Just before I headed back over the bridge, I glanced back down the alley. He was standing in the middle of it, watching me, looking lost.

Too damn bad.

I drove home.

18

“Frank has called about half a dozen times,” Rachel whispered, handing me a slip of paper with a phone number on it. “He said to tell you to call him no matter what time you got in.” We were keeping our voices low; the door to the guest room, where Travis slept, was partially open.

“Is he angry?”

She shrugged.

“How’s Travis?”

“He woke up once, took another pill and went back to sleep. He didn’t look too great while he was awake, but the pills really knock him out. Probably for the best.”

“The patrol car’s gone,” I said. “I guess I’m not surprised.”

“The shift’s almost over, and they can’t keep a unit here permanently. They’ll probably increase the patrols past the house, though.”

We moved to the living room. “I tracked down Richmond,” I said. “I’ll tell you the whole story in the morning. We’re going to pay him a visit.”

She smiled.

I looked back toward Travis. “I was afraid the dogs would wake him when I came in.”

“Naw, that’s why he left the door to his room open. He knew they’d come out to greet you. They come out here to check on me every once in a while, but most of the time, they’ve been with him. Even Cody’s in there with him.”

“I hope they aren’t bothering him.”

“Like I said, he isn’t aware of too much after he takes one of those pain pills.”

“You okay here on the couch? You could have the bed-I’ll sleep out here.”

“I’m all settled in-you go ahead and take the bed, catch what sleep you can.”

“Thanks.” I looked at my watch. It was just past four-thirty. “I hate to call Frank at this hour.”

“Irene…” she chided.

“Okay, okay.”

“See you in a few hours, then. Once you’re up, I’ll run home and shower and change. Then we can talk.”

For all my trepidation before making it, the phone call to Frank was a good one. He had been worried, but apparently Rachel had calmed him down during one of his previous calls.

“Do me a favor,” he said. “Think about staying somewhere else. The house in the mountains, or Pete and Rachel’s place. Or a hotel.”

“Okay,” I said, “I’ll think about it.”

There was a brief silence, probably while he regained his temper. But after that, all the talk was devoted to catching up on his news, and a little of that brand of conversation lovers cherish but others find disgusting, boring or just plain silly.

Because of it, I slept well.

I couldn’t sleep much past nine, but discovered that Travis had already awakened.

“He hasn’t eaten anything yet,” Rachel said drowsily, sitting up on the couch. “He was in a hurry to see Jack.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t really say. He’s been there quite awhile.” She yawned. “He’s over there with the dogs.”

I have this worry that one day Jack will sell his house and I’ll be left trying to explain to the new proprietors that regular visits from my dogs are part of the joy of home ownership.

“He also mentioned something about going shopping,” Rachel added.

“I can understand that. If he hadn’t brought the ‘Cosmo’ trunk inside the house, nothing from that camper would have been spared.”

“Oh, yeah,” she said, waking up a little more. “He took that over to Jack’s place, too.”

“The trunk?”

“Yeah. That upsets you?”

I shrugged. “Maybe he’s decided he wants to stay at Jack’s place instead.”

I called Mary to let her know we had found Travis. She told me to try to take better care of him over the next few hours I spent with him than I had during the first twenty-four, but on the whole she was pleased. She wanted to see him, and I told her I’d call her again later to set up a visit.

I walked next door in time to see Jack leaning over an official-looking document, writing on it as Travis stood by. I saw them exchange a look as I came nearer.

“What are you two up to?” I asked.

“Nothing much,” Jack answered. “Your cousin just bought my van.”

“Just bought-”

“Yes, and we’ve agreed that the particulars are entirely between the two of us, Your Royal Nosiness.”

“Jack-”

“Everything’s fine, Irene. I’ll get around on my bike until I decide to buy something less fitting for my image.”

I’m now so used to Jack, I don’t really notice the black leather outfits, or the scars, tattoos and earrings that frighten most of our other neighbors away from him. Jack, I thought, fit into McCain’s scenario of a person of wealth living a simple life-Jack owned a fortune in local real estate, but was happiest riding around on his Harley, or sailing. He’s the most generous of friends, but I couldn’t allow him to give my cousin his almost-new van, which was completely outfitted for camping.

As if reading my mind though, Travis said, “It’s not a gift.”

“Strictly business,” Jack agreed.

It didn’t make me happy, but they were both adults, and I really didn’t have any say in the matter. And if I was honest with myself, I had to admit that money wasn’t the only reason I was unhappy about the van. “You’re going home?” I asked Travis.

He frowned, then shook his head. “Not right away.”

“Where is home?” Jack asked.

“Right now, its probably sitting in the police impound yard. What’s left of it, anyway.”

“You lived in that camper full-time?” I asked.

He nodded, then turned to Jack. “You’re sure you don’t mind taking care of that other matter for me?”

“Not at all,” Jack said.

“He’s taking care of your trunk?” I said, mostly to let him know I was on to him.

“Yes, but that’s not what I meant.”

Perhaps because he knew the limits of my patience better than Travis, Jack said, “I’m picking up a cellular phone for him.”

“I could have taken you to do that,” I told Travis.

“It will be better this way, I think. But thanks.”

Back at my house, I changed the bandage on his wounded hand and watched him as he struggled to eat breakfast left-handed.

“Bring back memories?” Rachel asked.

It did, but I said, “Let’s not talk about that.”

“About what?” Travis asked.

“Last November I had my right hand in a cast,” I said quickly. “Rachel helped me out a lot then.”

She folded her arms and raised a brow, but didn’t say anything. He looked between us, but apparently decided not to pursue it.

“I’ll be back in a little while,” Rachel said.

After she had left, he asked, “Where did you go last night?”

I told him.

“I know Richmond,” he said.

“You do?”

“Sure. He’s hounded us for years. Part of the reason he got demoted from detective was because he harassed us, but he still didn’t let up. Mr. Brennan-my dad’s lawyer-eventually got a temporary restraining order placed on Richmond. He couldn’t come near me or my dad. My mom wouldn’t let my dad put her name on the order. But because I was on it, that pretty much kept Richmond away from both me and my mom.”

“Was he threatening you?”

He shook his head. “No, just harassing us. He’d follow us around. He was sure my folks were going to get back together.” He paused. “But let’s not start that death-certificate argument again.”

“I don’t know much about what your life has been like since…”

“Since Gwendolyn was murdered? Actually, you don’t know much about what my life has been like since I was about a month old, right?”

“Right.”

He was silent.

“You can punish me like this for another twenty-some-odd years, if that will make you happy,” I said. I stood up, started to clear dishes.

He reached over with his bandaged hand, lightly touched my wrist. “No. It won’t make me happy. I’m sorry.” When he spoke again, there were sharp breaths between the words. “I’m not usually-I guess- everything-that happened yesterday-it’s just been a lot to take in, all at once.”