Unleashed_Case of the Collie Flour

by Erik Schubach

  I shot a look at Gar whose lips were pursed as he looked at me with concern, and I nudged my eyes to mom. In our well-orchestrated diversionary technique we had perfected over the years, he said as he ushered his girl into mom's recliner, “We can talk about all that after we eat. Is that lemonade?”

  Mom shot us both dubious looks then smiled at Becky. “Would you like some?”

  The brunette looked endlessly amused as she said, “That would be delightful, Winnie.”

  Mom dropped her suspicious and accusing gaze between Gar and I and smiled at the rock climber. “You can call me mom now if you like Becky, we're going to be family after all.”

  This was going to be a loooong day.

  Chapter 9 – Evidence

  We had an early supper, halfway between lunch and dinner... linner, lunner? Where we had heard all about Garrett's clumsy proposal on the climbing wall, and they shared with Jane and me how they met. Then Gar shared why he calls me Flea when Jane had asked. “Because she's always been so small.” This seemed to amuse the detective to no end. See if I label her dresser drawers for her now.

  Then everyone moved into the living room while I attacked the dirty dishes. I loved making things clean.

  Mom stepped back in. “Hurry up sweetie. It's time for dessert.” She pulled the clear plastic wrap off a freshly baked apple pie and smiled at me as I put away some pots and pans I had washed and dried.

  I nodded. “Just about done here mom.”

  She looked at the pie and the hall and then said almost cagily, “Jane seems to be a nice, well put together girl.”

  I smirked. “She's annoying, sarcastic, overbearing, and a little too smug. But I guess she's ok.”

  Mom kept her eyes on me as she smiled and cut the pie like a seasoned professional without really looking. What? She was doing some sort of cryptic mom thing again. I shrugged. “She's nice I guess.”

  Her smile grew to a smirk and then she looked at the pie as I moved over to the cupboard and handed her some pie plates from it. At least she kept my organization in the kitchen since I moved out. I grinned at that fact.

  I turned back to the sink and squeaked, Jane had somehow snuck into the kitchen with the empty pitcher and glasses and set them by the sink in my distraction, and I found myself face to chest with her again. The lilac and leather should have been an early warning for me. I heated up and took a step back to look up at her smirking face.

  I chastised as my heart thudded, “Why do you have to go sneaking around like that and getting in my personal space like that?”

  Mom pointed out, “She didn't sneak, sweetie, she walked in plain as day, and it was you who stepped into her personal space.” Why was mom so amused?

  Jerk Cop was just as amused when she thumbed over toward mom. “What she said.”

  Then I froze when she reached out and pushed a lock of my lazy curls back over my shoulder. I wasn't breathing when a thrill went down my spine, and she was gone, heading back into the living room. Good god it was hot in there, had mom left the oven on?

  I finally exhaled, feeling mom's eyes on me and I turned back to the sink to wash the pitcher and glasses as I chanted in my mind, “Leave it be, mom.” I don't know what I would say since I didn't understand my own reactions, so how could I explain it to her.

  I asked as a diversion, “So, what do you think of my Calvin?”

  After a second, mom replied with a smile in her tone, “He's adorable, Fin. Gar is right, it is about time you got a companion.” Then she added off topic, “She seems very protective of you.”

  “Mooom!” She was acting like she did whenever I brought a boy home.

  She seemed pleased that she could ruffle my tail feathers, so I didn't give her the satisfaction as I just silently washed the last of the dishes while she prepared slices of pie.

  She grinned at me as I folded the towel neatly and hung it on its hook. I grinned at my old faded 'dish towel' label on the tile wall behind it. “Why don't you bring these out, sweetie, and I'll rustle up some ice cream.”

  I nodded and brought the tray over and put the plates of pie on it and headed down the hall. Just before reaching the living room, I froze when I heard Jane asking, “I was wondering what the story with Finnegan and her sun dresses is? It's adorable, but I get the feeling there is more to it than that.”

  Oh god no...

