The Hammett Hex (15 page)

“You never left your hometown?” she asked. It was probably my imagination that her eyes glittered.

“Sure, I went off to college. I still plan to go back to complete grad school. I'm just building up my funds again.”

She sipped pensively. “So are you and my boy planning to marry soon?”

You always need friends. You just don't always know who they are.

—The Kelly Rules

W
E HAD NEVER
talked about getting married. The fiancée thing was just to give me a bit of status. What did I know about marriage? “My parents died when I was very young. My uncles raised me, so it's not like I had a model of a happy marriage, although I am sure my parents were very happy.” Of course, I had no idea if they had been or not, and anything my uncles said must be taken with an entire shaker of salt.

“And you'll want children?” Have I mentioned that her eyes glittered?

“Maybe someday. I like them, but I still have a lot to do, finish my education . . .” And figure out if Smiley and I can make a go of it.

“There's nothing like little ones,” she said.

I realized that her eyes weren't glittering. Those were tears. “First they're beautiful little blond creatures singing and dancing and blowing kisses, and then in what seems like no time, they're happy to never see you again.”

I stared at her. There was pain in her voice.

She said, “And they'll take people you love with them.”

“Tyler?” I said.

“It didn't matter what I said or did, my son couldn't forgive me for getting married again.”

I tried diplomacy. “Unfair, but perhaps he was thinking about his father's memory.”

Diplomacy didn't get me far.

She snorted and the herbal tea swirled in the china cup. “If he was, it was the first time he ever did. He was thinking of the money, more like it. Money was always so important to him and his wife. But money isn't everything, you know. Do you think it was at all fair to that child to be cut off from me?”

“Do you mean that the reason you couldn't see Tyler was because of money?” I suppose that my tone showed that I found this hard to believe. Which I did.

“That's exactly what I mean. And in case you think I imagined it or attributed motives to Tyler's parents, my son told me that to my face. If I married William, I wouldn't see Tyler again.”

I gasped. But I still wondered if it was true. What kind of person would say such a thing?

She said, “He was convinced that William was after my money. Such hogwash. I had my late husband's insurance and the proceeds from the sale of the house and a bit of savings and family heirlooms, that was all. Small potatoes. He said William would clean me out and leave me high and dry. He even asked if I wanted to end up begging on the street. How's that for confidence in your mother?”

“Whoa.”

“Whoa indeed. Of course, I didn't believe him for a minute. Tyler's father was always a bit of a brat, you know. And Tyler and I were so close that I couldn't believe he'd do that to his son.”

“But he did?”

“They did. My daughter-in-law may have been the motivating force, who knows. But my letters were always marked ‘Return to sender.' The telephone was never answered. Nothing.”

“I don't understand how anyone could do that.”

“Tell me about it,” she said. “I figured they'd get over it, but after a year of nothing, I flew back East because I was missing my boy so much and found their house sold and not one of the neighbors knew where they'd gone. I always regretted not going back right away, but . . .”

I said, “But?”

“My son has a powerful personality and I suppose I was afraid he would cause me to change my mind. He's quite the force of nature.”

“Would your new husband have come with you?”

“He would have done anything for me. Although if he'd met with my son, that would have added fuel to the fire. He did fly home and helped me pull myself together when I realized that I couldn't find my beautiful boy.”

I leaned back and said nothing.

“He insisted on hiring a private detective too.”

“No luck?”

“Oh sure. We found them, but they refused contact. When I persisted, my son threatened us with a lawsuit over harassment. He actually took out a restraining order.” Tears trickled down her cheeks. “I knew then I'd lost Tyler.”

“But you hadn't.”

“Wish I'd found him sooner. Think of all the milestones in his life that I missed.”

“Why did you wait? Tyler's almost thirty years old. He's been living on his own for a long time now.”

“William became very ill. He just wasted away and I nursed him for years. I think I told you that this was his sick room. He liked the bay window so much. We knocked out the adjoining wall so he had two windows, the bay and the
turret. He loved watching the street. After a long time, he just faded from life right here. He never lost his sense of humor or his kindness, though. When he went, I didn't have the energy or time or emotion left for a search or for anything else really.”

I squeezed her hand. “You loved your husband a lot.”

“I did. And I love Tyler a lot. It's hard for me to forgive my son for what he did to end our relationship.”

“I get that.” I wasn't sure I would have been able to.

“The funny part of it was that William not only didn't plunder my bit of money, he left me comfortably off. Except that I can't get around or look after myself, I don't have a worry in the world. For years I wished I'd had the chance to tell my son and daughter-in-law that face-to-face. But it's too late. I've been cast adrift.”

Tyler's parents had cast him adrift too. I was beginning to get an idea of what kind of family he'd come from. No wonder he loved Gram so much.

“That's why I am so glad Tyler found you. He has a chance for happiness.”

“I guess so.” Tyler had let me down more than once, though. I suppose I had let him down too. And I had chosen my family over our future.

She must have read my mind. “Be patient with him. He's a wonderful boy.”

Man
, I thought.

“Yet he grew up in that home where there was no place for love or trust or forgiveness,” she said.

“They cut him off when he became a police officer.”

“He told me before he came out here. I only wish I'd learned that earlier. I would have been able to celebrate that milestone with him.”

I realized how lucky I was. My uncles hated the idea of me going straight, especially when the family business was
doing so well. And Uncle Mick and Uncle Lucky had never even been arrested. Their hearts were temporarily broken over my legal lifestyle, but they never would have turned me away. Then when I began to see Tyler, I know they felt betrayed. A cop! Close to the family! The shame of it all. But they pulled themselves together and gave me their support. I never doubted their affection.

