Death is Long Overdue (Phee Jefferson Book 1) (13 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

“I may have ruined my life, but at least I got to eat some really good Chinese food.” ― Louis Sachar, Small Steps

Juliet and I settled back onto the couch.  She dozed lightly while watching a talk show about cheating spouses and their love child.  I picked up the Agatha Christie novel from the evening before and tried to read but my mind kept straying towards what Clint had said about Grant.  Could Grant kill someone who had threatened me?  He was really protective of me in high school.  If anyone bullied me, he would always come charging to my rescue.  I still couldn't believe that he had slept with Carla.  Maybe Nellie had that tidbit of gossip wrong, too.  I just wasn't sure what to think anymore. My eyes started to drift shut.  I was so tired.  I moved over to the chaise lounge and settled in for a nap.

I awoke to the sound of Juliet laughing in the kitchen.  I heard Wade's deep voice rumbling and her giggly response. It was good to see Wade happy.  I just hoped Juliet wouldn't break his heart.  She wasn't known for sticking with a relationship for very long.  Wade was a good guy.  I heard another male voice talking softly in the kitchen.  I rose and ran my fingers through my strawberry curls.  I wandered into the kitchen to find Juliet, Wade and Grant opening containers of Chinese food.

"Hey, Phee!" Wade smiled at me. "I got you Moo Shoo Pork.  I thought that is what you liked, and since Juliet said you would eat anything, I figured it was a safe bet.   I ran into Grant when I was picking up dinner at the Dragon Palace." Wade scooped out some rice and dumped it on a plate.  "I told him what happened last night and he offered to come hang out with us and perform guard duty, too."

"I wish I would have known about all this, Phee.  I would have camped out here last night and made sure nothing else happened.  I'm just glad you're okay.  I'm still reeling from the news that Duane was killed.  He was the coolest guy and a good friend. It's crazy that someone would kill him.  I moved back home to what I thought was a safe little town and people are being killed left and right. Now you’re getting weird threats."  Grant shook his head.  "All these things happening are just unbelievable.  If anything else happens, you'd better call me."

"I will!" I said with a false brightness. "Juliet, can you come see me in the bedroom for a minute.  I need to ask you a question about...um...about this paint color I am considering." I gave Juliet a warning look and gestured for her to follow me.  Once we were out of earshot, I grabbed her arm and hissed, "Oh my gosh!  What if Clint's right being suspicious of Grant?  I mean, he has been gone for years and when he comes back into town, people do start keeling over."

"Well, it would've been more suspicious if I hadn't let him in.  We've known him for years.  He was your best friend.  Do you really think he could hurt somebody?" Juliet's whisper increased in volume.  I shushed her.

"I just don't know anymore.  I didn't think he would sleep with Carla either."

"What's going on?" Wade walked into the bedroom.

"Clint thinks Grant might have had something to do with the murders," I whispered.  "I don't know if he's on to something or not, but now I am paranoid to be around Grant."

"I'll be here, and I still have a little friend right here.  It'll be fine."  Wade turned and showed me where he had a gun tucked into the waistband of his pants.  He pulled the edge of his shirt back over and it was once again hidden from sight.  "Let's get back in there before he thinks something is up." We walked back into the kitchen where Grant gave us a quizzical look.

"I had a crazy idea to paint my room bright peach, but Juliet talked me out of it," I lied.  I grabbed the plate that he handed to me and put some Moo Shoo Pork on it. I sat down beside him.  I opened a pair of paper-wrapped chopsticks and started to eat.

"Crisis averted!" Juliet chimed in and speared a piece of broccoli with her fork. “What’s up with you, Grant?”

“I’ve been getting settled into the new job and taking on a bunch of new cases. I’ve been trying to get Mom out of the house some more.  She really wants you to come visit her, Phee.  She says she misses the two of us hanging around the house,” Grant said.

“I’ll have to go by and visit her.  I always liked hanging out with your mom.  She’s a hoot.  Remember when she and your dad took us out to shoot skeet?  I about shot my foot off and ended up shooting the windows out of the lighthouse by accident.  Your mom said that maybe I should stick with water pistols.” I laughed at the memory.  Grant’s mom had always made time for me when I went there after school with Grant.  She would bake cookies and sit down and chat with us.  My mom’s great, but she and Dad’s teaching schedule didn’t leave a lot of down time for them to spend time with us kids except on the weekends.

