Note: As always, thank you to those of you who have left feedback/ reviews since the last chapter: Hero 76, Paulina Ann, sm2003495, EvergreenDreamweaver, Drumboy100, max2103, BMSH, BeeBee18, and ErinJordan. You all are much appreciated and make my day!
Civil Skirmishes
Chapter 29
Over the course of the drive to the monument, Joe filled Chet in on everything he had learned. Chet, he could tell, was listening carefully and trying to make the same connections that he had. They continued to discuss the case after he had parked, and as they got out and climbed up the monument.
"So, based on what you found out, there are a few things to find out still," Chet said thoughtfully.
"What are they?" Joe asked with an easy smile. "Go ahead, pal. Tell me what we DON'T know. I'll start. We haven't checked out the names of the people who Evans gave to me to see if he was telling the truth. I'm inclined to think that he was, so then we should probably focus on those people. He has no motivation that we know of to set anyone up, and, if I was him, I'd want to clear my own name ASAP. So once we check out those people, we find out who else might have known that Frank and Biff were investigating and there you go. There's your attacker."
"You don't think that the threats are related to the threat that you received on the murder cases?" Chet asked.
Joe took a seat and indicated for Chet to do the same. "No. The first was against Vanessa and me. That call- it still bothers me- came in twice and HAS to be related to what we saw with the Pabsts. However…" he started thinking, "I mean, something is wrong. What the hell are the chances that Callie and Biff got hit with tranquilizer guns? Hmmm."
"Yeah, and Callie and Biff weren't the real targets," Chet went on. "Vanessa was the target and that had to do with the murder cases. Frank was the one doing the interviewing here."
"Plus, whoever hurt Frank thought that Biff was me- the horror," he joked. "But that might mean that the person didn't know who I was, obviously. Ugh! This is confusing. The dart is the same weapon, but the people and message are different."
"And what about the Williams?" Chet asked. "I guess you'd have to assume that Nancy told Sarah."
"I would assume that everyone in the Williams family knows about that legend, but I should never assume," Joe went on, thinking. "I'll have to ask Charlie about that. What Evans said was true. Someone on the inside had to be helping -to poison the tea, call out "ghost" when it was crowded, shoot out the window. But why? What benefit would-" All of a sudden, he understood. "A cut," he said in a low voice.
"Huh?" Chet asked.
"Think about it," Joe went on, animated. "Evans probably got a substantial bonus for his research, right? The company is loaded. What if … what if someone in the Williams family would benefit from the inflated sale price, get a cut of the extra profit? What if someone didn't know or care about the legend, and just wanted to get the sure money- a quick sale?"
"So, like, if the Inn sold for four million, but it's only worth three, someone would get a cut of the profit - someone who could push the sale through? You'd trade the certainty of the sale, plus the bonus, of the uncertainty of what might just be a legend of the gold." Chet smiled, pleased with himself.
"But who?" Joe went on. "And who had access to Civil War guns and poison and…?" He cut himself off as an idea hit him. "Chet- did you bring the papers?"
"Yeah," Chet replied as he reached into his bag. "Here you go."
It was a good fifteen minutes before Joe spoke. He switched between the records in front of him, a little internet research on his phone, and what he knew; what Frank had told him. Finally, he let out a deep breath. "I know," he said quietly.
"What kind of person would want to hurt someone in their family?" Chet asked. "That's awful."
"Not person… people," Joe related with a sigh. "I need to hear back from Chief Cruz," he told Chet. "By the end of the day, we should have this mystery solved, at least."
"Wanna share?" Chet asked, curious.
"Not yet," Joe replied, and then gave Chet a small smile. "I need to check out my facts and run it by Frank, but I think I'm right. Thank you. You were actually a big help."
"You sound surprised," Chet replied, a twinkle in his hazel eyes. "I'm occasionally useful."
"Occasionally," Joe teased.
"Want to head to the Inn?" Chet asked. "I know you want to see Frank."
Joe took a deep breath. This was it. Frank, Biff, even Callie had made him think about a lot of things, had supported him when he probably hadn't deserved it and had focused him on what was important; had made him start to see that maybe HE was important and loved and worthy of a future and happiness. He would dedicate himself fully soon to making things work with Vanessa, but he had one more, vitally important piece that he had to make right.
"Actually, I'd like to talk to you," Joe replied, sitting up straighter.
"Well, I'm an interesting guy to talk to," Chet replied with a grin. "What's up?"
Joe closed his eyes for a minute and, as usual, just decided to speak from the heart. "I feel her here," he replied, finally, looking at Chet now. "She's everywhere."
The grin dropped from Chet's face as he realized the direction that this conversation was about to take. "I know," he replied simply. He turned from Joe and stared at the gorgeous expanse of battlefield in front of them. After a few minutes, he added, "I was walking the other day and I swear I smelled her perfume. And when you guys went to the Ball and Biff and I were just chillin', we hung back and watched all of the re-enactors in the town. It was kind of cool, honestly. I felt as if I was back in time. And then-" he paused.
