Beyond a Doubt

by Colleen Coble

  “Same here,” Naomi said. “If you’ve got milk.”

  “Milk builds strong bones and teeth. Of course I have milk. But you didn’t come here to discuss milk. What can I do for you? Davy still sleepwalking?” He handed them their coffee and went to sit at his desk.

  “He seems to be getting better. But that’s not why we’re here. I recently found out you used to be close to Abe Nicholls and Peter Thorrington.”

  “My, yes, we were great friends in our younger days. Perhaps that’s why I feel such a fondness for Anu.”

  “You called yourself the Do-Wrong Gang,” Naomi put in.

  Dr. Parker smiled. “Indeed. The three of us plus Gary Landorf. Juvenile name of course, but then we were scarcely more than children ourselves. We liked to get out and howl at the moon occasionally.”

  “I hear Peter and Gary found some jewels. What do you know about that?” Bree asked.

  “Jewels? You mean like rings and stuff?”

  “I think it was more loose stones.” Bree sipped her coffee, suppressing a grimace at the stale, bitter flavor.

  “I have no idea. They never shared them with me if they did. Is that how Gary could afford to go off to school? I always wondered. My father offered to send him, but he was too proud to accept charity. Then the next thing I knew, he was leaving. That explains a lot.”

  “And Peter gave Beulah some stones as well. She started her landscaping business with them. We’re trying to figure out where they came from. Did you have any idea where they might have found them?”

  Dr. Parker shook his head. “Not a clue. But by the time Peter disappeared, we’d drifted apart anyway.” He glanced at his watch. “I have an appointment tonight, so I’m going to have to leave you. Sorry I wasn’t more help. But you’ve answered some questions for me, at least.”

  He came around the desk and opened the door for them. “Give Anu my best.”

  Bree wanted to pound her head against the wall in frustration. Elvis’s methods weren’t working very well with Dr. Parker. Maybe there was nothing for him to tell. Could she be wrong about the stones? If so, she hoped the kindly doctor wouldn’t hold it against her the next time she brought Davy in to see him.

  Kade rode his horse along the trail. His saddle leather creaked, and he settled himself more squarely on his mount. It felt good to have the sun shining on his face. Spring was finally here full force, though even now winter could come back for a quick blast of snow. He knew Moses was as glad to be out of the stable as Kade was to be away from headquarters. A phoebe trilled over his head, and he reined in his horse and noted the bird’s location in his logbook. Gulls swooped over the cliff to his right, and he could see the clear blue of Superior. Days like this made him glad he was in Rock Harbor.

  Moses’s hooves clopped against random stones, and Kade leaned in the saddle as he rounded a curve to the cabins he was checking today. The break-ins had started up again, and he was at a loss to figure them out. The cabins in question today stood in a row along a bluff that had steps carved in the rock right down to the water.

  He heard the sound of voices as he neared the first cabin. Sliding to the ground, he tied his horse to a tree and made his way through the underbrush. The mud was thicker here, viscous and hard to walk in. He got through the worst of it and onto rockier ground. Pulling his binoculars from their case at his waist, he focused them on the cabin. A group of boys stood near the well. Laughing and talking, they didn’t seem to be in any hurry.

  One of the boys turned around, and Kade caught his breath. Brian Parker! These boys were up to no good. They were not going to be happy to see him. He hesitated, then put his binoculars away. Even though Lauri now claimed to dislike the little scumbag, he didn’t want to get her defensive tendencies going. She might think he was picking on the kid because of what he’d done to her.

  Even so, he did not relish getting the boy in trouble. He liked Dr. Parker, and this was sure to bring him grief. Besides, what kind of Christian did this make him? Had he made even one attempt to get to know Brian, to tell him about Jesus? No, he hadn’t. The truth of the matter was, he didn’t want the boy around, Christian or not. If he’d made more of an attempt, maybe his sister wouldn’t be in trouble now.

  He narrowed his eyes. Was Lauri involved? Acid burned his stomach.

  He called headquarters for backup, then adjusted his hat and walked forward, keeping his gaze on the boys. Kade recognized them from his night out with Lauri at the café. What were they up to with all those boxes? At least a dozen large boxes were stacked near the steps to the water. The boys were so intent on one another that they didn’t notice his approach.

