Approaching Menace (27 page)

She stopped at Windswept Bookstore and Hanley’s Diner. The owners at both establishments gave her checks, wished her luck, and hoped their contributions helped.

The smell of potatoes frying and hamburgers sizzling in grease at the diner made her stomach grumble. Since Sylvie was taking Colin to another movie and they would eat out, Josie ordered a corned beef, Hanley’s specialty.

Adding the collected money while she ate, Josie was pleased. More airtime could be purchased. She would write more commercials.

Back at home, she opened a drawer for shorts. When she pulled the shorts out, a blue swatch of fabric fell. Josie stiffened. That sliver of material arriving in the mail had made her apprehensive. Just like her boss had. His laughter had followed even as she’d made all those stops. She had been with others, yet Babineaux’s derision stayed with her. Josie heard mocking jeers in her mind’s background while she had spoken to the other people. And even while she drove to those places, a vision of his gaze boring through her and the nylon rope hanging from his hands remained.

She picked up the blue square.

Sylvie’s scarf could be used to strangle.

So could the white nylon rope.

With a sudden sickening in her belly, Josie ran for the telephone.

The number answered on the fifth ring. “Uhhum?”

“Johan, I need Andrew.”

“Oh hi, Josie.” The cheer in his voice did nothing to improve her mood. “I was taking a shower and didn’t see him go out. Maybe I can help you?”

“Thanks, no. I need Andrew.”

“I understand. But did you forget what day it is?”

“Oh damn.”

Johan chuckled. “I guess so. Weekends are much better.”

Without explaining the rush, Josie hung up and punched in other numbers.

* * *

Andrew watched the wide screen beyond the bar. The field looked fuzzy.

Leaving their huddle, the Dolphins seemed tired. They’d been shoved back so often, other teams that weren’t as good probably would have given up by now.

The Monday night crowd roared encouragement. Then a hush dropped over the group.

Pete Landers, the Dolphins’ quarterback, sank back deep in a pocket. Landers glanced left and found no one open. Swiveling to the right, he threw a spiral.

The ball flew across the defensive line.

Excitement coursed through Andrew’s veins when Duke Thomas caught the pigskin with the tips of his fingers. He tucked the ball against his chest, swerved left, found the inside linebacker ready for him, and twisted to the right. Like a young colt he scampered. Thomas picked up eight yards before an entourage of white shirts thudded against him.

“If he would’ve pushed, he would have made it,” Andrew said.

The other men at his table agreed.

On television the white shirts took over at their own twenty-four yard line.

“Hey Andrew,” the bartender called, holding the phone out. “For you. She said it’s important.”

Andrew stood and took it.

“I’m so glad I found you.”

Even with the bar’s clatter, Andrew noted the strangeness in her voice. “What’s wrong, Josie?”

She didn’t respond right away. “I didn’t want to tell you this before because I wasn’t sure.”

Cheers erupted throughout the bar, blanking out anything else she said, and he unwillingly focused on the field. Players scrambled. Jerseys of both teams piled on top of the football. Offensive and defensive players pointed, indicating their team had recovery.

Josie spoke while the referee was making his call. Florida ball. Whoops filled the barroom.

“Please talk louder,” Andrew said. “Josie, what happened?”

“It’s Mr. Babineaux. He’s the man they’ve been looking for.”

Andrew cupped the phone. “Who?”

“The police. I know it. I can feel it by the way he looks at me. And his laugh.” It sounded like she shivered. “He was holding a rope.”

“Damn, they sacked our quarterback!” someone yelled.

Andrew strained to hear Josie. “I don’t understand.”

“Mr. Babineaux. He’s the killer.”

“Josie, they already caught the killer.”

She said nothing.

“The man who did those things is your neighbor. Maurice Exely turned himself in to the police today.”

Chapter 19

All through the next morning, Josie felt drugged. For most of the night, her thoughts tossed. The man who’d been killing was in jail. Her neighbor.

She and Annie had just gone into his garage, and he’d stood there. He could have easily gotten to them.

And then what?

Josie analyzed that
his
car had followed her to Colin’s school and afterward back home. He had been watching from his house and even coming up to Josie in her yard.

