Worse Than Being Alone (28 page)

A hot summer had lingered into fall, causing a late
onset color change and extremely mild temperatures. It didn’t seem
like October at all, although there were subtle changes in the
light, and just a hint the trees were reluctantly beginning to
accept the reality that winter was coming.

“
Shouldn’t they be here soon?”
Harley asked.

“
Yeah, any time now. You know,
it’s weird to hear Kitty talk about Lionel and the girls. She’s
head-over-heels in love with them. I’m not sure she gets it. I
never heard her talk about James like that.”

“
I just hope she doesn’t get
hurt,” Harley said. “Maybe I should have a heart to heart moment
with Lionel. Somebody’s got to protect Kitty.”

“
Bad idea. Remember my
heart-to-heart with my dad, and Kitty’s little inquisition at
dinner?”

“
I know. I know,” he said. “What
do you think of Lionel?”

“
He seems like a really nice guy.
We need to stay out of this.”

“
Like you’re doing with your Dad?”
he asked.

“
Wow, I didn’t see that one
coming. You think I should stop investigating?”

“
Not really,” he said. “I guess
that was a little harsh. After all, Lionel hasn’t been married six
times. When are you going to lunch with Billy?”

“
I probably won’t be able to until
later next week. I need to finish up in Sikeston and then analyze
everything I’ve put together.”

“
What do you think about a meeting
with Kitty and Lionel?” he asked.

“
I was thinking that would be a
good idea, too. Maybe it will help me figure out what to say to
Billy.”

“
You don’t have any doubts about
talking to him anymore?” he asked.

“
Not really. Basically, I guess I
want to know if he realizes Marian’s been married so many times and
most of the other spouses are dead. If he already knew that, then I
guess he’s not going to be very receptive.”

Chapter Fifty-One

Lionel and I started out with sunny skies and the
top down on my red convertible, but halfway to Roni’s, Lionel
pulled over to put the top up after the sun disappeared behind a
bank of angry clouds, and the wind picked up. The car had barely
come to a stop in front of the Edelins’ house when Bella and Sophie
jumped out of the back seat and ran up the porch stairs to greet
Roni and Harley.

“
Kitty says you have a pony we can
ride,” both girls said.

“
Wait, wait, Bella,” Lionel said,
stepping forward. “You have to meet them first.”

“
I’ll do the introductions,” I
said, taking their hands.

“
Roni and Harley Edelin,” I said.
“I’d like to introduce Bella and Sophie Phelps.”

“
We’ve heard so much about you,”
Harley said. “I think we should get the pony riding out of the way
first, don’t you?”

“
Oh, yeah,” the girls exclaimed
simultaneously, as Harley took their hands and led them in the
direction of the barn.”

“
Mr. Edelin,” Bella
began.

“
You need to call me Uncle
Harley,” he said. “Mr. Edelin is just too formal for me. Is it OK
if I’m your honorary uncle?”

“
Sure,” they said. “Uncle Harley,
why do you have that box there with a stick holding it
up?”

“
Well, there’s a cat in my
garage,” he said. “I want to catch it.”

“
What are you going to do with it
after you catch it?” Bella asked.

“
I’m going to take good care of
it,” Harley said, throwing a look over his shoulder at
me.

“
You know Kitty has a cat named
Harley,” Sophie said as they disappeared into the barn.

“
Harley’s a real pushover, isn’t
he?” Lionel asked.

“
Oh yeah,” Roni said. “How about a
beer or something to drink?”

Roni grabbed Coronas with limes, and we ended up
sitting on lawn chairs in the yard, sipping our beers while we
watched the girls take turns riding the pony.

“
Have you heard any more about
Thomas Sloan?” Roni asked.

“
Dave called while we were driving
over,” I said. “They searched the whole building and didn’t find
him. They started looking through all the video and finally figured
out that he managed to pick the lock on the cuffs. Then he climbed
up into the ceiling tiles and went in the next room, which is a
conference room. He got down and went to the first floor where the
police have lockers. He put on a uniform and went out the police
exit. On that video, he looks up and tips his cap to the
camera.”

“
He’s in the wind now,” Lionel
said. “He’s already proven he can steal identities. I’ll bet that
was why he was so forthcoming about things. He knew he could
escape. They’ll find some storage locker someplace that he’s at
least partially cleaned out.”

“
We all sound like we really
admire this guy,” I said. “We should try to remember he’s a
thief.”

“
And a very good one,” Lionel
said, laughing. “So Roni, how’s your investigation into Marian
going?”

“
I should finish up Monday or
Tuesday,” Roni said. “I was hoping we could get together after that
and talk about it.”

“
Sure, let me know,” Lionel
said.

“
Sorry about Beverly Knull,
Kitty,” Roni said.

“
Thanks,” I said. “I’ll be going
to her funeral while you’re in Sikeston.”

Harley and the pony were exhausted by the time he
unsaddled the 2 year old and let her out in the pasture. She
promptly ran as far away from them as she could. The wind had
picked up again and the temperature started dropping in earnest. We
ended up in the dining room, feasting on Harley’s barbecue, baked
potatoes, and a salad. Homemade ice cream rounded out the day; the
girls were asleep before my car reached the end of the drive.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Harley and Roni stood side-by-side, arms entwined,
as they watched the dust kicked up by Kitty’s car mark their exit
down the long driveway. It had been an interesting day, watching
the interaction between Kitty, Lionel, and the girls. Roni couldn’t
recall a single time when James and Kitty had visited that wasn’t
filled with tension and an undercurrent of antagonism.

“
Wow, I’m not sure what I
expected,” Roni said. “Remember all those times James and Kitty
were here and we thought they were going to have a fight before the
night was done?”

“
I always felt like things just
weren’t right somehow,” Harley said. “Even when Ethan was here with
them, they couldn’t quite cover it up.”

