Marlee Drum was buried on Wednesday. Strange how life tends to stand still when death arrives. The sunlight, the air, the general feel of everything seems to be a bit abstract; heightened awareness of the world about, yet a strange detachment from this world and a wanting loneliness of something totally indefinable. Life goes on. It drags at a snail’s pace at first, then whizzes by with incredible speed until suddenly the visitation of death is long gone and the void left behind becomes only fleeting memories of a time that hardly existed.
Marlee’s son and his family from Tucson had flown in for the funeral as had her two daughters and their families, from Richmond and Atlanta. Marlee’s marriage to Lew was her second and she and Lew had never had any children together, in that they had married each other rather late in life after each one had suffered marital collapses with former spouses. Lew had no other children with his first wife. Marlee’s ex husband had no interest in attending the funeral and her son and daughters flew home quickly after the funeral.
Lew had decided that it would be unbearable to stay in the house alone, so he took a room at a hotel downtown for the time being.
The funeral had been a plain affair, although the attendance was high given Lew’s position in the community. Marlee had always stayed home and did not have a lot of acquaintances outside of the neighborhood.
Liz asked Lew if he would like her to ask her nephew Father Frank to officiate at the funeral services and he seemed thankful for the offer.
For late October when the skies were usually drab and cold, they had expected the bleak prospect of rain that always cast such a dreadful pall over a cemetery. But contrary to the expectations, the day was sunny and bright giving an orangey sheen to the remaining leaves on the trees. The air carried a crisp chill though, and the grim gathering of mourners crowded beneath the tent near the grave sight.
Lew Drum stood off by himself while Marlee’s children gathered in their own circle offering no comfort to the lonely man.
Liz and Deb were at the rear of the crowd, outside the tent. James and his wife Vera stood with them along with Michael Porelli.
Father Frank had rendered a touching farewell and the mourners drifted away family by family. Lew Drum remained for a while, staring at the casket. Martin and Roger Callan were the last to walk up to Lew, shake his hand and offer their condolences. After a brief conversation, Martin patted Lew gently on the back in a reassuring gesture. Then he and his son returned to their car and drove away. Lew watched them go, then hunched up his shoulders as if adjusting his coat and strode off to his own car. He drove away by himself. A lonely man.
The portly young priest stayed behind. Liz and Deb had invited Frank, Mike, Jim and Vera back to her house for coffee and doughnuts. Mike had indicated earlier that he needed to talk with Liz about the situation at the hospital. He had refrained for a few days, knowing Liz was caught up in the tragic death of Marlee Drum. He had expected Liz would be doing poorly these days as the stress would usually induce the return of her MS. Ironically, the monster had not returned and Liz exuded a strength that he would not have expected.
Finding Marlee’s body was a shock. She had never experienced anything like this before. Instead of weakening under the stress, she had thought only of Lew Drum and had done her best to console him and help him notify the authorities when he didn’t seem to be up to it.
It had been midnight that Sunday, before the coroner took away the body and Liz was able to go to her own home and get to bed. She was exhausted from the ordeal, not to mention that she was way past her usual sleeping time.
She paid for it the next day. She slept all day, awaking catatonic for several hours, but gradually she bounced back, even though she had missed her medications for a day and a half.
“So how is the old man doing, these days?” Frank Porelli asked of Michael. They were sitting in the kitchen. Deb had brought in two additional folding chairs and had crowded everyone around the table. Coffee cups were steaming and an open box of doughnuts sat in the center of the table.
“Still owes his soul to the devil,” Mike quipped flippantly.” Too bad you can’t do something about that.”
“Saving souls may be my business, Mikey.” Father Frank had a jovial round face and dark rimmed glasses that sat on puffy cheeks.” But, I’m a miserable failure when it comes to my own family.”
“Don’t I count for something?” Mike said.” Or don’t you figure I’ve been saved?”
“You didn’t need saving, Mikey. Except from the old man. You always knew where the right road was.”
“Thanks for coming, Frank,” Liz interrupted.” I’m sure it meant a lot to Lew Drum.”
