Death by Donation

by Sarah Hualde

  Lydia shielded her eyes from the smoke and squinted into the darkening cloud. She was about to hightail it into the fire and see if she could assist Jake when a firefighter pulled her away.

  “We’ve got this, ma'am. Are there any more people trapped inside?” He lifted her, his hands under her elbows, and scooted her out of the way.

  “One I think... But I’m not sure. I wasn’t here when the fire started. You’ll have to ask him.” She pointed at Bill. “I think he needs help.”

  The firefighter nodded and instructed another crew member to check out Bill and still another to enter the mobile. Lydia backed away as the rescue team did their work. The blaze was under control in a few moments, though the entire ordeal seemed to drag on forever.

  “I think one of the refrigeration units sparked. There was fire pouring out of the unit.” One of the first responders said to another. The smell of smelting metal and burning plastic mingled with the fading petrichor. Lydia prayed rain would wash the scent of the disaster from the scene.

  “Did he make it?” another asked, referring to Jake Cloverdale. Lydia held her breath and waited to hear the answer.

  Chapter 8

  The silence explained it all. Jake Cloverdale was dead. Burned to death in his mobile donation center. Lydia felt helpless. She didn’t know what to do next. A crowd of spectators stood along the sidewalk.

  Gus, Ethan's Deputy, came and spoke to Lydia. “Did you happen to see anything?”

  “I got here too late to help. Bill was going berserk, his hands were obviously burned and he told me Jake was inside. That’s it. The firefighters got here before I could...”

  “Do something stupid?” Lydia tossed her hands on hips and faux glared at Gus. She knew he was responsible for keeping the town in line while Ethan was on vacation. That duty included Ethan’s wife. “Good. I’m glad you're okay. Do you know who we should call for Jake? Obviously, Bill is his next of kin but I don’t think that will be of much help in this case. We don’t know if he has a wife or kids or anybody we should notify.”

  “I’d ask his fellow employees, Maddie and Lou. They're at the Sleeping Pretty Motel.” Some of the town’s onlookers oozed onto the street to watch the events unfold. Lydia searched for the professor.

  Bill Barnaby sat on the curb draped in an emergency blanket to ward off shock. His hands were huge, wrapped in white gauze. Ines sat by his side and rocked him in her embrace. Lydia dialed Dr. Lawrence, figuring he’d want to inspect Bill’s burnt hands.

  She stood with her phone ringing in her ears, searching the crowd for a friendly face. She lit upon Ivy, in her borrowed scrubs, her head rested against Flora’s shoulder. Grant Justice strode over to her and whispered something. She hugged him briefly. Grief turned the near-strangers into friends. Grant hugged Flora, as well, before coming over to stand beside his aunt.

  “Anything I can do?” he asked Lydia before walking over to his distraught family.

  “I have no idea where to start,” Lydia said. “Quick, give me your phone.” Grant obliged. Still cradling her cell between her ear and shoulder, Lydia typed her phone number into Grant’s mobile phone. “That’s my number. Call me the instant you see a need and I’ll find some way to help.”

  “Thank you,” Grant said. His face was freckled with confusion and embarrassment. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember your name.”

  “It’s Lydia. Go to your aunt.” Grant squared his shoulders. Lydia thought she could hear him praying as he walked over to Bill and Ines.

  Parker dispersed the crowd. The Ashton coroner came and went, carting Jake’s body away with them. Bill Barnaby and his fiancée finished answering questions inside 3 Alarm Coffee at the bidding of Hobo Joe.

  The rain started back up, too late to help squelch the fire but held off until all the outside work was finished. Maddie and Lou entered the shop hesitantly.

  “We’re both so sorry. We can’t imagine...” Maddie spoke but Lou only placed a huge hand on Bill’s still shoulder. Bill’s tears had run out long ago. Ines thanked Jake’s fellow workers for Bill. Bill didn’t make eye contact. Lydia signaled to Gus. He excused himself from his conversation with one of the firefighters and led Lou and Maddie to a table closer to Lydia’s.

