The Right Call (20 page)

Chapter 23

Brill
straightened her suit jacket so the four-starred epaulets were square on her shoulders, then placed her hat atop a head of thick red hair. The police chief in the mirror was a stark contrast to the late Chief Hennessey.

There were those who felt her taking the helm in a town of thirteen thousand was a comedown from heading up a detective division in a major city. She didn’t see it that way—not that it mattered. The job was what it was.

The only reason she sought the position was to get away from Memphis and the painful memories associated with Kurt’s affair. Could she have ever imagined what a challenge it would present almost from the moment she was sworn in?

But even in the shadow of Chief Hennessey’s legacy, she had proven to the community that she was capable of solving cases and seeing difficult investigations through to completion. Could anyone dispute that she had dealt with more violence in two years than he had in thirty?

She saw the angst in the blue eyes staring back at her in the mirror. Would anyone even care about her successes today when she stood by and watched a
fourth
set of parents bury their murdered child?

Kurt’s reflection appeared next to hers in the mirror. “Vanessa’s up. She’s sitting out in the kitchen.”

“Thanks. I’ll go talk to her.” Brill put on her lipstick and blotted it. “I’ll catch up with you at Drew’s parents’ house after the funeral.”

Kurt kissed her on the cheek. “You’ll get this guy. Don’t let Drew’s death destroy your confidence.”

“If anything, it’s fueled my determination.”

“Now you’re talking.”

Brill squeezed his hand, then turned and walked out to the kitchen, where Vanessa sat at the table, feeding Carter.

“Hi there, big guy.” Brill went over to Carter and brushed his fine hair with her fingers. “How’s the cutest grandbaby on the planet?”

“Starved,” Vanessa said. “He’s a little eating machine.”

Brill hugged Vanessa. “How are
you
doing this morning?”

“So-so. I feel a little hollow, like something’s been ripped out of me. Maybe it’s just empathy for what Ethan and his family are going through.”

“I don’t know, honey”—Brill pulled out a chair and sat—“you’ve been through a traumatic ordeal yourself. It has to be weighing on you. Listen … I made a decision to do something I think is wise. I’ve asked Rachel Howell to escort you to Drew’s funeral today.”

“Rachel? Why?”

“I have no doubt the media is going to be relentless in their quest to get you to talk about the shooting.”

“They know I can’t talk about the case while the investigation is open—not that I would anyway.”

“But that won’t stop them from trying. I’d like Rachel to run interference. She can help shield you from them.”

Vanessa held her gaze. “There’s more to it than that, isn’t there?”

“It can’t hurt to give you a little extra protection as long as the shooter is still out there.”

“That’ll make Ethan happy. He’s been worried about my safety since Drew was shot.”

“Really? You didn’t mention it.”

“I thought Ethan was being overprotective. You said you weren’t too concerned that I was at risk since I didn’t see the shooter or the car.”

“I
wasn’t
that concerned in the beginning,” Brill said, “because I was convinced we would discover that Drew and Tal Davison were involved in something illegal. But they had completely different cell phone directories, email contacts, even friends. If they were involved in something illegal, we would’ve expected to find a common contact somewhere.”

“Maybe their deaths were just an eerie coincidence.”

“Maybe. But since we don’t know yet, I’d feel better if Rachel Howell accompanied you to the funeral.”

Ethan stood at his bedroom window at Uncle Ralph and Aunt Gwen’s and watched the morning sun spread like warm butter across the hazy foothills. He felt strangely alone. For the first time in his life, he was the only child in the Langley family. He and Drew had been inseparable, and now his presence at any family gathering would be a stark reminder to everyone else that Drew was gone.

Ethan took off his glasses and wiped his eyes. He had to pull himself together. He needed to help Uncle Richard and Aunt Becca get through the most horrible day of their lives.

He walked over to the closet and took out the white dress shirt he had borrowed from Uncle Ralph and the dark blue suit he had worn to the sweetheart ball when he was a senior in high school. And a blue and red striped tie.

He liked Vanessa’s idea of wearing white to celebrate Drew’s going home for eternity. It would be a hard day for her, too, and he wished he didn’t have to wait to see her until the family and friends gathered after the funeral.

There was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

“It’s me.” Uncle Ralph opened the door and stepped inside. “I was just wondering how you were doing.”

“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to be doing when I’m about to bury my best friend and only cousin. Okay, I guess. Thanks for lending me the white shirt.”

“No problem. Listen … I just wanted to say I’ll be thinking of you today. I know it’ll be a tough one.”

“You should be saying this to Uncle Richard.”

“Ethan … ”

“It’s not too late. He and Aunt Becca are too sad to fight with you. I think they’d just appreciate knowing you care, that’s all.”

“I told you I care. That’s not the issue.”

“I’m sorry, but the
issue
doesn’t seem that important right now.”

Uncle Ralph’s face looked flushed. “I don’t know what Richard’s told you, but there’s no way he wants me there.”

“Then shame on both of you—” Ethan threw his hands in the air, disgusted that his eyes teared up and a knot of emotion stole his voice.

