by Teresa Trent
"I'm not sure. Sometimes he seems okay, but yesterday he came home from school in a bad mood again."
"That's not good. I never would have thought the boy that would have the most trouble this year would be Zach."
"It doesn't help that he's so small."
"I guess not."
"It was just the two of us for so many years. Maybe I'll go over and pick him up early. Just getting him out of that environment for a little while couldn't hurt."
The bell on the door behind us jingled as Edgar West came in. He stood in line behind a couple of ladies waiting to order. He rocked back and forth on his heels with his hands in his pockets. He glanced over our way and smiled.
"Is there something I should know?" Leo had noticed my staring at West.
"Huh?"
"That guy up there. You can't take your eyes off of him." Leo thought I had the hots for the Eight-Minute Tax Man. It was kind of hilarious especially in light of everything I suspected about Jeanette Burris.
"No. You don't need to worry. He was one of the last people to see Rocky before he ..." West now stood at the counter ordering.
"He's one of your dad suspects?"
"Rocky was doing some kind of investigation on him. He thought he was cheating people out of their tax refunds." Edgar West was handed his receipt and turned toward us looking for a table.
"And I think he knows you're on to him." Leo whispered.
"Did you know there is a web cam set up on Main Street?"
"There is? Pecan Bayou seems like the kind of place you go to hide out. I never expected to find big brother here."
"Nope they've been watching your every move."
"It's good I haven't done anything I'd regret the world seeing."
"Mr. West there can thank his lucky stars for web cams. Even though he had an argument with Rocky, Dad proved he was losing money at a poker game in a casino."
"A tax man who gambles? Not a good combination. Is he sure the camera footage is real?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is it at exactly the same time as the fire?"
"Well, yeah. I think so."
A few minutes later as Benny brought over Leo's plate of barbecue ribs with sauce dripping over the edges of the plate, I fought off a wave of nausea.
"Say, Benny. You wouldn't happen to have any cans of pumpkin back there in the kitchen would you?"
"Nah. We don't do much with pumpkin here. We'll probably make some pies next week, but Celia hasn't bought anything for them yet."
"Thanks. I'm supposed to have a batch of pumpkin squares at the dance tonight and I ...."
"You have that job? The famous pumpkin squares. They're legendary at the dance, you know."
"And not a can of pumpkin in the whole town."
"Wouldn't want to be you." Benny said as he walked away. I picked at my salad and tried not to breathe through my nose. It wasn't working.
As Leo continued to enjoy his ribs, Miss Caroline came in the door. She was carrying a cloth shopping bag. She looked over our way, and when she saw me, she raised her hand and waved. She held up the bag as if it might be for me.
"I think that lady has something for you, Betsy. She seems to be coming over here."
As Miss. Caroline drew near, I started to see what she was carrying. There were pink ruffled edges sticking out of the bag. She was coming closer as I stood and held my hand up to stop her. My feet couldn't carry me fast enough to Benny's ladies room. This couldn't be happening. When I emerged a few minutes later Leo still sat at the table. Mercifully, the plate of greasy ribs had been removed.
"I thought you told me you had worked through the flu. You must still be sick. Maybe we need to get you to the doctor."
"I'm fine," I said.
"And what was it with that old lady?"
"Don't know."
"She came over with a bag, but then after you ran off, she put the bag behind her and said she would talk to you another time. You're the one that's always chasing mysteries. I think you might have one there. Do you have any idea what that's all about?"
"Nope. Not a bit."
After Leo and I parted ways, I knew I couldn't wait another second. I ran down to the corner drugstore and went directly to the feminine products aisle to pick up a pregnancy test. It was zero hour and time to find out. I went up to the counter and slapped the pregnancy test down, paid my money and left. As I went out the door I could hear the clerk picking up the phone. "You'll never guess who I just sold a pregnancy test to..."
If the Gazette had been up and running, I had no doubt Rocky would have had it in the morning edition.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
With the pregnancy test in my purse I drove over to Nolan Ryan Middle School to pick Zach up early. Tyler would be coming home after basketball practice so this was a perfect opportunity for us to spend some time together. I stood at the counter that separated parents and students from two overburdened staff members who were both typing furiously into their computers. They looked to each other mentally juggling who would wait on me.
Finally one woman put on a quick smile. "We'll be right with you." I filled my time by reading the daily announcements conveniently displayed next to the student check-out book. They were asking for volunteers to audition for a winter play, and the campus newspaper needed reporters. I wondered if Zach might be interested in either one of those opportunities.
"Can I help you? Oh, you're the Harvest King's mother. He was just in here being fitted for his cape and crown."
Nothing like reminding me that I was desperate for a batch of pumpkin squares tonight. "He's very excited. I'm also Zach Livingston's mother, and I just wanted you to give him a message that I'm here to pick him up a little early."
"Sure. Let me just look him up and see what room he's in so I can let the teacher know over the intercom. She went back to her keyboard, and her fingers clicked on the keys. She then stepped over to a console against the wall and flipped a few switches.
