Tides of Truth [03] Greater Love (34 page)

Driving Mrs. Fairmont’s car, I followed the logical route from the house to Forsyth Park and slowly circled the green area. There was no sign of Jessie or the bike. I repeated the circuit then parked near the water fountain and got out. It was getting darker and only a few people were walking in the park. I asked a woman if she’d seen a girl matching Jessie’s description on a bike. Her blank look made me realize interviewing random people would be pointless. If Jessie had decided to take off on the bike, she could be miles away in any direction. I drove slowly back to Mrs. Fairmont’s house.

Going into the den, I plopped down on the couch. Jessie’s disappearance didn’t make sense. Forty-eight hours earlier I might have expected her to run away. But I had no doubt about the strength of the young woman’s desire to stay with Mrs. Fairmont. I felt a pang of guilt that I’d been so harsh in the way I told Jessie there were no guarantees about her future. In my heart, I knew Mrs. Fairmont would probably let Jessie stay as long as she needed to.

All the practical ramifications of Jessie’s actions began to sink in. Her bond would be revoked, leaving Sister Dabney on the hook for ten thousand dollars that I knew she didn’t have. The generous plea bargain made by Jan Crittenden would go away. And Jessie would enter the criminal system as a fugitive with a felony warrant chasing her wherever she fled.

The first person I had to notify was Sister Dabney. Using my cell phone so the house line would be available for Mrs. Bartlett’s call, I dialed the number and waited. On the seventh ring, the woman preacher answered.

“Jessie’s gone,” I said.

“What happened?”

As I told Sister Dabney the background information, including what happened to Mrs. Fairmont, I fought back tears.

“Do you think Mrs. Fairmont is going to be okay? Has the Lord shown you anything about her future?”

“No. I’m going to pray Mrs. Fairmont will finish her race and not be tripped before crossing the line. You do the same.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I cleared my throat. “You know what Jessie’s disappearance means. The bond you posted guaranteeing her appearance in court will come due.”

“That’s not my problem.”

I knew what Sister Dabney meant without asking.

“Okay.” I paused. “Are you surprised that she ran away?”

“And may come back. Jessie is a prodigal, but she ran away from a bad home, not a good one. With Mrs. Fairmont, she’s had a tiny taste of a better way to live. That’s going to draw her back stronger than you realize.”

“The legal system won’t wait for her to figure that out.”

“I’ve got some rocking to do.”

After the call ended, I remained on the couch. Flip was asleep beside Mrs. Fairmont’s empty chair. The house was eerily quiet. I closed my eyes and visualized the front door opening and Jessie bounding in with a tall tale of imaginary adventure. But the door remained shut; the silence remained.

A feeling of dread began to creep over me, and I went to the closet that contained the control panel for the alarm system. The instructions for activating the system were on top of the panel. I knew what to do, but I read the directions anyway and lightly touched the buttons without pushing them. I heard a noise that startled me and glanced down the hallway. If I turned on the alarm, I would have to let Mrs. Bartlett and Gracie know before they entered the house. But what reason would I give them? That I was suddenly scared about being alone? I’d always felt safe and secure in the house.

I left the closest and began slowly walking through the house, praying in each room. I went upstairs and spent time kneeling at the foot of Mrs. Fairmont’s bed. When I made my way to the basement, the feeling of dread increased. I continued praying, but I also double-checked the locks on the windows I’d inspected twenty-four hours earlier with Jessie. Nothing seemed out of place, but I couldn’t shake the nervous unease lodged in the center of my being. Returning upstairs, I was standing in the kitchen when the phone rang, causing me to jump. I picked up the receiver. It was Mrs. Bartlett. As usual, the words poured out of her mouth with no greeting.

“The initial tests didn’t show evidence of a heart attack, and Mother wanted to come home, but Dr. Dixon admitted her, and she’s waiting for a room. He wants to run another test in the morning and watch her closely for at least a day or so.”

“She should have everything she needs in the green suitcase. If not, let me know.”

“Good. I reassured her you had everything under control at the house.” Mrs. Bartlett’s voice was muffled for a moment. “She wants to talk to you.”

“Tami?” Mrs. Fairmont’s voice sounded stronger than when she left the house.

“Yes, ma’am, are you feeling better?”

“I would be if I could curl up in my own bed, but the conspirators here at the hospital aren’t going to let that happen.”

