Deadly as the Driven Snow

by Agnes Alexander

  “Neither am I, but at least I got to kiss you good night.”

  “I worried about you walking to meet Allen. Did you get cold?”

  “Allen said he’d driven by our pre-arranged meeting spot three times waiting for me. As soon as I stepped out of the woods, he was there.”

  “Good.” I sighed. “I don’t want to be a nag, but when will I get to see you again?”

  “I think I’ve come up with a plan if Celia will cooperate.”

  “I’m sure Mom will be glad to do whatever you want her to do.”

  “Then ask her if she’ll bring that food basket she fills and come to the station about five-thirty or so. Tell her to bring it empty, because I’m going to slip out and get into her car and enjoy one of her good meals at her kitchen table. Allen’s off duty tonight, and he volunteered to come back and pick me up again.”

  “Oh, Jason, that’ll be great. And I know Mom will be happy to cooperate.”

  “Then I’ll look forward to holding you in my arms tonight.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  We said good bye and I turned to Mom. “I think I’m ready for some bacon and eggs now, then we’re going to decide what we’re going to cook for dinner. Jason has a plan I need to tell you about.

  Chapter Thirty

  Mom was making a chocolate cake and I was peeling potatoes for a casserole when there was a knock on the back door. “Hide in the pantry, June,” Mom whispered.

  I didn’t argue. I put the knife down and stepped into Mom’s big walk-in pantry. I heard Mom go to the door and open it. “Hello, there, folks. How in the world are you?” She said, and I knew it must be some friends of my parents.

  “We’re fine. Had to go to the bank this morning and thought we’d drop by and check on you.” I recognized India Middleton’s voice.

  “Well, come in. Brad’s in the living room, John. He’s either watching television or he has gone to sleep. He often does both at the same time.”

  I heard John Middleton laugh. “India says the same thing about me.”

  “Looks like you’re cooking for a crowd, Celia. You expecting company?”

  “No. I’m cooking up a batch of things to take to Jason and June. They say they get tired of motel food and I like to fix them some of their favorite dishes.”

  “Can I help?”

  “I started to peel those potatoes in the sink, then I decided I needed to get the cake in. You can finish peeling them if you like.”

  “I’d be happy to.” India moved to the sink. “How are June and Jason doing, Celia?”

  “I guess they’re doing okay. They won’t tell me where they are, so I haven’t seen them, but they do call occasionally and give me reports.”

  “How do you get this food to them?”

  “I have to take it to the sheriff’s department. One of them takes it to them, I guess.” Mom sighed. “I sure will be glad when this mess is over. I want them to get back to normal, so they can start rebuilding their house.”

  “That was such a shame. They sure do have a lot to contend with, and they’ve only been married about three months.”

  “Yes, a lot has happened to them in such a short time.” Mom changed the subject. “Have you heard from Steve, India?”

  India took a breath so deep I heard it in the pantry. “I don’t hear much from him, but the last time we talked, I told him he should just go ahead and plead guilty. There’s no way he’ll beat those murder charges. Everyone knows he did it.”

  “I’m sorry, India. I didn’t mean to pour salt in the wounds.”

  “Lord knows you have a right to be vindictive, but I know you weren’t being mean or nosy. Even after John and I asked Brad to resign as deacon last year, you were the first ones to offer sympathy when things came out about Steve.”

  “We hurt for our children, don’t we, India?”

  “More than anyone who doesn’t have them can ever know.” She sighed again. “Now, I have to contend with Sadie and her new boyfriend.”

  “Sadie has a boyfriend?” Mom sounded surprised.”

  “Yes. You know she’s divorcing Steve, so I guess she has a right to start dating. John and I have to put up with it just to get to see our grandchildren.

  “We just wish she’d chosen some better than that good-for-nothing J.T. Goodman, but she seems to be enthralled with him.”

  Mom chuckled, and India must have given her a strange look because she quickly said, “I’m not laughing at you, India. It’s just that every time I hear his name, I remember what happened with June and J.T. in high school.”

