“Oh, believe me, I was worried about that,” Lane replied and they all laughed. “I’m going to put my purse in the bedroom, and then we all need to sit down and talk.”
Lane walked toward the bedroom. When he was sure she was out of earshot, Ben looked at the kids. Better to get it out now, and let Jess blow up before the party.
“I heard from someone today that your Mom invited him to her surprise birthday party.”
Jess looked at Jamie. She lifted her left eyebrow. “Good work boysenberry,” she said, without a trace of sarcasm. Ben was worried.
For as long as Jamie could remember, Jess had called him either Jam, short for Jamison unless she felt like calling him jelly, preserves, boysenberry, strawberry or any other fruit from which jam could be made … the list goes on and on. For the most part, it didn’t bother him. Although there was one time she’d gone too far in front of the football team, but that’s a story for another time.
“I told you she’d find the email if I left my laptop some place it didn’t belong.”
Ben looked at each of the Parker kids. “All right, clue me in here, I expected you to blow.”
Jess laughed. “It’s a long con, Ben. The surprise is next year when she turns 50. Since we did a surprise party this year she won’t be expecting it next year.”
Ben shook his head. These kids were devious long-term planners who knew how to keep a secret. He’d had no idea.
Lane came into the kitchen as lunch was being “served.” It was a veritable smorgasbord. The Kids had stopped at Popeye’s and brought home chicken and Ben and Lane had stopped by the grocery store and brought home sandwich meats, coleslaw and potato salad.
They held hands and Lane said grace. “Lord, we thank-you for the food you have placed before us, and for the safety of our family and friends. In Jesus’ name we pray.”
“So, how was the flight, Jess,” Lane asked.
“Good, you know the worst part is getting up so early to get here at a decent time.”
“Boys, how was your father?”
“He’s fine.” Jake responded.
Jess made a face.
“Nanna Evie sends her love.” Jamie added.
“Okay, with that out of the way, there are some things I need to talk with you about. First let me say everything’s over now and I’m fine.” Lane made eye contact with each of them before continuing.
Jess narrowed her eyes. If everything’s over now that means something had been wrong. And, no one had bothered to contact her and let her know there was any kind of trouble.
“Last Saturday night, when I was at the movie, I discovered a dead body in the theater.”
Jess looked from Lane to Ben. “I talked to you Sunday. Both of you and neither one of you said a word!”
“Yes, well, there was nothing you could have done about any of it anyway. The dead man was the man who caused the accident that resulted in my father dying, and so, the police considered me a suspect.”
Jess looked at Ben. “Where were you when all of this was going on?” She demanded. Jake and Jamie were nodding.
“Ben went to Italy with his mother, remember? And that doesn’t matter.”
“I took an earlier flight. I wasn’t supposed to be back until late Sunday, but I came home a day early.”
“Then, on Tuesday, Detective McGuire found the murder weapon under my bed when he was looking for his sunglasses.”
“Under your bed? Mom What the heck? How did the murder weapon get there?” Jake’s voice seemed to get louder with each word.
“I want to know why the detective was looking for his sunglasses under your bed. How could his sunglasses get there? Aren’t you dating Ben?” Jamie glared at his mother as if two-timing Ben was a greater sin than murder.
Jess was silently shaking her head and glaring at Ben. She’d left him in charge and clearly, he’d fallen down on the job.
Ben held up his hands. “Chill, guys. Your mother got one of her headaches on Monday and Mickey, who’s a friend of mine by the way, brought her home and stayed with her until I got here.”
“Yes, well when Mick was looking for his sunglasses which were under the bed, he also pulled out the murder weapon and then he told me to call Ben and he took me to the Leawood police station for questioning.”
“Where I went immediately went and got your mother.”
The boys were both smiling at Ben, Jess still glared.
“Then on Wednesday, Al suggested I take a few days off. And that afternoon, someone set my car on fire in the parking lot at work.”
“A fire, in the BMW?” Jess growled. Now all three Parker kids were glaring at Ben as though the fire was somehow his fault.
“After the fire, I got her to come stay at my house until it was all over.”
“Yes, he did. And, on Thursday, I met his uncles. Uncle Sal had represented the man I found in the theater, for the car accident. But, it was Uncle Vinnie who told me that the dead man’s father had put 1.5 million dollars in a trust for me when I was four.”
“1.5 million dollars,” Jess said.
“WOW,” Jake said.
“You’re a millionaire,” Jamie asked.
“Yes, well, actually that’s something else I wanted to talk with you about and I’ll get to it soon.” Lane took a drink.
“Then yesterday, I went to my office to pick up the package Nanna Evie sent for my birthday.” She tilted her head. “I wonder why she didn’t just have you guys bring it back with you. Anyway, that’s when the murderer and his co-conspirator held me in my office and threatened to kill me.”
Jamie who was the only one of the Parker kids still living at home looked at his mother. “I can’t leave you alone for a second, can I? The last time I was gone you got involved in that kidnapping, and now a dead body, a hostage situation, and murder threats. There’s no way I’m going to be able to go half way across the country to West Point next year.”
Jake shook his head. “I’ll move back in when you go. She can’t be left alone.”
Jess agreed. “Seriously, one of us has to be with you at all times from now on.” She glared at Ben. “It’s completely obvious that someone isn’t living up to expectations.”
Lane chose to ignore their outbursts. They were hearing all of this for the first time, and in retrospect, it had been a harrowing week. But, she was an adult, and their mother, and they weren’t the boss of her. Telling that to them right now probably wasn’t the wisest choice. She’d remind them later.
“Ben and Detective McGuire came into the office guns drawn and rescued me. The two men were arrested, and Ben and I went to make formal statements this morning. You see, everything’s all right now.” She took a breath. “So that brings me back to the money. It’s grown to over ten million dollars now. There are a lot of things I could do with it, but the murderer killed his father, at least we think it was his father, because his wife has mental health issues and needs to be in a full time treatment facility. So I’m thinking that I want to take at least a portion of the money and set up a foundation that can pay her medical bills.”
Ben wasn’t surprised, but then he’d ridden the roller coaster with her all week and understood how she’d arrived at this conclusion. While her kids knew her to be the most generous soul they knew, they still struggled with what she said.
Jake shook his head. “Some guy kills someone, then tries to frame you for the murder, then threatens to kill you and you want to pay the medical bills for his wife?”
“Well, you see, the money originally came from the man who would have been the murderer’s grandfather. I don’t need the money and it should help someone. I’m going to talk to Uncle Vinnie and Mrs. Edwards about it Monday.”
She looked at her kids. “Now, all three of you go get unpacked and showered or changed or whatever.”
After the Kids left the room, Ben looked at her. “Well, I think they took that rather well.” Then they both laughed.