aterovis_bm_reapthewhirlwind.p65 (22 page)

I wondered if she had been taking lessons from Derrick. She was wearing a form-fitting, ankle-length black dress with a black satin wrap and strappy black shoes.

Her blonde hair had been pulled up into a sophisticated chignon and her gold jewelry was simple and elegant.

Without a word, she slipped her hand into the crook of my arm and smiled as if she had been attending high society social functions all her life.

A camera flashed from somewhere but by the time I turned around, I couldn’t tell where it had come from.

Before I could think about it anymore though, someone caught me by the other arm and asked me about a painting I had done of an old shack in Worcester County.

They were sure that the shack was on their grandfather’s 198

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property on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I told them how impressed I was that they could recognize it from my painting. I felt a little guilty for lying—for at least two seconds.

The evening wore on, and by the time people began to leave, my arm was sore from all the handshaking and my face ached from all the smiling. I took a good look around and was surprised to see that all the paintings were still here. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t sold a single painting. As soon as I saw an opening, I pulled Nikki aside. Before I could say a word, though, she cut me off.

“Can you believe this night? It’s been more successful than I dared hope for.”

“But—all the paintings are still on the wall,” I said in confusion.

Nikki laughed. “Of course they are. Didn’t I explain that to you? They don’t take the paintings home tonight.

They put their name down for the pieces they want, and then we deliver them later, after they are paid for.”

“Oh—” I said, feeling about as bright as a burned out light bulb. “How many did we sell then?”

“Oh, Will, I hate to disappoint you, but you know tonight was more about exposure than sales,” she said with a concerned expression on her face. “We sold—

ALL OF THEM!”

“Wha—? All?” was my witty comeback.

“Every last one is spoken for,” she said with a huge grin. “Gone! And the critics were impressed too.”

“Critics?” I said weakly.

“I didn’t tell you, because I didn’t want you to be more self-conscious than you already were. There were critics from the local paper, plus the DC and Baltimore 199

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papers, and at least two major art magazines. They came because they all knew my father and they respect the gallery very highly. I can’t guarantee what they will write, but we should know something I’d say at least by next week’s Sunday edition.”

“Review?” I repeated dumbly. I was starting to feel like I had just stepped off one of the centrifugal rides at the carnival.

“You’re starting to sound like a parrot, Will,” Nikki said. She spun me around and pointed me toward a corner of the room where Aidan, Adam, Killian, Asher, Laura, Gabe, and Caitlin were talking in a small group.

“Now be a good bird and go tell your little friends the good news.” She sent me off with a pat on my leather-clad bottom.

I walked over to the group in a kind of daze. They jumped toward me as one person, all of them chatter-ing and jabbering at once.

“We sold all the paintings,” I said.

All the chatter stopped for a second then they erupted into a chorus of cheers, congratulations, high-fives, and back thumping. I was glad everyone else had left.

“You’re a star for sure now!” Asher exclaimed.

“You sure look the part anyway,” Killian said with an appreciative glance at my outfit. Asher delivered a sharp elbow jab to Killian’s side.

“Yeah, Will,” Caitlin chimed in, “I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier, but you really do look great.”

“You’re the one who looks great,” I said. “I guess that’s why you waited so late, so you could make an entrance.”

“Not to break up your little mutual appreciation party,” Adam interrupted, “but I need to get home.

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Before I leave though I wanted you to know that at least one of your paintings is going to a good home and you are more than welcome to come visit it any time you want.”

“You bought one?” I asked in surprise.

“Of course! I thought I’d better buy a Will Keegan original before your prices went through the roof.”

“I would have painted you one anytime.”

“Well then I couldn’t say that I bought one at your very first show, could I?” he said and left after telling Killian not to be home too late.

Laura suggested the rest of us go somewhere for a celebration. Nikki overheard and shooed us out before I could protest. We walked down the plaza to an ice cream parlor that kept late hours.

“So,” Laura began once we were all crowded into a corner booth with our ice cream, “I don’t think I know everyone here really.”

“I’m Killian and this is my boyfriend, Asher,” Killian spoke up. “I’m Aidan’s cousin, and Asher is Will’s cousin.”

