Author's Note: Here's another chapter and the plot thickens-BTW the rating has been raised because of the upcomig violence in chapters 14 & 15 and lemon content in chapter 17. And to all the readers and especially reviewers a warm and sincere thanks-I had started a sequel but shelved it for the last two years but your support inspired me to drag it out and look into finishing it but I probably won't have it ready for posting for a while as I work on other projects.
MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
Monday, November 17, 1980, 12:45 PM PST
Julie and Pete were seated at the dining room table, finishing lunch, the task of getting Dan's clothes ready for the shelter now done. Out of four boxes, two were filled with clothes to be donated. The rest of the garments were either disposed of in the trash dumpster behind the shed, or placed in a box to be brought to the attic. The job would have been tedious and sad for Julie if not for Pete's help. He was conscientious and had some suggestions about disposing the garments that made sense. Besides that, he made the task take half the time that it would have taken had she done it alone.
They were planning to take the boxes of clothes to the shelter after lunch and since they were going to be close to Melissa's school, they thought since it would be time, they would pick her up after school. Julie had called the school and told the principal to let Melissa's teacher know that she was coming to get her after school so she wouldn't put Melissa on the bus. As they finished their coffee, Pete casually asked if Julie had deposited the benefit check that he had brought her.
"Oh, I forgot! I really should deposit that check. You think we could swing by the bank and do that while we head to the shelter?" Julie requested.
"Sure, sweetheart, I'd rather we take care of that ASAP. $50,000 is not a little check and you shouldn't let it just lay around," Pete pointed out.
They both got up and headed into the study where Julie went behind the desk and drew a key out of her pocket to insert into the lock at the top drawer. She unlocked the drawer and opened it to take out the household ledger where she had placed the check. Julie then opened the ledger and began leafing through it while Pete watched. But her expression became puzzled as she searched page by page and no check was to be found
Pete noticed her dismayed expression and asked, "Something wrong, Julie?"
Julie kept reopening the ledger and turned the pages. Without looking up she replied, "That's funny, I remember putting it in here and locking the drawer. It appears to be missing." She looked up at Pete wonderingly, "I'm positive I put it in here."
Pete tried to be helpful. "Are you sure, honey? I mean, is there some place else you could have put it?"
Julie shook her head adamantly as she insisted, "No, I know I put it in here, I remember doing it. Unless I'm flipping out."
"Is there anyone else that had a key to the desk?" Pete was trying to cover all of the bases.
"No, only Dan and I had keys to this desk. And I have both of them now." She held up the ring with both keys on it. Julie looked panicked and said fearfully, "What am I going to do, we need that money to survive this winter."
Pete came over and patted her shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry, sweetheart, if you can't find it, I'll write you another one. And I'll call the bank in Beverly Hills to put a stop payment on it. I'll call them now." He reached for the phone but Julie laid a restraining hand on his.
"No Pete, don't do that yet. I'm going to search every place in this house for it," Julie insisted, starting to remove things from the desk drawers.
"Okay, but what about bringing the clothes down to the shelter? And we're supposed to pick up Melissa from school," Pete reminded her.
Julie sighed, "I can't go anywhere till I find that check. Would you do me a favor and drop the clothes and get Melissa?" she pleaded.
Pete grinned, "Sure, honey, I'll be glad to. Just tell me how to get to both the shelter and Melissa's school and I'll take care of things."
After Julie gave him directions on how to get to the shelter and Melissa's school, Pete grabbed his jacket and headed to the Mercedes. He started the car and drove it around to the back shed to retrieve the boxes of clothes they had gotten ready to donate. As he parked the car and went to the rear to open the trunk to place the boxes, Pete idly noticed that David Slade's truck was gone. He was still a bit irritated by David's surprising him and Julie with the .357 Magnum earlier, even if David said it was for protection. In Pete's opinion it was a pretty flimsy reason for wanting such a powerful gun.
He chalked it up to yet another reason to consider David Slade a suspect in Dan's death. With these thoughts playing in his mind, Pete entered the shed and made his way to where the boxes were. But before he bent down to pick up the first box, his eyes fell on some broken ladders and other equipment. Something made him go to the broken articles to examine them more closely.
