Colde & Rainey (A Rainey Bell Thriller)

by R. E. Bradshaw

  “You are the perfect mother.” Rainey complimented Katie, while grabbing Weather before she climbed onto the toilet.

  “I’m a tired mother, right now,” Katie said, scooping up Weather from Rainey’s grasp.

  “Hang in there, baby. I’ll bring the plumber in a minute. He can help me put this pipe back on.”

  Katie moved off with Mack stumbling at her side, as he began to whine and pulled on her nightgown. Weather peeked over her mother’s shoulder, waving and saying, “Bye, bye, Nee Nee,”

  Rainey waved back at her, “Night, night, baby girl.” She turned to Timothy, “Okay, let’s put this elbow joint back where it goes.”

  Timothy liked hanging out with Rainey. He was the quietest of the triplets. He observed more and took his time pondering the world. Unlike the other two, he could sit still and focus on a task for long periods. He was the cerebral triplet. Rainey liked to watch him process his environment. While Mack and Weather flew headlong into new things, Timothy had a more reserved approach. Katie worried some at first, but Rainey told her to relax.

  “He’s just a thinker, Katie. He’s fine.”

  He smiled at Rainey now and crawled further under the sink with her, as she ducked back in to reattach the pipe. Her kids were very different, but she loved them all the same and found it fascinating how that worked. She had enough love to go around and then some. Katie and the kids, the businesses, it was all working out perfectly. Life was good. It wasn’t just a slogan on a tee shirt. Rainey only wished for one thing.

  “Timothy, I was quite a bit older than you when my dad taught me how to do this. I wish you could have met him. Your granddad was a cool dude.”

  Timothy tried to mimic Rainey. “Coo doo.”

  “Yep,” Rainey answered. “Cool dude.”

  #

  Wednesday, February 12, 2014

  7:30 a.m., Overcast, 25oF, Windchill 13oF

  Rainey backed the van out of the garage, stopped in the driveway, and rolled down the window, as she watched Leslie, Katie’s best friend, walk up to the front door.

  “Good morning,” Leslie said to Rainey and then waved goodbye to her girlfriend standing by the unfathomably expensive sports car in the driveway. “Bye, honey, see you later. Please leave Durham before the snow comes.”

  Rainey grinned at the once elusive and now obviously caught Molly Kincaid, who answered, “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on having this car on the road with snow-challenged southern drivers.”

  Often employed as an investigator or expert witness for the Kincaid Law Firm, Rainey and Molly had become very good friends. It worked out well that Katie gained a friend too, when Molly brought Leslie home a few years back. Leslie was coming over to help with a project for Katie’s foundation and they were all supposed to have a chili dinner and wait for the forecasted snowstorm.

  Rainey teased Molly from the window of the minivan, “Aren’t you two just precious?”

  Molly’s wit was one of the many reasons Rainey liked her. She shot back, “That minivan does nothing for your Agent Sexy mystique.”

  “I’m going undercover as a soccer mom,” Rainey said, laughing at Molly’s use of the tag name a stalker/blogger had assigned her. Rainey could laugh now that it was behind her, but not long ago “Agent Sexy” wasn’t funny at all. “My car is in the shop for an upgrade.”

  “Are you installing a machine gun turret?”

  Molly thought Rainey was incredibly paranoid and pointed it out often. Rainey liked to fuel that belief by not answering any of Molly’s questions with yes or no answers, which drove the defense attorney nuts.

  “I’m installing a drone launcher, so I can spy on people through their windows,” Rainey said, trying desperately to sound sincere.

  Molly laughed. “I would have believed the machine gun.” The levity left her voice when she asked, “Are you still driving to the funeral with this storm coming?”

  Rainey looked at the gray sky and sniffed the rapidly cooling air. “I think I’ll be back before it gets here. You know how it is. They swear it will be a blizzard and then nothing happens.” She felt the cold wind bluster in through the open window. “I can’t miss this funeral.”

