Lane spent a peaceful night in her own bed.  Saturday morning she was up, showered, and dressed and waiting for Ben by nine-thirty.  She had called her boss, Al Edwards earlier to explain what had happened the evening before at the office.  When the press got ahold of things, who knew what would end up in the paper or on the airwaves and as CEO, Al needed to have a heads up.

Jess’s flight was getting in at eleven o’clock and the boys would pick her up on their way back from Omaha, so Lane was free until the afternoon.  She was glad that there was a happy conclusion to the story she was going to have to tell the kids.  Happy for her at least in that she was neither dead nor under arrest.  Not so happy for Paul Gardner who died, apparently at the hands of his own son, and not for Gracie Paulson whose husband was in jail because he had tried to find a way to pay for medical bills. Not even for Craig Turner who was just greedy and stupid.

She heard the garage door open and looked up to see the biggest bouquet of roses she’d ever seen in her life coming through the door.  Ben’s face came into view as he put the vase on the counter.  “I told you there were dozens more where the others came from.”

The bouquet was even bigger than the one he’d sent to her office.  While there still were some yellow roses tipped in red there were by far many more red roses.  Ben bent and kissed her.  A kiss to curl her toes.

“Are you ready to go?”

That was the enigma of Ben.  One hugely romantic gesture after another followed by some simple every day statement.

“I just need to leave a note in case the kids get home before we get back.”  It was a routine that she and the kids had gotten into when they were younger; if no one was home, you had to leave a note on the refrigerator when you left.  When the kids were younger, she had a form they filled out.

“I’m at …blank… with …blank… the phone number is …blank … I’ll be back at …blank …love … blank”

Of course, that was before they all had cell phones, but it was still a habit.  She wrote, “I’m running errands with Ben.  I should be back by noon.  Love, Mom”

They walked into Leawood Police headquarters and didn’t wait long before Mick joined them.  The murder had taken place in Leawood, putting it within Mick’s jurisdiction.  The false imprisonment of Lane had taken place in Overland Park.  Regardless of where the crimes had taken place, the Johnson County District Attorney would prosecute.

Lane and Ben each sat alone in separate interview rooms.  Since they were both witnesses, they were separated.

Mick came in and looked at Lane. “Tell me what happened.”

“I went to my office to pick up a package from my mother-in-law.  I got there about five-fifteen.  I left my car at the curb and went into the building.  There was no one at the guard station.  I took the elevator to my floor and went to my office.  When I was in my office, I saw the roses Ben had sent Tuesday, and didn’t want to leave them over the weekend to die, so I picked up the package and took it to the SUV.  Then I went back to get the flowers.  I was distracted, lost in thought.  I was thinking about my kids coming home and the house not being safe.  Thinking about talking to Ben about all of us staying with him until this was over.”  Lane paused and closed her eyes recalling the scene.

“As I entered the door to my office, I saw Craig Turner going through my desk.  He was talking about hiding something.  I imagine you’ll want to search it, my office.  Anyway, they saw me, and Kyle grabbed me before I could back out of the office.  He grabbed my arm and pushed me into one of the visitor chairs in front of my desk.  Kyle Paulson and Craig began arguing.  They told me that they were both illegitimate sons of Paul Gardner.  Craig planned the murder and he got Kyle to commit the murder believing that Gardner was going to leave everything he had to them.   Kyle’s wife has medical problems and he needed money to pay for her treatment.  He’d first gone to Craig to ask for a loan and then Craig hatched the plan.  Kyle didn’t even know that he was Gardner’s son.  Craig said his mother died recently and before passing, she told him that Paul Gardner was his father.  When he approached his father, Gardner told him about Kyle and that he was going to leave everything he had to his sons. It was then that Ben called and a few minutes later you and Ben came bursting in.”

“Okay, Lane write it up.  I’m going next door to talk to Ben.  By the way, the two guys are falling all over themselves, each of them blaming the other and Paulson’s trying to cut a deal. Turner’s claiming he didn’t know anything until after the fact.”

Before leaving the room, Mick passed a yellow legal pad and a pen to Lane.

“I’ll be back to review it with you when I finish with Ben.”

Mick entered the interview room where Ben sat.  “You have my verbal statement from yesterday.  Just give me the legal pad and I’ll write it up.”  Ben took the legal pad and pen and began writing his statement.

“Hey, Mickey.  Lane’s birthday is tomorrow and the kids and I are throwing a surprise party at my house tonight.  If you don’t already have plans, you should come.”

Mick laughed.  “Yeah, not so much of a surprise.  She invited me earlier this week.”

Ben stopped writing.  “God almighty, her daughter is going to have someone’s head when she finds out who let the cat of the bag.”

Both Ben and Lane finished writing and signing their statements.  In the parking lot, after Mick walked them out, Lane leaned over and hugged him.  “Mick, in all of the excitement yesterday, I forgot to thank you for your part in my rescue. “

“Believe me, it was my pleasure,” he said as he bent to kiss her cheek.  He could get used to having her hug him, used to kissing her.  Bellini would screw up and move on, and he’d be there to hold her hand and make her forget all about Bellini.

Chapter 18

Confession

When they returned to Lane’s house, the Parker kids were all in the kitchen gathering things for lunch.  Jamie looked at the clock; it was just before noon.

“Good thing you made it home on time, Mom.  We wouldn’t want to have to ground you before your birthday.”

“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.