Ralph exhaled loudly. “I know my feud with Richard is a huge disappointment to you, Ethan. But it has nothing to do with you and me. I love you like you were my own. And I’ll always regret that I never got to know Drew.”

“Yeah, well, you
should
regret it.” Ethan took off his glasses and tossed them on the bed. “But you’re going to have much more serious regrets if you don’t make peace with Richard. He’s your twin brother, for heaven’s sake. You’ve wasted fifteen years of your lives—all because you won’t accept his apology!”

“Hey, watch that tone, bud. This is your uncle Ralph you’re talking to. I don’t take that from anybody.”

Ethan paused to gain his composure. “I didn’t mean any disrespect. I’m just caught between two uncles I care very much about.”

“Yeah, I know. I hate that.” Ralph squeezed his shoulder and was quiet for half a minute. Finally he said, “Take it easy, okay? I’ll see you tonight. I hope things go as well as they can.”

Tessa pushed open the door at Nick’s Grill, hearing thunder rumbling in the distance, and hurried inside, a sudden breeze seeming to push Antonio in on her heels.

A second later Nick stood with his arm around her and his hand extended to Antonio.

“Welcome, friends.”

“Oh my, what smells so delicious?” Tessa said.

A grin slowly spread across Nick’s face. “Low-fat, low-calorie, no-guilt personal-size pizza made with veggie sausage on a thin, crunchy crust. You choose three veggie toppings. It’ll knock your socks off.”

Antonio gave him a high five. “Now you’re talking.”

“Comes with my homemade pizza sauce,” Nick said, “and low-fat mozzarella. I’m proud of this one. It’s really tasty.”

“That’s what I’m having,” Tessa said.

Antonio laughed and nudged her toward the counter. “I might have two.”

Tessa made her way to the counter and saw Gus and Maggie seated in their usual places. “Hello, hello.”

“Hey there,” Maggie said. “You two look nice. Oh, that’s right; you’re going to Drew Langley’s funeral after this.”

Tessa nodded and took her seat.

Antonio slid onto the stool between Tessa and Gus and slapped Gus on the back. “How’s it going, friend?”

“Really can’t complain, but I always do.”

“So what do you know?”

“Not as much as I’d like to,” Gus said. “Why do you suppose someone would turn the shooter’s gun over to the police and not give a hint as to who it belonged to?”

Antonio shrugged. “Guess they thought the police would be able to figure it out.”

“So
has
that police-chief neighbor of yours figured it out?”

“How would we know?” Tessa said. “We’re not privy to her police business.”

Gus’s eyes narrowed. “I think it’s
everyone’s
business when four people die of gunshot wounds and no one’s been arrested. Doesn’t sound to me like the cops know squat.”

“These things take time”—Tessa looked down the counter—“and I think you should refrain from second-guessing Brill when you don’t have all the facts.”

A smile appeared under Gus’s mustache. “I have my own idea about who’s behind the crimes in this town.”

“Yes, we know,” Tessa said, “and each time you’ve been proven wrong.”

“Have not.”

“Have too.”

“Have not. The stuff I’m talkin’ about can’t be proven one way or the other.”

Clint Ames slid onto the stool next to Tessa and put his sunglasses in his shirt pocket. “What stuff?”

“All right, you know what
I
think?” Antonio raised his hands and brought them down on the counter with a thud. “I think Gus stopped believing the red-shadows legend a long time ago—and doesn’t want to admit it because he enjoys rabble-rousing. Am I right?”

Gus’s face went blank. He opened his mouth and then closed it without saying a word.

A clap of thunder shook the building, and no one said anything.

Finally Tessa became aware of Jo Beth McCauley standing on the other side of the counter.

Jo Beth cleared her throat, as if to make her presence known. “I’m ready to take y’all’s orders, whenever you’re ready.”

“Gus and I are each having the special,” Maggie said, louder than she needed to.

Tessa gave a nod. “Same for Antonio and me.”

“Topping preferences are up on the board. You each get three.” Jo Beth wrote down everyone’s choices and then said, “Coffee all around and a Coke for Gus?”

Four heads nodded in agreement, and Jo Beth turned and went through the swinging doors, her long dark braid reminding Tessa of their conversation about her Cherokee heritage.

“What time’s the funeral?” Maggie asked.

“Two.” Antonio glanced at his watch. “We’re praying that Vanessa gets through this day in one piece. It’s not fair that she barely got over one trauma and now has another to deal with.”

Tessa kept her eye on Gus. He just stared at his hands.

Nick held his army green umbrella over Tessa and Antonio and ran with them to their car as the heavens opened up and torrents of rain blew across Third Street. He got them situated in the car and then ran back inside, waving at them from the door as a clap of thunder shook the building and rattled the windows.

He folded the umbrella and hung it on the coatrack, figuring the Masinos would not be the only customers needing his help. He noticed Gus was still sitting at the counter. He grabbed a bar towel and wiped the rain off his arms, then walked over to Gus and slid onto the stool next to him.