  “I understand. Be careful. I’m looking forward to taking some more of your money at poker tonight.”

  Molly slipped into her sports car and rolled down the driveway. Rainey was about to follow when her cell phone rang through the car speaker system. She hit a button on the steering wheel and answered.

  “What did I forget?” Rainey knew it was Katie, without making the verification on the dashboard touch screen.

  “Are you still in the driveway?” Katie asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Good, then you don’t have to come back. Wait there.”

  Rainey looked up to see Katie coming down the front steps toward her, carrying a canvas grocery bag, with her cell phone tucked under her chin.

  “Since you will not listen to reason,” Katie said, her voice coming through the speakers and the window Rainey had yet to close, “open the side door.”

  Rainey hit a button and the side door opened automatically. With triplets to wrangle, hands-free operation was a selling point when they bought the van just before Christmas. The fact that three child safety seats would fit on the second row was another.

  “If you should get stuck or, God forbid, wreck during this snowstorm that you don’t believe is coming”—Katie set the bag down behind the driver’s seat, hung up her phone, stuffed it in her jeans pocket, and continued talking without the stereo effect of the car speakers—“even though every weather source within the United States borders says it is”—she opened one of the compartments in the floor—“here are some warmer clothes in case you need them and there are snacks, juice, and water in this middle compartment. Your tactical boots are in the bottom of the bag under your clothes, because flats and snow do not mix.”

  Rainey marveled at Katie’s ability to multitask and stay focused enough to remain on point, even if she was working herself into a lather. She released the seatbelt latch and got out of the van. She turned Katie to her, pulled her tightly into her arms, and kissed her thoroughly. Rainey used the same philosophy Rhett Butler did with his little firecracker. Katie Meyers should be kissed, and often, but only by the woman who knew how. There had not been enough time and effort put into making that happen lately. Rainey intended to rectify that. She did not relinquish her grip until she felt Katie give into the kiss and the tension leave her body.

  Katie sighed against Rainey’s chest. “Damn, I needed that.”

  “There’s more where that came from. Valentine’s Day is two days away and you and I have a hotel and spa reservation. No kids, no phones, just us.”

  Rainey had planned the whole romantic evening. She hoped they actually took advantage of the night alone. Not like their last anniversary, when Katie’s mother took the kids for twenty-four hours, most of which Rainey and Katie spent catching up on lost sleep. She had Katie’s gift in her coat pocket, a diamond necklace to replace the one Weather made off with. She forgot to take it out yesterday when she came home from picking it up. It was best to just keep it with her. Rainey feared one of her girls with a passion for sparkly things might find it. In her mind, it was safer keeping it close.

  “Are you planning to get me drunk and take advantage of me?” Katie asked, playfully.

  “You betcha,” Rainey answered, and then pecked Katie on the lips again, before releasing her embrace. “I’ll be back around noon, one at the latest. If this storm does come, I will be careful and make good decisions. Remember, I’ve lived where it actually snowed all winter. I can handle this. I promise I will not wreck your new van.”

  Katie popped Rainey on the shoulder. “I am not worried about the van. I’m worried about you caught in a blizzard. This man must have been important to your father for you to do this.”

  “He was. The fact that I missed his call and then he was killed—” She hesitated just a bit, a
s the emotion scratched at her throat. She missed another call once. This one felt too much like the first. “I need to tell his wife what he meant to my dad and me, Katie. I can’t miss this funeral.”

  “Okay, okay, I know you have to do this,” Katie said, conceding, but under protest. After standing on her tiptoes to kiss Rainey one more time, she added, “We love you, Rainey Blue Bell. You be careful.”

  Rainey kissed the wife she loved beyond measure on the top of her head and replied, “Always.”

  #

  8:30 a.m., Overcast, 26oF, Windchill 17oF

  An hour later, heading south toward Smithfield, Rainey made a call, reciting the number to the hands-free Bluetooth system from memory.

  After only one ring, the booming voice of her business partner, Miles Cecil “Mackie” McKinney, filled the car, “I just talked to your wife.”

