Chapter 8
Jules was as ready as he’d ever be for this. Some people, most of the town actually, had asked for a debate. Not on television, where he thought they’d have to go someplace, and he wasn’t leaving his wife right now, but in the high school. He looked down at his clothing and wondered if his mom had been right about him wearing jeans. “It’ll make you seem like a person that doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. And you are willing to just step down off the stage and do whatever is put before you.” She smiled at him. “I’m so proud of you both.” “You’ll sit with Tess, right? I don’t want her alone. It had to be the hardest thing she’s ever done, just about killing that man.” She said she was glad that she had done it; it had saved Ericson. “Yes, I’m glad as well. But she had to hit her best friend, and that has put her into a state of shock or something.” “I think she’ll be fine, honey. She’s just upset about what she heard too. And the fact that it was her granddad that was being hurt by him. Or her, I’m not sure anymore.” He told her that it had been Debra. “Oh, Jules, what are we to do now? He’s trapped in that body, and he might not ever get out.” “We’ll help him as best we can.” They would too. Even Wyatt was trying to find reasons that he shouldn’t go to prison for this. All of it was going to get just one person in trouble, and that was Dexter. And he was as much a victim as the people that his mom had killed. His name was called first, and he smiled at the people before looking at Windbag. He’d been practicing his real name since this thing was called. Windbreeze looked defeated, all right. But for whatever reason, Jules thought it was a scam. “We have a few questions for Mayor Windbreeze first.” The mayor brightened then, before going back to his beaten look. “You said that when the new taxes were put in place that we’d have enough to update and upgrade the school kitchens. But all we got out of it was a discounted microwave that others think you brought from your home.” Jules looked at his notes when Windbreeze started talking. The microwave was used. I’m not sure it came from his home, but there were renovations done to his kitchen about a month after the money was approved for the school kitchen. He glanced up at Dane. Those notes aren’t going to do you as much good as I can. I know this man, probably better than he does himself. While he’s not stealing per se, he is moving money around so that he benefits from it first. I’m still chasing money, so I don’t have a handle on all that just yet. I’m missing something. Like the kitchen in his house. It was approved a month and a half after he had it done. I think with the money that was to go to the school. But right at the moment, I can’t prove it. The renovations paperwork was all inflated too. The place was done with family help and for a fraction of the cost. But he got the money back, for overages and problems that they were supposed to have run into.
Then how is that not stealing? She said he was paid back. Paid twice, you mean. He paid for the renovations by using money earmarked for the school, then he was reimbursed for the same money when he turned in the bills, so he was paid twice. Dane laughed out loud, bringing the attention to her. When she waved for them to continue, she told him he was right and that she’d be right back. When she left, he wondered what she was doing when he figured out it was his turn to answer a question. “Dr. Stanton.” Windbag said that he wasn’t the doctor, that his brothers were. He was just a retired cop. “No, you’re wrong. Again. He’s a Doctor of Law. And I think of law enforcement. All the Stanton men have doctorates.” “Why don’t you ask me your question, Lessie?” She smiled at him. “I’m sure that no one here cares if I have a couple of degrees. I’m sure that Mr. Wind...Windbreeze knows as well.” No one spoke, but he did encourage the woman to ask her questions. “There are people that are looking for jobs outside our area. Just a year ago, the plant that was here to manufacture baskets turned away more employees. Can you tell me what you’re planning for jobs?” Instead of answering, he looked at his dad, who stood up to answer her question. “As a family, we’ve been working on some of the buildings in the downtown area. Of course we own a few of them, but right now, in addition to the workout place, we’ve set up a warehouse that is housing extras needed in the event of an emergency. Also, there are some foodstuffs that are headed to the pantry as well. My wife and her club have been having bake sales and the such every year to help give children the advantages that are needed in the way of book bags with supplies. Also, we have—” Windbag cut his dad off. “The clothing drive was a great success, but Jim having a new shirt that someone else might have worn is not going to get us jobs. I think she asked you what sort of jobs you’re going to bring to the community. And for the record, I have three in line now.” “Do you? Who?” He said that he wasn’t at liberty to say at the moment. “Well, that’s good that you’re working on that. I have three major companies that are looking to bring us more work. Even a couple that are hoping that some of our people will help with the construction, as well as the setup of the new businesses. I have a line, a good one, on jobs that are going to need some people to help with road work. Not the actual work, mind you, but the everyday work such as flag holders. It’s all good income for anyone that would like to help. As for the clothing drive, that was important. Not all of us have fifteen suits hanging in our closets, along with forty-four pairs of shoes.” It was right on the money, and the mayor knew it. When Windbag stuttered about Jules sneaking into his house, Jules jumped on that. “You have that many suits and shoes? My goodness. Wherever do you wear those to? I don’t see you out and about much, but you do seem to dress nice. I own a suit, but I’d much rather be in jeans any day. They’re more comfortable in case I have to help someone out of a ditch or something.” Another dig to the man. Just yesterday the mayor had driven by Mrs. Laddish when she’d had a flat. Jules didn’t know if it was because of his suit or not, but he didn’t care. He would have helped her, as most people would have. She was ninetythree years old and