Doubting Thomas (Tarnished Saints Series) (25 page)

“Hello?” came a voice from the bedroom door and Angel spun around and gasped. There stood Barb and Bob, the caseworkers from CPS.

“What’s that?” asked Bob, spying the gun immediately.

“I . . . I found it,” was all she could manage to say.

“Is that the murder weapon?” Barb asked in astonishment.

“I’m not sure.” Angel bent down to pick it up, but Bob rushed forward and grabbed her arm.

“Don’t touch it, Angel. This may be evidence.”

“I’ll phone the sheriff.” Barb pulled a cell phone out of her purse and walked out of the room.

“Bob, it’s not what you think,” Angel pleaded with him. “Thomas is a good father. He is a wonderful man. He never would have murdered anyone.”

“That’s for the cops to decide,” he said, pulling her away from the gun. “Once they decipher if it’s the murder weapon, they’ll have their answer. Whoever’s prints are on the gun is the one who murdered Fawn. And something tells me, Thomas Taylor is our man.”

Chapter 22

The day was a long one and both Thomas and Levi were exhausted. Thomas drove down the gravel road toward his home, happy his brother had returned into his life. He hadn’t realized in the past years just how lonely he’d become for his siblings. Things were looking up now that Levi was home.

“So what do you think of that will?” asked Thomas. “Can you believe what Ma and Pa did?”

“It’s amazing they managed to save one lake lot and cabin for each of us,” said Levi. “But the thing I really can’t believe is their little joke of putting in the will that none of us can inherit the land unless we’re married. And then we have to stay married for a year. And if we’re not married within one year after the death of both of them then we forfeit our land inheritance – to the church of all places.”

Thomas laughed. “That’s good old Pa. Always wanting his sons to have as many kids as he had, and going to any extreme to get it. Not to mention, always looking out for the church as well.”

“Too bad he’s never going to see it happen.”

“Yeah. I’m sure he’d have loved to see the expression on your face, Levi.”

“That’s not what I mean. I mean I’m never getting married, so I guess I’ll never inherit my plot of land or have kids.”

“Well, don’t think you’re going to live with me your whole life. After all, remember, I didn’t really get anything out of the deal I didn’t already have. Ma and Pa already gave me my land years ago, as I was the only one who was married.”

“You knew about this, didn’t you?”

“Not about the part where you all have to marry within one year or forfeit your lands to the church.” He chuckled. “But yeah, I knew the rest of it. But Pa swore me to secrecy.”

“Is that why you got married in the first place?”

“Not at all. It was because of me having to sell the gas station that prompted Ma and Pa to put us all in the will in this way in the first place. Be happy about it and just find yourself a wife.”

“You never did tell me why you married Angel when you’d only known her a few days.”

No, Thomas hadn’t told him, but knew it was time to be honest with his brother.

“It was her idea,” he relayed. “Child Services was going to take away the kids unless we were a two-parent family. They don’t think I’m a fit father.”

“That’s crazy. And wait a second, I thought you said she worked for Child Services at one time.”

“She did. But she quit. I guess she felt responsible for the situation I was in, and that’s why she married me.”

“Well, then you got yourself one fine lady there, brother.”

Thomas laughed. “You said a mouthful. And I intend to keep her for a long, long time.”

Thomas spotted a slew of cars as soon as he pulled up to the house, including the squad car.

“Damn,” said Levi. “I swear I got released and didn’t escape. What are the cops doing here?”

“No doubt looking for another excuse to lock me away,” Thomas said. He stopped the truck and jumped out, stomping up the stairs with Levi right behind him. “What’s going on here?” he growled, entering to find both caseworkers, Angel, the sheriff and his deputy, and also a man he’d never seen before inside. All his kids were sitting there in silence.

“Thomas!” Angel hurried to him and grabbed his arm. “Thomas, I found your gun today hidden in the house.”

“What the hell?” He looked over to the sheriff. “What’s this all about, Bert?”

“It’s true,” said the sheriff with a huge smile that Thomas wanted to slap off his face. “We’ve run a registration check and the gun is indeed yours.”

“I have no idea how it got there.”

“Looks to me like someone hid it, since it was found in your closet under the floor boards,” answered the short blond-haired man he’d never seen before.

“What’s this all about?” growled Thomas. “And who the hell are you?”

“Thomas,” Angel warned, nodding toward Bob and Barb. “Watch your language around the children.”

“I’m Detective Bradford,” said the man, not bothering to hold out his hand. Instead he held up the gun ziplocked into a plastic bag. “This gun has been fired and we’re going to run a ballistic test to verify if it is the one that fired the bullet that killed your wife.”

“We all know it was,” said Bert in a low voice.

