by Becky Durfee
Zack smoothed his hands down his chest. “Why would you want to deal with him when you’ve got this hunka hunka burnin’ love right here?”
Jenny curled her lip. “That’s downright frightening.”
Zack looked at her with his adorable toothy grin, which quickly turned solemn. “Seriously, though, he wants you back?”
With a sigh Jenny sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m afraid so. And if I’m going to be completely honest, I almost feel obligated to give him another chance. I did take a vow to him.” She glanced at Zack out of the corner of her eye to gauge his reaction.
Looking slightly hurt, Zack asked, “Do you want to go back to him?”
With tears threatening the back of her eyes, Jenny confessed, “I want kids.”
“Um…you didn’t exactly answer the question.”
Jenny bent over, putting her head between her knees and her face in her hands. “And for the first time in my life, I guess I’m not even sure I want kids.” The tears found their way to the surface. “I am officially the world’s most confused human being.”
Zack approached Jenny on the bed, rubbing his hand on her back. “Come on,” he said in a comforting tone. “Come sit up here with me and let me know what’s bothering you.” He placed some pillows against the headrest and patted them.
With a defeated exhale, Jenny gave in and scooted to the top of the bed. She nestled into Zack’s shoulder and wiped a tear from her eye. “It seems like everything I ever knew to be fact isn’t fact anymore,” she began. “The first fact was that Frank Mongillo was my father. Wrong. The second fact was that I was going to be married to Greg Watkins forever. Also wrong. The third fact was that I wanted kids more than anything in the world, and now I’m not even sure that’s true.”
“What would make you change your mind about that?”
“Talking to Elijah,” she said. “As you know he’s a homicide detective, which means he works crazy hours. He’s talked about how much that job takes him away from his daughter. He’s afraid his little girl is going to grow up believing that he valued his career more than her. He mentioned that if his beeper goes off in the middle of a school play or a dance recital, he’s got to leave.” Jenny looked helplessly up at Zack. “And what I do isn’t that different. What if I have a kid who is up at bat at a little league game when I get a vision? I won’t just be able to ignore the contact; I’ll have to leave the game. Do I really want to put a kid in that position?”
He tucked her hair behind her ear, a gesture which provided her with more comfort than she could express. “Are you kidding? If you have a kid, you’d be a great mom.”
“But what if I have to leave in the bottom of the ninth with the championship at stake?”
“Then you get someone to record the game for you and you sit down and watch it with him later. Look, if you have to leave a game, it’s going to be because a dead person has contacted you. A kid would think that’s the coolest thing in the world. He would totally brag about his mother having super powers. You’d be like Wonder Woman to him.”
Jenny had to laugh. “I guess.”
“And if this trait is genetic, like you said, there’s a chance your kid could have the same ability. Maybe he’ll have to leave the game because a dead person has contacted him. Could you picture that? He’d be like, Um, excuse me, Mr. Umpire? I need a pinch hitter. A spirit is talking to me right now.”
Once again Jenny found herself giggling. “I suppose you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. I’m telling you, you would make an amazing mom.”
Jenny sighed and felt herself relax into his shoulder.
“But you still haven’t told me,” Zack added, “what that has to do with getting back together with Greg.”
“He’s the quickest path to children,” Jenny explained.
“Um, considering we just had sex, I think I might actually be the quickest path to children.”
“He’s the quickest path to legitimate children, which are the only type of children I want to have.”
“Legitimate is a nice goal, yes,” Zack reasoned. “But so is having parents who like each other.”
Zack was right. She could have children with Greg soonest, but the situation wouldn’t have been ideal.
She was also fully aware of the million pound elephant in the room, realizing that it just might be the time to have that conversation. “And there is one other thing complicating this issue,” Jenny added. “A tall, skinny thing with fabulous teeth who always knows just what to say.” She tapped Zack on the chest.
“I prefer the term sleek to skinny, but okay,” Zack said.
Jenny sighed, unsure if what she was about to say was going to be offensive, but at this stage of the game she was unwilling to lie. “I really have been enjoying hanging out with you,” she confessed.
“I have too.” The tension in the room was becoming palpable.
“And I do remember you using a certain L word a few weeks back, but I’m not sure if that was because it was an emotional moment or because you really meant it.” She kept her head tucked into his shoulder, afraid to look at him.
Zack didn’t move a muscle when he said, “I meant it.”
A nervous smile splayed across Jenny’s face. “That’s good to know.” She traced a little circle on his chest with her pointer finger. “And I do have to admit there may be some similar feelings on my part, if I allow myself to lead with my heart.”
Zack gently kissed the top of her head.
“Not so fast,” Jenny said. “My brain may have something to say about this.” Jenny winced. “Something you may not like.”
“Okay.”
Jenny admired his patience and tolerance. “I’d be lying if I said there aren’t some things that scare me when I look into the future…if I consider a future with you.”
“What scares you?”
She wasn’t sure how to word this without it sounding terrible. “I’m just afraid there are some things I can tolerate now, because we’re not a couple. But if we become a couple, I think some of those things might end up bothering me.”
