Crowned and Moldering

As soon as our drinks were served and we’d ordered our food, I said, “Anything new on the crime-fighting scene?” and had the pleasure of watching him scowl.

“You just asked me that to watch my blood boil, right?”

“No, but that’s a delightful side benefit.”

He shook his head and glanced around. “I’m not about to tell you anything while we’re sitting here, but I will say that we’re not much farther along than we were when I saw you in my office the other day.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I glanced around, too. The booth was one of the most secluded in the pub, but I still thought it best to lower my voice. “I spoke to Sean. He said you didn’t find what you were hoping for.”

He knew what I was talking about and nodded somberly. “It’s too bad. On the other hand, I’m not sure if those tests would’ve proved much, anyway.”

The DNA tests, I guessed. “You mean, because the mother’s genetic code and her father’s would be too similar to discern?”

He was scowling again, but it was still sort of fun to talk to him cryptically.

Eric leaned over to whisper, and he was so tall that he almost reached my ear. A good thing, because what he said next was totally confidential. “The real problem is that the tests won’t be conclusive, no matter what. It’s got something to do with the genealogical pattern of chromosomes descending within the patrilineal line vis-à-vis the matrilineal line.”

“Translation, please.”

His laugh was short and humorless. “That’s a direct quote from the medical examiner. Bottom line is, it’s not worth our time and money to test Hugh Brogan’s DNA.”

In my head, I decoded what he’d told me. That Lily’s DNA was too close to her father’s DNA for anyone to tell if the baby was his or not.

With a sigh, I said, “I think it’s for the best.” When he looked puzzled, I lowered my voice to a bare whisper and scooted closer. “If I were Sean, I would hate to know that my own father had raped my sister, then killed her when she got pregnant.”

He grimaced but had no comment.

“Because that’s basically what you’re trying to prove by testing Hugh’s DNA, right?” I sat back. “And that’s just too horrific a scenario to contemplate.”

He gazed at me for so long that I started to wonder if I had food smeared on my cheek or something.

“You know, Red,” he said, “for a civilian, you’re pretty darn smart.”

I clutched my chest dramatically. “Oh, be still my heart. That may be the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He was gri

“Ah, that’s better. The earth has returned to spi

*   *   *

The next day, all went according to plan. I drove Callie to school, and we walked together until we reached the parking-lot construction site; she kept going to the building.

Several hours later, it was getting close to lunch and I had just turned off the jackhammer to relieve the relentless shaking of every bone in my body. I usually let the guys work that particular piece of machinery, because even though I had rather awesome upper body strength for a woman, I couldn’t match Sean’s or Douglas’s ability to hold and control the machine.

It made me wonder if Sean’s idea of buying—or, better yet, renting—a hydraulic hammer for jobs like this would be a more reasonable idea all around. It would save wear and tear on my guys because, let’s face it, jackhammers were brutal on anyone’s system. I could protect them from the noise level by requiring them to wear their headphones, and I was a regular maniac when it came to wearing protective eye gear, but what could I do about the body-jarring effects of the machine? I usually mitigated things by setting a time limit and making the guys switch jobs so that no one man had to suffer for hours at a stretch.

Naturally, my guys loved using the jackhammers, although if given a choice of sticking with those battering machines or switching to one of those gigantic hydraulic hammers that the SolarLight guys were operating, I’d bet they’d go with the big hammer.

As I set the jackhammer back in its portable carrier, I saw Douglas coming toward me with purposeful strides.

“Hey, Douglas. You going to lunch?”

He pressed his lips together, looking like he was thinking about something, then blurted, “Cliff Hogarth has offered me a lot of money to go work for him.”

I almost choked on my own breath. It was as if he’d kicked me in the stomach. My head began to spin and all I could do was nod distractedly. “I see. Okay. Thanks for telling me.”

Before he could make excuses, I walked away. I didn’t want to hear how much more money he could make or whatever else Hogarth had promised him. As soon as I was far enough away that he couldn’t see me, I started ru

My eyes were hot with unshed tears, but not for long. As soon as I got inside the truck, I slammed the door and locked it, then laid my head on the steering wheel and started to cry. After a minute, I lifted my head and wiped away the tears. All I needed was for someone to see me and tell Cliff Hogarth that he’d made the girl cry.

I didn’t even know if Douglas was going to take the job with Cliff, but I couldn’t imagine him turning down a huge raise, either. I paid fair wages, but Cliff was clearly not above bribing my guys.

“I hate him!” I shouted, and pounded the steering wheel really hard, wishing it were Cliff Hogarth’s head.

“Ow! You idiot.” That hurt. I had to shake my hand and flex my fingers to make the pain go away. I didn’t need to break my hand on top of everything else.

I looked around the parking lot, knowing I had to get out of there before someone came along who knew me. Without thinking too hard, I realized where I had to go. I shoved the truck into gear and took off toward Main Street. I pulled into the closest parking space and stormed over to the i

In the restaurant, the hostess smiled. “Do you have a reservation?”

“No.” I pushed past her and spied my target across the elegant dining room. He sat at one of the power tables in front of the wide plate-glass window that overlooked Main Street, the pier, and the ocean beyond. He wore another expensive black suit and his hair was perfectly coiffed, as usual. All in all, he was buffed and polished to precision, and looking at him, one would never guess he’d ever soiled his soft hands working on a construction site. He was dining with my friend Dave, another local contractor. Wasn’t that just dandy?

As I stomped closer, I had a vague thought that it would probably be a good idea to calm down first, but that was impossible. I was incensed. This confrontation had been too long in coming, and now I was a runaway train, ready to collide with my worst enemy.

“Cliff Hogarth,” I said crisply, and marveled that my tone was relatively modulated.

“Why, it’s Sha

“Of course I know Dave. I’ve known Dave for years.” I turned to Dave. “Hello, Dave. Nice company you’re keeping.”

“Hi, Sha

Cliff gave me a smarmy smile. “We’d invite you to join us, but . . .” He glanced around. “I’m afraid there’s no room for another chair.”

“I wouldn’t join you if you were the last man on earth. The poisonous stench you give off would ruin the excellent food here.” I edged closer so he could hear every word I said. “I am sick of you bad-mouthing me to my clients, stealing my workers behind my back, and trying to undermine my business. If you don’t back off immediately, I will make you sorry you ever showed up in this town again.”