“I hope so,” the priest said.” I was glad to do it. Gave me a chance to see all of you again. Since I went off to Buffalo, I don’t seem to get down this way much. I know it’s not that far, but my parish keeps me very busy.” Then he added,” Besides, anytime my favorite aunt asks me for a favor, I can’t refuse.”
“Seems to me, I’m your only aunt,” Liz said.
“That’s why you’re his favorite, Liz,” Deb piped up.” You wouldn’t be if you had any competition.”
“All kidding aside, Aunt Liz,” Frank’s dark eyes softened and a little of the gleam dissipated.” How are you? You’ve had a really tough time lately with the trouble at the hospital and the break in last week. And now this. I really didn’t expect you to be holding up this well.”
“To tell the truth,” Liz said.” I’m not. Haven’t had even one lollipop today. I’m starting to have withdrawal pangs.” She turned in her chair and reached for the candy dish. She offered it to everyone else, but still busy with coffee and doughnuts, they declined.
She put the dish away and then unwrapped the pop. Cherry. Maybe things were looking up.
“Have you talked with Celia, lately?” Michael asked after the others had left. They were sitting in the living room now. Michael was sitting in Liz’s usual chair and Liz was in Sissy’s and holding the little pug on her lap. She stroked Sissy gently and the little dog squinted her eyes, relishing the touch. Deb was out back with her tractor.
“Yes. I called her yesterday afternoon to tell her what had happened around here and to ask her if she had had any more problems.”
“You mean about being followed and watched?”
“Yes. She said she hadn’t seen anything strange since that one night.”
“She didn’t tell you that I went to see her day before yesterday?”
“No. No she didn’t,” Liz seemed concerned.
“No need to be concerned,” Michael said.” In light of what’s been happening to you lately, she just probably forgot to mention it. I only asked, because I didn’t know if you already knew what I went to see her about.”
“Well what was it?”
“Do you remember the other attendant that day at the hospital? The one that didn’t work on you that day, but had before.”
“Yes. Of course. She had put the needle in my arm in a most uncomfortable manner. Celia fixed it for me.”
“Well I went to the hospital and talked with. . .” His words were cut off by the ringing of the doorbell.” Were you expecting someone?” Mike asked.
“No, I wasn’t.” She started to get up.
“Stay put,” he said.” I’ll get it.”
When he swung the door open, he saw Chief of Police Ben MacCready standing on the stoop.” It’s MacCready,” he said to Liz. He opened the storm door.
“I’d like to speak with Liz, if she’s up to it,” MacCready said in an official tone.
“Let him in, Mike. I’m okay.” She would say she was, even if she had a knife in her heart.
“All right. Come on in. As long as you don’t stay too long.” Mike pushed the storm door open wider. Mike stepped back as the big man came inside.
MacCready removed his hat as he saw Liz sitting in the chair.” Hello, Liz,” he said less officially, almost sincerely apologetic.
; “Hello, Mac,” Liz said.” I was wondering when you were going to get around to this. I suppose you’ve got questions for me.”
“Yes,” he answered.” I didn’t want to put you through it earlier. I was hoping that by now you’d be up to it.”
“I’m fine, Mac,” Liz said.” Come in and sit down.”
He glanced at Michael apprehensively and moved past him toward the chair that Liz had indicated.
“You know my nephew, Michael, of course?” It was more of a statement than a question.
“Yes, I’m quite familiar with him and his Dad,” the police chief said with disdain. Then to Michael,” Your father and I have had many occasions to meet.”
“I’m sure you have,” Michael mused.
“One day I’ll nail his ornery hide,” MacCready said, menacingly, indicating that it might be Michael’s hide as well.
Liz started to protest, but Mike held up a palm.” It’s okay, Liz. It’s his job. No offense taken.”
Mike nodded to the lawman, dismissively.” Well I’d better be going, Liz. I’ll talk to you later.” He picked up his overcoat from the arm of the chair, shrugged into it and left.
“I’m sorry, Liz,” Ben apologized.” It’s just that Vinnie Porelli has been a thorn in my side for such along time.”
