Arrest of the Heart

by Judy Kentrus

  “Good evening.” Jessie waited until everyone stopped talking and acknowledged her greeting. “You all know me, so I don’t have to introduce myself. You also know my daughter, Edith and my fiancée, Lincoln Adams. The other little girls are Susan and Vicky Landis, our very dear friends.”

  Before she could continue, everyone started cheering. Jessie held up a hand. “They have a little surprise, but before they begin, there is something I feel you should know.” She winked at Lincoln, mouthed, “I love you,” then continued. “I’ll probably get in trouble with my future husband, but that’s why there is such a thing as making up.” The adults laughed, accompanied by a few catty whistles. “You all knew Buford Adams as a generous man who loved Laurel Heights and gave so much to our community when he was alive. Since his passing, he has left us a legacy in the form of his wonderful grandson, Lincoln. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be standing on the stage of this beautiful gazebo. He funded the cost of the shirts and banner for the fishing derby and bullying campaign. He is working with Principal Wayne to design a new playground by the elementary school that will include a water park for young children. It will be called “The Pirate’s Cove’.” Gasps and intermittent claps interrupted her speech. “He hasn’t forgotten the teenagers.” Jessie deliberately looked at her mother sitting in the front row. “The Norman Taylor Community Center” is to be constructed in the rear of the elementary school, with an indoor pool, a gymnasium, and lots more amenities.” Whistles and more claps filled the pleasant, early evening air.

  “Last, but not least, he is bringing a division of Adams Security to Laurel Heights that will create new job opportunities. Despite his generosity, he doesn’t want any thanks. All I’m asking is that everyone accept him for the extraordinary man he is and stop calling him,” Jessie hesitated and laughingly added, “Buford’s Bastard grandson!” The crowd erupted into laughter before they applauded with a great deal of enthusiasm.

  She turned and gave her a future husband a quick curtsy. “That’s for every time you forgot to tell me something.”

  “Remember what Julie said before, you are so going to pay for that. Be prepared, Shortcake.”

  “I can’t wait.” She blew him a kiss and lifted the microphone. “Ladies and gentlemen, Edith and Lincoln, performing, Piano Man.”

  The moment Edie played the first few cords, the revelers grew uncommonly quiet. By the time the duo got through half the number, people raised their voices in song. Many stood up and wrapped their arms about each other’s waists, swaying from side to side to the flowing beat. Unknowingly, Edie and Lincoln had brought unity to a troubled community.

  The band members returned to the stage and added their own musical accompaniment. Edie and Lincoln wound up doing an additional chorus. The cheering continued long after the song ended. Lincoln couldn’t get off of the stage fast enough and gripped Jessie’s hand like a lifeline as they made their way back to their friends.

  “That was unbelievable,” Alexis said, and gave him a hug. “Don’t let my mother-in-law know you can play, or she’ll have you entertaining at the next country club fund raiser.” When Lincoln paled at her statement, she laughed.

  Julie looked at her sleepy-eyed daughters, leaning against their father. “We’re going to head home. Tomorrow will be another fun-filled day. We also have to get back to Josh, Anna, and Billy. He’s hanging out with the Kelly twins. Since it promises to be a beautiful night, they plan to sleep on the boat.”

  “I’m so glad you came.” Jessie looked around for her daughter. “Did you see where Edie went?”

  “She stopped to say hello to a friend,” Vicky said, just before she yawned. “Here she comes.”

  “Where did you go?” Jessie asked when the others had left.

  “I saw my friend at the barricade.”

  Lincoln turned to study the line of police barricades that had been set around the park for the day’s festivities, but didn’t see anyone. “What friend?” Tightness gripped the back of his neck.

  “The janitor at our school. He’s been very nice to me.” Edie started to play with the blue ribbon on her shirt. “I took the bag of Uncle Daddy’s psychedelic undies out of our garbage and brought them to school to show my friends. I went to throw them away, but the janitor offered to put them in the trash for me. He asked where I got them. I told him they belonged to Mr. Lincoln, but you didn’t want them anymore.”

