Hide & Seek - James Patterson [83]
“But he wasn’t there for one of the parties? The ones that took place late?” Norma asked.
Mrs. Leigh glanced at her conspiratorially. “J.C. tell you? You know about those carryings-on?”
“Sure do. Did you happen to notice how Mr. Shepherd was dressed that night?”
“It was dark, ma’am. Only thing I know for sure, he was carrying his rifle back from the club.”
Norma could feel the small hairs rise on the back of her arms. “His rifle? Are you sure?”
“They shoot skeet there. At the shooting range down past the golf course. He often did that.”
“But not on the day he was killed.”
Mrs. Leigh sighed. “I told you. He was in New York most of the day. Left real early for him.”
“You told the police all of this?” Norma asked.
Mrs. Leigh nodded. “Everything that I’m telling you now.”
“About Mr. Shepherd and the rifle?”
“Of course.”
They finished their coffee. “Thank you, Mrs. Leigh,” Norma said. “You’ve been very helpful.”
“Happy to oblige. You see that little boy in there? He’s a sweetheart, and he loves his mommy. We all want her to come home. We miss Maggie so bad.”
“So do I. Is there a phone I can use?”
“In the den. I’ll show you.”
“I can find it,” Norma said. She had to stop herself from running.
CHAPTER 100
“BARRY, I’M UP at Maggie’s house. I’m onto something. At least I hope so. No, I actually think I have something real going.”
Norma had closed the den door behind her, but she nevertheless whispered into the phone.
“I’m listening,” Barry said.
“You know that celebrated rifle in question?” Norma said. “Mrs. Leigh saw Will carrying it the night of the shooting. He was out by the country club, which more and more seems to be figuring into this brutal mess.”
“Why would he have had the rifle at the Lake Club?”
“First question I asked myself.” Norma’s voice rose in her excitement. “That’s why he went to the club. To fetch it. It’s where he must have kept it when Maggie told him to get rid of it. She said she looked everywhere around the house, but she could never find it. It was at the club.”
There was a long pause. Finally Barry said, “Now why would he want to do that? Did he stage his own suicide, Norma? Is that it? Did he frame Maggie?”
Norma felt a sudden surge of frustration and bewilderment. “Goddamnit, I don’t know yet,” she said. “Not a clue. That part doesn’t make any sense to me.
“But I’ll tell you what I do know,” Norma spoke again. “The Bedford police knew Will went to fetch the rifle, and they kept it to themselves. Something’s rotten in the state of Bedford, and I’m going to find out what, and who, and why.”
“Sic ‘em, Norma.”
“Grrrr.”
CHAPTER 101
LOOKED AT Jennie as she entered the visiting room and I wanted to cry. I wouldn’t let myself. I needed to be strong now, for both of us. I needed to listen to Jennie.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her though. I’d always loved her, much more than I cared about myself. People said we were a lot alike, only I saw Jennie as having few, if any, of my faults and weaknesses. We did look like each other. Jennie was tall now, almost five nine. Her blond hair was as long as mine. We had the same eyes.
I love you, I thought as she sat across the table from me. I hated the table being there, separating us now. I needed to hug Jennie, and to be hugged back. Never more than right at that moment, right now.
Suddenly, she cracked a smile. It was pure Jennie. “I have a message from Norma. She says she has proof that Mother Teresa is total bullshit. That she’s actually a Vegas act, in it for the money.”
I laughed out loud at the joke.
“Norma’s trying to help you, Mom,” Jennie leaned across the table and said in her most mature voice.
“I think I know that, Jen. How are you?”
Jennie rolled her eyes. “Believe it or not, I’m good. I’m not great, but I’m okay.” She blew me two kisses. “Those are from Allie. Actually, he sent you a hundred kisses.”
“Does he still remember who I am?”
She rolled her eyes again. “We make him watch videos of your concerts so that he doesn’t forget. We read him your letters, show him your pictures. I’m here to