Kelly's Rules

by Barbara Miller

  “Evidence of her infidelity?” Kelly asked as she screwed a strip of wood over the slot.

  He nodded as he stared at the envelope. It wasn’t stamped or posted. “There’s no point in even bringing that up.”

  “Quinn, you’ve got a lot to learn about being proactive.”

  There was a knock at the kitchen door and Kelly went to let the inspector in. Quinn forced a smile. If everything checked out, Quinn would have insurance, or Kelly would. He let her conduct the tour and answer all his questions almost before the man asked them.

  Quinn opened the envelope and felt paralyzed. When she came back from the living room smiling, he was still leaning against the kitchen counter staring at the letter. This was all he needed.

  “What’s the matter?” Kelly’s smile faded as she looked at his defeated posture.

  “I signed a contract with the college, but the head of my department is calling my credentials into question. I may not have a job after all.”

  “Why question your resume now? Didn’t you interview with him?”

  “No, I passed muster with the rest of the search committee. Ellis was on vacation. Since the term starts soon they needed to settle on a candidate and chose me.”

  She picked up the envelope he’d dropped on the floor. “This letter wasn’t posted. It was just stuck through the slot, hand delivered. That seems very odd.”

  “That I should have all bad luck since I came to this town? No it doesn’t seem strange anymore.” He tried to see a way out of his mess but having this last rug pulled from under him seemed to be the end of the road.

  Kelly walked up close and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Then work with me.”

  “Huh?” He wasn’t quite sure why she had made the offer. Maybe she just couldn’t stand to see defeat on his face.

  “You’ve got a knack for remodeling old houses. Plus you have good taste and a respect for old things. Work with me. It will be sporadic, but it will keep hamburgers on the grill.”

  He shook his head. “You’ve done too much for me already.”

  “If our positions were reversed, you’d do the same for me.”

  He hesitated. “Okay, I’m about to fall into one of those traps. If I say no I’m a heel. If I say yes, I’m a chauvinist pig.”

  Kelly chuckled. “You’re quick as well. No traps, Quinn. Friend to friend. I’m offering you work. I’m also pointing out that life goes on. When you think you have no options, you actually still have quite a few.”

  He stood up and carefully folded the letter. “You’re right, of course. I’m just not used to…”

  Kelly crossed her arms.“Taking help from women.”

  He grinned. “I was going to say having any support at all, but that’s exactly how I felt when I married Brenda. I could never have afforded that house. And her father paid me too much money for what I did. That’s why it took me so long to decide what I had to do.”

  She put down the drill and sat on the window seat. “I have a feeling you made yourself valuable enough to the firm so that her father was satisfied.”

  “Right, up until… I can’t talk about that. Anyway even if my marriage hadn’t fallen apart, I would have had to leave that job. I just didn’t think it would be so hard to get started again.”

  “Why don’t you call the head of the search committee and set up a meeting. You have a signed contract. They can’t get out of that without some kind of penalty. Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding. Or maybe the guy is trying to bring in a friend rather than the best candidate. If he is, he’ll give himself away at the meeting. Or maybe the letter isn’t from them at all, but from Brenda. She knows about the job and isn’t above forgery, I bet.”

  Quinn stood and took a deep breath. “You’ve got a point. But I hate to leave you here alone again.”

  “I have the insurance inspector for company. He’s done with the inspection but wants to look around. He might want to hire me for his house. Go do your thing. I’ll see you at home for dinner.”

  * * * * *

  On the way home Kelly shopped, not her usual jog through the supermarket where she only paused at the ice cream cooler. She bought real salmon and herbs. Salad fixings were plentiful in the garden. In fact she grew far more than either she or Sue could use and she often carried bags of vegetables to the police station. Quinn would need a good meal whether his afternoon went well or badly.

  When she got home, Jason was mowing her back lawn. What a guy. Tomorrow they should carry the mower to Quinn’s house and do his lawn. The yard there was as big but because of the oak trees and all the bulb plantings there wasn’t as much to mow.

