Homecoming (Downeast #1)

Chapter 31

Chapter

Thirty-One

Dan was waiting outside the building when Keith and Kirby emerged in street clothes, both grinning from ear to ear as they approached him.

“What the fuck happened?” Keith asked as he hugged Dan so hard, he nearly cracked his ribs.

“We produced evidence that showed it was possible someone else had motive to kill Tanya, and he was in the area on Friday night.”

Kirby hugged Dan, as tears streamed down his face. “They really dropped all the charges?”

“They really did, and they’re going to issue a statement that’ll fully exonerate you of any involvement in Tanya’s murder.”

“Thank fucking God,” Keith said. “I don’t know how you did it, but damn, man. We owe you everything.”

“What he said,” Kirby said. “Thank you so much, Dan. We’ll never have the words…”

“I’m glad I could help.” He produced his phone. “I assume yours are dead. Could you please call your mother to tell her the good news?”

Kirby took the phone from him. “With pleasure.” He dialed his mother’s number and put the call on speaker.

“Hi, Dan. How’s it going? Please tell me you have some news.”

“Hey, Mom, it’s me, Kirby.”

Keith leaned in. “And me, Keith. We’re out—and all the charges have been dropped.”

Judith’s scream was so loud that people on the sidewalk turned to see what was happening.

The three men grinned like fools.

“Kara married her magician,” Keith said. “I don’t know what he did, and I don’t really care, but we’re free and clear, and it’s all thanks to him.”

“Thank God,” Judith said. “I’m going to go call Dad and text the others. We’ll have a celebration dinner here tonight. Is that okay?”

Kirby glanced at Keith, who nodded.

“That’d be great, Mom. Tell everyone we can’t wait to see them.”

“They can’t wait to see you, too. This is the best news ever. Thank you so, so much, Dan. You have our eternal gratitude.”

“Glad I was able to help.”

After they ended the call, he took back the phone and texted Kara. The boys have been sprung. All charges dropped. Will call you shortly.

She didn’t respond, which meant she was either sleeping or doing something away from her phone.

“Where can we drop you guys?” Dan asked.

“I want to go home and take a real shower,” Kirby said.

“Me, too,” Keith said.

Dan held the back door to Walter’s car for them to get in and then went to the passenger seat.

“Hey, Walter,” Keith said. “How’d you get hooked up with this guy?”

“He was looking for a driver to get him around. He said he does his best work in the car.”

“Do you need directions?” Dan asked Walter.

“Nah, I know where they live.” He glanced up at the mirror. “Real glad to see you guys outta that place.”

“You and us both,” Keith said.

“Had the window down, so I heard all the charges are dropped, too.”

“That’s right,” Kirby said.

“Thank goodness.”

“Will it always stick to us, though?” Kirby asked. “That we were charged in the first place?”

“I trust Chief White to release a statement that’ll take care of any doubt,” Dan said.

“That’d be good,” Kirby said. “It’s gonna take a long time to get past this, no matter what he says.”

Dan turned so he could see him. “That’s true, but you will get past it. I’ve known a lot of people who were tried, convicted and served hard time who were later exonerated and able to put their lives back together. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen eventually in most cases.”

“Only in most cases?” Keith asked.

“Some are so damaged by what they endured that they struggle on the outside and sometimes end up in pretty dire straits. We do what we can for them, but we’re not always successful in helping them turn things around. People like them… They’re the reason I do this work.”

“Thank God you do this work—and thank God you married our sister,” Kirby said. “Who knows what might’ve become of us without you on the case?”

“I’m confident that the police would’ve eventually realized they had the wrong guys, but it might’ve taken a while. I don’t believe there was any malice involved here, despite how it might seem to you.”

“Felt pretty malicious to me,” Keith said. “I haven’t been a Boy Scout, so the minute they heard I was with her, they jumped to all kinds of conclusions.”

“Which is what you’d probably have done in their shoes,” Dan said.

“Are you defending them?” Keith asked, sounding incredulous.

“Hardly. I’m merely stating that human nature is such that when something seems obvious, you tend to follow that path until you have reason not to.”

