Wicked Brew (7 page)

“Belinda was hurt very badly in a car accident,” Chief Terry explained. “We believe Annie was hurt in that accident as well, but she has no memory of it. We discovered Belinda’s car this evening. She’s in pretty bad shape, but the doctors are working on her right now.”

Arlene straightened. “Well, I hope she’ll be okay.”

“We all do, ma’am,” Chief Terry said. “It might be a little while until we know something, though.”

“Well, I still think it’s prudent that we take Annie,” Arlene said. “She shouldn’t be hanging around a hospital all night. We’ll get a hotel room and take her with us.”

I balked. “She wants to be near her mother.”

“She’s a child,” Arlene said. “She doesn’t know what she wants.”

“Still, ma’am, I think it’s best to wait until we have more information about Belinda’s prognosis,” Chief Terry said. “We still don’t know what caused the accident, and Annie is already traumatized. I think she should remain here until we know more.”

“Are you her parent?” Arlene challenged.

“No, ma’am. You’re not either, though.”

I didn’t notice the man sidling up behind the Denhams until he was almost on top of them. “No, she’s not Annie’s parent,” the man said. “I am, though, and I want my daughter.”

I felt as if the floor was dropping out from beneath me. “Jonathan Denham.”

“You’re Jonathan Denham?”

The man was handsome – for a low-life pervert. His short brown hair was neat, with just a hint of gray at the temples. His brown eyes were dark and predatory, and his smile was pleasing – even though I wanted to kick his teeth in on sight. Actually, I wanted to kick his teeth in and then pour some lemon juice in there just for good measure. Oh, and then I wanted to glue his mouth shut – but only after I cut all of his fingers off and shoved them into his mouth so he’d have something to chew on. Yes, I know, I’m incredibly mean and vindictive. Maybe I am turning into Aunt Tillie? Oh, who am I kidding? I’m way meaner than Aunt Tillie ever dreamed of being.

“I see my reputation precedes me,” Denham said, his dimple coming out to play as he smiled in my direction. “And who are you?”

“This is Thistle Winchester,” Chief Terry said, stepping in smoothly. “She was one of the people who found Annie.”

“Well then, I guess I owe you a world of thanks,” Denham said. “If it weren’t for you, she might have wandered around the countryside until she died of exposure.”

Something told me he would have preferred that outcome. “Well, that’s not what happened,” I said, forcing my tone to remain even. “We found her, and we took care of her.”

“Oh, are you foster parents?” Denham was playing a dangerous game, and I wanted him to lose.

“No.”

“Then how did my daughter end up with you?”

“She was traumatized after the accident,” Chief Terry explained. “She wouldn’t speak. She seemed attached to Thistle … .”

“And me,” Aunt Tillie chimed in.

“And Tillie,” Chief Terry said, not missing a beat. “We didn’t want to traumatize her even more than she already was. The Winchesters run an inn. They had plenty of room, and food, and people to watch Annie. She was spoiled rotten during her stay.”

Denham glanced around the room, his face unreadable. “Well, then I guess I owe you all thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Aunt Tillie said.

Denham smiled down at her. I knew what he saw: A sweet old woman who he could charm and wrap around his finger. He was in for a surprise. “I’ll just bet you gave my little girl all the love she could ever need.”

Aunt Tillie remained silent, but I could see her mind working from here.

“I’m sure it wasn’t easy,” Denham continued. “It’s hard to take care of a little girl who won’t speak. It’s too bad she can’t talk. She might have been able to tell you what happened to her mother. That is a tragedy.”

“Belinda is alive.” I took perverse pleasure in telling him.

Denham remained still, but I could swear his eyes momentarily flashed. “If Belinda is alive, why did you call us?”

“We just found her tonight,” Landon said. “Her car was wrecked and hidden under an old creek bridge. She was alive, though. The doctors are working on her now.”

“And what did she … tell you?” Denham asked.

“She hasn’t woken up yet,” Chief Terry said.

Denham’s shoulders relaxed. “Is she going to wake up?”

“We’re not sure yet.”

“She’s going to wake up,” I said. “She fought this long. She’ll wake up. She has something to live for.”

