Lia Farrell - Mae December 02 - Two Dogs Lie Sleeping

by Lia Farrell

  “Hi Mae, didn’t know you were here.”

  “Yeah, I was here yesterday too, but you were asleep. I just arrived—brought the puppy over to cheer Livy up. And I wanted to make sure you saw this; it looks important.” Mae took a thick envelope out of the pile. Her name was written on it—her maiden name. Three initials stood in place of the return address. July froze. She recognized the handwriting; it was Tommy’s. With shaking hands, she tore it open, unfolded it, and began to read.

  July stood at the counter with tears rolling down her face. Finally she looked at Mae and smiled, wet cheeks shining.

  “He did write me a letter, like he said.” She waved two pieces of stationary at Mae. “God, he must have mailed this on the day he died.”

  “It’s from Tommy?” Mae asked. “What does it say?”

  July looked around. “Is Fred with Livy?”

  “Yes,” Mae said, “they’re playing with the puppy. It seems like Livy’s feeling better today. He’s got her laughing back there.”

  “Good. Let’s go outside and sit on the patio. You can help me figure out what to do.”

  “Do you want me to read it, July?” Mae asked.

  July bit her lip. “There’re some parts that are very … private. And his handwriting was atrocious. I’ll just read two sections to you.” She unfolded the letter and laid the first page face down on the glass-topped patio table.

  “The first page is the personal part. He says how much he always loved me,” July started to cry, “and then he says I needed to understand why he left. He figured out that his old roommate Ryan Gentry was killed because he knew that Henry and Greg were up to something involving a lot of money. He says he was afraid that if he talked or stuck around, I’d be in danger. If he broke off contact with me, then they would assume I knew nothing.”

  Mae gasped. “That’s why he disappeared! He was protecting you.”

  July nodded. “There’s a couple of words that I can’t decipher here, see? Right after Greg’s name.” She showed Mae the handwritten sheet.

  “I can’t tell what that says, either,” Mae told her, after she looked at it. “I think it’s a name or maybe a title. Never mind.”

  July cleared her throat. Flipping to the third sheet of paper, she started reading:

  Bethany Cooper convinced me that Wade Rawlins was her father. She told me he signed a Declaration of Paternity form. There are a few places in the house where documents could be hidden: the attic above my old room, the safe in Wade’s study, or the compartment under his desk chair. You remember, July, I told you about Wade showing me the secret compartment under the chair seat.

  I’m writing this letter to you sitting in my car outside of the mansion. I saw Henry when I walked into Evangeline’s office, and I know he saw me. It’s time for me to stop running away. I don’t have long to live, sweetheart, about another six months. I have cancer. Henry is going to come after me; I know that. I’m going to the police after I look for the Declaration of Paternity. This time I’m not running. Once Henry is in custody, I know you will be safe.

  July was crying so hard by then, Mae could hardly understand her.

  “He said if he didn’t have a chance to find those papers, he needed me to look for them. For Bethany’s sake. His last words were that he would always love me.” July’s tears were falling on the letter.

  “How was he able to mail it before he went into the house?” Mae said.

  “There’s a postbox right there,” July answered. “I guess he had planned to send me the letter all along, because he was prepared with stationery and a stamp.”

  Mae looked at her sister with compassion. “He couldn’t run forever, July. He did a very brave thing. He came home. So we need to finish this for him, don’t we?”

  The glass-topped wrought-iron table where they sat was shaded by a huge oak tree. Ricky was curled in Mae’s lap, and Soot was draped across July’s feet. July pulled a tissue from her pocket and wiped her nose. They heard noises inside the house and the voices of their parents.

  “We better go in, July,” Mae said. “But we have to get to the mansion as soon as possible, and we need to give this letter to Ben.”

  Her sister nodded. “Put it in your purse. I’ll check with Miranda, but we’ll probably need to wait until after hours. They finally opened the mansion officially yesterday, and tours are going on every day right now from ten to five.”

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Mae December

  Mae and July walked back into the house. Their parents had arrived. Suzanne looked up and saw July’s face. She walked over and hugged her.

  Nate and Parker were taking turns “watching” their little sister and hounding their grandfather to take them back to the lake house. The Tater was sniffing around the kitchen floor, so Mae picked her up.

