That Man of Mine (31 page)

Z
eke had called ahead
and asked both Rusty and Cindy to meet him at police headquarters. They were huddled together in the reception area and they looked worried. Or guilty. Or possibly both.

Hell
. He was one hundred percent certain neither of them had anything to do with the missing money, but he was going to have to call them out on what went down last night.

He ushered them into his office and shut the door. Mimi was there, too. She sat in a chair next to the window, looking very mayor-like. It occurred to Zeke (not for the first time, either) that technically, she was his boss.

“Okay,” Zeke said, looking directly at his deputy and his receptionist. “So, how long have you two been dating?”

Cindy burst into tears. Rusty looked flabbergasted. “How did you know?”

Zeke reached into his desk to hand Cindy a box of tissues, then recounted everything Sam Grant had told him.

“Please, don't blame Rusty, Chief,” Cindy said, sniffling, “He was so diligent! I should never have distracted him.”

“No, it's all my fault, Chief. Go ahead, fire me. I deserve it. Not only did I let you down, but I let down the good people of Whispering Bay. Don't blame Cindy. None of this is her fault.”

“So you forced her to break department rules and go out with you?”

Cindy nearly jumped out of her seat. “No! Of course he didn't.”

Zeke sighed. “No one is getting fired.” He gave them both a stern look. “But in the future, if you find that you can't abide by department rules, come to me and we'll see what we can do.”

“I'm not getting fired?” Rusty croaked.

“I can't very well fire my best officer, can I?”

“Does this mean…we can still date?” Cindy asked hopefully.

“As long as it doesn't interfere with the business of this department, I don't care what you do on your own time.”

“
I'm
your best officer?” Rusty asked slowly, as if this was some kind of test.

“You're damn right you are. That's why I'm counting on you to help me find who stole this money.”

“Anything, Chief! Just name it. I'll work double over-time on this case. I'll lead a sting operation. I can go undercover. Anything you need. I'm not worried about the danger! No siree, just put me to the test.”

“Rusty, I just need you to think.”

“Oh.” Rusty sounded disappointed. “Sure. I guess can do that.”

Cindy nodded in encouragement. “He can definitely do that.”

“Great. Here's the thing. Can you describe the guy who was, uh, being friendly to Cindy last night? He might have been a decoy. Not that Cindy isn't attractive enough to be pursued, but I'd like to try to find him and ask him some questions.”

“You think he hit on Cindy to distract me from my post?” Rusty asked. “Golly, I never even thought of that.”

“It's a possibility. Either he was a decoy, or maybe he got rid of you to double back to the booth and take the money himself.”

Rusty's shoulders slumped. “That's a good theory, Chief. A real good theory. But it's not possible.”

“Why not?”

Cindy and Rusty glanced at one another.

“Because of who the guy is. He would never rip off the festival. It makes no sense,” Cindy said.

“Because?” Zeke prompted.

“Because it's the city manager. Doug Wentworth.”

*~*~*

M
imi had only been
to Bruce Bailey's home a couple of times before. Once for a school fund raiser, and the other time for a woman's tea that Bettina had hosted to promote a line of cosmetics Mimi hadn't purchased. Today's visit wasn't going to be as blandly pleasant as either of those.

She knocked on the door. Bettina answered. Her eyes went round when she saw who'd come to visit. “We need to speak to your husband,” Zeke said.

Bettina seemed oddly...meek. She ushered them inside the spacious, overly decorated living room. Tofu came running from the back of the house, barking like a fiend.

“Will you shut that mutt up?” Bruce yelled. “Who was at the—” He walked into the living room and stopped short. “What are you two doing here?”

“What do you know about Doug Wentworth?” Mimi asked, not bothering with any niceties.

“See here,” Bruce blustered, “You can't just walk in here making demands—”

“After this morning's fiasco, you're lucky I don't knock your head off,” Zeke said.

Mimi counted to ten. “Pardon the chief. He's in angry husband mode. But I wouldn't be as worried about him as I'd be about me, because right now I'm in
very
angry mayor mode.”

Zeke looked at Mimi as if he was impressed.

“We think Wentworth stole the money,” Zeke told them. “I have the feeling he doesn't have the stellar reputation you all sold us on when he got hired, Bruce. Care to tell me what you think about that theory?”

Bruce paled. “He…
no
. He isn't a thief!”

Bettina glared at her husband. “Bruce, what have you done now?”

“Why are you on her side?” Bruce pointed to Mimi. “You don't even like her!”

 “I swear to you, my husband is innocent of any wrongdoing,” Bettina pleaded. “He might be…a little enthusiastic, but he would never do anything to jeopardize this town.”

“I'm waiting for a call from Brian Watts,” Mimi said. “He's the city attorney for Old Explorer's Bay. I have a feeling he's going to have some pretty interesting things to say about Doug.”

