Left Behind, page 23
“She never saw your face. She never heard your name. She didn’t hear anything that was said between either of you. She just heard the gunshot and ran, like her brother told her to do. She could never have fingered you. Not in a million years,” Gardner said.
Lonny sighed. “I’ll be damned. Well, it don’t matter. I’m glad she lived. I’m sorry about Billy.”
Gardner kept pushing. “We need the names of Carl’s fences and everything that has to do with his involvement. How does he transport the drugs? Where does he get them? Who are his suppliers?”
“I can answer some of that, and I will testify against the both of them in court.”
Gardner nodded.
Lonny added. “Just know that you’re gonna have to keep me alive to make all that happen, which means you better get Carl and Junior off the street before he gets a chance to put a hit out on me, and the moment they go to jail, the people he does business with are going to go to ground or disappear.”
“So, start talking, Lonny. We need names. We’ll make a sweep and pick the whole lot of them up at once. They’ll be so busy trying to make deals for themselves, they won’t have time to worry about you.”
“Carl will want revenge. He’ll want me dead anyway. If you want to nail him to the wall, Junior is the one who will break. He’s only along for the ride on Daddy’s money anyway. Daddy is the one who lowers the hammer on what’s happening, and who lives and who dies.”
“Duly noted,” Gardner said. “So, we’re listening. Start talking.”
“I only know what I saw when I was with Junior, or what I heard him talking about. There are food trucks and a pawnshop he drops drugs off in. Carl has a storage unit on the outskirts of the city. I went there with Junior once to drop off some boxes, but I don’t know what was in them, or what’s in the storage unit. I’ve seen a couple of invoices from trucking companies, and I think he has a shell company somewhere around the seaports in Houston bringing stuff in from overseas. One night I drove Junior home from a club because he was too drunk to drive, and he kept talking about wanting to go on the next run into Mexico to pick up a new shipment. I thought he meant drugs, but he was talking about girls for the sex trade. That’s about all I know for sure,” Lonny said.
Gardner nodded, and ended the interrogation.
“Lock him up,” Gardner said. “No visitors but his lawyer.”
The guard took Lonny out in shackles and cuffs as Gardner began stirring the pot. They had but a short time to find the leads and evidence needed to get search warrants and arrest warrants before Henley got wind of what was happening and destroyed the evidence.
Gardner went back to the office, gathered a half-dozen detectives around him, and began issuing orders about researching properties in Henley’s name.
“I want around-the-clock surveillance on both Carl and Junior. Take note of everywhere they go and who they meet with. Now get cracking. We don’t have much time.”
***
Linette was, as of today, officially moved out of her apartment, her furniture was in storage, and she was at the elevator with a briefcase containing her personal papers, waiting for her ride down.
When the elevator car finally arrived and the doors opened, Cecily Michaels was standing against the wall, staring at her.
Linette stepped inside and then leaned against the opposite wall and stared her down.
“I haven’t seen you around much,” Cecily said.
Linette shrugged. “I moved out today. Now, you won’t be seeing anything of me.”
“Leaving town?” Cecily asked.
“No.”
Cecily persisted. “See Wiley lately?”
“I live with him,” Linette said.
Cecily rode that gut punch like a boss and never blinked. “Heard he has a kid. You can have him.”
Linette laughed. “He was never yours to give away, and the child is his sister. Have a nice life, Cecily…and while you’re at it, grow up.”
The elevator stopped. The doors opened, and Linette walked away, leaving Cecily so speechless that she forgot to get off.
***
Ava had been in Wiley and Linette’s life long enough that she had settled to his satisfaction. He would go back on duty now, and she would be at Dani’s house during the day. He’d already pre-enrolled her at school, and she’d been taken with the building and all of the new playground equipment. The idea of making friends appealed to her, but she was so easily hurt, and he was dreading it.
His mom told him that’s how all parents felt with a new baby—when they had to go back to work, and leave the child in someone else’s care—and to be glad that it was his sister-in-law, and not some random day care. But his separation anxiety was real, and there were times when he couldn’t remember a day without Ava and Linette in it.
Last night, Ava had forgotten to panic about closing blinds and curtains when it got dark, and she’d giggled hysterically as Linette was helping her bathe and get ready for bed. Wiley heard both of them chattering as if they’d known each other forever, and she wasn’t afraid now to ask for food when she was hungry. The first time she rejected a suggestion and asked to play in her room instead, he felt justified. Ava Dalton was becoming the child she was meant to be.
But what they’d planned to do today was over the moment he woke up to a downpour. There would be no playing outside, or going to Reagan Bullard’s campground and playing on the waterslide, or riding a pony. That would have to wait for another day. Linette was off, too, and they could have just spent the day together in the house, but he wanted to do things with her, for her, while he had the time, so they opted to go up the mountain to visit Shirley and Sean.
“Are we climbing the mountain today, Bubba?” Ava asked.
“Driving. We’re driving there,” he said. He put her little yellow poncho over her head and buckled her in the back seat, as Linette slipped into her raincoat and got into the front seat.
“Does Grammy know we’re coming? Does Sean know we’re coming?”
“Yes, ma’am. I already called them,” Wiley said.
