Just Take My Heart - Mary Higgins Clark [90]
“I can't wait,” her mother replied. “I've been dying to hear every?thing about it.”
When she arrived for dinner, Nonie was carrying a bag full of the pictures she and her friends had taken, and since she couldn't talk about the case, she proceeded to fill them in on every detail of every day on the cruise.
"Olga and Gertie got seasick right away and had to wear that patch behind their ears. I got one just in case but I never needed it. . .
"The food was out of this world. We all ate too much . . . They were putting something in front of you all day and all night. . .
“And I really enjoyed going to hear the lectures they had. My fa?vorite was the one about sea life . . . you know . . . the whales, and the penguins, and whatnot . . .”
Sal, normally good-natured about his mother-in-law's agonizingly-boring stories, couldn't even pretend to listen. Belle did her best to look interested and even sincerely admired the already framed pic?ture of her beaming mother in her lovely new pants suit posing with the captain.
“You mean that guy has to have his picture taken with every per?son on the ship?” Sal asked incredulously, momentarily joining in the conversation and thinking that some days the captain must be tempted to jump overboard.
“Uh-huh. Of course when you have a couple or a family group, they pose together. But the girls and I all wanted individual pictures so that our families would have them someday after we're gone,” Nonie explained.
I get their drift, Sal thought. None of the “girls” are under seventy-five.
After they finished dessert and a second cup of tea, he suggested. “Nonie, you've got to be tired after your trip. And I've got to get out early tomorrow morning. If you don't mind, I'll walk you home now.”
Belle and her mother exchanged satisfied glances.
“That's a good idea, Sal,” Nonie agreed. “You really need your rest and I'm ready to call it a day. It'll be good to be back in my own bed.”
An hour later, just before ten o'clock, the bedroom door closed and Sal already in a deep sleep, Belle settled in her favorite chair in the living room, pulled the hassock under her feet, and dialed her mother.
For the next hour and a half they conducted a thorough review of all of the evidence. The more they talked and the more Belle heard her mother declare that Gregg had been framed, the more an?guished she became. Even though Sal denies it, I am almost sure that Jimmy Easton worked for him, she thought. She finally decided to tell her mother about her suspicions.
“You mean that Jimmy Easton may have worked for Sal?” Nonie exclaimed. “Did Sal ever deliver anything to Gregg's apartment building?”
“Sal used to deliver for some antique shop that went bust. I guess not enough people buy that kind of stuff. I don’t particularly like it myself. But I know those deliveries were usually on the East Side to those fancy apartment buildings,” Belle answered, her tone worried. "I know that's why Sal is upset if I talk about the case . . .
“He's afraid,” she sighed. Over the years he's hired a lot of differ?ent guys when he needs extra help. He always pays them in cash. He doesn't want to get involved in all that extra paperwork he'd have to do if they were on the books."
“To say nothing of the medical plan he would have to have,” Nonie agreed. “It would cost a fortune. You know how it is, the rich get richer and the rest of us get squeezed. You know how long it took me to save up for my trip with the girls.”
Nonie cleared her throat for several seconds. “Sorry, that's my al?lergies. There was a musty smell on the ship and I think that's what kicked them off. Anyway, Belle, I don't want to see Sal get in trouble over taxes. But if Jimmy Easton worked for him and went into that apartment on a delivery, it would explain why he knew so much about it.”
“That's what's been torturing me.” Belle was close to tears.
“Honey, you can't let anyone be locked in prison if by just