"I can't even hide right," David said miserably.
Sandy approached him. "Do you know about your father?"
David's head shot up. "That man is not my father. He walked out on my mother before I was born. What was he thinking, coming back here after all this time?"
Jenna asked softly, "You know he's dead, don't you?"
David looked wildly at us. "I didn't kill him!"
"We believe you, but if you didn't have anything to do with his death, why are you hiding?" I had to know.
David looked at me as if I'd lost my mind. "You're the one who keeps saying what a fool Sheriff Hodges is. If I show my face, he'll arrest me for sure."
"You don't know that," I said. "And I never said Hodges was a fool. He's a lot of things, including lazy, but he's not stupid, David. You're just making things worse for yourself hiding like this."
"I can't just walk into town now, can I?"
Butch stroked his chin. "Why not? You haven't done anything." He paused for a few seconds, then smiled. "In fact, that's exactly what you should do. David, you need to head back into town with us, go to work with Carolyn at the shop, and call your mother. She's worried sick about you."
David looked ill at the suggestion. "I tried to call her this morning, but she wasn't picking up her cell phone."
"That's because she left her phone on all night so you could call her," I said. "I agree with Butch's plan, with one change. You'll borrow Jenna's cell phone and call your mother on the way down the hill."
"So you honestly think I should just act like nothing's happened? What about you, Jenna? What do you think?"
"I have to agree with them, David. If you haven't done anything wrong, there's no reason to hide. Don't forget, I was a lawyer long before I was a judge. I'll stay at the shop for the rest of the day, in case you have any trouble with the sheriff."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Of course I would," she said. "We will all do whatever we can to help you. We're here, aren't we? Now let's forget this foolishness and go to Fire at Will."
He looked relieved that we'd stepped in. At least until Jenna handed him her phone. "Call your mother," Jenna and I said in unison.
He nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Can I call her before we go, though? I'd like a little privacy."
"Need I remind you all that we're here unlawfully?" Jenna asked. "It wouldn't do to tarry."
"I won't be long. I promise," David said as he walked back to the bedroom area.
The four of us waited in the living room, and I saw Sandy frowning. "Is that what I think it is? No, it couldn't be."
She was admiring the Monet I'd spotted on my first visit to the house, but before I could confirm it, Butch glanced at the painting and said, "It's the real thing, all right."
Jenna said, "Now how could you possibly know that? You barely glanced at it."
"Would you really like to know?" Butch said, barely able to hide his grin.
"Forget I asked," she said as David rejoined us.
"That was quick," I said.
"She's going to meet us at the shop," David said. After expressing her relief, Hannah undoubtedly had blistered him for taking off the way he had. I wasn't looking forward to being privy to part two of their little chat, but Fire at Will wasn't anywhere near the size of Tamra's house, and if they raised their voices above whispers, we'd all be able to hear what they were saying.
After David put Tamra's gun away properly and set the house alarm, Butch locked up and returned the key to its resting place. We then rode down the hill in relative silence. I half expected to see Sheriff Hodges waiting for us when we got back into town, but there was no sign of anyone in front of Fire at Will as Butch pulled into a parking space near my doorway. I normally liked to keep those spots open for new customers, but I wasn't about to ask Butch to move, not after all his help this morning.
He must have caught my glimpse, because as we were getting out, he stayed put. "I'm going to move this to the up per lot. I'll be right back."
"You don't have to," I said.
"But you wouldn't mind, would you?"
I was still looking for a polite way to answer when he grinned. "It's fine, Carolyn. I know the way you like to do business."
I unlocked the front door, and everyone went inside.
David looked around the shop, then asked, "So what do we do now?"
"There's not much we can do but wait," I said.
Sandy said, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to have a little fun while I'm here."
"That sounds delightful," Jenna said. "What shall we do?"
"Help yourselves," I said. "I've got some things I need to take care of. David can teach you anything you'd like to learn. Don't worry about fees; this lesson is on the house." I walked up front to work on my display a little more while they continued discussing which new project to try.
The front door chimed a few minutes later, and I looked up, expecting to see Butch returning from parking his car, or even Hannah making an appearance.
What I had not expected to see was our illustrious sher iff.
At least not so soon.
"Where is he?" the sheriff demanded as he walked in.
"Who exactly are you looking for?" I asked. Not that I really had to guess, but he was using a tone of voice in my shop that I didn't approve of, at least not when it was di rected at me.
"Don't get cute, Carolyn. I'm not in the mood for it."
"I wouldn't dream of it."
David poked his head around the corner. "Are you look ing for me?"
