Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (91 page)

“Not in writing, but he told Bud and me that he was having an affair with Shelly. She cut him off when she got married."

“So it was a revenge thing and Shelly was the intended target."

“You got it."

“Did he waive extradition?"

“Not yet. He's waiting for legal advice."

“How about the other guy, Fisher?"

“Right about now I imagine he's packing his clothes."

“The North Carolina guys turned him loose?"

“Yeah. Bud put the fear of the Lord in him. Seems the Macintosh computer he used, and the one he gave Shelly, were stolen from a former employer and when they searched Fisher's apartment, they found a stash of weed. Bud gave him his choice of leaving town or facing charges.” Lacy chuckled. “Bud told him if he ever came back to Charlotte he'd haunt him like the ghost of his worst enemy."

“Bud, Bud, Bud. You must have mentioned that guy's name a dozen times. Is there something going on I don't know about, Lacy?"

She grinned and ignored the question. “They're not going to prosecute Shelly either. The DA doesn't think a conspiracy charge will float since they were not involved in the actual crime."

“I guess I'd better mosey on down to the jailhouse and turn Delilah Delight loose."

“Yeah. Look, Mark. Tell Shelly I'm on my way. While we were in Dot, Bud and I ran by her house and picked up clothes for her to wear home. I have a flight out of here in thirty minutes. I'll be there in a couple of hours."

“I'll see if I can scare up some sort of transportation for Shelly."

“No need. There's a flight out of Myrtle at nine tonight. I booked seats for Shelly and me. Bud will meet us at the airport in Charlotte and give Shelly a lift to Dot."

“Hold on. You're going back to Charlotte tonight?"

“Yeah. Tell the chief that I have two weeks of vacation coming."

“You're going to spend it in Dot?"

She chuckled and smiled at Bud. “I found something interesting up this way I want to check out."

Cranfield eased his car up the driveway and parked in front of Shelly's house.

“Detectives,” Shelly said from the back seat, “I can't thank you enough for your kindness in providing me with a lift home.” Home, she thought. It really is my home, but for how long?

“Glad to do it,” Cranfield said, unsnapping his seat belt.

Shelly opened the back door. “You don't need to get out, Detective,” she said, looking at the dark house. “I can manage.” She laughed. “It's not as if I have a lot to luggage to carry inside."

“The place has been empty for over a week, Shelly,” Lacy said, opening her door. “We'll just check everything out for you quickly. You don't need any more grief right now."

As the trio approached the front porch, Cranfield asked for the house key. He opened the door, reached for the switch and, as the room flooded with light, Shelly gasped.

A chorus of “surprise” from a room full of people ended the silence. A sleepy little golden-haired girl leaped into Shelly's outstretched arms. A hastily scrawled “Welcome Home” banner stretched across the back of the living room.

“Welcome home, Shelly!"

“We knocked the dust off of everything!"

“The kitchen is so full of goodies you won't have to cook for a month!"

“Sam's is so much better!"

“I missed you, mommy!"

“I had the window on your Escort fixed, Shelly!"

“If there's anything we can do, just let us know."

“I will pick Annie up in the morning at eight. She can spend the day fishing with Junior while you visit Sam!"

“I put the mail on the desk in the other room. Looks like it's mostly bills and advertisements."

“I love you, mommy."

Shelly was overwhelmed. Sam has so many friends. What must they think of me?

“Instead of an exotic club, what do you think of a comedy club with family oriented routines?"

People were hugging her, kissing her, patting her on the back. What kind of people are they? Don't they know what I did? Don't they read the newspapers? Don't they watch the news on television?

“Let me take the little one. She's fast asleep."

“You look exhausted Shelly. We are going to clear out of here and let you get a good night's sleep in your own bed."

Suddenly, only three well-wishers remained in the room.

“Would you like for me to spend the night with you Shelly? I can sleep on the couch."

Shelly looked through moist eyes at the blurred image of Lacy Spencer. “Thank you, Detective, but I'll be fine."

“Then Bud and I are going to get out of your hair. Shelly, I'm sorry."

“About what?"

“That things in your life took such a nasty turn and that I was a part of it."

