One Dog Too Many (A Mae December Mystery) (22 page)

“Actually, it sounds pretty awful for you, too.”

“Excuse us for a moment.” Ben signaled Wayne to follow him. They stepped out of the room, into the dim hallway.

“Robin seems to be covering for her sister, but the timeline doesn’t work for Laura to be the killer,” Ben said.

“You realize that it could have been Robin who committed the murder, right? I’m not sure how much of her story to believe. That woman is damn good at manipulating men. Her sister could be a scapegoat.”

“I’ll give all this some more thought, but I don’t see it. What motive did Robin have?”

“Maybe she was protecting her sister. She knew about James and Ruby’s affair. Maybe she didn’t want Laura to know her husband was cheating on her. Too bad she doesn’t have her cellphone with her; we could check on the text right now.”

“I agree. However, in terms of Robin being the killer, I think it’s a stretch, Wayne. I don’t
think her motive is strong enough. I want to let her go and have Robert follow her, see what she does. Normally, I’d be worried about her calling her sister, but that’s not going to be a problem tonight. It’s critical that we get Laura as soon as she’s discharged tomorrow morning. I can’t see how the timeline works for Laura to have done it, but we need to talk to her.”

Wayne nodded.

Ben looked at his watch, it was 9:30. “It’s late, but we need both Robin and Laura’s phone records. Can you get that started? And tell Robin she can leave, just make sure Robert follows her.”

Ben went back to his office to think. Would a woman kill another woman just to conceal information from her sister? It didn’t add up. He just couldn’t see Robin Fanning as the killer.

W
hen she got home from the lab, Mae invited her sister July over for an after-dinner glass of wine. Robin and July had been in high school together, and July and Laura took some of the same fitness classes. July would know their history.

Mae checked on all the dogs and fixed herself a plate of fruit and cottage cheese for dinner. July rolled in about two hours later and brought some of the lasagna left over from their meal.

“Thanks, Jules,” Mae mumbled between bites. “This is a lot better than my dinner.”

“You’re welcome. Didn’t you mention wine?”

“Indeed I did. Would you rather have red or white?”

“Whatever
you think is the best. You always have such good wine. How did you learn what to pick?”

“I get whatever Boyt tells me to buy.” Mae walked into the kitchen. She took a nice Riesling out of the wine chiller, opened the bottle, and poured each of them a generous glass.

“What’s Boyt? Is it an online wine guide or something?”

“Boyt is not a
what, he’s a person. Boyt Mill. He owns World of Wines. It’s in Nashville. Try this.” She handed the glass to her sister. “It’s a Riesling.”

July took a sip and smiled. “That’s delicious. I can’t believe you drive all the way to Nashville to buy wine. This tastes expensive.”

“It’s very reasonable. I give Boyt a budget and he puts a case together for me. I go in every six weeks or so and see what he has for me. I didn’t invite you over to talk about wine, though. I wanted to ask you about Robin Fanning and Laura Connolly, the Kelley sisters. Let me tell you what’s been happening.”

July listened intently as Mae filled her in on what she had overheard at the Fannings’
house, about her shovel turning up in Robin’s shed and its identification at the lab and reminded July not to tell anyone about this newest development in the case.

“I don’t understand why Robin would hide the murder weapon at your place, unless she was the killer. Or maybe she was protecting someone.” July’s forehead wrinkled.

Mae didn’t say anything, but an idea was growing stronger in her mind. The December sisters were sitting on the porch and Mae was getting chilly.

“I’m going to grab a blanket. Do you want one?”

“Yes, please.”

When Mae came back with two blankets, July smiled at her. “This is nice, isn’t it? I feel like I never see you anymore. I guess our lives are very different now. I think Robin and Laura have stayed close their whole lives. I know Robin always watched out for Laura.”

“Wasn’t Robin in your class?”

“No, she was a year ahead of me. I always liked her, but she mostly kept to herself, or did things with Laura. I don’t know that Laura got any better, but when Mr. and Mrs. Kelley sent Laura away, Robin actually got a life.”

