"Put on a pot of water for pasta, please," I said without looking in his direction.
"Okay," he said, reaching for the kettle.
He followed directions well. Maybe I would keep him. I smiled to myself.
I fried breaded veal in olive oil and made a light marinara sauce for the pasta. The veal was flavorful and tender. The pasta—it was pasta, nothing special. After eating, we sipped the rest of our white zinfandel. I brought him up to date on Kathleen and Dick's plans.
"I'll have to talk to the captain. Now that I'm sure we're chasing Pyle, I have a conflict of interest. I wouldn't want a clever lawyer to get him off by claiming vengeance motivated Dick and me. With Pyle's and my history in Virginia, anything is possible. The captain will assign Lewis and let me move on to other things."
"Can't Dick work it with Lewis?"
"If he's attached to the kid, I don't think that's possible either. It's complicated. I'll make my recommendations and turf it to García. He makes the big bucks."
I nodded and sipped my wine. It tasted sharp. Maybe it was turning. "What happened with Branden?" We had to talk about Virginia.
"He promised to work with Jake Ervin and was somewhat cooperative when I took him to the police station Tuesday. Then, we spent Wednesday and Thursday camping and fishing at Craggy Lake. We did a lot of talking. I had to be honest with him about his mother's and my past and the possibility I may not be his biological father."
"He looks and moves a lot like you. He's tall and thin. Fits the family picture."
"I assured him of those same things. I told him as far as I was concerned he was my natural born kid, always was, always will be. We decided to leave it at that."
I thought about the hair sample I'd taken to my friend for DNA analysis. He promised to use his connections to get the answers as quickly as possible. My plan was to tell Ray if the results confirmed his parentage and to shred them if I found out Pyle was the kid's father. I had made a big mistake starting it. Would Ray forgive me for prying into his son's life? "It sounds like you and Branden are getting along."
"He's coming to spend time with us on his Christmas break."
Us? Was there going to be an us? "That's nice. How about Kerri? Did she warm up any?"
"Kerri, the ice queen." Ray sipped at his wine, appearing distracted. "She likes you. She might come, but it would be to see you and talk about a nursing career. I don't think she cares if she ever sees me. Elaine is right. Kerri thinks I deserted the family. She's not willing to rethink things the way Branden is."
"At least she spent some time with you."
"Not much. I had a few meals at the Country Café, and she paid me some attention, but she was too busy to spend any time alone with me. I didn't press her. I wish you'd stayed. That would have given her a reason to want to be with us."
"She took to me, huh?"
"Yup." He patted my hand. "Want to move to the sofa?"
I let Sunshine out of his crate, cleaned the kitchen, and joined Ray on the sofa. He was taking a big nap in front of the even bigger television with Sunshine curled on his lap. A real family scene. I sat next to him, hit the button on the recliner, and grabbed my book. Sunshine abandoned Ray's lap and moved to mine without permission or ceremony. Moments later, Sunshine was asleep, and I was smiling at the misadventures of Elaine Viets' protagonist in Shop Till You Drop.
I turned off the television. Sunshine snored on my lap, and Ray snored to my right. The dog, with his modestly snubbed nose, made more noise than the man did. But neither of them made enough noise for someone to hear from the next room.
I read for a couple of hours while nursing the remnants of my anger. Ray mentioned driving straight through, arriving home around eleven in the morning. He rumpled the pillows on the bed, meaning he napped. He must have called Captain García, so I couldn't imagine anything I reported to him was news. His whole story hung together.
He slept with a look of innocence and peace on his face. Putting down my book, I rested against him and closed my eyes. The aroma of his Nautica was intoxicating. I snuggled a bit closer and tried to block his scent from my conscious mind.
"Tired?" he muttered without opening his eyes.
"Some. Not really."
He put his arm around me and pulled me closer. Sunshine left my lap and retired to his crate. I nuzzled my face under Ray's chin. He kissed me, tracing my lips with the tip of his tongue. He nibbled my ear, and I melted into the moment.
