Pool Of Lies Part 27

"And then Jerome died."

"And Morgan was reborn."

Sam stepped aside, allowing her to precede him through the door. They walked to the front entrance.

"There's still so much control here," Rae observed. "How did Danny ever end up as Deidre's P/R? Why didn't you or Morgan step up to the plate?"

"Danny insisted. Since he promised to use RS&E as his legal counsel, we thought no harm, no foul. We underestimated Danny."

"It was after you'd agreed not to fight him on the P/R thing that you came to believe he had a connection to Camacho?"

"Of course."

"And that's why Morgan threw the coffee at him at the funeral reception? I think I can understand--"

"Morgan threw coffee at Danny? At anyone? Where did that tale come from?"

"Where do you think?"

Sam just shook his head. They paused beside the front door. "There's a piece of advice I'm going to give you," said Sam. "You may not thank me for it. Not today, anyway."

Rae looked at him, her nod giving him permission to continue.

"Morgan and I are fortunate in that we've been given another chance at a life together. The loss of our daughter could've been the end for both of us. Instead, it's becoming our beginning."

Your point? She started out the door, looking back a question at him.

"My point is, Mrs. Esposito, don't let the loss of your husband turn you into a bitter old woman."

Rae dove through the open door, slamming it behind her. How dare he? The sun outside in the parking lot scalded her cheeks. Her grief, her private grief was none of his d.a.m.n business. As she threw open the door to her SUV, her reflection in the driver's side car window spoke louder than Sam's words.

The sound of her cell, the William Tell Overture, heightened her anger. The lone ranger. Yep, that was her. G.o.ddammit, so what? The musical phrase repeated, and she grabbed the phone, remembering Veronica's scheduled call.

"How'd it go?"

"Peachy."

"What's wrong with you?" Veronica wanted to know.

"Nothing. I've got the check copies. Camacho got a wad out of this, but not as much as I thought."

"Probably not as much as Nate Farris is getting."

"You've heard from him?"

"Yeah," Veronica said in a tired voice. "He's invoking his marital communication privilege. And the stuff that didn't fall under the privilege? He's recanted."

Chapter 50.

After Rae handed Veronica the check copies, she listened as the detective did a port-mortem on her dead case.

"We don't know where she got the injectable Demerol," Veronica confided. "The packet had no identifying information. We could trace the manufacturer's number on the vials and syringes, and come up with the hospital it was originally sold to, but that won't help our case if it's ruled that we had no probable cause to seize the purse. If only she'd taken the stuff out in your presence."

"Oh, great! And maybe injected me right before you came in? Thanks a bunch, Veronica."

"I didn't mean that."

"So nailing Morgan for Kevin's death may be a lost cause," Rae said, "but what about Deidre? And JJ?"

Veronica looked at her for such a long moment that Rae knew there was something percolating. She held her breath, hoping Veronica wouldn't decide not to tell her.

Finally: "We're certain JJ was not involved in Kevin's death."

"You found JJ?"

Another pause--not so long this time. "We found Kevin's cell phone in the Golden house. JJ had been texting Kevin up until the day his body was found."

"Then you do know where JJ is?"

"We know the approximate vicinity where he was. He apparently never left the area. The calls trace to a tower in Arvada."

"You think his brother was hiding him and just pretending to look for him?"

"Career suicide and a one-way ticket to Canyon City," Veronica muttered. "But now we'll never know with Reggie dead. We'll keep looking, but..."

"But you're running out of work for me on this case."

"There'll be others," Veronica said. "There may still be tag ends. It's not over till it's over."

After she left Veronica, Rae decided to swing by Danny's and collect her rain check on the grand tour, and maybe glide into the subject of Danny's rift with Morgan. Could she do this without bringing Sam's contradictory version of the events into the conversation?

It was the kind of day that made people swear they'd never leave Colorado. Other skies could never be so deep a blue. In the distance, cirrus clouds played along the tops of front range peaks.

As she approached, Rae noticed that Danny's house now had windows, so he actually had a view of the lake. Why wouldn't he want to live there? What better place to put ghosts to rest than in this beautiful setting?

Rae's anger at Sam had pa.s.sed. Now she stewed and fretted that her protracted grief hung out there in the open for all the world to see. Her emotions still not in check, she drove past Danny's, noting roofers at work, but no sign of Danny's truck. Something was different about this roof. Solar panels? Rae smiled. So like Danny to do his bit for the environment. She guessed it cost maybe twice what a normal roof would cost. He'd brought her bill current and even had enough left to do all this elaborate remodeling? He must have paid Sandy, too. And RS&E, for Gil's time. How much equity was in that erstwhile ugly house?

