Catalyst (20 page)

"And you still loved her?" Renee added and bit her
lower lip.

Lem glanced up but said nothing.

"Did you still love her, Lem?" Renee cried. Her own
eyes filled with tears, while his remained dry.

Lem turned and pulled her against his chest. "No,
Renee. I love you. I told you after we were rescued from the cave.
That was the truth then and still is. When we were first married I
loved Nikki but that was a long time ago. You are the woman I love
and need." He reached down, kissed her lips and for the first time
his eyes moistened. "Can we go to bed?"

"Yes," Renee whispered, took Lem's hand and led him
to the darkened room.

****

Fifteen minutes later there was a tap on the door.
Courtney, still dressed in her street clothes, walked in, saw the
blankets strewn across the floor and hastily retreated. Lem flushed
but Renee recovered, dressed, threw Lem his pajamas and stuck her
head out the door.

"Come in, Courtney," she said.

The girl looked across the corridor with an ashen
face. "The videotape was in the player. Oh Renee, I saw it." She
burst into tears. "I couldn't watch it all."

"We were talking about it," Renee replied. "What say
we all have coffee in the kitchen and help one another get through
this."

"If you want me." Courtney smiled through her
tears.

"We do," Lem interrupted from the bedroom door.

He stepped forward, tucked his arms around them both
and kissed them affectionately on the hair.

****

Courtney opened her eyes and wondered where she was.
It was dark, she could hear the faint sound of a music CD turned
low and felt the presence of people. It wasn't an ominous
feeling.

Were they back in the cave?

They never had the CD there. She forced one eye open
and could see lights ahead. Her head was leaning against somebody
and an arm was around her shoulders. For a second she froze.
Someone was touching her. It wasn't Renee. She knew that. She
jerked awake and remembered she was in the middle of the front seat
in the Cadillac. She could see Lem's bulky figure to her left, so
he couldn't be holding her.

"Are you awake, Courtney?" a new voice said. The hand
around her shoulder moved away. "You fell asleep on my
shoulder."

"For the last fifty miles," Lem added. "We're past
Burlington and heading up the valley."

Courtney looked right and saw Ken's self-conscious
face. "You don't need to move your arm, Ken," she said in a soft
voice.

It was the first time Ken had accompanied them back
to the farm for the weekend. The blonde girl smiled. It was so
secure between the two men. She reached up and squeezed Ken's hand
when he returned it to her shoulder.

"You'll like Renee's dad and Diane," she said as her
eyes met Ken's.

"We're here," Lem added. He turned the Cadillac into
the long driveway.

Renee's car was already parked in the open barn and
floodlights flashed on. Lem drove in beside the Cavalier and the
trio walked across the yard to where Renee waited under the
veranda.

"Ken," she said. "So Courtney did persuade you to
come. I'm thrilled. She gets tired of having only us oldies around
for two days."

"Yeah, I do." Courtney lied, flashed Renee a thank
you smile and grinned at the boy standing shyly at the step bottom.
"Come on, Ken. I'll introduce you to Jack and Diane."

****

An hour later the delicious supper Diane had cooked
was over. Courtney and Ken, accompanied by Zona, disappeared into
the sitting room to listen to a new CD.

"I wouldn't have believed it," Jack commented.
"Courtney and a young lad. Very pleasant boy, too, though he
doesn't say much."

"Give him time, Dad." Renee laughed and turned to the
older woman smiling at her. "How was your week, Diane?"

"We're both fine," Diane replied and turned to Lem.
"We're so sorry to hear about the accident and loss of your wife,
Lem. Is there more we can do?"

Lem smiled. "We're fine. I'll be glad when Monday's
funeral is over though. The delay because of the police
pathologist's late release of Nikki's body didn't help but they
couldn't be more helpful." He kissed her cheek. "Friends like you
and Jack make it so much easier."

Jack and Diane had rung them three times after having
been told the tragic news. There was not a lot they could do but
Lem valued their concern and kindness. After hearing Courtney was
deeply affected by Nikki's suicide, it was Diane who made the
suggestion that Ken should be invited to the farm, so the teenager
could have some company.

