Righteous Obsession (21 page)

“That’s all right, Dave.  We just sat down this
moment.  Would you say the blessing please?”

Father Michaels recited the blessing before meals then
they passed around the food and ate.

“How’s your course in Italian going?”  Caitlin asked.

Since moving back home, Father Michaels had been
taking an accelerated language course at the University that would enable him
to speak Italian fluently by the time he left for Rome.

He smiled broadly and said, “Excellent!  I don’t mean
to brag, but my instructor says I have a rare gift for languages.  Of course,
it’s easy when we speak only Italian from the minute we enter the classroom,
but I also had a very easy time with Latin in the Seminary, if you recall.  If
there’s time enough, my instructor is encouraging me to take his accelerated
course in Greek.  He says that will also be a great help to me in Rome.”

“That wonderful, Dave!  We’re so proud of you!” 
Kathleen gushed.

“I can definitely predict that you’re going to go far
in the Church,” Jeff added proudly.

Kathleen Michaels’ expression sobered suddenly and she
sighed.  “I had a phone call from Theresa Simpson today and she was absolutely
distraught.  I didn’t even know how to begin to comfort her.”

“Is her daughter worse?”  Jeff asked.

“She told me she found a diary her daughter kept,
detailing all of her carnal exploits!”  Kathleen continued, ignoring Jeff’s
question.  “Theresa said it was unbelievably filthy and terribly lewd!”

“And that lewd lifestyle is undoubtedly what put her
where she is now!”  Father Michaels declared self-righteously.

Annoyed by the judgmental tone Dave was taking towards
his former student, Caitlin asked, “Did she give it to the police, Mom?  It
might have some clue as to her assailant.”

“Heaven’s no!  She destroyed it.  She said she
couldn’t imagine what kind of a mother the police would think she was if they
read that horrible thing!  I thought I’d spend some time with her tonight and
try to offer her some comfort.  Would you go with me, Dave?”

“I’m sorry, Mother, but I have to study in the
language lab tonight.  We’re having an oral exam tomorrow and I want to do my very
best.”

“I can’t imagine who would do such a terrible thing!” 
Jeff said, shaking his head.  He looked at his wife and asked, “Did Mrs.
Simpson say if the police had any suspects?”

“They’re checking out that rock star, Colin Matthews. 
I think he’s their main suspect right now and deservedly so!”  Kathleen replied
coldly.

“That doesn’t make sense, Mom.  Why would he want to
kill a girl he didn’t even know?”  Caitlin asked.

“He did know her – carnally!”  Father Michaels said.

“Was that in her diary, too?”  Jeff inquired.

“No.  Apparently, she didn’t get around to recording
her last lewd encounter…” Kathleen began, but was interrupted by her husband.

“How do you know he slept with her then?”

“Because one of my former students, who helped us with
our picket, saw them coming out of Matthews’ hotel the next morning.”  Father
Michaels revealed.  “He said Debbie was attired lewdly and from the way they
were behaving; it was obvious what had gone on.  He was still shocked when he
told me about it!”

“I knew from the first he was only interested in
getting his filthy hands on as many young girls as possible!”  Kathleen
proclaimed.

“Kate, that’s not fair,” Jeff protested.  “She may
have stayed in the same hotel and ran into him in the lobby or the restaurant. 
Nobody knows anything for sure and we shouldn’t indulge in idle gossip.”

“You seem awfully anxious to take his side of things!”
Kathleen said caustically.

“Daddy’s right, Mom.  That isn't proof they slept
together,” Caitlin argued, defending her father.  She was uneasy about the
increasing tension she sensed between her parents since the Unforgiven
concert.  “Why don’t we change the subject?”

“A good idea,” Father Michaels concurred.  “One of my
former instructors at the Seminary, who’s since retired to Florida, heard about
my posting to Rome.  He invited me to vacation at his home on the Gulf Coast of
Florida the last two weeks in July.  Since I’ve been working so hard at my
language studies I decided a short vacation would be just the ticket.”

“That sounds like fun, Dave,” His father remarked. 
“I’ve heard they have some excellent deep-sea fishing there.”

“You will be coming back here before you leave for
Rome?”  Kathleen asked her tone uncertain.