  Garrett sounded a little strained as he said with that tinge of anger in his voice whenever he wanted to talk to me about it, but I never let him. “I know we're twins and all, but I'm her big brother, thirteen minutes older. She always looked up to me for some reason even though she's the strong one. She always followed my friends and me around and liked to dress like me.”

  He chuckled. “It was about when puberty was hitting her hard, before the other girls in the neighborhood. She was developing faster than the others, and as kids do, their jealousy brought out the worst in them. They started calling her Fin-dyke-again and teasing that she wanted to be a boy.”

  I closed my eyes hard and steeled myself against the memories. I never wanted to be a boy, I just admired how strong Gar had been. By that time he was so much bigger than me, only our eyes and hair connected us as being related.

  He continued, “It got worse in high school, and she insisted on wearing dresses all the time to prove she was a girl and didn't want to be a boy. And that old nickname had followed her, and the girls were so terrible to her because she had turned into such a pretty girl who happened to have a couple little quirks.”

  His voice changed, I had never heard him telling people this before. His voice was softer then. “But she was so strong, never telling mom because she didn't want her upset. She wouldn't let me. She's the strongest person I know. You should have seen her when the bullies ganged up on her. She would just stand there, stock still, a hand out to stop them with her eyes closed, and she just took all the hate, she never said a word, just stood strong until I could get there to chase them off.”

  Jane surprised me with her soft reply, “I've seen that.”

  God, she must think I'm some sort of mental loser now. The dogs saw me and hopped up and started toward me so I started walking, drawing their attention, pretending I hadn't heard. I put a practiced smile on my face and forced a chipper and even tone, “Who wants pie? Mom's bringing the ice cream.”

  Then I looked around at the guilty looking faces and asked, “So what's the topic of conversation?”

  Garrett looked relieved and deflected, he never really lied, “Just about school. You get mom all straightened up in there?”

  I nodded, happy to pretend nothing happened as I slid the tray onto the coffee table. I froze again as Jane leaned over me, her head beside mine and her hair tickling my shoulders as I tried hard not to close my eyes at her scent as it enveloped me. She said, “Ooo apple.” And Jane grabbed a plate then she was gone, sitting back on the sofa. My legs were a little wobbly, so I just stood there, my hands still on either side of the tray on the table until I remembered to breathe.

  Gar hopped up from the love seat where he had been sitting with his arm around his girl. He winked at me and grabbed two plates and sat back down with Becky, who was just studying me. Why did she look embarrassed? I was the dweeb in school.

  I stood then smoothed my skirt down to regain my composure and retrieved a plate for myself and then looked at Jane. She grinned with the fork in her pie hole. The dogs had hopped up and curled around each other on the other end of the couch, and the only seats available were mom's recliner and right next to the police officer who confused me so much.

  I knew better than to sit in mom's chair, so I sat beside her. She took another bite, closed her eyes and moaned. It was an almost sexual sound that again had me questioning things about myself. Mom said from behind us as she moved in with a smaller tray with little cups containing scoops of vanilla ice cream. “Glad you like it.”

  Jane pulled the fork from her mouth and said with a mouth full of apple pie, “Marry me, Winn
ie.”

  I squeaked out, “Jane!”

  Mom winked, shrugged, and said as she took a small bite of ice cream, “I could do worse.”

  “Mooom!”

  Gar was chuckling with his low rumble, and Becky was grinning from ear to ear. Fine. I started smiling at the banter and found I was leaning into Jane as I started eating my pie. She didn't seem to mind. What was I doing?

  Just then, said detective's cell started ringing. She leaned forward and set her plate on the coffee table, and the pulled out her phone and looked at the screen. She looked around and squinted in apology as she held the cell up. “Sorry, I have to take this. It's the crime lab.” She stood and moved down the hall as she answered, “McLeary, speak to me.”

  Part of me missed the contact.

  We all exchanged glances and then strained to make out what she was saying as she spoke in a low tone. I couldn't make any of it out. I don't think the two wagging tails, who had adopted her, and ran down the hall with, were going to be of any help.