“She’s always been a crack shot.  I’m not too bad myself,” Grant said with a touch of pride.  ”I was on the skeet shooting team at university.”

“Really?  How cool! I would’ve never pegged you and your mom as gun people,” Juliet said. She gave me a look and continued, “So, Grant, have you been seeing anybody since you’ve been back in town?”  I kicked her under the table and was glad to see her wince a little when my foot found its target.

“I’ve gone on a date or two,” he said casually.  “Nobody that I would say is a keeper.  I’m keeping my options open.  I don’t think I’m quite ready for the white picket fence, two kids and a dog named Skipper, but maybe someday soon.  Mom’s been driving me crazy asking me when I’m going to settle down and give her grandkids.  Its times like this that I wish I had a brother or sister to distract her.”

“Thank goodness we have Rick to distract mom,” Juliet joked.  I was impressed on how Juliet had managed to ask Grant about his love life.  I sat there trying to figure out how to ask him if it was Carla or not. “Is this woman you’ve been seeing anyone we would know?” My eyes widened at her boldness.

Grant pushed a few grains of rice around on his plate as he took his time answering.  “Well, to be honest, it turns out she was married, so I think I’ll keep that little indiscretion to myself if that’s alright, Juliet.  She wasn’t really someone I cared for anyway.”  He shot me an impenetrable glance and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat.

“Alright, ladies, enough already with the third degree of Grant,” Wade said.  “Grant, did you catch the game last night?  I can't believe that fly ball to left field."

"No.  Sorry, I missed out.  I heard it was a great game.  Unfortunately, I was stuck in the office until after midnight going through a case getting ready for trial."  Juliet and I looked at each other and I know she was thinking what I was thinking.

"That's too bad you had to miss out.  I tried calling you last night to let you know I was too tired to get dinner with you, but I couldn't reach you," I said with as much casualness as I could muster.  I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck tingling.

"Sorry about that.  Yeah, my cell phone had died and I didn’t have my charger with me. There was no one but me in the office, so once the secretary left for the day, the phones just went straight to voice mail,” Grant explained.

I swallowed hard. Grant had no alibi for the murder of Duane.  He probably had slept with Carla.  He had represented Huey Long.  There was no doubt about it.  I was eating dinner with a murderer.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I lost my appetite after that and began to clear away some of the empty containers.  I stood at the sink with my hands in the soapy dishwater as I thought about what I had learned.  Grant admitted to dating a married woman so chances are it was Carla.  I found it hard to believe that he was back in town and didn't realize that Carla was married.  I felt like calling him out on his lie, but if he was the murderer, I really didn't think that would be the best idea in the world.

"Wade brought me a change of clothes.  I'm going to go grab a quick shower while he goes and gets my things out of the car.  He needs to grab his wheelchair, too. We’ll be right in the next room if you need us." Juliet and Wade headed down the hallway. I was alone with Grant.  Juliet and Wade obviously didn’t think he was a threat, but the evidence against him was stacking up.

"You want me to help you wash?"  Grant had a clean dishtowel in his hands.  He picked up a glass and started to dry it.

"That's okay.  I can do it.  You're probably tired after working all day, so you can head on home.  Wade and Juliet have promised to hang around tonight. I should probably get some sleep after last night."

"I wish I could've been here for you, Phee."  His voice softened and he said, "I know that we're just friends, but I'm here for you if you ever need me.  And one day, if you decide you want to be more than just friends...."

"Grant, I don't think I am going to see you in any other light than as a friend.  I'm sorry."  I didn't meet his eyes and continued to wash the dishes in the sink.  I felt like I was walking a thin line here, but I needed to let him know that I just didn't feel that way about him.  "I wasn't going to tell you, but I guess I should.  I've started seeing Clint." I said it quickly and waited for his reaction.  My hands gripped a fork under the bubbles just in case I had to defend myself.