“I’ve told you many times before, Ben,” Liz said, still a bit put out with his attitude toward Mike.” Michael and I are not a part of Vinnie’s shady enterprises.”
“Oh, I believe you Liz,” he retorted.” I must admit there was a time when I didn’t, but no more.”
“What changed your mind?”
“I guess I’ve just gotten too old to want to jump at shadows like I used too.” He seemed genuinely apologetic.
Liz said,” So why don’t you sit down and tell me what’s on your mind?”
The big man shrugged off his leather police jacket and dropped into the stuffed chair that Michael had just vacated.
Sissy Boom Boom’s eyes opened and saw the man. Her skin tightened and a low growl started in her throat. Then with a sudden jolt, she leaped from Liz’s lap, hitting the carpet on a run and scampered out into the kitchen, no longer in view.
“Looks like your dog doesn’t like me much,” MacCready said.
“She’s usually a good judge of character,” Liz said absently, not realizing how it sounded at first, then saying,” Oh, I didn’t mean to . . . .”
“I know, Liz. Forget it.” He took a notepad out of his pocket and pen from his shirt pocket.” Now could you tell me about the other night? What you saw, heard, anything that might help me understand just what happened.”
Liz explained how she had talked to Marlee on the phone about four thirty on Sunday. How Lew had driven her to the nursing home and brought her back. How they had found Marlee’s body and the house torn apart as if it had been burglarized.
MacCready listened intently, taking notes occasionally. When Liz had apparently finished, the policeman asked,” Are you sure she was still alive when you left with Lew Drum?”
“You’re not suggesting that Lew had anything to do with her death?” Liz flashed angrily.
“I. . I’m just asking questions,” MacCready held up both hands in defense.” I’m not suggesting anything. I just have to cover all possibilities. That’s all.”
Liz settled down and said,” I suppose you have to.” Then she said,” Marlee opened the front door and waved to Lew when he was leaving. Of course she was still alive.”
“You saw her plainly? You’re sure it was her?”
“Positive,” Liz said.” No doubt about it.”
MacCready wrote something on his pad, then said,” Now Liz, don’t get upset about this, but I have to ask it. Do you know if Lew and Marlee were having any problems?”
“Seems to me, that’s something you should be asking Lew Drum, himself.” Liz said emphatically and not answering the question.
“I have,” MacCready said.” And he said there was nothing really. He did admit that it had been difficult dealing with Marlee’s illnesses. I just wondered if you had anything to add to that or if you had noticed anything. I know you and Marlee were good friends. Did she ever confide in you about anything?”
Liz thought about the note and Marlee’s concerns. Did she dare tell MacCready about it? Instead of a direct answer, she responded.” So, you are considering Lew a suspect?” She almost sneered.
“Unfortunately, in any case like this, the spouse is always the first to be suspected. It’s just procedure to rule it out. You seem to have done a good job of convincing me that Lew couldn’t have had anything to do with it. He certainly couldn’t have been in two places at the same time.”
“What about the breakins and the burglary? You don’t think that’s what it was all about?”
MacCready sighed.” It looks like that is exactly what happened. The house had been ransacked and several valuable items were missing. Marlee’s jewelry box was completely empty.”
Liz waited for the policeman to say something about the note that Marlee had hidden it the jewelry box. When he didn’t she wondered if he had found it and was just not mentioning it. As he continued talking, she decided, perhaps the note wasn’t there. The burglar may have just dumped everything into a bag or something, without noticing it. At any rate, she had decided not to mention anything about it.
“I had Tom go out to pick up Albert Huntone.” Liz heard MacCready say above her thoughts. She put her attention on the police chief and listened.” But it seems, he’s already skipped town.”
“You think it could have been him?” Liz asked.
“Quite possible. We’re not ruling it out. It could also be almost anyone else too. Right now we don’t have much to go on. But I promise you this. I won’t let this case be closed until I find the person or persons responsible for Marlee Drum’s death.”
*****
Chapter Nineteen