Shelly wrapped her arms around Lacy. “But you stuck with me."

“No,” Lacy said. “It was Detective Cranfield who cracked the case."

“Along with considerable help from Borders, Leora and Sandra Dollar. It was Leora who never lost faith in your innocence,” Cranfield explained.

Shelly closed the door behind the detectives and turned back to the festive living room. Mack McGee was gently picking Annie up from the sofa. He smiled and whispered, “Show me Annie's bedroom."

Shelly nodded and said, “I want her to sleep in bed with me tonight."

Mack climbed the stairs and, after Shelly turned back the sheet and coverlet, eased Annie onto the mattress.

“Preacher,” Shelly said as they looked at the sleeping child. “Why?"

“Why what, Shelly?"

“Why did all these people turn out tonight to greet me, to welcome me home? Surely they know what an evil thing I did."

Mack put his arm around her. “You need to come to church more often, Shelly. I have a pet sermon that I revise and preach at least once a month. The bottom line is that I don't believe there are any bad people—just people who make bad choices."

“Can people who have made as many bad choices as I have suddenly begin to make good choices?"

He smiled warmly. “Jesus spent his ministry urging people to repent. Do you know the literal meaning of the word, Shelly?"

“I think it means to be very sorry for all the evil you've done."

“That may be a part of it, but the literal meaning is, ‘turn around and go in the opposite direction.’ Yes, Shelly, we can begin to make good choices. We'll still slip up sometimes. The trick is to keep on trying."

“I am trying, Preacher."

“I know you are, Shelly, and so do all your neighbors who gathered here tonight."

Lacy snapped on the seat belt, placed her hand on Bud's thigh and said, “Home, James."

He smiled and turned the ignition key. “Before we get there, I need to make a couple of excuses."

“Advanced apologies? For what?"

He laughed. “I am delighted you accepted my invitation to bunk at my place, Lacy, but I wasn't expecting company. I'm afraid my little house is a mess and I didn't have time to clean it up."

“I imagine most bachelors have messy homes."

“I did run by the grocery store, so we won't starve, and I also bought some new sheets."

“Why did you do that?"

He chuckled. “I use the guest bedroom as a storage room. It may take us an hour just to find the bed. I've lived there for fifteen years, but no one has ever used the guestroom. The sheets on that bed haven't been changed since I bought the place and, uh, I haven't done laundry for a while."

“I can sleep on the sofa."

“It's not very comfortable."

“I'll bet your bed is comfortable."

“Yeah. That's what we'll do. I'll sleep on the sofa tonight and we'll fix up the guest room tomorrow."

“There is another possibility."

He held his breath.

“We could both sleep in your comfortable bed."

He swallowed hard. “There's nothing I'd like better.” He felt her fingers press deeply into his thigh. “Lacy, I, uh, I think we'd better try to find a pharmacy open. I don't have any..."

“Yeah, that's a good idea."

“Uh, Lacy?"

“Yes, Bud?"

“I, uh, I don't have much experience along these lines."

She looked at him for a long moment before replying. “How old are you, Bud?"

“Too old for you,” he answered dejectedly. “Fifty-one."

“I'm thirty-five.” She giggled.

“What's funny?"

“When we find that pharmacy, I think we need to check the magazine rack to see if they stock a how-to manual."

“You mean..."

“We're two middle-aged virgins, Bud."

“Damn."

“Bud, how many condoms are in a box?"

“I don't know—a dozen I guess."

“Better buy several boxes,” she said.

He glanced at her twinkling eyes.

“They say practice makes perfect."

Shelly woke with the first glimmer of sunshine filtering through the bedroom window. For thirty minutes, she propped on her elbow, gently running fingers through Annie's fine, golden locks. I missed you baby, but mommy may have to go away again. Papa Sam loves you dearly, but he may no longer be interested in me.

She eased into the Whirl Pool and tried, unsuccessfully, to wash away the memories.

After bathing and feeding Annie, she dressed the complaining little girl.

“I don't want to go fishing with Junior. I want to stay with you, mommy."

“I know, honey, but mommy needs to spend the day with Papa Sam."