  India laughed, too. “Sadie said J.T. still gets mad when she mentions it to him. She thinks it’s funny.”

  “Looks like he’d be over it by now.”

  “It must run in the family. You know how those Goodmans are. Old Archie carried a grudge against Will Plaxico until the day he died.”

  “Really?” Mom sounded interested.

  “Yeah. Don’t you remember? Archie was building some of his rental units below code and Will turned him in to the city. Archie vowed to get him back someday, but he died before he had the chance.”

  “I do remember Archie’s death. He died right before high school graduation, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, he did. If I remember correctly, he somehow got tangled in something at one of the building sites and accidently hung himself.” India’s voice seemed to grow stronger and had more of a lilt since the subject was no longer on Steve. “Remember how everyone was talking about how J.T. acted as if he didn’t care at graduation?”

  “I do remember, but I guess Archie’s death was a good thing for Will Plaxico.”

  “Maybe so, but Will has had his share of trouble. He says he think his business is jinxed.” The water turned on and India said, “I’ve finished the potatoes. I’m running cold water on them, so they won’t turn dark.”

  “Thanks, India.” The stove door opened, and I knew Mom was putting the cake inside. “How did Sadie and J.T. get together in the first place?”

  “You know Guy Ferguson is J.T.’s partner. He’s also Sadie’s cousin, or something. Sadie told me J.T. had seen her at the grocery store and was interested in getting to know her. He asked his partner to get them together. Of course, it’s common knowledge that Guy does anything J.T. wants him to do. It wasn’t long until he set things up to get Sadie and J.T. together.”

  “I guess Guy’s devotion to J.T. is why their partnership has lasted this long.” Mom moved away from the stove and I heard the refrigerator open.

  “They may be dissolving their partnership soon.”

  “What do mean by that?”

  “J.T. told Sadie they were having some financial problems. That’s why he brought his mama back from Florida. Said he couldn’t afford to keep her down there.”

  “June told me she was visiting her daughter.”

  “She was, but seems J.T. still has to pay part of her support.” India changed the subject. “Celia, why don’t you and Brad come for supper one night? We could have one of those long talks we used to have. Don’t many people want to associate with us since Steve’s problem, and we get kind of lonely.”

  “We’d be glad to come, India. Of course, it’d have to be a night I’m not cooking for the kids. I’ll give you a call later and we’ll set it up.”

  I heard the men enter the kitchen. “We better go, India. You told Sadie we’d be back in time to keep the kids. I think she and that J.T. fellow have plans this afternoon.”

  “I’m ready,” she said. “It’s a shame we have to put up with her going out with him just to get to see our grandchildren.”

  “Maybe he’s not so bad,” Dad said.

  “Yes, he is, Brad,” John said. “I figure he’s a crook, just like his old man. Why, there was a shooting at one of his apartment buildings the other night, and they say he’s suing the police department for the damages because he didn’t have any insurance on the building.”

  My heart jumped to my throat. He must b
e talking about the building where Jason and I stayed. Did J.T. Goodman own that?

  As soon as I heard the Middletons say good-by and the back door close, I bounded out of the pantry. “Do you know where that building is that John was talking about?”

  “I read something about it in the paper, but I don’t know anything about it,” Dad said. “Why do you ask?”

  I bit my lip. I knew I had to be careful because I didn’t want them to know that Jason and I had been shot at. “No reason. I just thought it was interesting in the light of the fact that J.T. Goodman isn’t my favorite person in the world.”

  “And we all know the reason for that, don’t we?” Mom teased.

  “That, we do.” I grinned at her.

  Dad laughed.

  • ♥ •

  Mom refused to take a completely empty picnic basket to the sheriff’s office. She said everyone there had been so nice, she had to take them something, so she made two chocolate cakes. I shook my head and kissed her cheek. “I know they’ll love it.”