"Mrs. Lewis? Would you please tell Zachary Livingston that his mother will be picking him up early?" There was a din of young voices in the background. Could the teacher even hear the intercom?
A voice yelled over the chaos. "Zach Livingston? He's not here today."
The lady behind the counter looked confused.
"Did you know he's not in class?"
"News to me."
She went over to her computer and pecked at the keys again. "He's been reported as present in six classes today, and he was just marked absent in seventh period." She stopped for moment, considering what she would say next.
"Mrs. Livingston, I don't want to overly concern you, but I've noticed your son spending time with another fellow who has been in his share of trouble around here."
I pulled my phone out of my purse to call Leo, digging around the hidden pregnancy test.
"Leo, did you know Zach isn't in school?
"Zach? You can't be serious." He shifted the phone as he put his hand over the speaker. After a muffled exchange, he came back.
"I'm sorry Betsy. I'm just really busy here. Can you deal with this right now??"
"I guess I'll have to."
"Make sure your dad didn't get him before you start panicking." Why was the focus on my emotional state and not Zach?
"I'll call my dad and Aunt Maggie. Maybe one of them checked him out. I really don't think they would ever do anything like that without telling me first." I slammed the phone closed. The secretary had a countenance that showed great understanding. This wasn't her first rodeo.
"Is everything okay?"
"Probably so." I reassured her. I headed down the hall feeling out of place. I called Maggie.
"We didn't pick him up. Call Judd and then call me back, or better yet just come over."
I speed-dialed my dad.
"When was the last time you saw Zach?" My father asked.
"This morning when I put him on the bus. He was here until sixth period."
"Well that means that our bo
y must've skipped out for his last class."
I felt a dark cloud descending upon me.
"Betsy, stay calm. I'll get the guys out looking for him." The tears were flowing freely now as my father spoke the words that I had so desperately wanted to hear my husband say a few minutes earlier.
"Okay."
I called Maggie back as I returned to my car.
"You're sure that Zach didn't drop any hints about where he might be?"
"No. I thought he was at school."
I could hear Danny in the background. "Danny says to check the video game store. You know young men go through these things. There's not much you can do about it, but try to give him some space."
Leo beeped in so I ended my call with Aunt Maggie. "Did you find him?"
"Not yet. I was hoping you were calling to tell me some news."
"Where's Tyler?" I couldn't believe he didn't have our sons' schedules tattooed on his brain. All Tyler ever talked about was basketball. How could he not know Tyler was in school and would be at practice until 5:30? Had he even been listening?
"Where he should be. When school ends he'll be at practice, remember?"
"Oh yeah. At least it's good to know one of our sons is in the right place." I wasn't sure I liked what he was implying.
"Aren't you really trying to say that your son is in the right place and my son is not?" There was a pause.
"No. Not at all. I'm as concerned about Zach as you are. I'm just so busy with work right now; I need you to take the reins on this. I was hoping you could understand that."
"You know, I think I'm beginning to see things just a little bit differently."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Before I started to answer, I began feeling incredibly tired and terrified for Zach. Where could he be?
"I've got this." I snapped the phone closed. As I started to put it back in my purse, it rang in my hand. The number on the caller ID was Zach.
"Mom?"
"Zach? Where are you?"
"I'm at the Pecan Bayou...uh... Courier. Mr. Wendell's office."
"What are you doing there?"
"I can explain. Could you come pick me up?"
It amazed me that he had just put me through sheer hell, but still expected me to jump in the car and chauffeur him home. "I'm on my way." I sent off a text to Leo and hit the gas.
*****
Ten minutes later I found Zach sitting behind one of the desks at the Pecan Bayou Courier attaching a wire to a computer.
"Hi Mom," he said it as if everything was just fine.
Nicholas Wendell walked over and took me by the elbow, leading me back outside. "Betsy. So nice to see you."
"How did my son end up here?" I asked.
"It just all kind of happened if you know what I mean."
"I wish I did."
"Okay, so I saw him walking down the street with this tall kid. At the time I didn't know that it was your son. The other boy was smoking, and he tried to give a cigarette to Zach. Zach must have refused because then the kid pushed him up against the bricks of my building. I didn't know what to do so I made up a lie. I stepped out and told Zach I had been waiting for him to help me with my computers. It sounds dumb now, but it worked. The other kid hit the road."
I think I was beginning to like this guy.
"Here's the kicker." Wendell led me back into the Courier office. "Who knew a kid could actually finish helping me set up my local area network on my system? When he told me that you were his mother I made him call you."
"Thank you so much. He's never done anything like this before, but things have changed for him. I just got married and he's been going through some tough times with having a new sibling."
"That's rough. Hate to say it, but been there done that. My mother had three husbands by the time I was eighteen. I've had my share of new brothers and sisters."
I hadn't seen this side of Nicholas Wendell before.
"I'm just so glad that he's here, and he's safe. I can't thank you enough. I stepped forward to shake his hand when my foot caught on a stray cord on the floor. Normally I was a pretty graceful person, but today for some reason my timing was off, and I tripped, landing in Nicholas Wendell's arms.