"Where have you been?" the sheriff said as he moved to ward him quickly. "Let's go. You're coming with me."
"Hold on, Sheriff," Jenna said as she joined us. "David has a right to an attorney, and I'm going to represent him, if he agrees to it."
"Sure, that would be great," David said.
Sheriff Hodges didn't look happy about the prospect, but there wasn't much he could do about it. "Are you really go ing to hide behind her?"
David started to reply, but Jenna touched his arm. "David, from now on, you're not to speak without express permission from me. Do you understand?"
Instead of answering, he just looked at her and nodded.
"Let's go," Sheriff Hodges snapped.
When I started to follow them out of the shop, he said, "Not you. You have no standing in this."
I looked at Jenna, who shook her head slightly.
Taking her cue, I said, "Fine, I'll stay here."
Jenna said, "Don't worry, I won't leave his side, and I'll call you the second I learn anything."
Butch came back in after they were gone. He found Sandy and me discussing what had just happened. "I leave you alone for five minutes, and now half the group's gone. Where's Jenna?"
"She's with David. The sheriff came by to talk to him, and Jenna agreed to represent him."
Butch smiled, and I added, "This is not the slightest bit funny."
"I'm just thinking about how Jenna's gonna shred him. Come on, don't you find that a little amusing?"
Sandy smiled. "I don't envy our sheriff. If we're not go ing to work on anything else, I'm going to go."
"Back to work?" I asked.
"Are you kidding? I'm taking a sick day, remember? No, I'm going to snoop around and see what I can find out about Richard Atkins."
Butch asked, "Would you like some company?"
"Sure, why not?" She looked at me and added, "Carolyn, you're more than welcome to come, too."
I was tempted, but I finally said, "No, I'd better stay here. I might get a customer. Stranger things have happened. Be sides, Jenna expects me to be here, so I'm going to stay."
A little arm-twisting and I would have gone with them, but they both left, and I was at Fire at Will alone.
Not for long, though.
"Where is he?" Hannah asked as she stormed into the shop. "Where's David?"
"He's not here, Hannah." Before she could explode, I added, "The sheriff took him in
for questioning, but don't worry, Jenna Blake's with him."
"And you just stood there and let it happen?"
"Well, I thought about stopping them, but the sheriff had a gun, and all I had was some pottery."
"Don't be ridiculous," she said.
"Then give me a little credit, will you? David's in good hands."
"I can do better than a retired judge," she snapped.
"In Maple Ridge? I doubt it. Let Jenna handle it, Han nah. She knows what she's doing. I'd let her defend my own sons, if it came to that."
"Good for you. I'm going to find someone else."
Before I could talk her out of it, Hannah was gone. Wow, a great many people were walking out on me today. The phone rang, and as I picked it up, I asked, "Jenna?"
"No, it's Bill. Your husband, remember?"
"Oh."
He paused a second, then said, "I've had warmer wel comes in my life. What's wrong?"
"What makes you sure something is? You don't know everything about me."
He chuckled, a sound I normally enjoyed. Just not at the moment. "What's so amusing?"
"I know enough. Now quit stalling and tell me what hap pened."
"If you must know, the sheriff came into the shop and took David in with him."
"When did he finally turn up?"
"The sheriff? About ten minutes ago. Why?"
"Not the sheriff, David. Stay focused, woman."
"David came to the shop this morning."
Bill hesitated, then asked, "Are you trying to tell me he just waltzed right in there of his own free will? Why don't I believe that you didn't have a hand in it?"
"You're just not very trusting, I guess," I said.
"With reason, from the sound of it. Does Hannah know where the boy is?"
"She left here thirty seconds ago. From the way she was talking, I expect to see Clarence Darrow's heir-apparent show up at any minute. She was pretty fired up when she left."
"Wouldn't you be? I don't suppose there's a chance in the world you're going to stay out of this, is there?"
"What do you think?"
"I know, I know, that's why I said that. Just be careful, okay? There's a killer loose in town."
"Why on earth would he come after me?" I asked, hon estly startled by the premise.
"We don't know why he got Richard, do we? You could be next on his list."
"Or you," I retorted.
"Me? Why would anybody want to do me in? You're the closest thing to a threat on my life."
"Bill Emerson, why would you say something like that?" Sometimes my husband could utter the most inane things.
He laughed. "Cause you're the beneficiary on my life in surance policy."
"What is it, fifteen grand? You're worth more than that to me alive. Barely, but still."
"Hey, as long as it's in the plus column, I should be okay. If you need me, call. I'll be in my shop at the house, though, so leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can."