  Jessie’s cop senses went on high alert, but asked in a casual tone, “What’s his name?”

  “It’s Andy.”

  Lincoln had been afraid many times in his life, but never like this very moment. Andrew Sayers, a cold blooded killer had tried to befriend his sweet, innocent niece. He wanted to gather her in his arms and protect her from any and all harm. The fear in Jessie’s eyes echoed his own. “Come on, Short Stop, let’s call it a night. When we get home, maybe your mom can make popcorn and we can talk about the fishing derby.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Jess replied with forced enthusiasm.

  When they got home, Jessie sent Edie upstairs to take a shower. The moment they were alone, she threw her arms about Linc’s waist and burrowed her face in his shoulder. “I’ll personally kill him if he so much as touches a hair on her head!”

  “Get in line.” Lincoln gathered her close and rested his cheek on her head. “He’s been here all this time. As a board member, Thornton used his influence to get Sayers a job at the school. At least we know how he got the underwear to put on Leon Price.”

  Jessie raised her head and kissed him lovingly. “Please, for me, for Edie, sleep in Treig’s room tonight.”

  “The only way you could get me out of this house tonight, would be in a body bag.” Abbie Lincoln chose that moment to come in the cat door. She was followed by Xavier Cugat. “The four legged cavalry has arrived.”

  “That body bag remark was not funny.” She pushed out of his arms and got the box of microwave popcorn from the pantry. “Call me crazy, but I bet Sayers has been calling the elementary school home. As a janitor, he’d have keys to the building. There’s a cafeteria so he wouldn’t starve, and there are showers off the teacher’s lounge. The entire school is wired for cable television and internet connection, so he’s got all the comforts of home.”

  “That’s an excellent theory and one I think we should explore. As soon as your mother gets home, why don’t you have a car meet us at the school and we can take a look around. Picking him up tonight would solve one of our problems.”

  “Even if we were lucky enough to capture Sayers, we still don’t know the identity of the mystery man. Your forensic accountant couldn’t find any unexplained income when he researched Lynch and Lorenzo’s financial accounts.” She put her hands to his face and kept her eyes steady on his one beautiful eye. “I’m going to ask the biggest favor I’ve ever asked of you. Stay here and protect Edie and my mother. I can have the chief and a squad car meet me at the school. I’m a cop. Prove to me you know I can do my job.”

  “If I haven’t told you enough that I love you, I’m telling you now. I love you, Sergeant Taylor. You are asking me to choose between you and my niece. I can’t.” When the words “but” escaped her lips, he put his finger to her mouth to silence further protest. “I’m going to let you go, because I have every confidence you can do your job.” When the tension around her face eased, he gave her a soft, impassioned kiss. “I am going to make a suggestion. It’s a big school, and four cops searching for a killer isn’t sufficient. Sayers could make it out any of the exit doors before you even came close. I can have ten of my men meet you at the school. Believe me when I tell you they are well-trained security guards and you know they’re carrying.”

  “I’d be stupid to refuse your offer, but could they get here ASAP?”

  “That won’t be a problem. Some are staying at the Last Chance motel, and the rest are in the furnished cabins at Henry Long’s campground. My people have indoor plumbing, showers, electric, heat, and a clean place to sleep.”<
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  “You are truly my knight in shining armor. Make your phone call while I go upstairs and change.” She went to leave and turned back. “I love you too.”

  The first thing she did was check on Edie. Her daughter was in bed, sound asleep. Jess shuddered, thinking about the danger Edie had been in, but not just her daughter. All of the children had been in harm’s way. Jess was more determined than ever to get that murdering bastard. She kissed her daughter on the forehead and raised her eyes to Edie’s guardian angels. “Watch over them,” she said softly, and turned out the bedroom light.

  The chief agreed to meet her, along with Lieutenant McCarthy. Officers Lynch and Grote would rendezvous with the rest of the security team on the dead-end street in the rear of the school.

  “I won’t be there, but Sergeant Taylor will coordinate positions with you. Bring five additional earpieces so you can all be in communication. Thanks, Logan, and good luck.”

