Good Bones, page 27
The light disappeared. The remainder of the floating leaves collapsed in a pile on the forest floor.
Jake reached for Katherine’s hand.
Chapter 30
The EMT tossed Jake a blanket, and he wrapped it gently around Katherine’s shoulders. “Cold?”
She stroked Whiskers as they huddled on the porch. “Better now.”
April dashed through the rain with Ethan at her side. “Lieutenant Saldana gave me a statement,” she said with a grin. “I phoned it in and the news manager at the local TV station wants to see me tomorrow.”
“You got the job,” crowed Katherine.
“I think so.” April shot her a sharp look. “Anything you want to add to the report? Wait, don’t tell me. Patient confidentiality.”
Katherine’s eyes twinkled. “Sorry, I’m bound by oath.”
April turned a piercing glare on Jake. “And you?”
He gazed at the sky with an innocent expression. “All statements from the police must come from official channels.”
April blew out her cheeks in frustration. “They’re hiding the truth, Ethan.”
“No kidding,” he said with a snicker. “Didn’t you hear Jake and Katherine’s cockamamie story? Jeremy and Diana climbed a tree to ambush them and got hit by lightning. And nothing they said justifies why they brought a cat on a rescue operation. Seriously, I don’t get how either of them kept a straight face.”
Katherine nudged Jake. “It’s an excellent story. I believe it one hundred percent.”
Jake grinned. “So do I.”
“So does the lieutenant,” added Ethan. “At least, she didn’t press you hard. Even the EMTs said the deaths appeared to be from a lightning strike. I suspect the ME will agree. Case closed. Nobody will care Mother Nature saved the city the cost of a trial.”
Ethan gestured toward an ambulance with flashing lights. “Tina’s demanding to say goodbye before they take her to the hospital. Lucky for you two, she only has a few blurry memories. After the goodbyes, I suggest certain people get the hell out of here before Saldana has second thoughts about what really went on in those woods.”
Katherine handed Whiskers to Jake and crawled into the back of the ambulance. Tina lay on a gurney with an IV and a bandaged head, and greeted them with a weary smile. “I borrowed one of the EMT’s phones to call Andy. He’s already released and waiting for me at the hospital, but I had to thank you before I left.”
Katherine patted her gently on the arm. “Feeling better?”
“I’m sore all over, but grateful to be alive. I don’t remember much except waking up in the farmhouse and then running with you through the woods.”
Katherine shot Jake a glance. “I’d say that’s for the best.”
“Me, too. Funny thing,” she mused, “considering I was kidnapped today, I’m completely and totally at peace. For years, I had a shadow darkening my life. Now, all of a sudden, it’s gone.” She chuckled. “Or my new attitude is due to the damn good drugs they pumped into me.”
A wistfulness in her features caught Katherine’s eye. “Something else on your mind?”
Tina’s gaze drifted out the back of the ambulance. “All that emotional baggage with my mother… I’m ready to let it go.”
Katherine’s voice softened. “I’m glad to hear that. Want me to tell her?”
“No. I-I want to hear her voice. I’ll call from the hospital.” Her eyes twinkled. “Are you available for a counseling session?”
“Anytime,” Katherine chuckled. “Although it might be in a coffee shop. I don’t have an office any longer.”
As the ambulance drove away, an officer returned with Jake’s squad car. “Let’s get out of here,” said Jake, “before I have to field any more questions from Saldana.” He opened the car door and Katherine placed Whiskers inside. The rain stopped. Jake pulled Katherine close. She wrapped her arms around his neck and peered at his face. No shadows hid in the depths of his eyes. No wariness colored his features. Eager lips met hers.
“Kathy,” Jake nuzzled her ear. “Can I interest you in a man with a slightly used heart?”
“Most definitely, yes.” She nestled happily against his chest. “He has tons of potential, but I’ll only be able to give a proper diagnosis after a few one-on-one sessions.”
“I’m almost ready to begin.” Jake kissed her again, “but first we’ll drop off Whiskers. I have one last place to go before we start those sessions, and I want you to come with me.”
****
“Thank you, Jake.” Mrs. Calder brushed back a tear and clasped her husband’s hand. “It was good of you and Dr. Fleming to come and tell us Bethany’s murderer had been found.”
Mr. Calder swallowed hard. “It’s been so hard all these years not knowing who killed our daughter.”
“He and his accomplice are dead,” said Jake. “They can’t hurt anyone again.”
“We’re so sorry for your loss,” said Katherine, “but you deserved to hear first before the story hit the newspapers.”
“It’s so strange…” Mrs. Calder motioned to a box at the door. “Those belonged to Bethany. None are important, they have no sentimental value, but I couldn’t bear to part with them until now. Then this afternoon a weight lifted from me as if Bethany whispered in my ear, ‘Let it go.’ The time suddenly seemed right to donate them to the animal shelter. I can’t even say why I hung onto this stuff all these years. We don’t own a cat and the woman who took him only wanted the pet carrier.”
Jake exchanged a bemused glance with Katherine. They lifted the flaps and peered inside at a food dish, a small pet bed, and several cat toys. Jake cleared his throat. “When did Bethany get a cat?”
“A few weeks before she died,” said Mrs. Calder. “A cute little white kitten, but Paul and I couldn’t keep him. He’s highly allergic.”
“We posted an ad,” said Mr. Calder, “and a woman came by. Kind of an oddball as I recall. She said I had a transcendent aura.”
Jake muttered an aside to Katherine. “You don’t think…”
She whispered back, “I rather not.”
