Aidan and Killian exchanged one more glance.
I hope youre right, Will, Aidan said with a sigh. I really do.
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CHAPTER TWENTY
The next morning at work, I was busy in the back room, trying in vain to force some sort of organization on the mess that had accumulated back there over the years. Hearing a noise, I looked up to find Nikki in the doorway with a worried expression on her face.
Will? she said. Theres a Detective Grafton here to see you.
What? I asked. The clipboard I had been taking notes on slipped unnoticed from my hand.
Graftons unpleasant face appeared over Nikkis shoulder.
Ill talk to Mr. Keegan right here if thats all right with you, Ms. Avanti, he said in a manner that made it clear that he was going to whether it was okay with her or not.
Nikki looked to me and I gave her a curt nod. She turned and walked stiffly back to the gallery. Detective Grafton stepped in, letting the door shut behind him.
Mr. Keegan, he said conversationally, since we last spoke some very interesting things have been happening and your name keeps popping up everywhere I turn.
Oh? I asked carefully. I had decided that the less I 310
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said the better.
Yes, oh. Do you have anything youd like to tell me?
Maybe. What things are we talking about?
I think you already know the answer to that. Miss Hammonds untimely death? You probably heard about that on the news. What you dont know is that while we officially released a report of suicide, we were still investigating the whole incident. As you well know, Miss Hammond was the person who reportedly found your friend, Mr. Taylor. There were many things about her death that didnt wash. I couldnt help but remember our conversation about your suspicions concerning the death of your friend. We took a second look at Mr.
Taylors death and we found a few things that took on a different shade in the light of Miss Hammonds death.
Why are you telling me all this now?
Two reasons. Number one, you and your junior detective club have been royally fucking up our investigation. Youre blundering through this whole thing like the infamous bull in the china shop. Youre destroying evidence everywhere and where youve not destroyed it youve outright stolen it.
Iwe
We know all about the rock Mr. Maza so kindly kept for us. We swung by and picked it up on the way here.
I was starting to get nervous. Was I in trouble?
Whats reason number two? I asked, even though I didnt really want to know.
Number two is simple. For your own protection, you need to stop this stupidity now. This is not a game. You kids are in way over your heads. Youre playing with a cold-blooded killer. This whacko has already killed three people; I dont want you to end up number four.
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Three? My blood ran cold as his words sank in.
Joey, Blake andwho?
It happened last night. Its not even hit the news yet.
Were trying to keep a lid on it as long as possible.
Who? I insisted, fighting a rising feeling of panic.
Who was it?
Robert Meade, age 19, student at the tech school, attended the party the night Mr. Taylor died, was with Miss Hammond when she found Mr. Taylor. But you already knew all that. You talked to him on the phone last night.
What? How
We checked his phone records.
When was he killed?
Most likely very shortly after you hung up from talking to him. His friends found him less than half an hour after your phone call was logged in.
He got another phone call while we were talking.
We know. It was another of your cronies, a Ms.
Duvier I believe.
My mind whirled. Laura had called Robbie? Why?
And then hed been killed shortly after.
You might be interested to know that our killer is getting sloppyor cockyor desperate. Of the three that last one is the most dangerous. Desperate people do stupid things.
What do you mean?
He gave up all pretense of making it look like a suicide. Put six holes in him and left him on the doorstep.
He was shot?
Yep, five more times than was needed to kill him.
Oh my God, I whispered.
Are you scared, Mr. Keegan?
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I nodded numbly.
Good. You should be. Youve been poking a bee-hive and if you dont stop youre going to get stung. I hope youre scared out of your mind. Its the only thing thats going to save you. Now, I want you to get out of police business and stay out.
A wave of anger suddenly burned through me. If youd done your job in the first place I wouldnt be in police business, I snarled.
He stopped on his way to the door and turned slowly back to face me.
Maybe youre right, but Im telling you were on it now and I want you out of it. He turned to leave again.
Do you even know that it was a girl with Joey that night? I called out.
He stopped again and turned sharply on his heel.
What did you say?
It was a girl, with Joey, right before he died. They were arguing
How do you know that?
Robbie told me, on the phone last night. You mean the junior detectives found something out the big bad policemen didnt know?
He crossed the room in two strides, grabbed the front of my shirt, and slammed me back against the wall.
Listen kid, he snarled, Ive tried to be nice up to now, but Ive just about had it with you and your little friends. Youre damn lucky Im not bringing you up on obstruction charges and youre even luckier that you arent dead yet. Its because of your fucking around in police business that that kid is even dead now. Did you think about that? And for that matter probably the girl too. And if you keep it up you can bet your sweet ass 313
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that youll be joining them. Then they can thank you in person for getting them killed.