"Sophi, I'm sorry I hurt you. I love you."
"I love you, too."
He pulled my leg over the top of him and ran his hands over the length of my body, brushing sensitive places with his fingertips. Wanting to feel his warmth, I slipped my hands under his tee shirt, tangling my fingers in the hair on his chest. He pulled my blouse over my head and expertly unhooked my bra. Bending to kiss my breast, he whispered, "Oh, how I've missed you." He ran his tongue down to the button on my jeans, then gently sucked my belly button ring before unzipping my shorts. We clung to one another. "Come away with me," he murmured into my ear.
"To the bedroom?"
"Hum."
We relocated ourselves without breaking touch.
His lovemaking was hungry, needy, and I responded to his demands with abandon. The night was like our first time together. As the morning light peeked between the slats on the window blinds, I drifted into exhausted sleep. I was glad he stayed.
20
I awakened at eight on Sunday morning to Ray's deep voice. He was on the patio talking on his cell phone. Bits of the conversation drifted my way. "No, Jake . . . about ten Friday evening . . . no . . . at the movies . . . home . . ." Chief Ervin? Ray's voice sounded strained. I threw on a robe and went outside.
When I approached, Ray raised his hand, signaling me to wait, then he continued with the conversation. "Listen, Jake, I've no idea where Elaine is. Like I said, we took Branden to the movies in her car, dropped him off, and stopped for dinner." He listened for a minute, frowning. "No, Jake, I left my car at the folks' house. We went back there, talked a few minutes, and I took off. I rolled in here about eleven yesterday morning." He listened again. "Kerri had her car and was picking Branden up after the movie. The kids planned to stop for fast food in Roanoke before hitting the road. Elaine said it wasn't unusual for her to drop Branden off and have Kerri get him. It's routine. Kerri has a couple of friends in Roanoke she visits frequently." He paused. "No, they're girl friends from the church. She's known them for years."
Ray extended his coffee cup in my direction. I took it from him and went into the kitchen for a refill. Sunshine tagged along, nudged the cabinet door, and pretended Ray hadn't given him food. I knew better. I poured Ray's coffee and my own, then buried the dog's pills in a wad of cream cheese, which he gulped. By the time I sat at the table on the patio, Ray's voice had gotten louder. He seemed aggravated, and his cheeks tugged at the edges of his goatee.
"Listen, Jake. She dropped me off at ten. Check with my parents. I spoke to them before I left. I have no idea where she went from there. I don't know what she does with her private life. It isn't my business anymore. She did say she would call the station so your man would come by and check the house and make sure she was safe, just like you and I planned." He drummed his fingers on the table while he listened. "I left there at ten and arrived here at eleven the next morning. That's a sixteen-hour drive in thirteen hours. Give me an hour for rest stops."
He paused, closing his eyes briefly. He said, "Nine hundred thirty miles, twelve hours of driving time, nearly eighty miles an hour, average. I didn't have time to take her out in the woods somewhere and dump her." His face reddened. "No man, you'll have to take my word for it. You can track my credit card gas purchases if you want." He frowned. "Later." He jammed the end button on the cell phone and exhaled sharply.
I handed him his coffee. "What's going on?"
Ray stared at me, looking stunned. "Elaine's missing. The kids got home around one in the morning, and she wasn't t
here. Ervin said that wasn't unusual. She often came home after the kids. They slept late on Saturday and had no idea she didn't come home, get up early, and go to work. When she didn't show on Saturday night by dinner time, they called their grandparents, then Ervin."
"Have they found her car or anything?"
"Not yet. Though she often stays out late, it's unlike her not to come home at all. Ervin suspects foul play."
"He thinks you're connected? That's ridiculous."
"Of course, he thinks I'm connected. I can't blame him. Ex-husband in town for the week. Family troubles. Why not? I'd think the same thing in his place. One of her neighbors saw someone fitting my description knocking on her door late Friday night."
"Ray, you're not the only big man with a beard in that town."
"The neighbors didn't see a strange sports car in the area, just a man at the door."
