Mayes, Casey - A Deadly Row

“What does your gut tell you?”

I thought about it a split second. “That I’m right.”

“Then go for it, and let the consequences fall where they may.”

“Excuse me, but may I come in?” Barton called out.

That sealed it for me. How had I not heard it before? Could it be that over the telephone, and in person, his voice was somehow changed, but through a closed door, the nuance of it came out? It didn’t matter anymore.

“Sorry, of course you can. Come on in,” I said as I opened the door.

“Thank you.”

After he was in the suite, and the door was closed behind him, I said, “I’ve got something of yours I need to return.”

“You found the necklace after all?” he asked, his voice full of hope.

“No, that still hasn’t turned up.”

“Then what is it?”

“Ten thousand dollars. My mother didn’t spend it, and I don’t think it’s right that I do, Uncle Jeffrey.”

He frowned for a few moments, and then he said softly, “Pardon me? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I wasn’t about to let him get away with it, though. “I just spent a day with Uncle Thomas, and while there isn’t much family resemblance between the two of you, I can hear his voice when you speak. I’m willing to bet that Barton is my uncle’s middle name. Should I call Uncle Thomas and find out?”

Barton Lane slumped down, and I knew I had him. “That won’t be necessary. It’s true. I’m your uncle.”

I didn’t know what he was expecting, perhaps a tongue-lashing and a scolding, but he was clearly surprised when I wrapped him in my arms. “Why did you stay away so long?”

“I had no choice,” he said. He finally managed to pull away from me, and I could see that his face was flushed. “You understand, don’t you?”

“I don’t have a clue what’s going on,” I answered honestly.

“No one told you? There weren’t horrible tales of J.B., the thief, when you were growing up?”

“What are you talking about?”

“That ten thousand dollars I sent your mother was atonement for something I did many years ago. I left when I was eighteen, but I didn’t go empty-handed. Your grandfather didn’t believe in banks, and he didn’t believe in me when I asked him for a loan so I could make my way into the world. He refused me, so I took it anyway.” Barton’s face seemed to melt as he told his story, and I could swear I saw the man shrink before my eyes.

“I was so ashamed of myself. I tried to pay him back five years later, but he tore up the check and returned it to me. He said as far as he and the rest of the family were concerned, I had died the day I left them. It took forever for me to get the courage to write your mother, and when I never heard back from her, I assumed that no one had forgiven me.”

“So you sought me out?” I asked, incredulous about the news.

“Quite the opposite. I’ve stayed away from you, per your mother’s wishes. When I discovered you and your husband were coming to town to investigate my assistant’s murder, I couldn’t help myself. I offered you my finest suite in the hopes I could get to know you without the stigma of what I’d done to taint your impression of me.”

“Like I said before, I never knew you took any money from my grandparents.”

“Are you honestly saying that neither Thomas nor your mother told you?”

“No. I’ve got a feeling if you tried again with Uncle Thomas, you just might be surprised. He’s softened quite a bit over the years.” I looked at Zach, who nodded his head. In some ways, he knew my uncle better than I did, and if there was a chance for forgiveness, he would most likely be the one to know it.

“I hope with all my heart that it’s true, but being here with you right now is enough for me.”

“Whatever sin you committed was never against me, so I’d have a hard time holding a grudge for it, wouldn’t I? We can try to get acquainted, but there’s something you have to do first, or I’m not interested in pursuing this.”

“I can pay you any amount you name.” He reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. “In fact, I’ve calculated the amount I took, compounded the interest, and I’ve written you a check for the full amount. I did it just before I came upstairs.”

“It’s about money, but that’s not what I want.”

The envelope dipped slightly in his hand. “Then name your price, and I’ll gladly pay it.”

I reached into my purse and got the receipt Garrett had given me when I’d deposited the money from my mother in the safe.

“You can take this back. After all, it’s yours.”

He looked at the receipt, and then his expression changed into pain. “Then you don’t forgive me?”

“You don’t understand. It’s not my money. Even if it belonged to my grandparents, that doesn’t make it mine. Give it to Uncle Thomas, if you have to, but I don’t need it. We’re doing just fine.”

Zach nodded his approval, and I felt even prouder that I’d chosen him.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

Barton’s face brightened, and I knew I’d have a difficult time ever calling him Jeffrey, or even J.B. “May I keep calling you Barton?”

“Savannah, you may call me whatever you wish,” he said with a smile. “Just as long as you call me.”

“That’s a promise,” I said.

Zach coughed, and then said, “You two have a lot to talk about, and none of it concerns me. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go into the bedroom so I can get back to work.”

I remembered the codes I was supposed to be working on, too. “Barton, would it be all right if we postponed this reunion for a few days? We’re really pushed for time here.”

“Of course you are,” he said. “We can get acquainted anytime.”

He moved toward me, and after a moment’s hesitation, Barton hugged me.

“Good night,” he said after quickly breaking it. “And thank you for giving me my life back.”

“It looks like you’re doing okay without us,” I said.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Without my family around me, all of this means nothing.”

After he was gone, Zach looked at me and whistled. “Wow, and people think I’m the detective in the family.”

“You would have figured it out, too, if you’d just spent the day with Uncle Thomas.”

“You’re giving me way too much credit again. Savannah, remind me never to get into a detecting contest with you. I’ve got a bad feeling that I’d come in second place if I did.”

“Let’s not worry about that right now. We have work to do.”

“We sure do, but I don’t know how you’re going to be able to focus on it. After all, you just found out you’re rich.”

“I’m not rich, my uncle is,” I said, the taste of the words feeling funny in my mouth.

“True.”

“And if I were, you would be, too.”

“Not me. I just married money.”

“And here I thought it was for love.”

He kissed me, and then Zach said, “Love’s the cake, the rest is just icing, no matter how much of it there is.”

“Let’s get to work. You’re making me hungry, talking about cake.”

“We could always order room service,” Zach suggested.

“That sounds like a great idea.”

I picked up the phone, ordered for both of us, and then found my husband staring at me. “Don’t you think you should have asked me what I wanted before you called?”

“I’m sorry,” I said as I picked the phone back up. “What did you want?”

“Steak, garlic mashed potatoes, and creamed spinach.”

“But that’s what I just ordered,” I said.

“I know, but it feels good when you ask.”