He jumped in the car and lowered the garage door as they were driving away. The rain was steady enough that he had the windshield wipers on high as he drove through town and took the road headed up the mountain. Everything was lush and green around them, and the rain was blurring the landscape just enough that it wasn’t long before it began to feel as if the greenery had swallowed them whole.
Chapter 15
Ava was big-eyed and quiet in the back seat, with Phillip, her little brown squirrel, tucked under her arm. She’d left Pinky at home because she didn’t want to get her wet, but was certain Phillip would enjoy the ride. Now she was afraid to turn loose of him, for fear he’d jump out and get lost in all the trees.
Linette was a little nervous. This was her first inclusion in a family gathering, although the whole family knew she and Wiley were living together. Wiley kept glancing from Linette to the rearview mirror to check on Ava, making sure she was okay. He could tell she was a little unnerved and wished she was sitting in his lap, instead of in the back seat all alone.
“You okay back there?” he asked.
“I’m okay. Is it far?” she asked.
“Not too much farther.”
Ava frowned. “Are you sure you know the way?”
He laughed. “Yes, honey. I lived with Grammy and Sean until I went to work for the police. Then I moved to town so I would be closer to work.
“There aren’t any houses here,” she said.
“Oh, there are lots of houses, but the families live off the road. You’ll see. Grammy’s house is like that. Do you see that mailbox?”
She peered out the window, squinting through the rain. “Yes, I see it.”
“The road leading up into the trees beside it is how you get to that person’s house. So, everywhere you see a mailbox, there is a house at the other end of that road.”
“Does Grammy have a mailbox?” she asked.
“Yes, she does, but it’s too early for the mail carrier, so we can’t get her mail and take it to her,” he said.
Ava thought about that. She knew what mailboxes were, but they’d never had one. Linette and Bubba’s mail went in the mailbox on their porch, and all of Corina’s mail had gone to a little box in the lobby of their apartment building, but then the thought of Corina made her frown.
Wiley saw the frown, but opted not to comment. Sometimes a person just needed to have a moment on their own without everyone wanting to know what was going on. He felt Linette’s anxiety and gave her hand a quick squeeze.
“Love you, baby. You’re fine, too.”
Linette rolled her eyes.
He winked.
A few minutes later, he began slowing down and then turned off the blacktop onto the gravel road that led to home.
Ava was all eyes now, a little cowed by the heavy growth of trees on either side of the driveway, but as they came out into a clearing and she saw a house with a big front porch that was as long as the house, she felt better.
Linette was in awe. This was anything but a simple mountain home.
“Is this home?” Ava asked.
“This is your grammy’s home,” Wiley said, and pulled up as close to the porch as he could get. “Stay seated, sugar. I’ll get you out and we’ll make a run for it.”
She grinned, entranced by the idea. “Make a run for it, Linnie,” she echoed.
Linette laughed. “I will,” she said, and pulled up the hood of her raincoat and made a run for the porch.
Wiley pulled the hood of his windbreaker up over his head and jumped out, circling the car to get Ava and Phillip. He pulled the hood of her poncho up over her head, tucked Phillip into her arms, and yanked her out.
They were immediately hammered by the falling rain, and Ava squealed.
“Run for it, Bubba!”
Wiley laughed and was up the steps and under the cover of the porch in seconds. They left their rain gear on a chair by the door and went inside.
“Mom! We’re home!” he called.
“I’m in the kitchen,” Shirley called.
“Something smells good,” Wiley said.
Linette sighed. Here we go.
Ava shivered with expectation. This house felt happy. She tucked Phillip back under her arm as they went.
Shirley was drying her hands at the sink when they walked in. “I’m so glad you all came to see me! Welcome to our home, Linette. You and Ava turned on the light in my very dreary day. The weather is a scandal, isn’t it?” Shirley said.
Wiley grinned. His mom had always referred to bad weather that way. “Don’t I turn on any lights?” he asked.
She swatted at his backside. “You light fires, Wiley. That’s why I love you.”
He dodged the swat. “What smells so good?”
“Brownies. I made a double batch.”
“My favorite,” Wiley said, then wrapped his arms around her, swung her off her feet and danced her across the floor, delighting in the laughter in his mother’s eyes.
“Put me down easy. I’m still wearing this cast for another week,” she said when he finally stopped.
Linette was seeing yet another side of the man she loved, and completely smitten by his playfulness.
Shirley was still shaking her head as she gave Linette a welcome hug. “I’m so glad you were finally off work on the same day. Welcome to the family.”
Ava was transfixed. She’d never seen grown-ups dancing like this. Then Shirley sat down at the kitchen table and opened her arms.
“Grammy needs a hug and an introduction. Who’s your little furry friend?”
Ava crawled up in Shirley’s lap. All the tension from the drive up disappeared when Shirley hugged her. “This is Phillip. He’s a squirrel. Squirrels live in trees. I brought him to see the trees.”
Shirley brushed the curls away from Ava’s forehead and hugged her again. “What a good idea!” she said. “Are you and Bubba and Linette going to stay and eat lunch with us?”
Ava’s gaze shifted to Wiley. He nodded.