  Flora took Scout home with her family after Ivy fed the little one her lunch. It was time for Scout’s nap but Ivy was too anxious to leave. She sat next to Lydia. Lydia wasn't sure what was keeping her there other than feeding a morbid curiosity. She drank her coffee and tried not to eavesdrop. It was impossible. Gus wasn’t a quiet talker and neither was Maddie or Lou.

  “Jake signed up with our team just two months ago. I really don’t know very much about him. He keeps to himself and doesn't offer much information when asked,” Maddie said. “In fact, Lou and I were both shocked when he told us about this visit to Honey Pot and his reasons. We didn’t really want to spend a weekend here. But I would have done it for Lou and he would have for me. We decided to indulge Jake, this once. We thought it would make us a better crew, a closer team. But look at what’s happened.”

  Gus took notes on his legal pad. Lydia took notes in her mind. Ivy watched each table with troubling consideration. Her memories from church had not faded to the back of her mind. She really didn’t want to hear anything about anyone else. Especially questions regarding death.

  When Grant Justice smiled at her from across the shop she offered a faint one in response. When he pointed to the chair across from his she rose and walked over.

  “It’s too much to process, isn’t it?”

  Ivy sat. “Yes. Yes, it is.” Ivy said. “I’m sorry. I haven’t asked if you’re okay. Are you?”

  “Okay?” Grant said, dazed. “Well, I’m a bit freaked out but other than that I'm okay. I feel bad for Bill. I feel bad about Jake. But I’ve only known him for a day or so. The entire situation is strange.”

  Ivy rubbed her temples. A headache formed behind her eyes. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to curl up in bed, pull her baby close, and rest as if nothing in the world was wrong.

  “Can I ask you something?” Grant peered softly into Ivy’s eyes.

  She teared up at the genuinely concerned attention.

  She shrugged. “I’m going to take that as a yes. What had you crying in church?”

  Ivy sniffed and grabbed a napkin. She was running away from what she was crying about at church. She didn’t want to talk to Lydia about it. She hadn’t brought up the subject of Don’s tyranny even in group therapy. So why was she suddenly compelled to tell this boy she didn’t even know. Maybe that was just it, she mused, maybe a stranger was safer than a friend.

  “I was thinking about my mother and grandmother,” she said, shakily.

  “And that makes you sad?”

  “Well, yeah. They're dead.”

  ”Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I barely knew my mom. I have tiny flashes of feelings about her more than memories of her.”

  “And your grandmother?”

  “She died a little over a year ago.” Ivy’s voice cracked.

  “Geez, I’m a jerk. Sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. It’s just... I have a very low tolerance for watching people cry.”

  “Today must be a real treat for you,” Ivy’s sarcasm stung her throat. Why was she acting so snippy? “Sorry. I didn't mean to make light of it.”

  “I know. I’m good. This is not how my fall was supposed to turn out, either.”

  “What did you have planned?”

  “Well, I’m having a gap year of sorts. I graduated from high school last June and I’m not settled on what I want to do for a living so I’m traveling and trying stuff out.”

  “And you want to be what?”

  Grant shrugged. Joe passed the table to refill coffee around the room. He set a plate of mini-muffins between the teens.

  “On me,” he said and continued.

  “That’s the second time that man has brought me free goodies. First, when I arrived and was brand n
ew here and now. How does he make any money if he’s constantly using his pay to treat customers?”

  “Hobo Joe is kind of great that way.”

  “I guess he must be.”

  Grant helped himself to a muffin and pushed the plate closer to Ivy. She took an apple crumb muffin and tore it into two pieces. Steam wafted between them. “These are good,” Grant said. Ivy couldn’t agree more. “A librarian is just one option I was trying out,” Grant continued. “I came mostly to help my aunt prepare for her wedding and to house sit for her when she goes on her honeymoon. They're going to be away for an entire month.”

  “That’s cool of you.”

  “Not really, they feed me and give me a place to sleep. It’s nice to be away from home for a while. Even though I miss my family. But this isn't exactly living on my own.”

  “I guess not. Do you have a big family?”

  Grant chuckled. “Do I!”

  Lydia texted Ivy. She watched the teen answer her phone and say goodbye to her tablemate. “I have to go. I’m sure we’ll bump into each other again.”