  “Please, Papa? We didn’t get to stay very long, and I left my backpack out there. Now that Livy’s better, can’t you take us back?” Nate pleaded.

  July was still in her pajamas. She pre-empted her father, who looked like he was about to give in.

  “That’s enough, Nathan Frederick Powell! You and your brother need to stop pestering your Papa about this. Go outside and play with your dogs, or ride your bikes and give the adults some peace.”

  Parker came running through the kitchen and skidded to a halt, seeing Mae and eying the Tater acquisitively. “Can I hold her?” he asked. Mae looked at her sister.

  “That’s fine, Parker. Just take her out in the backyard—careful, don’t drop her. Soot and Ricky will be happy to see her. Nate, go with them.” The boys started to leave.

  Olivia sent up a wail of protest from the nearby sofa, where she was ensconced with her grandmother. “But I want the puppy. Mommy, don’t let him take her outside.”

  Suzanne December sighed, got up from the sofa and walked into the kitchen. She smiled at Mae, took the Tater out of Parker’s hands and raised her eyebrows at her husband.

  “Don, would you take the boys outside for a minute? Maybe the three of you can toss a ball around.” Her husband laughed, cocked his handsome head of thick, graying blond hair, and regarded Suzanne with affection.

  “Why didn’t I think of that?”

  “After Livy sees the puppy for a few minutes, I’ll bring her out to you boys,” Suzanne said.

  Fred downed the rest of his coffee, put the mug in the sink and kissed July on top of her head. “I don’t know how your sister handles all this,” he told Mae with a smile. “She deserves a lot of credit for managing these little varmints so well, that’s for sure. I’ve got to go into the office. Bye girls.” He swatted July’s butt, winked at Mae and went out the door.

  “So … Fred and I made up, in case you couldn’t tell.” July laughed. “We’re both running on fumes, but I feel better about our marriage than I have in months, maybe years.”

  “Well, that’s great. But we need to take care of some things.” Mae took Tommy’s letter out of her purse. “Are you going to tell Fred about this?”

  July shook her head. “I don’t want to drag him through any more issues related to Tommy.”

  The doorbell rang. July raised her eyes heavenward, as if to say, What now? “Could you go answer the door, Mae?” she asked. “I’m going to run and get out of my pajamas.”

  “Go on, I’ll get it.”

  A dark-haired little girl stood on the front porch. Her hair was braided to one side, hanging down over her left shoulder, and her green eyes were wide and heavily lashed. Mae was enchanted.

  “Can I, I mean may I visit Olivia?” she asked.

  “Yes, you may. Please come in.” Mae held the door open wide for the small, Disney-esque child. “I’m Olivia’s Aunt Mae. Who’re you?”

  “I’m Amberleigh Townsend.” She gave Mae a shy smile. “Is Livy in her room?”

  “No, honey. She’s in the kitchen. Go ahead, I’m sure she’ll be glad to see you.”

  Amberleigh scampered off, and Mae went to find her sister. July was st
anding in her room in shorts and a bra when Mae walked in.

  “There’s nothing clean to wear,” July said. “I took most of my stuff to the lake house.”

  “Just throw on something, July. It doesn’t matter what you wear right now. Get a move on, girl.”

  July pulled open her bottom dresser drawer and dug down. She pulled out an Ole Miss T-shirt. Frowning, she pulled it over her ponytailed head. “Okay, let me fix my hair and I’m ready. My cellphone’s out in the kitchen. If you go get it, I’ll call Miranda.”

  Mae went back to the kitchen, where Olivia and Amberleigh were sitting under the table with the Tater. They were giggling and the puppy was obviously enjoying their company. Mae located July’s cellphone on the counter near the prep-sink. She picked it up and started scrolling through her sister’s contacts, looking for Miranda’s number.

  “Look, Aunt Mae. Amberleigh gave me a present.” Olivia crawled out from under the kitchen table. She held out her hand. “It’s a best friends’ ring. Isn’t it pretty? Mommy has one just like it.”

  A man’s class ring lay in her niece’s outstretched hand. Mae picked it up. The heavy ring had a large, black stone in a gold setting, with ‘Sigma Chi-SETS’ engraved around the stone.