“Yes. We are staying,” Ava said.
“Sean and Amalie are in his office. You need to let them know you’re here,” Shirley said.
Ava slid out of Shirley’s lap, waiting for Wiley to lead the way.
“Amalie’s home today?”
Shirley nodded. “Amalie got up and announced that the weather was horrible. Said she didn’t have any appointments and wasn’t going to the office just to sit there all day and watch it rain.”
“My brother married a smart woman,” Wiley said. “Come on, squirt. Let’s all go say hello.”
Linette walked beside Wiley as Ava skipped her way down the hall to Sean’s office. Amalie was sitting on the couch with her laptop, and Sean was at his desk on the computer when they walked in.
Amalie saw them first and began smiling. “Sean, we have company!”
Sean turned around, saw the tiny blond with the fuzzy brown squirrel under her arm, and grinned. “Linnie! Ava! What a fun surprise on this yucky, rainy day!” he said. He gave Linette a quick hug, then swooped Ava into his arms and kissed her cheek, delighting in her giggle. “What are you guys doing today?”
“Having lunch with Grammy,” she said.
Amalie reached for Linette’s hands, felt an instant connection, and smiled.
“We’re going to be such good friends,” she said, then gave Ava a hug. “Who’s this little fuzzy-tail tickling my arm?” she asked.
“My squirrel. Bubba bought him for me. His name is Phillip.”
“I have a penguin sitting on a shelf in our bedroom. His name is Frank. Would you and Linnie like to meet Frank?” Amalie asked.
Ava glanced back at Wiley.
“Go on, honey. I’m going to talk to Sean a little bit and then go back to the kitchen with Grammy. This is your home, too.”
Ava blinked. “I have three homes?”
“Yep. Can you believe how lucky you are?” Wiley said.
Amalie winked at Linette, took Ava by the hand, and the three of them left the room.
Sean gave Wiley a look. “Everything going okay?”
“Better every day,” Wiley said. “I’m going back to work tomorrow and dreading it. Mom calls it separation anxiety. I guess I’ll get used to it.”
“Once you realize that she is fine with you coming and going, you’ll settle. You’re both trying to find your footing.”
“I guess. I’ll just be glad when all the final papers have been signed and I have no need to even think about Corina Dalton again.”
“What about Linette? How’s all this business with her?”
“She loves me. She settled into this like we’d been together all our lives and Ava was the cherry on the cake. She’s amazing.”
“Don’t forget Ava is my sister, too, and we’re available for sleepovers,” Sean said.
“Again, here’s me, with this gut feeling of not wanting to let her out of my sight,” Wiley said. “The things she reveals about her life without even realizing the horrors of it are the things of which nightmares are made.”
Sean frowned. “That bad, is it? Does she cry for her mother?”
“Hell no. The only time that child cries is when she’s afraid I’ll give her back,” Wiley said. “But I did learn one funny thing. You remember me telling you what her old babysitter fed her? The mac and cheese in a blue box. Soup in a can. Burglar meat? Well, guess why? Miss Mattie didn’t have any teeth.”
Sean chuckled. “That’s awesome. So, the old lady’s food choices were limited to begin with.”
“Yes, but it appears she was generous to a fault with what she had. Ava’s food at Corina’s house was scraps from her mother’s plate. The first time I took her out to eat, I asked her if she liked french fries. She said no. Come to find out, it’s because Corina was giving her the cold ones she didn’t eat.”
Sean frowned. “I can’t believe you knew about her and Clyde.”
“I knew about all of them. Corina, Ruby, Justine, and Della. I saw him out and about with all of them at one time or another.”
“Good lord! You never said a word,” Sean said.
Wiley shrugged. “What good would it do? Hurt Mom more by telling her? Damn sure couldn’t confront Clyde without taking a beating. He gave out enough of those to all of us for no reason. I wasn’t going to give him an opening to kill me.”
Sean sighed. “I’m sorry, little brother.”
“It was never your fault, I’m not little anymore, and Mom’s safe. And now we’ve rescued Ava from that same pit of despair, and I’m at peace in the world in a way I never was before.”
Then they heard laughter coming from down the hall and Sean grinned.
“I told you Amalie was going to be smitten with Ava. She sees herself in her.”
“Well, you and Amalie found each other again, and then her father found her, and we found Ava and saved her, too, so I get it. Look, I’m sorry to interrupt your day. I’ll go bug Mom for a while.”
“I’ll come with you. I’m not working on anything urgent.”
Shirley was sitting in her recliner in the living room with her feet up and her eyes closed, but she heard their footsteps.
“I’m not asleep. I’m just reveling in the sound of a child’s voice in this house, and the laughter coming up the hall. I’ve been longing for grandbabies, but I never imagined Wiley would be the first one to bring one home.”
Wiley leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Thank you for taking on the job.”
She looked up. “Oh, honey, loving that child isn’t a job. It’s a blessing.”
Then they heard the sound of running feet, and Ava ran into the living room and went straight to where Shirley was sitting and plopped down beside her.
“There’s my darling!” Shirley said. “What have you girls been doing?”
“Amalie showed me her pick-one named Frank, and she is just like me.”
