Under Currents (34 page)

“He’s here. We’ll wait. The address is 555 River Bend Drive. See you in a few minutes.” She snapped the phone shut and glanced back at Caleb. “That was Adam. He found something important. He’s on his way here.”

Caleb hoped whatever Adam found would shine enough light on his innocence for a judge to grant him a new trial. He didn’t think there’d ever be a way to prove Devin had anything to do with Jeremy’s death.

Adam arrived shortly and was introduced to Julie’s family. The adults moved to the dining room and sat around the large oak table. It looked like they were about to have a séance. Scott and Ally stayed in the den and watched a movie.

At the table, Julie informed Adam about Devin’s visit to the hospital and what she’d discovered at the tax department. “I’m afraid I said too much.”

Caleb grinned. “She got under his skin big time.”

“His time is running out, and he knows it.” Adam spread the documents on the table like a deck of cards. “Wait until you see what I found. When Caleb was first brought into the hospital after the boating accident, they ran a toxicology to test for drugs. His blood showed a trace of Rohypnol. Sometimes called roofies. It’s a benzodiazepine sedative that’s in the same family with valium but ten times stronger. Mix it with alcohol and its effects are even greater.”

“Apparently, Devin slipped it in your beer,” Julie said.

“It can cause permanent memory loss or even cause a coma or both,” Adam added.

“Are you saying it was the drug that affected my memory instead of the head injury?” Caleb could feel his blood pressure already rising.

“Exactly.” Adam slipped out of his jacket. “It could’ve been what caused the coma in the first place. This drug is used as a date rape drug because it erases the memories of the event. The victims almost never remember what took place once the drug is in their system. And someone must’ve paid big bucks to keep this information quiet during your trial. Your attorney had to obtain a copy of this report.”

“Devin knew you wouldn’t remember him killing the girls." Julie squeezed Caleb's hand. "He planned it so everyone would see you driving his boat, and then he probably took the wheel right before coming upon the girls the last time."

Noreen remained quiet but listened intently.

“Sounds a lot like the drug Frank used on Julie,” Mr. Webb said.

She shrugged. “No, because I was very aware of what Frank was up to. I didn’t suffer any memory loss.”

“But why drug Caleb?” Noreen finally asked. “They were best friends.”

Adam’s gaze made a sweep of everyone’s faces before focusing back on Noreen. “Because when Devin Vincent went on the river that day, he did so with malice and the intent to kill Connie Peel to keep her from naming him as the father of her child. And he knew Caleb would never go along with something so sinister. Furthermore, he needed Caleb as a scapegoat.”

Julie placed her hand on his arm.

Adam drummed his pencil nervously for a moment. “Obviously, he’d used this drug before on dates. And the sheriff’s initial accident report showed that Devin wasn’t drunk, only Caleb. He set you up.”

“He had plenty of opportunities to spike my beer. But how did he time it so precisely?”

“The drug can work within twenty minutes of taking it and can last up to eight hours or more. The symptoms are dizziness and a feeling of euphoria, confusion, and a loss of identity,” Adam added.

“So what now?” Caleb asked.

His brother’s face remained unreadable. “I’ll present all of this to the judge. The fact that you’re still on parole will make him consider the evidence more carefully. The weight of the evidence is in your favor. Also, your trial wasn’t fair since your attorney never shared this medical report.”

“Devin's father probably paid him off. And now Devin is paying off my parole officer,” Caleb said.

♦♦♦

Julie wanted to cry but didn't. Could the same drug have been used on Jeremy to cause his wreck? She looked at Adam. “What would I have to do to have my husband’s body exhumed and an autopsy performed?”

Adam gave Caleb a questioning glance. “Am I missing something?”

Caleb explained their theory on Jeremy’s death not being an accident. “Julie’s wondering if traces of Rohypnol would be found in his body.”

“The coroner didn’t see the need for an autopsy since it was clear Jeremy had been in an accident,” Julie said.

Caleb reached for her hand and clasped it in his, squeezing gently to give her strength. “Where had Jeremy been the night he was killed?”

“To Van Buren to pick up some used canoes he’d purchased and on his way back he stopped at a town meeting.” She inhaled a deep breath before continuing. “He drove off Highway Sixty on his way home.”