  “Yes, that would be great. And listen, whatever it is that’s making you cry... I'm sorry.”

  Ivy blinked. No one had ever apologized to her for her past before. They usually offered advice and excuses and strange mantras that did no good whatsoever. It was refreshing to have someone listen to her feelings without trying to make it all better. “Thanks. See you later, Grant.”

  “You can count on it, Ivy.”

  Chapter 9

  “Grant seems nice,” Lydia pried without asking a question.

  “Yup,” Ivy answered. She didn't know how to let Lydia know what she was thinking. Grant was nice but she wasn’t interested in him in any kind of romantic way. It was refreshing to have a friend near her age. An acquaintance really. But that’s all it was. Was Lydia hinting at something else or was that Ivy’s own mind playing games on her?

  They both knew the rules. No boys while living in the Everett house. Even if she wanted to date Grant, she wasn't going to. It wasn’t allowed. And she didn’t want to. Not one little bit. Thankfully Lydia let it be and started asking questions about the newcomer instead of her feelings.

  “Ines told me he has six siblings.”

  “He told me. And get this, all their names make a sentence. There's Grant Justice, Blessed Justice, Pilot Justice, Judge Justice, Merry Justice, Hunter Justice, and Mercy Anne Justice.” Ivy laughed to herself. “I can't imagine having that many brothers and sisters.”

  “Me neither. I only have the one. No wonder Grant wanted a gap year and some space to find his path. Goodness, the house must’ve been so loud he couldn’t think.”

  Ivy disagreed. “He said he misses his family terribly. That he left to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Also he wanted to give the family a bit of a break on the budget.”

  Lydia processed this new information while watching the road. “He picked a smart place to do it. And to have an uncle who happens to be a career counselor doesn't hurt.”

  Ivy arched an eyebrow. She had her own questions she wanted to ask. “So tell me, why were you snooping...”

  “I wasn’t exactly snooping. I was making myself available to be of assistance.”

  “Okay, well, while you were making yourself available did you find anything interesting about the late Jake Cloverdale,” Ivy asked.

  “Define interesting.”

  “Tidbits that you’re anxious to share with Flora, perhaps? That would explain the huge tray of cinnamon buns you’re bringing to her house.”

  Lydia frowned. Her forehead squished, accenting her worry lines. “It’s a thank you gift. She’s been watching Scout.”

  Ivy laughed. Her fretfulness over Don faded away for a moment. “Only for an hour.”

  “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

  The Brandes house was always loud and moving. The structure itself seemed to shimmy with the excitement it contained. Eden opened the front door without looking to see who was standing there knocking.

  “Figures,” she said in lieu of a greeting. “I’m sure mom will send us away so we can't hear any of the juicy bits.”

  Ivy knelt down to Eden's level and looked the rambunctious little girl in the eye. “You’re probably right. But we brought snacks.”

  Eden took a moment to weigh the balance between exile and snacks. With a flat expression, she invited Ivy and Lydia inside. Scout, who was still sleeping, stirred at her mother’s voice. Enoch snuggled in the porta-crib beside her.

  Flora was in the kitchen scrubbing dishes and listening to music on headphones. She didn’t hear her guests arrive. When Lydia pulled a stool up to the counter, Flora caught sight of her from the corner of her eye and shrieked. The babies startled. Ivy hurried to soothe them back to sleep.

  “Dear, you scared me. How long have you been there?”

  “Thirty seconds.”

  “So, what happened?”

  “Nothing scrapbook worthy.” Lydia referred to Flora’s crafty way of tracking crime in Honey Pot. Flora nearly frowned in frustration. “Jake Cloverdale was scheduled to have breakfast with Bill at the diner. They needed to talk about something important.”

  “Without Ines?” Flora dried her hands and pulled up a stool next to Lydia.

  “It seems like it. Bill says he waited a while and then decided to greet Jake at the van. He knocked a few times before he smelled the smoke. When he opened the doors, flames flew past his head.”

  Flora’s eyes popped in concern. Ivy helped herself to the last diner stool and sat near the ladies. “He's lucky he wasn’t badly burned,” Flora said.