He stared down at me for a few seconds before letting go of me. I slid to the floor where I started shaking.
He stalked to the door then paused before leaving. Stay out of this kid. I mean it. And he was gone.
When Nikki found me a few minutes later, I was crying so hard I couldnt talk. I was still crying when Aidan arrived to take me home. By the time we got to the apartment, I had pulled myself together enough to tell Aidan what had happened. He was as shaken up about the news of Robbie Meades death as I had been. He had already received word about the police visit to Gabes house; Gabe had called him as soon as they left.
Grafton was way out of line, Aidan said. We were sitting on the couch, Aidan with his arms around me, holding me close. He cant know that Robbie died because of us. He should have never said that.
Hes right, I sniffled. Were as much to blame for his and Blakes death as if wed killed them ourselves.
Thats insane, he argued. The killer would have found them herself eventually. What were we supposed to do, just let her get away with Joeys death?
At least no one else would have died.
You cant know that. We did what we thought was best at the time, and I still think it was best. If someone is crazy enough to kill once, chances are theyll kill again.
Especially if they got away with it the first time.
Its just that this killer always seems to be one step ahead of us.
Or one step behind us. Actually, if anything, she seems to be right in step with us.
I sat up and pull
ed away.
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Im sorry, Will. I didnt mean to bring that up again.
Laura called Robbie last night.
What?
While I was talking to him. Thats why he hung up on me; he had another call coming in.
Why would Laura call him?
To get his address?
Will, dont go jumping to conclusions.
You and Killian are the ones that suspected her.
We didnt say we suspected her; it was just a possibility. Look, well just look into it and figure out for sure
No. We wont.
What do you mean?
Were out of it.
What? We cant just
Aidan, were done, finished. I told you what Grafton said; its up to the police now. Too many people have died. I cant lose anyone else. II cant risk losing you.
He pulled me into his chest again and I cuddled into him gratefully.
Youre right, he said, rubbing his hands over my back. I just wish I could be there when they bring this bitch in. After all shes put you through
Im so lucky to have you, I whispered.
***
By some sort of silent mutual agreement, the topic of Joey, his killer, or any of the murders didnt come up the rest of the night. We watched some TV and went to bed early. The next morning though, it seemed Aidan assumed it was open season again. What happened after Joey attacked you and you ran away? he said over breakfast.
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I stared at my bowl of cereal for a second, then pushed it away. I seemed to have suddenly lost my appetite.
Do we have to talk about this now? I asked plain-tively.
Im just trying to settle all the loose ends in my mind.
I sighed. I ran downstairs and then I went outside.
Right away?
Huh?
You went straight outside after you came downstairs?
No, I got sick so I ran to the bathroom and locked myself in. Why?
Im just trying to create a timetable between when you last saw Joey and when Blake and Robbie found him in the pool.
Were out of this, remember? Its up to the police now.
For my peace of mind, Will. How long were you in the bathroom?
I dont know. I forgot my stopwatch.
Five minutes? Ten?
More like fifteen or twenty.
That long to blow chunks?
No, once I was in there I didnt want to come out. It was like my own private sanctuary for a little while. I just sat there and cried until someone pounding on the door became too much. Then I went outside.
And Caitlin was there? Under the tree?
Yeah.
Okay.
Okay? Thats it?
Yeah. Thats all.
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Aidan, whats going on? What was that all about?
He got up, walked around the table to my side, and bent over for a kiss.
Dont worry about it, he said. Ive got to get to school now and youve got to get to work. Ill see you this evening.
The next couple days passed without incident. Everyone was shaken up by the news of Robbies death and no one was eager to go on playing detective. It was obvious that wed been playing out of our league.
Neither Aidan nor I was in exactly a party-planning mood, so we left all the wedding plans to Adam. We were going to be almost as surprised as our guests.
On Wednesday, Ilana called and said that the papers were ready. After talking to Caitlin, I called Ilana back and made an appointment for the two of us to look over and sign them the next day.
Caitlin was strangely quiet on the ride over to Ilanas office Thursday afternoon.
Are you okay? I asked her in the elevator.
Yeah, why?
You just seem kinda distant.
I guess this is just a big step. Im glad were doing this, but in some ways I feel like Im giving up my baby.
Youre not giving up your baby. No matter what, youll always be its mother.
She smiled. I know. Youre right. Im just being silly.
