File M For Murder

Lawton nodded. “Figured. I didn’t put it together before, but when I saw her tonight, and now you, the resemblance hit me. Plus the library thing. She told me her dad’s a librarian.”

“Yes, I am,” I said. “If that’s all, I’ll be on my way.”

Lawton grabbed my arm before I could move away. “That’s not all.” He let go when I shook my arm and scowled at him. “Tell Laura I said she can hang around with that freaking fairy set designer all she wants, but she’ll end up back with me. Count on it.”

I struggled to keep my tone cool. “That’s really up to Laura. She told me she’s not interested in you anymore, and I’d advise you to take that to heart. Find someone else.”

Lawton’s face reddened, and I felt the anger radiating from him.

“That’s crap.” He spit on the ground. “She belongs to me, and I’ll beat the hell out of anyone who tries to keep me away from her.”

SIX

Good thing I didn’t have a blunt weapon in my hands, or Connor Lawton’s head would have several dents in it. Ordinarily I’m not a violent man, but the belligerent playwright brought out the worst in me.

I was so angry I couldn’t speak. Words tangled together in my brain. I took a couple of deep breaths before responding. “Back off, buster. You leave my daughter alone. Same goes for anyone she chooses to date. You cross the line, and I’ll have you in jail so fast you’ll think tomorrow is yesterday.” I loomed over him, and evidently what he read in my expression made him uneasy enough to step back.

“You don’t scare me, old man.” He sneered, but I could tell he wasn’t as confident as his words made him sound. “You’re the one who should back off.”

I pulled out my cell phone and punched in a number I knew all too well. When the dispatcher answered, I said, “I’d like to speak to Chief Deputy Berry, please. Tell her it’s Charlie Harris.”

I twisted the phone away from my mouth. “She’s a close personal friend, and she owes me a few favors. Like clapping your sorry behind in jail for a few days.”

In my ear the dispatcher said, “I’m sorry, sir, but the chief deputy ain’t available right now. Can someone else help you?”

That wasn’t in the plan. What should I do now?

Then I saw I didn’t have to do anything. Connor Lawton tucked tail and almost ran away from me.

With grim satisfaction I thanked the deputy and ended the call. I watched as Lawton hopped into a car half a block away and peeled out. I stuck my phone back in my pocket and headed to my car.

When I reached home some minutes later and entered the kitchen, I announced in a loud voice that I was home, but no one responded. Usually Diesel was waiting, but not tonight. In the hallway I hung my jacket and tie over the banister, then rolled up my sleeves as I walked to the screened-in back porch.

I detected the aroma of Sean’s cigar when I opened the door, and before I took two steps, Diesel greeted me with a loud warble of complaint. I rubbed his head. “Sorry, boy, but I couldn’t take you. You’d have had a ball, I’m sure.” He enjoyed meeting new people and going places, unlike any other cat I’ve known.

He kept scolding—it would take a few minutes before I’d be allowed back in his good graces. He stared up at me, and I smiled at him. Above us the whir of the ceiling fan stirred the warm air and made it bearable to be away from air conditioning.

“That cat beats all. I’ve never heard one talk the way he does.” Sean laughed. “How was the party?” He occupied an old armchair near the end of the porch to my right, his favorite spot to relax with a cigar.

I’d rather he didn’t smoke, but the aroma reminded me of my grandpa Harris. He’d enjoyed his cigars with a shot or two of bourbon well into his nineties, and I’d loved him dearly. Ever since his death over twenty years ago, the smell of a good stogie—health risks aside—triggered pleasant memories.

“The party was okay, nothing special.” I sat on the weather-beaten sofa near him, and Diesel jumped up beside me. He deigned to put one paw on my leg. I scratched his back and his head, and he purred in contentment. “Laura played the belle of the ball, such as it was. She went out to dinner with someone she met from the Theater Department named Frank Salisbury. Seems like a nice young man.”

Sean shook his head as he emitted more smoke. We both watched as it whirled toward the ceiling fan over his head. “She sure doesn’t waste any time.”

“Neither did he.”

Sean flashed a grin at my dry tone.

“Connor Lawton reacted like a jerk at seeing Laura with another man.” I described the scene in the house. “Then, when I left the party, I found him outside staring at the house next door.” Again I wondered about that, but now wasn’t the time to indulge in speculation. “He accosted me and threatened violence to anyone who stood between him and Laura.”

“What?” Sean sat bolt upright. “Tell me exactly what he said.”

I repeated the conversation as best I could remember, and Sean scowled the entire time.

“Somebody should teach that jackass a lesson.”