  “I bet you got an earful,” Rainey said. “I get one every time yours calls to bitch about the remnants of fried food she found in your truck. You know some handy wipes and a trash bag could save you a lot of trouble.”

  “I’d need a change of clothes too. Thelma can smell deep fried a mile away.”

  “It would be simpler to just do what she says.”

  “Simpler, but not as much fun.” Mackie found himself amusing. The bass notes of his laughter vibrated the speakers in the van violently.

  Rainey turned down the volume, before she continued talking. “So, how was the flight to DC? Are you ready for the big fraternity reunion?”

  “We got in last night. All is well. I’m ready to dance until dawn,” Mackie said with a chuckle.

  “I guess that means your doctor’s appointment went well yesterday.”

  Since his open-heart surgery last spring, Mackie had lost over a hundred pounds. He looked more like the professional football player he once was. For the first time in his life, he was eating the right kinds of food. He slipped occasionally, but it was rare. His knees were shot from years of being overweight, not to mention his time as an NFL defensive end and the wounds he suffered in Vietnam. Rainey watched Mackie ‘suck it up’ with the same determination that saved him and Billy Bell from certain death in the jungle. He and Rainey walked the trails at the old place on the lake three times a week, when the weather permitted. Junior trained with him at the gym twice a week. Mackie was working toward a set of new knees when he reached his weight loss goal. Rainey was glad to see him taking control of his health.

  “I’m cleared for full resumption of all activities, no restrictions,” Mackie replied.

  Rainey could hear his smile through the phone. “That’s fantastic. Junior will probably be glad to hear that.”

  “I don’t know, Rainey. Maybe we ought to leave him running the skip board. He’s done a good job.”

  “Are you going to retire on me too?” Rainey teased. “First Ernie’s only working two days a week and now you’re going to bail out, aren’t you?”

  Junior was doing a great job. Rainey just needed this decision to be Mackie’s. She wasn’t about to force him into an office job unless he was ready. With Rainey’s time consumed amid consulting and investigation jobs and Ernie cutting back hours, Mackie had been gradually taking over Rainey’s duties in the day-to-day operations of the bail business while he recovered. Ernie still did the books, but was training Junior’s new wife to take over. Billy Bell’s Bail and Bait had morphed into Bell’s Bail and Investigations, and the younger generations were assuming their places in the business.

  “Rainey, I’m getting too old and slow to be chasing these young thugs. I think I’ve earned the right to sit out a few.”

  “I know you have. I just want you to make that call. I don’t have a problem with giving Junior more responsibility, but we should also give him a bigger cut. You figure up what you think is fair and I’ll sign off on it.”

  “I’ll do that,” Mackie answered, and then changed the subject. “Have you heard from Ernie?”

  “Not since they left port,” Rainey answered.

  “She talked about that Alaska cruise for years. I’m glad she finally went.”

  Rainey agreed, “Me too. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Ernie so giddy. I’m glad Henry gave in. I was afraid Katie was going to go with her and leave me with the kids.”

  Mackie’s laughter rumbled through the van. “That might have been worth paying to see.”

  “I would have made you help me,” Rainey said, returning his laughter.

  The laughter died out and Mackie asked, “So, are you heading to Captain Wise’s funeral?”

  “Yes, I thought I should. He left that message about a cold case. I still have no idea what he was talking about. His phone signal was weak, so I only got a piece of it. I had that court case with Molly to wrap up and when I called back yesterday, his wife told me about the hunting accident and the funeral today. I should have called him last week.”

  “That’s a shitty way to go for a survivor like the Captain. He and Billy lived through all that hell to get back home, only to die for no reason. It’s a fucked up world.”

  “No kidding. I’m again reminded that life is not fair. Anyway, Katie’s freaked about the weather. How bad can it get really? It never snows more than a few inches. This van is all-wheel drive. I shouldn’t have any problems, even if the snow comes earlier than they predicted.”