"I'll be fine," I said, then I hung up the telephone. I'd grown accustomed to my husband's disappearances into his workshop. He was almost impossible to reach there, with all the constant sawing and hammering going on. I'd be in dire shape if I were depending on Bill coming to my rescue, especially if I had to get him on the telephone. My cell phone was charged enough, so I put it in my purse in case I'd need it later.
It was nearly lunch when Hannah came back to Fire at Will. She had two bags from Shelly's Café with her. "Feel like a quick bite with me?" she asked.
"That depends. Are you going to take my head off again?"
She looked contrite. "Carolyn, I'm sorry. When it comes to David, I tend to be a little overprotective sometimes."
"Really? I hadn't noticed. I'm surprised you're not with him right now. Is he still with the sheriff?"
"With the way Jenna was watching out for him? Hardly. She's quite vigorous defending him."
"So you're not getting a hired gun from New York or Los Angeles?"
"What gave you that idea?"
"When you left here, you said you were going for a le gal-eagle gunslinger."
Hannah smiled. "I got one, too, didn't I?"
"David hired Jenna, remember?"
She snorted. "Does it really matter who chose her? They're back at Jenna's house now, deciding how to handle this. I was asked to leave, since the attorney-client privilege doesn't extend to mothers. Now are you going to accept my apology and eat with me, or do I have to have both burgers myself?"
"I forgive you," I said as I reached for one of the bags.
"You're too easy," she said, smiling.
"Hey, what can I say, you've found the best grease there is."
"Don't you like Shelly's burgers?"
I nodded. "Of course I do. I'm not talking about that kind of grease. I mean to make an apology go smoothly. Rela tionship lubrication is what I'm referring to."
"What can I say? I do my best," she said.
As we ate, we tried not to talk about what had happened to Richard, or why the police were focusing on David. It made for a strained conversation, but by the time we were finished eating, we were both at ease with each other again. I hated when Hannah and I fought, and I always felt better when we'd patched things up.
After we cleaned up, Hannah said, "I hate to eat and run, but I've got a class to teach."
"I thought you had TAs for that," I said.
"Believe it or not, some of us in the profession actually
like to teach. Besides, my dear assistant is in love again, and that means her focus won't be on the modern novel."
"So, you feel pretty comfortable about Jenna helping David?"
"For the moment," she said. "I don't have much choice, do I? David insists that Jenna is the only lawyer he trusts, and if I'm hard-pressed, I'd probably have to agree. There's nothing I can do now, so I might as well teach my class."
I shrugged, and she must have read more into it than I'd meant to convey. "Do you think it's heartless, me teaching the day after my ex-husband died? I know women who would still be partying."
I looked her dead in the eyes. "But you're not that kind of woman, are you?"
"No, I'm not. I was devastated when Richard walked out on me, but that was a long time ago. Being with him wasn't all bad. We had our share of joy, and I got David in the bar gain. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't about to nominate him for sainthood, but I didn't hate him. Now if I could just get the sheriff to believe me."
"Has he been pressuring you as well?"
"Let's just say he's keeping an eye on me. What are you doing about the situation?"
I picked up a glazed mug and pretended to study it. "What do you mean?"
"Carolyn Emerson, there's no way on earth you're stand ing idly by. I know you too well. You're looking into Richard's murder, aren't you?"
"I might have asked a few questions around town," I ad mitted reluctantly. The sheriff had already scolded me about my behavior, and my husband had as well. I wasn't in the mood to hear it from Hannah, too.
She shocked me by saying, "Well, keep it up. Don't let anyone talk you out of it."
"Excuse me for saying so, but you're usually not this supportive when I start snooping." That was an understate ment.
"I've got a vested interest this time. Besides, if the sheriff is focusing on David and me, somebody else has to look for the real killer. Keep me posted, okay?"
"Sure," I promised.
After Hannah had gone, I wondered about her change of heart. Did she want to be notified of my progress for David's sake, or for her own? I might have to wonder about that, if I were a suspicious person, which normally I wasn't. Well, I wasn't. Okay, maybe sometimes, but only if it was merited. Anyway, it could be argued that Hannah wanted to know what I was up to so she could see if I was getting too close to the truth. Could she have had something to do with Richard's murder, despite her earlier declaration? Or did she believe in her heart that David had killed his own father in some kind
of fit of rage? Nonsense, I couldn't believe it of my best friend in the world, or her son. Still, just to be cautious, I decided it couldn't hurt to keep quiet about what I found out, at least until I was able to come up with some thing definitive.
The Cracked Pot Page 10
