Marcia Talley: Sing It to Her Bones

An hour later, at home, dressed like Christmas morning in flannel pajamas, Connie’s terry-cloth robe, and a pair of fleece-lined slippers from L. L. Bean, I cornered Dennis in the living room.

“How did you know where we were, Dennis?”

“It’s a long story.”

I glanced at Connie, sitting next to him on the sofa. “I think we have time to hear it,” she said.

Dennis rested his coffee cup on the arm of the sofa and balanced it there with two fingers. “I was at the nursing home, talking with my informant…”

“Your informant works at the nursing home?”

“Not exactly. He lives there.”

“Lives there?”

“You bet! He’s too frail to take care of himself, but there’s nothing much wrong with his mind.”

“Your father-in-law? I don’t believe it.”

“Oh, he’s a clever old chap. Last October he overheard one of the orderlies discussing a drug deal, and naturally he told me. I’d been aware of Hal’s involvement with drugs for almost a year, but the rascal’s been careful. Supercareful. According to their records, the coast guard boarded Pegasus down in Florida last year, ostensibly for a routine inspection, but they couldn’t find a thing. I’ve been keeping my eye on him ever since.”

Connie plucked at Dennis’s sleeve. “How much is it worth to you to break this case wide open?” She told Dennis about the hidden compartment on Pegasus , giving appropriate credit to me, I’m pleased to say, and I watched as his eyes widened in amazement.

“When we discovered the doctored keel, we called you at home, but Maggie told us you were at the nursing home. We were on our way there when-well, when we got diverted.” She curled up on the sofa and rested her head in Dennis’s lap, all pretense aside.

Dennis laid a gentle hand on her back. “I didn’t know a thing about that. When Dad gave me the tip that a shipment was going out tonight, I rushed straight down to the marina to see what was what. When I saw your car in the parking lot”-he stroked the hair back over Connie’s temple and smoothed it behind her ear-“I was surprised. Then I checked the office and found Frank Chase, lying in a pool of blood. He was alive, but barely. I called an ambulance, then went looking for you, fearing the worst. When I discovered Sea Song ’s slip was empty…” He paused to clear his throat. “Well, I hot-footed it back to the office to call the coast guard. They had just received your May Day, so I asked them to swing by the marina and pick me up. The rest you know.”

“Liz tried to kill us,” I said.

“Because you found out about her involvement with the drug ring?” His fingers made little circles on Connie’s back, moving up and down the bumps along her spine. “I have to confess that I never suspected Liz of being involved with drugs. And certainly not Frank.”

“I don’t think Dr. Chase was. He was only involved with Liz and Hal in the cover-up of Katie’s murder.”

I told him what we had learned about Katie’s becoming pregnant by Hal, about her plan to pass the baby off as Chip’s and how, when that plan fizzled, she had tried to get rid of the child with disastrous results. “When they salvage Sea Song , I think you’ll find that the gun that shot Frank Chase was the same one used to shoot Katie.”

“Well, I’ll be damned!” He shot me a wink. “Thanks to you, it looks like two cases got solved today. Maybe three. The orderly we arrested is David Wilson’s brother. We’ve impounded David’s van. I suspect we’ll find traces of his encounter with your car on his bumper. If so, he’ll be charged with attempted murder and reckless endangerment, in addition to any drug-related charges we can pin on him.”

“Good!” Privately, I hoped Dennis would lock them up and throw away the key.

Dennis checked his watch. “It’s midnight, sports fans. You gals will be wanting to get some sleep.”

I had to ask him. “How about Hal?”

“If he’s still in the boat, the divers should have found him by now.”

“Do you think he’s still alive then?”

Dennis gently lifted Connie’s head off his lap and slipped one of the sofa pillows under it. She was fast asleep. He crossed to where I sat curled in the armchair and perched on the ottoman at my feet. “There’s a chance, but slim. Sometimes there are air pockets.” Clenching my fists until my fingernails left crescent-shaped impressions on my palms, I relived my panic in the car as the water from Baxter’s pond closed in on me. “There’s also a small chance he swam to shore,” Dennis continued, “but I think that’s one in a million.”

“I can’t excuse the drugs, but Hal wasn’t a killer. Not really. He just got caught up in the crossfire between Liz and Frank.”

“But he certainly seemed determined to get rid of you and Connie. I can never forgive him for that.”

Neither could I.

Dennis startled me by taking my hand. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve located Paul. I talked to him from the hospital. He’s leaving the Cape now and should be down here by morning.”

I was amazed. “But how did you find him?”

“Simple, really. Just called the local police, gave them Paul’s license number, and they cruised around North Truro until they found his car parked somewhere along Beach Drive. You should join him up there, Hannah. Great house, I hear.”

He patted my knee, then stood to go. “You girls going to be all right now?”

“Of course. And thanks, Dennis. Thanks for everything.” I stood and gave him a hug, trying to ignore the pain that shot across my chest as I did so. “I’ll make sure Connie gets to bed.”

“Thanks. I’ve got some loose ends to tie up. University Hospital says Chase should be stable enough to interview by morning.”

I walked him to the back door and held it open as he stepped through it onto the stoop. “Will you do me a favor?”

“Sure. What is it?”

I closed the screen door and studied Dennis’s face in the porch light. Huge moths wheeled out of the blackness and made kamikaze runs against the screen. “If Dr. Chase is well enough to talk, will you ask him something for me?” And I told Dennis what I wanted to know.

I knew paul had arrived when he crawled intobed next to me, his face still cool from the early-morning air. He nestled against my back, fully clothed, and wrapped his long arms around my waist, pulling me close, until our bodies fitted together like spoons. I felt his warm breath on my neck, the bristles on his chin against my cheek, and then the softness of his lips.

“Ummmm. That’s nice.” I rolled over to face him. “Ouch!”

Paul recoiled. “Did I hurt you?”

“I don’t think there’s a single part of my body that doesn’t hurt.”

He kissed my ear. “There?” The tip of my nose. “There?”

Our silly game. I felt a surge of warmth and affection for Paul, glimpsed the ghosts of the carefree young couple who used to be so mischievously loving in this room. His lips found my mouth. Oh, it had been so long! I melted into him, my arms clasping his waist. His hand slid under my pajama top and caressed my breast so tenderly that I shuddered with delight. Suddenly my brain kicked in, unbidden and unwelcome. I envisioned Paul touching Jennifer this way, kissing her hair, playing our game. Gasping, I worked my hand up between our bodies and pushed him away.

“What’s wrong?” In the dim light his face wore a worried frown.

“I don’t know what ’s wrong with me! But every time you touch me, I think you’re just being nice to me because you think I’m going to die. And I don’t want your pity! I can’t stand it.” I buried my face in my pillow.