  She nodded and went out the door. I slipped upstairs and took a bubble bath. I put on my prettiest outfit, and was careful putting on my make-up. I wanted Jason to see me at my best. When I was dressed, I came back to the kitchen and put four place settings on the big round table. Mom had said we should make it nice and eat in the dining room, but I knew how much Jason liked to eat in her kitchen. Dad came into the room as I was folding the last napkin.

  “I thought your mom said we were going to eat in the dining room.”

  “You know Jason is a kitchen man, Dad.” I smiled at him. “Want some tea or something while you’re waiting to eat?”

  “I’m fine.” He smiled back at me. “You sure do look pretty, baby girl. I bet you fixed up for that man of yours.”

  I twirled around. “Of course I did. Do you think he’ll approve?”

  “How would he not approve of my beautiful daughter?”

  “Thanks, Dad.” I kissed his cheek.

  He grinned. “Even with the fire and everything else that has happened, you and Jason are going to be fine. I can just feel it in my bones.”

  “Thank you, Dad. I know it isn’t going to be easy, but when I’m with Jason I can’t help but know it’ll be okay. The two of us being together is the important thing.”

  “With an attitude like that, I’m sure it’ll be more than fine.”

  He continued to look at me and I said, “You have something else on your mind, don’t you, Dad?”

  “I’m just a little concerned about the two of you. I didn’t say anything to your mother, but I believe you and Jason were in that apartment that was shot up, weren’t you?”

  Though I pride myself on being a good liar, I couldn’t lie to my Dad. “Yes, it was us, but things worked out okay. Jason’s reaction to a crisis is phenomenal.”

  “How so?”

  I told him how Jason pulled me off the bed and shielded my body with his until he could get to his gun. “He’d do anything to protect me, Dad.”

  “He’s a good husband for you.” Dad sighed. “Sometimes I wish he had a job that wasn’t so dangerous, though.”

  “I wish the same thing occasionally, but I know he loves his work and I’m learning to live with it.”

  “Maybe we better not tell your mother about the shooting.”

  “I agree.”

  We would’ve talked more, but there was the sound of a car in the driveway. It pulled around the house close to the back porch. I couldn’t help it, my heart pounded like that of a school girl waiting for her date, but I didn’t dare go out on the porch. I waited until the door opened and the six-foot-three love of my life entered.

  Of course, the first thing he did was take me in his arms and kiss me. “Missed you today, my love,” he whispered.

  “I missed you, too. I think all those days together in the apartment spoiled me.”

  “It’s not going to be long until we can be together like normal.” He kissed me again.

  “Do you promise?”

  “I promise.” With his arm still around me, he reached out his other hand to Dad. “Hello, Brad.”

  “Hello, son. I’m glad you made it here tonight. This girl of mine could hardly wait to see you.”

  “You’d think we hadn’t seen each other in a month.” He looked at his watch. “I bet it has been all of twelve hours.”

  “It has been at least fourteen,” I said with a grin.

  “Well, if you love birds are ready, I’ll get the food on the table. As we were coming home, Jason said he was hungry.”

  “I’m always hungry when I come into your kitchen, Celia.”

  “Then, we’ll just have to see if we can satisfy that appetite right now.” She began taking food from the stove. “Why don’t you two take those chairs in the back and do a little smooching while I get it all set out?”

  “Thanks, Mom.” I took Jason’s hand and led him to the backside of the table. “I’ve waited all afternoon to get to sit close to my husband.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  “How did things go at work today, honey?” I asked as we closed the door to the bedroom upstairs. It was almost ten o’clock.

  “As usual. We’re still checking things on the computer. They did bring the dogs out to the apartment, but nothing came of that.”

  “Did you know J.T. Goodman owns that apartment building?”

  He wrinkled his forehead. “No, I didn’t. How did you find out?”

  “Dad told me he saw it in the paper after the shooting.”

  “I should have read the report, but didn’t have the time. I’ll check it closer later.”

  “I also heard India say today that his construction company is in trouble.”

  A look of concern crossed Jason’s face. “Did India see you?”