  Brian was the first to see Kade. His mouth went slack, and he took a step back. “K—Kade. What are you doing here?” His gaze darted past Kade as if to see whether he was alone.

  “I might ask you the same thing,” Kade said dryly.

  “Uh . . . I mean, we’re just talking.”

  Kade’s gaze went to the cabin. “You left the door open.”

  Brian bit his lip. “I—”

  “You’re all under arrest for breaking and entering.” He nodded toward the boxes. “Open one of those for me, please.”

  The boys looked at one another. Brian shuffled slowly forward. “We found it,” he said.

  “Right.”

  Brian popped open a box and stepped back. It was full of Canadian cigarettes, and Kade recognized them as the type Lauri had been smoking, though she claimed she wasn’t smoking anymore. “How about that bigger one there?” He pointed at a box near the porch.

  Brian sighed and did as he was told. That box contained Canadian beer. “Okay, anyone want to explain? Someone dropped this off earlier, right? And you’re loading it up to distribute it. How much you make on this haul? A thousand? Two?”

  The boys said nothing. “You might as well spill it. You’ve been caught red-handed with the goods.”

  “Don’t say anything,” an older boy with a petulant expression warned. He folded his hands across his chest and glared at Kade. “We got nothing to say to pigs.”

  “Oink, oink,” Kade said. “I’m proud to be on the side of law and order, tough guy. We’ll see how you feel after a night behind bars.”

  “We’re not going to jail, are we?” a younger boy whined.

  The rumble of a truck engine echoed through the trees, and one of the boys turned to flee. Kade grabbed his arm and slung him to the ground. He landed in a swamp of mud and grimaced, then put his head in his hands.

  “My dad’s going to kill me,” Brian moaned.

  “Mine too,” the boy on the ground said.

  “Can’t you let us go if we promise not to do it anymore?” Brian asked. “Besides, if you arrest us, you’ll have to arrest Lauri. She’s involved too.”

  Kade had a feeling it would come to this. What a slime ball, to try to involve his own girlfriend. “She’s not here now, is she? But you are. And I’d say you’re in a peck of trouble.”

  Brian swore, and for a minute Kade thought the boy might tackle him. Brian clenched his fists and took a step closer.

  “Come on. You want a piece of me?” Kade asked. He would welcome the chance to pummel the boy. Stupid punk. But then Kade’s backup arrived and Brian backed off.

  The boys were put in the truck, and Kade called ahead to tell Mason he was bringing them in. When he clicked off his cell phone, he remembered the boy he’d found in the river.

  “Any of you boys know Benjamin Mallory?”

  The shock and consternation on the boys’ faces was all the answer he needed.

  31

  Glancing at her watch, Bree decided she had time to run over to the jail and tell Mason about her talks with Landorf and Dr. Parker. Maybe he had heard something on his inquiry about Neville. She was supposed to pick up Davy at Nicholls’ in an hour. She hurried down Jack Pine Lane to Houghton Street. As she turned onto Houghton, she saw Kade’s truck pulling away from the sheriff’s office. Her pulse quickened, and she lift
ed her hand in greeting. Maybe they could talk this morning.

  His truck kept on going, and she knew he hadn’t seen her. Bree stared after him. A stinging behind her eyes made her blink. She brushed the moisture from her eyes. They were going to have to talk. She missed him and was only beginning to realize how much.

  Bedlam reigned inside the jail. Bree saw several young men and recognized Lauri’s boyfriend, Brian. The deputies marched them out of the lobby. Mason stood scribbling on a form. He stuck his pen in his pocket, then looked up and saw her.

  “What’s all that about?” she asked, approaching him.

  “The boys were caught smuggling as well as breaking and entering. They’re implicating Lauri as well, so Kade is hurting pretty bad. Did you see him on your way in?”

  No wonder Kade hadn’t been looking around. Bree felt sick. A storm was about to break over Lauri’s head.

  “Then Abe must be the ringleader of these boys. You think you can get them to talk?” She fumbled in her purse. “Here’s an old picture of him. Can you ask if this is the leader they called Neville?”

