Eye of the Beholder (30 page)

“The navy Polo shirt didn’t jog anyone’s memory?”

“You kidding? In this crowd, that stands out about as much as a cell phone.”

“Well, the final autopsy reports gave us an added bonus.” Will handed Al the reports. “The same DNA was found on both bodies.”

Backus skimmed the pages. “Now we’re gettin’ somewhere.”

“Let’s solicit DNA samples from those same left-handed male students. See who’s willing to volunteer DNA and who resists.”

Guy and Ellen Jones walked from room to room in their home, inspecting the repairs, pleased that the painters had finished a day early.

“Looks great,” Guy said. “What do you think?”

Ellen looked up at the walls, and a smile stretched across her cheeks. “I think I’m ready to move back in this second. I don’t even care that the living room furniture won’t be delivered till Thursday. I’ll sit on the floor.”

“All right. I’m sure Owen and Hailey are ready to get rid of us. I’ll call the security guard service and arrange to have the guards come here.”

“Why? Now that we’ve got an alarm system, we would just be throwing money away. Investigator Backus said he could arrange to have the area patrolled more closely for a few weeks.”

“That won’t give me enough peace of mind when I’m in Tallahassee.”

“Guy, I’d rather you spend the money on a bodyguard.”

“Fifteen hundred a day? I don’t think so. Let’s keep the security guard for now. We’ve got till Monday to decide.”

He slipped his arm around Ellen. “How about making me shrimp pasta for dinner? Maybe light a few candles. Put on some soft music.”

“The smell of paint might spoil the ambiance. It’s pretty strong.”

“I hadn’t noticed.” He pulled her into his arms and started slow dancing, his cheek next to hers. “I just want the world to go away for a while and let us find our lives again.”

The doorbell rang.

Guy went to the front door and looked through the peephole. “It’s Blanche. We’ve been home all of five minutes.”

Ellen walked over and stood next to him. “She’s missed me and probably needs a little TLC. How about if I take her to the grocery store? We can visit while I shop, and that’ll kill two birds with one stone.”

“Promise you won’t bring her back here?”

“What? And break the spell?” Ellen turned and looked up at him, her arms around his neck. “I can’t remember the last time we had a romantic evening at home. I’m not about to invite her in.”

Gordy Jameson went in the kitchen at the crab shack and saw his fiancée in front of the open oven door.

“Pam, darlin’, would you come out here for a minute? Doc Tehrani and his wife are here and want to talk to us. Here, let me get that for you.”

Gordy put on oven mitts and removed four pies from the oven, one by one, and set them on the cooling rack. “Boy, do they ever smell great.”

“Where are the Tehranis?”

“They’re at the corner table by the windows. Let’s go sit with them for a few minutes.”

“Any idea what they want?”

“No, but it’s the first time I’ve seen them together in a long time.”

Gordy took Pam’s hand and walked out to the dining room and over to where the Tehranis were sitting. He introduced Pam and Mina, then seated Pam and sat next to her.

“It’s great to see you,” Gordy said. “What did you want to talk to us about?”

Ali took a sip of water. “If the invitation to come to your wedding is still open, we would very much like to accept.”

Gordy looked at Pam and then at Ali and Mina. “Of course, it’s still open. What changed your mind?”

“We just decided that we can no longer remain passive and isolated if we want people to know who we really are. It’s time to reach out so there can be no question about our loyalty to this country, this community, to our patients—or our friends. Friends like you.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Gordy said. “That means a lot.”

Mina traced the rim of her water glass with her finger. “We cannot speak for all Muslims, but Ali and I are United States citizens because we value freedom. We must not be silent about this. We must be proactive. And we must build bridges so that people will stop fearing us.”

“That also means not dodging the media anymore,” Ali said. “I have nothing to hide. I now choose to look at it as an opportunity to build good will.”

Gordy reached across the table and took Mina’s hand and then Ali’s. “That’s the spirit. Pam and I join with you in this, don’t we darlin’?”

Pam added her hands to the mix. “Absolutely. There is something you should know, though. Dr. David Kohler and his wife are good friends of mine and have been invited to the wedding.”

“I know David,” Ali said. “And I grieve with him for his murdered son. We realize not everyone will welcome us at your wedding. But we’ll reach out as others will let us. We’ll try to bring peace and not conflict.”

Gordy smiled. “Hey, I’ll take you any way I can get you.”

Ellen put on a strapless black dress, powdered her nose, and applied a little blush to each cheek. She fluffed her hair and dabbed perfume behind her ears, then stood back and studied her reflection. There was definitely a sparkle in those baby blues.

She went out to the dining room, pleased to see Guy had already lit the candles.

“Wow, do you look nice,” he said. “Here, you sit and I’ll serve us.” He pulled out the chair and waited until Ellen was situated, then pushed her up to the table.

A couple minutes later, he was seated across from her, raving about the shrimp pasta and seeming like his old self.

“It’s so nice being home,” Ellen said.

“Indeed it is. More Perrier, Madame?”

Ellen nodded. “Thanks. I hope Owen and Hailey’s feelings weren’t hurt that we decided to stay here tonight.”

“Are you kidding? They probably did a dance. They were super about it, but it can’t be easy for them having two extra bodies in the house … not to mention a security guard outside.”

“Hailey hasn’t seemed well lately,” Ellen said. “I’m concerned about her.”