"There's one little item," Jack said.

"Yes," Renee replied and couldn't hide the twinkle in
her eye.

"You know, don't you, Sweetheart," Jack retorted.

"Know what, Daddy?" the redhead replied. "You mean
having Diane's car in the barn has a special significance?"

"My God, the modern generation. To us, it is a big
step to live together. One didn't do those things in the sixties
and seventies."

"But it's the new millennium, Daddy." Renee laughed.
She winked at Lem. Her father was quite a heartthrob with two women
in less than a year.

"You don't mind?" Diane said timidly. "My son took a
bit of convincing."

"That little runt I used to boss around on the school
bus," Renee said. "I see I'll need to have a word with him." She
noticed her neighbor looked apprehensive and hastily added. "Diane,
I'm thrilled. It should have happened years ago."

It was good to be home on the farm for the weekend.
The years of security this old building offered made the tragic
week easier to bear. Her hand slipped into Lem's and their eyes
met. She was certain he felt the same.

****

CHAPTER
18

The crematorium was full with family, friends and
business associates paying their respects to the woman who died in
such tragic circumstances. Jack and Diane were among the mourners
and Lem was surprised to see that Ken accompanied Courtney. The
young guy showed compassion and thoughtfulness often missing in one
so young.

After the service Lem took his position outside the
main doors to have a few words with those who wanted to offer their
personal sympathy, while Renee and the others waited across the
lawn.

One middle-aged gentleman dressed in a dark suit and
hat caught his eye. He was unknown to Lem but looked distressed, a
solitary figure away from the clusters of mourners spread across
the forecourt. Lem excused himself from an acquaintance and walked
over.

"Good morning," he said and introduced himself.

The man looked up and wiped red eyes with a crisp
white handkerchief. "Hello Lem," he said in a hushed voice. "The
service was beautiful. Pastor Vinay has just the right touch for
this sort of tragedy, doesn't he?"

"He does." Lem agreed and wondered what to say
next.

"We did meet once at one of Nikki's staff dinners but
I don't suppose you remember me," the man continued.

"I am afraid not." Lem apologized.

"Pat McQuilkin," the man said.

It was as if a lightning bolt hit. Patrick McQuilkin,
that woman beater and big-time swindler, was this distressed
gentleman. Lem's thoughts must have shown in his face because his
companion gazed inquisitively at him.

"Are there problems, Lem?" he asked in a sympathetic
voice. "I'm sorry. This is your wife's funeral and having someone
like me here must be an embarrassment. I was under the impression
Nikki and you were divorced when we began…err…our affair."

Lem swallowed. His mind raced and he realized
something wasn't quite right. This man's attitude was wrong. If he
had been responsible for that massive attack on Nikki, why would he
come to her funeral? Why did his body language portray someone in
deep distress?

"I'm sorry," Pat McQuilkin said and squeezed Lem's
arm. "I shouldn't have come to this family service. I can see
you're overwrought."

Lem forced his surprised expression into a slight
smile and replied. "No, it's me who should apologize. It's just
that everything I'd heard made me build up a different picture of
you. You're welcome and I appreciate the effort you made to come."
What now? There was too big a mystery to let McQuilkin drift away.
"Tell me," he hastily continued and tried to make his voice sound
casual. "When was the last time you saw Nikki?"

Pat rubbed his chin as if deep in thought. "Quite a
while." He frowned. "Now I remember. You were on the national news
when you survived that cave disaster, weren't you?"

"Yes."

"It was before that." He sighed and stared over Lem's
shoulders. "Our relationship was over but I was an old man who
tried to cling. She walked out and said she was going back to you.
Did this happen?"

"No," Lem replied cautiously. "I had another partner
by that time."

Either this man was one confident con artist, or he
was telling the truth.

"Have you seen her recently?" Pat inquired. Again,
his voice showed genuine empathy.

"Off and on." Lem decided to take a gamble. "She had
some sort of debt and told me you helped her out."

Patrick shrugged. "She went to Atlanta and ran up
massive gambling debts," he said in a quiet voice. "I settled them
for her. She had become quite distressed."