“Why can't I go with you?” Annie pouted.

“I wish you could, and I know Papa Sam wants to see you, but the hospital just doesn't allow children to visit patients."

Shelly kneeled at her daughter's feet, putting on sneakers, as the doorbell rang. “That's Mrs. Dollar now,” she said. “Tell you what. If you catch a big fish, we'll have him for dinner."

“Ooo,” Annie responded with upturned nose and curled lips. “I'd rather let them go."

Shelly laughed. “I was hoping you'd say that."

She stood on the porch and waved as Sandra's red Cavalier disappeared from sight. She went through all the bills and junk mail before she noticed the blinking light on the answering machine. She reached for the button and grimaced as she heard the familiar voice.

“Delilah, I made a mistake in letting you go. The customers miss you. I want you to come back as my headliner. I'll give you a substantial increase and this time you can keep the contract in your possession. I swear I will never again go back on my word. You can perform any act you like without my prior approval. Hell, for all I care, you can just do a simple striptease. Honey, with all the recent notoriety you've received, we'll make a fortune. Call me."

Knowing there would be no one at the club this early, Shelly punched in the familiar numbers and waited for the machine to answer. “Fuck you!” she barked and slammed down the receiver with a smile of satisfaction.

All the way to the hospital, Shelly repeatedly rehearsed her speech, changing it each time she mentally delivered it. She stopped at the nurses’ station and identified herself. A doctor, leafing through a chart, looked up.

“Mrs. Pond,” he said as he approached, “before you visit your husband I'd like a private word with you."

She nodded and followed him into a small consultation office. She sat in the chair indicated and he pulled another chair directly in front of her, so close their knees almost touched.

“Are your legal problems resolved, Mrs. Pond?” he asked, looking her directly in the eye.

She nodded. “Does Sam ... does Sam know about me?"

“Yes. Once he became alert, we thought it best to advise him fully and honestly of the situation. I'm glad we did. He watched the news on television this morning and they presented a full review of the case, including the arrest of Ronald Ascue. Had we not told him, the shock may have impeded his remarkable progress."

“What was his reaction?"

“It's hard to tell. He cried a little, but that's healthy."

“What does he think of me?"

“You'll have to cross that bridge yourself."

“Is he going to be okay?"

“Yes and no. You probably know his left side is totally paralyzed. He may regain some movement, but not much, I'm afraid. He has good control of his head and right side except for the fingers on his right hand. I believe, with physical therapy, he will regain full use of the hand. His bodily functions such as urination and defecation, digestion, breathing and pulse are all normal. There is every indication that his memory and thought processes are unaffected, but he is having an extremely hard time with speech. The verbal difficulty seems to frustrate him badly. Try not to antagonize him, but don't patronize him either. You will not initially understand much of what he says. Don't pretend that you do. Try to ask questions he can answer by nodding his head."

“I was so afraid he was going to die."

“All things considered, he's a very fortunate young man."

“Doctor, would it be best if I go back home without seeing him?"

“Lord, no,” he said. “Your visit with him this morning is crucial to his immediate future."

“Crucial?"

“There is no medical reason to keep Mr. Pond in the hospital any longer, and Mr. Pond's HMO is chomping at the bit to get him out of here. If his reaction to you is, uh, bitter, we are going to have to find Mr. Pond a convalescent care facility. If his response is positive, he can go home tomorrow."

“Tomorrow?” she exclaimed. “That's wonderful!"

“If you don't think you can care for him yourself, we have a list of practical nurses you may employ."

“I'll do whatever it takes, doctor,” she said, the excitement building in her voice, “but someone must teach me."

“Can you spend the day with us, Mrs. Pond?"

“Yes. Friends are looking after Annie.” Friends! Real, honest to goodness friends!

“Is your bedroom on the ground floor?"

“No, it's not."

“Do you have a room on the ground floor you can use?"

“Yes, but there's no full bath on the ground floor."

“Then you will need to install a chair lift."

“I don't know what that it, but I'll do whatever is necessary.” If there's anything we can do, let us know. Who said that? Tim Dollar!