Out of the Shadows (Bellingwood Book 12) (12 page)

"Me too!" Heath exclaimed. "I've always loved cars. Dad promised me and Hayden that when we got old enough he would buy an old muscle car for us to all work on together." He dropped his shoulders. "That never happened, though."

"You don’t have to keep working in the barn," Polly said. "Just because you live here doesn’t mean you have to work here, too. "

"I know." Heath shrugged. "It wasn't my place to complain. You guys were doing all of this stuff for me and Hayden told me I need to suck it up for a while. But when you let me drive last weekend and were so good about me hanging out with him in Ames, and then you didn't freak out when I was late this week, he said maybe I could ask about looking for a different job."

Henry looked at Polly and then said, "How hard will you work?"

"I'll do anything. I'm strong. I've been hefting hay bales for the last two months."

Polly squeezed Henry's hand. When he glanced at her, she nodded.

"I have several ideas," Henry said. "But they aren't just one job and you'll be all over the place."

"Anything. I'll do anything. I really want to get a car."

"Okay. Here's what I can do for you," Henry started. "We need extra help in quite a few places and you're going to have to work out a schedule so you can do everything. First of all, I want you to go see Mr. Greyson at the inn tomorrow morning. He's been working with Eliseo to clear a space for a small ice rink at the hotel. He needs someone to level the ground, haul dirt, all sorts of things. Then, we're getting busier at work and I could use someone after school. You'll be a gopher, nothing more. The guys will tell you what to do and how to do it and you'll have to pay attention. It won't be easy work and sometimes they won't be easy to get along with, but the pay is good."

"Are you kidding? I'll do it. I'll do it all!"

"But there's one more thing," Henry warned.

"Okay?"

"You're going to need a vehicle."

Heath slumped in the chair. "I know. That's why I can't get a job in Boone, I don't have a way to get there."

"If you work for me, I'll provide a truck for you. It's not here right now, but Polly's old truck is coming back to us next week. You and I will work out gas. When you're driving for me, I'll pay for it, but you'll pay for your own miles. And as part of driving this truck, you're going to learn how to do the work on it. Nate's shop is down the road and we'll teach you what's going on under the hood. You and I will split the cost for parts - for oil and filters. And as for insurance, I've already put you on our policy, but I want you to pay the difference between now and adding another vehicle. Seem fair?"

Heath had sat back in his chair while Henry talked, making room for Han to join him. He wasn't paying attention to the dog, but absentmindedly stroked Han's head. "Are you serious?" He looked at Polly for her reaction.

She smiled. "If you drive the truck to school, I want you to ask Jason if he'd like a ride," she said quietly.

"Donovan? Why?"

"Because he hates taking the bus as much as you. And both of you have to get back to Bellingwood for afternoon jobs. There's no reason to stay in Boone after school, is there?"

"No, but..."

"But nothing," Henry said. "That's part of the deal. And you can't have other kids in your truck for a while. For that you need to build up trust with us. If you can handle this responsibility, we'll revisit that conversation, but for now, this is what you've got. Any questions?"

Heath sat for a moment, staring off into space. "If I buy a car that needs work, will you let me do that here?"

"No," Henry said with a smile, shaking his head. "But we can talk to Nate about parking it at his shop. When you have free time and if one of us is there, you can work on it. You'll like that place. He's got cool tools."

"Someday I want to work in a garage," Heath said. "That would be so awesome. There's nothing better than listening to an engine purr."

"Gearheads," Polly said. "I'm surrounded by gearheads. But one of the first things you're doing with that truck is painting it. I'll pay for that myself. I will not have that thing in my driveway looking the way it does now."

"What's wrong with it?" Heath asked.

Henry shook his head and grinned. "She has ugly feelings about that truck. It's the one used by the serial killer last spring."

"Oh!" Heath said, his eyes growing big. "I don't know if that's cool or creepy."

"Creepy," Polly echoed. "It's creepy. If you want to change the seats in it, I'm fine with that, too."

"We'll take care of it," Henry said. "Don't worry. So what do you think, Heath? Does this sound like a plan?"

Heath sat up and put his hand out, startling Han. "It's a great plan. Thank you."

