A Shred of Evidence (21 page)

Guy looked over the top of his menu at Ellen. “Did you notice he called Chief Seevers by his first name?”

“No, I was too busy being glad the chief didn’t stop to talk to us.” Ellen read quickly down the menu and closed it.

“You folks ready to order?”

Ellen and Guy placed their order and then engaged in small talk while they sampled a variety of delicious breads and sipped fresh-squeezed limeades.

Guy spread butter on the last piece of Jalapeno cheese bread and took a bite. “Mmm … so much for watching my cholesterol. By the way, we never finished our earlier conversation. Why are you beginning to wonder if anything you think is worth repeating?”

“Because after watching Ross Hamilton plead for Sarah Beth’s life, everything I’ve thought about him went out the window.”

“He was that convincing?”

“I think transparent is a better word.” Ellen told Guy about the plea the Hamiltons had made and how Ross had come across to her as a man genuinely broken and desperate for his daughter’s safe return.

“Guy, I was so sure I would see right through him. But after listening to the anguish in his voice and seeing the torment in his eyes, I have the most horrible feeling I’ve been wrong about him.”

Guy started to say something and then didn’t.

“Don’t misunderstand, I don’t feel sorry for
suspecting
Ross. There were signs that something wasn’t right, and a little girl’s safety was at stake. It seemed like a precarious situation, and I believe I acted appropriately in going to the police. I make no apology for that. But I decided Ross’s guilt the minute Hank Ordman threw me out of his office. You tried to tell me what I was doing, but I decided to trust my feelings instead of waiting for the facts.”

“So now you think he’s innocent?”

Ellen sighed. “I don’t know. I’m afraid to trust my feelings. But the man I saw in front of the cameras struck me as anything but an abusive father. He came across as a
daddy
who’d lost his little girl and whose heart was crushed. I’m no better than those protesters. I’ve said the very same things about him. I can only
imagine how much he’s suffered—how much Julie has suffered.”

Guy covered her hand with his. “Honey, I had no idea you were feeling this way or I wouldn’t have brought it up here.”

“I didn’t realize it either. I haven’t had time to process everything that’s happened today.”

“Just keep in mind that regardless of how he came across, we still don’t know whether or not Ross Hamilton’s guilty.”

Ellen nodded. “I think that’s the point.”

Julie Hamilton sat watching herself on the eleven o’clock news, hating that her nervousness had caused her to tremble and stutter. Now that she could see Ross’s face from the camera’s angle, she decided he had come across even better than she thought.

She listened again to Special Agent Moore as he described the RISK movement, surprised that she didn’t remember hearing most of what he had said at the time.

A commercial came on and she muted the TV “Did you remember Agent Moore saying all that?”

Ross shook his head. “I hardly remember anything.”

“I thought my knees were going to buckle.”

“I know the feeling.”

“Do you think the FBI really believes RISK took Sarah Beth?”

Ross pursed his lips. “With the public up in arms, you can bet they’re feeling pressured to find someone to blame. Must be driving them nuts they can’t find anything to hang me with.”

Yet
. Julie fiddled with the fringe on the couch pillow. She didn’t really mean that. How could she doubt him, even for a second?

Ross jumped up and went to the window, then pulled up the blinds and looked defiantly at the protesters. “I’ll never rest till I know what happened to her.”

Julie was thinking she might never rest if she knew what did.

Gordy turned off the TV and stared for a minute at the picture of Jenny on the end table, then picked up the phone and dialed.

“Hello.”

“Hey, Will. It’s Gordy.”

“So what’d you think?”

“About which part?”

“Did Ross Hamilton seem sincere?”

“Yeah, but I kept tellin’ myself this could be a big act. Why are you askin’ me?”

“Because you read people pretty well. And I want your knee jerk reaction to what you saw. Don’t clean it up.”

“Okay. I think the emotion was real, but I can’t tell where it was comin’ from. I mean, if the guy’s guilty, he could be sorry for what he did and that’s why he got all teary-eyed.”

“What about his wife?”

“The missus came across like a grievin’ mother. I don’t think she was puttin’ on. Is that what you want?”

“Yeah, Gordy. Thanks.”

“If I wasn’t such a loyal friend, I might be tempted to violate our agreement by askin’ what the heck’s goin’ on.”

“And if I wasn’t such a good cop, I might be tempted to tell you. Margaret’s tapping me on the shoulder. She wants to talk to you.”

“Yeah, okay Put her on.”

“Gordy! How are you?”

“I’m fine, Margaret. I suppose you want my R.S.V.P. for Sunday dinner? I’ll be there. What time?”

“Why don’t you come around five-thirty?”

“You realize I haven’t done this in thirty years?”

“Just be yourself,” Margaret said. “Don’t feel pressured about meeting Pam. She doesn’t have any expectation other than meeting a very good friend of the family’s.”

“Pam, eh?”

“I’m sure you’ll like her. Whether or not you like her enough to date her is your choice. I promise not to meddle. I just think the world of both of you and thought it couldn’t hurt for your paths to cross.”

“Hmm … Will said the dress is casual.”

“Very. Wear what you wear to work.”

“Khaki shorts and a T-shirt?”