“I’ll call city hall and have the minutes of that meeting pulled to see who was there and what was on the agenda,” Adam offered.

Tears cascaded down Aunt Noreen’s cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” Julie said softly. None of this could be easy for her Noreen, knowing that her son was responsible for Amy’s death. Julie wondered if she’d told Uncle Bob about Reece Stanford and Devin.

Noreen wiped her eyes. “It’s not that.” She turned her gaze to Caleb. “I remember the expressions on your parents’ faces when the judge read your sentence. They were devastated. Your mother cried out and almost fainted, and your grandmother just sat in a daze with tears streaming down her face. And I feel terrible now, because I was so glad that they were experiencing a little of the pain I’d been going through.”

“You lost your daughter and all the evidence pointed to me,” Caleb said. “No one blames you. Not even me.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

Julie yawned. The drive had been tiring “I should get Caleb home.”

“I’m not leaving you or the kids alone,” Caleb declared.

“That’s silly. We’ll be fine.” But deep down she wanted to shout for joy. She’d been almost sure he’d want to return to his house and resume staying out of her life. “So what do you propose?” When she considered her choice of words, heat filled her cheeks.

“There’s a lot I would propose if I cleared my name and I had a means of supporting a family. I've had to postpone my construction job since the doctor has ordered me not to work for six weeks.”

She didn’t care if Caleb could provide for them. But she knew he was too proud to live off of her income. Though she couldn’t think of anything more wonderful than giving Caleb a child of his own, she was still glad the test had come back negative. He had enough on his shoulders without adding more to his load.

“I think Julie and the kids should remain here,” her mother said.

“All right, then where will I sleep?” Caleb asked.

Her mother’s mouth dropped open for a moment but quickly shut as she blinked her eyes. “Pardon?”

“I said I won’t leave them. If they stay here, this is where I’ll be.”

Noreen and Bob laughed.

Adam smiled. “Once he’s made up his mind to do something, there’s no use arguing about it.” He sauntered toward the door. “I’m taking what I found to Judge Sledge. I’ll be in touch. Once the media gets wind of this, things might get nasty.”

“We can handle it,” Caleb said. “And thanks, Adam.”

After his brother left, Julie faced her mother. “I going back to my house.” She turned to Caleb. “If you want to stay with us, Ally can sleep with me and you can have her room. I’ll be able to look after you better at my house.”

“That’s my line.”

She smiled. “Then let’s go home.” She instructed Scott and Ally to take their belongings out to the van. Julie glanced back at her parents. “Thanks for keeping them.”

“We enjoyed having them,” her dad said. “Hang on to that pistol.”

Julie had expected her mother to protest about Caleb staying under her roof, but she didn’t.

Her kids didn’t waste any time returning. Caleb grabbed a bag and draped it over his good shoulder, then lifted Ally into his arms.

"You shouldn't be carrying her," Julie reminded.

"She's as light as a feather.” He smiled at Ally. “You ready to go home, Knothead and magpie?”

“We’re ready. You can use my Hello Kitty pillow.”

“That’s mighty generous of you,” Caleb said as he exited the door, jostling Ally in his arm.

♦♦♦

That night Caleb lay awake staring at a mermaid mobile hanging from Ally’s ceiling. He wondered if Adam could convince the judge to give him a new trial, considering who the other party involved was. When he glanced at the door, he saw Julie’s silhouette. “What are you doing prowling about the house at night?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

He pulled the sheet back. “Join me.”

She eased in the bed and turned on her side. “I see you can’t sleep either.”

“I haven’t really tried. I’m too busy thinking.”

“What’s on your mind?” Her bare legs slid over his.

“Wondering what I’ll do if the judge won’t give me a new trial. Devin’s so damn lucky at getting away with whatever he does. I can’t see things working out for me. They didn’t back then, so why would they now?”

“Because you have me,” she whispered.

He kissed the side of her face, then nuzzled the soft spot behind her ear. “If things don’t go my way, I have an alternative plan.”

“What?”

“Slay the dragon.”

Chapter Twenty

“You’d be sent back to prison," Julie stated.

“At least you and the kids would be safe. And Devin would finally get what’s coming to him.”