  Her voice raised as she ended the call and started back toward us. “Ok, give me two hours.” Then she looked up to see all eyes on her, and she froze and gave a sheepish smile. Then she wobbled her phone in the air before pocketing it. “Sorry, the crime techs have some results. I have to go in.”

  We all nodded in unison. She was keeping the public safe from murderers, of course we understood. She looked at mom who was standing. “I'm sorry Mrs. May. The meal and conversation were wonderful. I can't remember the last time I just sat down to relax.”

  Mom was in motion. “Not a problem, dear. Let me get you some pie for later.” Before Jane could protest, she was off like a shot as Garrett and Becky stood.

  Jane squinted an eye in painful apology at me. “Sorry, I know you were looking forward to visiting your family longer, Fin.”

  Gar offered, “I can drive her home. It's no problem. Becky has a question for her anyway.”

  I stood there in amused silence as they determined my fate for the night, it was humorous really. “Hello, I'm right here.”

  Jane looked at me with that aggravating smirk of hers. “Hush now, the adults are talking.”

  Grr... I slugged her arm, and the dogs barked merrily as she feigned pain. That's right woman, take that imaginary charlie horse and like it! I smiled.

  Mom came trundling out of the kitchen with two huge slices of pie on a paper plate covered with plastic wrap. “Here you are Jane.” Mom handed her the pie then opened her arms. The unflappable Miss McLeary actually blushed and gave mom a one-armed hug.

  Then shook the offered hands of my brother and his girl. Gar said, “It was a pleasure, Jane.” Becky echoed the sentiment.

  Then the tall ebony haired woman looked down at me. I said as I took the pie from her, grumpy that mom only gave me one piece whenever I left, “I'll walk you to the car.”

  Jane quipped as we all followed her to the door, “A dog walker walking me to the car? Are you saying that I'm a bitch?”

  I giggled. “Your words, not mine.”

  She looked amused and feigned hurt. Then she gave a little wave to the others as she stepped out with me.

  The door closed behind us, and I walked her to the gate with the dogs as she said flatly, “The blood tests came back, it was Abigail's. You and Calvin found the evidence we needed. The only thing still missing is the murder weapon. Whatever it was that left those odd cuts on her.”

  I nodded, I already knew the blood was Miss Reeves'. I trusted Calvin, and he had gone crazy at those dumpsters.

  I handed her the pie as she went out the gate, and I stayed on the other side with the fuzzy minions. I stepped closer to the gate, and she moved in front of me, that familiar position we kept finding ourselves in – close but having a barrier between us. I found a pang of worry in my gut and just said quickly, “Be careful.” I leaned up quickly and kissed her cheek then I turned and hustled back toward the door.

  She called out as she got in the SUV, “I really like your family, Finnegan.”

  I opened the door and turned to see her waiting for me to look back. I held the door edge with both hands and shot her my best smile as I assured her, “Me too!”

  Then she wiggled her eyebrows. “Your brother is easy on the eyes, I think my ovaries may have sighed.”

  I blinked at that and said in distraction, “I... thought you were...”

  She rolled her eyes playfully and interjected, “I am, but everyone is a little bi around the edges, I can appreciate a pretty man.”

  Oh.

  Her smug grin disappeared into the car, and I shut the door behind me, leaving the kids out to do their thing, I'd police the yard before I left.

  I thought about her words, and with the way I had been feeling around her lately, I think there was a grain of truth there. I turned, and my smile vanished as I came face to face with three inquisitive looks.

  I pushed past them, windmilling my arms and patty-caking the air to get past them. To their collective chuckle, I grumped out, “What?” Fine, maybe I didn't like my family as much as I had a moment before.

  Chapter 10 – In The Wind

  On the way home later that night, I found out to my terror, what it was Becky wanted to ask me. Gar was grinning like a loon as the blood ran from my face when Rebecca asked, “Finnegan, it would mean the world to Garrett and me if you would be one of my bridesmaids at the wedding.”

