Part 8 (2/2)
”Well, he seems to have some now,” said Tess.
Julie sniffed. ”It's just because his cousin's the new police chief...”
”That's what Jake told me,” said Tess.
”But don't kid yourself. Rusty was ashamed to be related to him even back then. Rusty used to work for Nelson from time to time, but he was the first in line when it came to making fun of Lazarus.”
”Hey, look who I found,” said Jake, entering the kitchen with wet hair and clean clothes and Erny under his arm. He opened the refrigerator door and reached in for a beer. Then he looked at Erny. ”You want one?”
”Jake, for heaven's sakes,” said Julie.
”It's a joke,” said Jake.
”I don't drink,” Erny said gravely.
”Good for you,” said Julie.
”Don't listen to her,” said Jake. ”What have you been up to?”
Erny shrugged. ”Not too much. Hey, Uncle Jake, are you going to take me for a ride in your truck?”
”Honey, don't bother Uncle Jake,” said Tess.
”No. It's no bother. I've been looking forward to riding around in the mountains with this guy. How about tomorrow? I'll come get you at your grandmother's. How's that?”
Erny's eyes lit up and he looked at Tess. ”Is it okay?”
”Mmmm,” said Tess absently.
”Okay. Cool,” said Erny.
”Okay. You're on,” said Jake.
”Can Leo come?”
”Sure. Why not?” said Jake.
”Thanks, Uncle Jake.”
”Okay. Go on, now. Watch the tube till it's time for dinner. I want to talk to your mother.”
Jake twisted off his bottlecap and tossed it in the trash as Erny ducked back into the living room. Then Jake turned to Tess. ”What's the matter, Tess? You look kind of shaky.”
”I am,” said Tess.
”How come?” said Jake.
”They're being harra.s.sed,” said Julie.
”By who?” Jake demanded.
”Malcontents,” said Dawn. ”That's all it is. People with nothing better to do.”
Tess sighed. ”I don't know. There are a lot of angry people around this town. I ran into Nelson and Edith Abbott today. I thought she would try to gouge my eyes out, but actually he was a lot nastier to me than she was. The very picture of righteous indignation.”
”Nelson?” Jake asked. ”Jesus, he's full of c.r.a.p. Nelson resented every penny that his wife spent defending Lazarus. He'd tell anyone who'd listen how worthless his stepson was. Well, you heard him when he came to the inn the other day.”
”He's changed his tune,” said Dawn. ”I guess he had to, or Edith would throw him out of the house.”
”I don't like that man,” Tess said. ”I get a very creepy...feeling from him.”
Jake drained the beer bottle he was holding, opened the refrigerator door, and reached in for another. ”Nelson's one of those guys who feels like he got the short end of the stick. Thinks the world never really appreciated him. But don't worry about him. He's harmless.”
”I suppose,” said Tess.
”That's not what my dad said about Nelson Abbott,” Julie corrected her husband. ”He said that Nelson was a real b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He used to beat Lazarus within an inch of his life. There was testimony about that at the trial. Some people thought Lazarus shouldn't get the death penalty because Nelson abused him so bad...”
”Poor little Lazarus,” said Jake in a singsong voice. ”Whupped by his mean old stepfather. If you ask me, Nelson didn't hit him enough.”
Suddenly there was a loud knock from the direction of the living room.
”Aunt Julie,” Erny cried. ”Somebody's at the door.”
Julie frowned at Jake. ”Who's that? Are you expecting anyone?”
”No,” said Jake grimly. ”I'll get rid of them.” He disappeared into the living room.
”Could it be reporters?” Tess said wearily. ”Sorry.”
”Don't apologize,” said Julie. ”You've got nothing to apologize for.”
”That's what Chief Fuller said. Just before he implied that it was all my fault,” said Tess.
Jake reappeared in the doorway to the kitchen. ”Tess. I'm sorry. You'd better come out here. It's the cops.”
”The cops? What now?” said Tess. She looked helplessly at Dawn and Julie. Then she followed Jake out into the living room. Erny was huddled in the corner of the sofa, staring at the two burly police officers who were taking up a large amount of s.p.a.ce in the small living room. Their buzz-cut hair, holstered weapons, and somber uniforms looked completely out of place in Julie's flowery, pastel decor.
”Tess DeGraff?” the younger officer asked.
Tess nodded.
”Chief Bosworth sent us. He wants to speak to you down at the police station.”
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