Bruce's forehead immediately went wet. Poor Bruce. It must be hard to be a politician and suffer from flop sweat.

“Okay…maybe Wentworth did some creative financing when he was at Old Explorer's Bay, but he got the city out of the red, didn't he?”

“Is that why you and Larry and the rest of the former city council hired him?” Mimi persisted. “Because of his ability to do
creative financing
?”

“That…and, well…” He shook his head. “You're trying to trick me. I know my rights! I want you both to leave this instant.”

Bettina looked at Bruce like she'd never seen him before. “Oh, Bruce. You need help, honey.” She turned to Mimi. “I swear, he isn't himself. Ever since he lost that
damn
election to you last November all he can talk about is how he's going to show you up. How the whole town will be begging for him to come back. It's a…disease. Like depression or being bi-polar. He can't be held responsible for his actions.”

“The hell he can't,” Zeke said.

“I'm not bi-polar!” Bruce said.

“So you knew Wentworth was less than credible,” Mimi said, “But you still hired him anyway? To make me look bad?”

“If you do a good enough job as mayor, then whatever Wentworth does or doesn't do, won't reflect badly on you,” Bruce said in an attempt to defend himself.

“Yeah, but you stacked the odds against her,” Zeke countered.

Bruce couldn't deny it. “So big deal. But like I said, Wentworth isn't a thief. That money was stolen because you didn't provide adequate security for the festival and I stand by that.”

“Oh, shut up, Bruce!” Bettina said. “I'm sick and tired of hearing you tear Mimi down. So maybe she doesn't have the best fashion sense, and yes, she's a bit of an amateur when it comes to committee work, but she did get Billy Brenton to play at the festival. Give her credit for that, at least.”

“Um, thanks. I think,” Mimi said.

There was a knock on the door. “What now?” Bettina muttered. She flung it open to find Rusty, along with Mike and a couple of other uniformed officers standing at her doorstep.

“Chief,” Rusty said in his best police voice. “We went to Wentworth's house. Rapped on the door a couple of times and found him running out the back, so we knocked him down. But don't worry, we didn't use too much police force. No, siree. He went down faster than the number one pin on a strike.”

“And?” Zeke urged.

“And he started yelling about his rights and how he hadn't done anything wrong, so we asked if we could search his place, and guess what? He said yes! No one ever says yes.”

“And did you find anything incriminating?” Zeke asked.

“Not at first, but then I thought to myself: If I had twenty thousand dollars in small bills, where would I hide it? And guess what? We must think alike because it was exactly where I'd put it.”

Mimi could practically see Zeke's brain cells exploding. She had to give him credit. He was a lot more patient than she thought. “And that would be…” he prompted.

“In the microwave! Talk about hot money,” Rusty laughed.

“Let me get this straight,” Bruce said, “Wentworth actually
stole
the money himself? But why would he do that?”

“Maybe because he knew that once Brian Watts got back to me, I'd be asking the board to fire him?” Mimi said. “So he thought he'd kill two birds with one stone. Discredit me,
and
give himself a nice little nest egg that no one could ever trace back to him since it's all in small bills.”

If Mimi thought Bruce was sweating before, it was nothing compared to now. “I
swear
, I never condoned thievery.”

“But, you were responsible for hiring this guy,” Zeke said. “Looks like someone let the wolf inside the hen house to count the eggs.”

Bruce slumped down on the couch, too stunned to do more than stare into space.

“I'm so sorry,” Bettina said, “Obviously, Bruce is having a nervous breakdown. I promise you, Mimi, he'll never do anything like this again.”

“We want a public apology,” Zeke said. “For all the things he accused my wife of this morning.”

“Yes, yes, of course. You'll apologize,
right
?” Bettina said to Bruce, who if Mimi didn't know any better almost seemed catatonic.

“And I want you to do it by taking out an ad in the Whispering Bay Gazette. A big one, taking full blame for everything,” Zeke continued.

“And he needs counseling,” Mimi added.

“Right. A little counseling never hurt anyone,” Zeke said, catching Mimi's gaze.

“Nope,” Mimi said, grinning back at her husband, “It sure doesn't.”

*~*~*

M
imi looked into the
back seat of the police cruiser where Doug sat handcuffed. He caught her gaze for a few seconds, then sneered and turned away from her.

“What's going to happen to him?” she asked Zeke.

“He'll be charged with grand theft. I suspect he'll probably make bail, find some overpriced attorney and try to wiggle his way out of this thing.”

“He won't get off, though, will he?”

“I think they'll be plenty of people, Bruce Bailey included, who'll fight like hell to see that doesn't happen.”

Mimi sighed heavily.

“You okay?” Zeke asked her.