  Jason knocked off about the time the fish was ready but still no Quinn. She left part of it in the oven on low and made Jason sit down to eat. Even though they were only a decade apart in age, she definitely felt motherly toward him. Even if she weren’t in love with his father, Jason would seem like the neighbor kid.

  “Did your dad tell you what happened today?”

  “About the letter? Yeah, he phoned me. I’m glad he shares with me.”

  “Even bad news?”

  “I’d rather know the truth. If I don’t get to start school this fall, that’s okay. I can work for awhile. I was looking at the paper and there are lots of jobs. Let’s call it a gap year.”

  “I asked Quinn if he wanted to work with me.”

  “Yeah, he said when he called. He tries so hard, but nothing ever goes right for him. I started to see it when I was still little. He pretended things were okay, but Mom was never around, or else she took Paul with her on vacation for the holidays and left me with Dad. We never felt like a family though Dad sure tried to fake it.”

  “Why do you think that was?”

  “I’ve never understood it. I know she loves Paul more, but I’m okay with that. He’s always been sort of needy. Well, that’s over now. It’ll be just me and Dad, unless— I mean, I sure hope you two— Yikes. I’m mangling this whole thing.”

  Kelly laughed. “That’s okay, Jason. I’m happy to know you won’t mind if Quinn has a life after Brenda. But it isn’t over yet. I have a feeling there’s a mess to get through before anything can happen between Quinn and me.”

  “I just meant, don’t let me hold you back. I can always rent your summer house.”

  Kelly looked around. “Houses are one thing we seem to have plenty of.”

  They heard the Jeep in the driveway. It was almost dark and Jason went out to tell his dad he would watch the house tonight. She could smell the alcohol on Quinn when he sat at the table. But he wasn’t drunk. He’d had a drink. She got his meal out of the oven and fridge. “You’d better eat before you talk. I bet you haven’t had anything since lunch.”

  He nodded and did eat while she made coffee and got out the melon salad.

  “Well. It’s not hopeless…yet.” He finished the salmon and picked up the cup of coffee. “That was very good. I didn’t know you could cook, too.”

  “You’ve never seen my domestic side. I make a mean macaroni salad.” She served the fruit and waited.

  “The committee agreed to meet with me at four, but Ellis, the department chair wouldn’t come. He was supposed to but when he found out I’d be there he made for the parking lot. The dean was a tad miffed at him. And the committee had no idea Ellis had sent me that letter, so they’re PO’d at him as well. He’s near retirement age and has mostly adjuncts under him now.”

  “He’s afraid you’re going to get his job. Was this Ellis thinking you’d just back off without standing up for yourself?”

  “I don’t know. He raised a question about my master’s in economics, but I have one. They’ll find that out when they check.”

  “So you still have a job?”

  “It’s very fishy. If I have to work for this guy and he doesn’t want me, it could be a mess.”

  “But he’d have to come up with a real reason to get rid of you, right?”

  “I have a three-year contract. Unless I maj
orly screw up, usually those are renewed for another three.”

  “Even if you only get three years’ employment that would get Jason mostly through college.”

  Quinn smiled and sipped his coffee. “You have a way of putting the best possible spin on everything.”

  “Necessity for me. I plan but I can’t afford to look too far ahead.”

  “Maybe that’s my problem. I want to assure we have a future, make everything safe when nothing is certain.”

  “Least of all, a job. But there are always other jobs.”

  “Academia. I don’t know. They seem to be on my side, but that could change overnight. Whatever happens, I want to thank you for the job offer.”

  “No problem. I can always use a good man— I mean—”

  The phone saved her and she rushed to answer it. “Yeah, Tennant. So the son is having a fight with this other guy. Who is he? Okay, keep a low profile but try to get some pictures.”

  “What was that all about?” Quinn asked when she came back to the table.