  Mason took it and nodded. He turned to a deputy. “Put Brian Parker in an interrogation room.” He waited a few minutes, then followed with Bree.

  Brian’s face was white, and he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He shot Bree a pleading look. “Hi, Mrs. Nicholls.”

  “Hello, Brian. We have some questions for you.” Bree sat on a chair across the table from him.

  Mason sat beside her. Handing the picture to Brian, he pointed out Abe. “This man look familiar?”

  Brian paled a bit but met Mason’s gaze bravely. “Never seen him before.”

  “Look again.” Mason tapped the picture. “This is very important, Brian. We already know this is Neville. I just need you to confirm it.”

  He pushed the picture away. “If you already know, why are you trying to get me in trouble? You don’t mess around with Neville.”

  “He’s the brains behind the smuggling operation, right? When did you meet him?”

  “Just a few weeks ago.”

  “What about Benjamin Mallory?” Bree had been wondering about that.

  Brian slouched in his chair. “He’s the dead guy, right? I saw it in the paper.”

  “You know more than that,” Mason said. “Tell me what you know.”

  “I think I’d better talk to my dad.” Brian bit his thumbnail and looked away.

  Mason looked at Bree, and she could see the frustration in his eyes. He had no choice.

  “Okay, but it would go easier for you if you were honest. Otherwise, we’re going to wonder if you killed him.”

  “I didn’t have anything to do with it!” Brian said. “Klepto found him—” He broke off, his face a mask of consternation. “I want my dad,” he said woodenly.

  “Klepto found him snooping around and killed him? Is that it?”

  Brian’s head stayed down, and he said nothing more. Mason motioned to Bree, and they left the room.

  “What did you find out about your inquiry?” Bree asked him. “Is Neville Abe?”

  “We don’t know anything for sure yet. I don’t have any fingerprints—not even a last name. But the photo is enough for me. My gut says it’s him.” Mason scowled. “Do you know how much I’m going to hate telling my wife her missing father is back in town? But not to see her—oh no—it’s to head up a smuggling operation. And Anu, how is she going to take it? I hate this!”

  “They have to know though. It’s going to come out in the papers.”

  He sighed heavily.

  “I’ll come with you,” Bree said.

  Dr. Parker’s car was in the lot as Kade swung his truck around and parked behind it. He strode into the office, past the startled receptionist who tried to stop him. “The doctor in here?” he asked his wide-eyed nurse.

  “He’s with a patient,” she said.

  Kade put his hand on the doorknob and twisted just as Dr. Parker opened the door from the other side. “What’s going on out here?” he asked, a frown starting across his forehead.

  Kade caught a glimpse of Steve Aster’s curious face in the examining room. “I need to see you, Dr. Parker.”

  The doctor didn’t argue. “I’ll be right back, Steve,” he said.

  “No problem,” Steve said.

  Steve would ask him later what was up, but by then the whole town would know. He nodded to his friend and followed the doctor to his office.

  “What’s this about, Ranger? You have no right to come barging in here, disturbing my patients.” The doctor lowered himself to his chair behind the desk.

  Kade placed both palms on top of the desk and leaned toward the doctor. “Your son is in jail, Dr. Parker. And thanks to him, my sister is not only pregnant, she’s in trouble with the law right along with him.”

  The doctor blanched and leaned forward. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m telling you that Brian is in jail for smuggling, and he’s dragged Lauri down with him. And if that’s not enough, she’s due to have a baby in about seven and a half months. And don’t even ask if it’s Brian’s.”

  “I wasn’t going to,” the doctor said mildly. “I have no doubt Lauri is not the kind of girl who would run around with a lot of different boys. In spite of your attitude today, I’ve always liked your sister.” He reached for the phone. “Martha, cancel the rest of my appointments for the day. I’m going to be leaving.”

  “Is that all you have to say?”

  “What do you want me to say? I need to go bail my boy out of jail.”

  “You don’t seem surprised he’s there.”

  Dr. Parker raised his eyebrows. “I’ll make sure Brian doesn’t implicate Lauri. As to the pregnancy, of course I’ll take care of her and the baby. Brian will do what I say. I’ll arrange a wedding as soon as possible.”

