The Carbon Murder(87)

Aunt G had introduced MC to Daniel—to talk about MC’s presentation to the Science Club, she’d said. Not too obvious: Daniel was single, MC’s age, and loved science. Well, no way was she going to get involved again, no matter how cute he was.

She couldn’t shake thoughts about what she could have had with Jake. She had fits of guilt when she wished she’d done more to make their relationship work. She could have started riding with him. Maybe if she’d given him support in the wholesome activities he’d embraced, he would have abandoned the other ones.

She felt proud of Jake, that he’d been willing to be sort of a whistle-blower, ready to confront people with their criminal behavior.

But basically she knew Aunt G was right—even though she didn’t press the issue—the chances of people reforming from abusive behavior were very slim. Maybe if she held that thought, eventually she’d be able to move on.

MC was surprised to hear about the microchip scam and Lorna Frederick’s connection to it. According to Mom, who’d called earlier, Aunt G had figured out the whole thing. MC shuddered. To think she’d almost taken a job with that woman. It was enough that she’d known Alex Simpson in Houston—Alex and Lorna were supposedly in it together, hiring that guy to kill Nina, too.

So everything that had been bothering her was over, all the mysteries cleared up. Alex and Lorna had been running a very clever scam that ended in the murder of two people she cared about. And Wayne—even weird Wayne was right about some things. That bute email, for one thing. Not that MC ever would have known what it was about. If Alex had realized that, MC’s life would have been a lot easier in the last few weeks.

RRRRRRRing!

MC jumped, stepped back, and folded her arms, involuntarily. Evidently she wasn’t as relaxed as she thought. Even a phone call jarred her. She imagined it would be a long time before sudden noises would not scare her to death.

“MC? It’s me, Wayne Gallen.”

The connection was bad, but she heard the name. “Wayne? I hope you’re calling from Houston.”

He laughed, a strange sound. Probably he was on a cell phone. “It’s … over, MC. I’m … you’re happy.”

“You’re breaking up, Wayne, but anyway we don’t have anything to talk about.”

MC practically screamed into the phone, as if to make up for the bad connection. I should just hang up, she thought, but Mom raised me better than that.

“I saved … could have … chance with my own … ife,” she heard.

If she understood correctly, Wayne was right in a way. He’d evidently crossed Alex Simpson and taken a chance with his own life in order to save hers. At least in his mind he’d saved hers. Also, she’d wrongly accused him, at least mentally, of murdering Jake.

“Okay, Wayne, maybe I owe you. I’m sorry I was rude to you, and I wish you the best.”

“ … like … meet you … last time, MC.”

“What? Where are you, Wayne?”

“Beach Lodge.”

That was clear. He was still in Revere. MC held the receiver away from her body and sighed loudly. No way was she going to that dump of a Beach Lodge, to meet Wayne or anyone else. “Wayne, it’s not going to happen. We should just end on this note.”

“No no, … worry. I’m all over … phase. I don’t know what got into me. Let’s just meet for a good-bye coffee. I’ll be leaving for home soon.”

MC was glad the line cleared up, but Wayne’s voice still sounded strange. Should she trust him? What made her think he was any more stable just because he said so?

“Wayne—”

“MC, if we had a videophone I could show you my one-way ticket to Houston. Look, we can go to a coffee shop near your house. You pick it. Really quick, I promise. Heck, you can invite your Aunt G if you want.”

MC pulled at the strings of her sweatshirt hood. I’m going out, anyway, she thought. I could meet him someplace safe, quickly, and I’ll never hear from him again. Otherwise he’ll be bugging me from Texas. Why not get it over with? He certainly sounds a little more together, as opposed to being completely cracked up, asking me to go away with him.

“Okay, Wayne. But I’m going to have Gloria with me, and maybe even Detective Gennaro.” The more the better, MC thought, although she wasn’t sure Matt was out of the hospital. But Wayne would behave himself even if just Aunt G were there.

“Let’s meet at Tomasso’s Coffee Annex on Squire Road. Do you know where that is?”

“You bet, MC. I … there.”

Breaking up again. And that strangeness in Wayne’s voice. Too much twang, MC thought. Or maybe she was losing her tolerance of it.