  Bridesmaid? In front of a room full of people? Was the woman disconnected from reality in some way? I started petting Calvin in short robotic strokes. Gar looked ready to say something as I just stared at Becky, my eyes wide, but she prompted with a mischievous smile, “I promise the dresses will be gorgeous, no lime green or fuchsia.”

  Ooo a dress. I swallowed. I could get behind that if the dresses were pretty. I mean, how often did you get to go out in a formal dress? Let me rephrase that, how often did 'I' get to go out in a formal dress?

  I must have been smiling because Gar teased, “Ooo nice one Bek, right on target.”

  I nodded slowly, realizing I might have been rubbing poor Calvin's fur off and settled my hand to scritch his back. “I could do that... I mean, I'd love to. The stupid boy hasn't stopped smiling since you two walked into mom's.”

  She prompted with a wry grin, “Well you know how they are, always thinking with their...” She wiggled her brows.

  I nodded. “Don't I know it. There was this one time Raife...”

  Garrett broke in and said, “Ok, I don't need to be hearing my fiance and sister talking about that stuff!” I pushed on to torture him, but he started yelling, “La la la, I can't hear you!”

  Becky and I laughed at his discomfort, and I realized I was having a genuinely good time after a mini panic attack at the thought of standing up in front of a room full of people. I really think my brother did good, I liked Rebecca. I just wish I had the chance to meet her before this. That was the one drawback to living so far from home; missing out on current events.

  And the woman worked almost every weekend since that's when most of the rock climbing enthusiasts hit the walls at the gym she worked at. So my weekly visits always consisted of me, mom, and Gar.

  My eyes drifted from where I sat in the back seat to the console between the front seats. They were holding hands, their fingers laced and that made me so happy. I've seen my brother when he thought he was in love before, but he had never been like this. A grown twenty five-year-old man acting like a smitten teen. I was sure this was the real thing, and it made me just want to run around super fast in tiny circles for him.

  Maybe one day I'll get that silly smitten look on my face for someone.

  Gar kept looking into the mirror at me, it was his, 'Mom is going to kill me, save me Fin,' guilt face. We twins have our own secret language. I cocked an eyebrow in the awkward silence and just asked, “What did you do now Gar?”

  I jumped at the explosive chirp of laughter from Becky, then grinned at her when she looked back with a huge smile. She
looked at her man. “She's got you pegged, love.”

  He sighed in resignation and drawled out, “Well, it isn't what I did... yet.”

  Yet? Oh boy, what was he planning now?

  Before I could drag it out of him, he asked almost offhandedly, “You really love the big city?”

  I nodded, cocking an eyebrow at him in suspicion over the segue, then answered carefully, “You know I do.”

  Then he prompted, “Is it really all you say? Whenever I visit, it seems so crowded, so hectic. So – not you.”

  I shrugged. “I don't know how to explain the feeling of being a part of something that is so alive, so organic and ever-changing. You can be lost in the anonymity if you want and just let the world and sea of people flow around you like you're a rock in a stream as you watch the impossibility of it all around you. Or you can let go of your mooring whenever you want to sail on that same current, and be seen, and contribute to that life happening all about you. It makes you feel... bigger than yourself, just being part of it. If you know what you are doing, you can find a certain peace and tranquility in that chaos. I don't know. Sounds stupid.”

  Becky was smiling like she was a million miles away as she said, “No it doesn't sound stupid. It sounds amazing. Most people would be talking about the physicality of it. The buildings, the cars. The restaurants and parks. You talk about the experience of it instead. That tells us more what we needed to know than the other, superficial stuff.”

  She looked at Gar and me, then my brother blurted, “Bek got a job offer in Manhattan, managing an elite indoor climbing gym. We're going to be moving to the city after the wedding in three months.”

  He had that 'help me' look on his face again as I processed what he just said. My brother... moving to New York City? My smile was growing, then I sobered quickly when I realized his dilemma and the reason for 'the look.' I blurted, “By the swishing tail and lolling tongue! You haven't told mom yet!”