The Legacy Read online

  From past experience, she knew there was an opening in the back hedge through which she could squeeze into another backyard and over to the next street. From there, she could walk over to Main Street, and then to the Shadyside Motel. Hopefully Jenna would be working the desk tonight.

  She needed to get her own place. Now that she was out of school and working, she could afford it. But she had wanted to pay off her student loans. And Frank had asked her to stay. He needed help around the house, he had told her, especially since his wife was getting busier at work. Until recently he had been pleasant, especially when he was sober. And she’d wanted to help out. But she didn’t want to live in fear.

  She stepped into the motel office to find Jenna sprawled in a padded chair, snoring. A tiny black and white television was tuned to the local nightly news.

  “Jenna, wake up.”

  The snoring stopped, and Jenna's eyes blinked. A mop of shaggy, strawberry blonde hair shook as she woke up and tried to focus on her.

  “Leigh, it's you! Did you get bored and come to keep me company?”

  Leigh instantly felt guilty. She and Jenna had been good friends in high school, but after graduation they had gone in different directions. Jenna had married, and had two children in two years. Now divorced and living with her mother, she worked the third shift at the motel to make ends meet. The arrangement allowed her to be at home with her children during the day, when her mother worked.

  “I guess I can stay and talk a while, Jenna,” she told her friend. “But I'm going to need a room for the night.”

  Jenna frowned. “Again? Leigh, you've got to get out of there. One of these days your dad is going to force himself on you. You won't be able to get away. And it won't be pretty.”

  Jenna was the only person who knew about her father's problem with alcohol and had first-hand knowledge of the way Frank took his troubles out on Leigh.

  “I'm working on it, Jenna. It's just that Mom—”

  “—will be able to take care of herself,” her friend insisted. “She's always gone, anyway. There are a couple of apartments open where Mom and the kids and I live. They're affordable, too. It'll be fun, Leigh. Why don't you check it out? Tomorrow.”

  “I will, I promise.” She handed Jenna her credit card. “Here.”

  “You want just the basic room, right?”

  “Yeah, I just need a bed and four walls.”

  Jenna rang up the charge and waited as Leigh signed the sales slip. She handed Leigh a card key. “Room 104. Right next door. So how are you going to get to work tomorrow?”

  “I'll get up early and walk home. Dad should be sleeping by then, so I can change and go to work.”

  “Grab a suitcase and a bunch of extra clothes. I don't think you should stay there anymore. I'd invite you to stay with us, but…”

  “Oh, Jenna, I couldn't stay with you. I love your mom and the kids, but you've barely got enough room for the four of you. I'll find my own place. Tomorrow.”

  She started for the door but turned back to her friend. “Thanks for everything, Jenna.”

  Jenna shrugged casually. “Anytime.”

  Leigh found her way to her room. This was her third stay at the motel this month. At this rate, she should qualify for a “frequent renter” discount. She set the alarm on her phone, made sure it was turned on, and flopped down on the bed.

  It had been a long day. It wouldn't take long to fall asleep. She would need to get up early to walk home. She would be wrinkled and rumpled, having no clothes to change into, and no brush for her hair, no makeup, or anything. But she would get through this. She would.

  She was in that zone where reality was getting fuzzy when she heard the commotion on the other side of the wall.

  “Where is my daughter?”

  “Hello, Mr. Becker. What can I do for you?”

  “Don't give me that garbage. Where is Leigh? She couldn't have gone much farther than this.” Frank was louder than he had been at the house. Not a good sign. Leigh grabbed her cell phone, ready to call the police.

  “She must have found someplace else to go. I haven't seen her.” Leigh was amazed at Jenna’s calm tone of voice.

  “You're just protecting her. Let me see your records. I'll find her.”

  “I can't let you do that, Mr. Becker.”

  “Sure you can. I have a right to know where my daughter is.”

  “Leigh is a legal adult. She can go where she wants. You'd better leave, before I call the police.”

  With shaking hands, Leigh managed to dial 9-1-1. Her friend was tough, but her father was larger, and the alcohol made him meaner. The dispatcher listened sympathetically to her description of the scene and assured her help was on the way.

  The conversation was getting louder, but Jenna held her own. When had she gotten so tough? Had motherhood done that to her?

  “No, Mr. Becker, you're not coming back here to look at my computer records. This is company property.”

  “I don't give a hoot about company property. You're hiding my daughter, and I'm going to find her if I have to knock on every door in this flea-bitten hotel.”

