Fort Point (Maine Justice Book 2)

by Davis, Susan Page

  *****

  Jennifer waited eagerly for Harvey and her siblings to arrive. The rain had let up, and when the Explorer drove in, she went out on the steps. Jeff climbed out, and she flew toward him.

  “You made it!”

  “Yeah.” He scooped her up in a bear hug. Leeanne hugged and kissed her next.

  Harvey smiled big and held out his arms for a hug, too.

  “How was traffic?” she asked Jeff.

  “It was okay. It poured all the way down, but other than that, no problems.”

  She hustled Leeanne inside and introduced her to Beth while Harvey and Jeff brought in Leeanne’s luggage. The men looked around suspiciously. Refreshments, a Scrabble game, and videotapes were set out, and floor cushions and a sleeping bag were heaped on the floor.

  “Looks like you girls are set up for a pajama party,” Jeff said.

  Beth laughed. “We are, but if you be good, you can stay long enough for some popcorn and fudge.”

  “Was the drowning on the local news?” Harvey asked, settling in on the couch.

  “Yes, and they’re still talking about Martin Blake,” Jennifer said. “They had a segment about the reunion at Fort Point. I recorded it for you.”

  She clicked on the DVD player, and they saw Cyndi Rancourt Reynolds, the reunion organizer, gushing away about Martin and how friendly and relaxed he’d been Sunday, and how much everyone would miss him. Then they interviewed Shelly and Vincent Parker, both class members, and they seemed sad about Martin, but excited about being on TV.

  No one mentioned Luke Frederick in connection with the reunion. Beth said the station had led with the story of Frederick’s drowning, but it was separate from the Blake story. Jennifer knew if the reporters had realized Frederick and Blake were classmates, they’d have played up the connection. She was glad that frenzy hadn’t begun yet, but she supposed it was bound to happen soon.

  “I’ll probably have to hold another press conference tomorrow,” Harvey said glumly.

  “Wear your new jacket,” said Beth.

  Jennifer squeezed his hand. “You’ll do great.”

  Harvey gave her a wan smile, clearly not believing her.

  “So, you teach kindergarten?” Jeff asked Beth. His eyes had barely left her since he’d arrived. She was sitting in a rocking chair, and Jeff had the armchair. Leeanne sat in the corner of the couch, beside Jennifer.

  “Yes, tomorrow’s my last day for the year,” Beth said. “When I get home, I’ll take Leeanne over to the police station, so she can see where Jennifer and Harvey work.”

  “I’d like that.” Leeanne sipped her lemonade. Her eyes were a dark, serious blue. Jeff had the same light hair and gray-blue eyes as Jennifer, but Leeanne favored their father, with rich brunette hair.

  “Well, on Friday we can really have fun,” Beth said. I’ll be free all day, and we can go shopping if you want.”

  Leeanne took a deep breath. “I’d like to go to the art museum, but you wouldn’t have to go with me. If you could just tell me how to get there …”

  “Of course I’ll go with you,” said Beth. “I’ve only been once, and I loved it.”

  Jennifer let the conversation flow around her and turned her attention to Harvey. He was watching her intently and gave her an inviting half smile. She considered herself a novice at flirting, but she’d been watching Eddie for several weeks and tried to imagine what he would do. She picked up her bowl of popcorn and started feeding it to Harvey, one kernel at a time.

  Beth asked Jeff about the fire department interview, and he told his new audience about the practical test he’d taken earlier and how tough it was.

  “Jeff’s one of six they picked out of fifty,” Leeanne said proudly.

  Harvey grabbed Jennifer’s hand and held it to his lips. She pulled away, smiling, and started throwing the popcorn at him, piece by piece, and he threw it back.

  Beth said, “Okay, you two. If you can’t be mature, we’ll send Harvey home.”

  Jeff scowled at his sister. “Quit it, Jennifer.”

  Jennifer straightened, slightly abashed, but still caught up in the sensuous mood. Jeff obviously didn’t want Beth to toss him and Harvey out yet, so she gathered up the loose popcorn and set the bowl down.

