Unfinished Business: A Riverton Crossing Novel

by Savannah Maris

  “I don’t know, darlin’, but I’m glad we’re leaving soon.”

  Once Ginger fell asleep, Evan searched of pictures. Curtis’s wasn’t hard to find. His picture was in several editions of the Riverton Crossing Gazette. Frank Smith was harder. Somehow he managed to keep his face out of recent papers. Evan wanted Ginger to make sure that was who she saw. Unless she could identify the other man, Evan had no way of finding him. For the first time in a while, he missed working out with Nathan because he needed to punch something.

  It was late afternoon by the time Ginger woke up. Evan and Mitchell had decided on the security plan and were out by the pool with Kayla. When Evan saw Ginger staring out the French doors, he walked inside with her. She didn’t make a move to open the doors, just stared outside. “Andy hasn’t left yet. He’ll saddle a couple of horses if you want to go for a ride. We can walk along the river.” Evan rested his chin on the top of her head.

  “I’d like that.”

  “While he gets them ready, I’ve printed off some pictures I’d like you to look at.”

  He called Andy as they walked into the office where he showed her the pictures. “Some of these are about a year old, some more recent. I need you to tell me if any of these men are who you saw today and in what context.”

  “Obviously, that’s Chief Curtis Taylor. He’s the one who made the comments about Ruby. Even though this man is younger, he was the one with the phone outside the café. I don’t see the other man.”

  “You sure this was the man outside the café?”

  “Yes.”

  “Cat was right. That’s Deputy Frank Smith. Now, let’s go get some fresh air.”

  The rest of the evening was uneventful. Ginger was quieter than Evan was used to, and he knew it was because she was thinking about the other man. He also knew if it wasn’t for the earlier picture, Ginger would’ve never thought twice about him.

  16

  “Judge Bishop.”

  “Judge, it’s Doctor Gregory. You may want to come down to the hospital.”

  “Is he there? Is he alive?”

  “If you want information about the young man, you need to come down here. They’re trying to locate his next of kin now.”

  “You just did, doctor. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

  The line went dead before Thomas Gregory could respond. Once the shock wore off, he asked the front desk to have him paged when Judge Bishop arrived and then went back to the morgue. When Thomas stepped through the doors, there were three sets of eyes staring at him. Dr. Crosby, the Chief Medical Examiner, asked Thomas if he wanted to perform the autopsy. Sheriff Cory Cahill and Deputy Frank Smith were there as well. Thomas looked at Sheriff Cahill when he said, “The next of kin will be here in about fifteen minutes.”

  “You notified them?” Doctor Crosby asked.

  “Not intentionally, but yes.”

  “Who’s coming?” Deputy Smith asked.

  “I don’t know the exact relationship, but I’m sure positive ID will be made.”

  Sheriff Cahill gave him an empathetic look. “Thomas, do you know this person?”

  “I know them, but due to doctor/patient privilege I can’t tell you who they are. They’ll be here soon, Sheriff. Then you can ask them all the questions you want.”

  “Are you hinderin’ my investigation, son?”

  “No, sir. I just sped it up. You’d still be looking for the next of kin if it wasn’t for me. To be honest, I don’t know if you’d have found them because I sure as hell didn’t expect it.”

  Thomas turned his attention to Dr. Crosby. “Sir, I’m on duty in the ER tonight, but I definitely want to perform this autopsy. I’m on the last night of my three-day rotation. I can do it in the morning if you’re available to supervise.” He snapped on a pair of gloves and looked the body over.

  “I’ll be here at seven-thirty. Let’s get the face cleaned up and the picture taken for identification,” Dr. Crosby replied.

  One of the assistants had just cleaned his face when he heard his page. “One moment, Dr. Gregory,” she said before she snapped the Polaroid for him to take.

  “We’ll give you a couple of minutes, doctor, then join you upstairs,” Sheriff Cahill said.

