“I’m not in no hurry to die,” Delaney said. “But I don’t see what you two have got to do with it. No reason at all why someone would want me dead. I’ve been gone from Mississippi for nearly twenty years. I don’t know anybody here no more.”
“That’s not true,” Jack said. “I can think of at least two people you know and who will certainly remember you.”
Delaney’s glance shifted to Jack but then shifted back to the screen. “Don’t know who you’re talking about.”
“Elizabeth Barber and Leann Finch.” I watched him closely for his reaction as Jack spoke the names. Delaney tensed but evidently realized what he’d done and immediately tried to relax.
Jack continued, “You worked for the Barber family for years. You knew their daughter, Elizabeth. Twenty years ago she would have been sixteen or seventeen. Leann Finch was her best friend. You must have seen them together at some point.”
Delaney’s gaze remained stubbornly fixated on the television screen.
“Did you recognize Leann Finch yesterday in the emergency room?” I asked.
I noticed Delaney’s hands tighten on the white bedspread, and they stayed clenched. For a moment I felt bad. It wasn’t my intention to browbeat him, but we had to get through to him.
“I don’t remember any Leann Finch,” Delaney said. “I remember Elizabeth, though. Beautiful girl.” He closed his eyes and sighed. “Don’t know whatever became of her.”
“You remember what happened to her parents and her brothers, though,” Jack said.
“Of course I remember.” Delaney opened his eyes and snapped the words out. “And if you’re here to try to make me confess to killings I didn’t do, you might as well get the hell out of my room right now.” He picked up the television control, and I saw him push the call button for the nurse.
“We’re not here to accuse you. You had an alibi, as I recall, your mother,” I said. “We do want to talk to you about the murders, though.”
“The police will be talking to you about them,” Jack said. “They know you’re back in Mississippi now. I’m actually surprised they haven’t been here already.”
“They have been,” Delaney said. “About an hour ago. Some woman deputy and a man.”
“Did they ask you where you were the past twenty years?” Jack asked.
“Yeah,” Delaney said. “Told ’em I was in Montana, working on a ranch until I got word that Mama was dying and asking for me.”
“How did the nursing home know how to find you?” I asked.
“Mama knew where I was,” Delaney said. “In case you’re wondering why I didn’t come home sooner, well, Mama didn’t want me to. Thought I ought to stay away.”
“Because of the Barber case,” Jack said.
“If you say so,” Delaney replied in an indifferent tone.
“Excuse me, gentlemen.”
Jack and I turned to see a nurse, a stocky woman around my age, standing in the doorway. She came into the room and approached the bed. “Are we doing okay, Mr. Delaney? Do we need another pain pill? You’re not due for about another hour.”
“No, ma’am,” Delaney said. “I was hoping you would show these men out. I’m tired, and I want to sleep.”
The nurse turned to face us, her expression apologetic. “I’m sorry. I need for you to leave now so my patient can rest. He’s recovering from a real bad accident.”
“Yes, we know,” I said. “We’re sorry, Nurse. We’ll go now, but we’ll come back another time when Mr. Delaney is feeling more rested.” I smiled at the nurse before I walked out of the room. Jack was right behind me.
While we waited for the elevator, I said, “He was pretty cool, but he’s hiding something.”
“Agreed,” Jack said. “I think it has to do with his mother. He didn’t want to talk about her.”
“No, he didn’t,” I said. We stepped into the elevator, and I punched the button for the ground floor. “I’m beginning to think Stewart was right on the money about Mrs. Delaney.”
TWENTY-FOUR
“Who else would he be trying to protect, other than himself?” I asked.
“I agree with you, up to a point,” Jack said. “He doesn’t want to talk about his mother, but there could be someone else he wants to protect. After all, it wasn’t his mother who tried to run him down.”
“True,” I said. “The only other person I can think of is Elizabeth Barber. Why would he be trying to protect her, though?”
“She could have killed her family,” Jack said.
The elevator reached the first floor, and the doors opened. Jack and I stepped out. I examined the signs to be sure I remembered the way to the emergency room from there.
“This way.” I turned to the left. Jack followed me through the corridors until we emerged near the main desk in the emergency room. I saw only a few people in the waiting room, and no one stood in line at the desk.
“I’ll ask about Dr. Finch,” I said.
Jack nodded and stood near the entry to the waiting room as I approached the desk. “Excuse me.” I smiled at the young man on duty. “I was wondering if Dr. Finch is on duty today. I need to talk to her about my cousin. She saw him here yesterday.”
The young man said, “No, she’s not here today.”
“Do you know when she will be on duty again?” I asked.
“Tomorrow, I think,” the young man replied. “Let me look at the schedule.” He focused on the computer, tapped a few keys, and perused the screen. “Yes, tomorrow, seven a.m. till five p.m.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Guess I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
“If your cousin was admitted, you can talk to the attending,” the young man said.
I nodded and repeated my thanks.
“No luck?” Jack asked when I joined him.
“No, she’s off today. Won’t be in again until tomorrow morning,” I said. “Looks like we’ll have to leave her until later, unless you want to try to track her down at home.”
“Let’s at least see if we can turn up her address or a phone number.” Jack pulled out his cell phone and began to tap on it.
“We can sit in the waiting room.” I was aware that the young man at the desk was watching us, and I didn’t feel comfortable with that.
Jack followed me, phone in hand, to a corner of the waiting room. We took seats next to each other against the wall. I watched as he continued his search for Leann Finch.
“I subscribe to one of the websites that gives you phone directory type of information,” Jack said. “I found our Dr. Finch.” He frowned. “The phone number must be unlisted, but I have her address.” He showed me the screen, and I read the address.
“That’s only a few blocks from here.” I checked my watch. “It’s not quite eleven thirty yet. She could be at church if she’s a churchgoer. Since it’s on the way, though, why don’t we go there and see if she’s at home? If she’s not, we can go have lunch and come back afterward.”
“Works for me,” Jack said.
The drive to Leann Finch’s street took only about three minutes. The neighborhood was a modest one with homes built mostly in the late 1940s, after the war, when Athena had a small growth spurt. Dr. Finch’s street featured one-story bungalows with lots that kept the neighbors from getting too close. Most houses had plenty of trees shading them, and the whole block appeared to take pride in their yards. Every one on Dr. Finch’s block looked manicured and well kept.
“Nice neighborhood,” Jack said. “Reminds me of my former neighborhood in Tullahoma. I sold my house when I got married. My wife’s place was actually bigger.”
“They certainly do keep things looking neat and tidy,” I said.
Most of the bungalows had carports, and Dr. Finch’s was no exception. Her carport was empty. I pulled into her driveway in order to turn the car around.
“On to lunch,” I said. “How do you feel about eating at the bistro?”