Look Always Forward (Bellingwood Book 11) (9 page)

Aaron's SUV pulled up to the front door of the building.

"Our little love-fest is over," Polly said.

"It's just postponed," he replied and gave her bottom a squeeze. "They can't stay here all night and we don't have a kid in the house."

She chuckled and felt her face flush red. "Don't you dare say anything like that in front of Aaron. You embarrass me!"

He took her hand and they walked toward the front door. "You always surprise me with your innocence. Lydia says much worse things to Aaron when they're with us."

"And that embarrasses me too," Polly said. "So be good."

As they got close to the front door, another car drove up and she turned to see who it was.

Jeff jumped out and said, "I'm right on time. I was afraid you'd be finished with everything and I'd have made the trip for nothing."

"It's twenty minutes from your place to Sycamore House. Not much of a trip," Polly said.

"Well..." He scowled at her. "Whatever. I knew I could put my hands on information faster than you and if Aaron had questions about other employees I should be available."

"I appreciate it," Aaron said.

"The date wasn't worth sticking around for?" Polly asked.

Jeff shook his head back and rolled his eyes. "It was the worst. What a damned diva. I was so glad when you called and interrupted me. It gave me a good reason to say good night and run for my life." He took her arm as they walked to the front door. "The best part? I didn't even give him a chance to ask if we could reschedule. I just threw money on the table and left. It was dramatic and fabulous!"

"You're a nut," Polly said as they walked through the doors that Henry and Aaron held open.

"Polly, I'd like you to go up to Miss Specht's room with me and then I'd like to use your conference room if that's okay," Aaron said.

"Of course," she replied. "You think that being alone with a young woman in her bedroom is a bad idea?"

He let loose a laugh. "The worst. I've stayed out of trouble for all these years, I'm smart enough to continue that trend." Aaron gestured for her to lead the way and they went into the addition and up the elevator to the second floor.

Polly knocked on Camille Specht's door. "Camille? It's me, Polly."

The young woman opened the door. Dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, she held an open book in her hands. The light was on over a wing chair and there was a glass of ice water on the table beside it.

"Yes?" she asked and then she saw the sheriff. "Is there a problem?"

"I'm sorry to interrupt your evening," Aaron said. "But I need to speak with you about one of your employees. Would you please come downstairs?"

"Right now? What's happened?" She shook her head. "Just a moment. I need to put shoes on and..." She glanced down at what she was wearing. "I'm not dressed for this."

"It's okay," Polly assured her. "You're just going down to the conference room. You're fine."

"Shoes. I need shoes. Let me put this down." She tossed the book into the chair where she'd been sitting and then pulled out a suitcase and dug around, coming up with a pair of flip flops. Camille unconsciously brushed her hand across her hair, patting it down and into place. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't expecting to see anyone tonight. I'm a mess. We spent all day working and..."

"It's really okay," Polly said. "You look fine."

The young woman finally nodded and followed them back downstairs. When she saw Jeff in his office, she gave a big sigh of relief. He jumped out of his chair and came out into the main office to greet her, handing Aaron a file folder.

"That's what we have on her," he said.

"On who?" Camille asked.

Aaron pushed the door open to the conference room and gestured for her to go in. "Julie Smith was killed this evening."

Camille looked at Jeff. She hugged herself and took a deep breath. "Our Julie Smith? She just started this week. We all just started. I barely knew her."

Jeff nodded. "Our Julie Smith."

Before he could say anything more, Aaron said, "Please. In here. I have several questions to ask about her and the others."

"The others?" Camille asked. "Do you think one of them did it?"

"We don't have any idea yet," Aaron replied. "We're just beginning to ask questions."

"And you're starting with me?" Her eyes flashed with fear. "Do you think I killed her? I barely knew the poor girl."

"Please, let's go in and sit down. Would you like a glass of water?"

"No," Camille replied. She rocked back and forth. "But could Jeff be in here with me? I don't know what to think."

Aaron said, "Sure. Whatever makes you comfortable."

Jeff and Camille went into the conference room and Aaron turned to Polly and Henry. "You two might as well go on upstairs. We'll be here for a while, but I think Jeff can get everything I need."

"Okay," Polly said. "Let me know if you need anything else."

"I'll be fine. Talk to you tomorrow, though, okay?"

He went into the conference room, pushing the door shut behind him.

"Phew," Henry said, puffing air out through pursed lips. "She was nervous."

"Poor thing. Her first week in town, she has a new job, she's lived in two separate places and tonight the sheriff shows up to talk to her about a murder." Polly took his hand. "I'm just glad it isn't me."

He chuckled. "I'm glad it's not you, too. You've had enough to deal with this last year. I don't think my heart could take another one right now."

"Wimp." She tugged his hand. "Wanna come upstairs and play with your wife?"

"Race you." He let go and ran for the stairway. Polly caught up to him and they ran up the steps side by side.

CHAPTER NINE

"Really. If you will wait one moment, I'll check to see if Ms. Giller is available."