  “I saw Mark Johnson the other day,” Harvey said, and she was glad he was also making the effort to put Beth and the others at ease. Mark was one of the EMTs Harvey knew. “He says two of the six finalists are women.”

  “No kidding.” Jeff frowned.

  Harvey shrugged. “He says they’re not supposed to fill quotas, but you never know. Somebody might be pressuring the chief to hire more women. Mark says they have three already.”

  “I hope they’ll look at qualifications,” Jeff said. “There were a couple of girls that were pretty good at the practical, but I couldn’t see that they were better than any of the men.”

  “Do the best you can to sell yourself at the interview,” said Beth.

  “And don’t go in there scowling,” Jennifer added. “You have to project confidence!”

  She was not the most confident person in the world, but when it counted, she usually managed to keep up a good front. She remembered her near-disastrous first date with Harvey, and how she’d put him in his place when she learned he’d done a background check on her. She was sure Jeff could muster the same bravado if he wanted to badly enough.

  Leeanne was beginning to look droopy-eyed.

  “I guess you guys had better leave,” Jennifer said to Harvey. He got the dreamy, wistful look that told her he didn’t want to say goodnight yet.

  “I’ll help you clean up.” He started picking up glasses and popcorn bowls.

  She took his cue and followed him into the kitchen. As soon as the dishes were out of their hands, he put his arms around her.

  “I got the invitations today,” she said. “There was a message on the answering machine when Beth got home from school, and she went and picked them up.”

  “Great! No passport yet?”

  “Not yet. Where are we going?”

  “You really want to know? You’ll be disappointed if your passport doesn’t come in time.”

  “No, don’t tell me.”

  He ran his hand over her flowing hair. Not so long ago that would have terrified her, but not now. She shivered, but not from fear. Her initial edginess with him was gone, and she felt only joy and a ray of decadence as she snuggled contentedly into his embrace. Harvey was no slouch at getting down to the real business of being in the kitchen.

  After a couple of minutes, Beth knocked on the kitchen doorjamb and stuck her head in. “Visiting hours are over, Harvey.”

  “I hear you.”

  She went away, and Jennifer smiled up at him. “You’d better go.” But she rose on tiptoe to kiss him again.

  Chapter 6

  Thursday, June 24

  Mike called Harvey at seven the next morning.

  “Press conference this morning, Harv.”

  “Oh, great. I knew yesterday was too good to be true.”

  “I put the word out. It’s set for 8:30.”

  “That’s too early. I’m not ready.”

  “Come in as soon as you can. I’ll brief you.”

  Jeff was up, and he got ready to go to the fire station. “Wish me luck,” he said when he was ready to go out the door.

  “I’ll pray for you.”

  Jeff looked him in the eye for a second. “You and Jennifer really believe in that, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  Jeff shook his head. “I just don’t get it. You’re a reasonable man.”

  Harvey smiled. “Maybe we can talk about it sometime.”

  Jeff went out the door, and Harvey called Eddie.

  “I’m picking you up in ten minutes, Ed.”

  “I’m not dressed.”

  “Well, get dressed.”

  When Harvey got to his house, Eddie came out in jeans and a black Henley shirt, with a garment bag over his sh
oulder. Harvey was already wearing his suit, because of the press conference.

  Mike was waiting and the coffee was ready when they got to the office.

  “The reporters are all over the Luke Frederick story,” Mike said. “He’s been linked to the reunion. I’d hoped to hold them off, but it’s now the hot story of the week. That and Blake’s funeral.”

  Harvey looked out the window and down to where Terry Lemieux and two patrolmen were roping off an area for the journalists. Terry’d had enough of holding press conferences in the foyer. The sky had cleared overnight, and the sun was out, although several puddles shimmered on the tar.

  Mike, Arnie, Pete, and Eddie pretended to be reporters and fired questions at him. They deliberately exaggerated their reactions, because they all knew it would be rougher than the average media moment.

  “The P.D. is slow,” Arnie said. “You haven’t arrested anyone in Blake’s murder yet, and now you’ve got another one. What are you doing about it?”