As Pete knelt down and turned over the broken equipment, he noticed that the top four rungs of one of the ladders had broken clean in half. Pete considered that strange because the ladder itself although not new, looked to be in good shape. He turned his attention to the safety belts that hung on the wall. He investigated them closely as well, but found no signs of disrepair or breakage. With a sigh, he turned back to the boxes and began to lift one to bring to the car, but he stored the findings of the suspiciously broken ladder in his head for future reference. He wasn't sure yet, but he was beginning see pieces fall into place. He finished getting the boxes into his car, closed the trunk and got in to go do his errands...
Meanwhile Julie continued searching for the check, emptying drawers and rifling hastily through the growing pile of debris. Concern was turning into worry as each pile turned up empty. Hannah stood in the door and peeked in. She noticed Julie's frantic expression as she conducted her search and became concerned herself.
"Miss Julie, is there something wrong?" she inquired timidly.
Julie looked up abruptly. "Hannah, I need to find a check. It's the benefit check from Dan's life insurance policy, I seem to have misplaced it." She continued to push papers aside as she continued her quest.
Hannah came forward. "Are you sure you put it in the desk, ma'am?" she asked, trying to be helpful.
"Yes, Hannah, I am," Julie snapped, agitated. She saw Hannah's hurt expression and was immediately sorry. "I'm sorry Hannah, I'm just very uptight about this. The check is for $50,000 and without it this week, I won't be able to make payroll," she said, ashamed. "I figured out the budget for the next three months wrong, that check will save us. I can't let you all down," she stated fiercely as she resumed her tireless search.
Hannah reached over the growing mountain of paper and patted Julie's hand comfortingly, "It's all right Miss Julie, me, Hank and the boys won't desert you and Melissa, so don't worry." She too began leafing through the pile of paper.
But as they continued it became increasingly apparent that the search was fruitless, the check was nowhere to be found. Julie tried not to but she felt a sinking in her stomach as she began wondering how they would make it through the winter.
Monday, November 17, 1980, 2:55 PM, PST
The Emmanuel School was affiliated with Emmanuel Chapel Church. It was a private school which had busing provided by the town to the residents in the outreaching properties to the south of Salinas that were considered within city limits. Since the Bennett ranch was one of those outside properties, Melissa was able to take the school bus to get to school. The school building was a red brick structure with two stories of windows facing the front curb and a set of double glass doors right in front. The buses were parked along the front curb in front of the school and behind and in front of them were parked several vehicles with waiting parents sitting behind their wheels. Pete had been able to get to the school in plenty of time to park right in front of the first bus. He had been to the shelter to drop off the boxes of Dan's clothes to a grateful Matt Henderson who assured him that the clothes would go immediately to those most in need. He then swung around the corner and parked in front of the school to wait for dismissal.
A bell sounded for about five seconds from within the red brick school building. The double glass doors of the front of the building opened and a sea of children filed out and scampered to the waiting vehicles where parents exited their cars to claim their offspring. Pete decided to do the same since Melissa would probably be looking for Julie when she came out so he came around to the right fender of the car and leaned against it so Melissa would spot him without a problem. As the children streamed out of the building, Pete scanned the crowd for the slender form of Julie's daughter. He finally spotted her as she walked out of the building, looking all around.
"Melissa! Over here!" Pete called.
Melissa looked in his direction and quickened her steps to come up to where he was waiting for her. She looked around and asked, "Where's Mommy? I thought she was coming to get me."
"She was but she had to take care of something so she asked me to come pick you up. Is that okay?" Pete asked as he opened the passenger door for her.
"Uh-huh, I guess so. Is she sick?" Melissa inquired, worry furrowing her brow.
Pete was touched by her concern for her mother. "No, sweetheart, she needed to do something and it couldn't wait."
He closed the door and walked around the hood to the driver's side where he opened the door and climbed behind the wheel of the car. He started the engine and then turned to Melissa and said in his best chauffeur voice, "Home, miss?"
Melissa giggled, "Yes Mr. Pete." She sat in the seat regally like a princess.
He glanced over at her. "Don't forget to buckle up."
"Okay." Melissa reached over and did as she was told.
Pete pulled away from the curb and into traffic. "Tell you what, why don't you just drop the mister and call me Pete?" he suggested.
"Okay" Melissa replied shyly. She watched him surreptitiously from the corner of her eye as they drove in silence for a few minutes. Suddenly Melissa asked, "You and Mommy were really police officers?"
Pete came to a stop sign. "Uh-huh. We worked for the Los Angeles Police Department for five years when we were younger," he told her as he made a left.