Henry shook it. "Talk to Grey and find out how many hours he wants. Then, you and I will put together out schedule. Look at your school calendar and decide what types of things you want to do and when you'll need to be free. I don't want to stop you from having fun with your friends, but I want you to be deliberate about this. If there are extra-curricular activities you should be participating in, tell us. Don't miss out on high school because you need a car. Hayden played basketball and look where that got him. A scholarship and a lot of good buddies."

"I'm not like him," Heath said. "I was never into sports and I don't have a lot of buddies. At least not anymore." His head shot up after he heard what he said. "And I'm glad about that. Those guys weren't good for me. I wasn't complaining."

"You're fine," Henry said. "It's late and tomorrow is the start of another day."

"Do I need to tell Eliseo?" Heath asked.

Henry glanced at Polly.

"That’s the right thing to do," she said. "I could do it for you, but when you resign from a job, it's best if you're up front about it. Eliseo knows that you've had a rough time of it. He'll understand."

That knocked some of the wind out of his sails, but he smiled when he lifted Han to the floor and stood up. "Thank you guys. I know you’ve been trying to let me tell you that I want another job, but tonight Libby told me I just needed to be done."

Before Polly could open her mouth to ask about Libby, he was already walking away. She waited for him to clear the threshold into the living room. "I hate that," she said under her breath.

"What?" Henry asked.

"I wanted to ask more questions about Libby. My opening came and went in a split second. Dang."

"He's finally talking to us, Polly. It will come again."

"You were great with him," Polly said. "Thank you."

"He made it easy. We'll see if he can hold up. It's a lot to take on."

"At least he isn't getting yelled at and disrespected every time he walks into the house," she said. "He's finally starting to relax. Can you imagine how bad things had to have been getting?"

"You're right, but he's never had to be responsible for this much. It makes me nervous."

"Why don't we deal with that when it comes up?" Polly poked his side "Aren't you always the one telling me to be patient?"

Henry grabbed her hand and pulled her close, kissing her lips. "Don't you throw my words back at me, missy-girl. I'll have to make you pay."

"Oh horrors," she said. "Whatever will I do?"

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Unless you have a really good reason, I’m not smiling.” Rebecca was slumped over the table, still in her pajamas when Polly came into the dining room.

She was surprised that everyone was already up. Heath's hair was wet from the shower and he was dressed and ready for the day.

"What's the plan for today?" Polly asked.

"Heath's already been out," Henry said, pointing at the window. Rain was coming down in torrents.

"Out there? Why?" Polly asked.

Henry nodded to Heath, who responded. "I went down to talk to Eliseo as soon as I saw him drive in. I didn't want to wait."

Polly smiled. "And?"

"He was cool. Told me that if I needed anything, he was always around. I offered to work this morning since it was so last minute and he said he had plenty of help. So I came back."

"He was back and showered before I came out," Henry said. "We're making breakfast. French toast and sausage casserole. That's in the oven and will be ready in ten minutes."

"Why are you up, little miss?" Polly asked Rebecca, rubbing the girl's back.

"Stupid cats," Rebecca mumbled.

Polly laughed. "Their morning playtime? Don't you love it?"

"No. They played all over my bed until I finally got up."

"That's why you don't take the cats to bed with you," Polly said, moving her fingers up to massage Rebecca's neck.

"I'll remember that. They kept me warm last night, though. The bottom of Leia's paws are like little furnaces."

Henry handed Polly a mug of coffee. "Here's your go-go juice. Drink up. You look rough. I thought you slept well last night. What's up?"

"You fell asleep long before I did," Polly said. "I don't know what my problem was. There weren’t any nightmares."

"Might have had something to do with that nap you had about nine thirty."

"Don't let me do that again, then. It's your fault."

Henry nodded. "After breakfast, Heath and I are headed out. Since it's raining so hard, I'm going to run him over to the inn to talk to Grey and then I want him to meet Nate and see the shop. I’ll check with Aaron and see if they'll release the truck to us today."

"Wow." Polly sat down in a chair beside Rebecca. "I don't have near that many plans. Rebecca and I are thinking that there might be several naps today, right?"

"Uh huh." Rebecca still hadn't lifted her head out of her arms on the table.

"How's your noggin this morning?" Polly asked.

"It's throbbing and I don't want to open my eyes. I just want to take a pain killer and go back to bed."