  “What were the divers out at Stroudwater looking for Tuesday? Did they find anything?” came from Pete.

  “How much of the city’s money did that cost?” Mike asked.

  Eddie piped up, “Was Frederick actually at the reunion? Was he stabbed the way Blake was?”

  “Will you arrest someone at the funeral?”

  “Were Blake and Frederick friends?”

  “You’ve been harassing Blake’s classmates all week. Do you intend to make an arrest soon?”

  “Turn and face the camera, Harvey.” Mike said.

  Harvey answered their questions as straightforwardly as he could. Finally, Mike said, “You’ll be okay.”

  The other men drifted off to their desks.

  “Stand beside me during the conference, Mike.”

  “No, you’re heading this investigation.”

  “Why?” Harvey asked. “Why did you give it to me?”

  “I knew you could handle it.”

  “But you knew this was a huge case. Why didn’t you take it yourself?”

  Mike shrugged. “I’m going on vacation next week. I don’t want to postpone it.”

  Harvey had forgotten he was taking two weeks off.

  “Are you serious? You’re still going upcountry, with this going on?”

  “We sure are. Sharon would have my head if I changed my vacation now. Two weeks in the Allagash.”

  “Mike, I need you.”

  “No, you don’t.”

  Harvey looked out the window again. Reporters and camera crews were staking out their spots on the pavement below.

  “What if I need help while you’re gone?”

  “Just take your time and think things through. Because I’m going where there aren’t any phones, Harv. I’m not taking the cell phone, either.”

  “Sharon’s orders?”

  “No, mine. I need to get away.”

  Harvey knew it was true. When Mike took a case, he drove himself until it was over. He spent more evenings at the office than anyone else. But Mike also had high cholesterol, and his blood pressure had been fluctuating lately.

  “Your tux is all set?”

  “I made an appointment for the twelfth. That’s the day I’ll come back to work. Don’t worry, Harvey. You’ve started out well on this, and it will all come together. Now, we’d better go downstairs. Eddie can back you up. I’ll stay by the door to abet you in your getaway.”

  “What if I need to refer a question to you?”

  “You won’t.”

  Somehow Harvey got through it. They asked some of the same questions his friends had thrown at him, and others they hadn’t thought of. He told them Frederick had been at the reunion early, and had spoken to Mr. and Mrs. Blake and other class members, but had not been seen at the luncheon or after. He told about Frederick’s car being left in the lot at the state park, and that he’d had a blow to the head before he went in the water, but no stab wounds. A reporter asked if that could have been accidental. Harvey said he didn’t know.

  They asked him again about Blake, and Harvey said, “We have some new evidence that we hope will pinpoint the scene of the murder.”

  “Does this have anything to do with the divers that were out at the bridge at Stroudwater Tuesday?” Ryan Toothaker, from the Press Herald, asked.

  “They found some evidence,” Harvey said carefully. “I can’t tell you more than that at this point.”

  In response to a question about Blake’s estate, Harvey said he couldn’t discuss it because the will hadn’t been read to the family yet. The new book would be published. The police were working toward solving the crimes. The Portland P.D. had no jurisdiction over the Luke Frederick case, but were cooperating with the state police, as it looked like Frederick may have died at Fort Point and the body washed down to Islesboro.

  One female TV reporter threw him for a loop. “Detective, I understand Patrol Officer Tony Winfield is working on this investigation.”

  Harvey stared at her. “Yes, the governor’s nephew has worked on this case.”

  “Are you happy with his work?”

  “Yes, Winfield has done fine. But so have several other officers. He’s a rookie here, and he’s learning procedure for a homicide case.” He wasn’t sure why she was so interested in Wonder Boy, but he didn’t want to make it sound like Tony was special, or better than the veteran cops.

  He glanced over at Mike. The captain nodded slightly, with a little smile, and turned to the electronic pad by the door. Harvey shut off the questions and got back upstairs just after nine.

  “Great job, Harv,” Arnie said as he walked into the office.