“Sure. Whatever you’re comfortable in.”

“I’m not all that good of a conversationalist. What am I supposed to talk about?”

“I’ve known you for twenty years, and you’ve never been at a loss for words.”

“Well, I might be this time.”

“Honestly, Gordy. Do you think I’d set you up with just
anybody?
Pam loves fishing. Loves being on the water. She’s crazy about seafood. Loves to play dominoes. And her favorite dessert? Strawberry shortcake. You’ve got a lot in common.”

Gordy smiled. “Will said you’re makin’ pound cake to go under all those strawberries.”

“From scratch. Just the way you like it. It’s going to be an enjoyable evening all the way around. Promise me you won’t worry?”

“I’ll do my best. See you Sunday at five-thirty.”

Gordy hung up the phone, thinking he needed his head examined. What if he didn’t like this Pam? What if he did? He wasn’t sure which scared him more.

Julie lay wide-awake, feeling alone and empty. She thought back on the first time her two children met …

“Nathaniel, sit here in the big brother chair,” Ross had said. “When I put your baby sister in your arms, you need to hold her
head like daddy showed you, okay?”

Nathaniel nodded and held out his arms.

Ross took Sarah Beth from Julie and ever so gently placed her in Nathaniel’s arms.

Nathaniel giggled, his blue eyes wide with wonder, a toothy grin stretching his dimpled cheeks. He leaned over and pressed his lips to Sarah Beth’s cheek. “She smells good.”

Ross chuckled. “We’ll see how long
that
lasts.”

“Why is her face pink?”

“Her skin’s pink because it’s brand new,” Julie said. “And she smells good because Mama put baby lotion on her skin. When we get home, you can help me. Big brothers are good helpers.”

Nathaniel’s head bobbed. “I’m a big helper.”

Julie sat quietly in her hospital bed, enjoying the sight of Ross and Nathaniel making over Sarah Beth as if she were a long-awaited princess. If there was a greater blessing than having these three to love, she couldn’t imagine what it was …

Julie let the tears run down the sides of her face and onto her pillow. God, why have
You taken everything I love away from me?

She was surprised when Ross turned over and pulled her into his arms. She buried her face in his chest; and for the first time since Nathaniel’s death, the two of them wept as one.

A
t 10:30 Saturday morning, Gordy Jameson looked out on the back deck of Gordy’s Crab Shack and saw Billy Lewis hurriedly packing up his cleaning supplies.

Gordy stepped outside and stood with his hand on Billy’s sweaty shoulder, admiring the clean umbrellas and tables. “I appreciate your hard work, Billy, but I’m serious about you stickin’ to your work schedule. Fifteen minutes late may not seem like much, but it’s a bad habit I’ve never tolerated with people who wanna work here. You’ve gotta do better, hear?”

Billy nodded, trickles of perspiration dripping off his chin. “I am a good worker. I will go now.” Billy grabbed the bucket and headed for the door.

Gordy grabbed his arm. “What’s your hurry? Why don’t you sit under one of those umbrellas and cool off, and I’ll get us something cold to drink?”

“I like Sprite,” Billy said.

“Okay, I’ll be right back.”

Gordy went inside and got two cans of Sprite, then went out on the deck and sat next to Billy. “There you go. Ice cold.”

Billy took the can with one hand and covered a yawn with the other.

“Looks like you could use a nap,” Gordy said. “You’re not workin’
too
hard, are you?”

Billy took a long gulp of Sprite and stared at Gordy over the top of the can, then wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his T-shirt. “I am paint-ing outside. The house is yel-low now.”

Gordy tried to picture Billy and Lisa settled in the little frame house Billy inherited from his grandmother. “I’m sure Mattie would be very proud of how you’re keepin’ the place up.”

“I do an
ex-cel-lent
job!”

Gordy smiled. “So whaddya hear down at the body shop?”

“Ed-die does not like Ross Ham-il-ton.” Billy’s eyebrows met in the middle. “He says Ross Ham-il-ton did bad things to his daugh-ter.”

“Hank Ordman doesn’t agree with him, Billy And the police can’t prove it.”

“I think Ross Ham-il-ton does not tell the truth.”

“Because of all those protestors on TV?”

Billy shook his head. “I do not watch TV Ed-die told me. I am afraid of Ross Ham-il-ton.”

“Aw, don’t be. Even if he turns out to be a child molester, he’s not gonna bother a grown man like you.”

“Ed-die said the police cannot protect chil-dren from Ross Ham-il-ton.”

Gordy crushed his empty Sprite can. “Eddie’s chock-full of opinions he oughta keep to himself.”

Weezie poked her head out the door. “Boss, we need to get those tables set up. The lunch crowd’s gonna start traipsin’ in here any minute.”

“Okay, we’re outta here.”

Billy tipped his can and gulped down the last of his Sprite. “I will go now.”

“Okay, Billy. See you Monday morning—at 8:30 sharp.”

Gordy got up and stretched his back, then went inside. “Sorry to hold you up,” he said to Weezie. “Kinda nice havin’ a few minutes to talk with Billy man-to-man. I doubt he gets much of that.”

The front door opened and Eddie Drummond walked in.