"Why did you stop being police officers?" Melissa asked curiously.
"Well, Melissa, at the time the three of us, me, your mommy and our friend Linc decided that we didn't want to be in the police force anymore so we all quit. Your mommy met and married your daddy, Linc went to school to become a teacher, and I went to work for my father and I got married too," he replied ruefully.
"Do you have any kids?" Melissa inquired, enjoying the adult conversation.
Pete shook his head. "Uh-uh. My wife didn't want any kids. And when I first married her, I didn't," he said flatly.
"Do you want kids now?" Melissa asked looking intently at him.
Pete took his eyes of the road for a moment to look right at her. "Yes, Melissa, I do," he replied.
"Oh. Maybe your wife changed her mind and you'll have kids now," Melissa suggested helpfully.
Pete smiled a sad, wistful smile. "I doubt it, sweetheart. We're not married any more," he answered with a sigh.
Melissa looked at him with concern. She reached over and patted his arm, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad," she said seriously.
Pete glanced at her fondly. For a young girl of six years, she had a lot of maturity. Or maybe losing her father caused her to grow up fast. Either way, she was quite a young lady; he could fully understand why Julie was so proud of her. "You didn't make me sad, darlin' that's just the way my life has been. You see, Melissa, I know how you're feeling to lose someone you love."
"You do?" she asked with wonder.
"Uh-huh. My dad died two years ago. He was very sick for a long time. We got close while he was sick after not talking to him since I was twenty-two. I miss him," Pete admitted candidly.
Melissa looked at him with wide blue eyes; "I really miss my Daddy. But I don't want to make Mommy sad, she's always crying. She thinks I don't see her cry but I do. I hate to see my Mommy cry," she declared fiercely.
"I know, honey. I hate to see her cry too. But she needs to cry to let all that sadness inside of her out or it can make her sick. And the same goes for you," Pete said gently. "All that sadness can make you sick too."
"I know. But when I cry it makes Mommy sad. I don't like to make my Mommy sad," Melissa replied with a solemn look.
Pete made the turn from the road down the long driveway of the ranch. He drove into the circular drive in front of the house, slipped the car into park and cut the engine. He turned toward Melissa, "I tell you what Melissa, if you get sad about your daddy and you don't want to cry in front of Mommy, you let me know and we'll come outside and you can cry to me, okay?" he suggested softly.
Melissa gazed at him, "You mean it, Pete?" she asked, amazed.
Pete nodded, "Uh-huh. You just give me a sign and we'll come outside to go for a walk or we can even come in here," he gestured to the car. "You can cry all you need to and Mommy won't even know it." He lowered his voice. "It'll be our secret...nobody else."
Melissa reached over and hugged him, "Thank you so much!" she cried gratefully.
Pete returned the hug, "You are very welcome, sweetheart. I came here to help you and Mommy so you just let me know when you need to cry, okay?"
Melissa nodded somberly. They both opened their doors respectively to climb from the car.
Julie opened the front door and descended the short staircase, "Well, I was wondering when you two would get home," she declared strolling over to where Pete and Melissa were standing.
Melissa scampered over to Julie and gave her a hug, "Hi Mommy! Me and Pete were talking in the car and we were just coming in," she announced as she pulled away and grabbed Julie's hand.
"Oh?" Julie said looking at Pete, "It must've been a very important talk."
Melissa stole a glance at Pete and he winked at her. "Uh-huh. Are there cookies inside?" she asked, pulling Julie up the stairs. Pete chuckled and fell in behind as they all went into the house. Melissa hurried to the dining room where a glass of milk and freshly baked sugar cookies waited. Pete made to follow but Julie tugged at his arm and pulled him back into the foyer to talk to him.
"So, how'd everything go? Melissa seems to have really warmed up to you. You're practically buddies," she pointed out gladly.
"Yeah, we are. So how about you, how'd your search go? Did you find the check?" Pete wanted to know.
Julie gave him a look of mild despair. "No, and I looked everywhere," she responded glumly.
"You're absolutely sure that nobody else has a key to the desk?" Pete inquired, frowning. Julie shook her head vehemently. "Then I guess we'll just have to assume that the check was stolen," he decided.
"Oh Pete, I can't believe that anybody here would steal that check," Julie pleaded.
"Well, can you come up with any other solution?" Pete demanded. "I find it hard to believe the way you handle money that you would be that careless with a check that big. Hell, Julie, back when we were on the Squad, me and Linc used to come to you and hit you up for loans when we were short of bread before payday, remember?" he reminded her.
