Silent Witness (39 page)

Josie was tiring of the debate. She had a history with Archer, Hannah didn't. Josie had a father she admired, a lover she respected and Hannah had neither respect, love nor admiration from any of the men who passed through her young life. Hannah didn't have to believe what Lexi did was wrong; she just had to accept it. Josie put her fingertips atop Hannah's curls as she passed. For her part, Josie did not want to believe that maternal instinct could be so strong that a woman would rather kill her child than leave him to an unknown fate. If she believed that, then her own mother shouldn't have walked away and poor Billy Zuni's mother shouldn't shove him away and Hannah's mother. . .

''I think we should have a party to celebrate how great this room turned out,'' Josie changed the subject as she reached for the door. She turned to look at Hannah still sitting cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by paint cans and tarps and brushes. Her face was pinched in contemplation, her hands were busy.

''You're not going to answer me, are you? Archer could have stopped what Lexi did, couldn't he?''

''I don't know, Hannah, and neither do you. Tim and Lexi are dead. Colin is still alone and feeling guilty that he left his son to Lexi. Roger McEntyre will go to jail for killing Wilson and half a dozen other charges. Ruth Alcott will keep doing what she's doing. Pacific Park will stay in business and, all I really care about is playing some volleyball, helping Archer put his life back in order and you cleaning up this mess.''

She opened the door, but Hannah had one more thought.

''Do you think Archer will blame you because you were the one who found out about Lexi?''

Jodie didn't answer. The door closed leaving Hannah to speculate to Max the Dog and clean up the paint and brood about all the questions that torture a young mind. Josie jogged down the street. Thoughts of right and wrong, Lexi and Tim and Colin peeled away from her as she ran. Josie thought a little about Jude and missed him. She couldn't change the way the world worked and she didn't want to. Her crusading days were long gone and home was Hermosa Beach, quiet and comfortable as the sun hid behind cloudy sky.

Josie blew past Burt's, saw that business was good and decided to make Archer settle his legal debt by taking her to dinner when they were done with the garage. He needed to be part of the town again. Josie ran past a house under construction and admired the brickwork. She turned off the bike path, circled around Archer's building and found him in the garage just where he said he would be.

''Hi.''

Josie stepped around some boxes and over a basketball to get to him. She kissed the top of his head before planting her hands on her hips, catching her breath. Archer wrapped an arm around her legs.

''You're out of shape, Jo.''

Archer raised his face to her. He didn't smile but she saw it resting there in his dark eyes, that old level playing field she loved so much. Now, though, there was a long scar on one brow to remind her she wasn't perfect, that she had doubted and he had paid for it.

''I could still take you down,'' she laughed and stroked his hair.

''If that's a proposition it will have to hold.''

''Guess I better pitch in and help if I'm ever going to get any quality time with you.''

''You've got energy to spare. Drag all that stuff out to the dumpster.'' Archer gave her butt a pat as he let her go.

''You're sure you want to get rid of all this?'' Josie kicked through the mess, hefted the first box and looked over her shoulder.

''Yeah, babe,'' he answered without hesitation.

Josie didn't ask again. Once all this was gone, the wounds would heal faster. Josie made four trips to the dumpster and was headed back for a fifth. Yet, as she bent down to gather up some stray papers, Josie realized something was wrong. Archer was still in the corner but now his shoulders were slumped, they trembled and Josie heard the heart breaking sound of weeping.

Carefully, quietly, she picked her way through the memories of his life with Lexi and knelt down beside him. This had been coming, Archer's moment of overwhelming honesty and Josie was glad she was here for him. She was about to speak, about to let him know all would be well, when Josie realized this was not an expression of relief, nor was he lamenting his lost wife. Archer was weeping because he had been injured anew and the wound was deeper than any before it.

In front of Archer was the white box that Josie rejected as being too small to hold anything of importance. Now it was open and Archer had taken a stack of papers from it. He held them tight against his chest and when Josie took hold he pulled them closer still. Josie pulled harder, silently insisting that he let go.

When he did, she lowered herself to the ground beside him but Archer didn't want to be near her. He got up, walked to door of the garage, raised his arms and held on to the top of the open door as his head hung low. Josie looked long enough to reassure herself he was not leaving before she smoothed the papers and started to read. Unable to believe what she was seeing, Josie shuffled through one letter after another after another again. Her eyes moved but her mind lagged behind. She pointed at the words as if to sound them out and understand the meaning.

Dear Lexi,

Oh God.

I'm sorry . . .. Please, just tell me where Tim is. Let me see him. . .

Damn you Lexi.

Please, I was wrong. . . I won't bother you . . . let me see my son. .
.

You bitch.

Please, Lexi. . . . Please.

Colin

Josie's head fell back.

You manipulative bitch.

She stared at the naked beams of the ceiling. That old fine line. It was here in these letters. Colin had told the truth. He had tried to find his son but his pleas could not break Lexi's bitterness and Lexi's hurt had no room for Colin's repentance. Archer loved a woman who was a liar and Tim died because she was cruel.

Josie let the letters fall to the ground. Twenty of them. Maybe more. Remorseful letters that begged for forgiveness. They had been forwarded by the company that managed the apartment building. That was the only way Colin knew how to get a hold of his ex-wife. The letters were addressed to Lexi Wren, some used her maiden name. Colin didn't know she had remarried. Lexi used Archer, hiding behind him, not wanting to be found.

Josie went cold and let her head fall forward. What had she done to Archer? How could she have insulted such an honest man, questioned his motives and integrity, painted him with the same brush as she painted her own mother?

Then and there Josie made a promise. She would make it up to him if he would let her. Josie would give Jude these letters if Archer would allow it. They would prove Colin Wren deserved to be compensated for the loss of his son. Love and affection had not only been lost, it had been willfully denied by a woman Colin had once loved and Archer adored. Colin wouldn't have a case against Pacific Park but he would be vindicated.

Gathering up the letters, Josie put them in the box and sealed it. Finally, she looked at Archer. Lexi had used him and Colin and even Tim. She had sucked the life out of three good people before her own was snuffed out.

Women could be so cruel.

Getting up, Josie went to Archer She put a hand on his shoulder. It was not enough. He didn't move. Josie wrapped her arms around him.

''All of it was a lie, Jo,'' Archer whispered.

''I know,'' she said back.

After that Josie Baylor-Bates put her cheek against Archer's back, closed her eyes and fell silent.