Wynn in the Willows (15 page)

“Enjoy.” She teased, rubbing her nose against his. Time accelerated when she was with Doug. She wished the day could start all over again. It was hard not to ask when she'd see him again.

As though sensing her mood, Doug lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. “I enjoyed today. We should do it again sometime.” His words were comforting, reassuring.

Hope spiked, electrifying her. Wynn shivered and rubbed her bare arms. “I wish I had thought to bring a sweater.”

“If I had thought to bring my jacket, I would have already offered it to you.” Doug's gaze shifted to the shore. “Hey. What's happening on the island?”

Up ahead, the night sky was filled with flashing emergency vehicle lights.

“I didn't know the island had that many police, or rescue power.”

“They don't. I suspect some of those vehicles were powered over by special ferry. I haven't seen anything like this since city kids ran a boat up on shore into a group of people, killing some. Something nasty has happened for that much activity.”

Everyone on the ferry had noticed the commotion. Those on deck had moved to the railing, while the rest got out of their vehicles to get a better view.

Two police boats approached on either side of the ferry. One of the officers spoke through a bull horn. “Cut your motors, we're coming on board.”

Within moments, the ferry was silently drifting on the waves, as six policemen came over the side of the boat.

Wynn leaned into Doug.

He pulled her tight into his side and pressed his arm around her.

“Who are they looking for?”

Doug shrugged.

Then one of the police officers from the island pointed towards them. “There he is!”

Doug's eyes widened. He took a step back in confusion, pulling Wynn with him, trying to protect her by enveloping her in his arms.

“Look! He's holding her hostage!” someone shouted.

“Help her before she's killed!” another voice hollered.

Three officers lunged towards him.

Wynn was smacked in the face with an elbow as they wrestled, trying to pry her from his hold. One of the officers hooked his leg around one of Doug's, making him release his grip. Then, he twisted Doug straight into a wall, planted his hands above his head and frisked him before placing handcuffs on his wrists. The officer turned him around and made a big show, as Doug remained too bewildered to move.

“What's this all about?” Doug asked.

Bystanders screamed and shouted questions. The turmoil was so loud that Wynn couldn't hear anything and stood helpless, unable to think what could be wrong. Dozens of gazes were on them.

“We've got who we came for,” one of the officers said brusquely. “So there's no reason for anyone to feel nervous.”

“What did he do? Why is he being taken into custody?”

The questions were ignored as Doug was pulled towards the side of the ferry. He looked back at Wynn in total disbelief.

Wynn was released. She fled to the railing.

Doug was lowered into one of the waiting police boats, which headed back to the mainland.

“Doug! Doug!” she called.

Passengers stood in frozen silence, watching.

An elderly man held out a handkerchief.

Wynn blinked hard at the offering.

“You're bleeding. Are you all right?”

It was then she felt the stabbing pain on her cheek. She accepted the handkerchief and thanked him.

The ferry's engine started again and went towards its destination. Finally the boat slowed, turned and backed into the slip, jerking to a stop.

The passengers ran to their vehicles or gathered at the exit gate.

Wynn pushed ahead, anxious to get off the vessel and back onto land.

Doug's truck was guarded by a police officer. Two others were in the process of impounding the vehicle.

“What is going on?” Wynn cried.

A chorus of voices rose, and above it all she heard the word, murder. No one would speak with her, however. Wynn ran to her jeep and drove to Aunt Roxie's house, ignoring the speed limits. Pulling into the drive next to the cottage, she spotted the Bible study women's vehicles.

Wynn shot out of her jeep and flung open the back kitchen door.

“Roxie!” Wynn hollered.

“Living room, dear!”

Wynn knew she appeared as a crazed person with her windblown hair, the scratch on her cheek and her clothing in disarray. She noticed the blood on her blouse. Not wanting to alarm anyone, she stopped in the doorway of the unlit hall, unseen.

Roxie set her teacup onto the saucer. “There you are Wynn. We've been looking all over for you. There's some terrible, terrible news. Come in. There is much to tell you.”