Mae hugged her knees to her chest. “Sent her away where? When was that?”

“It was my sophomore year in high school. Robin was a junior. Laura would have been a freshman. You were in the eighth grade—still in middle school. You probably didn’t hear all the gossip.”

“I don’t remember hearing much about Laura back then. One of the girls in my class had an older brother who called her Crazy Laura. I didn’t know why. I thought it was a nickname or something.”

“Was it Dean Aiken?”

“Yes, Carol Anne’s big brother.”

“He had good reason to call her that.” July shook her head. “He was in my class, but he always flirted with the freshman girls. Laura apparently thought he was her boyfriend. When she saw him kissing Ginny Baker in the parking lot, she attacked her.”

“Laura? She seems incredibly uptight. I can’t imagine her losing control like that.”

“Laura started screaming at Ginny and calling her a boyfriend stealer. Ginny started to fight back. Dean got in the middle and tried to hold the two girls apart. I’ll never forget it. Robin came running from the other side of the parking lot. She put her arms around Laura and led her away. The minute Robin showed up, Laura stopped fighting with Ginny, as if someone had thrown a switch. She followed Robin like a little lamb or something. Laura appeared completely calm, almost in a trance, but Ginny’s face was bleeding and a big chunk of her hair was on the ground.”

“Laura pulled Ginny’s hair out? Over Dean Aiken?”

July laughed. “Believe it or not. The administration questioned all of us about it, and the principal suspended Laura. There were rumors that she tried to kill herself later.” July’s dark eyes looked huge in the dim light of the porch as she recounted that day. “Robin was the one who found Laura after the suicide attempt.”

“Found her where?”

“In the bathtub, with her wrists cut.”

“Oh my God! That’s horrible. Poor Laura and Robin. How do you ever get over something like that? They seem to be all right now, don’t they? I mean Robin seems fine. What about Laura? Is she stable?”

July didn’t answer right away. “I don’t know how well controlled she is. One of my friends who knows her pretty well told me Laura has an impulse control disorder. She overreacts to things most of us would shrug off. Apparently she can become easily enraged.”

“Is she being treated for it?”

“She’s on some medications, but there’s no magic pill for whatever demons pursue Laura Connolly.”

“Do you think Robin hid the shovel for her sister?” Mae asked.

July’s voice was serious. “Robin would do just about anything for Laura.”

Mae was quiet for a moment. “Thanks, Jules. On a lighter note, I can’t deny I’m enjoying getting to know Sheriff Ben Bradley during this process.” Mae smiled.

“I can tell.” July
grinned. “You have feelings for him, don’t you?”

“I do. It’s going so well I’m almost afraid to talk about him to anyone. Mama, of course, didn’t even need to be told. Jules, can I ask you something else? Are you happy? Being married to Fred?”

July nodded. “He’s a good man and he’s crazy about the kids.”

“You’re both crazy about your kids, but that’s not what I asked. Are you happy being married to Fred? I know he’s a good father and a good provider. I remember Tommy Ferris, though, and the two of you when you were young and deeply in love.” They were both quiet then.

“Tell me what you remember, will you?” July’s voice held a plaintive note. “I’ve worked very hard to forget those times. I think I’ve blocked a lot out. Maybe by now I’ve finally gotten enough distance to look back at my crazy young self with some humor. I can’t believe almost fifteen years have gone by.”

Mae thought for a minute, trying to put herself into her young mind-state again. “Well, it was blindingly obvious you and Tommy were crazy about each other. I remember thinking you two would probably get engaged in college and I’d be a junior bridesmaid at your wedding. I even imagined myself catching the bouquet! I’d be gorgeous, of course, and everyone would tell me I was
lovelier than the bride and how glamorous I looked.” Mae shook her head, remembering her silliness.

“Really? You thought we’d get married?”