"Wasn't you then."
"That's what I told Ervin before you came outside."
I sat for a moment, sipping my coffee and thinking it was a fast drive from Virginia. I only had his word for the timetable. I wondered if Ray was involved in Elaine's disappearance. I pushed the thought out of my mind. Ray had no motive. Why would he want to harm Elaine? "Want some eggs?"
While mixing the eggs, I asked, "Did anyone see you get home? I mean, can you prove the timeframe to Ervin?"
"He can check my credit card purchases along the way."
"Did you keep the receipts?"
"Never do."
"Know where you stopped?"
"Shell and Mobil—no idea where. I wasn't paying a lot of attention. When I got into town, I grabbed a soda at the convenience store on the corner and came home."
"Could make life interesting."
"Yes, it might." He took me in his arms. "Believe me. I didn't do anything to Elaine. No reason to. Why would I hurt her?"
"My thoughts exactly."
"Believe me, I didn't."
I snuggled close. We'd have to prove it to the police in Parkview.
21
On Sunday morning, Ray made airline reservations to leave for Virginia on an early Monday morning, then called his parents. I pointed to the conference button, and Ray pushed it. When his mother answered, she engaged the speaker and both Martha and John said, "Mornin'." He gave his parents the flight information.
"Raymond," John said, "I don't think you should come here now."
"Why?" I said, sticking my nose into the conversation. "Shouldn't he be there to support the kids and help find Elaine?"
"No. The chief thinks Elaine's disappearance is foul play, and Raymond's the prime suspect. If he's in town, Ervin will arrest him. This mornin' I went down to the barbershop. Raymond, you know I have that old police band there. Some of my customers listen to it to pass the time. I heard Ervin and his man, McCormick. Ervin said he wouldn't be surprised if you'd killed her. I'd hate to see you git in a mess, son."
"Dad, he can't arrest me without evidence. He doesn't even know a crime has been committed. All he knows is that Elaine didn't go home. She might be shacked up somewhere. It wouldn't be the first time." Ray sounded impatient, his voice taking an edge.
"It's highly unlikely. She never leaves the kids alone overnight," John said.
"I'm not sure about that," Ray snapped.
"The kids would tell us if that was the situation. But Jake Ervin believes there was foul play."
"He has no proof. Ervin's jumping the gun."
"He knows you and Elaine fought before you left Parkview. The Wilsons across the street heard raised voices. You said something to Elaine about leaving her where she'd never be found."
A fleeting look of total exasperation crossed Ray's face, but his voice didn't hint at his frustration. Controlled patience came to mind.
"Dad, our fight was over Kerri running around all night in Roanoke in her beat-up car. I told Elaine I was worried Kerri would get herself in trouble and be left on the side of a mountain somewhere."
I heard Kerri's muffled voice in the background. She had listened to the entire conversation. It wasn't good for the kids to hear Ray's comments about their mother. I wondered what further damage it would do to their relationship with Ray.
Martha Stone's voice broke in with a note of finality. "Raymond, you're better off where you are. The kids will stay with us until Elaine comes home. There's nothing you can do here."
Ray was approaching forty, but his mother still exerted parental authority. I smiled. I'd never thought about anyone, even Captain García, having any real control over Ray.
Ray said, "Has Ervin said anything specific about what he thinks happened? He insinuated I was responsible for Elaine's disappearance. He wanted to make innuendoes and ask questions rather than give information."
Ray's father answered, "No, but he mentioned one of our locals saw Buddy Lee Pyle with Amy Lynn Durant late last night in Roanoke."
I remembered Branden's elation over Ray beating Durant up the mountain during Ray and Branden's joyride in the S2000.
John said, "And, the chief mentioned the threats Buddy Lee made at his trial. Ervin hasn't forgotten. He said there's a possibility Pyle's responsible for whatever's happened to Elaine."
"That was a long time ago," Ray said. Pyle has had plenty of opportunity to carry out those threats. He didn't have to wait until now." His brow knitted and the edges of his goatee twitched.
