“She was expressing her feelings through the drawings,” said Natasha. “It’s actually a good sign. The therapeutic value of art is well recognized and respected.”
“Maybe, but not on Maggie’s pictures,” said Ben.
“I know she feels really bad,” said Liz. “This morning she gave me a little glass mouse. She used to have it in her room. I told her to keep it, but she just acted indifferent. It’s there … on the fireplace mantle.”
Natasha saw the cute crystal mouse peeking out from the mantle over the large stone fireplace. “Why don’t you buy a big scrapbook for her to use?” she suggested.
“I did,” said Ben. “I gave it to her yesterday, but I don’t think she’s used it.”
Jack looked at Natasha and she gave a slight nod of her head. “We’ll go talk with her.”
“We’re not upset with her now,” said Liz, “but she’s been real quiet ever since. I’d appreciate it if you would tell her that we’re not angry. She acts like she doesn’t believe us.”
A few minutes later, Jack and Natasha climbed a ladder inside the barn leading to an open trap door in the loft. Marcie was batting a rope back and forth that was hanging from the open doors at the end of the loft.
“Hey, Marcie! What ya doin’?” asked Jack.
Marcie looked startled. “Just playing,” she said.
“You looked like you were in pretty deep thought,” said Natasha. “Is there something bothering you?”
“No.”
“What were you playing?” asked Jack, as he gave the rope a slap and watched it swing out the open doors at the end of the loft.
“I don’t know. I was just thinking it would be fun to swing out in the yard … but if I fell and hurt myself, I guess it wouldn’t be good.”
“Jack could tie a big knot at the end of the rope. You could stand on it and it would be safer.”
Jack caught the rope in his hand and spoke to Marcie while tying a large knot. “It wouldn’t be good if you hurt yourself. I would be upset. So would Liz and Ben.”
“No, they wouldn’t. They’re mad at me. I did a stupid thing. But what else is new,” she mumbled.
“They told us about that, but they’re not angry with you at all,” said Natasha. “As a matter of fact, they were just bragging to us about how much help you’ve been and how hard you’ve been tackling your school work.”
“Listening to them,” said Jack, “makes me really proud of you. They’re really happy with you. They’re definitely not angry with you. In fact, I think the three of you help each other much more than you realize.”
“That’s nice they said that.” She looked at her watch. “I bet dinner is ready. We should go.”
Natasha found out that Jack had not exaggerated how great the meal would be. The simplicity of the roasted free-range chicken, scalloped potatoes, and broccoli with hollandaise sauce made for a homey, mouth-watering meal. She wasn’t surprised at the freshly baked apple pie with ice cream for dessert. The aroma of the pie had greeted her when she first arrived.
Supper conversation was easygoing, which she appreciated. The occasional friction of Jack’s knee rubbing against her leg brought on fantasies of a primal nature. More intellectual conversation would have been difficult.
After dinner, she insisted on helping Liz clean up in the kitchen, while Ben went to get wood for the fireplace. She saw Jack and Marcie escape the work detail as they headed outside to walk off dinner. She didn’t mind; it gave her time alone with Liz. Time to squeeze any stories out of her about Jack. Either as a child, or as a man.
Liz told her about Ben’s heart attack and how Jack spent every spare minute he had working on the farm until Ben slowly regained his strength. She said something else. Jack was really good with Maggie and Ben Junior. He’d been like a second dad to them.
“In case you wanted to know that,” said Liz, with a smirk on her face.
Natasha smiled. “It’s good to know,” she replied.
Later, they had coffee in the living room. Marcie seemed happier and joined in on the conversation. At nine o’clock, Marcie announced that it was her bedtime, and Natasha realized that it was time to go.
They said good night at the door. Jack gave Marcie a hug first, then Liz. Natasha saw Ben standing back. He looked shy. She smiled and gave him a hug. His arms were huge and strong. She felt like a child in his grasp.
Liz hugged her and whispered, “You take good care of my little brother.”
“I will,” she whispered back.
It was then she noticed Marcie in the living room, standing on her tiptoes at the fireplace. She picked up the glass mouse and took it with her as she headed down the hall to her bedroom.
Natasha glanced at Jack. He looked pleased. She felt good too. She liked Jack’s family, and she knew she loved Jack. Her only disappointment for the day was that Jack wouldn’t spend the night with her. He had an early morning engagement — one that was important enough that she could not convince him to stay.
chapter twenty-seven
It was six-thirty on Monday morning when Jack and Danny finished their coffee in a small restaurant adjacent to a large cemetery.
“Time?” asked Danny.
“It’s time,” replied Jack.
Danny punched the numbers into his cellphone. Superintendent Wigmore was getting dressed for work when he answered the call.
“Sir? It’s Danny O’Reilly.”
“O’Reilly! Well, well. Aren’t you the punctual one. What have you decided?”
“Sir, I’ve only got a few minutes. I’m at a coffee shop. Jack is here, too, but he just went to the washroom.”
“So you’ve decided to come clean? Tell me what Taggart is up to? Or, should I say, what the two of you have been up to?”
“Yes, sir, but a lot has happened this last week. Taggart thinks he knows who killed his niece and nephew. Two bikers from Satans Wrath.”
“How does he figure that?”
“We turned a good informant. Someone inside the club.”
“Turning an informant in Satans Wrath? Just like that? Come on, O’Reilly! What’s been going on?”
“Sir, it’s a long story, and I can’t talk right now. Basically, I’m afraid of what Jack will do to the men who did this. He trusts me completely and tells me everything. He said that he’s thinking of getting them. Wants to take a week or two and plan how to do it.”
“A week or two? This is good…. We have time. Meet me tonight at the Oceanside and we’ll go over everything. Then I’ll take it to Internal and we’ll come up with a plan.”
“Tonight isn’t good, sir. Jack wants me to work surveillance with him the next couple of nights. If I slip away, he might get suspicious. Wednesday night would be better.” Danny’s voice suddenly became more official and he said, “Sorry, no. You’ve got the wrong number.”
“Taggart is back, I take it?”
“Yes, that is this number,” said Danny.
“Okay, no problem. Call me at home Wednesday night to set up a time to meet.”
A few minutes later, Wigmore left his apartment and walked to his car. He was irritated when he saw that someone had left an empty liquor bottle standing on the roof of his car. He picked the bottle up and looked at the label. Glennfiddich … my brand. Too bad someone hadn’t left a full one! He set the bottle by the curb before driving off.
At the same time, Jack and Danny walked up a grassy knoll in a cemetery. The ground was soaked from an overnight rain and the air was crisp. Leaves had already fallen, exposing black branches to the grey sky. Some of the upright grave markers were silhouetted on the crest of the hill. The business towers and high-rise apartments on the horizon were still lit up.