“I told you it was stolen. Someone’s trying to set me up,” snapped Thomas. He looked over to the sheriff and just glared at him.

“Well, we’ll take the gun in and run prints,” said the detective, “but you are our prime suspect, Mr. Taylor. And I took prints from all your kids and wife as well while we were waiting for you to return.”

“What the hell for?” he asked.

“Because this is a murder investigation and they live in the house where the weapon was found.”

“What kind of a sick joke is this? Leave my family alone. My kids would never touch my gun. It was locked up in a drawer for crissake.”

“And that’s why I’m going to have to arrest you, Taylor,” said Bert, pulling Thomas’s hands behind his back and cuffing him before he knew what happened.

“What the hell!” spat Thomas. “You can’t do this, you don’t have any proof.”

“The gun was found hidden in your home and that’s all the proof I need,” stated Bert, reading him his rights. “Thomas Taylor, you’re under arrest for murder. Take him away,” he ordered, pushing him toward the deputy. “Looks like you’ll never see your kids again, Taylor. I’m going to see that you’re put behind bars for a long time and that you rot in prison for what you’ve done.”

“Sheriff, this is a bit premature,” said the detective.

“I’m the law around here,” he ground out, “and we’ll do what I say. Taylor’s been eluding us for the last six months, but not any more.”

“Thomas,” cried Angel, tears streaming down her face.

“Pa!” shouted Sam.

Thomas scanned the faces of his boys. They all looked so frightened.

“Come on,” said the deputy, hauling Thomas to the door.

“No!” A voice cried out to stop them.

Everyone stopped and turned, as the protest had come from Eli.

“No! Don’t take my Pa away.”

“Thomas, he talked,” cried Angel.

“Eli?” Thomas looked toward his son with tears in his eyes. One traumatic event had stopped Eli from talking for the last six months, and now another had brought back his voice.

Eli rushed across the room and Thomas bent down to the boy, but was unable to put his arms around him, since he was cuffed.

“Eli, it’s okay, son. You go back to Angel.”

The sheriff reached down and pulled Thomas to his feet. “Take him to the car,” he ordered the other cop.

“No!” Eli protested again, and Angel ran forward, trying to hold him back.

Thomas could see the anguish in his son’s eyes and the determination to stop him from leaving.

“I have to go, Eli,” said Thomas.

“He didn’t kill anyone,” Eli shouted, and they all turned and gave him their attention.

“Eli?” asked Thomas slowly. “Did you see who killed Fawn? Do you know who murdered your mother?”

The little boy nodded, looked around the room and then answered.

“I did it, Pa. It was me.”

Chapter 23

“Eli? Son. What are you saying? You don’t need to try to protect me, but I appreciate what you’re doing,” said Thomas.

“Get him to the squad already,” ordered the sheriff.

“Wait,” said the detective. “Let the kid talk.”

“He’s a kid,” snapped Bert. “And we know Taylor is the murderer, now let’s go.”

“The gun was found in the closet where the kid slept,” said Detective Bradford. “And hidden with his shoes as well. I think we need to hear him out.”

“It’s obvious what happened,” said Bert, looking around the room.

“And what the hell would that be?” Thomas ground out.

“That you murdered Fawn and told the kid to hide the gun,” Bert answered.

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard,” said Thomas. “We both know you just want to lock me away so I can’t tell the town all your dirty little secrets involving a woman who has been murdered. I think you are the one who should be in cuffs, Bert, not me.”

“What’s this all about?” asked the detective, and though Thomas wanted to tell him everything, he didn’t want to do it in front of the kids. Especially little Eli since it was his mother.

“It’s all lies,” said the sheriff.

“I’m going to need to question the boy now that he’s talking again,” the detective told him.

Bert just clenched his jaw and shook his head. “Take them both in to the station then.”

“Wait!” said Thomas. “You’re not going to interrogate my son for something he didn’t do.”

“Please,” said Angel, stepping in and hunkering down next to Eli. “Let me try. I know how to talk with kids.”

“Go ahead,” said the detective.

“Eli, honey,” said Angel in a voice that sounded to Thomas so sweet and soft. So unlike his own harsh one. “Tell me why you’re saying you killed your mom. Is this really true?”

Thomas watched the boy’s big green eyes turn upward. “I did it to save Pa. She snuck the gun out of the drawer. She used a paper clip in the lock to open it. I saw her do it.”

“So you’re saying Fawn stole the gun from your dad’s desk?” asked Angel softly.

“She did. And Pa didn’t know. Pa was sleeping with his head on the desk.”

“And then what happened?” asked the detective scribbling in his book.

“Then she screamed out she was going to kill him. She held the gun up and I tried to stop her.”

“You did?” asked the detective. “How?”