“Then you know what happened to Doug? That's why you're all here at this time of the evening?”

“Wynn, there's blood on your shirt. And what happened to your face?” Roxie jumped to her feet.

“Compliments of the arresting officers.”

“What are you saying?”

“I was with Doug when it happened.” Wynn shook with rage.

“You were with Doug?” Roxie's sympathy quickly turned to anger. “Tell me you're kidding.”

“I spent the day with Doug on the mainland and was still with him when the police took him off the ferry, in handcuffs.”

“Look at the suffering he caused you. Faith, would you please get my first aide box. It's in the kitchen next to the stove.”

“Yes.”

“No Faith, don't. I'm OK.”

“Why did you go to the mainland with that man? I told you never to have anything to do with him!” Roxie balled her hands up into a fist.

“Roxie, I'm no longer a little girl. I make up my own mind what I should and shouldn't do.”

“Maybe they bumped into each other.” Sheri inserted.

“That's actually true. We met while crossing on the ferry.” Wynn wasn't backing down. She'd match Roxie's intensity. “It's not the first time I've been with him.”

“How can you speak to me in this way?”

“Doug is a good man. Did you know that he even speaks highly of you, Aunt Roxie? He has no clue that you degrade him at every opportunity.” Wynn's hands shook with rage. Her cheek throbbed.

Owl's firm hands touched her shoulders. “What's happened to Doug? Why did the police take him to the mainland?”

“Because they found Boone's body.” Roxie said, looking at Owl.

“Oh, no. But what does that have to do with Doug?” Wynn's voice rose with despair.

“The body was on Doug's schooner!” Roxie exclaimed.

“That can't be true!”

“It is.” Roxie folded her hands together.

“Then someone else placed his body there. But I don't understand. Boone was hit by a car, right? So why are they arresting Doug?”

“Someone thinks it might be murder.”

“What?” Wynn looked around. It was only then she noticed Jackie wasn't there. “Where's Jackie? Is she OK?”

“Agatha is with her at the morgue, identifying the body,” Faith said. “We're all upset with the news, but let's not jump to any conclusions for Jackie's sake, as well as Doug's. Let's also remember that Owl is Doug's aunt and she has concerns of her own. When we are together, this needs to be a place of comfort and peace. No accusations. No division.”

“I agree with Faith,” Sheri chimed. “This is a highly charged atmosphere and the last thing we need to do is to turn on one another.”

“Let's take a deep breath and sit down.” Faith patted an armchair for Wynn.

“No more negative talk about anyone. Roxie, do you agree?” Faith asked.

“Agreed.” Roxie sat.

“And Wynn, be softer to your aunt.”

“Now then, let's do what we are really good at. Praying. Together.” Faith held her hand out to Owl. Owl held her hand to Roxie. Roxie held her hand to Wynn. Wynn held her hand to Sheri and Sheri took Faith's.

“Bind us together Lord in one accord, be of one mind. Let all the anger and tension in this room melt in your Presence. May we be a source of hope and comfort to Owl whose nephew has been taken into custody. Lord, may Jackie find peace at this time of her husband's passing. Lord, may Roxie and Wynn hold each other up in prayer and allow for all misunderstandings to be resolved and let the truth come out. Let the truth also come out about who murdered Boone. Be with Doug in his hour of need. And may we have love for on another that passes all understanding.”

“Amen.” They chorused.

Wynn wondered what truth Faith was referring to.

“There's something you all don't know. Something I haven't told anyone, including Doug.” Wynn hesitated.

“What?” Sheri asked. “Would you like to tell us now?”

“I found Agatha's brooch on Doug's schooner a few days ago. You know that one she wears at her throat and is always touching?”

“Where is it now?” Roxie asked.

“It's at the Tree House.”

“What are you saying, Wynn?” Owl wanted to know.

“I'm not saying anything. I don't want to accuse someone who might be innocent, as Doug has been.”

“So, what? What does Agatha's brooch prove, Wynn?” Roxie asked.

