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Beau nodded his understanding. But still wanted to know. “Won’t they be upset that you just called in and informed them?”
“Nah! They’re too busy shtupping the night away. Lordy those two are embarrassing.” Mellie’s affectionate grin belied her words.
“Okay, okay! TMI.” He returned her smile and added, “But I’m not covering for you unless I know why youaren’tat your friend’s place? Did something happen?” Visions flew through his head of her being in trouble or running from someone trying to hurt her. Or even not willing to go home loaded and coming to him to cover for her. It wouldn’t be the first time.
His heart settled down when he read her expression and saw no fake innocence written over a sly expression. Just openness and willingness to discuss her reasons.
“I needed to talk about something. And you weren’t here. I got tired so I called home to say I’d stay with Leanne and climbed into your bed.” Her face lit up and she threw her mass of golden hair back over her shoulders. “Wowzers, dude! Your bed’s freakin’ dope. Best mattress I’veeverslept on. I need you to get Mom to buy me the same kind so—”
Beau grinned at her use of the word Wowzers – a teaser they often used after they’d caught her dad saying it, trying to be cool. He cut her off before she lost her original thought. “Mellie do you really want to celebrate another birthday?”
She grinned, shut her open mouth, and started again. “Right. You want an explanation. So… I think I might have solved your case. The school shooting one.”
He sat up now, interest flaring. “What have you learned?”
“It’s about Jessica… you know the girl who shot up our school.”
“Sure, I know about Jessica.”
“So… I was talking to Leanne about the case, and she suddenly remembered an accidental meeting with Jessica who’d been with a guy. She didn’t know his name or recognize him. All she knew… he dressed like he had money, and he was tall, dark and she said sneaky.”
“Sneaky? Has she seen the TV coverage of the second shooter, Jeb Stone?”
“Sure. It wasn’t him.”
“Tell me what she said.”
“I guess she and Chrissie had been getting lunch in the food court at the local mall and ran smack dab into Jessica. She’d been with this guy.” Mellie cut off Beau’s next question, and as it always did when she knew his thoughts, it kind of freaked him out. “No, not her brother.”
“Right. But this fella made an impression on Leanne.”
“Sure. Said he was hot. Remembered her sister asking how could a girl like Jessica even get near a guy like him.” Mellie stopped from the look on Beau’s face and reiterated. “I’m telling you what Leanne said. Personally, I’m not that shallow.”
“Right. You’re a divine angel come to earth to spread your dazzling spirit among us local buffoons.”
Laughing, becoming the little girl he remembered, Mellie snuggled next to him and laid her head on his blanketed knees. “I love you, Uncle Beau.”
He smoothed her beautiful hair, his palm gentle and his heart full. God how he adored his girl. “So… everything is good in your world?”
“Just peachy. After the school incident, I was a local heroine for a few days. One of the kids must have taped me helping Lori getting everyone out of the window. The post showed up on TikTok and Instagram. I got ribbed about it for a while but then yesterday our gym teacher, Miss Brant, walked up the hallway with toilet paper hanging from of her shorts, sailing along the floor behind her. It was hilarious. Sadly, I lost first place in their interest.”
“Aww, poor baby.”
“I know. Stardom is fleeting. I’ve accepted my downfall, but it would help me tremendously if my favorite godfather took me for breakfast before he dropped me off at home.”
Little devil working her magic, knowing he’d give in, he patted her lovingly one last time and muttered in his pretend mad voice. “Only godfather and don’t sugar me, brat. I’m on to you.”
“Can we go to the Café up the street? I love their pancakes.”
Just like he’d never spoken. Beau had to grin. She knew she’d get her way. Didn’t she always? He loved her too much to deny her anything… most anything.
“First, answer me this. Why didn’t Chrissie mention it to us when we asked her about any other meetings?”
“I guess because it meant nothing to her. Chrissie only stopped to say hey when they literally walked right up to each other, and it would have been rude to ignore Jessica. In fact, it meant so little that Chrissie had forgotten all about the meeting, but Leanne had remembered.”
“Why?”
“Because of the guy. He’d been out of Jessica’s league, that’s true, but what made a real impression on her had been his evasiveness, his refusal to stop or let Jessica say anything. According to Leanne, he’d been annoyingly rude, pulling her away. That had stuck in her memory.”