“I’m just thankful nothing serious showed up on the tests.”

“I’ve got to stay around to take care of you and Flip.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And finish telling Jessie all my stories. Let me talk to her for a minute. I don’t want her to worry about me.”

I swallowed. “Mrs. Fairmont, she never came back from the bike ride. I drove around Forsyth Park, but there was no sign of her.”

There was no response. I waited.

“Are you there?” I asked.

“Yes, but I don’t understand. I thought she was enjoying her stay with us.”

“Me, too, but something changed her mind.” I winced again at the role I played in that process. “I called Sister Dabney. We’re praying that she’ll turn up soon.”

“I will, too. You don’t think something bad may have happened to her, do you?”

My blood ran cold, and I involuntarily shivered. One thing I knew for certain—Jessie’s fear of discovery wasn’t an act. But only a handful of people knew she was staying with Mrs. Fairmont and me.

“I don’t think so,” I said.

“Are you going to call the police and report her as a missing person?”

“If I do that it will trigger revocation of her bond and—” I stopped. “It’s all complicated, Mrs. Fairmont. Please rest and get better soon.”

I could hear Mrs. Fairmont talking to Mrs. Bartlett.

“Jessie’s gone?” Mrs. Bartlett said to me when she came back on the line.

“Yes. She went for a bike ride to Forsyth Park and never came back.”

I heard Mrs. Bartlett sniff. “You can’t count on young people to be dependable. I felt sorry for her, especially after hearing how she lost her aunt to cancer, but the Lord helps those who help themselves. Mother wants to give her a second chance if she comes back, but we’ll have to talk that over later. Keep your cell phone on in case I need you to run something up to the hospital. There’s no telling how long we’ll have to stay here. I’m supposed to go to Sea Island with a friend in the morning for a day trip we’ve been planning for months, but that’s not going to happen.”

“Do you want me to come to the hospital so you can leave?”

“Are you being sarcastic?”

“No, ma’am,” I said quickly. “I’m just willing to do anything that will help. If I came across wrong, I’m sorry.”

“I’m just jumpy. There’s not a mean bone in your body. Of course you’re incredibly naive, especially for a woman lawyer, but that will change over time.” There was a pause. “No, Mother, I’m not lecturing Tami. We’ve talked about that many times, and you agreed with me. Tami, I’ve got to go. If I keep talking, Mother really might have a heart attack.”

The phone clicked off. My concern about Mrs. Fairmont eased. My fear for Jessie increased. I started pacing through the house. The only outsiders who knew Jessie was staying with Mrs. Fairmont were Jan Crittenden, Sister Dabney, Maggie, Julie, and Zach. Sister Dabney and Maggie were unlikely sources of a leak. Julie was always a risk to blurt something out in a public place. Jan might have mentioned it in any number of places. After all, it wasn’t confidential information. Zach probably said something to Vince. The two men seemed to talk about everything that concerned me. I stopped in my tracks. If the news began to circulate around Braddock, Appleby, and Carpenter that a client I represented in a criminal case was living with Julie or me, someone with a connection to Clay Hackney might have found out and told him.

I decided to call Julie even though the possibility she might answer the phone was slim if she was at the hospital. On the fifth ring she picked up.

“It’s Tami. How is your father doing?”

“The third doctor who’s talked with us today left the room a few minutes ago after giving us the best news yet. Daddy is still very sick, but he doesn’t show any signs of permanent neurological damage. It will take awhile, but he should fully recover.”

“That’s great.”

“How are things in Savannah? Have you caught Jessie trying to pawn any of Mrs. Fairmont’s silver spoons?”

“Jessie is gone.”

Julie listened in silence as I told her what happened.

“That’s too bad. Jessie was a runaway before you got her out of jail, and she’s picked up where she left off. I was getting to like her. She’s a lot smarter than you first think. If given the right opportunity, there’s no telling what she could—” Julie stopped. “I guess there’s no use talking about that. Where do you think she went?”

“I don’t have any idea.”

“If she stays around Savannah, she’ll probably be caught and thrown back in jail. If she leaves town, you’ll never hear from her again.”

“Her biggest fear wasn’t going to jail.”

I told Julie about Jessie’s reaction to Clay Hackney.