“Of course, Mother,” He replied in a dismissive tone. 
“I wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye.”

Caitlin was becoming very annoyed with her brother for
his growing conceit, his self-centeredness and for his total lack of compassion
for anybody who didn’t measure up to his standards.  It also appeared to her
that he was exploiting the tension between their parents.

Before he went to the language lab, Father Michaels
stopped at a phone and called the airline to make reservations to New Orleans
for the last two weeks in July.  That should give him more than enough time to
track Colin down and kill him.  Only then could he leave for Rome with a clear
conscience.

Colin sat on the stage in the empty Rosemount Horizon
Arena in Chicago where Unforgiven was playing that evening.  He was alone except
for McGregor and Steve.  Both crews were taking their supper breaks.  He was
fooling with his acoustic guitar, working on a chord progression for a song he
was writing.  It had been giving him trouble and he’d finally gotten it worked
out so it sounded like what he was hearing in his head.

“Colin?”

He turned and saw Steve, accompanied by another man,
coming from the side of the stage.  “What’s up, Steve?”

Colin, I’d like you to meet Detective Paul Madison. 
He’s from the Brunville, Minnesota police force and needs to ask you some
questions.”

He nodded.  “Sure.”  He got up and carefully placed
his acoustic guitar in its stand.  “What can I do for you, Detective?”

“Colin,” Steve interrupted.  “Maybe, I should get a
lawyer before you speak to the detective.”

Colin looked at Madison.  “Will I need one?”

“I don’t believe so, but if you feel more comfortable
having a lawyer present I can certainly wait.”

He knew Alethea would be flying in shortly and he
didn’t want to take a chance on missing her arrival.  He shook his head and
said, “Don’t bother, Steve.”

“Alright,” Steve agreed, but still looked doubtful. 
“I’ll be backstage.  Call me if you need me.”  He left, shaking his head. 
Colin never would listen to good advice!

“Do you know Debra Simpson, Colin?”

“Yeah, I met her at our concert in Minneapolis.  She’s
a real nice kid.  Why?”

“Somebody attacked her two nights ago and attempted to
strangle her.  She’s hospitalized in intensive care right now and her prognosis
is uncertain.”

“My God!”  The color drained out of Colin’s face.  He
went to sit down on the drum riser, and would have missed it and fallen, but
for Madison catching his arm.

“Are you all right?”

Colin nodded.  “Yeah, thanks.”  He sat.  “I can’t
believe it!  Who’d want to hurt her – wait!  You think I did it, don’t you?”

“As a matter of fact, no.  I’ve already checked on
your whereabouts of two nights ago and the promoter of your concert in Cedar
Rapids, Iowa confirms that you performed at the Four Seasons Arena.”

“Then why are you here?”

“We have a witness who saw you and Miss Simpson
leaving your hotel the morning after the concert and thought she’d spent the
night with you.”

“She was pretty shaky after almost being run down…”

“Run down?”

Colin quickly explained about the car that had tried
to run them down and hit McGregor.  Anticipating that Madison would want the
name of the investigating officer, Colin dug through his wallet, found the card
and gave it to Madison who copied the information into his notebook.  “She
broke down from shock, I guess, and then all this other stuff she’d been
keeping locked inside, came pouring out, too.  She was so upset that I didn’t
think she was in any condition to drive so I let her stay in my bodyguard’s
room.  I bought her breakfast the next morning and walked her out to her car.”

“What about this?”  Madison asked, taking out the
sheet of hotel stationery, encased in plastic, and giving it to Colin.  “We
found this among Miss Simpson’s personal effects.”

“The number is my cell number. I gave her those
because she was having a rough time at home and was talking about running
away.  I convinced her not to and gave her those so she could call me if she
needed to talk or needed help.”

“I admire you for doing this, but why do you care
about somebody you’re never going to see again?”

Colin sighed.  “I was in Los Angeles recently and
there are hundreds of homeless kids, roaming the streets.  I’d guess about a
third of them will probably be dead within a year.  I know the police, the
social agencies and the shelters can only do so much.  I swore right then if I
ever sensed a fan of ours might be heading for the streets I’d do everything in
my power to turn them around.”