“
Now there’s no tension. They all
have this glow about them.”

“
Careful, you’re sliding into
Cindy territory,” Harley said, shaking his head. ”But you’re right,
you know. I’ve never seen anything like it. They’re already a
family. Those little girls love Kitty.”

“
I know. Do you think Lionel and
Kitty realize it?”

“
I think so,” Harley said.
“Kitty’s terrified, but they just belong together, you
know?”

“
I agree,” Roni said. “Hey, I
think you caught the cat.”

Harley looked at the box, realizing Roni was right
as he began walking toward the container. He retreated into the
garage and put on a pair of work gloves to ward off a bite or
scratch from the cat. Roni flipped on the porch light as Harley
approached the box. Down on all fours, he gently lifted one side of
the box and reached inside. After several grabs, he had nabbed his
prize. All in one motion, he flipped the box over, stood up, and
held up his prize. Harley screamed and dropped his catch, but it
was too late to avoid the noxious spray that settled all over his
body. Shrieking in horror, Harley fell to his knees.

“
Kitty, you bitch,” he screamed as
he began removing his clothing.

Chapter Fifty-Three

An early morning cloudburst followed by dazzling
sunshine made the grass at Sacred Heart Cemetery sparkle like a
cluster of a million stars. Lionel pulled into a space near the
burial plot for Beverly Knull. I was on the verge of tears on the
way to the church, when Lionel patiently explained to me that being
present by my side was the response when a person loved and cared
for you. I didn’t know how to explain how missing those actions had
been from my life with James. I tried not to dwell on it too much,
because getting through the funeral and burial was emotional
enough.

The leaves were beginning to turn and the setting
was beautiful with brightly colored mums planted everywhere.
Sunlight streamed through the massive orange and red trees. I held
Lionel’s hand as we joined the crowd. Meadow, her fiancé, and her
siblings stood together, flanked by other family members and
friends as the priest began speaking.

I had a hard time not zeroing in on Meadow’s fiancé,
Brent O’Malley. I couldn’t help but wonder if someone so young
would really be mature enough to marry Meadow and help her raise
her siblings. Their relationship had been formed before the
injuries to Beverly, so I worried the new reality might be too much
for him to handle. So far, he seemed up to the task.

I had been so distracted, I was surprised when the
priest ended his sermon. We all stood there in uncomfortable
silence, unsure whether to go or stay as if letting go of this
moment meant we were leaving Beverly alone or behind somehow.
Finally, people began to peel off in pairs or small groups. Lionel
and I headed for the Pilot.

“
You think she’ll be OK?” Lionel
asked.

“
I think so. She’s a strong
woman.”

“
You’re worried about her fiancé,
aren’t you?” he asked as we climbed in the vehicle.

“
Yeah, they met and got engaged
when Meadow was essentially by herself. Now it’s a package deal. He
might start to feel like he hadn’t signed up for that.”

“
I’m a package deal, too,” he
said.

“
I’ve known that from the very
start.”

“
And yet you’re still here,” he
said.

“
That’s right. I think you’re part
of a very attractive package.”

“
Maybe Brent O’Malley feels the
same way,” he said.

“
I’m praying you’re
right.”

“
Still thinking of writing a book
about Roni’s situation?” he asked.

“
I am. I haven’t talked to Roni
about it yet. I’m making notes and trying to come up with a title.
I’m not sure I can write a book without a title. One of those
little writer quirks, I guess.”

“
Any ideas?” he asked as we pulled
on the highway.

“
It’s a variation of something
Roni said to her dad. I’m thinking I might call it Worse Than Being
Alone.”

“
Ouch, I wonder what Roni’s dad
would think of that title?” he asked.

“
I’m not sure it’s even
appropriate at this point. I guess time will tell.”

“
I’d hate to think I’m your worse
than being alone,” he said.

“
No way. I already had my worse.
Most of us are afraid of being alone. That’s why we stay in bad
relationships and sometimes, I’m afraid, like Billy, we get into
them in the first place.”

My cell phone’s ring tone seemed overly loud in the
confines of the SUV. I recognized Roni’s number and slid my finger
across the screen.

“
Harley is really upset with you,”
Roni said.

“
What about?” I asked, trying out
the innocent act.

“
Come on, Kit,” Roni said. “I just
can’t figure out how you pulled it off.”

“
I’m sure the list of people
trying to get even with Harley is long.”

“
Yeah, but you’re at the top,”
Roni said. “Are you going to keep pretending you’re not
involved?”

“
No. I want Harley to understand
that Lionel was not involved in any way. I’m not going to tell you
anymore. Just tell Harley I’m the skunk whisperer.”

“
He’s mad at me, too,” Roni said.
“He took a shower, but of course he still smelled, so I made him
sleep on the porch last night. I’m on my way to Sikeston. He was on
the Internet, trying to figure out how to get rid of the stench
when I left. You do realize this just ups the ante,
right?”

“
I know but it’s like an
irresistible impulse, you know?”

“
I get it,” Roni said. “How was
the funeral?”

“
Very sad. I had a bad feeling
from the very beginning. Hey, I got a call from Ho’s adjuster this
morning. She wants us to tail Ho again so Cindy and I will be back
on her this afternoon.”

“
That’s good. Need to keep the
revenue stream going especially since I’ve been checking Marian out
instead of helping.”

“
I think you need to do this.
We’re doing fine. Hey, Lionel and I are on the way over to talk to
Herb Kohl. He’s one of Thomas Sloan’s teachers.”

“
That should be interesting,” Roni
said. “Thomas Sloan should be a character in a book.”

“
My thoughts exactly,” I said as I
ended the phone call and we pulled into a parking lot across the
street from Kirkwood High School.