“Well, I might’ve been a bit of a degenerate at times, but I hate to think it would be obvious to anyone that I was capable of killing that beautiful young woman—or anyone else, for that matter.”

They dropped the brothers at their respective homes, and then Walter drove Dan back to Bertha’s.

“Congratulations, bossman. You must be feeling pretty good right about now.”

“I’m relieved that the family can put this behind them and get back to normal.”

“I suppose this means you and the missus will be heading back to your little island.”

“As soon as we possibly can. It’s been great to be here, to see everyone, to deal with everything that needed to be done, but Gansett is home for us.”

“I get it, man. Once you find that special place, that’s where you want to be most of the time.”

“Yes, exactly. And autumn on the island is my favorite time of year. The tourists are gone, and Gansett becomes ours again while the weather is still fantastic. You should come visit sometime.”

“I’d love to. When is your little one due?”

“Late November.”

“That’ll be here before you know it.”

“All the more reason to get home.”

Dan sent a text to Slim Jackson. The Ballard boys are out of lockup with all charges dropped, so Kara and I will need a ride home in the next few days.

Say the word, and we’ll be there. And congratulations. Feel a little sorry for the folks up there. They didn’t know what was about to hit them when Dan T. came to town.

LOL. Thanks, friend. Can’t wait to see everyone.

You’ve been missed around here.

That’s nice to hear. We’ve missed you guys, too.

He also texted Kendall to let her know he’d be returning soon, to update her on the successful outcome with Kara’s brothers and to thank her for covering for him. If you’re interested in continuing to work a bit, I can keep you busy. Got a baby arriving in a few short months, and I’ll take all the help I can get.

I’m around for anything you need and happy to stay busy. Congratulations on the brothers. Must be a big relief.

HUGE relief. I’ll touch base when we get back to the island.

Safe travels.

Walter pulled up to Bertha’s and parked in the driveway, leaving the engine running as he got out to shake Dan’s hand. “Been a real kick getting to know you, Counselor. Hope you’ll touch base the next time you’re up this way. I’ll buy you a lobster roll.”

“I’ll definitely take you up on that. Thank you for everything. You made it easier for me here, and I appreciate it.”

“Pleasure’s all mine, my friend. Keep in touch.”

“Will do.”

Dan waved as Walter drove off and then went inside to find his wife.

Bertha and Buster had taken a rare day off for Bertha’s dreaded annual physical that she said was pointless because she felt fine, but she went because everyone who loved her made her do it.

Buster had appeared in the doorway to Kara’s room, while she was still in bed.

“Let’s fish.”

“Um, okay. Give me a minute to open my eyes.”

“Hurry up.”

She’d laughed at the brusque tone that’d been such a big part of her childhood memories. Buster had been one of her very best friends as a child, being as he was only ten years older than her and always around when she visited Bertha’s. He’d taught her to fish, to catch crabs, to repair traps and to tie all the fanciest knots.

They’d rarely exchanged a word because he preferred quiet to chatter, and she’d respected his boundaries on that, which had made her one of his favorite companions. Kelly, who’d been a certified blabbermouth as a child, didn’t cut it with Buster.

Kara had been ridiculously honored then to make his inner circle, and as she brushed her teeth and hair and washed her face, she couldn’t wait to spend time with him. It didn’t matter what they did, because it was always fun.

She pulled on yoga pants and Dan’s favorite Stanford sweatshirt before grabbing a granola bar and a bottle of water to take with her.

Ever since the IV at the hospital, she’d felt a thousand times better. That was good to know for future pregnancies if she was plagued by nonstop nausea again.

Future pregnancies… Ha! She needed to see how this delivery went before she thought about another baby. Truth be told, the delivery part of the program was terrifying to her. Not that she’d admitted that to anyone, even Dan. Women had been giving birth for centuries. She refused to make a big deal out of it. Besides, if that wimp Kelly could do it, she’d have no problem.

That thought made her chuckle to herself as she walked across the backyard to the water’s edge, where Buster had set them up with chairs and poles.