“Did Miss Simpson say or indicate to you in any way
that she was afraid of someone?  I know I’m reaching here, but none of the
people who know her well can offer any reason why somebody would want to kill
her.”

Colin mulled over the conversations he’d had with
Debbie, starting from when she had caught up to him and McGregor through the
next morning.  His eyes widened suddenly.  “Yeah, there were a couple of things
that stick in my mind, now that you mention it!  After that car that tried to
run us down sped off, I was going to go see how badly McGregor was hurt.  She
grabbed my arm and told me not to because ‘he’ and she specifically said ‘he’
might come back.”

“You’re thinking she may have known the driver?”

“I’d lay odds on it.  The other thing was when I was
encouraging her to stay in school and she agreed since she only had a year left
and said it wouldn’t be bad because she wouldn’t have to see somebody.”

“Wouldn’t have to see whom?”

“I don’t know.  When I asked her about it, she brushed
aside my question and changed the subject.”

“Do you think she was afraid of someone?”

“I did get the impression she was really uneasy about
someone, but who I don’t know.  I know this isn’t much help to you.”

“Not in finding Miss Simpson’s assailant, no.”

“I wish I could be more help.”

“If you anything occurs to you that you think might be
important, please call me,”

 Madison
requested handing Colin one of his cards.  “Thanks for your help, Colin.”

After Madison had left, Colin remained on the stage,
staring out into the darkened arena.

“Colin, are you ready to head back to the hotel?” 
McGregor asked, coming up behind him.  He had just returned after being on a
short medical leave.  Colin and Steve had tried to convince him to take another
couple of weeks off, but McGregor felt he’d been away from his job long
enough.  Steve was uneasy about McGregor’s arm still being in a cast.  He
wanted to hire an additional security guard, but Colin talked him out of it. 
He liked the way McGregor dealt with the overly zealous fans and felt his size
alone was enough to discourage any would-be troublemakers.

“Yeah, Alethea’s plane will be coming in and I don’t
want her to get to the hotel and find me somewhere else.”

“You aren’t going to the airport to meet her?”

“No, we agreed I’d attract too much attention.”

When Colin got back to the hotel, he stopped at the
florist shop and bought a dozen long-stemmed red roses for Alethea.  He
returned to his room and laid the long, white florist box where she would see
it first thing then dialed information for Brunsville, Minnesota.   He was
easily able to obtain Diana Conrad’s phone number.  He dialed the number and
waited.

“Hello?”  The voice was young and female.

“May I speak to Diana, please?”

“This is she.”

“Diana, this is Colin Matthews.  I just heard about
Deb.  Is there anything I can do for her?”

“You must have ESP, Colin, because I was trying to figure
out how I could get in touch with you.”

“What’s wrong?”  Her explanation stunned him.  Mr. and
Mrs. Simpson had found out about Debbie sleeping with him, disowned her, and
refused to cover her hospital care.  Debbie’s transfer from her private hospital
to a county facility was imminent.  He told Diana he’d call her right back.  He
called the business office of the hospital and told them he’d be assuming the
responsibility for Debbie’s medical care.  He gave them the name of his bank
and his accountant so they could verify his financial status.  Next, he called
both his banker and accountant to tell them to expect a call from the hospital
and to give them whatever information they required.  Finally, he called Diana
to tell her he would be assuming the responsibility for the expense of Debbie’s
medical treatment.

“Why are you doing this?”  Diana asked, completely
stunned by his generosity.

“I want Debbie to get the best care so she’ll get
well.  My accountant’s informed me since our CD’s still in the top ten, I’m
fortunate enough that I won’t have any money worries for the rest of my life. 
It’s because of me that Deb’s parents did this and she shouldn’t have to suffer
for it.  Would you do me a favor, Diana?”

“Sure.”

“Would you call me immediately if there’s any change,
good or bad, in Deb’s condition?”  He gave Diana his cell number and she
promised to keep him posted on Debbie’s condition.  He hung up and sighed,
feeling totally drained.  He lay down, intending to rest for a short period but
fell into a restless sleep instead.  He was still sleeping when Alethea
arrived.