“Like what?”
Okay, Jenny thought, here goes nothing. “Like the chronically late thing. I know that will drive me crazy after a while.”
“Okay.”
Jenny wished he’d elaborate at this point, but he seemed to be waiting for her to continue. “And I’m a little concerned about the fact that you just stopped showing up at work one day because you didn’t like your job.”
“Fair point.”
Jenny held her breath. “And I guess my fear is that if we get involved…and things become serious…I mean, what if you and I have kids…and you decide you don’t like changing diapers? Would you just stop doing it? Or what if we become boring to each other. Would you just stop coming home?”
Zack began to giggle, a reaction that left Jenny unsure what to feel. “What’s so funny?” she asked.
“You.”
Was she funny because she worried too much? Or was she funny for believing he might actually interested in having a family with her? Suddenly Jenny wished she could take back everything she’d said. “How am I funny?”
Once again he kissed the top of her head. “You’re just cute, that’s all.”
Relief washed over Jenny, but it quickly turned to skepticism. “Elaborate.”
He stroked his hand up and down her arm. “I admit, it probably does seem a little scary that I just stopped showing up at work one day, but the truth of the matter is I always hated that job. I never wanted to work there. I only took that job because I had to, or at least I thought I did. At the time I didn’t consider standing up to my father to be an option.
“But if I enter into a relationship with you, it will be because I want to be there. If we have kids, it will be because I want to have kids. I hope you realize that if I’m doing something because I like it, I will be much better at it than I was at the construction business. For instance…” He tap
ped her on the arm. “Haven’t I been the model employee since I started working for you? I just drove five hours to meet you at a restaurant…on a Sunday no less…and I was even on time.”
“You are right,” Jenny said with a smile. “You have indeed been a stellar employee.”
“And I have not filed sexual harassment charges against you for making me come to this hotel and do obscene and filthy things.”
Jenny laughed out loud. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize these things we did were against your will.”
“Okay, so maybe they aren’t.” Zack flashed his teeth again. “But the other thing I want to point out to you is that, yes, maybe I have been irresponsible until now, but that’s because I’ve only had to take care of myself, and I’m a very low maintenance guy. I’m not used to having someone else to look out for. And I do realize that I probably have quite a bit to learn about being in a relationship—I’ve never really been in one before—but I’m willing to try. It might be hard for me to train myself to start thinking as a ‘we’ instead of an ‘I,’ but I think if you’re patient with me, I can eventually get the hang of it.”
For a moment Jenny considered what Zack had been like when they first met, acknowledging how far he’d come in the past few months. She couldn’t deny he had made leaps and bounds of progress.
Zack continued. “The truth of the matter is that from the minute I first saw you—standing in the lobby of Larrabee Fine Custom Homes in flip-flops with a mouth full of cookie—I knew you were something special. You were married, though, so I didn’t think I stood a chance. But now that things have taken a turn…I can honestly say that I really do love you. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. And even though I know I have a lot to learn, I’m willing to learn it…if you’re willing to teach me.”
Tears once again filled Jenny’s eyes. She sat up and looked at Zack’s face, touching his cheek gently with her hand. “I love you, too,” she whispered. She couldn’t believe she’d actually just said it. Then with a laugh she added, “But you really do have a lot to learn.”
Chapter 15
Back at her hotel room in Richmond, Jenny’s phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she realized Elijah was calling, invoking both relief and excitement within her.
“Hey Elijah,” she said. “Anything new?”
“I just got through interviewing Larry Goldberg.”
“Do you want me to come watch it?”
“If you can, that’d be great. He had some interesting things to say.”
Curiosity brimmed within Jenny. “Oh yeah? Care to share?”
He sighed and admitted, “He denied being homosexual. He’s married with a child.”
Jenny made a strange face. “So he isn’t gay?”
“So he says. At least he isn’t now.”
“Do you think maybe he’s bisexual and he doesn’t want his wife to know that?”
“It’s possible.”
The wheels were turning in Jenny’s head. “Or could Debbie have been mistaken?”
“Debbie had said he’d been in a couple of same-sex relationships when they were younger. I don’t know why she’d lie about that,” Elijah surmised. “But I can think of a few reasons why Larry might lie.”
“So I guess that means he denied having any romantic feelings for Archer.”
Elijah let out a disgruntled sigh. “Vehemently.”
“Did he claim to have an alibi?”
“He said he was home that night, or at least at the hour that Lena was killed. He says that he had been at his buddy Phillip’s house, but he went home early. Apparently he had a ten o’clock curfew on weekends, eight o’clock during the week.”
“Was he in your and Archer’s grade?”
“Yes, he was.”
So he had been a senior then, Jenny though, with a twinge of sympathy surging through her bones. It must have been difficult for this kid to survive the cruelty of the high-school social scene when his parents gave him such an early curfew. No wonder he ended up in Archer’s circle of friends. He didn’t stand a chance.
