From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone (37 page)

Chapter Thirty-five

“How was school, bud?” For a moment as she walked beside Ryley to the truck, lost in her own thoughts, Maggie realized he failed to answer her. Maggie touched his slouched shoulder and gently shook. “Are you all right?”

A tear slid down his cheek when they reached the truck. He climbed in the passenger side. She glanced back at the crowd of kids and parents, who all hurried onto buses and into cars. She climbed in the driver’s side and shut the door before facing him.

When he turned his face toward her, tears filled both his eyes. “The kids at school were mean today. One of them said Dad’s a thief and you’re a drug addict. And God punished us and took Lily, and I’m next.” She froze and was positive her mouth gaped.

She didn’t think, she reacted. She grabbed Ryley’s hand and dragged him out of the truck and into school office and pounded like an insane woman on the front glass of the reception window.

The pert school secretary slid open the glass. “Mrs. McCafferty, what can I do for you?” The short squat woman sounded irritated.

“I need to see Jacob. Is he still here?”

Another teacher who lingered behind the secretary peeked in Jacob’s office. “Nope, not in right now. Hmm, I know he’s around somewhere. Oh, there he is.” She pointed briskly to the gymnasium behind Maggie.

She turned around, her hand still clasped around Ryley’s, and with each fury-filled step, she all but dragged Ryley alongside to where Jacob chatted with Mr. Harris, the gym teacher.

She didn’t wait for him to finish, she took in his thoughtful glance in her direction, and rudely interrupted his active discussion. “Jacob, I need to speak with you.”

“Mr. Harris, would you excuse us?” Jacob must have sensed Maggie was about explode as he placed his arm around her shoulders and guided her and Ryley to his office. He shut his office door and said nothing until she was seated beside Ryley.

“Something has obviously happened that has gotten you quite upset. You’re shaking, Maggie. What is it?”

He perched on the corner of his desk right in front of them.

“Ryley, tell Mr. Peterman what you just told me.”

Ryley’s face appeared stricken. He yanked his hand from hers and stared into his lap. His voice was hesitant. “I don’t want to get my dad and mom in trouble.”

“What? Why would you think, I don’t--”

Jacob reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “Maggie, would you let me talk to Ryley alone? I’ll see if I can get to bottom of whatever’s going on.” He didn’t wait for her reply. He helped her up and guided her out of his office to a chair in reception. “Just give us a minute. Sometimes it’s best if the parent isn’t there. You have my word this won’t go anywhere.” She sat, shunned by her own son, as the door clicked closed. The big industrial clock mounted on the wall above her head ticked on while students and staff bustled in the office and past the glass window of the front office. Ten minutes slipped by before the Jacob’s office door popped open, and he poked his head out.

“Maggie, come in.” The executioner’s song played in the back of her mind as she slinked back in and scooted her seat beside a solemn Ryley. He wouldn’t look at her, instead he kept his eyes down and twiddled his thumbs until Jacob sat across from him. He then shifted a hopeful glance at Jacob, not her.

“Ryley and I had quite a talk. I understand why you’re so upset. I’ve explained to Ryley I will be contacting the parents of this other child who said those hurtful words. We have no tolerance at this school for what was said to Ryley. It was malicious, and I’ll be taking this on.” Jacob gently touched the top of Ryley’s head. “I explained to Ryley how proud I am he came forward. That this is in fact bullying and will
not
be tolerated. Ryley, give your mom and me a moment please.” He patted Ryley’s back as he slipped past him. Her heart hammered in her throat when Jacob closed the door and sat beside her in Ryley’s chair.

“Maggie.” He reached for her hand and gently squeezed. “Don’t panic. Just let me say I know you and Richard have gone through hell. And if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone or drop in and see me. I know you’re upset. And I don’t want you to get mad at Ryley. But you should know you scared him.”

“How did I scare him?”

