Baylin House (Cassandra Crowley Mystery) (32 page)

“What else do you have going on today,” Rob asked as he followed
Cassie inside.

He closed the door and leaned against it, hands in his
pockets. Was he waiting for an explanation?

Or an invitation . . ?

“I’m obviously running late for work today,” she said,
leaning against the end of the dresser to maintain the dangerously small space between
them. “I have a lot to do if I still want to take the day off Thursday.”

That was as bold as she was going to make it. If he still
wanted to see her on his day off, he would have to say so.

Rob gave a slow nod, a half smile. “Think you can stay out
of trouble until then?”

She expected that, given the past two days.

“I guess if you and Gorduno get Fozzi before he--”

“We have Fozzi. That’s where I was all day yesterday.”

“He’s been arrested?”

“He’s dead. Along with two others the Cartel left in a tide
pool the other side of the airport.”

“The Cartel? You think he was trying to step into their drug
territory?”

Rob gave her that look that said she knows he can’t answer
that question, and he wished she wouldn’t ask. “The Feds have the case now.
We’re out of it.”

Cassie took a deep breath.

“What else?” Rob prodded, still watching her.

“Margaret said arrangements had been made with the state to collect
Rosalie’s people into another group home. I need to put a stop to that, but I
think I can do it with a few phone calls.”

“Okay. What else?”

She wanted to say, ‘more than I should waste time talking
about right now’.

But then it started tumbling out like a flash flood,
“Strickland and Yates had no right to scare Rosalie into thinking Brady was
charged with murder when he wasn’t. I need to get that phony lien removed. And
I hope you don’t let Brent Mitchell get away with helping Skolnik steal Coach
Zimmer’s car, and I need to get the Baylin House financials away from Thornton,
and find out if someone can replace Margaret as funds manager because even
without an embezzlement charge her competence is in question, and I need to--”

What was Cassie’s joke about her mother being wound up like
a Tiffany music box? By the time she got it all out, Cassie was standing knee
deep in backwash.

Rob promised to take care of the Strickland & Yates
situation, all of it, in exchange for Cassie promising to leave them alone.
“And Thornton, too,” he told her. “He’s not the type to risk what he already
has by doing anything illegal. Let me look into that without any side
explosions in the way. Okay?”

She nodded okay, though it took effort not to point out his
reference to explosions shouldn’t have been aimed at her.

The last thing on her list was something he couldn’t help
with anyway. “I need to have a face-off with Dorothy Kennelly when I know
everything is done. Can you let me know when it’s safe to do that?”

“Consider it done now.”

“You sound awfully sure about that.”

“Because I am.”

The cell phone showed three messages recorded while it was
turned off; Cassie dialed voicemail and listened.

“Hi Cassie, it’s Sydney and I have good news. Give me a
call when you get this message.”

Cassie pressed the key to save that one, and went on to the
next.

“Miss Cassie, this is Bea. I’m sorry to bother you, but
Miss Dorothy is here and she’s been trying to call you on that number that
doesn’t work. I haven’t told her you have a new number, but I thought I’d
better let you know--”
The message ended; Cassie pressed ‘7’ to delete.

“Cassie, this is your grandmother. I heard you had a
chance to visit with Lawrence Baylin out there in Texas. If you have his phone
number, could you please give it to me? I’d like to call him and say hello.
Thank you, dear. I love you.”

Well that certainly was a surprise! Cassie pulled her steno
book from the satchel, located the page with Lawrence’s information, and dialed
Noreen. When the answering machine picked up, she left the name and number for
the assisted living facility, and quickly added the operating hours when
Lawrence could be reached. “I’m sorry I missed your call, Grandma. Hope you’re
having a wonderful day. I love you, too.”

Then she returned Sydney’s call.

“Hey, I’m running late for work and just got your message.
Is everything okay up there?”

“More than okay. I got hold of Andrew Porter in Canada. He’s
already calling the county office to void that eviction notice and everything
else that Fozzi issued. He’ll take care of the rest when he gets back, but that
won’t be for another week. Can you hold everything together until then?”

“I’ll make sure of it. Thank you so much, Sydney.”

The digital clock read 11:16 when Cassie pulled the red
Santa Fe to the curb in front of Baylin House, right behind the silver Explorer.
She didn’t knock when she reached the door, just turned the handle and walked
in, announcing, “Hi Bea, it’s just me,” and went straight to the kitchen.

Rosalie was up, sitting in her usual chair at the table, but
not looking strong enough to do battle.

Dorothy sat with an open notebook in front of her, Monte
Blank pen poised. Henry Wainsworth had a stack of three legal pads with pages
folded open on each one. His expression was glum when he looked up at Cassie.

Dorothy spoke first. “I understand you’ve been out running
errands along with whatever work you’ve managed on the book you were hired to
write.”

Cassie glanced at Rosalie. Dark circles under her eyes
contradicted her happy smile.

“Yes, that’s correct,” Cassie answered. She laid the satchel
on the table, ignoring Dorothy’s raised eyebrows. To Rosalie she said, “I’ll
get the other chair.” Then she left the room without another word.

Bea was in the laundry when Cassie passed that direction.
They nodded to each other, and then Bea continued ringing out a presoaked item
from the washtub, and moved it to the washing machine.