  “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  Thomas put the picture in his coat pocket as he walked down the hall to the bank of elevators where he took the first one to the ER. The closer he got the more nervous he became, which was something he hadn’t felt in years. He was used to discussing injuries in the ER, but this was the first time he’d be discussing someone in the morgue. Not to mention, it was with Judge Harland Bishop. Controlled breathing was something he practiced, so he used the technique before he opened the door. The judge was sitting on the far side of the sofa sipping a cup of coffee. “Judge?” The man looked as if he hadn’t slept in days.

  He stood. “Thomas.”

  “Why don’t we sit back down?” Thomas cleared his throat and swallowed. “I’ve got to ask you some questions, and by law you must answer them.”

  “Okay.”

  “Judge, how are you related to Harley Youngener?”

  “He’s my son,” the Judge said quietly.

  “Do you have proof?”

  “I’m listed as his father on his birth certificate, but I don’t have it with me.”

  “We’ll need that. We may be able get it through electronic records.”

  “He wasn’t born in this county. He was born in Horry County. Do you need this information because of those medical laws? Is he unconscious?”

  Thomas reached into his pocket and pulled out the picture from the morgue. “No, Judge. Can you tell me who this is?”

  When the Judge looked at the picture, tears rolled down his cheeks. “Oh, God. That’s Harley.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, yes. That’s him. How? What happened?”

  “I don’t know, but Deputy Smith thinks it was suicide. I’m going to do the autopsy in the morning before I leave here. I’ll know more then.” He took a steadying breath. “However, Sheriff Cahill and Deputy Smith are here and want to speak with you. Do you want me to stay?”

  “I’ll talk to the Sheriff, but I don’t want Deputy Smith in here. Thomas, promise me. Please. I need to talk to someone that’s not from around here. I need your help.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. Why don’t you want Deputy Smith in here?”

  Before the Judge could answer, a firm knock sounded on the door, and Thomas knew it was the Sheriff. When Sheriff Cahill pushed the door open, he stood where no one could see the judge. “Are they here, Doc?”

  “Yes, sir, but he’ll only speak with you.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means he doesn’t want the Deputy present. Are you okay with that?”

  “Why wouldn’t he want us to investigate his loved ones’ death?”

  “He doesn’t have a problem with you investigating, Sheriff.”

  “I see.” He turned to address Deputy Smith. “Please stay outside this door to make sure we aren’t disturbed.”

  “Sir?” The Deputy cowered from the look Sheriff Cahill gave him. “I mean, yes, sir.”

  When the door clicked shut Thomas moved, and the Judge stood to greet the Sheriff. “Cory,” the Judge said with a composed voice despite the tears streaming down his face.

  “Harland? You’re the next of kin? Since when?”

  “Since twenty-two years ago.”

  “I didn’t know you had a child. I’m just surprised.”

  “Not too many people do.”

  “Tell me about him.”

  “I had a convention, and Hazel couldn’t go. As the old story goes, I had too much to drink and took a woman back to my hotel room. I drank so much I was surprised when I woke beside her the next morning and didn’t remember a thing. She told me she wasn’t on birth control and we didn’t use protection, so I gave her my card in case anything happened. I went home and told Hazel then begged her
for forgiveness.”

  The Judge sat and the others followed his lead. His eyebrows furrowed and he shook his head as if he were trying to rid himself of a bad memory. He cleared his throat before he continued, “We worked through it, but it took time. We were never able to have children of our own so when I got a call about two months later, we were stunned. We had a paternity test, and it confirmed I was the father, which devastated Hazel because she knew I wasn’t the reason we couldn’t get pregnant. I sent the woman money every month, and she let us see him. He didn’t know I was his father until she died.”

  Judge Bishop rubbed his hands down his thighs. “Since she didn’t have any family, he came to stay with us. Hazel drove him to a private school in Cloverville every day. We kept him in activities there so no one would know him here. When he graduated high school, we got him an apartment over there for college. He’d have Sunday lunch with us, but that was about the only time we saw him. When Hazel died, he started spending more time with me at the house and was moving in after the thirty day sentence was up.”