She shivered. Otis Babineaux also made her feel threatened. She had exchanged few words with him and had never seen him carrying on a long conversation with anyone. His eyes seemed to see beneath her clothes, and she’d only heard his horrid laugh once. Maybe the burden of his wife’s alcoholism made life so sour he seldom felt happy.

Relief eventually came to her churning mind. The killer had been apprehended.

Still, when she arrived at work, she was pleased not to see Otis Babineaux. He had meetings, Eve mentioned, and Josie didn’t tell about her experience with him the afternoon before. Mrs. Banto was busy with customers.

Josie sewed on a gown and then waited for Mrs. Banto to bring the next one, a sleek ecru scoop neck that a board-skinny thirtyish woman adored. It would need the bodice and waistline tightened.

By early afternoon Josie had the gown trimmed down.

“You look sluggish, Josie. Why don’t you go home?” Randal Allen suggested. “You’ve stayed late to finish work so often. But this afternoon there isn’t a whole lot left for you to do. Why don’t you go and get some rest?”

She welcomed the spare time.

She would love to get home early. But this was one of the few workdays when she would have time to drive across to the other edge of town. She would surprise Andrew.

City Bank and Trust sat on Fourth Avenue miles beyond the areas Josie normally traveled. She had only begun to use the bank after Andrew started working there. He had taken over her banking chores since she had been working and often needed to pick up Colin after practice. Andrew was always precise and brought her cards to sign and her deposit slips and withdrawals.

Walking inside, she peered across the bank’s opulent décor, again marveling at its marbled walls, the plush yellow carpet and ferns spilling from huge granite urns.

She peered across the room and spied Andrew.

He was laughing, awarding his full attention to a gray-haired woman at his counter. The woman looked happy with his service. Two other people waited in line to reach him. Andrew was surely of benefit here with his spirited way with people.

Starting toward him, Josie spotted LauraLee Allen. “Hi. How are the kittens?” she asked as LauraLee walked up to her.

“Precious.” She offered a sly grin. “Would you like to have one of them?”

“No thanks. I don’t have much time to take care of kittens.”

“I’m sure Colin would love to have one. Just think about it. We won’t be giving them away for a few weeks.”

Josie smiled. “I’ll have to come over and see them.”

LauraLee Randall frowned. “That was such a shame about your neighbor. But we all knew he was a strange bird.”

“I sure hope he gets help. I’ll talk to you soon,” Josie said and started away.

“And did you know that hurricane’s headed here?”

Josie froze in place. “Here?”

“Well, probably Mobile. Tomorrow night.”

Josie’s knees weakened. Mobile was not far enough away from their city.

LauraLee shrugged. “At least it’ll stay small if it goes onshore soon. But we’d be in the northeast quadrant. Let’s hope we don’t get tornadoes.”

Josie retreated to the counter where Andrew was waving. “I couldn’t believe it was you,” he said, his beaming face expressing how happy he was to see her.

Withholding her instinct to kiss him, she placed her hands on his counter. He held them. “You make me feel peaceful,” Josie said, squeezing his fingers, “which I need since I just heard about a hurricane coming toward the coast.”

“It shouldn’t give us any problems.” Andrew’s smile took away her fears.

Someone behind Josie told Andrew hello and she noticed a line forming. “You’re a popular man,” she told him. “Especially with me.”

Palms up, he shrugged, wearing a boyish grin.

She pulled a small savings book from her purse. “But you need to work, so let’s take care of this. The bill is due for that last commercial.” She filled out a withdrawal slip and handed it to him.

Andrew’s hands remained at his sides. His firm expression appeared set in stone.

Josie didn’t understand. “Andrew?”

“Why don’t you wait to take care of that commercial after you get paid Friday?”

“Because I need the money now. It’ll only take a few hundred.” She stretched the withdrawal slip toward him.

He didn’t move to accept it.

Josie’s stomach knotted. “You don’t have that money.”

Andrew grimaced and reached into his back pocket where he kept his wallet. “You can use”

“What? Your credit card!” She tried to keep him in focus but her vision blurred. “You lost all my money. Everything I’ve worked for to help Colin?”

Andrew’s gaze flitted toward customers standing behind Josie.

“You said you quit,” she said. “You promised.”

As he stood without a response, she stormed to the exit.