  “Tennant tracked Brenda to a motel the next town over. Paul threw a man out of your wife’s motel room. Sounds juicy. Anyway, Tennant is documenting everything.”

  “I don’t see how that will help, but it’s a nice effort. I really don’t get why Brenda is hanging around. Before she seemed content to let the lawyers handle everything. Grasping but content. Now she seems desperate.”

  “I’d really like to be a mouse in that room.” Kelly paced the kitchen.

  “You may be a lot of things, but never a mouse. I’d better get some sleep in case I have to go out to the school again.”

  “Yeah, me too. Oh, I forgot to tell you. The house passed the inspection. As soon as we make the transfer, we can send the premium.”

  “I’m excited,” he said with a weak smile. “But you should let me take care of that.”

  “I wanted you to have some good news today.”

  He stood and came to her. “Trying to reassure me?”

  She reached around him for a mutual hug. “Just taking effective action. These little things can matter.”

  “Any day with you in it automatically has good news. I’m not sure how, but you make things turn out right.”

  She looked up at him. “You’ve got to keep your perspective. It’s only a job.”

  “Yeah, and it’s only a house. I just felt like I was so close to having a life.” He leaned on her and rested his head against hers.

  “Get some sleep. We’ll talk in the morning.”

  “Right, you must be tired.”

  After he left for the summer house, Kelly realized his jacket was still hanging on the chair. She picked it up to put it on a hanger and a folded square of paper fell out—the letter. If it hadn’t fallen out she wouldn’t have any right to read it. But it was lying there on her floor, so it was her letter for the moment, until she slid it back in his pocket. Oh, crap, just read the letter—you know you’re going to.

  She opened it up as though there might be a tarantula inside and that was pretty much the case. It was poisonous. Words like inadequate—unqualified—a diploma mill degree—leaped out at her. Without being specific the letter was designed to demoralize and get rid of someone without their complaining about it. She wondered if Quinn had shown the letter to the dean of the college or the committee. Probably not. If he got to keep the job he did have to work with his department chair. But why would the guy want to get rid of Quinn when they had never even met? Some guys were that territorial.

  Automatically she reached for the phone. “Tennant? How much credit do I have left?”

  “Some. What do you need?” Tennant’s voice was always low and reassuring.

  “Could you do some checking on the financials of Brenda Farrell?”

  “No problem. I’ll get right on it.”

  “Brenda is changing her mind about the divorce. I’m trying to figure out why she would agree to it then want to reconcile.”

  “I’ll do a little digging. Got some nice action pics. I’ll drop them by tomorrow.”

  “I’ll probably be up at Quinn’s house most of the day, patching plaster.”

  “See you.”

  As Kelly stuffed the letter back in the jacket pocket she realized Quinn had passed another test. He had not blown up at the additional rub of maybe losing his new job. He would have perhaps given in too easily to the demoralizing letter if she had not urged him to inquire. So Quinn needed her. Brenda must have damaged his ego to the point where he almost had none. She’d be good at that. Why did she want him back? Could she have an ego problem as well? Maybe she wanted him to have no choice but to go back to her.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Rule 12: Jealousy is not love; it’s possession. Don’t give up your free will for a man.” — SMFA

  Quinn got two useful calls the previous evening, one to say his front end had been repaired but the body work would have to wait. The other was from the college president asking him to a meeting with him, the dean and the department chair.

  The next morning Quinn left Kelly a message, put on his best suit and walked over to get his vehicle. At nine that morning he was sitting in Dr. Gavin’s office having coffee with him and Dean Merrick. Ellis was late so they discussed economics, teaching techniques and any other topic the president could think of while they waited for Keith Ellis to show. And he did not.

  Dr. Gavin checked with his secretary one more time before he shrugged and apologized.

  Quinn smiled. “Maybe Professor Ellis didn’t get the message.”

  “I spoke to his wife myself,” Gavin said. “She promised she’d give him the message.”

