The Shadow Box(84)
“I’m sure she would,” Tom said. He listened for police cars, tried to catch Lydia’s eye. She noticed and brushed the dirt off her hands, stood up.
“How about if I get us some lemonade?” she asked.
“I’m going to keep planting,” Gwen said. “This garden is going to be for Mom and Charlie. And when he comes home, he will help water it.”
Tom and Lydia walked around the corner of the house.
“The police are coming to search,” Tom said. “I’m surprised they’re not here by now. You should get Gwen out of here.”
“Search for what?” Lydia asked.
“They have a long list.”
“Is this about what happened to Sallie?” Lydia asked.
“Partly,” he said.
“Good,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
Lydia leaned forward to glance at Gwen and make sure she was out of earshot.
“Something’s going on with Dan,” she said. “He barely pays attention to Gwen; he never mentions Sallie, and when I bring her up, he looks angry. And he’s on his phone all the time—texting or talking. He’s definitely hiding something. I just don’t know if it’s related to what happened to Sallie.”
“Have you told my brother?” Tom asked. “Or Detective Miano?”
A frown clouded Lydia’s face. “No,” she said. “Because I’m not sure of anything. And because of Gwen. I don’t want to tell the police anything about Dan unless I’m sure. It would just make things worse for her.”
“Well, let’s get her out of here now, so she doesn’t have to see a bunch of cops going through her house.”
“I should stay, shouldn’t I?” she asked. “To be home when they arrive?”
“You don’t have to,” he said.
She shook her head. “I feel as if I do, for Sallie. I don’t want a bunch of strangers tromping through her house.”
“They will anyway,” Tom said. “I think it’s more important that you look after Gwen.”
“She trusts you,” Lydia said. “Do you have time? Can you take her? She loves the beach, if you could just go for a walk or ice cream or . . .”
“No problem,” Tom said. Lydia ran to get Maggie’s leash and a sun hat for her niece, and Gwen was so comfortable with Tom that she didn’t even question the plans.
“Are we going to see Jackie?” Gwen asked when they backed out of the driveway.
“She was busy this morning,” he said, “but let’s give her a call and see if she wants to meet us.”
He was just making the call when they passed the first cop car heading in the opposite direction on the Bensons’ street. Then another, six altogether. He looked over at Gwen, but she didn’t seem to notice the vehicles. Jackie answered the phone, her voice coming over the truck’s speakers just as Tom thought he was going to have to hear another message.
“Hey,” he said. “Where’ve you been?”
“There’s a lot to tell you,” she said. Her tone of voice told him it was big, that she was bursting to tell him. “You won’t believe this, and you can’t tell Conor yet. I’m with . . .”
“Jackie, Gwen’s in the car with me,” he said quickly, so she wouldn’t reveal anything the child shouldn’t hear.
“Oh,” Jackie said. “Hi, Gwen.”
“Hi, Jackie,” Gwen said.
“We’re going to take a walk on the beach,” Tom said. “Want to come?”
“I can’t right now,” Jackie said. “But how about if I meet you later—we can go to Paradise for fried clams. How does that sound, Gwen?”
Gwen nodded. “Good,” she said.
Both Tom and Jackie were silent for a moment. He wanted her to tell him what was going on, but he sensed she was holding back because of Gwen.
“Jackie, just tell me, Are you okay?”
“Tom,” Jackie said. “You can’t imagine how okay. I can’t wait to see you. Meanwhile, have fun by the water. Gwen, do you like to find sea glass?”
“Oh yes. I love it.”
“I know a good place,” Jackie said. “In Stonington, the small beach near the lighthouse museum. Especially when the tide’s out.”
“It’ll be low tide in an hour,” Tom said. He liked Stonington, a small town with a lot of big old houses, an unfortunately shrinking fishing fleet, and a favorite restaurant in the midst of a boatyard. He passed Stonington by water nearly every time he went out on patrol.
“That sounds great,” Jackie said. “Have fun!”
“Thanks,” Tom said. “You too. Whatever it is you’re up to.”
“We will,” Jackie said.
Tom heard the smile in her voice, and it made him chuckle. He disconnected, glanced at Gwen to make sure she was okay, and began to drive east.
46
CONOR
The police executed the search warrants at Dan Benson’s office and home, the separate building that served as a garage, and his vehicles. Benson was at neither location. There was also an urgent feeling among the team, excitement building, because it felt as if the case were about to break.