"I'm so sorry. There are cords everywhere, Betsy. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am ..." the door facing the street opened, and Leo walked in. We quickly straightened up.
Leo frowned, and then headed over to Zach.
"Do you know what you put your mother through today?"
"Leo is it?" Nicholas Wendell said. "Your son here was just helping me with my computers. It was really a lucky break on my part because I was getting pretty desperate. I hope you don't mind."
"That's great, but he's still in some deep trouble. Zach, head on out to my car."
Zach looked to me. "Mom, do I have to? I mean, seeing as I was being so helpful."
I was thrilled Leo had dropped everything and shown up like a real father. "Zach, go with Leo."
Leo nodded his head at me appreciatively. "I'll be right behind you in my car."
Zach rose and shuffled out, dragging his feet.
I turned back to Nicholas. "Thank you again for all that you've done."
"No problem, and it's nice to meet you, Leo. Betsy as long as I have you here there are a couple of things I needed to talk to you about." He looked over at Leo as if asking permission to keep his wife. "That is if you can spare a minute."
I thought about all of the times Leo walked out on me in the last week because of pressing business matters. Leo grumbled something and put his arm around Zach's shoulder to escort him out the door. I had seen a nicer attitude when my father arrested him.
"This won't take long. I promise." I called after him as he turned to leave.
"I did a Google search and ran a background check on Edgar West. He's worked in other tax agencies. Here." He reached over to a desk and handed me several sheets of printed out pages. There were three or four pictures from tax service advertisements. West looked a little older each ad.
"Take a look at this. I found a picture of him at the L'Auberge Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Seems he won a jackpot there a few years ago."
"Old news, Mr. Wendell. My dad already tracked that down about him."
Nicholas looked amazed. "Really? I think I've underestimated you ... and your dad."
"We even know where he was on the night of the fire."
"Not getting his carpets cleaned?"
"Nope. He was at a poker table in Louisiana."
"Remind me to never take my taxes to him."
There was something that was bugging me as I looked at the pictures.
What was it?
"Well, Sherlock have you solved the case?"
"I hardly think I am qualified to do that."
"Oh come on Betsy, you're too modest. You can't live in a town this small and not find out about the Happy Hinter and her helpful hints on homicide." This guy really was a journalist. Five "H" words in one sentence.
"I guess I've had my share of trouble if you want to put it that way."
"Since arriving in this quaint little town, I've found out you're a news story just waiting to happen. When I finally do have enough money to have a full-time reporter I think I'll save time and post him outside your house."
"Mind if I take these?"
"Go ahead. Oh, and one more thing. If you are still interested in writing your Happy Hinter column for my paper, then I would be glad to have you on board."
Who knew I could change the heart of such a big-city newsman?
"I thought you were only covering hard news?"
"I know. After being here a little while though I can already see hard news in this town isn't quite the same as hard news in the big city. I guess it's time to start checking out hog-calling contests and bake-offs."
"Now you're talking, and thanks, I'll bring it into you."
"Betsy?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck with finding out what h
appened to Rocky."
Wow. It almost felt like he cared.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
When I arrived home ten minutes Later Zach was sitting back from the kitchen table, his shoulders slumped. Leo was leaning up against the counter his arms crossed as the two of them seemed to be staring at each other.
I dropped my bag on the front table. "Hope I didn't miss anything."
"I just asked Zach here how he ended up at the newspaper office this afternoon. He didn't seem to be able to give me an answer."
"Nicholas told me that Zach was walking with another kid from school. The kid looked really rough and he was smoking a cigarette. He wanted Zach to smoke too."
"Zach is that true?"
Zach turned his head toward Leo and nodded.
"When he pushed Zach against the wall, Nicolas came out to help him. Isn't that right, Zach?"
"Yeah."
I pulled a chair up directly across from Zach so that I was facing him. "You made some pretty bad choices today Zach. You've never done anything like cutting class before."
"So. What's it matter to you? It's my life."
"Did you skip the class you were having trouble with?"
"I don't know."
"Surely you know what class you have seventh period."
"You don't understand. You're so busy with Mr. Leo and your new kid Tyler. I hate you!" He ran out of the kitchen escaping to the stairs.
"Young man, you get back here." Leo yelled as his cell phone interrupted him. Jerking it out of his pocket he answered. "What!" I waited as he listened to the person on the other end and then inserted a much softer tone. "Okay, okay I can be there in about ten minutes. Don't worry it'll be fine."
He turned to me. "I have to go down to the station. I shouldn't be more than an hour or two. The computers have gone down, and Jeanette is frantic. Stan had to leave for some equipment he's picking up in Dallas and can't be back until tomorrow. She's afraid she's not going to be able to get the cable feed going." It seemed like it was always something with Jeanette these days. That girl had more crises than the United Nations.
"And you're the only one in this town she can call?"
"Maybe I should bring Zach along now that he's the computer expert." He grabbed his keys off of the table and slammed out the front door nearly knocking over Tyler who was on his way in.