Julie sighed, "I know, but my mind hasn't exactly been sharp these past weeks. I'm sorry to make a problem for you," she replied exasperated with herself.
Pete patted her shoulder reassuringly. "No sweat, angel, I'll call the bank and put a stop payment on it. The bank president is a family friend," he informed her. He glanced at his watch, "As a matter of fact, I'll call him now." He headed toward the study.
"Mommy! Are you coming to have a snack with me," Melissa called from the dining room.
"Uh, yeah, honey. I'll be right there," Julie replied and headed into the dining room.
Pete hung the receiver back on the cradle of the study phone. He just finished talking to Hamilton Temple III, the president of the First Bank of Beverly Hills and one of his family's oldest friends. Hamilton Temple and Harrison Cochrane had been fraternity brothers at Stanford and best men at each other's weddings. When Harrison began his insurance business, Hamilton provided financial backing until the business flourished.
Now, with Harrison gone, Hamilton not only continued to do business with his son, he served on the Board of Directors of both the company and its charitable benevolence, the Cochrane Foundation. Pete knew that Ham would make sure that if someone other than Julie tried to cash the check, that the check would be declared null and void. Pete filled Ham in on the routing number, account number, and check number to watch for. Ham assured Pete that he would personally make sure that the check would be intercepted. Pete then dialed Phil Adamson's office.
The phone was answered on the third ring, "Adamson, here," Phil spoke.
"Hi Phil, how's it going?" Pete responded.
"Hey, Pete, it's good to hear from you. You coming back yet?" Phil wanted to know.
"Not yet Phil. Things are kind of dicey here. Anyway, I'm calling to ask you a favor," Pete replied.
"What is it?"
"The benefit check I brought here for Julie has disappeared. She remembers locking it in her desk last week but now it's gone." Pete said laconically.
Phil let out a long whistle, "Are you sure it's gone? Did she misplace it?"
"She said no, and she tore up her study to try to find it," Pete replied. Eyeing the disarray all around him, his words pretty much covered the appearance of the room in question; it was completely trashed. "I want you to issue another check for $50,000 and have it sent up here by courier first thing tomorrow. I want her to get it ASAP," he directed.
"Did you call the bank?"
"Yeah, I just took care of that. Ham Temple is taking care of it personally, putting a stop payment on it. So you can authorize another check." Pete requested.
"Okay, it's a done deal. Anything else?" Phil inquired.
"Not that I can think of. Anything going on at the office that needs my immediate attention?"
"No, everything's going smoothly so far and things will probably stay that way till after Thanksgiving. Which reminds me, Maggie wants you to come to our house for Thanksgiving. Think you can come? I know you'll probably have dinner with your mom first, but we're not planning to eat till four. So how about it?" Phil asked hopefully.
"Sorry, Phil, but I have plans. Me, Julie, her daughter, Linc and his son are all going to have a week together here and celebrate Thanksgiving. A family reunion of sorts," Pete informed him. "So give my regrets to Maggie and whoever she's trying to set me up with," he added sagely.
"She wasn't trying to set you up, Pete," Phil protested but Pete laughed.
"Phil, I know your wife. If at first she doesn't succeed, etcetera. But she should really desist, I'm okay, really I am," he said reasonably.
"I know you are. So how are things with Julie outside of the lost check?" Phil questioned.
Pete stated matter-of-factly, "Fine, she's getting better. This reunion for Thanksgiving is just what she needs. To have the people she loves and who love her around her. This will be the first holiday without her husband, and it's going to be tough for her and Melissa."
"So things are getting close between you again, huh?" Phil probed.
Pete sighed, "Phil, you're doing it again. I told you before, Julie and I go back a long, long way. She needs to have both me and Linc here to help her through the holiday. We're all family," he explained.
"What about those funny things going on? Are you still finding evidence of possible foul play concerning Dan Bennett's death?"
"Yeah, the list is growing. But the local authorities are also in on it, so I'm going to keep digging," Pete was insistent.
"Be careful. You're not a cop anymore. Don't try anything that will get yourself hurt or in trouble," Phil cautioned.
"Still with the mother hen bit, huh? Don't worry, I won't do anything that will land me in hotter water," Pete assured him. "Actually, you're the third person to tell me the very same thing."