The sympathy subsided quickly, however, when she considered the atrocity he may have committed. “So it’s the old my-mom-is-my-alibi situation again, huh?”
“Yes, we’re seeing a lot of this,” Elijah said. “But when you’re dealing with high school students at that hour, that’s the answer you’re going to get.”
Jenny sighed. “Did he or his parents happen to have a silver car?”
“He said no, but I’ll need to verify that.”
“Did he mention a friend…maybe one that did have a silver car…that may have also been upset about Archer’s relationship with Lena?”
“He did mention a few names which I’ll have to look into. He claimed not to remember what they drove.”
“I realize you may find that hard to believe, being as automotively inclined as you are.” Jenny said. “But he may be telling the truth. If you ask me what my friends drove back then, I wouldn’t be able to tell you either…with the exception of maybe a few.”
“I am aware of that,” he replied. “But listen, I may want to ask you a favor.”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Larry is the manager of a grocery store about thirty minutes from here. I was wondering if you could make a little shopping trip in a few days…you know, see if Lena has anything to say about it.”
“I can do that,” Jenny replied. “But why do you want me to wait a few days?”
“Well, I don’t want you to go alone, and I certainly can’t go with you. Larry would recognize me in a heartbeat. So I’ve asked Pam if she’ll go with you, and she agreed—I don’t think Larry would recognize her, or if he did he wouldn’t be suspicious of her. But she said she’s busy with doctor’s appointments and stuff for the next couple of days, and she wouldn’t be free until Wednesday. Do you mind staying that long?”
Comfortable that Zack—who had gone back to Georgia—could handle the home buying arrangements by himself, Jenny replied, “No, I don’t mind staying. I’ll let the folks at the front desk know I’ll be here a few more nights.”
“About that,” Elijah added. “I actually wanted to invite you to stay here…in my guestroom.” Jenny laughed at how much emphasis he placed on that phrase. “I’m a little nervous about having you stay in a hotel by yourself considering Archer knows you’re working with me. If he did kill Lena all those years ago, he might be capable of doing it again if he thinks you’re close to catching him.”
Jenny initially opened her mouth to decline the offer but thought better of it. Her instincts hadn’t exactly been serving her well lately; perhaps she needed to start doing the opposite of what her first inclination dictated. “You know what? I think I will, if it isn’t too much of an imposition.”
“No, it’s no trouble at all. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want you to take me up on it. Besides, your brother would kill me if anything happened to you on my watch.”
“That he would,” Jenny agreed. “Okay, well, I guess I’ll just pack up my stuff and head over.”
“Great. And then you can come to the station and check out this interrogation footage from our buddy Larry.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jenny said with a smile. “See you in a few.”
Elijah looked optimistically at Jenny as he stopped the recording. “Did you hear anything from Lena?” he posed.
“No, but it’s video,” she said, trying unsuccessfully to mask her disappointment. “Maybe I’ll get something when I go to the store in a few days and see him in person.”
Elijah’s frustration was apparent as well. “I hope so. I feel like we’re getting a million promising leads that go absolutely nowhere.”
“I feel the same way.”
He leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers across his chest. “I did find out one interesting tidbit, though.”
Jenny’s optimism made a brief resurgence. “Oh? And what would that be?”
“I looked into
Larry’s and Archer’s friend Phillip—the one who Larry claimed to be with the night Lena was killed. Guess what Phillip drove.”
“A small silver car?”
Elijah pointed at Jenny. “Ding. Ding. A silver 1990 Honda Accord. Do you want to go take a look at one of those and see if it matches your vision?”
“Absolutely.”
Jenny followed Elijah to his desk and watched as he called up an image of a car that looked very similar to the one she saw in her mind. “That could be it,” she surmised, closing her eyes to conjure up the image one more time. “I can’t say for sure because the picture in my head is fleeting, but it’s a distinct possibility.”
“At least one lead seems to be panning out.”
“So who is this Phillip character?”
“I really don’t know too much about him yet. I checked DMV records on him and found this car, but other than that I can’t tell you a whole bunch.”
A thought occurred to Jenny. “What about ballistics?”
Elijah smiled wickedly. “I wondered when you were going to ask about that.”
“Do you have some information about it?”
“Of course,” Elijah said, “but that’s on a need-to-know basis. We keep some aces up our sleeves for when the stakes get high.”
“So you know what type of bullet it was?”
“Sure do.”
“And you’re not going to tell me?”
“Nope.”
“Fair enough,” Jenny replied. “Truth be told, it wouldn’t help me to know that anyway. I know nothing about guns. At all.”
“Well, with the lands and grooves that guns produce on spent bullets, it’s as good as a fingerprint. If we can find the gun that fired the shots, we’ll find our killer. We just need to know where to look for that gun.”
“I suppose a door-to-door search is out of the question?” Jenny asked in an obviously mocking tone.
“What do you think?” Elijah retorted.
“I think my phone is ringing,” Jenny replied, glancing at the screen on her phone. She hung her head when she realized it was Greg again.
“Do you need to get that?” Elijah asked.