“That sounds like more fruit of Jessie’s overactive imagination. We know she doesn’t draw a bright line between where a lie ends and the truth begins. I think all that stuff with this Hackney guy was a way for Jessie to make herself look more important than she is. Don’t let her mess with your mind.”

Jessie had easily duped Mrs. Bartlett about her aunt, and I had to admit I could be making the same mistake about Jessie and Clay Hackney.

“You may be right.”

“If I’m not, then the truth is close by.”

“That’s not all. Mrs. Fairmont was admitted to the hospital after supper.”

I quickly told Julie about Mrs. Fairmont.

“I’m glad she’s going to be okay,” Julie said. “And that explains why you’re so concerned about Jessie. Worrying about Mrs. Fairmont triggered all this other stuff. Take a sleeping pill and go to the office five minutes later in the morning. If Maggie gets mad about it, tell her to call me.”

Hanging up the phone, I had to admit that Julie was right about one thing—the evening had left me emotionally spent. The adrenaline boost that spun me up when Mrs. Fairmont became ill had drained out of my system. I yawned, picked up Flip, and took him downstairs. With his mistress gone, I didn’t want him to have to sleep alone.

Also, if anything unusual stirred in the house, the little dog was as reliable as a burglary alarm.

I
WOKE UP IN THE MORNING AND LOOKED OUT THE
F
RENCH
doors at the courtyard, hoping I might see Mrs. Bartlett’s bicycle with Jessie sleeping on the ground beside it. A morning mist shrouded the neatly manicured space. A closer look confirmed it was deserted.

During my morning run, I headed directly to Forsyth Park where I zigzagged back and forth across the area, running much slower than normal as I searched the ground and surrounding area for any clues of Jessie. I didn’t see anything connected to Jessie but really didn’t know what to look for anyway.

After showering and dressing for work, instead of going directly to the office I drove to the hospital. At the information desk I was relieved to find out that Mrs. Fairmont was in a regular room. I took the elevator to her floor. Racks holding breakfast trays stood in the hall. The door to Mrs. Fairmont’s room was closed, so I knocked and peeked inside. Mrs. Fairmont was asleep on her back with her mouth slightly open. Her breakfast was untouched beside her bed. The tepid-looking coffee on the tray made me wish I could bring her a fresh, hot cup fixed exactly the way she liked it. The photo of Flip I’d packed in her suitcase was on the stand beside the bed. I watched her for a few moments, but she showed no signs of waking up. I went to the nurse’s station and introduced myself as Mrs. Fairmont’s at-home caregiver.

“Dr. Dixon hasn’t made his rounds on this floor, so there’s nothing I can tell you,” replied a young nurse seated in front of a computer screen.

I returned to the room, but Mrs. Fairmont was still resting peacefully, and I didn’t disturb her. I stopped by the gift shop and bought some flowers to be delivered later to her room. On my way out of the hospital, I called Mrs. Bartlett, but she didn’t answer.

My route to the office took me down Montgomery Street and past Braddock, Appleby, and Carpenter. I slowed and saw both Zach’s and Vince’s cars in the parking lot. I wasn’t surprised to see them at work this early. Long hours were the norm at most established firms. It made me glad that Maggie trusted me to discipline myself. My cell phone rang. I picked it up, expecting Mrs. Bartlett.

“Tami, it’s Zach. Did you just drive by our office?”

“Yes, I’m at the light on the corner.”

“I thought I saw you when I looked out the window. Do you have time to come in for a few minutes?”

I hesitated.

“I know you don’t drink coffee,” Zach continued, “but I bet I could find some hot tea.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll be waiting in the lobby.”

I parked beside Vince’s BMW. It was just after eight o’clock, and I walked in with a couple of secretaries who knew me from the previous summer. They greeted me. Apparently, there hadn’t been a firm-wide memo to shun me.

When I entered the lobby, Zach was standing at the bottom of the stairs. He quickly pulled his ponytail and smiled broadly when he saw me. My heart jumped.

“How are you?” he asked. “I’ve missed talking to you.”

My emotions suddenly welled up, and my eyes watered. Zach stepped forward.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

I couldn’t believe my feelings had betrayed me without warning.

“A couple of things,” I managed. “Mrs. Fairmont is in the hospital—”

“Come up to my office,” Zach cut in, then turned without waiting for an answer and began walking up the stairs. I had no choice but to follow.