Rae pulled into the small parking area that preceded the Graystone Lake bridge. A single small rowboat drifted on softly rippling cerulean waters. She could see its occupant holding a fishing pole, the line moving slowly with the current.

There are fish in there? She imagined her grandsons holding fishing poles while she guided them in the lore her dad had taught her. Rae remembered her first trout. And for no good reason, she began to cry.

Don't be a wild goose, Rae.

I'm trying, Grandma, I'm trying.

Try harder.

And she thought of her dad, big Eddie Rothe, strong as a bull, but the Big C got him, and his Rose just had to follow.

They don't call it that anymore, Rae. Cancer. They talk about it now.

I know that. Why is it, Grandma, when half a couple goes, the other half's not far behind? She remembered her mom, the fragile Rose. I'm nothing like her.

You're more like her than you think, Rae.

Rae sniffled and leaned on the memory of Grandma who didn't dry up and blow away like cottonwood leaves in autumn no matter who died.

The Overture emanated from her cell. Rae glanced down through wet eyes, and then answered the call.

"Stephen?"

"Hey, Mom, I hear you've met Callie."

"Well, I guess you could call it that. She's your new girlfriend?" Rae swallowed the sniffles and hurried on, "She sounds really nice, Stephen. Very...friendly." Keep it positive, Rae.

"She's not my girlfriend, Mom." Stephen had something different in his voice that Rae couldn't identify.

"She sounded like a girl."

Stephen's laughter roared in her ear. When it quieted, he said, "She's my fiancee. Callie and I got engaged last week."

OhmiG.o.d! Rae didn't know it could feel like this. She wasn't one of those clinging moms. It was just that she thought she'd have more time to prepare.

"Mom? Say something."

"I'm...speechless. I'm...happy." Yes, happy is good. "Are you happy?" Dumb, Rae. What's he supposed to say? Duh.

Stephen laughed again, a joyous eruption so like Anthony's laughter had been. That was answer enough.

"When is the wedding?"

"Next year, when we graduate."

Good. That means they don't have to get married.

Rae, n.o.body has to get married any more.

"You met her in school?"

"Callie's a criminology major, too."

Not two of them in the same household. "That's nice. You'll have a lot in common." See, I can be tactful.

"Since we're off for summer break, we'd like to come out for the Fourth of July. Then you two can meet."

"How about Tori and Jeffrey? We could make it a kind of family reunion-engagement party."

"I doubt they could get plane tickets that fast. Mom, plane tickets are something you really need to get in advance."

Tori's talked to her brother about next spring.

Why wouldn't she?

Stephen continued into Rae's silence, "You've got about two weeks to get ready. Can you do that? How's your schedule?"

"I'm just winding something up. You'll stay at the house?"

"If that's okay."

Joy, antic.i.p.ation, and dread dumped on her like a summer snowstorm. "Uh, I'll get everything ready." So, why was she stuttering? "Uh, one room or two?"

Her son's laughter again, like music. Don't get maudlin, Rae.

"One. That's okay?"

"Sure. I just needed to know how many sets of sheets and all that stuff." See, Grandma, I'm bending, I'm bending.

"Okay, I'll email you our itinerary. Gotta go, Mom. I love you."

"Me, too. Can't wait to meet Callie."

Stephen's news blasted Rae out of her snail sh.e.l.l mode. She started up the car and turned back toward Danny's. While she drove, she conjured up pictures of what Callie might look like.

At the house, Rae saw that Danny's truck was back. Then she saw him around the side directing the operation by the looks of it. He had more color in his cheeks now, didn't have that hospital pallor as if he'd just crawled out from under a rock.

She parked and got out of the car. "Hey, Danny, I'm ready for the grand tour."

Danny waved, then jogged over to where Rae stood and gave her a brotherly hug. "Another week and we'll be able to inhabit the entire house," he said. "To actually have a kitchen again. I never thought I'd be sick of eating out."

"Where are you and Josh staying?"

"In the house. The bas.e.m.e.nt. Or the garden level. Bas.e.m.e.nt sounds low cla.s.s--as in bargain bas.e.m.e.nt."

"No bargains here, I'm sure."

Danny gave her an edgy laugh as he led her from the new deck into the new kitchen. All granite and stainless steel. A huge island dominated the center. Rae noted the absence of cigarette packs on the island. Her eyes skimmed the other surfaces, sweeping for ash trays, finding none. "I'm impressed," Rae said.

Danny smiled. "I've gone into partnership with Pat. This is going to be our showcase for future remodel jobs."