“I'm just relieved that's out of the way. But I now have less than twenty-four hours till Claire's graduation and I have at least forty people coming to the house. Including your sister and Tom.”

At the mention of Allie, Zeke looked away. “Have you talked to her since last night?”

“No, but she'll come around. You just need to meet her halfway.”

“How am I supposed to do that?” he asked.

“Oh, I think you know how.”

T
he graduation ceremony took
place in the high school gymnasium, where just a little over twenty-four hours ago Mimi's sex life had been analyzed by Bruce Bailey for everyone in town to hear. It was amazing how things could change in the short span of one day.

She sat in the front row of the bleachers, flanked by Zeke on one side and Cameron on the other. Momma and Daddy and Allie and Tom sat behind them. Allie had been sweet to Claire, giving her a big hug and kiss before she'd gone off to join the rest of her class for the traditional march. She'd even hugged Zeke, but it had been distant and sad. Zeke, in turn, had been pensive. Mimi supposed that was to be expected. He had a lot to think about, after all.

The ceremony was about to start when Mimi spotted Adam, wandering around the gym floor, trying to find a seat in the crowded bleachers. Without thinking, she waved to him. “Adam!” she called out. “Over here!”

After hesitating briefly, he began to make his way over to them. “Be nice,” Mimi whispered to Zeke.

“I'm always nice,” he shot back.

Mimi scooted down the row so that Adam could slide in next to Cameron.

“Are you Claire's boyfriend?” Cameron asked.

Zeke turned to hear Adam's response. “Yes,” he said.

“Don't worry,” Zeke said, “We already had the talk. Right?”

“Right,” Adam croaked.

Pomp and Circumstance
began to play through the gymnasium's loud speaker. On cue, the entire audience stood for the entrance march. There were only a hundred and two students in this year's senior class, but they milked it for all it was worth. Boys placed their clasped hands above their heads in a Rocky style victory gesture, and girls waved cheerfully into the audience. Mimi looked for Claire but she couldn't find her.

Allie tapped her on the shoulder. “Have you seen the program?” she whispered.

“No, I was too busy trying to get a good seat. Do you have one?” Mimi answered.

Allie's voice hitched with excitement. “Why didn't you tell me Claire was the class valedictorian?”

“
What
?” Mimi grabbed the program from Allie's hand. There it was. Listed under Senior Achievements:
Claire Grant, Valedictorian.

She showed the program to Zeke. “Did you know about this?”

He shook his head. Momma and Daddy began talking at once. Then the last of the seniors filed in, followed by their teachers, then the principal, and lastly Claire. She took a seat at the front of the podium, right next to the senior class advisor, Mr. March. She looked beautiful in her cap and gown, wearing the pearl necklace Momma and Daddy had given her for her sixteenth birthday, her dark hair flowing down her shoulders.

The ceremony began, but it was like a blur. The principal welcomed the crowd, followed by a short speech by Mr. March, and then finally, the traditional valedictorian's speech.

Claire walked serenely to the podium. She began by thanking the principal and the teachers and the parents and all the family and friends who'd come out to celebrate the graduation. Mimi's heart pounded faster than a hummingbird's. Pride and astonishment warred with one another.
Why hadn't Claire told anyone she was valedictorian
?

Claire talked about the class as a whole, recalling some of the funnier incidents in their early high school years. The crowd laughed politely. Then her tone turned serious and Mimi felt this morning's breakfast rise to her throat.

“When I asked Mr. March what I should speak about today, he told me to make it personal, because otherwise, it wouldn't mean anything. Good advice, but for anyone who knows me, that's the worst thing he could have said, because I'm probably the most private seventeen-year-old girl on the planet. But here goes.

“This year has been a difficult one for me,” Claire said. “As many of you know, with my father as chief of police and my mother as mayor, my parents are prominently in the town's spotlight. Being that this is a small town, and everyone knows everyone's business, I don't think I'm out of line in telling you that, like a lot of married couples, they've also had their share of personal struggles.

“Being Zeke Grant's daughter has never been easy. He's your typical cop dad.” The crowd laughed. “Strict, but not unfair. Unless you're seventeen and you know everything.” More polite laughter. “My mom, on the other hand, has always been that buffer in our family. The one you can count on to run interference. For years, she stayed home to take care of us. To drive us to soccer games and cheerleading practice. It never occurred to me that she would want more than that, but when she decided to run for mayor last year, I was really proud of her.”

Mimi shifted in her seat.

“Then suddenly, she was gone all the time working, and then my dad was gone, too, and everything in my life turned upside down. And instead of being the mature, thoughtful seventeen-year-old girl I liked to think I was, I'm ashamed to say that I withdrew into myself. I began to lie and hold things back from them. But by trying to hurt them, I only ended up hurting myself, and that's just plain stupid.”

