Iris Avenue (32 page)

“No search warrants were applied for or issued for this surveillance, I presume.”

“You should assume your house is bugged,” Sam continued. “All your phone calls and e-mails are intercepted, and all of your movements are supervised.”

“But how can they do that indiscriminately, without subpoenas or just cause?”

“You’re an idealist, Ed, and while that’s admirable, it’s not very realistic. I recommend you practice being more of a pragmatist.”

“How do you know all this?”

“You know, Ed, for somebody who is so smart you’re still a bit slow on the uptake.”

Ed stared at Sam, whose face was inscrutable. Then he knew.

“You don’t…” Ed said. “Oh, except you do. You do security work for the government.”

Sam clapped Ed on the back and smiled at him.

“Now you’re with me. If any of this starts to get you down, I can recommend a good antidepressant. It has very few side effects.”

Hannah came in and sat down on Sam’s lap.

“I gotta go, sweetie,” she said. “They arrested those dog-fight guys Hatch told me about and I need to pick up the dogs.”

“You want me to come?” Sam asked.

“Drew’s going with me,” Hannah said. “There are state troopers out there so we’ll be okay.”

“Be careful,” Sam said. “Remember you’re carrying our little biology experiment.”

“You’re pregnant?” Ed asked.

“Yeah,” Hannah said. “He knocked me up after we got married. He’s old-fashioned that way.”

Hannah’s truck labored through the muddy ruts and deep puddles that made up the narrow road between two steep hillsides. They crossed a shallow creek in two places.

“I can’t believe anyone lives out here,” Drew said.

“Brace yourself,” Hannah said. “I’ve been to places like this before and it’s never a good experience.”

There were two state troopers standing guard at the end of the rutted driveway and their facial expressions were grim.

“There may only be two or three worth saving,” one of them said.

On the way back to Rose Hill, Hannah and Drew stopped in Fleurmania at Hatch’s gas station. Drew filled the tank while Hannah talked with Hatch in the office.

“We saved four,” Hannah said. “There were six others so bad off Drew put ‘em down right then and there.”

“I think them people ought to be chained to a dog house up to their knees in filth,” Hatch said. “They ought to have to spend the winter outside, see how they like it.”

“You did a good thing telling me about it,” Hannah said. “And don’t worry, no one knows who I got the tip from.”

“I been thinking about what you said the other day.”

“I say a lot of things,” Hannah said. “Most of it comes out of my mouth before I stop to consider how rude it is. I was awful rough on you.”

“No, you were right,” Hatch said. “I told Patty’s man I didn’t want the money and I canceled the loan application. Just in time, too. I guess you heard Patty’s man done got his self killed yesterday.”

“He was the guy who kidnapped Scott and Gabe?”

Hatch nodded.

“I didn’t want him hanging around Joshie, but I didn’t wish him dead.”

“I’m sorry you won’t get to buy the station.”

Hatch shrugged.

“Maybe I’ll take your dad up on his offer. Rose Hill’s got a better school for Joshie anyhow.”

Hannah thought about little redheaded Joshua going to class and sitting next to Timmy Fitzpatrick.

“Hatch, have you ever met Ava Fitzpatrick’s kids?”

“I can’t say that I have. Are they as purty as she is?”

“Charlotte’s the spitting image of Ava,” Hannah said. “Timmy looks like Brian.”

“Well, I guess that’s natural.”

“Did Patty ever run around with Brian?”

“Not that I know of, why?”

“I just wondered,” Hannah said, and then snapped her mouth shut.

“What?” Hatch asked.

“Joshie is the spitting image of Timmy Fitzpatrick.”

“Well, he would be with that red hair.”

“No, I mean so alike they could be twins.”

Hatch stared at her for several seconds.

“Well, I swan,” Hatch said. “I guess it’s possible.”

“I thought I’d better warn you; I hope I was right to do it.”

“If that boy’s got Patty’s and Brian’s blood running through his veins, I’m gonna have my work cut out for me. I didn’t do so well with Patty.”

“You were only a kid yourself,” Hannah said. “You did the best you could.”

“I always regretted what I did to you,” Hatch said. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you, and wonder how you’re doing.”

“I’m doing fine,” Hannah said. “Sam and I are doing just fine.”

“I’m glad for you, I really am,” Hatch said, although his sorrowful face belied the words.

Ed was surprised to see Ava Fitzpatrick walk into the newspaper office.

“Hello, Ed,” she said. “Do you have a few minutes for me?”

“Sure,” Ed said, and then looked away as he realized he was staring.

“I’d like to take a walk, if you don’t mind,” Ava said.

“Sure,” Ed said, and then wondered if he’d ever had a more limited vocabulary.

Ed put on his coat and they walked down to where the barriers were set up on Pine Mountain Road. The water, although no longer rising, was still rushing fast and loud, with occasional crashes as debris struck obstacles in its path.

“You don’t have a cell phone on you, do you?” Ed asked.

Ava shook her head.

“I know everything’s bugged. That’s why I didn’t bring my purse,” Ava said. “Someone’s probably watching us, but I think if we speak quietly they won’t be able to hear us over the sound of the water.”

“What’s going on?”

“I think Jamie was involved in Brian’s death,” she said. “I think he may have murdered him because of me. I’m afraid of what he might do next. To Patrick, to Scott …”

“I think you’re right,” Ed said. “But if we go to the authorities, or I publish a piece about it, it would derail the case against Mrs. Wells. Plus, I don’t think our story would hold up in court. So many people would get hurt and what would we have accomplished?”

“So we’re stuck,” she said.

“Maybe not,” Ed said. “Someone recently advised me not to use a shotgun if a pea shooter would do.”