  “Had you seen Harley since he got out a few days ago?” Sheriff Cahill asked.

  The Judge shook his head as he said, “No, he hadn’t called or come home, and I’ve been worried sick.”

  “Why didn’t you recuse yourself from Harley’s hearin’? That’s unethical, Harland, and you know it.”

  “Yes, it was. I gave him a harsher punishment than he deserved because I saw Richard Beal in the gallery. Harley had changed since he started hanging around him, so I knew for thirty days I could keep Harley away from him.”

  With concern etched on his face Thomas said, “Judge, you may face the review board for this. You know that, right?”

  “I’ll gladly do it. People were using him to blackmail me into looking the other way on some happenings. Now he can rest in peace, and I can live in hell.” His shoulders shook violently. “God, I’m going to miss that boy.”

  They talked for a few more minutes before the Sheriff said he was done for the time being, but might have other questions later. Thomas asked the Judge if he needed someone to drive him home, but he shook his head. As Thomas walked Judge Bishop to the front doors, he reminded the Judge he’d call once the autopsy was completed as well as let him know with whom he could speak. The Judge shook Thomas’s hand before he left and Thomas watched him walk to his car. A couple of times he pinched the bridge of his nose or looked to the heavens and said something. Thomas assumed he was trying to come to terms with being alone.

  17

  Evan woke early on Saturday morning with the sun shining bright. It had rained the night before so the sun reflected off the water still on the grass. A few days had passed since the last time he and Ginger went for a ride and he wanted to surprise her before it got too hot. He packed them a picnic breakfast before he messaged George, the hand working the weekend, to saddle two horses. When he walked into their room, the bed was empty so he waited for her to come out of the bathroom. She still looked sleepy as she walked toward him.

  “Morning beautiful,” he said as he kissed his spot.

  “G’morning,” she mumbled.

  “Get dressed. I have a surprise for you.”

  “Mmm. I usually like the ones you give me in bed.”

  Evan chuckled. “You’ll like this one too, but you gotta wake up to enjoy it.”

  Ginger turned around and walked back into the bathroom where she washed her face. When she returned, he was slipping on his boots. “Hurry up. I’ll be waiting in the kitchen.” When she walked into the kitchen, Evan had a thermos and travel mugs, breakfast sandwiches, and a cut apple ready to go.

  “We’re going on a ride?”

  “Yes. George has the horses waiting.”

  Ginger’s face lit up as she hurried to the door. They walked to the barn hand in hand, but by the time they made it to the corral she was skipping like a girl. Evan shook his head because he didn’t think he’d ever tire of watching how excited she became. “Go tell them good morning while I pack the saddle bags and find a blanket.” As Evan was walking into the barn, George came out. “Morning,” Evan said.

  “Morning. What do I need to do today, Mr. Riverton?”

  “Ride the perimeter of the property. We’re going down by the river for breakfast then we’ll be back. Mitchell should be up shortly. If you see anything suspicious, let one of us know. Make sure the herd is safe and take a rifle with you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Evan loaded his horse as they had before, then helped Ginger onto hers. Just as they’d discussed last week, they only let the horses walk. From time to time they pranced like they wanted to run, but he and Ginger kept them reined in. “She wants to run, and I want to run with her,” Ginger said looking at Evan.

  “I know, but let’s not do that until we know. I’ll have George work them harder when we get back. Seems you aren’t the only one with extra energy these days,” he said with a smirk on his face.

  Ginger’s mouth fell open. “I can’t believe you just said that.” She cocked her head and sassily said, “I could’ve taken care of myself and not told you. Maybe that’s what I’ll do next time.”

  Evan guided his horse close enough to hers that he could hold her saddle. “That better never happen. You always come to me. I’ll always take care of you,” he said with a determined expression. “Always.” He quickly kissed her before the horses drifted apart.

  They leisurely walked to the spot where they usually left the horses to finish the walk to the boulder. He knew Ginger loved this spot. With the river rolling in the background, they enjoyed a cup of coffee, and as Ginger was unpacking the food Evan’s phone rang.