"I'm glad. It just shows you that I'm not the only one looking out for you," Phil replied with satisfaction. "I'll get that check cut right away and I'll have it sent out first thing tomorrow," he promised.
"Great. Thanks Phil," Pete said gratefully. He gave Phil Adamson the address and then hung up.
Julie entered the study. Pete looked around at the objects scattered about the room amazed and said, "Boy, when you search for something, you don't kid around, do you."
Julie smiled sheepishly, "I guess you can see how frantic I was. I still can't understand what could've happened to that check," she insisted, frustrated.
Pete got to his feet and came over to her. "Relax, baby, it's all taken care of. I called the bank and put a stop payment on the check and then I called the office. A new check will be here tomorrow," he informed her, stroking her shoulder consolingly. He glanced outside the study, "Where's Melissa?"
Julie grinned, "You're quite smitten with my little girl, aren't you?"
"How can you tell?"
"I've seen that look before, Pete. You're not too subtle, I always could read you," she said bluntly.
Pete nodded in agreement, "Yeah, you always could at that. I am, but I can't help it. She's the image of her mother, both inside and out," he admitted engagingly.
Julie was pleased by his comparison. "She's outside with Jim and Josh. They're out back raking leaves and she went out there to help," Julie informed him with a smile. She then took Pete's hand and they both went to the kitchen to look out the window. "See?" she pointed out.
Pete peered out and saw the Travis boys raking leaves and Melissa with them; picking up bunches of leaves and putting them into large trash bags. Melissa continued to work, innocently reaching down for yet another armful of leaves. But with a mischievous grin, she took the leaves in her arms and launched them at Jim. He gave a mock look of annoyance and put down his rake then picked up an armful of leaves and hoisted it at Melissa. Josh watched the leaf battle with an amused expression, snickering at the other two. But, then Melissa and Jim, spotting Josh's laughing at them, leaned down and picking up leaves in their arms, threw them at Josh. Josh tossed his rake aside and they all began throwing bunches of leaves at each other, laughing and screaming.
Pete chuckled, "Looks like they're having fun."
Julie nodded, giggling, "Yeah, those boys just adore Melissa. They play with her all the time, like big brothers," she added.
Pete reached over to get his denim jacket and Julie's sweater from the hooks by the back door. He handed the garment to her, "Why should they have all the fun? Let's go join them."
He opened the door for Julie and followed her out as they joined the gleeful melee. When they got to the leaf battle that was taking place, Pete and Julie were greeted by having leaves chucked at them so they too began tossing leaves and giggling like the young people.
However, completely unknown by the group frolicking in the downed foliage, they were being watched. David Slade had just decided to take a walk outside of the office and spotted Julie, Pete, Melissa and the Travis boys throwing leaves at each other and having a great time. He watched the goings on with a mixture of resentment and envy.
He was feeling especially rancorous watching as Pete laughed and participated in the youthful horseplay. What right did that Beverly Hills hotshot have, coming here and acting like he owned the place anyway? And Julie, although she was Dan's widow, was treating him like he was the lord and master over the ranch and her. Especially her David brooded...overflowing with resentment she wouldn't make a move without Cochrane sticking his nose in and putting his two cents in affairs that didn't concern him. He was a pretty pushy guy, and walked around here like he was in control of everything with an offhand arrogance that only the very wealthy possessed.
David smiled grimly as he remembered startling them both in the shed earlier with his gun, how satisfying it would have been to pull the trigger and blow them both away. Then the ranch would be his and his alone. But it due time, everything was going to work out and the ranch would be his. He felt a twinge of regret about Julie and Melissa but they would have to be dealt with and dealt with soon.
He reached in his pocket and pulled out the check for $50,000 from H.C. Mutual Indemnity made out to Julie. He then proceeded to shred it, tossing the minuscule pieces in the grass, knowing that the survival of the ranch this winter depended on that money. Now, Julie was faced with real financial difficulty without that check and she would have no choice except to turn to him, David. He had to get her to trust him somehow and get Cochrane away from her. Two separate but not impossible tasks David decided with a devious grin as he continued watching the happy group.
Hank came out of the barn and called to the boys, "Jim! Josh! You two better knock it off and get those leaves bagged! I want to make a run to the landfill on Friday and we still gotta do the front yard. I don't want to be raking leaves next week!" he barked.
