'Fencing. Ah, there it is.' He pulled into the lot adjacent to the St. Claire Fencing Company, parked the car but left the motor running, and got out. 'I already called the order in, so this won't take long. I just need to pay.' He hit the power lock and then
shut the door.
She waited with the air conditioner running full speed. It was hot and muggy outside, and the weatherman had predicted an
eighty percent chance for an afternoon thundershower. She lifted her hair and fanned her neck. She still hadn't readjusted to
the humidity in Bowen. Or the pace of life. She was used to running, and now she was going to have to learn how to slow
down again.
It took ten minutes for Theo to complete the transaction. Michelle was dying to know why he wanted to buy a fence, but she wasn't going to ask any more questions. If he wanted her to know, he'd tell her in his own good time.
She lasted until Theo had parked the car in front of the St. Claire Bank and Trust, which was exactly three blocks away from
the fencing company.
'Did you buy a fence?'
'Uh-huh.'
'What kind did you get?'
He was going through the stack of papers in the files he had tucked in the console between them. 'Wrought iron,' he said.
He pulled out two official-looking documents, then got out of the car and came around to open her door for her.
'That's awfully expensive.'
'It was worth the price.'
'And?'
'And what?'
'And why did you buy it?'
'Call it a consolation prize,' he said, 'because I'm not going to get a bigger gun.'
He knew she didn't understand. She'd already gone to the car when little John Patrick had told him about his birthday.
'There are fencing companies back in Boston.'
'Yes, there are.'
It suddenly dawned on her. 'Does this have anything to do with Lois?'
'Lois who?'
She gave up. 'You're not going to tell me?'
'That's right. I'm the strong, silent type.'
'I hate the strong, silent types. They're all type A personalities. Heart attacks waiting to happen.'
He pulled the door open. 'Sweetheart, don't you ever think about anything but medicine?'
If he only knew. Since she'd met him, the only thing she'd been able to think about was going to bed with him. But she wasn't going to admit it. 'Sure I do,' she said. 'Want to know what I'm thinking right now?'
'Are you getting cranky again?'
She laughed. 'When was I cranky?'
Theo motioned to the guard, then stepped back so Michelle could go inside first. He knew his weapon would set the alarm off.
He flashed his government ID at the elderly man and waited for him to hit the release button. The gun was concealed in an
ankle strap he'd had sent to him with the papers.
The guard waved Theo inside. 'How can I help you, Officer?'
Theo didn't correct the misassumption. 'I have an appointment with the president of the bank. Could you direct me to his office?'
The guard nodded enthusiastically. 'Sure I can. Mr. Wallbash is in the back. You can see him sitting behind his desk on the other side of the glass wall.' 'Thank you.'
Theo caught up with Michelle, pointed to a chair in the lobby outside of the president's office, and said, 'Maybe you should wait here. I may have to use a dirty word in there.'
'What would that word be?'
He leaned down close to her ear and whispered,
'Excuse me, ma'am. Aren't you Big Daddy Jake's girl?' The guard was hurrying toward Michelle.
She whispered, 'Good luck,' to Theo and then turned to the old man. 'Yes, I am,' she said.
'Then you're the doctor, aren't you?'
He introduced himself and shook her hand. 'I heard about what happened down at your clinic. My wife, Alice, and I were just saying how nice it was going to be to have Jake's girl looking out for us. We both need a good doctor. Alice has trouble with her bunions and her corns. She can't put on her Sunday shoes 'cause it hurts so much, and I've got to do something about my bursitis. Some days I can't raise my right arm at all. When do you think you'll be seeing patients?'
'Hopefully, in a couple of weeks.'
'We can wait until then,' he said. 'We've put up with our aches and pains this long. This part-time job of mine helps me keep my mind off my ailments,' he added. 'I fill in for the regular guard two days a week. I guess you could say I keep banker's hours.'
He laughed at his own joke and then said, 'Will you look at that? Mr. Wallbash looks like he's gonna have himself a heart attack. His face is as red as a chili pepper, and he's sweating like a pig. He sure doesn't like what the officer is telling him.'
Michelle agreed. Wallbash did look ill. He shuffled through the papers Theo had placed on his desk, then looked up long enough
to glare at Theo.
She couldn't see Theo's face because his back was to her, but whatever he was saying as he leaned over the desk was having quite an impact on Wallbash. The president put both hands up as though he were being robbed and nodded vigorously.
She thought she knew why. Theo must have used the magic word.
He wasn't inside the president's office all that long, and he didn't shake the man's hand when he was leaving. Wallbash was busy mopping the sweat from his brow. Theo paused in the doorway, and whatever he said in parting made the color drain from Wallbash's face.
Theo's expression was ferocious as he crossed the lobby to her. He noticed her watching him, winked, then grabbed hold of her hand, nodded to the guard, and kept right on going, dragging her along in his wake.
She waited until they were in the car to find out what had happened. 'Well?'
'Wallbash isn't happy, but he'll cooperate. He damn well better,' he added in a voice that made her take notice.
'Now what?'
'One more stop and then we can eat lunch. Tell me how to get to the sugar mill.'
She gave him directions and then asked him to tell her what he'd done. 'Wallbash looked like he was going to have a tantrum.'
'The Carson brothers have done their banking at the St. Claire Bank and Trust since the company began. They're one of the bank's largest depositors, and that ought to tell you something about the sweet deal those sons of bitches have going. Wallbash
and Gary Carson are friends. According to Wallbash, he's a real nice guy.'
'What about his brother?'
'Jim Carson's a hothead. I think Wallbash is a little afraid of him. Jim's the one who went to the hospital to fire Daryl. They play