  “No, honey. Relax.” I moved to the side of the bed where he’d taken a seat. “I was hiding in the pantry. She had no idea I was here.”

  Visibly relieved, he put his arm around me. “Good. I sure don’t want anyone to know where you’re hiding.”

  “They won’t. Mom’s pantry is huge.” I giggled. “When April and May were teenagers, they used to go in there with their dates to kiss after playing spin-the-bottle.”

  “And how many times did you go in the pantry for a kiss?” He cocked an eyebrow at me.

  I laughed. “Zero. I wasn’t going to have some old boy kissing me.”

  “Well, this old boy is going to kiss you right now. We don’t even need to hide in the pantry.”

  “No, we don’t.” I turned my face to him. “Give me those lips, old boy.”

  Later, I told him what else I’d overheard India say, but we were sure it had nothing to do with our problems. Before we went to sleep, Jason said that when Mom came back for her basket, he was going to slip a laptop inside, so I could help with the investigation. I snuggled close to him, happy that we could work together, though we couldn’t stay together all night.

  It was still dark when I heard a rustling in the bedroom. “Jason,” I whispered.

  “I’m sorry I woke you, sweetheart.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Almost three-thirty.”

  “You’re getting ready to leave, aren’t you?”

  He moved back to the bed. I sat up and he took me in his arms. “You know I have to go.”

  “I know.” I clung to him.

  “Maybe I can come back tonight.”

  “Really?”

  “Tell your mom to come get her basket late this afternoon and I’ll see if I can slip out.”

  “Maybe to throw everyone off, I’ll have Dad pick it up.”

  “Good idea.” He kissed me passionately. “That should hold you until tonight.”

  I touched his cheek. “Maybe it will.”

  “What do you mean, maybe? It better hold you.”

  I squeezed him around the waist. “You be careful out there and dress warmly.”

  “I was putting on my vest when you wok
e up. That thing keeps me warm.” He kissed me again. “See you tonight.” He stood and continued dressing.

  It took me a while to go back to sleep after Jason left. I kept thinking that someone trying to kill us was the reason we couldn’t be together all night. And of course, I couldn’t think of any reason why someone wanted us dead.

  • ♥ •

  When I woke, the next day, it was cloudy and it looked cold outside. It was pushing the middle of March, and I wondered when it was going to begin to get warm. I gathered my underclothes and started to the bathroom, but before I could leave the room, Mom poked her head in the door.

  “Nadine is on her way over here, June. I thought I’d warn you.”

  “Oh, my goodness. What does she want?” My aunt is a good woman, but everyone knows she’s nosy. It was hard for some people to believe she and Dad were brother and sister.

  “I don’t know, honey, but I brought you a cup of coffee and I made biscuits and fried sausage this morning. I was going to wait until you came down to scramble your egg.” She sighed. “If Nadine decides to stay a while, I hope this will hold you until you can come downstairs. I guess you’ll have to forgo the eggs.”

  “That’s okay, Mom. With your wonderful biscuits, I don’t need eggs.” I chuckled as I put the food on the night stand.

  “I hear her car coming in the driveway. I guess I better get down there. It’d be like her to come up here looking for me if I’m not in the kitchen.” Mom closed the door as she left.

  I took a sip of coffee and spied the telephone Jason had given me. I decide I’d call him before he called me. I didn’t want Aunt Nadine to hear the phone ring.

  “Hi, sweetheart,” he said when he came on the line. “What’s up this morning?”

  “Me.”

  “What do you mean, you?”

  “Aunt Nadine decided to pay the folks a visit, so I’m holed up in the bedroom drinking coffee and eating sausage biscuits. What are you doing?”

  “I’m not having one of Celia’s good biscuits, that for sure. I’m making do with a stale donut.”

  “Too bad.” I pulled my feet up on the bed and crossed my ankles. “Honey, I’ve been thinking. Maybe we shouldn’t be too quick to mark J.T. Goodman’s name off the list of suspects.”