One Foot in the Grave - Denise Grover Swank Page 0,133
illegal—but if you were to include anything about your vendetta against Bart… let’s just say the corruption hasn’t been rooted out of the department yet.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
He studied me in the moonlight for a moment, saying nothing. There was something beautiful about that moment, something pure and unbroken, and I didn’t want it to end. But finally he said, “I better head home.”
Still, he didn’t make any moves to go.
I didn’t want him to leave. I needed him. Yet I had nothing to offer him but my friendship, and I’d already abused that privilege.
“Thank you,” I whispered, staring into his eyes. “Thank you for your help. Thank you for your understanding.”
A soft smile lit up his eyes and he leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Thank you for being my friend.”
Then he got in his SUV and left.
The next morning, I woke to the sound of a car pulling onto Hank’s land. I quickly jumped out of bed and grabbed my chunky cardigan before running out to see who it was.
Hank was sitting in his chair on the porch, nursing a cup of coffee.
Abby had pulled her pickup truck into the driveway, stopping about ten feet from the house. She got out of the truck, holding a wicker laundry basket. “I hope it’s okay that I stopped by.”
“Of course,” I said hesitantly. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was angry with me. Her chances of getting out of this free and clear might have been damaged by Paul’s suicide, and maybe even by the fact that Max and Marco had shared all the details with the sheriff’s department before she could.
“I come in peace,” she said, lifting the basket slightly.
I walked to the bottom of the steps, realizing Hank hadn’t said a word.
“Hank, this is Dr. Abby Donahey, the Drum veterinarian. Abby, this is Hank Chalmers, my…” To call him my landlord and roommate would almost be an insult. Friend didn’t cut it either. Friend barely held up as a description for what I had with Marco, but what I had with Hank went beyond that. “My family,” I said, with a lump in my throat.
She nodded. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Chalmers.”
“Call me Hank,” he said. “Everybody does.”
“Okay, then. Hank it is.” She took several steps closer, turning her attention to me. “I wanted to thank you for helpin’ me.”
“I’m not sure I did,” I admitted. “I said I’d keep your admission secret until you talked to a lawyer, but it got out anyway. I’m worried it will hurt your chances of getting a good plea bargain.”
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “And I’m glad the truth is finally out. Paul hung it over my head every time he wanted something.” She gave me a soft smile. “After this is over, I’ll really be free. Paul can’t keep me in Drum anymore.”
“So you’re leavin’?” I asked.
She laughed. “That’s the thing. I don’t think I will. It’s just nice knowin’ that I’m only here because I choose to be, you know?”
I nodded. Sadly, I did.
“In any case,” she said, holding out the basket. “I’m going to be dealin’ with all of this legal mess, though my attorney thinks that what I know about Paul will help me get off with just probation. But he thinks I need to stay somewhere else for my safety, and Detective White has given her permission. I’ll be back once all the buzz dies down. In the meantime, I was wondering if you could foster some of those kittens you were playin’ with the other day.” She set the basket on the ground and I saw two kittens, the gray one I’d held at her office and a black and white one.
Happiness rushed through me as I scooped them both up and held them to my chest.
“I take it that’s a yes?” she asked.
I turned to Hank, who was grinning.
“Anything that makes you that happy is an automatic yes,” he said. He glanced up at Abby. “We’ll take them.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I got someone to watch the others. You can bring them in when I get back to schedule them to be spayed. I left some food and kitty litter underneath the towel. You can get the basket to me when I get back.” She took a few steps backward. “Thanks again, Carly.”
I nodded. “If you ever need someone to talk to,” I said, “I’m a great listener and Watson’s makes some pretty decent coffee.”