Polly looked up to see Stephanie standing in her doorway.

"What's up?" Polly asked.             

"There's a Leslie Sutworth here. She wonders if you have time."

Polly nodded. If someone was this desperate to see her, she'd make time.

The haggard woman who came into Polly's office looked as if she hadn't slept in days with hair pulled back into a ponytail, no makeup and bloodshot eyes. Her fingers rubbed back and forth - the skin on the side of her index fingers red and raw.

"Have a seat, Mrs. Sutworth," Polly said. She gestured to the chair in front of her desk and asked, "Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Water?"

"No thank you," the woman said, taking a seat.

Polly sat across from her. "I'm sorry about what happened with your son, Mrs. Sutworth. Is there anything I can do?"

"Call me Leslie, please," the woman said. She gave a hint of a smile and then looked down at her hands again.

Polly waited.

"I'm not sure what to ask," Mrs. Sutworth started. "This is all so difficult. Denis was in a good place. When he's on his meds, he's tolerable, but then things get out of balance and he gets so..." she stopped. "I don't even know what's wrong with him. He's always been a little different, but it doesn't take anything for him to snap these days. You know?"

Polly nodded. She had no idea what to say.

"They're going to send him home and I'm at a loss." Tears formed in her eyes and she reached up to brush them away.

"How can I help you?" Polly asked.

"On top of everything else, he broke the ankle and femur on his right leg. They're talking about putting him in a rehab facility, but Ms. Giller, if they do that, it will just send him into a spiral."

"That makes sense. Many facilities around here aren't set up for someone his age. But if he needs physical rehabilitation, they'll be able to help him."

"I know. But I don't want him in a place like that and I can't take care of him at home." Now that the woman had started, she pressed forward. "A friend recommended that I talk to Evelyn Morrow and when I did, she mentioned Sycamore House. She said she had been on-site here with someone else and if you had room, it would be a good place. She talked about the horses and other animals and you have kids here and people who are nice. I'd come over when I wasn't working to spend time with him, but..." She looked back at Polly, desperation on her face.

It had never occurred to Polly that her addition could be turned into a convalescent home, but it made an odd kind of sense. "You're hiring Evelyn Morrow to care for him?"

"If I can find him a good place to stay. And I like Sycamore House. There aren't any steps for him to deal with. Since insurance will pay for his rehabilitation, I just need to talk to his doctor and the insurance company about putting him here instead of a cold facility."

This was coming at Polly really fast. She'd never considered this possibility, though she'd wanted Sycamore House to be a haven for people who needed to get away from the rush of the real world. Her mind reeled, trying to think about all of the possibilities and the problems this might bring.

"I have some concerns," Polly said. "I can't put my staff or guests in harm's way."

Leslie Sutworth took a deep breath. "I understand, but he'll be under Mrs. Morrow's care and she'll make sure he takes his medications on time. He's fine when he's regular. She and I will take care of all of his medical appointments and she will also help take him to his therapist's appointments."

"I'd like to help you," Polly said. "Let me talk to my assistant. He schedules the rooms and would know all of the legal ins and outs of taking this on."

Before she could continue, Mrs. Sutworth interrupted. "I'm not asking you to take anything on. I just need a safe place for him to regain his strength."

Polly nodded. "I understand that, but Sycamore House isn't your normal, everyday hotel. We're a family and if Denis moves in, we'll be part of his life and he'll be part of our family."

"I don't know where else to turn," the woman said, leaning forward to put her arms on Polly's desk. "I thought I'd lost him and I just can't face the idea of losing him now just because I had to drop him off in an institution. I can't take care of him at home. You're my last hope."

That nearly did Polly in, but she knew it wasn't fair to accept this responsibility without talking to Jeff first.

"When are they releasing Denis?"

"This weekend as long as we can find a place for him."

Polly took a breath and blew it out through pursed lips. "That's really fast."

"I've called everybody. And I've been at the hospital with him and trying to take care of my other two kids and my work has been patient with me, but I have to go back in a few days, and..." She stopped and looked at Polly again.

"Let me talk to Jeff and we'll make a decision. I'll call you before five o'clock today. That's all I can promise," Polly said.

"My ex-husband sent money," Leslie said, pulling out her checkbook. "I'll write a check so you don't have to wait for the insurance to kick in."

Polly put her hand up. "No, it's not about the money. That's the least of my worries. Let me talk to Jeff and I promise to call you. We won't make you wait for a decision."

The woman sat back, defeated. "I'll wait. I'm sorry to be so insistent. I never beg for things, but I'm at the end of my rope and when Mrs. Morrow mentioned Sycamore House, for the first time I saw hope."

"I understand," Polly said and stood up, hoping Mrs. Sutworth would follow suit.

She took the hint, gathered her things, and stood up. "Please call as soon as you know anything."

"I will." Polly opened the office door and stood in it while the woman walked out. Mrs. Sutworth gave her one more desperate look before turning the corner.

