1 A Paw-sible Theory (4 page)

“Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a function.”

––
Garrison Keillor

CHAPTER EIGHT:
 
A Chilling Implication

I looked out and saw that Ethan hadn’t left yet. His car was still in the driveway and he was sitting in it writing on a notepad. Mrs. Leary, the next-door neighbor, was trying to get his attention as she slowly shuffled her way towards the car, all the while her dog, Smooch, was pulling on his leash in another direction.

Mrs. Leary, who had trouble outlining her lips with the red lipstick she always wore, was a genuine Florida native, and since she had lived and taught school here for most of her eighty years, she was a fountain of information about the area and its politics. She knew everyone and could tell you anything you wanted to know about what went on at City Hall, and often did.

“Hi, handsome; I’m glad I caught you. How is your mom?” she said loud enough to be heard across the street.

She didn’t wait for his answer but went on to tell him that all the neighbors were talking about what happened, the older neighbors concerned that someone had targeted the neighborhood for robbery and that they might be next. He gave her a brief update on his mother and told her that since the police didn’t know if this had been an attempted robbery or something else, they would be keeping an eye on the neighborhood for a while.

“I had Eddie Smarts in my class two years in a row in high school, you know. Who’d ever have thought he would one day be a detective?”

“Why is that a surprise?”
 

She laughed. “He was the class clown, always in trouble about some silly thing or other egged on by his best friend, our new Commissioner, Jack Shultz.”

I found it hard to believe that Detective Smarts even knew how to smile. I certainly hadn’t seen any evidence of it and the man’s behavior toward me bordered on rudeness.

“As a matter of fact,” she continued, “this is Smart’s first case since his promotion after twenty years of service with the department.” She moved closer and lowered her voice a notch. “I hear there’s talk among the ranks that his promotion had more to do with his friendship with the Commissioner than it did with his investigative skills.”

“Well, I sure hope he’s done clowning around and gets busy catching the one who put Mom in the hospital.”

Before Ethan could politely leave, they chatted for a few more minutes about some other kids she’d taught who now held important positions, including Everett Bixby, the District Attorney.

“I imagine Smarts is under pressure to prove himself and eager to put an end to the talk. I feel sorry for the poor soul he sets his sights on.”

The implication was chilling.

“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”

––
Unknown

CHAPTER NINE:
 
A Mumbled Apology

The Westminster chime of the doorbell woke me up from a sound sleep. Ethan’s father, Bob, was standing there puffing on a cigarette. He rang the bell a second time and started to walk away, got as far as his car and turned back. He lit another cigarette with the one he’d finished and flicked the stub in the direction of the driveway, spotted the newspaper tossed in the yard that morning and sat down to read it. He scanned the front page, turned to the back page and a worried expression flitted across his face. He dialed a number on his cell phone.

“Helen, it’s me. I’m going to be home a little later than I thought. Ethan isn’t back and I’m going to wait for him.”

Of course, I didn’t hear what the other party said.

“Yes, honey, I know I said I would go with you, but this is more serious than his message said. We’ll do it another time, okay?”

Smoke billowed around his head. “Are you still planning on pot roast for dinner? Can we have cherry pie a la mode for dessert?” He took a long drag, filling his lungs and exhaled.

“Fine, don’t stress. I’ll stop at the grocery store for the pie.”

Bob had remarried shortly after he divorced Alyx, and with good reason Ethan didn’t like his new wife. He told his mother that she always complained to his father about the mess he made while visiting, and she did it in front of him, usually leading to an argument and Ethan going home early. Eventually, the father-son relationship turned into one of distant relatives; an occasional phone call, with dinner three or four times a year.

Bob stood and took a step forward when he saw his son turn into the driveway. Ethan looked straight ahead, oblivious to everything around him as he followed the brick walkway to the front door.

Ethan, tall and handsome, had the same deep blue eyes and black hair as his father; his father’s hair peppered with gray.

“Hi, Dad, what are you doing here?”

They shook hands, patting each other on the back in something resembling a hug.

“Looking for you, son. I stopped by your apartment and when I didn’t find you there, I thought I might find you here before I checked at the hospital.”

“Have you been waiting long?”

“Traffic is bad. I got here about fifteen minutes ago. The official Beachside Visitor Information website boasts that approximately four million visitors a year enjoy the beach and I think half of those four million visitors decided to visit this week.”

The city hosted several special events during the year that brought as many as three hundred thousand visitors, per event, to the area. Fueled by the local newspaper editorials and local radio station’s talk show hosts, these events were a source of on-going contention between the business community and the residents.

According to Alyx, the residents felt they were the losers in the struggle. The crowds attending the big name concerts on the beach made it almost impossible to get around town, diverting law enforcement from residential areas and often delaying emergency service. On top of that, the city levied higher taxes to cover the cost of the events while the local businesses, including those in surrounding cities and itinerant businesses, enjoyed the profits.

Spring Break was in full swing and the subject of daily articles in the newspaper concerning safety and the destruction of property wherever the college students stayed. Unfortunately, the safety issue came up more often than it should have––referring to several deaths that had occurred when drunken students tried to make their way from one balcony to another.

“Yeah, right? I was stuck in the traffic congestion the new bridge was supposed to eliminate and it took me more than thirty minutes to get across.”

There was an awkward moment of silence before Ethan picked up the conversation again.

“Haven’t heard from you in a while, Dad.”

“I’m sorry, but I lost you cell phone number when I changed phones.” The last part said with some embarrassment.

“Yeah, I see how that can happen, especially when you don’t call the number much.”

“You know how it is, son, time just seems to slip by.”