  “Thanks.” Harvey pulled his tie off and sat down.

  Eddie brought him black coffee, and he sat for a minute, just letting the adrenaline dissipate. Mike got his own mug and pushed his chair over near Harvey’s. He glanced toward Eddie’s desk, but Eddie was bringing in his e-mail.

  “Harv, you know I’m grooming you,” Mike said quietly.

  Startled, Harvey tried to read something in his eyes. “For what?”

  “To take over.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Mike shrugged. “I won’t always be here.”

  “You’re not—” Harvey stopped.

  “Come on, I told you I want to retire.”

  “You’ve been saying that for years.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “When?”

  “I dunno. This Allagash trip is kind of a test. Can I stay out of it?”

  “Sharon wants you to quit.”

  “Oh, she has for a long time, but I’m getting to where I can have a pretty good package. If I wait ’til I’m 65, I may drop dead first. I want to be able to enjoy it, Harv.”

  “You can live on your pension?”

  “I’ve got thirty-four years in. I think if we’re frugal we can.”

  Harvey eyed him closely and leaned toward him. “Why me? Why not Arnie?”

  “He’s older than I am. He’ll be retiring, too, before you know it. Besides, I’d never say this to anyone else, and certainly not to Arnie, but he doesn’t have your instincts.”

  Harvey looked down at his steaming coffee. What could he say? He liked Arnie, and he knew Mike did, too.

  Harvey had never aspired to management. He liked field work and had made a niche for himself as a computer person within law enforcement. But could he parcel out cases to other people and sit in the office preparing budgets? If he turned it down and they got a new captain, could he take orders from someone other than Mike? Mike had stayed very active, handling a lot of cases personally, and maybe Harvey could, too.

  “I don’t know, Mike. Your job isn’t part of the future I’d pictured.”

  “Well, who do you think is going to run this unit if I, A.) retire, or B.) have a heart attack?”

  “I’ve never thought about it. You are this unit.”

  “No, I’m not. You guys are. Every detective in this unit keeps it going. But you’re the best.”
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  That was hard for Harvey to listen to. He started sending up quick little prayers to God and wondered if this was a temptation of some sort.

  Mike said, “Listen, I don’t know if you realize it, but Pete won’t stay here long, either.”

  “Why not?”

  “He’s been taking law courses at night for ten years.”

  “So? He’s good at legal work.”

  “So, he took the bar exam Saturday.”

  Harvey was stunned. Pete always studied law. He’d never thought he would actually become a lawyer.

  “You mean he’s going into practice?”

  “If he passed the exam, and, knowing Pete, I’m betting he did.”

  “When will he know?”

  “By the end of July.” Mike started to get up.

  “But you are coming back after your vacation?” Harvey sounded a little desperate, even to himself.

  “Oh, sure. I wouldn’t dump it on you that suddenly. I’ll probably work at least until next spring. I’m just telling you. When the time comes, as far as I’m concerned, you’re it. If I have any sway at all with the chief, you’ll step into my job.”

  Harvey shook his head. “I can’t deal with this right now. The funeral and the Portland High School alumni, and the wedding … it’s too much right now, Mike.”

  “Well, I thought it was time for you to start thinking about it, my friend. It won’t be for a while yet.”

  When Mike walked away, Eddie was watching him. Harvey wondered if he’d heard anything.

  He took off his jacket and checked the e-mail and crime updates. Frederick and Blake’s names were both in the updates, because evidence had been entered in the records. He and Eddie spent the rest of the morning going over everything they had so far and preparing to question the alumni. They had a brainstorming session with Arnie, Pete, and Mike, to make sure they covered everything.

  “Nate and Tony are doing funeral traffic this afternoon,” Harvey noted.

  “Do you need them here?” asked Mike.

  “No, if we get too many people up here, it will be mayhem.”

  He explained his plan to question five people at a time. Harvey would use his desk area, Eddie would use the interview room, Mike the tiny observation room, Pete the break room, and Arnie his own desk, which they decided was far enough from Harvey’s that they wouldn’t interfere with each other.