Chapter 15
When Jessica and Mort visited the Reynolds' home, they found out the boys, Greg and Garrett had had many run ins with the law in their short lives. Growing up in a privileged household and getting everything they wanted didn't keep them from stealing from their neighbors and relatives; they stole anything from money, to silverware, to jewelry and even cars.
Their parents, Jim and Laurie Reynolds tried everything- counseling, drug rehab, and separating the boys, but nothing worked. So when the boys got out of prison, they were only allowed to live in the family basement, which was actually considered quite luxe by some people's standards.
"When the boys stole from their Uncle Jack, that's when I finally put my foot down," Jim was explaining to Jessica and Mort as they sat in the plush living room, "no more slick lawyers and legal favors."
"If you ask me," Laurie, the mother, defensively stated, "I thought the charges against my boys were completely unfair! They may have pulled out semiautomatics on the arresting officers, but it wasn't as if they fired them!"
Mort and Jessica had to rein in their feelings regarding how blind the mother could be when it came to her boys. So Mort turned to the father.
"Mr. Reynolds. Do you own a scoped rifle?"
"Scoped rifle? You mean a sniper rifle?" Jim sounded suspicious.
"One and the same," Mort commented.
"Are you accusing me of something?" the father looked defensive, "because I don't have to answer that!"
"Not at all, but in my experience," Mort said, "people who say 'I don't have to answer that' are usually hiding something!"
Laurie wondered, "Are you referring to my boys? Are they in trouble again?"
"Just answer the question," Mort urged.
"We don't have to, we know our rights!" Jim insisted, "but I will tell you for a fact that I don't have a scoped rifle!"
"Maybe not now, but you had previously," Jessica interjected, as three pairs of surprised eyes turned her way.
Laurie looked indignant, "You don't know such a thing!"
"You're right...it's more an educated guess," Jessica admitted, "When we first entered and past the guest closet, I noticed it had scratched marks around the knob, like someone had tried to break the lock. And just now when Mrs. Reynolds asked about the scoped rifle, her eyes flitted over towards that same guest closet."
"Makes sense to me," Mort agreed, "I guess both of you tried to keep the weapon away from your boys, but they found it anyway."
"For YOUR information..." Laurie didn't deny it, "the boys aren't even allowed in the main house! They have no keys and we've set up an alarm system with coded numbers!"
"But boys being boys, I assume they are quite resourceful," Jessica pointed out, "and I'm sure the alarm code must be something easy to remember. What is it? A birthday? your anniversary? The house address?"
Jim and Laurie exchanged awkward glances.
"We aren't responsible for what the boys do any longer," Jim stated, "they are considered adults in the eyes of the law! And yes, I admit that I had once owned a scoped rifle, but mine was stolen awhile back; I just never reported it and that's not a crime!"
"No, it isn't," Mort said, "but I'll tell what IS a crime...the two of you allowing convicted felons to possess a firearm!That's at least two more years in state prison for them. And if you had knowledge that they were the ones who took your gun and you knowingly didn't report it, that makes you an accessory to a crime!"
The parents were looking overwrought, so Jessica decided this was the perfect time to change the subject.
"Mrs. Reynolds, despite the loveliness of your home," Jessica observed, "I assume the house is actually very old?"
The other three people looked confused at the sudden switch in topics.
"Why do you ask?" Laurie asked.
"I couldn't help noticing your mailbox outside with your name on it," Jessica commented, "the mailbox obviously been there a very long time, so that means you've probably lived here for quite a time, too."
"Not that it's any of your business," Laurie coolly stated, "but we had inherited this house from my parents, so, yes, it's been in our family for decades."
"Well, it's beautifully maintained; but still, old houses present many unforeseen problems," Jessica stated understandably, "I know that from having my own seasoned home. For me, I've had to deal with leaky roofs, broken pipes, and even rat problems ..."
"How dare you imply-" Laurie began but Jessica continued.
"...and, unfortunately, dealing with rats require rat poison..." she then gave Mort a knowing look, who caught on quickly.
"...and rat poison contains thallium!" he interjected, looking very proud of himself.
Jessica nodded, "-and rat poison is usually stored in the garage or the-"
"BASEMENT!" both Mort and Jessica said in unison, both knowing that's was where the boys resided, so that they would have easy access to the poison.
Jim and Laurie didn't like where this conversation was headed.
"You two need to leave." Jim announced, already standing.
Mort and Jessica had no choice. They also stood.
They were escorted out and then the door was shut. The sounds of locks could be heard behind them. And as they walked through the front yard, they heard some loud, booming music coming from the room below the house.
"Sounds like the two young men are home," Mort commented, head-gesturing towards the basement.
Jessica nodded, "I believe you're right, Mort."
"Maybe we should pay them a visit," he suggested.
"Perhaps we should," she agreed.
#
Later that evening, Jessica went to visit Seth as he sat up on the hospital bed.
"So did anything happen when you visited the Reynolds' place?" Seth asked.
"Quite a bit," she said, as she began to explain.
Jessica updated him on the visit to the parents and then how Mort and she eventually dropped by to see the boys, who were disrespectful and full of themselves throughout Mort and Jessica's visit.
"By the way," Jessica added, "when Mort brought up your name to Greg and Garrett, they remembered you testifying against them in court."
"Oh, I don't doubt they remembered me...and they probably had a few curse words associated with my name, too," Seth said, "they blamed the Police Captain and myself for lockin' them away! I bet they were disappointed hearin' I wasn't dead yet!"
"They definitely were not happy," admitted Jessica, but then countered with, "but no need to let it get to you, Seth. They're the type of boys that blame all their troubles on others."
"It's not that that's got me in a snit," Seth moped, "It's just that..." he sighed, "the doctor told me I need to be monitored on the heart machine overnight. And I need to be monitored like a person needs a hole in the head!"
"Seth, I'm sure it's just usual hospital procedure," Jessica assured him.
"But that also means that we'll have to cancel our date AGAIN!" Seth complained.
"Is that what's bothering you?" Jessica smiled and caressed his cheek with her hand at the sweet thought, "Well, don't you worry...our first date will happen soon enough!"
He brightened up.
"Oh yeah? How about this comin' Saturday," Seth suggested, "I know the charity event didn't work out, and neither did the theatre and the movie; so I was thinkin'...how about you and I do a picnic up at the cliffs Saturday lunchtime? Get a little fresh ocean breeze and some alone time."
He was surprised when Jessica looked hesitate.
"Perhaps Saturday would not be the right time to do that, Seth."
His face fell, "Why not? You're feelin' okay aren't you, Jess?"
"Oh, yes, indeed!" she assured him before looking solemn again, "but I'm worried over the two Reynolds' boys."
"Those hoodlums?" Seth's tone was one of annoyance, "I don't get it. What does Saturday have to do with them?"
"Hopefully I'm wrong," Jessica told Seth ominously, "but I think they're planning to do something bad. Very bad, and whatever it is, it's going to occur this Saturday!"
Seth looked incredulous.
"You sure, Jess?"
"No, it's more a hunch of mine, really..." Jessica admitted as she reassuredly patted Seth's hand, "but, perhaps I'm wrong and there's nothing to worry about at all!"
But Seth knew better.
For Jessica was rarely wrong in her assumptions.
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