Jubilee's Journey (Wyattsville #2)(63)

Before Ethan Allen and Jubilee returned from the park, the alcove Olivia used for a sewing room had been converted into a tiny bedroom. Sara Perkins had donated the rollaway bed she used for sleepover guests, and while Olivia covered the walls with bubble gum pink paint Clara drove over to Greenblum’s Home Store and returned with sheets, a pink comforter, and a tiny lamp. The small chest of drawers from Olivia’s bedroom was now in the alcove, and the sewing machine it replaced was in the bedroom. The easy chair that once occupied the alcove was in Seth Porter’s storage bin in the basement.

Although Seth had been agreeable enough about moving the chair, he reminded Olivia that the girl was only here on a temporary basis. “Don’t go getting attached,” he said, “else you’ll be in for a load of heartbreak.”

“I’m not,” Olivia assured him, but in the back of her mind there was a troublesome tick warning that she already was.





When Mahoney arrived back at the Northampton station house, he expected the place to be near empty, a few duty officers on hand perhaps, but not Captain Rogers. He was wrong.

Rogers was sitting behind his desk and looking none too happy. He spotted Mahoney walking in and called out to him.

“I’d like a word,” he said, but the truth was he wanted way more than a word.

“What’s going on with this Wyattsville case?” Rogers asked, the agitation in his voice apparent.

“I’ve located Jubilee’s aunt,” Mahoney said, “but she’s away for the weekend. I’m figuring to talk to her on Monday.”

“I’m not talking about the girl.” The captain moved to within inches of Mahoney’s nose. “I’m talking about the kid involved in the Klaussner shooting!”

“I just happened to get lucky and—”

“Lucky? You didn’t get lucky, what you did was piss off the entire Wyattsville department. I got three calls today, and they want you off the case.”

A look of defeat swept across Mahoney’s face. “Off the case?”

“Yeah, off the case. That means keep away from the Wyattsville station house and have no further involvement with the kid.”

“Before you make that call,” Mahoney said, “I think there’s something you ought to know.” He lowered himself into the chair opposite the captain’s desk and began the story. It started with how the Doyle case had unfolded and went on to tell how the then-Sargent Gomez was ticked off by losing the chance for a conviction. “He’s got a grudge going, and the bottom line is that he’s going to railroad this kid to prove a point.”

Rogers shook his head doubtfully.

Mahoney explained how the sister’s story had been confirmed by the waitress, and the timeline left no room for an unplanned meet-up with Hurt McAdams.

“Then why did Klaussner shoot the kid?” Rogers asked.

Mahoney grimaced; he had theory, nothing but theory. “I believe it was a stray bullet intended for McAdams.”

Captain Rogers leaned back in his chair. “Damn. This puts me in a tough spot.”

“It puts Paul Jones in an even tougher one,” Mahoney replied.

After nearly an hour of back-and-forth discussion the captain agreed Mahoney could continue to investigate, but he had to stay clear of the Wyattsville station house.

“And,” he added, “I don’t want you anywhere near Detective Gomez.”





It was nine-thirty when Mahoney left the Northampton station house, and by then he’d decided to take the weekend off. He’d spend some time mending bridges at home and let the Wyattsville boys cool down a bit before he went back. With Anita gone until Monday, nothing much would happen until then anyway.





Olivia



There’s a lot of merit in what Seth Porter says. I am opening the door for heartache to come crawling through, but now it’s too late to do anything about it.

Looking back, I can see the truth; I made a place in my heart for Jubilee the night I saw her tiny little shoe with a piece of cardboard covering up the hole. She had the look of a stray kitten that comes mewing at your door asking for nothing more than a bit of kindness and some warm milk. If you can turn your back on a child like that, you’ve lost your worth as a human being.

The good Lord is probably laughing up his sleeve by now, and He sure enough has cause for doing it. After all those years I spent running away from marriage just because I couldn’t bear the thought of children hanging to my coat-tail, now here I am wanting a second one who’s not even mine to want.

It’s not just me; Ethan Allen’s also taken Jubilee to his heart. I know he’s wishing she could become a part of our family. He doesn’t come right out and say it ‘cause that’s not his way, but I see the things he does, the way he watches out for her. Yesterday they came in from playing, hungry as bears and wanting a snack. Of course they both wanted chips. I looked in the cupboard, and there was just one packet left. Given the way Ethan loves his chips, I figured he’d be first to grab for it but he didn’t. He gave it to Jubilee and took a bag of pretzels for himself.

Mister Mahoney has yet to find that Anita, and in my mind it’s just as well. Any aunt who doesn’t know her niece is wandering around with no place to go doesn’t deserve to have the child. Maybe Anita feels the way I used to, and if that’s the case I’m going to say right up front that Jubilee’s welcome to stay here and live with us.