“Anyone and everyone has access to Doug's schooner. I have no idea how that brooch got there, but however it did, whether by Agatha's hand or another's, I found it there.”

“OK, let's play the devil's advocate. Let's say Doug is guilty. Sorry, Owl. What would be Doug's motive for killing Boone, anyway?” Faith asked.

The women looked around the room at one another.

“Money?” Sheri asked.

“Doug has all the money he will ever want. Not only did he sell his very lucrative Chicago business, but he inherited a huge sum from his family which he has never touched. Not a dime of it. Besides he's the least materialistic person in the world,” Owl said.

“Could he be in love with Jackie? Love triangles are dicey,” Roxie said.

“Never. If he loves anyone, it's that woman he was engaged to a while back. What was her name?” Faith looked up trying to remember.

“Clara,” Wynn said.

“That's right!”

“What is his motive, then?”

“None.”

“That's right, none.” Wynn agreed with Owl.

“Well, we will have to wait on evidence, you know. But I agree with Faith that we cannot jump to conclusions. The man is innocent until proven guilty.” Sheri surmised. “That's just how things work, even on this island.”

“Who could have done away with Boone and stashed his body in the schooner?” Roxie asked.

“And why?” Owl asked.

“Ladies, we have a lot of praying to do.” Faith smoothed her skirt.

Roxie went into the kitchen. She returned with a frozen package of peas and handed it to Wynn.

Wynn held it to her face and smiled at her aunt. “Thanks.”

The women embraced one another before saying goodnight. Wynn was passed around in the same circle they had prayed in, from hug to hug. She loved these women, and she loved Aunt Roxie, too.

Roxie held Wynn's face in her hands. “Forgive me.”

“For what?”

“For all the words I've spoken that have been less than kind.”

“Then forgive me as well.” Wynn pulled out the key to the security deposit box and pressed it into Roxie's hand. “Goodnight.” She avoided her aunt's gaze. She couldn't bear to see disappointment in them. Wynn walked out to her jeep, expecting her aunt to call her back and read her the riot act. But Roxie didn't.

The porch light went off, as did the kitchen and living room lights.

Wynn started up the engine when she saw the bedroom light go on. At the Tree House, Wynn opened all the windows to the night air. This morning was so filled with promise and it ended filled with blame.

The air was humid and Wynn lay in bed listening to the quiet shifting of the trees moving in harmony with the rhythmic tide from the shore.

“OK, God, it's me again. I think I need to start forgiving some people. It's time. Sometimes, I line up all those I am mad at and just shoot hatred at them. It feels really bad. I don't want to do that anymore. Help me know how that works. I don't want to be angry with Roxie, but she's so hard on everyone. When I heard all the things she said about Doug, it occurred to me that I have been pretty tough on Roxie, on my mom, and You, too. Can You forgive me for that? And exactly how does forgiveness work?”

 

 

 

 

20

 

They sat beneath the old McIntosh apple tree on timeworn Adirondack chairs.

Wynn was drenched with perspiration. As she reached for a bottle of water, her gaze connected with Roxie's—but only for a moment. There was so much she desired to discuss, yet she was unsure of how to start the conversation.

Clearly, Roxie was furious with her for prying.

“I know I betrayed your trust. I probably need to move out of the Tree House.”

“There's a biology position opening at the local high school. I'd love to see you apply. I have a lot of pull with the school board.”

“It's really not necessary.”

“They pay good benefits. In a few years, you'll be thirty and its time you realize the joy of good benefits.”

“Not sure teaching is my forte.”

“Of course it is. It's in your blood and mine. The island is pricy, but you may live here as long as you like, and never pay anything. You're written into my will as sole beneficiary. Someday you will own this place.”

Wynn sat dumbfounded over Roxie's offer and her not so veiled hint at something. “I don't deserve your generosity...”

“It's what I always planned. I'm not about to change my mind.” Roxie crossed one leg over the other and impatiently swung her leg.

“This is where my apology is supposed to go. I am very sorry, Aunt Roxie—about everything.”