Loose Ends by Terri Reid Page A

Stanley,” she added.
    “Well of course she did,” Stanley said without a pause. “Now about that Police Chief.”
    “When the Police Chief saw how I looked last night, he had the same reaction as you two. But, the bruise was fresher and obviously more colorful at the time,” she explained. “And I was not very steady on my feet.”
    “He helped me in my house and I passed out on the couch soon after,” she continued. “So, he stayed on the recliner all night – just watching out for me. It was nice.”
    “Wonder if he’d do the same for me?” Stanley smirked and elbowed Rosie.
    “Oh, Police Chief, I do believe I have a headache,” Stanley said in a high falsetto.
    “Well, if you talked to him like that, he’d probably arrest you for solicitation,” Mary said dryly.
    Rosie giggled. “Besides, a bruise like this could only improve your looks, Stanley.”
    “Ha, ha, very funny,” he replied, sneering at Rosie. “So, how come all of the sudden you’re not a nut case?”
    Mary chuckled. “Well, I was probably still in the ‘nut case’ category when he helped me into the house. But, by the time he left this morning, I think he was reconsidering his own sanity.”
    “What happened?” Rosie asked, standing back a little to see how Mary’s face looked.
    “He met Earl,” she laughed.
    “You mean, headless dead-guy, Earl?” Rosie asked.
    “Well, he didn’t actually see Earl,” Mary corrected, and then in a Boris Karloff accent added, “He heard Earl and saw the door open and close by itself.”
    Stanley chuckled and sat down on the edge of the desk. “Well, poor Police Chief Alden, that must’ve scared the crap out of him.”
    “He actually handled it very well,” Mary said, “Once he put his gun away. The only casualty was my cookie jar.”
    “Well, I never liked that cookie jar anyway,” Rosie said, turning Mary’s head to each side. “Mary, I think I’ve done it.”
    “Thanks, Rosie,” Mary said, “I really try to avoid scaring clients.”
    Mary turned to Stanley. “Okay, so how do you think I look?” she asked.
    “Can’t hardly see the bruise,” Stanley agreed.
    “Well, good,” Mary said, standing up and grabbing her purse. “Hey, lock up for me – okay?”
    She gave Rosie a hug. “Thanks again, I appreciate it.”
    She started to walk out the door, but stopped and turned back to Stanley, “No teasing the Chief about Earl. Promise?”
    Stanley sighed. “Yeah, I suppose. Spoilsport.”
    Mary grinned. “You don’t want me to end up in the hoosegow again – do you?”
    Stanley chuckled, “Get out of here.”
     
     

Chapter Seventeen
    An hour later, Mary pulled up to the front of the Ryerson home and parked her car. Her first instinct was to meet with the Senator alone, to not only spare Susan from the information about Renee’s pregnancy, but to also gage his reaction without his wife in the room. Unfortunately, she was not offered that choice.
    “We’ll meet with you together, Miss O’Reilly,” Senator Joseph Ryerson said, as he guided her to the parlor where she had met with Susan during their last meeting at their home. “I have nothing to hide from my wife. We have no secrets.”
    Ryerson was tall and handsome, even though his thick brown hair now had grey highlights, Mary could still see the boyish good looks that would have attracted Renee twenty-four years ago. She could also see intelligence in his eyes; this was not a man who was easily fooled. She’d have to see if he was as honest as he was intelligent.
    Mary watched him slide his arm comfortably around his wife as they sat on the couch together.
    Very smooth , she thought, but it’ll take more than that to convince me.
    She smiled politely and took the offered cup of tea. Then she leaned forward in her chair and waited until the right moment.
    The Senator had lifted his cup nearly to his mouth when she asked, “Were you aware that Renee Peterson was carrying your child when she was