  “Captain Wellman Wise was a stand-up guy. He came to pay his respects to your father. I expect Billy would want you to return the sentiment. I told Katie as much.”

  “Thank you, Mackie. I suppose, the next time Thelma calls I’m to tell her a little fried food now and again will not kill you, at least not instantly. I’ll see you Monday at the office. Ernie has been griping about cash flow. This cold weather will have the skips hunkered down. We should be able to find a few and make her happy.”

  “I’ll text Junior to start looking for likely targets. He’ll be busy writing bonds on the Valentine’s Day-gone-bad domestics this weekend and it’s a full moon too. I probably shouldn’t have left him on his own.”

  “What? And let Thelma down? She’s been talking about showing off your sexy new physique to those old belles from your college stud days.”

  Mackie’s belly laugh filled the van. “She has been eyeing me some. Romance is in the air.”

  “Don’t tax yourself. And stay away from the fried stuff. Grease is not an aphrodisiac.”

  “You and Katie enjoy your Valentine’s getaway. See you Monday. And you be careful in that snow, baby girl.”

  “Always.”

  #

  Hominy Junction Town Cemetery

  9:30 a.m., Overcast, 28oF, Windchill 18oF

  Rainey couldn’t concentrate on the chaplain’s words. Her mind was occupied with reliving the morning her father drove her to Hominy Junction fourteen years ago, nearly to the day. She played it over in her mind on the drive down, and still she ran through it again. Captain Wise had discussed a possible school shooter threat with her. Then she and Billy drove home and ran into those punks outside the old store. Nothing else stood out about that day. Rainey had mailed the school shooter report to the Captain after she returned to Quantico and never heard from him again, until her father’s memorial service. Now, she was attending his burial in a quaint little cemetery on the outskirts of the hometown Wellman Wise had loved enough to return to, after serving his country. His country was thanking him today.

  Rainey’s body jerked with the sound of the first rifle volley from the military honor guard. The memories flooded back of another military funeral, almost five years ago. Two more volleys followed the first; each sending remembered shock waves of heartbreak through her soul. Rainey recalled that she held it together at her father’s service, until the first notes of “Taps” began to reverberate across the surface of Jordan Lake and did her in. She lost it and Mackie put his huge arm around her and pulled her under his shoulder, as if he could shield her from the pain.

  Her mother was there. Rainey recalled being surpris
ed at how Billy’s death had seemed to deeply touch Constance. She had never thought about her parents caring for one another, even though she knew the story of their elopement. She saw real pain in her mother’s eyes as the last notes of “Taps” echoed on the water and faded away. Looking back, Rainey thought that was probably the first time she realized her mother was human.

  A soldier had approached Rainey, bearing the folded American flag that accompanied her father’s ashes during the memorial service.

  “This flag is presented on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for your loved one’s honorable and faithful service. God bless you and this family, and God bless the United States of America.”

  Rainey remembered hesitating to take the flag from the soldier’s hands. It was Ernie who actually thanked the man, took it, and placed it in Rainey’s lap. She kissed her on the forehead and whispered, “He loved you more than life itself.”

  The rest of that day was a blur, except for a conversation with Captain Wellman Wise. It was the reason she felt compelled to come and show her respects to a man she met three times in her life. Rainey remembered it as clearly as the day it happened. It played out before her mind’s eye, as Captain Wise’s wife received her own flag and the thanks of a grateful nation.

  He had found her standing on the end of the dock alone. “I’m going to miss fishing with your father,” he said upon his approach. “He loved this place.”

  Rainey wiped the tears from her cheeks and replied, “Yes, he did.” She gathered herself a bit more and added, “Thank you for coming, Captain.”

  “I needed to pay my respects to the man to whom I owe my life, at least all that came after he dragged me out of the jungle nearly dead. Your father was a real hero, Rainey Bell. You should know that.”

  “A hero that died the victim of a senseless drive-by shooting,” Rainey said, some of the anger she had been suppressing rising to the surface.