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Jamie kept digging to see what Carol A
He glanced at his timeline and added the current month and year for Carol A
~~~~~
Jess recognized Beth Morgan right away. She was about Jess’s height, at least 20 pounds heavier and had short dark brown hair. Jess waved as Beth came in and then stood and introduced herself as Cori
Beth left after her fourth rum and Diet and Jess sat, still sipping her Diet Coke. Ta
It was nearing 6:30 p.m. when Jake and Jess called Jamie from the car. “She was back in KC to get an old friend to be the sperm donor so she could have a kid.” Jess told the boys.
At the same time both Jake and Jamie said, “Was it Ben?”
Jess shook her head. “Beth didn’t know who it was. But if it was Ben, that could be more reason to suspect Mom. Or to suspect Ben”
Jamie told them about the timeline he’d started, saying he needed another set of eyes to look at it.
“Is Mom home yet,” Jess asked. When Jamie said he hadn’t heard from Ben and their mother, Jake said they were going to hit a drive through for something to eat and asked if Jamie wanted something.
Chapter 15
Timeline
Jamie had just gotten off the phone with his siblings when Lane and Ben came into the kitchen.
Jamie looked up from his laptop. “So, are congratulations in order?”
“Traditionally you tell the groom ‘Congratulations’ and say ‘Best Wishes’ to the bride, but yes, we are engaged. As if you didn’t know about it already,” Lane replied.
Jamie smiled. “I didn’t know for sure you’d say yes.”
Lane bent and kissed Jamie on the top of the head. “Where are Jess and Jake?”
“Oh, they had an errand to run. They called just before you came in and they’re on their way back. They’re bringing home food. If you call, you might catch them in time to place your order.”
She asked where they were stopping. Jamie really didn’t know. Jess kept a ru
Ben saw Jamie’s timeline on the breakfast bar. “Hey, Bambino, what’s this all about?”
7 yrs. Ago
Carol A
started as OPPD consultant
5 yrs. Ago
Lila
promoted to detective
4.5 yrs. Ago
Carol A
left OPPD for KCMO as consultant
4 yrs. ago
Liza
dated Ben
4 yrs. ago
Liza
stalked
4 yrs. ago
Carol A
said stalker is a woman who wanted Liza's life
4 yrs. ago
Liza
left cheerleaders & stalking stopped
4 yrs. ago
Carol A
went into radio at KEAU
3 yrs. Ago
Carol A
dated Ben
3 yrs. Ago
Carol A
moved to Denver
now
Mom
dating Ben
Friday
Carol A
dead
Friday
Mom
accused of murder
now
Lila
investigating the murder
“I was putting together a timeline about Carol A
“Where are Jake and Jess, really,” Ben asked. He knew the Parker Kids had a tendency to protect Lane not by lies of commission but by lies of omission.
“Jess went to talk to Beth Morgan and Jake went to keep an eye on her. Ta
“Bambino. You have nothing to worry about. She did call me, but she didn’t say what she wanted. I told her I was seeing someone and I didn’t agree to meet her. Your Mother knows this, by the way. For God’s sake, I just proposed to your Mother. There’s no way I’d have a kid with someone else. Besides, I suspect given the way we parted that I’d be the last man she’d come to.”
That seemed to appease Jamie, but Ben was curious. What if that was why Carol A
“So, do I call you dad now?” Jamie was gri
“You should probably hold off until after the wedding,” Lane, who had come into the kitchen, said laughingly.
She nudged Ben. “Earth to Ben. You didn’t even hear him, did you?”
Ben shook his head. He was still looking at the timeline Jamie had put together. He picked it up and put it in his pocket. “No.”
Jamie, still gri
“Why not, I’ve been calling you my Bambino for three years now. You know that means kid, male child. So when I call you my Bambino it’s kind of like calling you my kid.”
“So, maybe I should call you Papa then.”
Ben laughed. “Call me whatever makes you comfortable, Bambino.”
Jess and Jake had come in carrying take out. “Who’s calling whom what,” Jake said.
“I’m going to call Ben Dad after the wedding.”
Jess almost dropped the bag she was carrying. They’d grown up basically without a dad. When Phillip Parker had come out of the closet and left their mother, he’d left them too. He’d moved to Chicago to be with Ralphie, his new significant other. Sure, they’d gotten birthday cards and Christmas cards with money or gift cards enclosed, but they didn’t have him. Jake was only five years old and Jess was only 18 months old the night Phillip left. For the first two or three years, they saw him once or twice a year when he came back to Omaha to visit his own mother. As time went on, Phillip’s visits to Omaha became fewer. He never asked to have the kids come spend time with him and Ralphie. It seemed to Jess that he wanted to erase the part of his life when he was their father, and that was just fine with her. Who needed him anyway? That didn’t mean she was ready to call Ben dad. Especially after his behavior in the garage last night. “Actors on her little stage” indeed. Who the hell did he think had been keeping the family together these last 18 years? It sure wasn’t Phillip Parker and it wasn’t Ben Bellini either.