Valerie Wolzien - This Old Murder

“Which they didn’t,” Sam guessed.

“When you were young and in love, would you have?”

“Even at this advanced age, I’m likely to be so involved in the person I love that I don’t notice a whole lot going on around me,” Sam said, pulling Josie over to his side of the car.

“Sam, don’t you think we ought to get going? We don’t even know if Howard or Bobby won the fight.”

“Remember, I’ve had some personal experience there. And, frankly, I’d place my money on Bobby Valentine any day.”

SAM AND JOSIE were enjoying a rare day at the beach. Labor Day was just around the corner and they both felt the need to relax and catch up on their reading. He had brought a pile of New York magazines and some New Yorkers. They lay by his side as he dozed in the sun. Josie had a trashy novel in her lap, but she was reading a letter.

Sam opened one eye and peeked out. “What’s that?”

“A note from Dr. Naomi Van Ripper.”

“A doctor… Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. She’s not a medical doctor. She’s the librarian from my hometown. Remember?”

“Of course, she was Courtney Castle’s friend. Why is she writing you?”

“To lecture me.”

“About what?”

“My personal relationships.”

“She has a lot of nerve. Her close, personal relationship with Courtney turned out to be a lie. Courtney was using her to get to the money her sister’s foundation was giving out, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes. But Dr. Van Ripper got something out of the relationship, too. She got to schmooze with a celebrity. And we learned just how far people would go for that at the beginning of summer.” Josie sat up and stared off at the hazy horizon.

“Strange that she was in town at the same time Courtney was here. Or wasn’t that a coincidence?” Sam asked.

“Not at all. We talked later. It turned out that Courtney invited Dr. Van Ripper here to see just how successful she had become with her own show and her new trailer and all. And possibly Courtney knew Dr. Van Ripper would be able to fill me with guilt for being a dreadful child. And Courtney loved making me miserable. Always did. But you know what amazed me?”

“What?”

“Courtney was still mad about her boyfriend getting me pregnant. She wanted to embarrass me and she set up the interview questions to do just that. After all these years, she was still angry.”

“But she didn’t know you were on the island when she planned this show, did she?”

“Probably not. But the first thing she found out about Island Contracting would have been the name of its owner. She must have been thrilled. She thought she was going to get her new trailer, a great series of fund-raising shows, and revenge for an old wrong.”

“Instead she ended up in a Dumpster down by the commercial fishing pier.”

“Yeah. It was typical of Howard and Cheryl that they didn’t even think of an original place to dump the body.” She paused for a minute. “I was relieved when they confessed.”

“I understand it wasn’t exactly a confession. Each one blamed the other long and loudly down at the police station, is what Chief Rodney told me.”

“Sounds like them. They aren’t exactly a loving couple.”

Sam reached over and took her hand. “I don’t want to pry, but have you thought more about contacting your parents?”

“I’ve been thinking about it for weeks and weeks,” she admitted quietly. “And I… I was going to talk to you about it.”

“Does that mean you’ve made a decision?”

“I called.”

“You called your home? Your parents’ house?”

“Yes. I spoke with my mother.”

“How was she? How was the call?” Sam seemed to be having trouble knowing what question to ask.

“She… she said she and my father were thrilled to know that they had a grandson and… they were hoping we… the four of us… could get together soon.”

“And is that what you want?” Sam asked gently.

Josie looked from the horizon to all the happy families on the beach. “I don’t know if what I want is even possible,” she answered quietly. “But I know that I have to see them again. I have to discover what is possible.”

“And Tyler? What does he think about your decision?”

“I haven’t told him anything about it. He goes back to school next week. I’m going to drive him there and stop off to see my parents on the way back here.”

“You’re not going to tell him about them?”

“Not yet. I’ve thought about it. But, Sam, Tyler is happy and well adjusted. If he misses having an extended family, it doesn’t show. I want to resolve any problems I have with my mother and father before introducing them to one another.”

“They’ll love him, Josie. Everyone loves Tyler. He’s a remarkable kid. You’ve done a fine job raising him.”

“Thanks. I wonder how he’s doing?”

“Now?”

“Yeah. He and that other kid from Family Video entered the sandcastle competition that the lifeguards sponsor every year. They left home at dawn with buckets, shovels, trowels, and assorted tools. They were really enthusiastic. They’re convinced they have a good chance of winning.”

“Really? What’s the theme this year?”

“Theme?”

“Yes. There’s always a theme. A few years ago it was monsters from the deep. The guys who won created a fifty-foot-long sea monster. The fins sticking up from the spine were Coors bottles. I went to see it because they had been dashing in and out of the store for almost eight hours buying twelve-packs. Since it’s illegal to drink alcohol on the beach, I always wondered where they stopped and imbibed on the way. Or if they just dumped out the contents. It was a pretty impressive sand sculpture.”

“Let’s ask the guard what the theme is.” Josie looked up at the handsome young man sitting high above them in the lifeguard’s chair.

“Good idea.”

“I’ll do it. You look so nice and relaxed.” Without waiting for an answer, Josie trotted off. A few minutes later she was back.

“Well, what is it?” Sam asked.

“What I did on my summer vacation,” she answered, gathering together towels, suntan lotion, and reading materials.

“Where are you going?”

“The lifeguard recognized me. Those guys have walkietalkies and they communicate with one another. There’s a rumor going around that Tyler’s sandcastle is one of the best. The judging is done. He thought maybe Tyler and his friend had won a prize.”

Sam stood. “Let’s get going. I always enjoy seeing your son win awards.”

The Annual Lifeguards’ Benefit Sand Sculpture Contest had attracted entrants along almost three miles, and Josie and Sam had walked for almost an hour before they found Tyler.

From the time he was two years old, her son had thrived on attention, so Josie wasn’t surprised to discover that his sculpture had attracted a crowd. She just wished it would part and let her see what he had done.

Sam, tall enough to peer over some of the spectators’ heads, reported that Tyler had won an award. “Most creative,” he announced.

“That sounds like Tyler. But, Sam, what is it?”

He was laughing so hard, he couldn’t answer.

Josie decided motherhood had some privileges and she pushed her way through the crowd. And stopped dead when she saw what her son had done.

“What the-”

“Mom! Hi, Mom! What do you think?”

Her son was jumping up and down, his red hair gleaming in the sunlight, the smile on his face almost irresistible.

“What do you think?” he repeated.

Josie looked at the sand sculpture. The sand had been piled up and carved into an intricate sculpture representing the healthy way her son had spent his summer vacation: with a television set complete with a remote control and a pile of current videos.