"That's great, Phee," Grant said. I looked up at him with surprise.  "What?  Listen, I'll admit that I have feelings for you, but you have also been my best friend for years.  I just want you to be happy.  If Clint is what makes you happy, then I'm glad.  A little hurt and maybe a whole lot jealous, but I’ve tried, and I guess it wasn't meant to be.  I'll be here to pick up the pieces if it doesn't work out.  I know you've been half in love with Clint for years, but his track record with women isn't the best. From what I hear, he changes women as often as I change my underwear."  I released the fork and turned to look at him.

I felt the tension slide off my body as I realized that there was no way that Grant could be a murderer.  He wasn’t upset about Clint and me at all.  Surely if he was the killer, he would have reacted with anger instead of calm acceptance. "I know Clint’s dated a lot of women, but I've got to take a chance.  And thanks for making me feel like crap!"  I teased him. "Grant, you are such a great guy and we've been through thick and thin together, but I just don't feel "that way" about you.  Maybe it's because I saw you shove a green bean up your nose on a dare."

"I had to defend my honor. I rose to the challenge of nose-stuffing at the lunch table and was victorious." He thrust out his chest like a knight in shining armor. "However, I did learn to never pick dare again during a game of Truth or Dare.  You play for keeps."

"You really are the best. Some woman is going to be lucky to have you, and then I will probably hate her for stealing away my friend."  I gave him a fierce hug.

"I'll make sure she is tall and blonde and a cheerleader.  That will pay you back for not picking me!"  He play punched me lightly on the arm.

"Speaking of tall, blonde cheerleaders, was the married woman Carla?"  I asked abruptly. I needed to know.

"Yeah, it was." Grant refused to meet my gaze. "It was right after I moved back into town and was looking for a house.  She was my real estate agent.  To be honest, she said she was separated, but I kind of knew it was a lie.  I guess I let myself believe it because mentally, I was back in high school and she was the hot cheerleader."

"Oh, Grant.  I thought you hated her.  I just never imagined you would sleep with Carla," I admonished him.

"It was one time and instead of feeling like a big shot, I felt like a total loser.  I mean, it's been almost ten years since high school and I still felt like this nerdy guy who wasn't allowed to sit at the table with the jocks.  Here I am, a big shot attorney with a sports car, a home and a great career, and sometimes I still feel like I am still sixteen.  Afterwards, I called it off.  I had to duck her calls for a week. After that, I didn't hear from her again.  The only time I talked to her again was at the breakfast. Mad at me?" He gave me a hang dog look.

"No.  I kind of understand myself.  I guess we are growing up, aren't we?"

"Yep." He grinned.  "I think I am so much more mature than you though.”

"Ha!" I rolled the tea towel and snapped him playfully.

"I rest my case,” he laughed.  "I'm going to head home and let you get some rest.  Call me tomorrow?"

"Ok.  Thanks for stopping by." I walked him to the door.

"Anytime, Phee.  That's what friends are for," Grant wrapped his arm around my shoulder and hugged me to him.  He opened the door. Clint was there with his hand raised to knock.  It dropped to his side and the look on his face was thunderous.  I squirmed uncomfortably under Grant's arm. "Hey there, Clint.  I was just leaving.  I came over to help watch over my friend here.  With all this crazy stuff going on in town, you can never be too careful."

"Grant." Clint bit off his name between clenched teeth.  "Perfect timing. I needed to talk to you anyway about all this so-called crazy stuff.  I think my office would be a good place to have that conversation, don't you?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to help your investigation.  Thanks again for dinner, Phee.  Call me if you need me." Grant just couldn't resist the last little jibe at Clint.  I guess he wasn't going to give up quite as easily as he said.  "Okay if I follow you in my car, Deputy?"

"That's fine." Clint was bristling with anger.  "I'll talk to you later, Phee."  He turned and strode off the porch towards his car.

"Okay," I said in a small voice and shut the door behind me. I leaned against the door and heaved a sigh.  Clint was obviously livid that Grant was here.  It wasn't my fault that he had shown up. Clint had to understand that Grant and I had been best friends all throughout high school.  If he gave me a chance to explain what happened, I knew he would calm down.  Clint was wrong about Grant, too. Grant wasn't trying to hide anything.  If he was the murderer, would he have admitted to having a relationship with Carla?  He didn't really have anything against Huey as far as I knew.  And if he hadn't killed Carla, then he couldn't have killed Duane.  I sighed in frustration.  Investigating was a lot harder in real life.  I needed to get my little gray cells working harder.