“Do you have a problem with me?” Denham asked, the question a challenge.

“No, she doesn’t,” Chief Terry said. “Everyone is just worked up this evening.”

“I have a problem with you,” Aunt Tillie announced. For once, I was on her side.

Denham raised his eyebrows, placating the sweet old lady he saw in his mind with a smile. “Because I didn’t get here fast enough? I am sorry. It was a long drive.”

“Because you’re a sick pile of bat droppings that’s sat out in the sun too long and petrified,” Aunt Tillie replied, matching him evil grin for evil grin.

Denham was taken aback. “Excuse me?”

Aunt Tillie wasn’t anywhere near being done. “What kind of a man seduces and has sex with a high school student?”

“A sick one,” I supplied.

“A sick one,” Aunt Tillie agreed. “A predator. I’m guessing you preyed on Belinda because she was young and she didn’t have a lot of parental influence. You knew exactly what you were doing. The pregnancy probably took you by surprise, but I’m sure your parents either paid her off – or threatened her off – to keep your name off that birth certificate.”

“Now you wait just a minute,” Denham said, raising a hand in protest.

“I’m not done,” Aunt Tillie said. “You’re a very lucky man, because if you’d messed with one of my girls like you did with Belinda, I would have cursed your manhood until it fell off.”

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Landon push his tongue into his cheek to quiet himself, but he didn’t make a move to stop her from rambling.

“Now, I’m sure there’s not much manhood there to curse, and my eyes aren’t what they used to be, but I’m thinking I would have found a way around that,” Aunt Tillie said. She glanced at me and winked. “In fact, I think Thistle has a magnifying glass. We could have just sat you out naked in the sun and burned your little twig off without cursing it. It also would have allowed us to find it, because I’m betting you have to go after high school girls because they don’t know how big a real one is supposed to be.”

“I don’t have to take this abuse,” Denham said.

“I agree,” his mother said, moving to his side. “We’re here to claim our property.”

“Property?” I hate these people. “A child is not property.”

“She is our blood,” Arlene said. “You take care of your own blood.”

“She’s also Belinda’s blood,” I said.

“Well, Belinda doesn’t appear to be able to take care of her,” Arlene said.

“Belinda is in the other room fighting for her life,” I argued. “When she wakes up, she’s going to want her daughter.”

“Well, if that happens, then I’m sure we can set up some sort of visitation,” Arlene said.

“Visitation? That’s her daughter.”

“We have an appointment with a local attorney tomorrow morning,” Arlene said. “Our son will be getting custody of his daughter in an emergency session if we have anything to say about it.”

“You can’t just do that,” I said. I turned to Landon. “She can’t do that, can she?”

Landon looked helpless. “I’m not up on custody issues, Thistle.”

“You’re with the FBI, though,” I pressed. “You should be able to stop them.”

Denham shifted his full attention to Landon. “Why is the FBI here?” He seemed nervous. From the look on his face, Landon noticed it, too.

“I’m friends with the family,” he said. “I was here for the weekend when Annie was discovered, and I was one of the people who found Belinda’s car tonight.”

“Oh, well, thank you then,” Denham said primly.

“I’ll also be heading the investigation into her accident,” Landon said, his eyes focused on Denham. He was testing him.

“What investigation?” Arlene asked. “Surely it was just an accident.”

“Well, there were some interesting marks on the road,” Landon said. “We have a crime scene team out there right now taking photographs and measurements. We’re also having the car brought in and looked at by a licensed mechanic to make sure it wasn’t tampered with. Because of the nature of the accident, a full investigation seems to be warranted.”

He was making that up. He hadn’t paid any attention to the road while we were out there. It was too dark. He was bluffing. Since his words were visibly shaking Denham, I was happy to play along with the gambit.

“And Annie will be a ward of the state while the investigation is ongoing, right?” I asked.

Chief Terry put his hand on my shoulder. “She will,” he said.

“These women aren’t state workers, though,” Denham pointed out.

“No, but Audra Cutler is,” Chief Terry said. “She’s a licensed foster mother. Winnie, I don’t suppose you could get her number from my office and give her a call and tell her we need her down here, could you?”

