In Sickness And In Death Part 22

Maury could have years of anger built up inside. Now that he was physically able, had he taken it out on someone weaker than himself?

Stranger things have happened.

Like my sister marrying Maury.

What were ya thinking, Erica?

I pulled into the parking lot behind Asdale Auto Imports and entered the shop through the garage to find Danny sitting in the race car while Cory explained all the instrumentation to him. Cory looked up with questions in his eyes when I appeared.

"Hey, Jo. How's Erica?"

"Dr. Albert admitted her to the psych center. She'll call in a few days."

Cory nodded. He knew the drill. "What about Maury?"

"He's my new brother-in-law."

"Huh." He didn't seem all that surprised, but then again, he knew Erica.

"Yeah, huh." Further elaboration wasn't required. Cory would know what I was thinking. But at his age, Danny shouldn't know, and he'd been following our discussion like a tennis match. I opened my mouth to try to explain, but I didn't have the energy or the desire to hash it all over with him. It was what it was.

Instead, I gave Danny what I hoped was an encouraging, carefree smile and started toward my office. I'd set an example of how to take life in stride. Besides, if we discussed the issue any further, I might let a swearword, or two, go-not the example I wanted to set. "Any calls?"

"Just one. Celeste called. You're supposed to call her back."

I couldn't believe my ears. "Celeste Martin?"

"Is there any other?"

Thank G.o.d, no. This was a first. I don't believe Celeste had ever called me. In fact, since high school, the only time we spoke was when I went in her store or ran into her somewhere-except, of course, for the time I confronted her at home about dating my father. She certainly had never, ever called me. But, then, I didn't ever have any gossip to share. I wondered if that was what she was after now.

Curious, I walked through the showroom into my office and shrugged off my jacket. As I reached for the coat rack to hang it, I caught sight of Celeste crossing the street in my direction. She must have been watching Main Street for my car.

I froze.

She didn't wait for the light. She didn't wait for the oncoming automobile, either. She held out her left arm in the "stop" position and walked right in front of it. It halted inches from her kneecaps. She didn't spare the driver a glance.

The bells jingled on the front door when she breezed through. Her heels clicked across the showroom floor. "Jolene, you didn't call me back."

I shook off my shock and finished hanging my coat on the rack. "I just walked in, Celeste. Is something wrong?"

"Your sister has been admitted to the psych center."

"Oh." So much for patient confidentiality. "I know. I delivered her there myself."

For a moment, Celeste appeared deflated. Then she fluffed up again. "She married Maury Boor."

I sat behind my desk and gestured for Celeste to sit down as well. "I know. He told me."

She sniffed.

"How did you hear?" I leaned forward, curious to unlock Celeste's secrets for a change.

She seemed to consider a moment before deciding to answer. "Mindy's cousin Emma works at the florist shop. Maury came in and purchased a dish garden for your sister. He asked to have it delivered to the psych center, along with a card that read 'Like our love, this will grow forever. Your husband, Maury.'"

There you have it. Sweet as saccharine.

Celeste continued, "Emma was shocked."

I waited for more.

Celeste examined her fingernails as if she hadn't left me hanging.

I got it. She needed me to admit I didn't know something. "Why was Emma shocked, Celeste?"

"Because Maury always buys roses, lots of roses. He's bought so many roses for so many women Emma thinks he's crazy."

I cringed. Another certifiable in the Asdale clan after all my years of trying to avoid it. "Literally?"

Celeste shrugged. "Well, no, but he tries too hard. He buys roses for girls he doesn't even know yet. Emma tried to explain to him once that he might want to get to know a girl first before he gives her flowers. He didn't seem to get it. She said he's spent thousands on roses in the shop over the years."

I laughed, the kind of laugh that said I surrendered to the G.o.ds who thought this loon belonged in my family. "Wow."

"He's bought a couple dish gardens before, too. Emma said they're handmade wooden planters that looked like a wishing well with an African violet, white gerberas, prayer plants, and G.o.dseffiana. Very pretty, apparently."

I realized my lips had parted in astonishment. My thumb was black as car grease. I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about, but it sounded lovely-although no more unique than the roses, apparently. "I'm sure Erica will appreciate it."

Celeste looked at me. Stared, really.

I forced myself not to squirm. "I appreciate your keeping an eye out for Erica and Maury. It was very ... nice"-I almost gagged on the word-"of you to rush right over. Thank you."

She didn't blink. She didn't leave, either, which is what people normally do after I thank them.

I tilted my head. "Was there something else, Celeste?"

"How's your new friend Leslie?"

Oh, I got it. Payback time. I would have to give information if I wanted to receive it. No wonder grapevines were so tough to cut. "She's fine. She's having a s.e.x change operation next month." There-that would get her, and I didn't feel like I was talking out of school. Leslie had been quite upfront about it.

Celeste rose and looked down her nose at me. "I know."

____.

Celeste stopped traffic on her way back across the street, too. This time I wished the oncoming car might have at least given her a nudge and soiled her perfectly creased pants.

I hadn't given her the satisfaction of asking how she already knew Leslie Flynn was having a s.e.x change operation. Perhaps she just surmised after her brush with Leslie's big Willie. Or maybe Leslie had been in to Talbots to buy more clothes and shared the information as casually as she had shared it with Ray and me the other day. Or, better yet, maybe Celeste's sister's best friend's brother's wife's child from her first marriage was slated to be the Flynn's new bookkeeper. Whatever. It didn't matter.