getting around good, but not good enough to change a tire. “I have a lot of business meetings that I have to go to. And stopping to help an old lady that shouldn’t be driving in the first place isn’t part of my job.” He seemed to realize what he’d said a moment or two too late. “I was running late, but I did send someone back for her. And called to make sure that she made it home all right too.” “Did you? I surely didn’t hear you.” He ignored Mrs. Laddish for the next question being asked of him. “You’re an old poop, you know that? I think, like most of this here town, that we need someone that is going to get the job done. And even when you don’t have to ask, them Stanton boys are right there to help you out. Why, just last month, one of them came by and plowed up my driveway. Didn’t say a word. Wouldn’t have even known but for the neighbor telling me who it was. Thank you kindly, Wyatt.” This went on for twenty more minutes. There were no more questions asked, but just people bashing the mayor for one thing or another. Then Dane showed up and had a group of suited men with her. She had never looked so serious about something since he’d known her. After the meeting was called, he started toward her when he saw the small shake of her head. Dane was headed to Windbag, and as soon as she reached him, she told him he was under arrest and that he was being charged with a long list of things he’d done. The most important one was mail fraud. “You falsified county records, then you sent the records to the courthouse via mail. And since Meggie down at your office keeps everything and anything that comes across her desk, I also know that you had filed your renovations a full three months after it was finished and paid for with the city school funds. She has the paid receipts as well. Then you used the money you got from the city for renovations, which you didn’t pay for but stole the money for, to buy yourself a nice boat.” Windbag was yelling about misguided women and power going to their heads as he was taken out of the school. The county board approached Jules just as he was kissing his wife. Things had gone much better than he’d thought they would. “Jules, can we have a word with you?” He nodded and said as soon as he said hello to his little girl. “Oh, it can wait. We want you to take over the mayoral term for t
he city. We need someone in there now, or the Federal Bureau will assign us someone from their office.” “I can’t step on their toes, Mr. Blanchard. They’re the government.” He explained why he needed him to take it now. “Oh. You think this is going to stick, these supposed charges against Windbag?” “I do, and I love the name you’ve given him.” Jules felt his face heat up when he realized what he’d done. He told him he was sorry. “Don’t be. He is a windbag. But as to what we need from you. We’d like you to take the office for several reasons. The most important one is the fact that we all know and trust you. The second is your knowledge of the law and how it pertains to what is going on here. We don’t want to be called on anything that will get the city in trouble. And I believe it will. We’ve been made aware of a few things by your sister-in-law that need to be looked into as well.”
“As much as I’d like to help you out, Mr. Blanchard, I should talk it over with my family. My wife has only just found out that we’re having a baby, and we were hoping to have time to get everything set up before I might get to take office.” The room had been set up before Ruby had been born, but these guys didn’t need to know that. “Can you give me some time? Say until tomorrow? I have to talk with all my family.” “Yes, yes, of course. But don’t be surprised if we have a word or two with your father. He can be a very persuasive man when he needs to be.” They all laughed. “All right, tomorrow then. We’ll meet in the office. The Federal men, they’re cleaning it out as we speak.” He acted stupid in that moment, not wanting to give away how Dane knew about the house because of him. “What is going on, if you don’t mind me asking? I mean, am I going to be getting a mess if I take this position?” “Yes. I’ll be honest with you, yes you will. While I can’t tell you everything, the school board is most upset with the way things have shaken out. Also, Dane—a very nice woman, by the way—she’s been helping with finding where our money has gone. The taxpayers’ money has gone. Did you know that it’s been put into offshore accounts? Not all of it, but a big part of it. And there are some shady dealings going on with the crew that is supposed to be doing the work too. His own brother has been the lowest bidder on all the contracts, and we’ve not even realized it. Going under his wife’s maiden name. I’m ashamed that we didn’t catch that before.” Dane joined them and asked to speak to Mr. Blanchard. “Well, duty calls. I do hope we can count on you tomorrow, Julian. I surely do.” Jules was almost home when he was contacted by Dane. “Apparently, there was more than a little bit of missing money. There were also quite a few checks made out to a woman by the name of Estela Rosa. If it’s who I think it is, then he’s going to prison. Estela is a madam that deals in women that are discreet. I’ll talk to her in a bit. Damn, Jules, you’re getting a mess.” He said that he’d not taken it yet. “You’d better. I’ve been doing this work just for you, buster. If you don’t take it, I’m going to sic your mom on you. That’ll change your mind quick enough.” “It is a mess, Dane, a lot more than I think I might be able to handle. I mean, just to the end of the term is only four months. What can I do with that to prove that I’m worthy of the job?” She told him. “Okay, not the best answer, but I do like that you think I can do one thing at a time and get it taken care of. All right. I do have to talk to Tess, then to Mom and Dad.” “Your dad is already having business cards printed. I’m not sure, but I think your mom is looking over office patterns for your new digs, and Tess has her own set of issues. You’ll take it.” He laughed. “All right. I have to get going. You have a nice evening.” Jules thought he would. When he got home, Ruby was fussing, teething he was told, and Tess was crying, hormones. He wouldn’t have it any other way, he thought, than this right here. Having his own family was better than he’d thought he’d ever enjoy it.