"I'm sorry Hank, it's my fault," Melissa piped up, feeling ashamed. Pete and Julie glanced at each other guiltily and they too stepped forward, "My apologies Hank, we came out and joined in too. The kids were having so much fun and we came out here to have fun with them," Julie confessed.
"Miss Julie, you don't have to apologize. I didn't know that you, Mr. Pete, and Miss Melissa were out there," Hank replied respectfully. He glanced over at Jim and Josh, "You two better get over to the bunkhouse for supper. You can finish raking those leaves tomorrow," he ordered curtly. The boys immediately took off, obeying their father's wishes.
Julie took Melissa by the hand and said, "Come on, honey, let's go inside, it's almost time for supper." She led Melissa toward the house. Pete bent down and picked up the rakes the boys had abandoned and headed for the barn but he was stopped by Hank.
"Mr. Pete, you don't have to do that. I can put them away," Hank offered, reaching to take the rakes but Pete shook his head.
"No sweat Hank, I can do it. Which shed do they go in?" he asked.
"Well, since we're gonna use them again tomorrow, you can just prop them up right next to the barn door here," he indicated with his hand. He smiled at Pete, "Thanks Mr. Pete, I appreciate the help."
"Sure, Hank. Glad to help."
Pete entered the barn and placed the rakes against the wall by the door. He then walked into the barn and over to the loft where the ladder was. Thinking about what he discovered in shed, he examined the ladder, testing the sturdiness of the rungs, the overall substance of the ladder. The makeup of the ladder was identical to the one in the shed. He surmised that the ladder in the shed was a twin to the one in use in the barn.
Pete decided that he should take another look at the ladder in the shed to clarify his thoughts and solidify his conclusions.
He headed toward the back door to do that while it was still light enough to see. Pete got to the shed, which was still open turned on the light, and walked in and towards the rear where the broken ladder was stored. He knelt down and got a close look at the broken rungs and noticed something strange. The first two rungs appeared as if they were cut part of the way and then the other two appeared as if a heavy weight had broken through. Pete sighed deeply, the truth of what happened to Dan Bennett suddenly becoming clear. Someone intentionally rigged the ladder to break, causing Dan to fall and subsequently die, but who? Why? That part of the story was still in a fog so Pete knew he needed to dig further. He rose to his feet and exited the shed, pulling the light off and headed toward the house.
Pete had no idea but he was being watched intently by David Slade, who had seen him enter the shed. David surreptitiously observed Pete go into the shed so he crept over to the side window and peered in to see as Pete conducted his investigation. David frowned as he turned away; his decision clear, Cochrane was getting way too nosy and things had to be dealt with before he found out any more. David headed toward his truck, his mind busy with devising a game plan.
Monday, November, 17, 1980, 7:15 PM
The evening meal at the house was completed and Julie was busy getting Melissa ready for bed. Pete, in the meantime, was in the study, on the phone, talking to Linc. They were finalizing plans for the reunion by discussing the trip out to pick up Linc and Jason to come out to the ranch.
Pete was laying out the plan for Linc. He was going to accompany Captain Osborne as he flew out to O'Hare International to get Linc and Jason on Friday morning, which would have him arriving in Chicago by about three Central Time. After eating and refueling, they would immediately fly back which would have them back at the ranch by about six thirty or seven.
"Wow, flying out in a Lear jet. Talk about traveling in style!" Linc said with a touch of awe.
Pete replied casually, "At least it beats missing a flight or getting your luggage lost. Anyway, listen, man, I have some other new developments concerning Dan's death. I found a ladder in the shed that looks like it was rigged to break. The top two rungs were halfway cut through."
"You sure?"
"Uh-huh. The top edges are clean cut with no splinters. And another point of interest, when Julie and I went into the shed to pack Dan's personal belongings to donate to a local shelter, David Slade surprises us by pointing a .357 Magnum at our heads," Pete relayed to him.
"A .357 Magnum...that's some serious heat." Linc was incredulous.
"Yeah, quite a little pop gun, huh? I told you he was hinky; he's jumpy like a cat. He said that he was packing the heat to scare off trespassers, which he thought we were. See, we had to cut the padlock to the shed 'cause Julie's key wouldn't work," Pete explained.
"This guy sounds like a real case. Is he still trying to give you the bum's rush?" Linc inquired.
"Yeah, still treating me like a case of the clap. But Julie very clearly informed him that she's the owner of the ranch and that I'm her guest," Pete replied, slightly smug.