“Did you do the bait?”

He gave her a what-do-you-take-me-for look that made her laugh.

“Sorry.”

“Some things don’t change.”

“No, they don’t. Worms still freak me out.”

“Baby.”

She stuck her tongue out at him and got the slightest lift of his face in response.

Kara hadn’t fished since the last time she did it with Buster. She’d forgotten how relaxing it was to cast, reel and repeat until she felt the telltale tug of a fish on the hook. Then it got exciting as she engaged every muscle, or so it seemed, to land her catch.

“Nice one,” Buster said as he freed the fish and returned it to the water.

Kara was glad he remembered that she didn’t like to touch the fish either.

They’d caught two each when they heard car doors closing in the driveway.

Kara turned to see Dan give Walter a bro hug and a handshake. Her heart gave a happy lift at the sight of him coming toward her with a big smile on his face.

“Did you get my text?” he asked.

She stood to greet him with a kiss. “Haven’t looked at my phone in a couple of hours. Someone wanted to fish first thing.”

“First thing,” Buster said disdainfully. “Right.”

“Your brothers are out of lockup, and all charges have been dropped.”

Kara let out a whoop, dropped her pole and launched herself into Dan’s arms. “You did it!”

“With some very excellent help.”

She hugged him tightly. “Thank you so much.”

“Anything for you, love.”

“Good job,” Buster said to Dan. “Charges were bullshit.”

As Kara hugged her love, she realized this meant they’d be going home to Gansett soon. She was surprised to feel a pang of sadness to be leaving Maine and the people she loved there.

“We need to celebrate.”

“Your mom is way ahead of you. She invited the whole family to dinner tonight. You probably have a text from her.”

“I need to go grab my phone. Want to take a turn with the pole?”

“I’d love to.”

“Show him the ropes, Buster.”

“Yep.”

Kara walked inside, deeply relieved that the dark cloud over their family had lifted and her brothers were free men. She hoped there’d be a public statement to remove the stain on their reputations.

She had twenty-two unread texts, including one from her mother asking whether Kelly and Matt should be invited to the celebration dinner.

Fine by me, she replied. Happy to hear the great news.

We owe Dan everything. Thank you for bringing him into our lives. You chose a very fine man, in more ways than one.

Kara laughed at the double meaning in her mother’s words. He’s the best.

Bertha announced her arrival when her old truck backfired as she killed the engine.

Smiling, Kara went out to meet her. “How was the doctor?”

“Fine. Nothing new.”

“Did you hear the big news?”

“What big news? I was in a rush to get home. Never looked at my phone.”

“The boys are out, and all charges are dropped.”

“Oh thank you, Jesus. And Dan. Mostly Dan.”

Kara laughed as she hugged her grandmother. “Mom’s having a celebration dinner at the house tonight. Everyone’s invited.”

“That’s a party I want to attend.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” Kara pulled back from her, sad to think about leaving her beloved grandmother.

“What’s with the frown?”

“I guess we’ll be heading home soon.”

“That should make you happy, not sad.”

“I am happy, but I wish I could bring you with me.”

“You know I’d be miserable anywhere but right here, where I’ll be the next time you come home to visit. And I’ll come to see your little one when he arrives. That’s a promise.”

“Really? You’ll leave Maine for me?”

“Try and keep me away.”

Kara hugged her again. “I love you so, so much. More than just about anything.”

“Same goes, love. All the way around the world and back again.”

The dinner at her parents’ house that evening was the first time in years Kara could recall all eleven Ballard siblings being in the same place at the same time. Kirby and Keith had greeted Kara with warm hugs and thanks for everything Dan had done for them. Even Kingston, who rarely had anything to do with the family, was there with a big hug for Kara.

Kingston had reddish-blond hair, a matching beard and piercing blue eyes. “Heard your hubby is the man of the hour.”

“We’re so thankful it’s resolved. For us, anyway. I hope they catch the person who killed Tanya.”

“I heard something on the radio on the way over here that they’ve got a suspect,” Kingston said.

“I feel for her family. What a terrible thing.”

“Indeed.”