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Colton wasn’t sure that he was going to be able to talk to Dexter. Wherever she had him, he was deep within the elderly woman, and she wasn’t budging so that he could talk to him. Colton started to rise when he thought of something that his dad had said earlier, something about Dexter being alive, and did the mom know it. “You had a lovely funeral.” The look on her face was priceless, and he sat back in the chair. “The entire town turned out. I thought, and I think it was the opinion of my family, that they only turned out to make sure you were dead. You’ve not been the nicest of people.” “I don’t need to be nice. And I haven’t any idea what you mean about a funeral. I’m right here, aren’t I?” The voice was different, he noticed. Harder than she’d been talking to him before. “You just keep those thoughts to yourself and answer my questions. I want to know why I’m in here. I want to bring charges up against that whore, too.” “Tess is no more a whore than you are.” He pretended to consider that. “Well, that might not be right. She’s married and having another baby. But you’ve never been, have you? How many children did you have before you kept Dexter?” The shift from woman to man was quick. And had he not been looking at Dexter, he might not have noticed. But before he could speak to Dexter, Debra was back. “I’m not a whore. I’ve only had the one child, and he’s the son of God.” He asked her what god she was referring to. “Why, the Almighty one, you moron. What the fuck is wrong with you?” “Does the Almighty allow you to speak like that? I would think he’d want you to be humble and forgiving. You don’t sound very forgiving when you speak of killing Tess.” She called her a whore again. “You don’t like her, do you?” “You think not? What a fucking moron. Yes, I said fuck again, and I’ll say it again and again. Fuck, fuck, fuck—” “You’ve had four children, not including Dexter. And all of them by different fathers. And there isn’t any record of you losing them, so I can only assume that they’re out there. Correct?” She didn’t even look at him. “I’ve found all but two of them. Want to guess who they are?” “No, I do not. I don’t care one bit who they might be, if there were any other children. My Lord picked me to have his son, and you’ll not sully that with your lies.” He said that he wasn’t lying. “Of course you are. I don’t have any other children.” “They were taken from you. The state where you lived, they found you to be unfit and you were stripped of them. I think that word is very appropriate, don’t you? Since you were a prostitute at the time of your arrest, and the two children you had then were taken from you. Margo and Mike, their names were.” He saw him again; Dexter was fighting with her to come forward. “Why don’t you let me talk to your son? Dexter, are you there?” “You have no right to try and turn him against me. He’s the one that got me into this mess anyway, and I think that he is just fine where he is. Did you know that he helped me kill that baby? Yes, he did.”