“I’ve heard of you guys,” Laura said. “I’m Laura, one of Will’s oldest friends, and this is my boyfriend, Gabriel.”

“Call me Gabe,” Gabe said as he shook Killian’s and Asher’s hands.

“And this is Caitlin,” I said to Laura. Laura looked confused, not an expression one usually sees on Laura’s face.

“And Caitlin is…?” she said.

“I—knew Joey,” Caitlin said, choosing her words carefully.

Laura looked even more confused. “You must not 201

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have known him long,” she said bluntly. “I know I’m out of the loop here, but this is ridiculous, Will. Are you two dating?”

“No, we’re not dating,” I said. “We’re just friends; we met at a party and found out we have a lot in common.”

Laura gave me a look that let me know that she knew there was more to this story and she expected to be filled in completely later. I nodded almost imperceptibly.

“Not to change the subject,” I said to change the subject, “but since everyone is here that I wanted to talk to I might as well get it all over with at once. I have something I need to tell you all.” That got everyone’s attention. Everyone watched me now as they ate their ice cream. “Last week I got a package in the mail. Inside the package was Joey’s necklace and a note that said, ‘It wasn’t an accident.’”

Five spoons stopped in mid-air. Only Aidan kept eating since he knew the whole story already.

Laura was the first to snap out of it. She dropped her spoon with a clatter as she leaned toward me over the table. I thought she was going to grab me by my shirt and drag me across the table, but instead she planted her hands palm down and said in a deadly calm voice,

“What?”

“Is this some kind of sick joke?” Caitlin asked, looking very pale all of a sudden.

“Who sent it?” Gabe asked.

“What wasn’t an accident?” Killian asked, looking very lost.

Asher didn’t say anything. He just looked like he knew what was coming and didn’t like it one bit.

“I don’t know who sent it; there was no return ad-202

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dress,” I told Gabe, then I turned to Killian. “I think whoever sent me this note was trying to tell me that Joey’s death wasn’t an accident.”

“You mean that he was murdered,” Laura said in a tight voice.

“Oh my God,” Caitlin whispered.

“Did you go to the police?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah, and they just passed it off as some college prank. I haven’t been able to dismiss it so easily.”

“So you’re taking this seriously then?” Laura said sounding a little more like her usual self.

“I just can’t stop thinking about it. The person that Joey had become these last few weeks wasn’t the real Joey. If someone killed him, then I can’t just let the murderer walk away. No matter what happened between us, he was still my best friend for eighteen years and I can’t just write that off.”

Laura nodded. I knew she of all people would understand.

“So what are you suggesting? That we try to catch the killer ourselves?” Gabe asked.

“Wait,” Asher interrupted before I could answer. “I don’t mean to be insensitive or anything but what does this have to do with Killian and me? We didn’t even know Joey. I mean, I’m sorry for your loss and all, but…”

“Well, Aidan told me about how you caught that killer in your town, the one that killed your friend. Since you’re the only people I know who have actually had any kind of experience in this area, I was hoping you’d help me out,” I said feeling silly. Killian’s eyes lit up immediately. Asher blanched a whiter shade of pale.

“No way, Kill,” he said quickly. “You remember what it was like last time. We almost got killed. Besides, 203

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there’s no way Adam would let us get involved in something like that again.”

But Killian was already hooked. “Who said Adam would have to know? And besides, this wouldn’t be like last time. We don’t really know any of the people involved so we won’t really be at risk.”

Asher let out a low moan and pushed his ice cream away, as if he’d lost his appetite.

“You know, Will,” Laura said softly, “I’ve been meaning to call you because I knew you were probably blaming yourself for Joey’s death.” I started to deny it, but decided that there was no point, Laura knew me too well. She went on, “I don’t think Joey ever really told you about his dad?” I shook my head. “As close as you guys were that seemed to be the one thing he could never talk to you about. I think he was jealous of your family.”