Outside, a brisk breeze swept against her. Josie inhaled but nothing inside her felt fresh any longer.

Andrew came out the door. “Josie, listen to me.”

She whipped around toward him. “I listened before, but this isn’t only about you anymore. What you did can destroy a child’s life. Colin’s life.” Nausea overwhelmed her. She ran to her car and slammed herself inside.

Josie drove the highway without slowing. Turning north, she sped, barely braking to turn into her driveway. Mr. Fletcher was at his mailbox and waved, but she couldn’t muster the energy to wave back at him. At least Sylvie’s garage space was empty. Josie wouldn’t need to face anyone at home.

She shoved her car door open, slammed the door shut, and leaned back against it. Raising a knee, she rammed her foot back against the metal. She covered her face with her hands and shut her eyes.

There was no money.

A hurricane might be coming.

Her neighbor did those atrocious things.

The man she adored and depended on had let her down.

There was no money for Colin. Did he have a future?

She would have none with Andrew.

Tears seared her cheeks. She’d had so much hope, but now it was all gone.

Something rattled. She raised her face, expecting to see Annie’s tabby.

A strip of metal fell from a shelf to the garage floor. Wind was sweeping up dust from the floor.

Josie dragged herself to the house determining that all the men she had trusted let her down. Her father had left. In Tennessee she’d met Samuel who said he loved her and asked her to marry him. That’s when she discovered he had asked others, like the one who bore his two children and still wore his wedding ring. His family showed up at his apartment while Josie was there, exploring their possible wedding.

Again she wondered who she’d been most furious with—Samuel, for the deceit and double life, or herself, for not knowing?

Her father for going, or herself, for believing he wouldn’t?

And now Andrew.

She slunk through the house and wilted on the couch. It took only seconds for more tears to erupt.

“Hey, Joseph.”

Josie tried to brush away tears.

An echo of the back door’s slam reached her, and then Colin and Annie. Both stopped laughing.

“What’s the matter, Josie?” Colin cocked his head to see beneath the hands she rubbed over her eyes.

“Nothing.” She tried not to whimper.

Annie touched Josie’ cheek and held up a finger. “It’s wet.”

Josie turned away. She rubbed her face and then looked at them. Both wore bathing suits. Goosebumps spotted Colin’s legs.

“Why are you wearing that?” she said. “And where are your shoes?”

“Look at mine, Josie.” Annie poked out her little chest to indicate her pink bikini with yellow flowers. Open over her swimsuit was the swimming jacket Josie had made her.

The children appeared dry. Their hair gave no evidence that they’d been swimming.

Josie glanced around. “Where’s Sylvie?”

“She needed to go to work.” Colin shrugged. “So Mr. Allen kept me. We didn’t think you’d be long.”

Mr. Allen must have gone home early today too, Josie considered, recalling he’d mentioned having work to do there.

“And we wanted to go swimming,” Annie said with a groan. “But our pool broke.”

“Yeah.” Colin looked sullen. Swimming for him meant staying in water that wouldn’t reach his shunt.

Josie leaned her forehead against his. How tall he was growing. His freckles had thinned. Soon she wouldn’t bend down to him anymore. “So Mr. Allen kept you by himself?”

“Nope,” Annie said. “Mr. Babineaux’s there, too.”

“We’ve been playing with the kittens,” Colin said, “but we really want to swim.” He grabbed Josie’s hand. “You take us.”

“I don’t feel like it. And you’ll need a treatment.” She started to walk, but the kids each grabbed one of her hands.

“Pretty please.” Annie’s face turned up with an angelic expression.

“Come on, Josie,” Colin begged. “I can wait one more day to hook up to Fred. Please take us.”

They both aimed such sweet smiles at her. Josie considered that maybe salty air blowing against her face would help clear her thoughts. From the beach, the future might look brighter. And the sandy shore might be perfect medicine for her brother.

She phoned Annie’s father and told him they wouldn’t be out too long. Josie changed into shorts and floppy beach shoes so sand could crunch through her toes. The phone was ringing when they left, but she chose not to answer it. The kids giggled along the ride to the beach.

Waves trickled along the sand until larger ones roared in, making even walking their edges too risky. Colin might get knocked down. And Annie was too small and couldn’t swim well.