Linc laughed, "You should hear yourself, man, you sound like the cat that swallowed the canary. What about the local fuzz, did you talk to them?"
"Uh-huh. And I've got their blessings. The guy that did the initial investigation of Dan's accident happens to be an old friend of his. He wants to know everything I find out. He's suspicious of Slade as well," Pete stated.
"How's Julie handling all this? Have you told her everything?" Linc wanted to know.
Pete sighed, "Not everything but I did tell her that I thought that her husband's death was no accident."
"How'd she take it?"
"Like I thought she would. She fell to pieces, Linc, and I hated myself for telling her," Pete admitted reluctantly, remembering Julie's anguish the night he told her what he suspected. "She's trying to be strong but she's really hurting and I don't know what to do to take the hurt away," he added helplessly.
Linc was sympathetic. "Hey, Pete, take it easy. Maybe you can't do anything, maybe she's got to walk though the pain herself to make it end."
Pete chuckled, "Same old Linc, still giving wisdom and insight. Your students are very fortunate."
Linc laughed out loud. "They don't seem to think so. At least they won't after this week when I give them back their midterms. Anyway, I'll see you Friday afternoon."
"Okay, man. Give my best to Jason. Bye," Pete said. He was hanging up the phone as Julie entered the study.
Pete looked up and smiled a greeting, "Hi, honey. Is Melissa all set?"
Julie nodded, "Uh-huh. She asked me to come and ask if you'd come up and say good night to her. She wants to show you her horse picture like she promised you as well," she reminded him.
"Sure," he said getting to his feet. They climbed the stairs and headed for Melissa's room. Melissa was lying in her bed with her stuffed pony and she sat right up when Julie and Pete entered. She smiled delightedly as they approached the bed.
"Hi Mommy. Hi Pete. I'm glad you both came," Melissa said reaching her arms out for an embrace. Julie sat on the bed and enfolded Melissa in her arms. Pete watched from the foot of the bed with tenderness glowing in his eyes.
Melissa eyed Pete from over Julie's shoulder, "You can sit on my bed too, Pete. I want to say good night to you too," she stated as she drew away from Julie. Julie smiled and gestured to the bed, inviting him to join them.
"Okay sweetheart. With an invitation like that, how can I refuse." He sat on the opposite side of the bed and Melissa reached to him for a hug, which he readily returned.
"Well, what will it be tonight?" Julie asked as she reached for the pile of books on the night table to her left. Melissa shook her head.
"No story tonight Mommy, could you sing to me instead? Please?" she implored with her eyes.
Julie glanced at Pete quickly and then she looked at Melissa, " I don't know, sweetie. I don't have my guitar with me tonight," she said embarrassed and trying to beg off but Melissa wasn't taking no for an answer.
"Oh Mommy please. I love it when you sing to me. Please?" she beseeched.
"All right. Wait here and I'll go get my guitar," Julie acquiesced as she got up to get her guitar. "I'll be right back." She said as she left Pete with Melissa.
Pete looked around at Melissa's room. It was painted a delicate lavender color with ivory trim and lavender and pink calico curtains that matched her spread. On the walls, there were framed pictures of fairy tale scenes, shelves that held books, knick-knacks, dolls, and stuffed animals. It was the quintessential six-year-old girl's room.
Melissa pointed to a picture hung by the closet door. It was obviously done by a child but had vivid, well-placed colors and a fairly well drawn horse. Pete was quite impressed.
"That's the horse I told you about. Do you like it?" she asked hopefully.
"I do. I especially like the colors you used for the background. When did you do it?" Pete wanted to know.
Melissa gave a pleased smile, "I painted it in school last spring. Mommy and Daddy liked it so much, they put it in a frame and hung it in here. Daddy really liked it and every night when he would tuck me in, he would look at my picture and tell me how much he liked it. I was making a new one for him to put up in his office at the barn but I guess I can't finish it," she said, sadly.
Pete reached over and brushed a stray strand from Melissa's eyes, "Why not? I bet your mommy would love to have a picture like that for her room," he replied encouragingly.
"Yeah, I forgot about that. I'll finish it for Mommy," Melissa decided as Julie came back into the room with her guitar. She came over to Melissa's bed and sat down.
Pete watched as she opened the case and took out a familiar Gibson classic 6 string. He grinned remembering when Linc took him to a pawn shop in Watts owned by a cousin to buy it for her to replace the one that was destroyed when the Woody died.