I reached over and squeezed Gram's hand. I had a feeling she'd be like my uncles.

Tyler could be a challenge all right, and now I had a better idea why. But he also had been willing to step out in opposition to his parents and become a police officer. It was important to him and he didn't let emotional abuse stop him.

I tried to imagine what kind of parents could cut their son out of their lives to make a point about finances or status. You'd need to be strong to stand up to them. Gram and Tyler were both strong. Tyler had stood by me, just like my uncles. So what was wrong with me that I couldn't see past a few slipups? He wasn't perfect. Neither was I.

I leaned forward and gave Gram a huge hug.

“Thank you!”

“Well, don't count your chickens yet,” she said, clutching her drink. “There's a few years left in the old girl before it all comes to you. I may run through it before I go.”

I laughed. “Make sure you do. It's not about the house. I'm thanking you for being there for Tyler and not giving up.”

She sipped what was left of her tea and said, “I suppose I've just been around too many people who were out for what they could get.”

“Well, that's not me. And it's not Tyler either.”

She put down the cup and squeezed my hand with both of hers. “I know, my dear. I know that.”

I asked the question that had been bothering me for a while. “What about Zoya? Is she out for what she can get?”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “Poor hopeless Zoya. She's just trying to survive in a hostile world. She's devoted to me, heaven knows why. We don't need to worry about her being out for what she can get.”

“We might need to worry that she's badly hurt.”

“Oh, I hope not. I really rely on her every day. I need someone I can count on to be able to manage in this house. I can't really get out for groceries or errands anymore. I need help to get to medical appointments. Zoya does it all. She's a sourpuss, but underneath it all, I think she's good-hearted. If she can't work after this, I'll get help for both of us.”

I wasn't convinced about Zoya's good heart, but there was a chance her injuries were from trying to keep Gram safe. I'd give her the benefit of the doubt.

“And Gus? What's he after?”

“Gus? Nothing! He doesn't even charge me for half of what he does. He's a prince.”

Let's hope so
, I thought.

Shortly after that, Gram dozed off, perhaps a result of the soothing tea. I needed some thinking time anyway. A lot had happened. A lot more could happen. But every event on this trip had taken us by surprise. Some had been good. Gram, for instance. Although I'd heard tales of Grandmother Kelly and her legendary and possibly fictional skill at driving a getaway car, I'd never met her. I'd never had a grandmother. I wanted a share of Gram. She'd been a fabulous surprise. I still worried about what other unexpected thunderbolts the universe was waiting to hurl at us.

After a while, I began to feel stiff sitting in the chair. I dislodged Asta, who looked devastated. I stood up and had a good long stretch. I glanced around the room. Not as fussy as Gram's own grand boudoir, but full of great stuff. I wandered to the desk in the corner and ran my hands along it. I traced my fingers around the lotus flowers on the red and white Ching dynasty ginger jar. That's the problem with stuff.
It makes you covet it. I love old artefacts especially Victorian, Edwardian and Art Deco. Maybe at some point in the future, this would all be Tyler's, but life isn't just about stuff. He was making a new start in Cabot. I should say another new start, because Harrison Falls had been a new start for him too. More important than his new start was Gram. She was a game changer. But what would happen now that they were reunited? Gram was in her mid-eighties. She was fragile. She had this amazing house in San Francisco. San Francisco, which was the place that had taken us twenty-four hours and three separate flights to get to. With the possibility of disrupted travel like we'd experienced, we couldn't just be dashing back and forth whenever. Gram might not have “a worry in the world,” but Smiley had just bought a house that needed a lot of work and I was saving everything for grad school. Cross-country commutes would be insanity.

Selfishly, I felt I didn't want to leave my own family, Uncle Mick and Uncle Lucky and even, yes, Uncle Kev, grant me strength. I couldn't just trade them in. And I wasn't sure that Smiley and I would always be together. We had a bit of mending still to do before we were happily ever after or HEA, as I thought of it.

I gave myself a little shake. Our big problem wasn't working out how Smiley (and maybe I) would be managing with Gram for the rest of her life, it was keeping her alive for the immediate future.

That would be considerably easier if Smiley ever returned.

*   *   *

I WAS DOZING
in what had been William's leather recliner, apparently drooling, and with Asta parked on my chest. Not a good look for me if the snort from the police officer was any clue.

My eyes snapped open to see Officer Martinez shaking with laughter. From the bed, Gram was snoring musically.
Officer Martinez said, wiping her eyes, “Okay, your guy's back with the Russian sleeper agent, but Gus claims never to have heard of him.”

Luckily Gram's eyes popped open. “Did someone say my Tyler's back?”

The cop said, “Lots of elderly people are fooled by fake relatives. How do you know he's really who he says he is?”

I said, “Take a look at the two of them and then ask that.”

From the bed, Gram said, “Because
I
found
him
after being estranged for years.”

“Why were you estranged?”

“Ask his miserable parents. Now let's get this show on the road.” Gram patted her hair and arranged the waves.

Tyler must have taken the steps two at a time because seconds later he practically flew into the room. Zoya was hot on his heels and pale as a hotel sheet. Asta launched herself at Zoya and danced around.

“What happened? Why are the police here?” Smiley pointed at Officer Martinez, who stared at him and then at Gram.

“Yeah, I do see the resemblance,” Officer Martinez said.