  “He was,” Ivy said. “Grant says his hands were blistered. Dr. Lawrence is going to keep an eye on them.”

  Flora turned her face toward Ivy. Her curly hair sprung as she turned to look at Ivy. “Who’s Grant?” Ivy rolled her eyes.

  “Grant is not the point.” Lydia saved Ivy more embarrassment. She’d picked up the teen’s not-so- subtle clues to shush on the Grant subject in the car. She didn’t want to cause the same scene here at the Brandes’.

  “He’s Ines’s nephew. But back to the accident. Bill says he could see Jake’s feet from the front door. Once the first burst of flames calmed, he leaned into the van and tried to pull Jake out by his feet. Jake’s rubber clogs melted in the heat and burned Bills' hands. I got to the van right after Bill’s third attempt to rescue his brother.”

  “That’s sad.”

  All three women nodded. Their eyes glazed at the thought of losing a loved one so quickly after meeting them for the first time. After a moment’s pause, Flora stood and straightened her skirt. “I have one question. If Bill was so badly burned and you were the next one on the scene, then who was it that called the fire station?”

  Lydia’s eyebrow lifted. “I’ve been asking myself the same thing.”

  Chapter 10

  The sun rose late in the morning, a sure sign that winter was fast approaching Honey Pot. Glimpses of the almost sunrise sliced through the gaps in Lydia’s kitchen shades. They landed upon her fresh-baked pumpkin bread. There was one tray for the Everett household and one tray for the Barnaby family.

  Ines and Bill didn’t live together. They kept to their own space until the wedding. Lydia fretted over the ceremony. Would it take place on schedule or had Jake's arrival, then death, seared the happy occasion?

  Lydia wasn’t sure what she would do in the situation if the choice was hers. Still, even if she lived apart from her fiancé she would have slept on the couch at his house after a tragedy befell him. She had no doubt Ines would do the same. One-stop in the morning was all it would take to offer both parties a breakfast snack. It also ensured Lydia got the full scoop of news from each of them.

  Lydia mentally pinched herself for thinking only of the clues she may obtain. She didn’t mean to let herself grow so cynical and nosy. It just happened. Over the last few months, life had grown trickier and trickier in Honey Pot. Lydia fo
und herself looking for clues where there was no crime. In the situation of Jake Cloverdale's sudden death, her suspicions buzzed. Something was not as it seemed. Even if no one else had the same feeling as Lydia, she would keep her eyes and ears open.

  Ivy sat, forlorn, on the couch. She watched as Scout played on her favorite activity blanket with her favorite toys. The baby rose to palms and knees and rocked her rear end back and forth. Soon, she'd have the strength and coordination to push off and crawl around the house. Lydia smiled. The Everett house was in for it once that happened.

  Scout was a very good baby but a very inquisitive one. She would be getting into everything in no time at all. Lydia scanned her house. She’d nearly finished baby-proofing it.

  With a compact in hand, Lydia tied up her hair and did her makeup at the kitchen counter. “Have you decided?”

  Ivy scowled to herself. She wanted to go with Lydia if only to keep her from asking embarrassing questions. But the thought of seeing Grant had her pulse thudding in her throat. She wasn't certain if that meant she wanted to see him or if she was terrified of seeing him.

  “Let me pack up Scout and we’ll come along. Unless you think Scout will be too distracting and too loud,” Ivy said.

  Lydia paused amid her mascara application. Sometimes babies were a welcome distraction. Something to put your mind on for a moment instead of present circumstances. At other times, they were seen as too distracting.

  Bill and Ines loved Scout. They both played with her at church and at the library. Lydia didn’t think they’d mind having Scout accompany them for a visit. In fact, she thought they would be thrilled. “She’ll be great. Pack her some treats.” Ivy complied and finished readying herself and her baby before Lydia had her boots on.

  Bill lived in an apartment two blocks from Main Street but Ines lived farther back near the bee sanctuaries. Her house was one of the only mansions in Honey Pot. It had wings. Ines inherited it, years before, from her grandmother. Ivy gasped at the sight of the Justice house as Lydia pulled into the drive.