  Jess adjusted the gun belt around her waist. “Logan is here?”

  “He came in last evening and wants to be included in the operation. He was an ordinance man in our unit, and I think he gets bored from time to time sitting behind a desk. He’ll also be able to get a look at the new building.”

  “What’s this about earpieces?” Jess went to the back door to get her vest and cap.

  “Our agents are in total communication. Logan’s bringing extra earpieces for your team. I’ve got my own, but you’ll be out of range.” He paused, then frowned, “where’s Edie?”

  “Sound asleep. Take care of our daughter,” Uncle Daddy.

  He hugged her tightly and kissed her on the cheek. “Be careful out there, and take care of my future wife.”

  Being kept in the dark added to his anxiety, so Linc went out to the garage to make sure everything was in readiness for the bed race. “Taylor’s Tornado,” was set to win another trophy. Edie had helped sand off the rust spots. He’d planned to spray paint it all white, but she said it should be black and silver and display a Jolly Roger flag. Jessie had no sooner gotten home Thursday afternoon, when Edie told her mother to close her eyes. When the juke box blasted, Tina Turner’s Proud Mary, Jessie’s eyes had flown open when she spotted the refinished bed. Margaret had come home a few minutes later and she, too, had been shocked to see her husband’s pride and joy totally refinished. Edie would ride in the bed, and three others would push the bed down the hill to the finish line. Since Margaret was one of the judges, Jessie said she’d take care of getting the other team member. It would be a surprise.

  Linc had just returned to the house when Margaret came home. She apologized for being late, but she’d joined three of her friends for drinks to celebrate a very successful community day. They got through it without any additional dead bodies.

  “Where’s Jessie? I didn’t see her radio car when I pulled in.”

  “Let’s go out to the porch. Grab a bottle of your favorite wine and a couple of glasses and I’ll fill you in. He’d barely swallowed his chardonnay when his cell phone rang and he was relieved to see it was Jessie. “You okay? Did my people show up?”

  “Yes and yes. Not knowing what is going on has to be driving you crazy, so I’ll keep my cell phone on. I’ve got the ear piece to my phone in my other ear if you have to communicate with me.”

  “You are so good to me, Shortcake. Any sign of Sayers?”

  “None as of yet. The building is totally dark except for the red exit signs and lights in the hallways. We couldn’t get a hold of the principal for the keys to get in, so we called Clyde. In all the time he’s been the night janitor, he’s never seen any evidence of anyone living in the school. Six of your people are stationed around the exterior of the building and the others are going in, including Logan.” Jessie hesitated and then added, “Stand by.”

  His cell phone remained silent for almost an hour, other than faint conversations coming from the other officers. It was after two in the morning when Jessie exited the building, tired, disappointed, and spitting angry.

  “The son-of-a-bitch is gone,” Jessie spat into the phone. Hold,” she said.

  “Logan, please extend our thanks to your men, especially for helping out at the last minute. Get some sleep. Tomorrow night you’ll be dealing with another tense situation.”

  “Tell the guy on the other end of your phone that it’s no hardship working with gorgeous police officers. I’ll talk to him in the morning. Night, Linc,” he said, and laughed out loud.

  “Don’t take his sexist remark personally. He said that to bust my chops. His two sisters are police officers and could be fashion models. Are you cleared to leave?”

  “I’m heading for my car now. Linc, Sayers left a note, addressed to me. I didn’t want to read anything from that murderer. The chief read it and recommended I be with you when I read the message.”

  “Did the chief indicate what was in the letter?”

  “No, he just shook his head and reiterated we should read it together. Linc, I don’t want to be alone tonight.”

  “I’ll be here with open arms.”

  “That’s the best invitation I’ve had all night. See you in a few.”

  Margaret put a hand to his shoulder. “I’m so glad Jessie has you.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Try to spend a platonic night with my daughter. Edie has big ears.”