Polly leaned in. "Are you interested in breakfast?"

"It smells kind of good," Rebecca whispered back.

"You nut." Polly laughed and stroked her hand through Rebecca's hair. "You can go back to bed after breakfast. Are you up for your lesson at Beryl's?"

Rebecca lifted her shoulders. "I don't know."

"If you get another couple hours of sleep, maybe you'll be in better shape. We'll see how you feel."

Heath put butter and syrup on the table beside the stack of plates and silverware. "OJ?" he asked Rebecca. When she didn't respond, he looked at Polly.

"Hey missy, he's talking to you," Polly said.

Rebecca lifted her head. "What? Oh sorry. Yes, please."

He filled a glass and put it down in front of her. "You look worse this morning than you did yesterday."

"Thanks," she said with a grimace. "That's just what a girl likes to hear." Rebecca dropped her head back into her arms. "But I feel worse today, too."

"The doctor said you might," Polly reminded her. "This is going to pass. I promise."

"Am I being a drama queen?" Rebecca asked.

Henry's shoulders shook as he flipped the French toast on the griddle. Heath turned so no one could see him grin.

"A little bit," Polly said. "But we'll let you get away with it this morning. This afternoon will be a different story. Okay?"

"Maybe I'll be dead by then. A cool, dark coffin," Rebecca said. "That would be okay." She lifted her head enough to wink at Polly.

Heath brought the hot casserole dish to the table and placed it on a dish towel he'd folded. Henry handed him a spatula and Heath set it in front of Polly.

"Plates," Henry said. "I need plates."

Heath grabbed up the stack and put them on the counter beside the stove. Before long, they were back on the table in front of everyone's place.

"Sit up straight," Polly said to Rebecca. "No slouching at the table."

Rebecca sat up and pulled her chair in closer, then leaned on the arm of her chair and picked at her French toast.

Polly dished up the sausage and egg casserole and sat back to enjoy what she had. "This is a great breakfast, guys. I like Saturday mornings with you all." She grinned at Heath. "Especially when you two cook. Thank you." She tapped Rebecca's hand. "Tell them thank you and sit up and eat."

"Thank you," Rebecca said. She pulled herself up and promptly placed an elbow on the table, resting her head in her hand.

"Honey, if you don't want to eat now, you can be excused," Polly said. "But either sit up and eat with the rest of us or go on back to bed. You can have leftovers later."

"Really?" Rebecca asked.

"Really. Go to bed. Shut the door so you aren't bothered by the animals."

"Thanks." Rebecca pushed her chair back and started out of the room. "It smells good. Sorry."

"Is she going to be okay?" Heath asked.

Polly nodded. "She'll be fine. It's going to take time for her to heal."

"Polly's seen much worse in the last couple of years," Henry said, smiling across the table at her. "I think she asks for people to beat her up just for the sympathy."

"You've been beaten up?" Heath asked, his eyes huge. "In Bellingwood?"

"A few times," Polly said. "And you and your buddies thought you might get physical with me and Mr. Greyson."

Heath dropped his head. "I'm sorry." He put his fork down and the excitement of the morning drained out of him.

"Wait," Polly said. "I shouldn't have teased you about that. It's in the past, right?"

"Uh huh."

"My only point was that stuff happens in Bellingwood like anywhere else. I didn't mean to tear you down. You're doing a very good job of turning your life around."

"I can't believe we were so stupid," Heath said. He put his hand over his mouth and gulped. "And I can't believe Ladd killed those girls. It makes me sick when I think about it. I didn't know how to stop him."

Henry reached over and put his hand on Heath's arm. "Son, when a life is as out of control as yours was, sometimes you can't see what's right in front of you. We don't blame you for what happened. You need to stop blaming yourself."

"Other people blame me," Heath said, his head still down. He couldn't bring himself to look into Polly and Henry's faces. "Sometimes they still talk about it at school. How I should have told someone about Ladd. But there wasn't anybody to tell. Who was going to listen? Hayden was the only person who cared and he was hundreds of miles away. Then they took my phone away and the only time I could talk to him was on Sunday nights with them in the room." He shook his head and pulled deeper into himself. "It's like it was all some black nightmare. I didn't think I was ever going to wake up." He let out a breath. "I can't believe those people are my relatives. I never want to see them again."