The explanation of the papers was long and somewhat boring, filled with legalese and formal phrases that didnt make much sense. After that, the actual signing of the papers was surprisingly quick and more than a little anticlimactic. It seemed hard to believe that simply signing my name on a few lines could make such a 317
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huge difference to so many lives, including one that was yet to be born.
I shared my feelings with Caitlin on the elevator ride down.
It does seem unreal, she agreed. If I wasnt starting to show I almost wouldnt believe any of it.
Youre starting to show? I asked in surprise. I hadnt noticed at all.
Caitlin proudly pulled her shirt tight across her belly and sure enough, the beginning of a very slight pot-belly could be seen.
I grinned at her with a slightly giddy feeling.
We should do something to celebrate, I said.
What? The signing of the papers or me showing?
Both. I laughed.
We went to a nice Chinese restaurant, Caitlin said she was craving egg drop soup, and had a celebratory lunch.
After I dropped her off at her apartment, I found myself driving in the direction of my parents home instead of our apartment. It took me a while to realize what I was doing, and when I did, I decided that it was a sign. They had been on my mind more and more of late, and I found myself wanting to at least make an effort to include them in my life once again, especially now, when I was about to become a parent of a sort. I could really use the advice. No book, no matter how many times I read it, could ever take the place of good solid experience. And besides, theres just something about becoming a parent that makes you connect to your parents in some strange way.
I pulled into the driveway and was surprised to see Dads car there in the mid-afternoon. He was almost 318
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never home during the day; he practically lived at the church. I walked slowly up to the door and stood there a minute without knocking. Now that I was there, I was suddenly less sure of what I was doing. What exactly was I doing? Was I expecting a warm greeting with open arms? If so I suspected I was at the wrong address. I remembered Moms voice on the phone the day they found out I was gay. Youre father says youre not welcome back here Just as I was about to turn and leave the door swung open to reveal my mother.
Will? she said with a confused expression on her careworn face. She looked older than the last time I had seen her. II thought I heard a car pull up.
Mom, I said in surprise. I couldnt think of anything to say so we stood there awkwardly, looking at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Finally I said, I dont know what Im doing here. I shouldnt have come. I turned to leave.
Will, she called softly, come in. Please?
I turned to see she was holding the door open. I hesitated just a second before stepping inside. I hadnt been in the house in months, but nothing had changed. Everything was right where it always was. Mom started for the kitchen and I followed her.
Where is Dad? Why is his car here? I asked her as we walked.
She didnt answer until we were in the kitchen. She sat in one of the chairs that had been around longer than I had and let out a deep sigh.
Youre father is sick, Will.
What? Sick how?
We dont know exactly. He had some kind of attack.
The doctors think its his heart.
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When? Why didnt I kno
w?
Last month, right before Thanksgiving. I didnt call because he didnt want you to know. Itsits been hard.
Hes not recovering like he should be. The doctors say its just one of those things they cant explain. For all their technology and miracle cures, some things are still beyond their understanding. So all we can do is watch and wait.
Can Iwill he see me?
She thought for a moment. Probably, yes. A lot has changed since his attack. Hes changed. Let me go in first and make sure; hes so weak now.
She stood up slowly and walked out of the room. I noticed that she moved like an old woman, as if every movement was an effort. She wasnt gone too long before she was back.
She nodded. No surprises though, Will. Hes really very weak. And dont be too shocked when you see him.
He probably should be in the hospital but he insisted, and since there wasnt really anything they could do they let him come home.
I nodded numbly and followed her upstairs to their bedroom. The first thing I noticed was how much like a hospital room it looked. Dad was lying slightly elevated in a hospital bed that must have been brought in just for him. Machines stood all around him, like malevo-lent guards. Most of the rooms furnishings had been moved out to make room for all the new paraphernalia. I put off focusing on Dad until last. If Mom hadnt told me that it was Dad, I would have never recognized him. He was a pale shadow of his former self, gray and faded.
Will, I didnt want you to see me like this, he said 320
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weakly.
Like what, Dad? I asked, trying to keep my voice light and knowing there was a slight quiver in it anyway. You look great.
No, I look like death warmed over. I wont be here much longer. IIm glad you came.
Dont say that, Dad. I moved closer to the bed and sat down in the chair that was there.
Why not? Its the truth. I feel it. I see it in the doctors faces, although they are scared to say it. I see it in your mothers face, although shes terrified to even think it. Im not afraid to die, Will. Ive been preparing for it all my life. I have a peace about death. What I didnt have a peace about was how Id left things with you.
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