  Jess went directly upstairs to her brother’s room when she got home. Disappointment swamped her tired body when she was greeted by a dark, empty space. She checked on Edie and was relieved her daughter was sleeping peacefully and continued down the hall. Gladness filled her heart when she got to the doorway of her bedroom. Lincoln was sitting in her window seat, relaxing against the mound of fluffy pillows. Moonlight poured into the room, highlighting his gorgeous grinning face.

  “What a beautiful sight to come home to,” Jessie smiled, and kicked off her shoes. Her socks and trousers followed her shirt that landed on the bed. “Give me five minutes to shower and change.” Three minutes later she exited the bathroom, and unwound the towel about her head and shook her hair free. “That’s the quickest shower I’ve ever…” Her voice trailed off and she couldn’t move.

  Lincoln swallowed, hard, appreciating the belly-revealing length of her virginal white camisole and the boxer shorts that showcased her long legs. When she just stared, he became alarmed, not that he didn’t relish viewing her half-naked beautiful body. “Sweetheart, are you all right?”

  Jess was entranced. Lincoln was relaxing in her favorite place, the place she’d fantasized and dreamed about loving him. His long legs were crossed at the ankles. His feet and magnificent chest were bare. He belonged. He was hers. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be like without him. She ran across the room, straddled his lap and threw herself against his him. “I love you, I love you so much,” she sobbed, tightening her arms about his neck.

  “Shhh,” he said, pressing her face to his shoulder. “It’s okay.” The tips of her hair were still wet and she smelled incredible. He slipped a hand under the edge of the camisole and moved it soothingly up and down the smooth skin of her back that was still warm from her shower. The thin material offered no barrier to the hardened nipples piercing his chest. Linc was getting harder by the second.

  Jessie breathed in his scent and let it seep into her body to calm her unsettled fears. “I’ve been able to handle the murders, the smuggling, even the threats to my mother, but when I think about that sick murderer close to my baby.”

  “I feel the same way. You and Edie are the most important people in my life.” He lifted her chin and kissed away the remainder of the tears on her cheeks. “Let’s read the letter. No matter what he says, I’m here for you.”

  Jessie nodded and turned on one of the small bedroom lamps. The envelope was stuffed in the back of her uniform trousers. “Technically, this is evidence. Once we’ve read it, we’ll have to turn the note over to the chief.” Her hand was shaking. “I can’t do this.” Jessie nestled between his out-stretched legs and
leaned back on his naked chest. “Read it to me.”

  He placed a kiss on her shoulder and wrapped her close using one arm.

  “Jessie, my love, I thought it only right I say goodbye. Don’t bother trying to find me. I’ll be long gone and won’t be at the planned raid tomorrow night in Stevensville. My contact in the Laurel Heights Police Department keeps me well informed. The smuggling operation out of Laurel Heights was good while it lasted. I’m part of a much bigger operation. That boyfriend of yours and that nosy bat man were getting too close. The joke is on Buford’s bastard, because we’ve been using the old man’s house for over a year, along with that old train. No one ever suspected. Thanks to my local connection, I played to the weaknesses of those wimps on the town council, but they got too greedy and that fancy pants mayor threatened to rat us out. I had to eliminate them. Thornton committing suicide saved me a lot of trouble. Putting Buford’s bastard’s colorful underwear on Leon Price was a nice touch, only he didn’t get the message. Apparently, the dummy didn’t work either because he’s still sniffing around. I really enjoyed meeting your sweet little girl every day in school.

  “You’re probably wondering why I married you. I was part of a drug operation in NYC, and my bosses thought it would be a plus if my wife was a cop. Your partner was dirty, but developed a conscience and decided to snitch on our operation. The raid that night was a phony bust. You were also supposed to die, but I missed.”

  Jessie gasped and put a hand to her shoulder, suffering a phantom pain where the bullet had penetrated her body. “He shot me,” her voice came out in a sick rasp. “That no good rotten son-of-a-bitch shot me!”

  Linc cautioned himself to contain his inner rage, more for Jessie’s sake than his own. “I vow here and now, Andrew Sayers is a dead man. Some way, some how I will track him down. Do you want me to continue?”