Cassie found Harvey Richards behind the closed door in
Rosalie’s bedroom, smoothing a clean sheet on her bed while a pile with
bloodstains lay aside on the floor. The French doors stood open letting in fresh
air and sunlight, almost erasing the sickness smells. Almost – but not
completely.

Cassie nodded hello and went straight to the closet.

“I’ll get that for you,” Harvey said, moving toward her. “Miss
Rosalie said to wait for you before I get it out.” He bent down and lifted the
heavy printer box, and shifted it into balance. “You shouldn’t be moving this
thing anyway. You need anything else, you just come get me and I’ll take care
of it.”

Cassie thanked him, and collected the chair to follow him to
the kitchen where the others waited. While she set the chair at her usual space
next to the wall, Harvey set the box on the floor and lifted out the printer, positioning
it on the table between Cassie and Dorothy.

“What is this?” Dorothy demanded, watching Harvey unwind
cords so Cassie could plug them into the back of the thing.

“Henry needs a copy of everything to do his part.” Cassie spoke
in patronizing monotone, keeping her attention on the equipment until
everything was plugged in, turned on, and loading drivers for the printer and
computer to communicate.

“I’m sure the plan was for Rosalie to redline any facts she
wants changed before passing the manuscript to Henry . . . ?”

Henry’s eyes widened, flitted toward Dorothy, and then
closed as his head tilted down to avoid more contact.

Cassie felt sorry for him, growing up as Dorothy’s younger
sibling. Maybe that was why he chose a career that kept him in foreign
countries. Cassie wouldn’t be surprised if he left again as soon as they were
finished with this project.

But she couldn’t let Henry’s problems distract her today. She
dug the first manila envelope from the bottom of the box and handed it to him.
“Here’s the original manuscript Rosalie typed. I have a copy of everything scanned
into my computer if I need it again.”

She sat in her chair and pressed a few keys to send the
first twenty pages to the printer, explaining, “This first batch of 120 pages has
been reviewed already. I want to--”

“Really, Cassandra!” Dorothy broke in, glaring. “You are
wasting everyone’s time with this nonsense! Bea and Harvey need to be packing
and preparing to move before the Health Department comes to evict them, and I’ve
got to arrange for a suitable place for Rosalie’s care.”

Cassie raised her chin to glare right back. “Actually,
that’s not correct.”

Cassie would have given anything for a camera to capture the
expression on Dorothy’s face. But she forced herself to ignore the woman she
needed to sign more paychecks, and turned to rest her hand on Rosalie’s.

She kept her voice low and soothing. “Rosalie, I have
confirmation this morning that the eviction notice is void. The head of the
Health Department will be back late next week to address any other complaints,
and will assist us in dealing with them.”

Rosalie’s eyes glistened. Her smile said she was grateful,
but her voice showed enough defeat to break Cassie’s heart. “You have done such
a wonderful job with everything, Cassie,” she said. “I can’t tell you how much
I appreciate you, but the money’s gone and we can’t--”

“Actually, we can,” Cassie broke in gently. “We’ll have a
police report showing embezzlement of the missing funds, and my dad says that
should get us at least partial reimbursement from the insurance company. It
won’t come as fast as we need it, but--”

“Embezzlement?” Rosalie looked more confused than shocked.

“Yes,” Cassie confirmed. “But Dorothy can help, and so can
my parents. We just need to get a few things taken care of right away to get
back on the state contract so none of the men will be affected.”

Dorothy harrumphed. “Please do tell how you expect this to
happen?”

Cassie faced Dorothy squarely, and lied with enough
conviction to fool even herself.

“I
expect
the Health Department will sign off on
everything as soon as the laundry is remodeled with new equipment, and a little
remodeling in this kitchen to add a sanitizing dishwasher. I’m sure you’ll want
to handle that yourself--”

“What . . . ?” Dorothy sputtered.

“—and you might want to arrange a lease contract on a new
car for Baylin House to use. Maybe a nice minivan, or an SUV like you always
rent for yourself.”

“You are completely out of line, Cassandra!”

“Maybe,” Cassie acknowledged. She reached sideways to grasp
Rosalie’s hand. “Most probably, in fact, and do it before Wednesday afternoon .
. . ,” Cassie paused to soften her gaze and connect with Rosalie, then she
continued, “Because Wednesday afternoon Rosalie will have a visit from her
daughter. I understand you want to meet her too.”

Dorothy gasped.

Rosalie’s hand flinched and tried to pull back. Cassie
wouldn’t let go. She dipped her head to hold Rosalie’s tear-filled eyes. “She
wants very much to spend some time with you, Rosalie. I told her I thought
you’d like that.”

Rosalie nodded cautiously. That was all the encouragement
Cassie needed.

“And if Wednesday’s visit goes as well as I expect it to,
I’ll be taking a personal day off this Thursday.”

The End

I hope you enjoyed meeting Cassie and getting to know her.
She and the people of Baylin House have been like family on my mind for many
years. If you’d like to know more about them, or have comments about their
stories, (or just want to say hello, and I’d love that!) please visit me at:

http://apps.byljparker.com/Blog/