“I pulled on her arm and the gun fell on the ground. Ma told me to give it to her and I picked it up. But I wouldn’t give it to her, since she wanted to kill Pa. She grabbed for it and I held on. Then the gun went boom and jumped in my hand. She fell on the floor and she bleeded a lot. It was so scary.”

“So why did you hide the gun, honey? Why didn’t you just tell someone what happened?” asked Angel.

“I didn’t want to get Pa mad. He told me never to touch his gun. I wanted to be a good boy. I wanted Pa to love me like he loves the other boys.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Angel pulled the boy to her and buried his head against her chest.

“Take them both away,” the sheriff said again. “Until we verify this as the truth I can’t take a chance.”

Thomas’s heart ached when he heard his son’s confession. And when the detective led Eli to the door to take him to the squad, Thomas wanted to kill someone for the first time in his life. They couldn’t do this to Eli. Couldn’t they see it was just an accident? Couldn’t they see the boy saved his life and had only remained quiet out of fear?

Fear of his own father, Thomas sullenly reminded himself. How could this have ever happened?

“I’m coming with,” announced Angel. “Dan, take care of the young ones, and please get word to Tillie that Gabby will have to stay at the Ainsleys for a while longer.”

“But the children can’t be left alone at a time like this,” Barb interjected.

“They’re not alone,” Angel argued. “Daniel is seventeen and well capable of watching his brothers until I return. Don’t give me a hard time, Barb. You know as well as I that I need to be there for Eli.”

“I’ll stay here and look after the kids,” Levi spoke up, and Thomas had almost forgotten he was there.

Angel looked up at Thomas and he just nodded.

“And you are . . .?” asked Bob, already taking notes on his notepad.

“I’m the boys’ uncle,” he said. “I just got in from -”

“He’s here visiting,” interrupted Angel, and for that Thomas was glad. No need to add fuel to the fire, telling CPS his brother was just released from prison.

“Well, then I guess he’ll suffice until you get back, Angel,” said Barb with her nose up in the air.

“Let’s get this over with,” said Thomas to the sheriff. “But you so much as harm my youngest son in any way and I’ll -”

“Thomas!” Angel shook her head.

“Not wise for a man in your position to threaten an officer of the law,” the sheriff reminded him.

Not wise at all, Thomas decided. But then again, Bert was the furthest thing from being considered the law that Thomas had ever seen. Still, if he was to help clear Eli’s name, he was going to have to curb his temper. He bit his tongue and allowed the sheriff to take him out to the squad for the second time since he’d met Angie.

* * *

Angel paced back and forth in the waiting room at the Sweet Water police department. She’d been in the interrogation room with Eli earlier, but he’d refused to talk unless Thomas was present.

So after they finished questioning Thomas, and against regulations, the detective had agreed to letting him be with Thomas, though the sheriff was obviously not happy about it. Still, they needed information and if Eli stopped talking again, this case could go unsolved for a long time. And being a small town, it seemed that procedure was never followed anyway.

Finally, about two in the morning the deputy opened the door and waved her in.

“Alright, Mrs. Taylor. You can have five brief minutes to talk to your husband and son.”

She didn’t argue about the short amount of time. She followed the man inside one door and through another large metal door that clicked shut with an automatic lock behind them.

“Thomas!”

Angel saw Thomas sitting on a hard wooden bench, his head laid back against the cold stone wall. Eli was on his lap, fast asleep, head snuggled up against Thomas’s chest.

Thomas looked worn and tired, and she knew the authorities must have questioned both of them until they could no longer think straight.

“Angie, are you still here?” Thomas asked wearily.

“Of course I am,” she said, slipping onto the bench beside him. “How is it going?”

“Not good. The tests came back verifying my gun was the murder weapon. They also ran the prints on the gun. They found mine of course, and also Fawn’s.”

“And that’s it?” she asked. “Was there anyone else’s prints on it?”

“Yeah. Eli’s. It looks like he was telling the truth, Angie. My son is in this predicament because he saved my life.” Thomas looked down to the boy and placed a small kiss atop his head.

“What’s going to happen? Are you going to be released now?” she asked.

“No. They’re keeping us here overnight. They’re giving us a short break and then the questioning will start up again.”

“They can’t keep you here, can they? This isn’t right. Eli’s so little. Don’t tell me they’re going to lock him in a cell?”

“This is a small town where the sheriff has everyone wrapped around his finger and scared of him,” he explained. “And Bert won’t be happy until they make up some charge to put me behind bars for a long time. He’ll do whatever he wants and no one’s going to stop him. I tried to tell the detective all about Bert and Fawn before Eli came in, but it looks like he’s taking Bert’s word over mine. There’s nothing we can do.”