I was more annoyed with my new brother-in-law Maury. He hadn't listened when I told him to wait to get Erica flowers. Flowers must be some kind of compulsion with him. Once again, I wondered if he'd ever sought therapy.

I dialed Ray's phone number to fill him in on Erica and Maury.

"Hey, Darlin'. How's Erica?"

"Married." I read him the clergyman's name and the names of the two witnesses.

"Did you look them up in the phone book?"

"Not yet. Hold on." I pulled it out and thumbed through the pages. "They're not local, but Maury said they honeymooned in Niagara Falls. He and Erica could have stopped anywhere between here and there to get married."

"Didn't your parents honeymoon there?"

"Yes. That's what makes me think they really got married. Like mother, like daughter."

"So where's Maury now?"

"I'm not sure. I left him at his apartment, but he apparently went out and bought Erica a dish garden to be delivered to the psych center. I have it from a very reliable source that the card read, 'Like our love, this will grow forever.'"

"I thought he was a rose man."

"With the occasional dish garden. It sounded very nice. An African violet, white gerberas, prayer plants, and some other G.o.d-like plant."

"An African violet?"

"Yes."

"What are white gerberas?"

"I don't know. I'm not even sure how to spell it."

"What's a prayer plant look like?"

"I don't know. Hold on." I pulled up Google and typed the words on the search line. A few clicks later, a picture of a flowerless, broad-leafed plant with pink veins appeared. I described it to Ray.

"Do you know where he bought it?"

"No, but I can call Celeste and ask if you want. She did say it was in a handmade wooden planter shaped like a wishing well."

"A wishing well?" Ray sounded excited.

"Yes. Why?"

"Give me the number at the store. I'll call her myself."

I flipped through the phone book again and gave him the number at Talbots. "Why are you interested in this dish garden, Ray?"

"Because it sounds exactly like the one I saw sitting on Josie ... I mean, Jessica James' kitchen table in the apartment where she was killed."

My fingers clenched the edge of my desk. "Are you saying Maury might have killed her?"

"That's what I'm going to check out. Don't hold dinner."

I hung up the phone and rocked back in my chair. What would I tell Erica if Maury turned out to be a killer? She hadn't discussed him with me in years, but I had to wonder if this time she had truly fallen for him. She'd been engaged on and off a half dozen times at least, always to undesirable men, always spur of the moment, often during one of her manic states. All those engagements had run out of gas almost as fast as they had begun. When she sunk into depression, had she finally joined forces with the most undesirable man of all? If that were the case, I wondered how it would affect her. Could Dr. Albert put a spin on a disaster of this proportion that would make her feel better? Or would Erica's kind heart and bad judgment cause her to love Maury anyway? If Maury turned out to be a killer, would Ray and I be driving both Erica and Danny to weekly prisoner visits in the future like one big happy family?

I'm sure Ray would love being related to a convicted killer.

The good news was Danny's father couldn't be a killer if Maury was. The bad news was, either way, Danny or Erica would be hurt. It was like the age-old question, if you could only save one of your children, which one would you pick? I wanted both my "children" to be happy. I crossed my fingers that Ray wouldn't find a connection to Maury.

Then I wondered if the partial print on the Camry's remote had been matched to Danny's father. If it did match, he would remain the prime suspect in Jessica James' death, linked to the car in which her arm was found, to The Cat's Meow where Danny's father visited her, and to her Cadillac Escalade that he obviously stole. Not to mention the fact that they were related. Pretty substantial evidence compared to a dish garden.

I rocked in my chair and stared out the window of the showroom. I watched as the sun disappeared and gray clouds moved in, signaling a significant change in the weather. When the first snowflake fell a few minutes before closing time, I shook off my thoughts and fears and walked into the garage.

Cory had the hood off Brennan Rowe's race car. The car's engine sat on an engine stand. Cory stood in the center of the empty front end, fiddling with the wiring. Danny leaned over the right fender, handing Cory whatever tool he requested. Neither one noticed my arrival.

"It's five o'clock guys. Let's call it a day, okay?"

Cory nodded and dropped to the ground to slide out from under the grill. Danny's face reflected his disappointment.

I put my hand on Danny's shoulder. "Did you do any schoolwork today?"

"It's all done. I just have to study for my tests. I can do that Sunday."

"Okay. Cory, do you want to join us for dinner tonight? Ray's working late."

He whisked plastic gloves off his hands, removed shoe covers, and wiggled out of his mechanic's coveralls to reveal khakis and a dark blue dress shirt. "No thanks, Jo. Brennan and I have a date."

For a second, I thought Danny winced. But then, his expression reverted to neutral.

I continued to try to set a good example for him. "Great. Have fun. I'll lock up."

Cory slid his coat on. "Thanks for all your help today, Danny." He turned to me. "I think Danny would make a great mechanic, but he says his dad wants him to go to college and become a doctor or something more professional."

"He could be both."

"Good point." Cory clapped Danny on the shoulder. "See ya tomorrow, Danny. Thanks for your help today."

Danny followed me around the garage and showroom as I shut off the lights and checked door locks.

I pulled my coat off the bra.s.s rack behind my office door and shrugged it on. "It started to snow. Where's your coat?"

"I didn't wear one."

"It's December. You better remember to take one from now on, no matter how warm outside it is."

Danny nodded.

I walked over to the alarm box. "I'm going to punch in the code then we have two minutes to get out."

He watched with interest as I activated the alarm.