  July walked in with her hair clipped up in a pile atop her head. “Hello Amberleigh.” She took her cellphone from Mae’s hand and stopped, staring at the ring. “Where did that come from?”

  “It’s mine,” Olivia informed her. “Amberleigh gave it to me.”

  July took the ring from her sister’s hand. “Amberleigh, is this your father’s ring?” She distractedly handed the phone back to Mae and took the ring over to the window, turning it to catch the light.

  Amberleigh crawled out from under the table, followed by the Tater. “No, Ma’am. Daddy’s wearing his ring. I found that one this summer in Daddy’s box with his cufflinks, and Mommy said I could keep it.” The little girl’s forehead creased as she went on. “I gave it to Livy, ’cause she’s my best friend.”

  July smiled at her. “That’s fine, sweetie. You’re a very good friend.” She handed the ring to her daughter. “Don’t lose this, Livy. Could you girls take the puppy outside, please, before she has an accident?”

  “Okay, Mommy.” Olivia looked down at the ring.

  “On second thought, do you want me to keep it in my jewelry box for you so it doesn’t get lost?” July asked.

  Olivia nodded. “That’s a good idea.” She handed the ring to her mother, and she and her best friend dashed out with the Tater in hot pursuit.

  “This ring has initials engraved inside it.” July’s dark eyes were wide. “Mae, I think this was Ryan Gentry’s ring.”

  “July, we have Tommy’s letter and now Ryan Gentry’s ring. We have to tell Ben about this.”

  “I know we do, just give me a heads-up if I need to warn Sandi about anything, okay? Here, take the ring. Put it in your purse with the letter. You can give them to Ben.”

  “I will. When do you want to go to the mansion?”

  “I’d like to go today, but it would be better to search for the Declaration of Paternity after it closes. Miranda should be there too.”

  “You’re right.”

  The two little girls ran back into the kitchen, shrieking. Olivia’s face was ashen. “Nathan’s playing with matches, Mommy. And Parker’s getting sticks to build a big fire. They’re being really bad!”

  July sighed. “I’m sure Zana and Papa can handle it.” She put her hand on Olivia’s forehead. “Does your head hurt, sweetie?”

  “Just a little bit.”

  “Okay, playtime’s over.” Both the girls began to protest, but July held up her hand. “Sorry, Livy needs to rest. Mae, would you walk Amberleigh home? I want to make sure Sandi’s home. Sometimes she runs an errand while Amberleigh’s over here.”

  “Sure, let me grab Tatie and put her in the car first. Could I just drop Amberleigh off on my way home?”

  July gave a distracted nod. “In the back seat, remember. Thanks, Mae. I’ll call you after I talk to Miranda. Say bye to Amberleigh, honey, and to Aunt Mae.”

  Amberleigh had been thrilled to sit in the back seat and hold the Tater—so excited that she forgot to tell Mae which house was hers until they passed the driveway. Mae had backed up and into the circular drive. She walked Olivia’s friend to the door and passed her off to her mother without incident, leaving her Explorer running and the puppy inside. When she got back in the driver’s seat she heard whining but she couldn’t see the Tater. Mae got back out to look under her seat, spilling her purse in the process.

  “Dammit!” The contents of her bag were strewn across the pavers. Ryan’s ring rolled under her vehicle. She knelt down. Grabbing everything else and stuffing it back in her purse, she peered underneath, trying to see where the ring had landed. All she could see was a man’s feet in black dress shoes. She stood up fast.

  “Looking for something?” Greg Townsend enquired in a quiet voice.

  “Y-yes,” Mae stuttered. “I brought your daughter home. She came to see my niece, Olivia, and I just spilled my purse.” The puppy emerged from under the driver’s seat. “There you are, Tatie!” Mae set her purse on the seat and seized the Tater. She took a deep breath. “I’m Mae December, Mr. Townsend. I don’t know if you remember me.”

  “July’s sister, right? Call me Greg.” He stepped around the front of the car toward her and then bent down. He stood back up and started to hand her the ring. “Is this what you dropped?” Glancing at her outstretched hand, he paused, then placed it on her palm. She quickly closed her fingers around the warm, heavy gold of the ring and stuffed it in her pocket.