Dan came over to them, holding the beer bottle Chuck had pressed into his hand the second they arrived.

“Dan, meet Kingston, the last of the Ballards you hadn’t met.”

The two men shook hands.

“Good to finally meet you,” Dan said.

“Likewise. Thanks for everything you did for the boys.”

“I’m glad it worked out.”

“And way to work yourself into the will,” Kingston said with a teasing grin.

Dan laughed.

“Seriously, though, we appreciate what you did.”

“It helped that they were innocent,” Dan said, “which makes things easier. Not that it always turns out this way, but it helps to have the truth on our side.”

Kara’s siblings took turns thanking him, shaking his hand and expressing their appreciation.

“Very well done,” Kelly said to Dan as her son, Connor, clung to her leg. “Thank you for everything you did.”

“No problem.”

Kelly started to say something else, but apparently thought better of it and moved on, taking Connor by the hand. Maybe she’d learned not to push her luck. Kara could only hope.

“I googled you,” Luna said to Dan as she ran a chip through onion dip. “Impressive.”

“Is that right?”

“Duh, like you don’t already know that.”

He laughed and gave her a playful bop on the head. “Don’t believe everything you read.”

“So you haven’t helped to free tons of wrongly accused people, including two of my uncles?”

“That part is true. Some of the other stuff you might see about me is BS.”

“Like what?”

“That I dated every actress in Hollywood. That’s most definitely false.”

“It was more like half of them,” Kara said.

“Hey! It was fewer than five.”

Luna snorted with laughter. “Anyone I’d know?”

“Maybe?”

“Oh, this is going to be good.”

“Luna, leave your uncle alone,” Kendra said. “He’s supposed to be celebrating.”

“He was just going tell me which famous actresses he dated.”

“I’ll text you,” Dan said with a wink for the girl, which made her smile broadly.

Kara was overwhelmed with gratitude to have had this time with her family and friends in Maine, for Dan to have gotten to meet many of them for the first time, to reconnect with her nieces and friends as well as Bertha and Buster, who were at Sea Swept for the first time in years.

She thought she was seeing things when Renata walked in with her father, Kara’s uncle Henry, who hadn’t been anywhere near their family in two decades. “What the hell?”

“Who’s that?” Dan asked.

“My uncle Henry. My dad’s brother.”

“You don’t say.”

Chuck smiled when he saw his brother and went to shake his hand. “Welcome. I’m glad you could make it.”

“Thanks for the invite. Happy to help celebrate the good news.”

“What is happening?” Kara asked Renata.

In the years since she’d last seen her uncle, his dark hair had gone gray, and there were lines on his face that hadn’t been there before.

“My dad texted your dad to say how relieved he was to hear the good news and that he knew Keith and Kirby were innocent from the start,” Renata said. “Your dad wrote back, thanking him and saying it was nice to hear from him. They talked back and forth a bit, and your dad invited him to come to the party.”

“Stop it. For real?”

“He’s here, isn’t he?”

“I can’t believe it,” Kara said as she watched her mother hug her brother-in-law. “We’ve wished for this for so long.”

“It only took your brothers being charged with murder to get you home and to patch up a decades-long rift between our fathers.”

“It’s weird, isn’t it, how good things can come from something so awful?”

“For sure.” She glanced at Kara. “Does this mean you guys are leaving soon?”

“Probably, but we haven’t made any plans yet.”

“I know you’re looking forward to getting back to your island, but I’ll miss having you close by.”

“I’m always just a text, a call, a FaceTime away.”

“I know, but it’s not the same.”

Kara nudged her with her shoulder. “You’re going to be so busy with your new man that you won’t have time to miss me.”

“Hush.”

“I won’t hush.”

“I’ll always miss you when you aren’t here.”

“I’ll make sure I’m here much more often going forward. I promise.”

“And I’ll come there, too. I promise.”

“I’d love that. We’re looking forward to having the whole crew there next summer.”

Renata rested her head on Kara’s shoulder as they watched their fathers laugh together for the first time in forever. “Love you, cousin.”

“Love you, too.”