“Don’t talk like that. Don’t even consider it as an option. What about the life you deserve?”

“He won’t stop until he’s killed us both.”

“Don’t think about it anymore. Try to rest.” She leaned against him. “Put your arm around me. I’m cold.”

Julie closed her eyes and let the heat from his body warm her like a thick blanket. “You’re wearing boxers?”

“This being Ally’s room, I was afraid she might find her way in here tonight, forgetting you have a guest.”

“She sleeps like a brick. Nothing wakes her once she’s out.” Julie hoped Caleb would kiss her. But he didn’t. “I guess I should return to my bed.”

“It might be best.” He sighed. “Julie, it’s not you, it’s me. I can’t think of anything but what that judge will decide.”

She eased to the edge of the bed and sat up. “Worrying never solves a problem. Just say a prayer and let the big man upstairs take care of it.”

“I don’t have faith in anything. That’s one thing that life has taken from me.”

“I can’t explain why God let you go to prison. But I know he was there protecting you and seeing you through it. And now my children and I love you very much.”

“And believe me, Jules, that means a lot to me.”

Julie kissed his cheek, then returned to her bed feeling like an oversexed maniac. But she needed him.

Needed to feel loved and wanted.

Needed to be connected to him, heart and soul.

But she still wasn’t sure how Caleb truly felt about her. Why couldn’t he say the words?

♦♦♦

Adam's call came around noon on the following hot July day. Julie ran out the backdoor, waving the phone in her hand. Caleb dropped the pole and rushed over to take her phone. Though she didn’t ask, Adam’s voice sounded so gleeful, she assumed the judge had ruled in Caleb’s favor. Breathlessly, she handed him the phone. “Caleb, it’s Adam.”

He placed the phone next to his ear. “Big brother, please tell me you have good news.”He listened intently. “Hot damn. That’s great. Thanks.”

Julie waited for him to click off “What’d he say?”

He lifted Julie in his arms and swung her around. “Sweet heaven, I can’t believe it. After all this time, my name just might be cleared. There was enough evidence for the judge to deem worthy of a second look. Adam said it should hit the papers soon. If that’s the case, we might be in for some turbulence.”

“Why would he? With everything that’s come out, he would be the prime suspect.”

“When he feels cornered with no way out,” Caleb said, “the dragon might blow a few flames our way to silence us. Hopefully, not.”

“The media doesn’t have it yet. So for today, let’s celebrate.” Julie glanced at the river before shifting her gaze back at Caleb. “Let’s take tubes out on the river. We’ll pack an ice chest with drinks and sandwiches and make a day of it.”

Caleb grinned. “Sounds like a plan.”

♦♦♦

Being a weekday, the river flowed quietly with fewer people than on the weekends. After being dropped off up stream, Julie secured the ice chest in an inner tube and tied it to hers. She made sure Ally was in the tube referred to as the Cadillac model, where it actually had a netted bottom to prevent her from slipping through and drowning. Still Caleb insisted on linking his tube with Ally’s. Scott selected his own.

              The Current River varied from shallow to deep. Fallen boulders and trees created eddies and a rush of white water in a few places.

Tubing down the translucent river, Julie stared up at the blue Missouri sky. They drifted around sandbars and fallen trees. Scott pointed to a school of small fish swimming past him while Ally giggled at small blue dragonflies on her tube. “Look, Mommy. They’re holding hands.”

Julie smiled at the dragonflies mating. It was fascinating that when the male and female joined, their bodies formed a heart. Her daughter turned slightly and the insects flitted off.

She inhaled deeply taking in the smell of sunscreen and the wild flowers that grew along the banks. Caleb had become so relaxed since learning he would have his day in court.

After several hours, Caleb shouted, “I’m ready to eat. Anyone hungry?”

“I am,” Scott shouted.

“Me too,” Ally added.

Caleb used his hands to steer his tube to a sandbank in the middle of the river. He climbed from his tube and tossed it ashore before lifting the ice chest. “Let’s stop here. We’ll have our own private island.”

Julie helped Ally out of her tube.

"Can we be pirates?" Scott asked, climbing from his tube.

"I don't like pirates," Ally admitted.