  “There will be no wedding!” Kade felt as if the ground had just opened up under his feet. Dr. Parker’s reaction was unfathomable. Why wasn’t he the least bit rattled?

  Dr. Parker sighed. “Then what do you want, Kade? Blood? I’m sorry this has happened. But kids are kids. You love them anyway.”

  Kade stepped back as from a blow. Had he been guilty of everything Lauri had accused him of? He did love her, but she didn’t seem to get it. Maybe he was just poor at talking about his feelings.

  Lauri’s car was here. Kade parked behind it and strode toward the wildlife center. Zorro ran to greet him, but he had no time to spare. He burst into the nursery. Lauri sat on a gray metal chair with a baby raccoon in her arms.

  Her smile died when she saw his face. “What is it?”

  “I caught Brian and his friends smuggling stuff from Canada. Brian says you’re involved too. I—I just want you to know I’m here for you. We’ll face this together.”

  Lauri’s head was bowed so her hair fell over her face. He wished he could see her expression.

  “I’m sorry, Kade. I know I’ve disappointed you.” She rubbed the raccoon’s head, then finally looked up, and he saw tears in her eyes. “I was going to tell you. That’s why I’m here.”

  “You could never disappoint me, Lauri. No matter what you did. I love you just like you are.”

  Her eyes widened, and a tear slid down her cheek. “I’ve never heard you say that before.” She began to weep in earnest. “I’m in big trouble, aren’t I? I was dumb.” She swiped at the moisture on her cheek. “Well, I guess we’d better go. At least Bree didn’t turn me in.”

  Kade froze. “Bree knew about this?” He didn’t try to keep the incredulity from his voice. He felt like he’d been standing outside a party without a pass. Who else in town knew?

  Lauri twirled a strand of hair around her finger and looked away. “It’s not so simple, Kade. Did Brian tell you about Neville? The ringleader? I was afraid he was going to hurt Bree or Anu. He had a bunch of stuff about the Nicholls family in a trunk. Bree saw one of the pictures, and it was of Neville. I guess he’s really Anu’s missing husband.” />
  “Abe Nicholls? Are you telling me that Abe Nicholls is back in town and is involved in smuggling?”

  “That’s what Bree seems to think. She was going to talk to Mason about it.”

  Kade’s sense of betrayal was complete. “I see,” he said, trying to mask his intense hurt. “You’d better get a few things. You might have to spend the night in jail. I’ll try to make bail, but it’s pretty late in the day, and I might not be able to get a bondsman.”

  “But I’m pregnant!” Lauri wailed.

  She was just a kid herself. Kade’s heart wrenched, and he put his arm around her. “I know. You said you were ready to face the music. I don’t like this tune either, but I’ll do what I can.”

  Lauri left to pack an overnight bag, and Kade dropped onto the chair. He had never been so utterly weary in his life. Battered by the events of the past few days, he reached over and ran a finger over the downy head of a sleeping baby raccoon.

  “I thought I’d find you in here.” Gary Landorf advanced into the room. His face was twisted with anger. “I gave you express instructions there were to be no animals here except endangered ones. We don’t have the funds to care for every deer and raccoon that gets dropped off here.”

  “Tell me what we’re supposed to do with babies like this.” Kade scooped the raccoon out of the cage and placed it in Landorf’s hands. “Can you just let something that small and helpless die?”

  Landorf glanced down at the raccoon, and his face clouded. “Don’t try to change my mind. I have a budget to answer to.”

  “Then cut my pay!”

  To Kade’s surprise, Landorf’s face softened. “I understand you’ve got a soft spot for the animals, Kade. But it’s not possible to do everything you want to do. You have to take it in stages. Maybe next year.” He started to thrust it back in Kade’s hands when noises in the corridor made him swing around.

  Dawn Anderson with KPTV—one of the reporters at Kade’s press conference—came into the room with her camera entourage. “Perfect shot.” A flash momentarily lit the room. “Ranger, I’d like your permission to do a special news story on the baby-wildlife center,” she said, caressing the raccoon’s head. “I’m hoping it might increase charitable giving, maybe even bring in some tourists to Rock Harbor. What do you say? This would make a great opening scene with you and the raccoon,” she cooed.