Jacob squeezed her hand. “Maggie, it’s not about today. I already suspected you were taking anti-depressants. But I didn’t realize you were in trouble. Ryley told me you didn’t function, you took pills to sleep, and he couldn’t wake you at night, and you took pills in the morning. He said he would try and talk to you, and you wouldn’t hear him.” She tried to interrupt, but Jacob held up his hand to stop her. “Maggie please, just listen. I’m not lecturing you. I do understand what you’ve gone through is any parent’s worst nightmare. I already know whatever you and Richard have done now, you are doing the right thing. You’ve pulled it together. Most parents who’ve suffered the kind of loss you did don’t. But you have, and I understand you and Richard are back together giving Ryley stability. You’re putting your family back together. I’m just telling you the kind of fear Ryley’s lived with will impact him. But the decisions you make now will determine his outcome. I do need to ask you a question about something Ryley commented on about his dad. Is Richard in trouble? Is he under investigation for theft? Before I call these parents, I’d like to know everything.”

Her mind whirled, her tongue thickened, and words stuck in her throat. “Richard’s not a thief, he’s a good man. I don’t know where this accusation came from, but there are no criminal charges against my husband.” She flushed from Jacob’s scrutiny. His face then closed down as he let go of her hand, slipped out of his chair, and opened the door.

“As I said earlier, I’ll not let this matter drop. I’ll be in touch. Ryley, here’s your mom. I think you two should stop at the beach on the way home. Ryley, my door’s always open. Everything’s going to be fine. Remember your mom’s a fine person, you guys have come a long way together, and your mom really loves you.” This time Jacob didn’t touch her. He excused himself, went into his office, and shut the door.

Ryley trailed her out of the school, a step behind as if afraid he was in trouble. She too wanted to slink away as that old childhood rhyme chimed in her head,
Liar, liar, pants on fire
. And imagined Jacob was singing it now.

Chapter Thirty-six

“How did it go with Sam?”

Richard poured himself a glass of red wine. Then leaned across the kitchen table and refilled Maggie’s glass.

“Productive, enlightening. But I don’t know what Sam thinks he can do. Dan and I have a contract, a good lawyer could null and void its existence, but I don’t have that chunk of change to pay a good lawyer’s retainer. Sam’s tying together a few different angles that hopefully I’ll be able to use to cut ties and at least obtain enough money back to keep us afloat until I can find a way to sell that property.”

Maggie sipped her wine wondering if she should tell Richard what happened at school. He must have seen the worry etched in her forehead because he traced his finger across her brow and down her cheek.

“Something’s bothering you. What is it?”

She didn’t want to look at him. He read her so well.

He reached for her hand. “Maggie, come on, no more secrets.”

She swirled her glass of wine. “Something happened at school today. Please don’t get mad.” He pulled his hand away and leaned one arm over the back of his chair, placing his other on the table. It was his way of preparing himself, and he would most likely launch himself out of the chair and pace when she told him.

“Just tell me what’s going on.”

She stared at the red liquid in her glass wondering how to tell him a cleaner version of what Ryley heard. “Something happened at school. A kid told Ryley I’m a drug addict, you’re a thief, and God was punishing us and took Lily away.”

She was right. He launched out of the chair which tilted back on the floor with a loud crash. “Where would some kid get that kind of information?”

She shook her head and sipped her wine as her husband paced, while fisting his hands.

“Who is this kid? Who’re his parents?”

“Richard, I spoke with Jacob. He’s handling this. I don’t know who the kid is, I didn’t find out.”

Richard stalked out of the kitchen. “Ryley!” he shouted.

“Yeah, Dad?” Maggie could hear the tremble in her son’s voice.

“Come on down here now! Did something happen today at school you forgot to tell me about?”

Maggie abandoned her wine and wandered into the living room where Richard stood at the bottom of the stairs and motioned for Ryley to hurry up. Her boy appeared to wobble with each step. Even she was wary of the control her husband wielded. He was the head of this family, and he made that clear time and again.

Ryley appeared to shrink as he stood before his father.

Richard placed his hand on Ryley’s shoulder and looked down upon his son. “Come on, Ryley. If there’s one thing you and I do, we tell the truth… don’t start hiding things from me now.”