I thought he lacked conviction.
Ray said, "Did Ervin say anything about calling the department here with that information? Our manhunt for Pyle now encompasses the entire Southeast."
"As a matter of fact, he did. He said he talked with a Detective Lewis. Lewis told him there were possible sightings of Pyle in Alabama and Mississippi. It didn't sound to me like Lewis believes Pyle is in Virginia. Your people think he's moving west."
"Ray, didn't Lewis tell you that yesterday?" I asked. "I think your parents are right. You better stay here."
Ray drummed his fingers on the kitchen counter for a few seconds. "Okay, I'll stay here for now. Watch out for my kids, will you? Pyle threatened us all, and he knows I'm after him for what he did to his wife and kids here."
"We'll keep them close. The chief is having his men patrol the neighborhood, too." Martha's voice sounded like it was in a wind tunnel. Apparently, she had moved away from the telephone.
Ray asked to speak with Kerri, but she refused to talk to him. Branden's changing voice came on the line instead. Ray picked up the handset. I went to sit on the sofa, but since the kitchen and Florida room were one space, I still heard Ray's half of the conversation. So much for privacy.
Ray and Branden talked for a long time. The conversation ranged from Elaine's disappearance to how to fix the chain on a bike. I thought the boy needed to hear the sound of his father's voice and prolonged the conversation for that purpose.
Ray must have thought the same thing since he continued talking about minutia. "Branden," he said, "I'll send you a calling card so you can call anytime you want, and I'll keep Facebook on when I'm home. I'll take care of you. I promise."
Ray hung up the phone and wandered into the room.
"I overheard your end of the conversation. Your kids are feeling insecure."
"That's an understatement."
He kissed me, then dropped onto the sofa next to me. Sunshine scrambled to the safety of the other end.
We sat in silence. I expected Ray to do something, knowing there wasn't anything he could do. He flipped through the paper, occasionally making comments into the air about what he was reading. Then he stood and announced he was going to wash his car.
"Want help?"
"Thanks, but no. I need to get my thoughts together."
Looking dejected, Ray shuffled through the garage door. I watched through the living room window. He stripped to his khaki shorts and kicked off his shoes. Though it was only eleven in the morning, it was hot, and the sky was clear blue. The sun glistened off the perspiration on his broad shoulders. He looke
d serious about his project. I saw the window cleaner, a stack of towels, and a bottle of wax. Even though the car was small, he'd be busy for a while.
The telephone rang, distracting me from the view. It was Kerri. I asked her if she wanted to speak with her dad, but she said she called to talk to me. The gist of the conversation, between sobs and nose-blows, was that she blamed herself.
"Sophia, if I was more careful this never would have happened. My mom and dad were fighting over me. They really were. Maybe that's why Dad hurt her. She wouldn't quit sassing him. I don't want them to be together—Branden does but I don't—they fought all the time. Branden was too young. He doesn't remember. Mom was always mean to Dad, yelling about wanting a better life, complaining about his working nights, accusing him of running around. I remember. They still fight when they see each other. Over dinner, they were arguing about Mom letting me go to Roanoke alone and letting me pick up Branden late at night, especially with that man Pyle around."
I let her talk until she ran down, then said, "Kerri, it's not your fault. They argue because that's how they communicate. It has to do with them. They'd have argued about something else if not about you. You didn't make your mom go missing—neither did your dad, and you don't have any say about who the suspects are."
"Chief Jake asked me all sorts of questions."
Kerri's use of a familiar name for the police chief reminded me about the side comment Ray's mother made to me about Elaine and Ervin having a thing going a while back.
"I tried not to blame Dad, but Chief Jake was real insistent. It's not fair either. Chief Jake knows Mom sometimes stays out all night. I mean, she stayed out all night with him. But then he acted to Grandma and Grandpa like he believed she's always home."
"Your grandparents said your mother never left you two kids alone at night."
"No, it happens a lot. We just never told. I mean, Mom's not their daughter or anything. They might not understand, and they would have told Dad."
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