Chapter 26

That evening, a little before five, Roy and Jenny drove into town.

They made a pit stop at Norma’s to leave Isabelle and the dog in her care. Isabelle seemed a little unsure when they dropped her off. Roy assured her that they would be there in a couple of hours to take her back to the cabin. It broke his heart that Isabelle was afraid of being abandoned. It was understandable for her to feel that way, having lost her mother, her father and nearly her aunt as well.

Their drive into the main part of town was mostly silent. Jenny was distracted. Roy didn't want to press her. He knew she had a lot to think about and that she would talk to him when she was ready.

He was very aware that the sight of him driving into town, Joey’s Dales’ sister in the cab of his truck beside him, would turn heads. He glanced in the rearview mirror and found a couple staring him down as he turned a corner.

Let them stare, he thought to himself.

“It's probably best that we don't park out front.”

Jenny had read his mind.

“We can pull into the library parking lot. It's behind the row of shops on Parson's Square.”

It was a great idea. Behind the shops, they had less chance of being seen. No one used the location after hours, and the library had been closed for a whole hour already.

They locked the truck, in spite of its missing window and turned down a path alongside the library. At this time of the evening, most stores had closed or were in the process of shutting down for the day. Only a few people remained on the once busy streets.

Roy led the way, making great strides, eager to hear what Lawrence had to tell them. Jenny hurried along beside him, her eyes to the ground to avoid the attention of strangers.

The bell above the shop door dinged as they entered. Jenny locked the door behind them to prevent anyone interrupting their meeting.

Lawrence came through the plastic curtain. Although he had called that morning to arrange the meeting, he appeared unhappy to see them. He ushered them in.

Roy stepped up to shake his hand.

“Hello there, Lawrence. Jenny said you remembered something you wanted to tell us.”

Lawrence nodded his head. He looked worriedly past them to the street, nervous that someone might see them.

“There's something that you should know.”

He wrung his hands together nervously. It was clear that he was uncomfortable about speaking to them.

“I can shut the blinds on the front window,” Jenny suggested. Perhaps eliminating the threat of being would help to put him at ease. She turned to fix the blinds, but Lawrence stopped her.

“No!” His voice softened. “Please. It's best we just go unnoticed in here.”

“How about we head into the back office? It's a little more private in there,” Roy suggested.

He was grateful when Lawrence agreed and led the way past the curtain. He glanced back to Jenny to make sure she was following behind.

“Any idea what we are about to hear?” he muttered to her as they passed through the blue curtain into the back of the shop.

“It has to have something to do with the wine bottle.” Jenny said quietly. “He started acting strange when I brought it up the last time. Maybe he’s changed his mind and is willing to talk.”

“Hopefully.” He held up crossed fingers.

He saw a smile pass across her lips. Each time he saw her smile, he felt as if the weight in his chest was slowly beginning to give way. Jenny had opened a door to something inside of him that he had been suppressing for a very long time. For the first time since Natalie had passed, he was able to be himself. No matter what happened between him and Jenny, he knew he would always be grateful to her for softening his heart.

Lawrence had to move aside some paperwork from the chairs in his office before they could all take a seat. Roy tried to help him out, but he waved him off impatiently. When the chairs were clear enough to take a seat, Roy gestured for Jenny to take a seat first and then he took his place beside her. Lawrence seemed a little unsteady as he took his own seat. When he finally settled into his chair, his hands still shook in his lap.

“Is everything okay, Lawrence?” Roy asked gently. “You look like you've been having a rough go of it.”

“Something has been going on through the shop lately that has made me rather uncomfortable.”

Lawrence bowed his head and averted their eyes in embarrassment.

“I feel like I've been taken advantage of.”

“Whatever you tell us won’t go past this office,” Jenny assured him, and Roy nodded his head in agreement. It seemed to settle Lawrence’s nerves some, but he still looked a little uneasy.

When Lawrence looked back up at them again, his eyes settled on Jenny.

“I'm sorry, Miss Dale.”

“Jenny, please.”

“Jenny, right.”

Lawrence took a deep breath.

“I'm afraid I lied to you when you were last in the shop. You asked about the blue wine bottle – the Rosaceae brand, to be specific. I've had it in the shop many times, but only on special order. Someone orders it here and picks it up the same day it comes in, two bottles at a time. I hate to admit it, but I get a good profit on it.”

“The brown paper bag Chief Cartright was carrying,” Jenny whispered in Roy’s ear. He nodded his head in agreement. She had to be right.

“Who orders it in?” he asked.