I opened my mouth to argue but she held up a hand and I stopped. “No matter how bad your family may have seemed to you, you know Joey idolized your dad and part of him always wanted his dad to come back so they could be a family like yours. His dad was an alcoholic, a bad one. He didn’t just disappear as Joey always said; his mom kicked him out and told him to never come back. Joey was four at the time and saw the whole thing. As far as I know, he never came back. You know Joey always drank too much at parties, but it got worse when he started college. You didn’t drive him to drink, Will. He’s always been looking for an excuse to do just what he did, become his father.”

I was quiet for a moment while I thought about what Laura had said. “Thank you for telling me that,” I said finally, “but that just makes me want to find the person 204

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who did this to him all the more, because now he’ll never be able to prove to himself that he wasn’t his father.”

“I want to help,” Laura said firmly.

“Where Laura goes, I go,” Gabe said.

“You know I’m behind you,” Aidan said, laying his hand gently on the back of my neck.

“I’m in,” Killian said cheerily.

Asher’s head thumped as it landed on the table. A muffled “Count me in too” emerged from him in the form of a resigned sigh.

Everyone except Asher turned to Caitlin.

“The only reason I’d want to find Joey’s killer is to congratulate them on a job well done,” Caitlin spat out.

Laura’s eyes grew wide and her head swiveled toward me, “Okay,” she said carefully. I could tell she was fighting not to deck Caitlin right there in the ice cream parlor. “I’m ready for the rest of the story now.”

I sighed. “Caitlin is pregnant.”

“Wonderful,” Laura bit off. “I’ll buy the cigars. Go on.”

“The baby is Joey’s,” Caitlin said defiantly. “When I told him, he told me to get an abortion. And I would have too, if it hadn’t been for Will.”

“I see,” said Laura. “And how exactly is Will involved?”

“I told you, we met at a party,” I jumped in before things got out of hand.

“The night Joey was killed,” Caitlin filled in helpfully.

Laura’s eyebrows jumped. “And what were you doing at the party?”

“I went to see Joey. We had an argument. Caitlin and I started talking and—well, I offered to help.”

“Help how?” Laura’s eyes flashed between Caitlin 205

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and me. Caitlin finally seemed to grasp how dangerous Laura could be and had fallen silent, leaving me to answer her question. Aidan had suddenly found searching for Reese’s Pieces in the bottom of his sundae completely engrossing. Killian was hanging on every word while Asher’s head was still resting on the table. I wondered if he had fallen asleep and, if so, I was terribly envious. Gabe just looked as if someone had dropped him onto the set of a soap opera and failed to give him a script.

I knew I had to answer carefully or Laura would fly off the handle. Despite that knowledge I opened my mouth and horrified myself by saying, “I’m going to help raise the baby.”

For an eternity no one around the table moved. Then in a flash Laura was on her feet and leaning across the table, “You’re what?” she yelled.

The few other customers in the place looked over at us as if we were on drugs or something and the owner looked at us suspiciously.

“Laura, sit down,” Gabe hissed.

She sat, but it was obvious that what she really wanted to do involved beating me senseless with the napkin dispenser. “William Spencer Keegan,” she seethed. Uh-oh, she was pulling out the full name. “What do you know about raising a baby?”

Suddenly I was mad too. I leaned in toward her intensely, catching everyone by surprise, including myself. “I know just as much as any first-time father. I’m reading books so I can be prepared. I’m even going to go to Lamaze class with Caitlin, so do not give me a hard time about this, Laura. I’ve made up my mind and it’s really none of your damn business. I want to do this 206

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more than I’ve ever wanted to do anything in my entire life. Do you have any idea how important this is to me?

This is all I have left of Joey; this baby is a part of Joey.

And I care about Caitlin, too. She’s become my friend and I gave her my word. So this is final, Laura. I’m going to be a part of this baby’s life and, if you don’t like it, then you won’t be a part of mine.”

I sat back, my breath coming in gulps. No one moved or even seemed to breathe for a long time. Finally, Laura spoke first, “You’re right. It’s your life and it really isn’t my business. Except that even though I haven’t been there for you lately, you are still my best friend and I love you. For what it’s worth, I want you to know that from now on I will be here for you and I’ll support you whatever you decide. Now that Joey’s gone…” Her voice broke and she started again. “Now that Joey’s gone I don’t think I could bear to lose you, too.”