Софи Райан - No Escape Claws

“Judge Halloran called me this afternoon,” she said. “Did you have anything to do with that?”

“I actually didn’t,” I said. “But I’m not surprised he got in touch with you. He’s that kind of person.”

Michelle nodded. “His influence can only help.”

I wrapped her in a hug. “Thank you for doing this.”

“Without all of you the truth might never have come out.” She smiled. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Charlotte was sitting on the sofa with Mallory and Greg. They looked shell-shocked. Rose had gone to the kitchen to make tea and hot chocolate.

As soon as I’d seen the burned teddy bear I’d realized Katy had bought a new one. Not a big deal, but why had she made a point of telling Mallory she’d washed the old one three times to get the smoke smell out? In fact, why not tell Mallory the truth about the toy? It was almost as if Katy wanted everyone to see what a good parent she could be.

Who benefitted?

The problem was all we had was a lie about a teddy bear and some footage of a person who might or might not be Katy cutting across the Pearson’s backyard. As Nick had pointed out, it wasn’t enough.

We’d needed to get Katy to confess and the only way to get her to talk to us was to let her stay while we talked to Mallory and Greg.

I went over to them now, pulled the footstool closer to the sofa and sat down. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t imagine how awful that was for both of you.”

Mallory shook her head. “You don’t have to apologize for anything,” she said. “If it wasn’t for you, Katy would have gotten away with killing our mom.”

“Do you really think this time would have been different?” Greg asked.

I knew he was referring to Gina going to rehab again. I nodded. “I do. I think that’s why Katy felt so threatened. Your mother loved you. She just ran out of time to show you.”

He nodded, swallowing hard.

Mallory flung her arms around me. Surprised, I hugged her back. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“It gets better,” I said. “I promise.”

Charlotte and Nick took Mallory and Greg back to their grandmother.

I helped Rose tidy up the kitchen and wash our cups. As I wiped the counter I realized she was studying me. “Do I have spinach between my teeth?” I asked. “You’re staring at me.”

“I heard what you said about Gina to those two lovely young people,” she said, as she dried the last cup. “Do you really believe this time was going to be different?”

I leaned against the counter. “Maybe Gina would have gone to rehab and it would have been no different from the previous times. Or maybe, as Gram likes to say, this time would have been the charm. I don’t know. What I do know is that it doesn’t hurt anyone to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

Mr. P. was putting the cups away. He turned and gave me a smile. “You’re right,” he said. “It doesn’t.”

• • •

I stepped into the hallway the next morning to find Alfred holding Rose’s cake carrier. “Good morning, Sarah,” he said.

“Good morning.” I eyed the large container. “Is that for us?”

He smiled. “It is. Blueberry buttermilk coffee cake.”

I gestured over my shoulder at my apartment door with one finger. “Maybe I should just slip back inside and grab a fork? You know, just to make sure the cake turned out.”

“Or maybe you should just march yourself out to the car, just to make sure it’s going to start,” a voice said behind me.

Rose. She was glaring sternly at me but I caught a hint of a smile play across her lips.

“I wasn’t really going to eat any of that cake,” I said.

“Well, I know that,” she said, reaching up to pat my cheek as she bustled past. “Alfred could take you down with one hand tied behind his back.” She smiled archly. “He has a number of talents you’re not aware of.”

Mr. P. smiled at her and raised one eyebrow.

I decided starting the car was a very good idea.

Rose kept the cake on the backseat with her. Elvis sat next to her and helped guard it.

Liam pulled into the shop’s parking lot right behind me. He came around the back of his truck and took Rose’s tote from her. “Is that for me?” he asked with a smile, gesturing at the coffee cake Mr. P. was carrying.

I shook my head. “I swear you’re like one of those dogs they use in the Alps that can find people under the snow. How do you always know when there’s cake?”

“I’m psychic,” he said, bumping me with his hip as we started for the back door. “Some people can talk to the dead. I can find cake.”

“Good to know if I ever have to send out a search party for a slice of devil’s food,” I said.

He gave me that grin that had been charming women since before he could walk. Then he slung his free arm around my shoulders. “How would you like to get your sunporch back today?”

“Seriously?”

He nodded. “I have to hang that blackboard, put some hooks on the end wall and do a couple of other things, but I should be done around lunchtime.”

I hugged him. “I owe you.”

“I know,” he said. “One of these days I’m going to collect.” He tipped his head close to mine. “Be afraid,” he whispered. “Be very afraid.”

Liam finished up in the office just before lunch. We all trooped in to take a look.

“Aw, Liam, this is great,” I said, turning in a slow circle to take it all in.

The new windows had thermal shades, which would keep the heat out in the summer and in during the winter. The walls were painted a pale shade of off-white and I knew there was lots of insulation behind the new drywall. Liam had put down vinyl plank flooring and a baseboard electric heater for the coldest months.

The chalkboard was on the wall above Mr. P.’s desk, flanked by Rose’s wall sconces, which, I had to admit, looked great. The long farm-style table we always seemed to gather around was at the far end of the room, surrounded by a collection of mismatched chairs.

“You did an excellent job,” Mr. P. said. He couldn’t stop smiling.

“It’s perfect,” Rose said, clasping her hands together.

“I can’t take all the credit,” Liam said. “It would have taken a lot longer if I hadn’t had Nick’s help.”

“I live to serve,” a voice said from the doorway. Nick and Charlotte were standing there.

“This is beautiful,” Charlotte said. “You both do lovely work.”

Rose was standing just to the right of the desk, frowning at the wall. She beckoned at Charlotte with one hand. “What do you think about a bookcase right here?” she asked.

Charlotte walked over to join her. Liam was showing Mr. P. how the blinds worked.

I smiled at Nick. “Thank you,” I said. “Liam’s right. This would have taken a lot longer without you.”

“Anytime,” he said. He tipped his head toward the workroom. I followed him out. “I just came from the police station. It looked like Katy Mueller will be sent for a psychiatric evaluation.”

I’d expected that.

“It’s going to take a little time, but the plea agreement will be voided and Mike Pearson will come home to his kids. They’re going to keep him in the infirmary for now.” He shrugged. “It’s not a perfect ending, but it’s not a bad one, either.”

I nodded. “You and Rose make a pretty good team.”

Nick smiled. “I’ll try not to let that go to my head.”

Rose decided we needed to christen the office by having our cake there around what had already been doubling as our meeting table.

“Does anyone know where Liz is?” I asked as I waited for Rose to cut a slice to set aside for Avery.

Charlotte shook her head.

“All I know is that she said she had some meeting she had to go to,” Rose said. “Some kind of foundation business.”