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The old man’s gaze lifted to a sepia-toned photograph of a toddler with dimples and curly hair that hung above the fireplace, then he closed his eyes and leaned his head against the back of his chair, his skin taking on an ashen hue.
“I didn’t hurt him,” he said after several minutes. “I only had to walk away from the jail cell at my office for an hour or so.”
Nathan had hoped it wasn’t true, but now bitter disappointment welled up in his throat. “So you let someone else do it.”
“After our baby was born with a heart defect, we poured every cent we had into trying to save her. I had no choice. We needed the best doctors, the children’s hospital in Minneapolis.” Clay’s voice broke. “That money gave us another two years with our baby girl. Wouldn’t you have done the same?”
“Do you want a lawyer?”
“You think I’ll live long enough for a trial?” Clay coughed again. “The doc says I should start praying if I want to make it to Easter.”
“Tell me what happened.”
The old man lay back in his recliner and sucked in oxygen for several long minutes. “You’ll make sure no one hurts my Dora?”
“If this is all true, Daniel’s killers will be in prison for the rest of their days.”
“It’s true,” Clay said on a long sigh. His breathing grew more labored. “There’s a tape recorder. In the back bedroom. I might as well tell you...because I could sure use a little redemption before I die.”
* * * *
“I CAN’T BELIEVE I was so naive,” Jane said glumly, staring into her cup of Earl Grey. She glanced at the other patrons in Bill’s and then lowered her voice. “I thought...well, that maybe Robert was falling in love with me.”
Sara gave her a sympathetic smile. “That wasn’t your fault. Robert was a self-serving man who led you to believe he cared so you’d cover for him if someone questioned what was going on. Any man who’d do that deserves what he gets.”
“What’s even worse is that I’d convinced myself that I loved him—a man capable of murder!” Jane shuddered. “There must have been signs—how could I have been so blind? The only good thing is that I’ve finally learned my lesson.”
“Which is?”
“I married a guy who didn’t love me and wasted a lot of years. Then I tried to find love with another guy who couldn’t have been worse—but I was lonely, and Robert was simply there.” She took another sip of her tea and then put the cup down. “I don’t need a guy to make my life complete. If anything, I’m better off alone.”
“Until you find the right one,” Sara said gently. “And that will happen.”
“Maybe. But if not, that’s okay. I’m thirty-four, and it’s time I did something more than just hope Prince Charming will come along. I’ve decided to go back to school.”
“That’s wonderful!”
“On Tuesday, Ian assured me that my new job as assistant manager is still secure. When I told him about going to college, he offered to cover my tuition for either the community college in Fergus Falls or for correspondence courses.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“He said I could keep working part-time that way, then take a leave of absence when I transfer to the university for my last two years of a business degree.” Jane’s face brightened into a shy smile. “He said I was too good to lose.”
“Then he’s a smart man. I really look forward to hearing about how you like school.”
Jane’s gaze dropped to her cup. “I...I can hardly believe what you do, why you were here.” There was awe in Jane’s voice and also a touch of hurt. “I mean, I feel sort of stupid, not guessing...”
“It was my job not to let you guess. But you know what? I’m really glad I came. Meeting you again and having you as a friend these past months has been really special. Maybe we can keep in touch?”
“I’d like that. A lot.” Jane glanced at her watch. “Oh, gosh—my lunch hour is nearly over.”
“This one’s on me, plus tip.” Sara withdrew three ten-dollar bills from her wallet and dropped them on the table, then rose and pulled on her jacket. “You’re going to do well, Jane. I’m so proud of you.”
Out on the sidewalk, Jane paused at the bumper of her car. “What about you? Are you going to be okay?”
Sara held up her bandaged hand. “Nothing at all, really. No nerve, tendon or bone damage.”
“Where will you go?”