"Quite?" Lem pressed.

"Okay." The man fixed Lem with a firm gaze. "We're
not fooling each other, are we, Lem. She had a drinking problem and
this led to the other things. I thought I could help her and did
for a while, then she…" He stopped and stared back at the
crematorium before continuing. "I guess to her, I was just an old
man with money."

"And the diamond necklace?" Lem cut in.

"I gave her one, yes," Pat replied without
hesitating. "I suppose she told you I asked for it back."

"She came looking for it," Lem told a half-truth.

Patrick nodded. "She told me it was lost but I didn't
believe her. If you find it amongst her personal items, I would
appreciate having it returned. It is a family heirloom with more
sentimental than monetary value."

"Certainly."

Their conversation was interrupted when Renee walked
across the lawn and stood quietly beside the pair. She gave an
apologetic smile to McQuilkin and turned to Lem. "Sorry, Dear.
There's another old aunt of yours who would like to have a few
words."

"Sure, Renee," Lem replied and turned back to
Patrick. "I must go but why don't you come up to the house? We have
refreshments there for the mourners. The address is on the service
song sheet."

"I'd like that." He shook Lem's hand again, raised
his hat to Renee and walked to a large cream automobile parked in
the far corner of the lot.

"There's no aunt. I just thought you might want to be
rescued," Renee said when the man was out of earshot. She grinned.
"A true gentleman who owns a Rolls Royce. Is he an old relation or
business acquaintance?"

"Neither," Lem replied in a neutral voice. "That was
Patrick McQuilkin."

"What?" Renee gasped.

"And I have a feeling Nikki's video was a figment of
her imagination."

"Rubbish. There was no way she could have faked those
wounds, Lem."

"Oh, that part's true but I don't think Patrick did
it."

"Why?" Renee turned and watched the Rolls Royce drive
away. "Just because he acted like a gentleman."

"No, it was more than that," Lem replied. "Everything
pointed to a person genuinely distressed. I'm usually a good judge
of character and fed in a few pointed questions. Even his
explanation of why he wanted the necklace returned sounded
authentic."

Renee glared at him. "You asked him about that
diamond necklace?"

"Well, why not?"

Renee relaxed and smiled. "Okay, Lem. It makes
everything a mystery though, doesn't it?"

"Yes. I've invited him up to Nikki's house."

"Our house," Renee corrected. "Remember, we're moving
in next week."

"Oh, you little money-grabber." Lem laughed and
kissed her forehead. "Anyway, why don't you drift up and get
Patrick McQuilkin involved in a conversation. We can compare notes
afterwards. Don't mention the video, though and warn Courtney about
him. She's well-meaning but could spout something."

****

By early afternoon, the mourners had departed and the
family was alone in the kitchen of the house that had reverted to
Lem's ownership. After saying farewell to Jack and Diane with a
promise to be back at the farm early on Friday, they sat down.

"Can I show Ken around now, Lem?" Courtney asked.
"After all, if Linda and him are going to come and stay here with
me, we'll need to pick our bedrooms."

"All separate." Lem warned her and received a sharp
blow across his shoulders.

"Cheeky." Courtney ran to where Ken waited. "Lem said
we could have the whole top floor," she said in a voice loud enough
for Ken to hear.

"Did you?" Renee asked with raised eyebrows.

"Not really but it's not a bad idea," Lem replied
with a shrug. "The upstairs is self-contained with a little kitchen
unit. The downstairs bedroom has never been used, so it can be
ours."

"Are you uncomfortable about returning?" Renee asked
quietly.

"Not really," Lem replied and changed the topic. "You
certainly got Patrick McQuilkin talking. What were your
impressions?"

"Like yours," Renee said in a serious voice. "He is
either an extremely good actor or Nikki lied."

"But why would she bother if she was going to kill
herself? It doesn't make sense."

"Perhaps she believed it herself," Renee suggested.
"She was attacked and perhaps, in her mind, it was Patrick who did
it."

"Or someone he employed." He sighed. "I don't know.
Honestly, I don't."

"So we find someone who can help us," Renee said. "At
work we have contact with excellent private investigators."