The old man shook his head in protest.

“I can't say who it is. He will know if I do.”

“He will never find out, I assure you,” Roy told him firmly. “This is all going to stay between us. The only other person it might reach is the police commissioner, and only so we can see to it that Joey Dale is released from prison where he is serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. The real murderer needs to take his spot in that dingy cell.”

“That's what you don't understand.”

Lawrence wasn’t convinced.

“He won’t ever go to jail for what he's done. He’s too smart for that. He has fooled everyone into believing he's an outstanding citizen, a dedicated authority figure in this town. No one is going to believe it if when we accuse him of Chloe Dale's murder.”

“They will if we can show them proof to back it up,” Roy countered. “And we have enough, so far, to at least cast reasonable doubt on Joey's guilt. What you tell us is just going to add to our case.”

“If he knows I've been involved in bringing him to ruin, he’ll come after me.”

“Does he have something to hold over you?”

It was Jenny who first realized what it was he feared. Lawrence’s hands shook as he reached for his desk drawer. He turned the old key wedged in the lock and pulled it open slowly.

“About three months ago, he came into the shop with this.”

He reached into the drawer and removed a manila folder. He passed it across to Roy as if it were full of explosives that might go off at any moment.

Roy could feel Jenny's eyes on the package as he cautiously pulled it open. Inside was a number of black and white, glossy photographs. Roy glanced over each one in turn before he passed them aside to Jenny. He hoped she would see more in them than he could. She took them silently. He watched her reaction to the content, but her face was expressionless.

The photographs were of a younger Lawrence. If she were to judge correctly, he was in his mid to late twenties. He wore an old-style waiter's uniform. The people in the background looked like they were well to do.

“I don't understand. What are these photos supposed to reveal?” Roy asked gently.

“That I'm still a wanted man.”

Lawrence took the photos back and carefully slid them into the manila folder. Then he locked it back away in the drawer.

“Forty years ago, a few friends and I were seniors in college. To make ends meet, we took jobs as waiters at the yacht club in town. It started as a little light thievery, but then it quickly became more advanced. Before long, we were six, cocky kids who just took whatever we wanted. We never got caught or charged for our crimes. I bought a nice house and made a life with a wife and kids with money I’d stolen. I took a gigantic step back from that risky business and bought this liquor store instead. I was determined to turn legit”

“But he threatened to turn you in if you didn't do what he said.” Roy nodded, finally understanding.

“He didn't want anyone to know he was having that special wine ordered here. He came in yesterday and reminded me that I had a shady past he was willing to expose if I dared to tell anyone that it was him who had the orders.”

“He was covering his tracks,” Roy said.

Lawrence nodded. “And he was doing a fine job of it, too. He has kept me on my toes these past few months. Every time he comes in the shop, I think it’s going to be the end of my life as I know it.”

“Well, it’s blackmail, and it’s all about to end, I promise you.”

Roy rose to his feet and gestured for Jenny to follow suit.

“Chief Cartright won't get away with what he's done. We found his police badge at the crime scene. With that and the evidence you provided today, we have enough to have him investigated.”

“I can't let this information get out.” Lawrence was at the door in an instant to stop them from leaving. “If any of it becomes public knowledge, I'll be arrested for what I've done. I can't go to jail now. I have spent far too long rebuilding my life.”

Roy patted the man on the shoulder.

“I'm going to make sure that never happens to you, Lawrence. I promise you that. As far as I'm concerned, you've made amends for your crimes in this community.”

“But you're not law enforcement anymore,” Lawrence pointed out.

He wasn’t convinced despite what Roy had told him.

“To those in a position of power, I'll just be another petty crook who got away with it. I'll be thrown in a jail cell for my crimes, regardless of how long ago I committed them.”

“We will make sure the people who matter see it our way.” Jenny stepped in, her voice reassuring and gentle. “We promise you, Lawrence, that we won’t let you go to jail for this. You’ve provided good information today that will help put Chloe Dale's killer in jail.”

“It feels like this nightmare will never end.”

Lawrence moved hesitantly aside let them pass to the front of the store. Everything was quiet on the street beyond the window, but Lawrence refused to leave the safety of his desk. “Thank you both for coming to hear me out. I'm relieved I got to tell my tale, no matter what the consequences will be.”

“Everything will be fine,” Roy reassured him again. “But if you need anything, you know where to find me.”

Everyone made bad decisions once in a while, and Roy believed that everyone should have the chance to make amends for them. He would make sure to talk to the police commissioner about letting Lawrence off with a warning for his help in solving the case.