The first thing she saw was the white box with the big
bow on it.  She quickly opened the box and gave a small cry of pleasure when
she saw the roses then glanced at the card that read simply, ‘I Love You!’  She
turned to Colin who lay with his back to her.  His T-shirt had ridden up as he
slept.  She bent over him, intending to wake him, when she caught sight of the
faint scars on his back.  She pushed his T-shirt all the way up to discover
that it included a good portion of his back.  She quickly stepped away from the
bed, feeling as though a snake had bitten her.  It had and it was lying on the
bed in front of her.  Alethea rushed into the bathroom, slammed the door shut
and burst into tears.  How could Colin have slept with another woman?  She hurt
so badly that her entire body seemed to ache.  When she’d cried herself out,
she began to get angry.  How dare Colin treat her like this!  He’d probably
expect her to spread her legs as if nothing was any different!  Well, he was in
for a major shock!  She rifled through her purse looking for her cell and
finally found it.  She called the airport to confirm there was an evening
shuttle to Milwaukee, booked a seat on it and called a cab.  She came out,
picked up her bag and without looking at Colin, left the room.  She started
down the hall when she heard Liam calling her name.  She ignored him and
stepped into the elevator.  She was so angry that she didn’t want to see any
member of the Matthews family at all.

Liam stopped at the elevator, feeling puzzled and
somewhat hurt.  Alethea had cut him dead and it was very unusual for her. 
Something was definitely wrong, but he didn’t have a clue as to what it was.

Colin woke up shortly before they were due to leave
for the arena.  “Fuck it!”  He snarled when he saw the time.  He looked around
for Alethea, realizing he’d slept so soundly he hadn’t heard her come into the
room.  He saw neither her nor her luggage.  He wondered if her plane got
delayed and decided to check.  The airport confirmed that her plane had arrived
on schedule.  He was starting to worry when he noticed the open box, containing
the roses he’d bought for Alethea.  He felt even more confused now.  Noticing
the time, he jumped up, ran into the bathroom and hurriedly got ready.  There
was a knock on his door and Russ called, “Colin, we’re ready to leave.”

“Shit!”  Colin muttered, grabbing his jacket up and
leaving his room.  He started down the hallway when he heard Liam call his
name.  He stopped and waited for him to catch up to him.  “What’s up?”

“Did you and Alethea have a fight?”

“I haven’t even seen Alethea.  Is she here?”

“She was, but she left again.  I think something’s
wrong because she was acting really weird and she wouldn’t even speak to me.”

“She must have gone on to Milwaukee, but I don’t have
any idea what’s going on with her.  Maybe, something’s wrong at home.  I’ll
call her cell as soon as we get back,” Colin promised.

He called her cell, but all he got was her voicemail. 
He left a message asking her to call him back.  Alethea failed to return his
call and he decided to try calling her hotel the next morning, but was told
that she had checked out early that morning.  “Damn it to hell!”  Colin yelled,
throwing his cell phone down on the bed.  He tried Rock Hard, thinking she
might be at the office.  One of Alethea’s co-workers answered her phone.  Colin
identified himself and asked to speak to Alethea.

“No.  She had some vacation time coming and she was
going home to New Orleans, I think.”

“If she happens to call, would you ask her to call
me?  She knows how to reach me.”

“You bet!”

He hung up then dialed information for New Orleans and
obtained the phone number of Alethea’s parents.  He dialed the number and
crossed his fingers.  Alethea’s mother answered the phone.  “Hi, Mrs. Ford. 
This is Colin Matthews.  May I speak to Alethea?”

“I’m sorry, Colin, but Alethea’s busy right now.  Can
I take a message?”

“No.  I’ll try her cell.  Thanks.”  When he called her
cell he got her voicemail again.  He tried her parents’ number again in the
early evening, but she was unavailable for the entire evening.  Colin said he’d
try her tomorrow.  He hung up then picked up one of his hiking shoes and flung
it against the wall as hard as he could.  “Okay, that’s it!”  He snapped.  He
grabbed up the phone again and called O’Hare to find out when the next flight
to New Orleans was leaving.  When told there was a flight leaving at
nine-fifteen the next morning, Colin booked two seats.  He went down the hall
and pounded on McGregor’s door.  When he answered, Colin said, “Get your stuff
packed!  You and I are leaving for New Orleans tomorrow.”