****
Katherine inhaled deeply. “The barbeque smells delicious, Connie. Thanks for having us over.”
“Yeah,” said Jake with a grin. “Katherine is tired of my hotplate cooking. She’d make a lousy pioneer.”
Katherine shot him a dirty look. “Even Whiskers agrees a full kitchen is a necessity for civilized dining.”
“I second that,” said Parker.
“Hey, we’re almost there. Floors are done. The cabinets and countertops are installed and the new appliances arrive tomorrow. Then we can invite everyone over to our house for a party.”
“Sound good to me,” said April.
“Since when do you have time to party?” joshed Ethan. “You’re a hotshot reporter now. Hey, did you all see her segment last night on the city council meeting? April even made the zoning committee’s report riveting. I almost stayed awake through the whole thing.” April punched him in the arm.
“And you, Katherine?” said Parker. “Keeping busy?”
She stared down at the table. “Not so much. Most clients canceled after the news about Jeremy broke. The building housing the clinic was one of the properties owned by Prentiss Ingalls. With Jeremy’s death, it reverted to the trust. They were kind enough to allow me to stay to the end of the month, but my remaining clients always managed to turn the conversation to Jeremy and Diana. They became distracted from their own healing. I finally referred the last of them to other counselors.” Katherine raised her head and forced a weak smile. “Time to start the job hunt again.”
Jake placed a comforting arm around her shoulder. “You’ll find another position soon.”
“I hope so.” What if I don’t? What if Jeremy’s taint lingers and the only option is to start over again far from here? She swallowed hard.
Parker shot his wife a veiled look. “New opportunities can come when you least expect them.”
Katherine narrowed her eyes. “What’s going on? You invited us here for a celebration, but have been awfully secretive.”
“We’ll explain when our last guest arrives,” said Connie airily.
“Is it about the documentary on Safe Harbor?” said April.
“Not exactly, although we decided on an airdate in two weeks. You and Parker did an excellent job, April. We had a preview showing, and it garnered rave reviews.”
April’s mouth dropped open. “With whom?” she cried in dismay. “Why wasn’t I invited?”
“I apologize,” said Parker. “There was no time to call, so I made a last minute decision… Ah, here she is now.”
Isabelle Addams walked into the backyard. “Sorry, I’m late. The meeting ran longer than expected.”
Parker pulled up a chair for her. “I take it everything went well.”
Isabelle beamed and took a seat. “Better than you can imagine.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense, then.” Parker turned to the others. “As you know, Connie and I are acquainted with several board members of the Ingalls Trust.”
“At the moment,” chimed in Connie with wicked glee, “they’re struggling with a severe public relations image. Jeremy was an active member of the board. Diana even attended meetings with him. Many in town believe the members should have suspected them.”
Katherine gave a derisive snort. “I can say for a fact, Jeremy and Diana hid their secret lives well.”
“Don’t stand up for the board,” said Parker with a twinkle in his eye. “Their embarrassment serves the greater good.”
Isabelle laughed. “Connie and Parker showed them the documentary at the last meeting. Afterward, they suggested a large donation to an organization that helps victimized women will work wonders to improve the trust’s tarnished reputation.”
Katherine’s eyes lit up. “They gave to Safe Harbor. Congratulations.”
Isabelle grinned. “Thanks. We’ll be able to move to a larger facility and triple the enrollment at the halfway house, but that’s not all.” She fidgeted in her seat as if barely able to contain the news. “The Ingalls Trust also offered the old farmhouse and funds to transform it into a place to help abused and troubled girls so they don’t turn to the streets. I can also expand counseling services for victims of sexual assault like Tina who had no family support.”
Isabelle leaned toward Katherine with a sly look. “This is a lot of work for one person. I need an assistant director to help set up and run the programs. A counseling background is a must. Can you think of anyone who would be interested?”
Katherine jumped from her seat and threw her arms around Isabelle’s neck. “Hell, yes! I have so many ideas—”
“Me, too,” gushed April. “I can get the station involved and do a series of stories on the expansion.”
“I’ll talk to Saldana,” said Jake. “The police department supports several charities. I’m sure they could add one more. Besides, it’s good community relations.”
“A walk-a-thon to raise awareness and more funding?” added Ethan.
“You can always count on GAB-TV for free publicity,” said Connie.
Katherine’s eyes glowed. “When do we get started?”
Isabelle laughed. “Can I eat first?”
****
When Katherine and Jake returned that evening to Culpepper Lane, Whiskers met them at the door with a purr.
Katherine picked him up. “He’s saying, ‘Welcome home.’ ”
Jake slipped an arm around her waist. “Welcome home.”
As if in unspoken agreement, they entered the parlor and Katherine gazed at the surroundings with a smile. “Such a beautiful room…the details, the woodwork. Funny how I didn’t notice before.”
“We got distracted.” Jake pulled her close. “I’ll redo the parlor next. You need an office now. This will be perfect.”
“Don’t make it too nice,” she joshed. “I’ll never leave.”
Jake’s grip tightened. “That’s the idea. I love you, Kathy.”
Katherine gazed at the antique mirror. Nothing but a wavy image of the three of them together reflected from the glass. Just as it should be. “I love you, too.”
A word from the author…
I live in Florida where the heat and humidity have driven everyone slightly mad. I write fantasy/scifi adventures with humor, romance, and a touch of sass. In my spare time I call in Bigfoot sightings to the Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife. They are heartily sick of hearing from me.
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Other L. A. Kelley titles
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THE NAUGHTY LIST
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SECOND CHANCE CITY
SPIRIT RIDGE
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