be in good spirits and he had another bottle of wine for Jack. This was Fred's unspoken peace offering—a gesture Jack willingly accepted.
Jack ushered Fred into the front room and offered him a seat opposite his own spot. Fred spotted the Don Melchor immediately and smiled.
"Don Melchor 2006! A great wine. I didn't think you paid attention when I rambled."
Jack laughed. "I thought you might enjoy it."
Fred picked up the bottle and caressed it carefully before pouring a serving in each glass. "Oh, I like very much, Jack. Very much. I have a 2005 in the cellar. Haven't had the moment that deserves opening it yet."
Jack saw the 2005 in Fred's cellar many times. It was in Fred's "Do Not Touch" section, and Jack purchased the 2006 precisely for that reason. The 2005 was double the price, and Jack wanted to make sure Fred still felt he had one up on him.
Jack got right to the point with Fred. He tipped his glass to Fred and took a small sip. "So what's the news on the trial? I know they've pushed it up," Jack said.
Fred nodded. "Way up. Jury selection is next week, and I think they're shooting for early December now."
"That is quick. How's Josh?"
Fred shook his head. "I'm at a loss with the boy. Seems I've done everything wrong now. He won't talk to me. Tracey doesn't want me to go up there. I've gone up anyway, by God I have, but Josh doesn't have much to say to me. I think I may have pushed him too far now."
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
Fred became serious. "You and me, Jack. We've been very close, we have. But I'm still finding it difficult to sit here next to you with a glass of wine after what my son has been accused of."
"And my wife..." Jack added. "Don't forget that she was part of what Josh is being accused of."
Fred nodded again. "And your wife. It is still a shock to me that this actually happened. Donna was a special person, and I just can't get my head around the whole thing."
"And you and Tracey?"
Fred dropped his shoulders and shrugged. "Honestly, I think we're done. Tracey won't talk to me. Well she does but only in a matter of fact kind of way and just for what is necessary to say. I'm in the guest room now. I'm afraid I'll have to wait and see what happens when this is all over."
Jack was truly sorry for Fred and Tracey. He hated to see his friend hurting this way. "I am sorry, Fred."
Fred laughed suddenly. "Sorry? You? Why? You're the victim in all of this more than we are. Why should you be sorry? I would have expected much more anger from you. I think that's what has always made you so special to everyone, Jack. You're still that same strong soul we all love." He laughed again.
"Here we are…you and me. Two grown men sharing a glass of wine with a fire in the background like two old, gossipy women. I like you, Jack. I really do."
Fred lifted a toast to Jack and drank.
Jack hadn’t expected such an expression from Fred. It was unusual, and it made Jack uncomfortable.
"What if Josh was to get off? Would that change things between you and Tracey?"
"Get off? I don't think there's much chance of that. Even Barry doubts the chances. He has been asking to have Josh make a plea. Josh won't have any of it. He still swears he is innocent and says he's not admitting to anything."
"Well he might get off."
Fred stiffened. "Jack! I've accepted it! I'm not about to go live on any false hope. That's what Tracey does, and that's what's driving us apart right now."
Jack said nothing and topped off both glasses. He thought about what Fred said about Josh being convicted. He really never believed it would come to this. If Josh was really going to go down, he would have to do what he could to intercede. He liked Fred and Tracey too much to not do what
he knew was still possible.
"I wouldn't give up all hope just yet, Fred. You told me there is no DNA putting Josh is that room. That is something."
"Something, but not enough. The guitar wire is the nail in his coffin. It's the one thing I can't get my head around. I don't see how it's not Josh's. He was missing one and that same one showed up at the scene of the crime for Christ’s sake. I just can't see any other explanation."
Jack felt anxious. There was another option. A simple question he could ask Fred right now would change everything for Josh, but he couldn't do it. Fred would take it back to Barry. Barry would take it to Dean. All hell would break loose again. He couldn't do it. Not yet. Not until the trial was fully under way.
"Well, this is just me talking Fred, but maybe for Josh and Tracey's sake you should not let Barry try to plea Josh. Stand behind Josh's innocence. Maybe tell Barry to back off on the plea and let Josh and Tracey know where you stand on this. It might hold you all together."
"Maybe, Jack. Maybe."
The two continued to talk, finished the one bottle, and started on the second. They talked for hours about Josh and Tracey, and finally exhausted all angles and points of view on the subject. They finally found themselves talking about wine, travel, and even the NHL hockey season. It was a good evening. Jack was finally reconnecting with Fred, and he knew what he had to do. He just wasn’t sure how to go about doing it.