Winnie nodded. “Absolutely. That sounds like a great idea.”

“You can’t do that,” Arlene said, incensed. “We’re that girl’s blood.”

“I just did it,” Chief Terry said. “Now, you all can go and meet with your lawyers, but you should be aware that our investigation is ongoing. You cannot take that child until I say you can.”

“And you’re going to let these … women … tell you when that is, aren’t you?” Denham sneered.

“I’m going to let the law tell me when it’s time, son,” Chief Terry said. “You see, I have the law on my side.”

THE DENHAMS
decided to regroup. They didn’t leave the hospital, but they did vacate our general vicinity. Once they were gone, Landon and Chief Terry snapped to action.

“All right, we don’t have a lot of time,” Chief Terry said. “Landon and I are going back out to the scene of the accident right now. I don’t like the way that guy was acting.”

“That’s because he’s a sick bastard,” Aunt Tillie supplied.

Chief Terry ignored her and focused on Landon. “Can you get someone to run Denham’s financials tonight?”

“Are you thinking he was in the area?” Landon asked.

“He clearly didn’t come with his parents,” Chief Terry said. “He came in after them. Did you see his father? He was surprised to see his son. He doesn’t appear to have much love for him.”

“How can you tell?” I asked. “He didn’t talk.”

“He’s henpecked,” Chief Terry said. “He clearly lets his wife call all the shots.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being henpecked,” Aunt Tillie said. “Some might call it a virtue.”

Chief Terry rolled his eyes. “You guys need to keep Annie here. When Audra gets here, tell her what’s going on. She’ll agree to take Annie on. Once she’s here, the state is officially involved and the Denhams have no legal standing.”

“Annie isn’t going to want to go with anyone,” I protested.

“Hopefully she won’t have to,” Chief Terry said. “If we’re lucky, Belinda will wake up before we have to deal with whatever slick suit the Denhams hire. There aren’t a lot of choices around here.”

“Will it go in front of Judge Crawford?” Marnie asked.

“He’s the only judge we have,” Chief Terry replied.

“I think I’m going to bake him a pie.”

“I think I’m going to help,” Mom said.

Chief Terry stilled. “You’re not going to do anything funny to the pie, are you?”

“Of course not,” Marnie said. “No man can say no to my pie. It’s magic all on its own. It doesn’t need any actual magic.”

My mind went someplace dirty, and I fought the urge to snicker. A quick look at Bay told me she was thinking the same thing.

Mom cuffed the back of my head. “Don’t be filthy.”

“I didn’t say anything,” I muttered.

“You were thinking it.”

“What should we do?” Bay asked.

“Just stand watch,” Landon said, giving her a quick kiss. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.”

“Don’t let those people in Belinda’s room,” Chief Terry warned.

“Do you think they would kill her?”

“I don’t like them,” Chief Terry said. “I wouldn’t put anything past that mother, or her piece-of-crap son, for that matter.”

Once they were gone, it was just Clove, Bay, Aunt Tillie and me, and we were at a loss. That’s when Dr. Garfield came out of Belinda’s room. I rushed up to him. “Is she going to be okay?”

Dr. Garfield looked tired – but hopeful. “She’s very dehydrated,” he said. “She has some broken ribs, but since she couldn’t move around, she didn’t aggravate them. That’s a good thing.”

“What’s the bad thing?”

“She hit her head, probably against the steering wheel,” Dr. Garfield said. “I have no idea if she’ll ever regain consciousness. That’s our biggest cause for concern. We’re pumping her full of fluids, and her kidneys aren’t in danger of shutting down, and her heartbeat is strong, but it’s a waiting game now.”

Dr. Garfield took his leave, and when he was gone, I couldn’t take the silence. “It’s a waiting game, and we’re almost out of time.”

“Then we’re going to have to rig the game,” Aunt Tillie said, her face animated.

“And how do we do that?”

“We’re witches, grumpy puss. There are many ways to rig the game. Clove, this is what I need you to do … .”

When she was done outlining her plan, I realized why Aunt Tillie never lost a game: She plays to win. I could only hope her winning streak would hold.