“I don’t think I could shoot him,” Ava said. “Not unless he hurt one of the kids.”

“I’m not suggesting that,” Ed said. “We have to think of something that would stop Jamie, and get him to back off, but not hurt anyone else in the process.”

Ava looked thoughtful.

“I’m sorry you’re in the middle of this,” Ed said. “I’m sorry about Brian, too. He didn’t deserve to die that way.”

“If this is about Jamie eliminating his competition,” Ava said. “I’m the only one who can put a stop to it.”

“You need to be careful,” Ed said. “These people are vicious.”

“Don’t worry,” Ava said. “I think I may have the right weapon for the job.”

Ed found Scott in the police station, where he was working the phones, trying to get more supplies donated to the shelter at the Community Center.

“What’s up?” Scott said.

“We need to talk, but I guess not here,” Ed said.

They left the station and walked down toward Lotus Avenue, where the Little Bear River was swarming through the houses and stacking up debris against the brick walls of the old glassworks factory. There were barricades up but people were hanging out in small groups, some with tailgating tents and lawn chairs.

Scott told Ed what happened the night before.

“After they got me back to the station, Cal left and Malcolm went to get Doc. Jamie questioned me and then suggested an alternate version of events. I called Sarah to report what happened, and she was thrilled to be involved. She never even questioned my statement.”

“So everyone thinks you killed the guy.”

“It was clearly self defense, and I’ve got the feds and the county to back me up. Once we hit the water the bugging device shorted out and they only have my word as to what happened.”

“Will there be an investigation?”

Scott shrugged.

“Why protect Gabe?”

“He saved my life, for one thing,” Scott said. “Plus, if he went back to prison, he couldn’t testify against Mrs. Wells.”

“If he’s alive and ran off, he may still go back in.”

“What’s done is done,” Scott said. “If all this has taught me anything, it’s that sometimes you have to put your ideals aside and do what’s best for everyone.”

“Sam recommended that same approach,” Ed said. “Being pragmatic, he called it.”

“I’m hoping that after Mrs. Wells is arrested, tried, and sent to prison, the feds will leave, and everything will get back to normal around here.”

“Is that even possible?”

“I’m counting on it,” Scott said.

“How’s Maggie doing?”

“She’ll be fine,” Scott said.

“She didn’t get back together with Gabe,” Ed said. “That’s good news, right?’

“It’s over between us, whatever it was.”

“She’s pretty upset right now. Maybe when things settle down …”

“That’s just it, though, isn’t it? Things never do settle down, and she’s always upset about something. It’s time for both of us to move on.”

“I’m sorry. Maggie and I never hit it off, but I know you love her.”

“Sometimes you have to do what’s best for yourself even though your feelings may want something different.”

“That sounds pretty pragmatic.”

“You know what?” Scott said. “Being pragmatic hurts like hell.”

Ed walked back up to the Community Center and found Mandy in the kitchen, washing dishes.

“Take her home,” Delia told Ed. “I told her to take the rest of the day and night off, but she won’t listen to me.”

“I know better than to tell any woman what to do,” Ed said. “Whatever Mandy wants to do is fine by me.”

The other women in the kitchen laughed and Delia said, “You’ve certainly trained him well, Mandy.”

“I know a good one when I find one,” Mandy said. “He already done been trained when I found him. I oughta write that ex-wife of his a thank-you note.”

Mandy dried her hands and Ed got her coat for her. As they left the Community Center, she leaned against him.

“I’m plum tuckered out,” she said. “I don’t feel like I seen you for weeks.”

“Let’s go home,” Ed said. “I’ll run you a hot bath and scrub your back for you.”

“You’re a good man, Ed Harrison,” she said. “Where’s my son, by the way?”

“He’s taking care of all the dogs over at Bonnie’s house. That boy loves to be helpful. You’ve done a great job with him.”

“Let’s leave him with Delia tonight,” Mandy said. “You and I’ll have a quiet evening at home, just the two of us.”

The evening didn’t quite go as Ed had planned. After Mandy got out of the tub, he performed his speech again, but her reaction wasn’t at all what he anticipated.

“Whatta you mean, get a divorce?” Mandy yelled. “I thought you was already divorced!”

“It’s no big deal,” Ed said. “I haven’t seen Eve in a long time. It’s only a legal detail we didn’t take care of right away, and then we let it go. Why are you so upset?”

“Why am I upset?” Mandy said as she dried off with a towel. “Because I didn’t know I been living with a married man.”

“In name only,” Ed protested. “Does it matter?”

“Yes, it matters,” Mandy said. “I’d never have moved in here if I’d knowed you was still married to her.”

“I thought you knew,” Ed said, but when Mandy gave him an evil look he amended that. “I didn’t think it was such a big deal. Patrick knew. I can’t believe he didn’t tell you.”

“Well, he’ll have to answer for that,” she said. “I hate bein’ the last person to find out somethin’ like this. People have probably been laughin’ at me behind my back all this time.”

“Mandy, I truly thought you wouldn’t care.”

“Didn’t think I’d care. Lord God almighty, what a load of crap you can talk. I have half a mind to move out of here right now.”

“What about Tommy?” Ed said. “Please don’t jerk him out of here. He’s used to being here. He loves this, and I love this, us being a family.”

“Well, you shoulda thought about that before you kept this from me,” Mandy said. “Everyone told me it was a mistake, but I just had to have my way. ‘He’s too old for you,’ they said. ‘He’s too set in his ways,’ they said. But never once did someone say, ‘by the way, he’s still married.’”

Mandy had been pulling on her clothes while they argued. She put on a shirt inside out and backward but Ed didn’t think now was the time to point that out.