Polly put her hand over her forehead and took in a slow breath, then stuck her head in Jeff's office. "Got a minute?"

He grinned at her. "For you doll-face, I have all the time in the world."

"You're a nut." She went in, shut the door, and sat down. "That was an interesting visit," she said.

"Stephanie said it was a Leslie Sutworth. Any relation to the kid who caused the accident out front?"

"His mother. She wants to bring him here instead of a rehab facility. They'll need two rooms since Evelyn Morrow will be in charge of his care."

He sat forward. "She what? We aren't set up for that."

"I know. But it's not about all of the physical rehab. She says she doesn't have a good place for him at her home. And I guess that makes sense. We don't have any stairs, Evelyn knows the building. The bathroom is handicap accessible, there's plenty of space in the room for him to move, even in a wheel chair."

"I never expected anything like this," Jeff said, putting his head in his hands. "It's a lot of responsibility."

"Exactly. That's what I told her, but she sounds desperate."

He scratched the top of his head. "When do we have to make the decision?"

"That's the deal. They're sending Denis home this weekend. I need to tell her today so they can set the room up. He'll be in a wheel chair and need a hospital bed. I don't even know what else."

Jeff thought for a minute. "Let me call our insurance guy. You check with Evelyn Morrow and make sure she is on board with this. Without her, I don't want to deal with it. Make sense?"

"It does."

"What about you? What's your gut saying?"

"I want to help her, of course, but when that kid was suicidal, he tried to take someone with him. I don't want him messing with our people."

"Yeah. That."

"On the other hand," Polly said. "This is what Sycamore House is all about. It's why I have this building and we certainly aren't using that addition for what I'd planned. It sits empty too often. Maybe this is what we're supposed to be doing with it."

Jeff glanced at his computer and jumped up. "I have to go," he said. "I'm meeting Sheriff Merritt at the coffee shop."

"Oh," Polly said. "How did that go last night?"

"Camille is pretty upset. We gave Aaron the information he needed. I met him at the inn this morning to see Grey. He said he didn't know anything about it, but that he'd left his walking stick at the coffee shop earlier in the day."

Polly furrowed her brow. "Yeah. That's right. I was there with him. He put it in the umbrella stand."

"And you didn't see him take it out?"

"I don't think so. We went our separate ways after coffee."

"Okay. I'll tell Aaron what you remember." He opened the door and she followed him into the main office.

"When will you be back so we can finish this?" she asked.

"I don't know. But call me if I'm not here after lunch. I'll check on the insurance, though."

"Thanks, Jeff."

She went back into her office and dropped into her seat. She needed to call Evelyn, but thought she'd make one other call first.

"Hey sweet girl, what's up?" Henry asked.

"Am I bothering you?"

"Never."

"No really. I need a few minutes and some advice. Do you have time?"

He chuckled. "I sure do."

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because I'm at the office having coffee with Dad."

"I see."

"Is this important? Should I leave the room?"

"Well..."

"Hold on."

Polly waited a few moments.

"Okay. I'm outside," he said. "What's going on?"

She described the situation to him. He didn't interrupt, just listened.

"Well?" she finally asked after telling him everything. "What should I do?"

Background noise and the sound of his breathing told her he was still on the phone, but he was silent.

"Are you still there?"

"Yeah. Sorry. This is a tough one."

"If it were easy, I wouldn't have called for advice."

"Great. Thanks," he said. "My first reaction is to say no, but that's not who you are. I'm always trying to protect you from things that are difficult."

"Okay. Do you have another reaction?"

"I keep thinking about Rebecca. If you'd listened to me, she wouldn't be in our lives, so I don't know if I'm the best barometer. And you're right about Sycamore House being empty. It's a shame not to use those rooms. Maybe this is your next step. Especially if it's Mrs. Morrow. No one else had to get involved with Sarah Heater's care once she was on-site. She's a take-charge woman."

"Do you think we should do it?"

He huffed out a breath. "I don't know. I don't want to be the one to say no to you. If Mrs. Morrow says she can do it and Jeff says your insurance will cover whatever it needs to cover, there's no reason not to say yes."

"I have your support, then."

"Honey, you always have my support."

Polly smiled and then realized he couldn't see her face. "Thank you," she said. "I love you, too. I'll make more calls and let you know what we come up with."

Before she could call Evelyn Morrow, Stephanie tapped at her door again. "Polly?"

"Yeah?"

"Mrs. Morrow is here to see you."

"Seriously?"

Stephanie smiled. "Can I send her in?"

Polly stood up and walked to the door. "Evelyn, I can't believe you're here. I was just going to call you."

The woman stepped in to give Polly a hug. "I've missed seeing you this summer."

"Me too," Polly said, nodding and backing into her office. "Come on in."

They sat down and Evelyn started. "If you were going to call me, I guess you know why I'm here."

"Denis Sutworth."

"Yes. But before you say anything, I want you to know that I'm not here to press you into accepting him into your home." Evelyn gave her a warm smile. "Because I know that's what it is."