Ryley peered solemnly up at his dad and said nothing.

“Let me help you out, son. Did some kid at school verbally attack me and your mom?”

Ryley nodded. “She said some bad things Dad, about you and Mom. She knew about Mom taking pills, and said you were a thief. But you’re not, why would she say that?” Ryley’s voice trembled.

“Who is this kid who said these things? I want a name, Ryley.”

“Mr. Peterman said he was going to handle it, and he thought it might be better if I didn’t say.” Ryley’s voice cracked, and he really was shaking.

Richard took a step back and planted both his hands on his hips. His mouth parted when he breathed out his rising temper. “Let me tell you something, Ryley. Jacob Peterman does not have a voice in my house or over you for that matter. I asked you to name this kid. And that’s exactly what you’re going to tell me now.”

Maggie covered her mouth and flattened her hand against her lips. Ryley glanced over at her as if pleading for help. “Your dad’s right. Jacob had no right telling you to keep this from us. You need to tell us who this child is.”

Ryley pursed his lips and stubbornly shook his head. A smaller version of his father. Richard raised his fists high in the air and roared. Ryley jumped back, and this time she hurried to his side and pulled him close. “Richard, stop this madness. You’re scaring us.” She turned her back on him, and with both hands on Ryley’s shoulders, she peered into blue eyes that appeared too old to be a child’s. “Why won’t you tell us this girl’s name?”

“Because I don’t want Dad to get in anymore trouble.”

She was confused as she stared at Ryley and then realized why he worried. “Ryley, do you think your dad is going to go over there and confront this child’s parents or fight with them?”

He shook his head in response.

“Then what is it?”

“I’m scared Dad will get hurt once he knows. She’s the daughter of a congressman. And kids at school have said he could hurt you and Dad.”

She locked eyes with Richard and frowned because they both knew then who they were dealing with.

“Fred White, our elected congressman. His family lives here. It’s his daughter, isn’t it. Ryley?”

Ryley gazed up at his dad. “Yes, and her name is Rhonda.”

Richard shut his eyes as if he’d heard the worst news possible. And this time when looked at her, his face was filled with regret. “If the rumors are true about him, he’s a dirty player in politics. Has a way of hacking up everybody’s skeletons. But why is he focused on us?”

Chapter Thirty-seven

The banging on the front door, along with Daisy’s growl and bark, shook Maggie awake. The bedside lamp clicked on and filled the dark room with a hazy orange glow. “Is someone at the door, girl?” She rolled over and blinked.

Richard pulled on his pants. “Stay here; I’ll see who it is.”

The pounding sounded as if someone was trying to break down the front door. And Daisy was now growling and scratching at the door. She bolted out of bed and yanked on her thin purple housecoat, trailing after Richard. Car headlights flooded through the living room window.

“Hold on, I’m coming!” Richard shouted.

“Open up!” Someone shouted again. Richard yanked open the front door and bent over holding Daisy by the collar. Bright headlights blinded her as she darted down the stairs. What looked like three large men loomed in the doorway, and it wasn’t until she reached Richard’s side that she realized they were uniformed officers.

“What’s going on, Richard?” He jumped when Maggie touched his arm, his whole body annoyed by her presence.

“I don’t know yet. Hey fellas, it’s the middle of the night, what’s going on?” Of course coming from Richard, it sounded sarcastic.

“Mr. McCafferty, we’re going to ask you to come with us.”

“Maggie, take the dog.”

She grabbed Daisy’s collar and dragged her into Richard’s study and closed the door. Daisy barked and scratched the door.

She raced back, and Richard was shaking his head. “No, I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.”

“Richard McCafferty, please turn around and put your hands on your head. One of the officers roughly turned him around and shoved him bare chested against the open door. The other deputy read him his rights. She tried to stop the officer from cuffing him, but the third officer grabbed her roughly and shoved her back into the house.

“What are you doing? You can’t just show up and arrest my husband! And for what? You haven’t told us why!”

“For murder, ma’am. Your husband is under arrest for the murder of Dan McKenzie.”