"I hope you never have to," Polly said. "And as for the kids at school, there is no way that you can un-hear what they say to you or about you. Bullies won't go away, they will probably always be part of your life."

Henry interrupted. "You should hear some of the things people say about Polly here in town."

"I have," Heath said with a nod and then very quietly, "I said some of them."

"But it doesn't stop her from being who she is, does it?" Henry asked.

"No, but I'm not as nice as Polly."

Polly grinned. "See, Henry. I'm nice."

He chuckled. "Yes you are. Heath, you can make choices every day about what kind of person you want to be. Your character is a result of your own behavior, not what anyone else does."

"Uh huh," Heath said.

"Getting too philosophical?" Polly asked.

Heath looked up with a small smile.

"Eat more of this great breakfast you and Henry made," she said. "It sounds like you have a big day ahead."

"What about you?" Henry asked. "Big plans?"

Polly shook her head. "Nah. Rebecca and I will probably stay here. I'm going to cancel her lesson with Beryl. Andrew and Kayla's arrival this afternoon will probably be enough activity for the day.”

~~~

"Grey?" Polly called out when she walked into the lobby. He didn't immediately pop up from behind the counter, so she called again. "Grey?"

"Good afternoon, Miss Polly," Grey said, coming out from his apartment. "How are you this rainy afternoon?"

"I got cabin fever," she said. "The kids are all snuggled up in front of the television with the animals and I had to get out." She lifted the tote bag she'd carried in. "We made a shepherd's pie for lunch and I always make two, so I thought maybe you'd eat the second."

"That would be wonderful." He had come out from behind the counter to walk beside her and took the tote from her hands. "There's more than just a shepherd's pie in here."

"I made homemade bread, too. There's nothing like the smell of bread baking to warm up a house."

"This is a very generous gift," Grey said. "Thank you. I will enjoy it. Come on in to the apartment. I have coffee if you'd like it."

Polly followed him. "I've had plenty for the day," she said. "But I'd take a glass of ice water."

"Ice water for the lovely lady." He put the tote on the floor and held a chair for her at the kitchen table.

This was her father's table and it felt odd to see it in another's home. She wouldn't want it anywhere else; it just felt odd to sit at it with someone else.

Grey filled a glass and put it in front of her, then took the bread and pie out of the tote and placed them on the counter. "I have pastries from the bakery," he said. "That has been a wonderful treat for our guests in the mornings. We don't often have much left over, but Mrs. Donovan makes extras on Saturdays and Sundays. Those are usually our busiest mornings."

Polly nodded. Adding Sylvie's baked goods for a continental breakfast had been Grey's genius idea. Guests could tell that they were fresh from the oven and they'd received rave reviews for that one simple addition.

"Has the sheriff cleared out Jeremy Booten's room?" she asked.

"Not completely," Grey responded. "They continue to treat it as a crime scene."

"Was his camera gear here? His computer?"

"Yes, the computer was still there, but the cameras are gone. I suspect that when they find the young man's car, they will also find the cameras. Those were very fancy pieces of equipment. He’d converted one to see across the visible spectrum, from ultraviolet to infrared and everything in between." He gave her a conspiratorial look. "Just between you and me, I believe that he was searching for a lost cause, but maybe he found something and then it found him."

"I hope not," Polly said, her body reacting to the thought with a shudder. "Did he ever say anything to you about the Springer House here in town?"

"He did," Grey replied. "In the weeks before he died he spent time with an elderly gentleman who knew a great deal about the house."

"Rebecca and I met him yesterday. He knows a lot about Muriel Springer, her death and the surrounding mystery. Whether or not any of it is true remains to be seen," Polly said.

"Young Jeremy hoped to spend a night in the house if he could get permission. I do remember that he was having difficulty with that. No one in town knew how to contact the owner. Barring that, I don't know about his intentions. He did mention that the ghost was rumored to rise at dawn. He was often up before daybreak. He came back to his room during the brightest part of the day and then would be gone late into the nights." Grey smiled at her. "I don't like to wait up for the guests, but I generally see automobiles coming and going throughout the night. Bellingwood is very quiet and there is not much traffic on these roads. One or two cars gets a person's attention."