Ethan had every right to feel as he did, but confronting his father on an emotional level was not his style and I wasn’t surprised he dropped the subject.

“Yeah, Dad, I know how it is,” he said, looking off into the distance, his chin jutting out ever so slightly.

He unlocked the door and invited his father in.

To my knowledge, Bob had never been inside before and he looked around appreciatively.

“Very nice. Your mother always had a knack for decorating. I’m glad she’s finally doing what she apparently loves.”

They sat across from each other, Ethan in my favorite chair, while Bob chose the tan, camelback couch. I settled on the coffee table and Misty picked the floor.

“Son, I’m sorry about your mom. The article in the
Beachside Record
doesn’t say much more than what your message said.”

He turned to the back page and read the short article in
The Police Scan
column.

“Saturday. Early this morning, Citrus County Hospital admitted local merchant Alyx Hille, part owner of Antiques & Designs. Her son, Ethan Hille, and business partner, Maggie Brock, found her unconscious and bleeding from head trauma.

Beachside police are investigating the incident. At this time, the police have no suspect or a motive for the attack. If you have any information, please call Detective Smarts at the Beachside Police Department.”

“There’s really not much more to tell,” said Ethan, then filled him in on the few details not mentioned.

“Dad, I know you and Mom don’t talk much, if at all, but do you have any idea who’d want to hurt her?”

Bob started to say something then hesitated, shrugged his shoulders, and rubbed the palms of his hands on his knees. “Well, son, when you’re in business like your mom is, there’s always the chance that you’ve made some enemies somewhere along the line. Envy and greed are always a good motive for murder, and statistics show that it’s usually someone close to the victim who committed the crime.”

Ethan looked puzzled. “What do you mean, Dad? You’re not suggesting that I had anything to do with it, are you?”

“Of course I’m not suggesting you had anything to do with it. I’m merely answering your question.”

“You think Maggie did it?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Silence followed.

“We haven’t talked in a while, son. How are things going with you?”

“How do you think they’re going? I’m worried about Mom.”

“I meant with you personally before this happened.”

“I guess, okay. Same as everyone else, not everything is perfect but I’m dealing with it.”

Silence.

I had to give Bob credit for effort in trying to act like a father, thinking how hard it must be for him, not having had much practice at it.

“I know you’re worried about your mother, and I know there’s no sense in telling you not to worry, so I won’t, but she’s in good hands and I believe she’ll wake up sooner than anyone expects.”

Ethan nodded without comment.

“Okay. I’d better get going. I was wondering if you want to have dinner with Helen and me. She’s making one of your favorites––pot roast, and cherry pie a la mode for dessert.”

“No, thanks for the offer, but I’ve already made plans with Maggie. As a matter of fact, she should be here any time.”

“All right, son. Call me if you need anything. I mean it.”

“Sure, Dad, thanks for coming.”

They shook hands at the door. Bob started to say something, and hesitated. I may have heard a note of regret in his mumbled, “I’m sorry about … about everything.”

“My cat speaks sign language with her tail.”

––
Robert A. Stern

CHAPTER TEN:
 
Coming Soon

After his father left, Ethan trudged
to his old room and fell forward on the bed. His cell phone jingled and he turned on his back. I crouched next to his head.

“Hey, Maggie what’s up?”

“I’m on my way back from seeing a client and I’m calling to see how your day went and what you want for dinner.”

“My day has been … full.”

“You sound a little down. What happened?”

“I’ll tell you when you get here.”

“I won’t get there for a while; tell me now.”

“Okay, fine as long as you leave me alone after I tell you.”

“I didn’t sleep much last night and needed coffee when I got up this morning. I didn’t feel like making it so I stopped at the café next door to Antiques & Designs. Novie came out with a tray of muffins and told me to take one for later. She asked about Mom, wanted to know what happened, and said she’s going to send her flowers.”

He switched the phone to the other ear, and I switched sides.

“Maggie, I’m so tired of people asking me what happened. I don’t know what happened.”

“You didn’t say that to her, did you?”

He sighed in exasperation. “No, I didn’t.” He took a deep calming breath. “Then, when I turned left at the old Dixie Department Store building on the corner, I saw a large sign in the window with a picture of our building and
Coming Soon––Luxury Condominiums––
printed across it … but you know that already.”

“You sound upset. Did the sign bother you?”

“It bothered me because it would really upset Mom if she saw it.”

Maggie then asked him what he did at the hospital without commenting on what he had said. He took a deep breath and started to calm down. He told her he sat with his mother, occasionally talking to her, sometimes playing games on his phone or on the internet sending and checking e-mails.

“I left for a while when Marylyn Sims came to sit with her.”

“Good; I’m glad Marylyn made it. She didn’t think she would when she called me last night––something to do with her daughter needing a ride somewhere. Did you go home when you left?”

“Yeah, I went home to pack a few things and run some errands. Some other stuff happened but I’ll tell you about it later.”

I had been to Ethan’s apartment before and could imagine Ethan running up the outside stairs of the two-story wood structure that was built to look like a seaside resort.

He had decorated the comfortable apartment himself. Alyx had offered to help. He declined, saying her style wasn’t his style. This meant that he didn’t want to end up with half the stuff she had in her store that she didn’t have room to move. In the end, he asked for her input on furniture placement. He actually liked the suggestions she made and everybody was happy.

Ethan didn’t answer the ringing phone in the kitchen and let the answering machine take the message from his aunt, Alyx’s sister. I
brought him toys to play with, Misty brought him her string, and we kept him busy until Maggie arrived with bags of take-out food from the local BBQ restaurant––ribs, chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, and rolls.