  Without taking his eyes off Ginger he said, “Riverton.”

  “Evan.”

  “Hey, Thomas. Everything okay?”

  “Maybe. I don’t know. Someone needs to talk but not to local law enforcement. Are you available?”

  “I’m down by the river having breakfast with Ginger. We’re on horseback, but I can be back at the house in a couple of hours. How does that work?”

  “I’ll have him there.”

  “Thomas, what’s going on?”

  “Too much to discuss now. It’ll be better face to face.”

  “Okay man. See you soon.” Evan disconnected the call and wondered what he’d gotten himself into.

  “Everything all right?” Ginger asked.

  “I don’t know. Thomas is bringing somebody to the house that needs to talk to me.”

  “Do we need to leave?”

  “We’ve got time to eat. They won’t be here for a couple of hours.”

  As they ate breakfast, Ginger kept scanning the bank on the other side of the river. Evan knew it was because of the man they’d seen the last time they were there. “Darlin, what are you looking for?”

  “Just making sure we’re alone.”

  “What you got in mind?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Seriously?”

  “We don’t have time unless you wanna quickie.”

  “I’d rather wait for later when we do have time.”

  “Me too. I don’t wanna rush it.” He kissed her as he caressed her breast, “But you can think about it until later.”

  “Hmm. I do believe that can be arranged.”

  “From the sound of Thomas’s voice, today may not be a good day to play. We will soon, though.”

  She entwined her fingers at the back of Evan’s neck. “I look forward to it,” she said with a sweet smile.

  They packed their things and mounted the horses for their ride back. It was a slow ride, but they enjoyed their time. “Who do you think Thomas is bringing out?”

  “I have no clue. He just said it was too much to discuss on the phone.”

  “That’s cryptic.”

  “I agree. I’m sure Mitchell will say the same thing.”

  As they finally made their way to the barn, Evan sent George a text. He wasn’t back yet so Evan took the saddles off the h
orses while Ginger fed each a piece of apple. George would work them more when he returned and brush them down.

  As they walked into the house Evan asked Ginger to let Mitchell know people were coming to the ranch while he took a shower. The water was still running when Ginger walked into their room. To Evan’s surprise she stepped into the shower. When they walked out of the bathroom, Evan only had a few minutes. Once he dressed, he pulled Ginger close. “Thank you. That was unexpected. I think we can both make it until tonight now.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  Evan turned when he heard the banging on the door then Mitchell’s voice, “Evan, your visitors are here!”

  “Thanks. I’ll be there in a minute,” he called back. “What are you gonna do while I’m gone?”

  “Maybe lie down for a while.”

  “I’ll be right down the hall. If you need me for anything, come get me. You’re my priority,” he said with a convincing stare.

  “I will.”

  Evan kissed her forehead before he left. When he opened the door, Mitchell was waiting for him with a look that made him uneasy. As they walked down the hall Mitchell whispered, “It’s Judge Bishop.”

  “What?”

  “He’s your unnamed visitor.”

  “You gotta be shitting me.”

  “Nope.” He shook his head for emphasis.

  Evan gathered his composure and shifted gears, wondering what Judge Bishop wanted to talk about, but knowing he needed to stay open minded. When they reached the living room, Evan stretched to shake his hand. “Judge.”

  “Good afternoon, Evan. Thomas, why are we here to speak with the Riverton boys?” The Judge inquired.

  “We’re here for you to speak with Evan. You asked if I knew someone not with local law enforcement. Evan’s federal,” Thomas responded.

  The Judge turned his attention back to Evan with raised eyebrows and wide eyes. “If you wanna speak with me as a federal agent, let’s move to the office. Right this way, gentlemen.” Evan led them down the hall and asked them to take a seat wherever they felt most comfortable as he closed the door behind them. The Judge walked straight to the far end of the sofa while Thomas stayed at the near end, and Evan grabbed a chair to face them. Once everyone seemed comfortable, he asked, “Judge, how can I help you?”