Claire paused and looked around at the audience. The entire gym was silent, waiting for her to continue.

“This past weekend, something happened that changed my life. I saw my parents, two people who've spent the last year fighting, come together for a cause they believe in. And I'm not just talking about them finding the stolen money from the festival, which, they
did
find, by the way. I'm talking about them coming together to work toward a mutual goal because no matter what else is going on in their lives, they love and support one another. They're each other's family. They're
my
family. And I couldn't be prouder to be their daughter.

“Many of my teachers have asked me what I plan to do next year and, I'll be honest, I wasn't really sure myself until just a couple of days ago. But I finally know the answer. Even though I have this awesome boyfriend whom I'll be leaving behind, I've decided to follow in the Powers family tradition and attend Duke University this fall.”

Momma clutched Mimi's shoulder from behind.

Duke
?
Claire had been accepted to Duke?

“So…that's about as personal as I can get, Mr. March,” Claire said, “In conclusion…”

The rest of the speech was wonderful. At least, Mimi thought it was, because she was too busy sniffling to hear anything else.

*~*~*

“T
o our high school
graduate!” Daddy said, raising his glass of punch in the air. “And it pleases me to add, Go Blue Devils!”

The living room exploded with laughter. Over fifty of their friends had come by to wish Claire good luck. Kitty and Pilar and the rest of the Bunco Babes. Roger Van Cleave was there, as well as Viola and Gus Pappas. Momma had made her own special version of lasagna (which Mimi had to admit, was even better than hers), and Mimi had stayed up all night baking. Her stomach felt bloated, but she was too happy to care.

She spotted Allie going down the hallway and into the den that Allie had used as a bedroom whenever she visited before moving back to town. Mimi decided to follow her. She'd hoped for Zeke's sake, that Allie would get a chance to talk to him today, but the two of them had kept their distance.

Allie was sitting on the bed looking at a framed picture of Buela. “Just five more days,” Mimi said from the doorway.

Allie glanced up from the photo. “I know. Kind of hard to believe, huh?”

“Are you all ready? I mean, mentally?”

“I've been ready to be Mrs. Tom Donalan since I was eighteen,” Allie joked. Only Mimi knew she meant it more than anything she'd ever said before.

“I'm so happy for you,” Mimi said, sitting on the bed next to her sister-in-law.

“You know Lauren brought me Buela's old record player last week? I've been listening to all her old albums and it's almost as if…she's here again.”

“It's like everything's come full circle, huh?” Mimi said softly.

“And Claire Bear!” Allie said, using the nickname she'd given Claire since she was a little girl. “I can't believe she's going to Duke! I'm so proud of her.” She hesitated. “What does Zeke think?”

“To be honest, we haven't had time to talk to each other since that speech. But I know he'll be excited for her.”

“So…are the two of you back together?”

“We are most definitely together. He moved back in last night.”

“I'm glad.”

Mimi reached out and took Allie's hand. “Look, I know you and Zeke have to work things out for yourselves, but there's something you need to know.” She proceeded to tell Allie all about how Zeke, at eighteen, had sought their father out to ask for his help, only to find him drunk in a bar.

Allie frowned. “He never told me about Buela's heart condition. Or that he wanted to enlist in the army. Why didn't he tell me any of this before?”

“Because he's Zeke Grant, the most impossible man on the planet.”

“But he's
your man
.”

“That he is,” Mimi said. “And, for what's it worth, he only did what he did because he loves you so much. He'd do anything for you, Allie.”

She nodded. “I know.”

“And, I'm supposed to keep this a secret, but after everyone leaves the party, when it's just our family and you and Tom, more guests are coming.”

She waited till Allie realized exactly who those “guests” were. “Zeke invited Daddy to come here today?” she asked incredulously.

“It was difficult for him, but last night he called Sam and invited him and his wife and son to meet everyone. It's a first step. A beginning, maybe, but Zeke realized Sam's problem isn't just his. It belongs to all of us. And…he wants to get to know Jeremy.”

Allie's cheeks were wet with tears.

Maybe now wasn't the best time to bring this up, but time was running out. Mimi took a deep breath. “So…and please, you know you're like a sister to me, so feel free to tell me the truth here, but all this preaching to Zeke made me realize what a hypocrite I've been. All this time he kept the truth about Sam from you, I've been telling him how he needs to give
you
the choice whether or not you want Sam in your life.”

“I don't understand, how does that make you a hypocrite?”

Mimi rose from the bed and went to the closet. She pulled out Beula's dress and showed it to Allie. “I had Lauren redo the dress. I know it's old fashioned and nothing like the dress you bought yourself, but
you
need to make the choice. And whichever one it is, it will be perfect. Because you're perfect and I love you.”