"Go on," Joe said quietly.
Chet turned to him. "In the far distance, dressed in a really pretty mauve dress, I swear to god I thought I saw her. She turned to me and smiled and waved, and when I got up to go after her… she was gone. Don't make fun of me, Joe. I saw her. I know I did."
"I believe you," Joe responded. "Completely."
"You don't think it's bull? Good," Chet concluded. "I remember when we were kids and we'd go camping, Hooper was either starting trouble when we were real young or getting drunk when we were older."
Joe smiled at the memory.
"And your brother was always so concerned that the fire was just right and the tents were sturdy and was always looking out for everyone. Tony was always cooking. Phil was always analyzing frickin scientific data with Frank. But you? You always believed in spirits. I knew, cause I did, too."
Joe nodded. "I did," he acknowledged. "Not a lot of people know that. Van does."
Chet studied his watch before speaking again. "I miss her," he said, finally. "All the time."
"So do I," Joe replied, and reached out to squeeze Chet's arm. "And I owe you a huge apology."
Chet looked at him, and Joe knew he had startled him.
Joe swallowed hard. "Chet, you were one of my best friends. And I know it was hard for you at times to see me and your sister together. I didn't always treat her right," he went on, mouth dry, "and I'll regret that for the rest of my life. I can promise you, though… I really did love her, with my whole heart. And I never meant to hurt her."
Chet nodded slowly, silent.
"But this apology is for you," Joe went on, willing himself not to get emotional. "When Iola died, I lost my shit. I felt so damned guilty every day that it wasn't me who died. And I'll be honest- I'm working through that guilt now, and I'm much better, thanks to you- and Frank, and Vanessa, and everyone who supported me-but I'll never get over that guilt fully."
"Okay," Chet said, stoically.
"Chet," Joe went on, "I realized a few days ago, after all this time, that I never acknowledged what you and your family went through. I was guilty and ashamed and I did what I did best back then… I ran. I could never look your parents in the eye, and I figured… I guess… that if we never talked about it, we could ignore it. But we can't. I was totally wrong, and I know I hurt you."
Chet looked at him at last, and wiped his eyes quickly. "Yeah. You did," he choked out.
"I know," Joe acknowledged, with a deep blush. "Yet you never took it out on me or Vanessa. I know it has to be hard for you to see us together, but I swear to you I will never forget Iola. Never. I just have to reconcile what I did and what happened so that I can start to really live, you know?" Joe wiped back his own tears. "I believe in my heart that Iola would want that, though it took me until this case- this place- to understand that. I hope you can move forward, too."
"It's a struggle," Chet admitted. "I cannot replace my sister."
"I know," Joe replied, taking another deep breath to control himself. "Vanessa is not a replacement for Iola, by the way, for me. She is my future and Iola is my past. They're both a part of me and I wouldn't be whole if I didn't have both. Chet, I can't pretend to understand what you have been through. If I ever lost Frank…" Joe surprised himself, as his next words were so shocking that he could barely manage them, "I don't know what I'd do. I would have a hole in my heart forever... if I could even live without him. And I don't know if I could."
Chet nodded, surprised, but eager. "YES. That's it! Now I know you understand," he replied in a shaky voice. "I saw what you did to yourself when my sister died, and I felt awful about that for you. But I was also angry that you got to act out and get all the attention and support, when, really, so many of us were suffering, too."
Stunned, Joe replied, "I never thought about it like that. I didn't MEAN to act out. I just felt out of control and … everything," he added. "And I wanted-needed- to turn that everything into nothing and that's why I lost my mind. I am so sorry," he concluded. "And I hope one day you can forgive me. You're one of my best friends, and all I can do is to promise you I'll make the effort with you again instead of pretending that our past doesn't exist. And I promise I will honor Iola's life with my own."
Chet stood and reached a hand down for Joe, helping him up. After a long while of silence, he turned to Joe. "I think it was important that we met on a monument," he said at last. "You can remember the past in a beautiful way. You can move on with your future, but it's always there to revisit and remind you of where you came from. What do you think?" Chet asked.
"I think that is … a really nice idea, Chet," Joe replied. "Let's make sure we try to visit the mausoleum together from now on. I think Iola would like that."
"Back to the Inn?" Chet asked, and Joe nodded. "Let's do it." He and Chet hit their fists together, and he felt lighter than he had in years.
Hearing a buzz, Joe checked his phone, a puzzled look on his face as he recognized the number, and he went to listen to the message as he and Chet returned to the car.
In the distance, a hopeful young girl watched the encounter, tenderness in her eyes for the two men she loved so much, and, finally, peace surrounded her. She turned away, a final glance in their direction, wrapped in the warmth and the Presence at last. She raised her eyes to the sky, saw the light...and was gone.