“Your time’s up, Mrs. Taylor,” said the officer, coming to get her.

“But it hasn’t been five minutes yet,” she protested.

“The State’s Attorney will be here soon and wants to start questioning the boy.”

“At this hour? He’s been through too much,” Angel protested. “Can’t this wait another day?”

“I’m afraid not, Mrs. Taylor. These are serious charges against both your husband and step son. A woman has been murdered here and this isn’t going to be taken lightly.”

“She wasn’t murdered,” Angel corrected him. “It was in self-defense. It was an accident. You can’t treat them like this.”

“Honey,” said Thomas, holding out his hand. She took it and tried to hold back the tears. “Go on home and be there for the rest of the kids. They need you now. They need to know the truth that their father isn’t a murderer and neither is their little brother.”

“Oh, Thomas.” She looked at Eli sleeping so peacefully, and then at his father, holding on to him as if he never wanted to let go. “What’s going to happen?”

“I don’t know,” said Thomas, looking down to Eli. “But whatever it is, it’ll be God’s plan. We’ve just got to have faith. After all, I prayed for an angel and I got you, didn’t I?”

Angel didn’t know what to say. Thomas had been doubting himself for so long about his ability to father his sons, his loyalty to a son he didn’t even know if he’d fathered, and his doubts of their hasty marriage together. Now he seemed so calm and sure that things would work out, and she was the doubting one.

“Let’s go, Mrs. Taylor.” The cop nudged her on with just a shake of his head.

She got to the door and turned back to her husband. “I love you, Thomas,” she said with conviction.

He looked up, his eyes meeting hers, and within them she saw a certain sense of peace she’d never seen before.

“I know,” he said wearily, and then smiled. “I love you, too, Angie. So don’t ever forget it.”

* * *

The door to the cabin burst open as soon as Angel stepped foot out of the car. Tillie ran out to meet her, as well as Daniel and Sam.

“Tillie?” Angel asked, surprised to see her good friend at this hour. “What are you doing here?

“Oh, Angel, I came as soon as I heard. Are you all right?”

Tillie put her arm around Angel as they walked to the house.

“Where’s Gabby?” she asked, suddenly wondering if anyone was watching her child.

“She’s sleeping in your bed with Stacy. The Ainsleys are here too. Come on in and get some coffee and pastry.”

“How is Pa?” asked Dan as they made their way to the house.

“Tired,” she said. “They haven’t stopped questioning him yet.”

“How about Eli?” Sam asked eagerly.

“Sleeping in your father’s arms,” she said, trying to hold back a tear. Tillie saw and held her closer.

“Everything will be all right, Angel,” her friend assured her, “you’ll see. Just come on in and rest.”

“I can’t possibly rest knowing . . . knowing  . . . ”

“Knowing Eli killed Fawn?” asked Jake, popping up from somewhere in the darkness.

“Eli would never hurt anyone on purpose,” Sam spoke up. “You say that again and I’ll . . . ”

“Boys, enough!” said Angel. “Now, we don’t know anything yet. Not really. So go on and get some sleep. I’ll tell you as soon as I hear something.”

“Come on,” Dan said to his brothers. “Angel’s right. Pa wouldn’t want us to worry.”

She stepped inside to the smell of fresh brewed coffee and cinnamon rolls. Mrs. Ainsley was at the stove, and her husband was sitting at the table, the stump of his pipe clenched in his teeth. He was peering over the top of his glasses at a handful of cards. Thomas’s brother Levi sat next to him, Zeke across from him, and Josh next to Zeke, as they were engaged in a full blown game of Canasta. Clarence looked at the cards laid down around the table and then discarded an Ace of Spades.

“Ah,” said, Levi picking it up, the only card in the discard pile. “The card of death that brings me life. I’m going out.”

“What?” asked Zeke. “You’re going out of the game already?”

“I have a fifty point joker in my hand,” protested Josh.

Levi smiled and laid down a hidden Canasta of Aces and slapped a black three in the discard tray.

“By golly, you’re good,” said Clarence with an approving nod, laying down a handful of cards worth well over two hundred points that would be held against him.

“Well, there’s not much else to do in prison. I’ve become quite good at playing cards.”

“Prison?” asked Mrs. Ainsley, wiping her hands in her apron and looking over her shoulder.

“I thought you moved away like the rest of your brothers and just came back for a visit,” said Clarence.”

“Hard to believe that bit of gossip snuck by you two,” said Levi with a chuckle. “But I suppose you could say I’m visiting . . . from behind bars,” he added with a wink.

“I think it’s time we get going, Agnes,” said Clarence, collecting up the cards in a hurry.

“Yes, dear,” she said, heading for the door.