Swallow The Hook Part 28

"I think Stan is the person who tried to run you and Katie down, but I can't prove it. This plan to move to Nashville makes sense. He must've wanted his share of the money from Raging Rapids to finance his singing career."

"Yeah, I heard Roy and Abe were pretty p.i.s.sed when they found out Stan was helping Green Tomorrow. But why would he want to hurt Katie? They were on the same side."

"I think he just wanted to stir up as much controversy as possible, to scare his father into selling. He knew the stunt with the truck would get Katie and everyone else more riled up."

A huge full moon was creeping up through the trees, and the bare branches of the birches swayed before it. The wind blew hard enough to push the truck toward the center line. It wouldn't be long before the first snow.

"When do I have to have that letter of recommendation written?" Frank asked.

Earl's head snapped to the left. "It's due in November. I thought you weren't writing it?"

"I'm sorry I threatened you like that." Frank kept his gaze glued to the road. "It's just...I want you to understand that when you do the wrong thing for what you think is the right reason, it always comes back and bites you in the a.s.s."

Out of the corner of his eye he could see Earl studying his seat belt with great interest.

"But I'm still going to write the recommendation."

"Thanks, Frank." The last vestige of tension between them dissolved. "Say, I wonder who'll buy Beth's house? It's a real pretty spot. Maybe someone from somewhere far away will want to start over in Trout Run."

"Maybe. Anything's possible."

Frank and Trudy Ma.s.sinay sat in Malone's, eating apple-cranberry pie and drinking coffee. They were the only mid-afternoon customers, and Marge had scowled at them for taking a table instead of seats at the counter, but they wanted the privacy.

"So how did it go when you brought Olivia to Edwin and Lucy's place?" Frank asked.

"Lucy fussed all over Olivia, and Edwin was stand-offish. I predict Edwin will be the first to break through to her. This placement will work, I can tell."

"That's a relief-maybe I'll go and check on them tonight."

Trudy shook her head. "Keep your distance for a while, Frank. Olivia feels a lot of guilt over her mother's arrest. You're all tied up in that. Give her a chance to get her bearings before you visit."

"She shouldn't feel guilty-it's not her fault her mother is a drug dealer."

"She's seven, Frank. In her mind she's responsible for everything that happens in her world."

Frank gave a half-laugh. "When do you outgrow that? I'm forty-seven and I still think that way. Now that I've got Olivia settled, I'm dwelling on the Sheehans. Seems like there ought to be a way to get them to help Sanjiv with little Sarah."

Trudy paused with her fork poised over her pie. "Don't worry about Sanjiv. He's doing fine. They threw a baby shower for him over at the church-twenty-five Presbyterian ladies, one Hindu man, and enough pink onesies to clothe every baby between here and Albany. And his cousin in New Jersey has introduced him to a nice Indian widow with two little boys."

"I'm not worried about Sanjiv; I'm worried about the Sheehans and Sarah. If Sarah's going to be raised in Trout Run, how can they go around pretending she's not their granddaughter?"

Trudy's eternally affable expression slipped, and Frank saw a darkness he didn't think she was capable of. "The same way they pretended not to know their daughter was pregnant."

"But they didn't know," he protested. "I saw how shocked they were when I told them."

"I don't buy it, Frank. Maybe Joe didn't know, but Ann sure as h.e.l.l did."

"How can you be so positive?"

"Ann's an obsessively clean housekeeper. You mean to tell me she never noticed that there were no wrappers from tampons or pads in the trash anymore, never a drop of blood on Mary Pat's panties when she did the wash?"

"Mary Pat was an adult-she must've done her own laundry."

Trudy rolled her eyes. "I've worked with Ann at church functions, Frank. She was always boasting that she did all the wash herself. She has some arcane methodology that has to be followed. The woman irons her dish towels, for G.o.d's sake."

Frank smiled. From the condition of Trudy's blouse, it was pretty clear the iron was used as a bookend at the Ma.s.sinay house. Trudy's argument made sense, but he wasn't entirely convinced. "But if Ann knew Mary Pat was pregnant, that would mean she knew Mary Pat was planning on having the baby with no one but Constance to help."

Trudy's eyebrows went up in an inverted V. "Exactly. I think Ann Sheehan knows she's partially responsible for her daughter's death. And that's why she can't bear to see her granddaughter."

Frank sat in a rocking chair at the Mountain Vista Motel, behind the curtain that divided Sanjiv's living quarters from the office. He'd taken to dropping by the motel several times a week after work, to see if Sanjiv and Sarah needed anything. He'd even eaten dinner there once or twice, after Sanjiv convinced him that not all curries were spicy hot.

Tonight, after much persuasion, Sanjiv had agreed to leave Sarah with Frank while he shopped in Verona. The baby had sucked down her bottle, let out a tremendously unladylike burp, and now lay sleeping in Frank's arms. He knew he could put her in the crib without waking her, but he enjoyed watching the rapid rise and fall of her chest, the occasional flutter of her long lashes against her cheek, the way her clenched fists gradually unfurled as she sank into a deep sleep.

The bell over the motel door jingled, and Frank sighed. Now he would have to put her down to check in the guest. He rose and peeked through the curtain. Joe Sheehan stood on the other side of the counter.

Frank opened the curtain and stepped into the office with Sarah still in his arms.

Joe's mouth dropped open. "What are you doing here?" he asked, but his eyes were focused on the baby.

"Baby-sitting." Frank moved out from behind the counter. "Is this who you came to see?" He s.h.i.+fted the baby so she faced outward in his arms.

Joe came closer to study the sleeping baby, but didn't touch her.

"You can hold her," Frank said, offering Sarah up.

Gingerly Joe took the baby into his arms. His hands and jacket were cold from the outside air, and Sarah's eyes opened. She studied her grandfather solemnly with big, dark eyes.

Frank watched them. "She hardly ever cries."

"Just like Mary Pat," Joe whispered. He cradled the baby's dark head in his pale, freckled hand.

"What made you come over tonight?"

"Ann's at bingo."

Did the man think he could just sneak over here and see his granddaughter on the sly whenever his wife's back was turned? Frank was about to lash out, but caught himself. It wasn't for him to decide-Sanjiv would have to determine what was best for Sarah. He tried to be more conciliatory. "You know, Sanjiv has wanted to get in touch with you, but he was afraid you were angry with him."

Joe shook his head, his gaze never leaving Sarah's face. "Not angry."

"So then, why don't you-"

Joe raised his eyes to meet Frank's. "I can't," he said softly. "It's time to go get Ann now." He handed the baby back. "Don't tell her father I came."

Frank stood at the door, staring until Joe's taillights disappeared into the night. Sarah had dozed off again in his arms, oblivious to the way her life-all eight weeks of it-had changed so many others.

He thought about Alma organizing everyone to keep the Mountain Vista open when Sanjiv had been in the hospital, and the ladies at the church throwing that shower. He thought about Dr. Galloway and Trudy looking out for Diane Sarens, and Lucy and Edwin taking Olivia. There was a lot of goodness in this town. Too bad Mary Pat and Sanjiv hadn't trusted in that-things could have turned out so much differently.

He sat back down with Sarah in his arms and rocked.

Also by S.W. Hubbard.

Take the Bait.