  “I’m so glad we got a chance to talk,” Quinn said as he stood. “You have my number in case you need to reach me. I’ll be working on my house and my lesson plans. I know I’m going to enjoy my first term here.”

  Dean Merrick shook hands with him. “Hope you get moved in before term starts.”

  “We’re making progress every day.”

  “I hear your son will be starting here this fall,” Dr. Gavin said.

  “Yes, he’s looking forward to it. Going into business.”

  “Good,” Gavin said. “Bring him by sometime.”

  “I’d like to meet him as well.” Merrick walked out with Quinn.

  Gavin and Merrick seemed like the sort of men he’d enjoy working for. It could all be so perfect, he thought as he drove back to town. Or it could all fall to pieces. Of all the things that had gone wrong, Ellis’ behavior was the most inexplicable. Why would someone he didn’t even know try to destroy him?

  * * * * *

  Kelly had Jason help her with the plaster work and he seemed to have a talent for keeping the patches even. Only one of the upstairs bedrooms was very bad, and even that just needed to be patched. They worked their way down and were finishing up the details in the hallway when Quinn finally showed.

  “How goes it? It smells nice in here.” He looked around at the white spots of fresh plaster.

  Kelly came off the ladder to check the hydrometer. “The humidity is still at sixty percent but that’s better than it was before. Mold can’t grow at fifty percent.”

  “How’d it go, Dad?”

  “Well, it looks like I still have a job. Ellis isn’t taking calls and can’t be found. In fact I heard the president’s secretary say he ditched a curriculum meeting today, so neither the president nor dean is very happy with him. They think my credentials are fine.”

  Kelly nodded. “Then I guess he’s got some explaining to do. What a coward, to think he could scare you away, then dodge the consequences.”

  Quinn sat on the windowsill then stood up to check for plaster dust, but his suit was unmarked. “What I can’t figure out is why?”

  ”Some men—people don’t need motivation for bad behavior.” A knock on the kitchen door made them all turn and stare. Kelly recognized Tennant’s silhouette, tall and gaunt. “Your first real caller.” She went to the kitchen and
flung the door open. “Come on in.”

  “Hi, all. We’ll have to be introduced later. I’m tailing someone, so I’ll just drop these and run. Call me tonight, Kelly.”

  As always the energetic Tennant was in a hurry, but he was smooth about it. He was out the door before Jason had time to do more than look puzzled.

  “Was that your PI?” Quinn asked.

  “It’s a small town, but sometimes the press of work is too much for him. Jason, can you finish cleaning up while I show these photos to your dad?”

  “Okay, private conference. I’m not dense.”

  “Just don’t want to shock your innocent eyes,” she said.

  They left Jason chuckling in the hall while Kelly spread out the photos on the kitchen counter. Kelly had to admit that even she was shocked by them.

  Quinn tapped one of them. “That’s Brenda and Paul, but who’s the other guy?”

  “Tennant will find out. Does it matter?”

  Quinn blew out a slow breath. “Not really. There have been so many.” He was holding one of the pictures, studying the face.

  “But you waited a long time to make the break.” Kelly washed her hands.

  “You have a right to know. You’ve risked so much for me and given me far too much leeway. Remember I said I would have had to leave the firm even if Brenda and I had not split?”

  “Yeah, but I guess I wasn’t paying much attention.” What more could possibly go wrong for Quinn?

  He rested his shapely buns against the oak radiator cover and folded his arms. “I had to quit because Brenda’s father couldn’t fire me. They can’t fire whistleblowers, not without worse repercussions than the rest of the investigation will bring.”

  “Oh, I see, financial irregularities. Have you escaped unbesmirtched?”

  “Yes, because I reported them to the SEC as soon as I found out about it, then I resigned. I’m not on the board of directors. He can try to retire before the shit hits the fan, but he should have been overseeing this and he wasn’t. In fact he carefully kept me away from the issue the whole time I worked there.”