“She just needs to find a satisfying job. She’s wired like her mother-in-law.”

Ellen laughed. “Poor dear. Actually, I’m anxious to get back to my writing. I wish I’d hear something from one of the publishers.”

“You will.”

“Sure, another rejection.”

“That’s part of it, honey. But one of these days, I’m going to be married to a novelist.”

“Think so, huh?”

Guy lifted his glass. “I
know
so. Here’s to a bright future.” He touched her glass with his.

Ellen heard a ringing noise and couldn’t tell where it was coming from. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, that’s my cell phone.”

“Who besides me calls you on your cell?”

“Nobody. Probably a wrong number.” She started to take a bite, then dropped her fork and pushed back her chair. “Kinsey! It might be Kinsey!”

Ellen raced down the hall to the bedroom, dug in her purse, and pulled out the phone. It stopped ringing. “Hello …? Is anybody there …? Hello …?” She checked for a message, and there wasn’t one.

She took the phone to the kitchen, set it on the countertop, then went into the dining room and resumed her place. “Whoever it was didn’t leave a message. What if it was Kinsey, trying to reach me?”

“Then she’ll call back. But I seriously doubt you’ll hear from her. She’ll be lucky if she doesn’t end up at the bottom of some river.”

“What an awful thing to say.”

“We have to be prepared for it, Ellen. There’s no way Kinsey can survive on minimum wage—not after the lifestyle she’s used to. She’s either going to get back into trafficking or something worse.”

“Meaning what—prostitution?”

“If she gets desperate enough.”

“I’m not going to have this discussion with you. I can’t accept that she’d really stoop to that. There has to be another way.”

“Honey, why are we talking about Kinsey? This is
our
evening.”

Guy got up and pulled Ellen to her feet. He reached around
the corner and turned up the volume on the easy listening CD he’d put in the Bose player, then took her in his arms and began to slowly move his feet, his cheek next to hers.

Ellen closed her eyes and yielded herself to the music and to Guy’s lead, hoping she could recapture the mood.

Gordy strolled barefoot along the wet sand, his hand holding tightly to Pam’s, his senses alive with the smells and the sounds of the sea.

“What’re you thinking about?” Pam said.

“That this time next week we’ll be combin’ this beach as husband and wife.”

Pam squeezed his hand. “I can hardly wait. Being married to you would be wonderful no matter where we lived. But to be home here with the gulf at our backdoor … well, it’s more than I ever dreamed.”

“You sure it doesn’t bother you that Jenny and I lived here?”

“It really doesn’t. After all, she lives in your heart, and it’s big enough for both of us.”

“I just don’t ever want you thinkin’ that I’m comparin’ you to her … or that I expect you to step into her shoes. Because I don’t. What I have with you is great, too. It’s different.”

Pam nodded. “I know. What Todd and I had was special, but it doesn’t take away from what we have. I can hardly believe I found it twice in a lifetime.”

Gordy stopped and took Pam in his arms. He closed his eyes, his lips seeming one with hers, and let his heart say what words never could. Finally he drew back, one arm around her, and gazed up at the stars—which seemed to him like countless diamonds strewn across black velvet.

“Whaddya suppose God was thinkin’ when He created all those galaxies?” he finally said.

“That after all His creative genius, some guy named Edison
was going to invent the light bulb and mess up the view?”

Gordy chuckled and pulled her closer. “I’m glad you feel good about living out here. I think I’d suffocate in a regular neighborhood.”

Pam smiled. “I know that.”

Gordy took her hand and began walking again. “I can’t believe how close we are to the wedding. I’m so glad the Tehranis decided to come.”

“Me, too, but I’m preparing myself that their presence might make some people uncomfortable, especially if the Kohlers
do
come. Even your best man’s been a pill about the whole Muslim thing.”

“Not any more. Bein’ with the parents of the two dead kids really did a number on Will.”

“That’s what you said. Margaret told me the same thing. Let’s just hope it lasts through the reception.”

 30
 

G
uy Jones opened his eyes and for a moment forgot where he was. The first light of dawn filtered through the transom window, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee seemed to meld with the smell of paint.
Home
.

He lay on his side, Ellen nestled in his arms, remembering the first morning he had awakened with his bride in his arms. He slid his palm under her limp hand, relishing the warm softness, and rubbed his thumb over her wedding ring.

Ellen stirred and stretched, then turned over and faced him, her head on the same pillow. “Hi,” she said sleepily.

He kissed her forehead. “Good morning. Isn’t it great to be back home in our own bed?”

The corners of her mouth turned up slightly. “Indeed it is,
Romeo
.”

He outlined her features with his finger, then brushed the curls away from her face. “It took me a long time to fall asleep last night. I can’t explain it, but this feels like a new beginning. I know I have a long way to go, but I asked the Lord to help me be more sensitive to people. Just be patient while He works on me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“You ready for coffee?”

“I hate to move. I’ve missed the closeness.”

“Me, too. I’m sure my being critical was a real turn off.”

Ellen’s pensive blue eyes agreed with him, but he was glad she didn’t say it.

“What’s on tap for today?” he said.

“The only thing on my agenda is the Wednesday Bible study with Billy and Lisa. I moved the time up to eleven o’clock so I could spend the afternoon with you.”

“Do we need to do any more shopping for the house?”

“We need to find a painting for behind the couch. Though I doubt I’ll ever find one I like better than what we had.”