  His brow knitted in a frown. “Where’d you get that ring?” he demanded.

  “From uh, my boyfriend, Sheriff Bradley,” she babbled, in a panic. “Bye! I’ve got to go.” Mae jumped in her still-running car and slammed the door. She hit the lock button, put the puppy on the passenger seat and reversed out of the drive as Greg Townsend stared after her.

  Mae’s heart was pounding and her breath was coming in short bursts. She pulled off onto a side street as soon as she was clear of the neighborhood. She parked for a few minutes and sat staring out the window, catching her breath. Hearing the soft whine of the Tater, Mae got herself together and drove towards Rosedale. July had just texted her that they would not be able to get into the Booth Mansion until tomorrow morning. Guess I’ll stop at the deli and grab a sandwich. She parked in the back alley. Leaving the puppy asleep on the passenger seat with the windows cracked open, she locked the car and ran in. When she came out ten minutes later, there was a man leaning on her car. He straightened up and smiled at her.

  “You’re the sheriff’s girlfriend, aren’t you?” He took a step toward her. She didn’t like the way he looked at her.

  “Yes. I’m Ben’s girlfriend. Do you need something?” She looked back at the door to the deli, but no one else was coming out. Suddenly the man grabbed her arm so hard that she dropped the bag with her sandwich in it.

  He pulled her in tight so that her back was up against him. Twisting her arm behind her, he said, “Yes, I need something.” Mae gasped, struggling to pull free.

  “You give your boyfriend a message from me, sweetheart. Tell him Henry says to leave Greg’s family alone, or next time you’ll get more than a sore arm.” He let her go, pushing her roughly away. By the time she turned around, he was walking around the corner. She heard an engine roar to life and picked up her sandwich bag. Climbing back into her car, she picked the Tater up and held her tight. Mae sat staring at nothing, petting the puppy’s soft fur. Her lips and chin trembled as she held back a scream.

  Chapter Forty

  Sheriff Ben Bradley

  Ben sat straight up in bed, his heart pounding. He looked over at Mae sleeping on her back next to him and tried to slow his breathing. He loved watching her sleep. She slept so deeply, the way his son did. Her thick, golden hair rioted all over her pillow, covering half her face.
Mae’s mouth fell open with a snort. He smiled. She’s even cute when she snores.

  Ben ran over the events of the previous days in his mind. There was something he’d forgotten to check on—something critical.

  He got out of bed, careful not to wake Mae. She was so precious to him and he felt a flare of guilt that his job had taken her again into danger. She’d almost died during the Ruby Mead-Allison case and then yesterday Henry Covington had threatened her. He got dressed, picked up his shoes and quietly left the room. After checking on the dogs, he made sure the house was locked up tight and left.

  Easing the patrol car down the driveway, Ben realized he was not comfortable leaving Mae in the house alone. During the day she would be fine, but nights were another matter. He called Tammy. Her sleepy voice answered.

  “Hi Tammy, its Ben.” He heard a quick indrawn breath. “Don’t worry. Everything’s okay, I just left Mae, and she’s still sleeping.” He could hear the shower running in the background and a man singing. “Did I get you out of the shower?”

  “No,” she gave a little laugh. “That’s Patrick.”

  “He sure sounds happy this morning. Listen, I have a favor to ask. Could you and Patrick go over to Mae’s and stay with her for a few nights if I can’t be there? Like you did during the Mead-Allison case?”

  “That won’t be a problem. Did Mae tell you Patrick moved in with me?”

  “Yes, she told me. I was glad to hear it. I’ve gotta go. Thanks, Tammy.”

  As Ben drove to Rosedale, past damp fields and yellowing tobacco crops, he was still probing his memory for the missing piece of the puzzle. He drove in and out of two cloudbursts on the short drive into town. It’s gonna be a steamy one today.

  Walking into the office, he remembered what it was. He’d never read the report from the lab on the fingerprints from Ryan Gentry’s belt. If Covington’s prints were on it, the assistant district attorney would have to prosecute him for Ryan’s murder. They could stall on the Ferris case, but the Gentry case would be cut and dried. He would get PD Pascoe to go with him to visit the ADA in person if necessary.