“Duh … July! Mama and Daddy drove themselves crazy trying to keep you two from ever being alone in the house together. I overheard a conversation between them once. Mama said she needed to think of a way to file her column without leaving the house. She was absolutely not going to leave you two alone. She was laughing about carrier pigeons, but I think she hired a neighbor boy to courier a few times. This was before she could send things electronically. Once I overheard Daddy ask her if she’d given you the talk. About the pill, I guess. Oh and Tommy wasn’t allowed on the second floor. Kind of like dorm rules. If there was a boy in a girl’s room, three feet had to be on the floor. Actually, I think the rules only encouraged sexual creativity.”

July appeared very far away and sad.

“I’m sorry, Sweetie. Here I’ve been babbling on. Are you okay?”

July stood up without answering and said she needed to get going. She g
ot her things together, found her car keys and looked at Mae. “I still wonder what happened to make Tommy disappear from Rosedale for fifteen years.” The pain in her voice was wrenching. July was almost in tears. Mae couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her sister cry.

“July December,” Mae reached out and took her sister’s hands in hers, “when we were talking about Laura and Robin, you told me Robin would do anything for her sister, remember? Well, I’d do just about anything for you, too. You know that, don’t you?”

July ruffled her hair as if she was ten and left. The screen door clicked into place.

After July’s taillights faded away, Mae called Ben’s cell. His voice was rough when he answered the phone.

“I know it’s late,” Mae said. “I hope I’m not disturbing you. I was wondering if you’d like to come over for a while. My sister left and we didn’t finish this wine.”

“I would. I’m just sitting here obsessing over the case. I’ll be right there.”

Ben’s headlights shone in the driveway about ten minutes later and Mae walked out to meet him. He leaned on the door of the sheriff’s department car, talking to the deputy. He straightened up when he saw her and the deputy started his car and drove away.

“I guess I’m unguarded tonight.” She smiled. “Did you tell George he could go?”

“I told him I’d take the night shift,” Ben replied in a husky voice. “I hope it’s all right.”

Mae walked over closer and touched him on his
shoulder. His skin was hot and he smelled wonderful. Ben leaned down and Mae turned her face up to him. They shared a gentle kiss that lasted for several seconds.

“Let’s go inside,” he murmured in her ear.

Mae shivered as his breath fluttered across her cheek.

“I can keep an eye on you better in the house.”

“Do you want to know what I found out about Laura Connolly?”

They sat on the couch, his arms wrapped around her. His hand rolled the edge of her collar and he stroked her neck.

“Could you tell me later?” He smiled. “I’m kind of busy right now.”

“I can tell you in the morning,” she whispered.

His blue eyes darkened. He bent his head down and touched his lips to hers. “Maybe you can tell me then, but I might still be busy. God, your skin feels good.”

He ran his hand up her back.

She didn’t want him to stop. Unfortunately, she smelled dog breath. The panting wasn’t coming from Ben.

“I think Thoreau wants to say hello.”

“Hello, Thoreau. I thought you liked me.”

They both laughed and disentangled themselves.

“He does like you. Go to your bed, boy.”

“Ladies first.”

“I was talking to the dog. Sorry. You’re on the couch tonight.”

“Don’t make me sleep on the couch, please, Mae. I’ve wanted you from the minute I first saw you.” His voice was husky again. “You really get to me. I feel like a boy around you. I want to kiss you again.”

She gave him a long, lingering kiss. “I’m sorry, Ben, but it’s too soon. Let’s get some wine and talk for a while. I want to tell you what I learned about Laura Connolly.”

Mae had several glasses of wine
while they talked. Ben had only one, reminding her he was on “guard” duty. It was nearly midnight when Ben stifled his third big yawn in a row. Mae found pillows and a blanket for him. He lay down on the couch.

“I’m going to say good night now,” Mae said with a smile.
Then she summoned up all of her willpower and walked upstairs alone.

The next morning she stayed in bed for a few minutes after she woke up. Would things be awkward? Would he think her a tease? Frigid? Not interested? She could hear clanking sounds issuing from downstairs. Mae dressed quickly and headed for the kitchen.

Ben looked up from the eggs he was frying and smiled. “You look exactly like I pictured you would in the morning.”

“With my hair standing on end?”

“Perfect, except for the clothes.”