That was all it took for Dexter to fight his way to the forefront. As soon as he was free, screaming as if being born again, he looked at Colton with frightened and exhausted eyes. Colton didn’t know how much time he had, so he spoke fast. “Your mother is dead. Someone poisoned her to make it look like a heart attack. We’ve found Alma and your son; they’re being laid to rest in the family cemetery. Tessie is taking care of the arrangements. We’ve found two other bodies there. Do you know who they might be?” He shook his head and started twitching. “Dexter, fight her. This is your body—fight her so that you can get rid of her.” “She wants to kill Tessie. And her daughter. Protect them.” He said that he would. “Alma was all that I had in the world.” He screamed again, this time sounding like he was in a great deal of pain. “I never killed them. My son died in my arms when she cut him from my fiancée, for no other reason than she could. You have to protect Tessie. She was always good to me.” “You can beat her, Dexter. Tell your mother to go fuck herself and come back to us.” He cried out again. His nose was bleeding when he finally dropped to the table. Colton wasn’t sure who was going to be speaking to him, but he hoped it was Dexter. Through it all, he only had Tess on his mind. “What did you hope to win from this? Your show of force.” Debra. “He’s weaker now. Easy prey for me to take over. What do you think they’ll do to him if he’s free to come out? They’ll kill him. And if they
don’t, I will. He’s a sap. A fool, I told him over and over again, no kids. And what does he do? He has one of the monsters.” “Monsters? Is that what you think his son was? Your grandchild?” She screamed, sounding of so much hate that Colton leaned away from her. “You killed your own grandchild, and if you keep this up, you’ll kill your son too. Is that what you want? To kill him? What do you think your god will do if you succeed?” “There is no God.” He felt the chill of her words down his back. She looked quite mad then, her lies simply gone. Her words were harsh, a little slurred. “There was never a god talking to me. Christ, he’s hurting me. Tell him to stop. The story was to make him behave himself. To make Dexter never make me a grandmother. Not that he’d have been any good at being a parent, but I would have been happy never to hear those words uttered to me. I didn’t want him to reproduce. No kids. No kids. How many times must I say that until I get what I want?” “You’re dead.” She shook her head and waved at the borrowed body. “That’s not yours. That’s Dexter’s. And when he takes it back, what do you think is going to happen to you? You’ll be as dead as your grandchild, as dead as Alma.” The laughter made his skin crawl, like something foreign and evil crawled over him. When he opened his mouth again, not even sure what he was going to say, she slammed her hands down on the table and made him jump. Colton stood up and felt the entire weight of the room, the evilness of the woman/man before him, take him to the floor. When he woke, his mother was leaning over him on the gurney. Fat tears were rolling down her cheeks, and he knew that he’d scared her. He’d been afraid too and sat up and grabbed her. Holding her tightly, like he had when he’d had bad dreams as a child, he sobbed out how much he loved her, how much he would never treat her badly again. “Colton, you’ve never treated me badly. But I want the hug. You frightened me.” He told her how afraid he’d been as well, that she’d ever believe it. “She’s dead.” “What?” He looked at her face, not understanding at all. “Who’s dead? Debra? She can’t be, Mom—if she is, then so is Dexter.” “He is as well. Dexter left you a note. He hung himself not five minutes after he was taken back to his cell. I think it was too much for him.” He nodded, taking the envelope from her. “I’ve never been so depressed in my life as to know that that poor boy suffered so much. She did this to him. Killed him as surely as she’d hung him herself.” He laid back down, feeling as drained as he’d ever been in his life. The envelope would have to wait; reading it here, in this hospital, would feel like a betrayal. He wasn’t sure why he thought that, but the hospital hadn’t helped him, and he wasn’t going to spill his story here where anyone could come in and listen. According to the paperwork that he’d found on the young Dexter, he’d been hospitalized nearly monthly when he’d been between the ages of four months to seventeen years. He knew from Tess that he’d graduated from high school early, then college had been easy as well. From then on, he’d led a normal, if not backward, life. He’d had broken legs; his arm had been broken more times than was humanly possible. Yet the hospital had never reported any of it, never called the police, nor had child services ever come to the house to check up on the supposed accident-prone child. Then at the age of thirty-five, after spending his entire adult life without his mother’s influence, he made his way home again and introduced her to his pregnant fiancée. Things from that point on he knew little about, but he’d been speculating for days now. Debra hadn’t given in to her nature to tell him what a fool he’d been. Otherwise, Colton thought, he would never have left his fiancée with her. The baby would have been fawned over, there might have even been a gift or two. They had found wrapping paper at the house. Then on the last day, Debra had taken her chance and killed both the fiancée and the child. They weren’t married, he knew that. But it mattered little to him. They were mates, as surely as if they’d been shifters. And when they created their love in the form of a child, they’d become man and wife to him. After being released, he was glad to see that Jules and Tess had come to get him. They took him home, and Tess never said a word. He did wonder if she blamed him for it, and asked Jules and he told him no, she was upset that Debra had won in the end. Taking his letter to his office, he sat down at his desk and opened it. Inside was an insurance policy made out to him, for ten million dollars. The letter was dated two weeks ago.
Julian Page 10
