CHAPTER FORTY-NINE / SATURDAY, 9:44 AM
Donald Kettering was sitting in his office. Things looked pretty much the way they had the last time Brendan had seen the place. Like Kettering didn’t know if he was coming or going.
The hardware store owner offered his wide, game-show-host smile and greeted the two cops. Brendan was tired and leaning hard on his crutches. Kettering looked him up and down.
“My God,” Kettering said. Some of the good humor faded from his expression.
“This is Rudy Colinas, an investigator with the State Police,” Brendan said. “He has something for you.”
Colinas reached into his pocket and pulled out the paternity test results. He handed it to Kettering while all three men were still standing. Kettering unfolded it. His face registered what was on the paper, and he slowly sat down.
“We had your information from the investigation,” Colinas explained. “Blood, DNA sample. We ran it and we ran the child’s. Your daughter, Aldona, is currently under state care. She’s a little malnourished, but otherwise she’s recovering just fine.”
Kettering looked up from where he had sat down, crumpled in a heap. His eyes were brimming with tears.
“She’s okay?”
“She’s fine,” said Brendan. He gestured to Colinas that they both sit. Colinas obliged, but not before helping Brendan into a chair. Once they were settled, Brendan continued. He folded his hands in front of him. Every part of his body was protesting with pain, but he ignored it all. He felt surprisingly good despite it all.
“How much were you in communication with Kevin Heilshorn?”
Donald Kettering’s eyes snapped up from the paper. He looked between the two detectives. He slowly set the paternity paper on the desk in front of him. Then he took a hand and ran it over his face, using his fingertips to smear away the tears. The other Kettering was with them now, Brendan thought. The hound dog Kettering, no longer the smiling, small business owner. His heart went out to the man.
“Only a couple times,” said Kettering.
Colinas looked around, surprised. Brendan wondered if the State Detective had been having thoughts of his own along these lines. He figured he had. Colinas, though something of a surfer without a wave, was sharp. He raised his eyebrows and looked at Brendan.
Kettering continued. “I called her brother because I didn’t know what to do. I had met him once, and liked him. Angry kid, but a smart kid. I didn’t set him up to do anything, I swear to God. I just wanted to talk to someone, to figure out how we could help Rebecca. Things just got worse from there.”
“No question,” said Colinas. Then something crossed his features. Colinas sat back. Brendan watched the State Detective process the new information. Then he looked at Kettering.
“Did you think Kevin would go after anyone?”
“I thought maybe. I didn’t know who, or what, really. I honestly didn’t expect him to go after you.”
“He didn’t. He was going after Olivia Jane.”
“Rebecca’s therapist?”
Brendan nodded. “The fact that I was there, that was collateral damage.”
Brendan started to get up, using one of his crutches, grunting with the effort. Colinas stood and helped him. “Congratulations on fatherhood,” Brendan said.
Kettering rose tentatively. “Are you taking me in?”
Brendan got his feet under him and then looked up. “You’re not going anywhere, are you?”
Kettering’s eyes glistened with tears again. “No.”
“Good. Then, when you’re ready, come in and give your revised statement. Then take your daughter home.”
His lower lip shivering again, the big man nodded. He stuck out his hand. Brendan took it.
“I have one last question,” Brendan said.
“Anything.”
Your church, the Resurrection Life Church, you know about any AA meetings there?”
“Every night of the week. You know, they alternate. Some are open to all, some are for members. Others are for family, stuff like that.”
Colinas, looking bemused, was watching Brendan.
Brendan offered a nod to Kettering. “Thanks.”
The two detectives left the hardware store.
In the bright morning outside, Brendan lit a cigarette.
“You going to a meeting, boss?” asked Colinas.
Brendan shrugged. He smiled.
The sun was climbing as they headed south out of Boonville. It was going to be a warm day, but the scorching late summer heat had passed.
THE END
September 2, 2012 –
December 16, 2013
Elizabethtown, NY TJB
Follow T.J. Brearton on twitter @BreartonTJ
Further novels by Brearton are scheduled for release in 2015 by Joffe Books
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