"Now, Miss, you put your head down on the pillow," she directed. "Or else I won't sing. You need to get ready to go to sleep, or else you won't get up in time tomorrow."
"Mommy, guess what? I showed Pete my picture and he likes it too," Melissa gushed excitedly. "And I'm gonna do another one for you."
"That's terrific, baby. Now lay your head down and listen, okay?"
Julie began strumming the chords on her guitar for "Sunshine." She began singing. Pete sat there and listened quietly as the room filled with Julie's sweet mezzo accompanied by her guitar playing.
He watched her and suddenly was transported back to the time they had worked on a case to uncover the death of a country music singer. He and Julie posed as brother and sister as they went to get jobs at the country bar the singer had last been seen before he died. She had floored him with her audition for the owner when she sang a Carole King song and he was impressed with her voice and natural pitch.
At the time, he was developing quite a crush on her, really seeing her as a very special girl, but he also was also telling himself that there was nothing more then friendship between them. The actual fact was that Pete was in love with her back then but he didn't realize it.
That was the case where we lost the Woody...and when the brakes went and Linc and I jumped before it crashed in the gully with our overnight bags and Julie's guitar. Everything went up in a ball of flame. When we got back to the motel and told her what happened, she was so sweet… All she cared about that we were okay. But I felt bad about her losing her guitar so Linc and I chipped in and bought her a new one...the same one she's playing now...
Julie strummed the last notes as she finished the song. Melissa had fallen asleep as Julie serenaded her, and Julie put aside the guitar so she could reach and plant a kiss on her daughter's forehead. Pete had gotten to his feet and watched the tender scene from the foot of the bed with a mixture of yearning and regret. He couldn't help thinking once again of the huge mistake he made in walking away from this special lady that night so long ago. Had he not done that, Melissa could have been his daughter.
"Good night, my sweet Melissa, I love you," Julie whispered. She caressed Melissa's brow and then reached to the night table to turn off the lamp. She gestured silently to Pete and he came over to take her guitar as they both headed out the door.
Pete and Julie descended the stairs wordlessly and walked toward the parlor. Pete propped the guitar against the far wall and followed Julie over to the sofa where she sat down. He seated himself beside her.
"Hey, are you okay, angel? You seem really quiet," Pete said softly, caressing Julie's shoulder.
Julie smiled sadly, "Every time Melissa asks me to sing for her, I can't help thinking about Dan. He used to sing with me when we tucked her in at night. 'Sunshine' was his favorite song, he used to call me 'sunshine.' And when Melissa was born he called her 'baby sunshine'." She sighed deeply, "Do you think I'll ever get over this, Pete? I see and feel him everywhere."
Pete put his arm solicitously around her, "You're in mourning, Julie. Eventually you will, but you have to cut yourself some slack. It's only been just over a month and the whole thing is still very fresh. Just know that there are people who love you and are here to help you and Melissa through. Which reminds me," he added, "I talked to Linc and everything's all set. I'm flying out to Chicago on Friday to pick up him and Jason in the Lear jet."
Julie nodded, "I'll have Hannah get the two other guest rooms ready. What time will you leave?"
"I'll call Captain Osborne in the morning. I'm guessing that we should leave the airport about nine so I'll be out of here at quarter after eight to drive to Monterey Peninsula Airport. We all should be back here about seven in the evening," Pete informed her.
"Okay, I'll call and order the turkey tomorrow. And I'll help Hannah bake some pies," Julie replied. She gave Pete a bittersweet smile, "Even though I've not really been enthusiastic, I'm glad Linc and Jason are going to be here. And I'm especially glad that you're going to be here." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and his arms went about her instinctively, hugging her tightly.
Julie pulled back to ask him, "I meant to ask you, aren't you going to have any holiday celebration with your mother? After all, she is your family, Pete."
"Yeah, but you and Linc are my family too, even more so. I'll have a holiday celebration with her after Linc goes back home. Besides, she's probably having Thanksgiving with my Aunt Ginny and my Uncle Arthur like last year. Don't worry honey, I'll tell her I'm tied up here with you," Pete reassured her.
"And she won't mind?" Julie asked.
Pete grinned at her, "Of course not, sweetheart. She always liked you and she understands my ties to you and Linc."
Julie said stubbornly, "Just the same, the next time you call her, I want to thank her for being so understanding."
"All right, angel," Pete agreed. "We'll call her tomorrow."
NEXT…FALSE SECURITY