  “If you start doing that, I'll definitely have to call the police.”

  “I have the right to find my daughter.”

  “And the people here have the right to a decent night's sleep without someone banging on their door.”

  “You always were a mouthy little kid. I’m just gonna go look for that girl of mine.”

  “Is there a problem here?”

  Leigh sighed in relief for her friend. The police had gotten here fast. She sat on the bed, frozen in place, and listened to Jenna’s explanation to the officer, her father’s loud protests, and the policeman escorting him out to the squad car. Good. If they kept him overnight, she wouldn’t have any trouble in the morning when she went home to change and get her car for work.

  She lay back and allowed the comforting blackness to overtake her.

  * * * *

  The alarm on Leigh’s cell phone chirped in her ear long before she was ready to wake up. Groggily, she turned it off and got up. She had a chilly walk home, and it would take her a good half hour. Better get going. She grabbed her purse, checked quickly to make sure she had everything she came with, and went back through the lobby. Jenna was just finishing her shift.

  “Hey, Leigh,” her friend greeted her. “I was about ready to wake you. I’ve got a surprise for you.”

  “A surprise?”

  Jenna held out a set of keys. “I had the police leave your dad’s car and his keys here, since they took him away. I told them I knew his family and would have one of them come by to pick up his car, so they gave them to me. Now you won’t have to walk all the way home.”

  “Thanks, Jenna. For—everything. I heard you last night. I don’t know how you managed to keep your cool.”

  Jenna shrugged. “It was nothing. I pushed the security button as soon as I saw his car pull up. They sent someone right away.”

  “So that’s how they got here so quickly! The dispatcher didn’t sound surprised when I asked her to send someone here.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s not the first time.”

  Leigh stilled. “You’ve had to call them before?”

  “Yeah. He came here looking for you last time, too.”

  “Oh Jenna, I’m so sorry.”

  “Hey, it’s my job. You just make sure you take care of yourself. Pack a bag while you’re at home and look for your own place. If not at my complex, then someplace else. You’ve gotta get out of there.”

  “I know. I’ll do that. Thanks.”

  She took her father’s car home, parked it in its spot in the garage, and went inside to get ready for work. Heeding her friend’s advice, she packed a suitcase and grabbed a laundry basket to fill with her favorite personal items. It was going to be a long day.

  * * * *

  Andy perched on the seat of his bench press, catching his breath after his morning workout. Something wasn’t right
with Leigh. He couldn’t pinpoint the problem, but her entire demeanor had changed during the drive back to her parents’ house last night.

  More than once he’d opened his mouth to ask her what was wrong, but the words just wouldn’t come out. It had always been like that. Ever since the first day of kindergarten when the teacher asked him what his name was, his vocal chords seemed frozen. The teacher had asked again and Leigh said, “This is my friend, Andy.” From then on he let Leigh do a lot of his talking. But he couldn't expect her to read his mind. And she was on his mind a lot.

  Leigh had always been strong. She’d worked hard and excelled at everything she did—academics, sports, music, and theater. She was always the best. Maybe it was because she was an only child, and her successful parents expected it.

  And now he wanted to be there for her. But what could she possibly see in him? He was a wimp, a numbers cruncher, a nerd. He was a loner, working out in his personal gym rather than participating in team sports.

  He and Leigh had always been friends. Best friends looked out for each other. But now his caring was starting to move beyond simple friendship.

  Was it possible they could become more than friends?

  Chapter Three

  Leigh dragged herself into the newspaper building, already exhausted. Her car was loaded with her suitcase and several boxes and bags of her belongings. She hadn’t packed everything, because she wasn’t sure when the police would release her dad. She didn’t intend to be there when he got home. Plus, she didn’t want to be late for work.

  She would worry about missing items later. Right now, she needed to concentrate on her job. Copy editing required focus and a clear head.

  But clearing her head was a daunting task. Early in the morning she had called her mother’s cell phone, but Kirsten hadn’t picked up. She left a voice mail message, but it had gone unanswered. Where was she?

  It was midmorning when she noticed it. People walking by offered sympathetic looks, a pat on the shoulder, even an extra cup of coffee. It took a while to figure out why.

  Suzy Kramer, the crime beat reporter, came to see her. Suzy had gone to high school with Leigh’s mother and was the biggest gossip on the staff. Suzy settled herself into a chair next to Leigh’s desk and leaned toward her.

  “Leigh, dear, I just spoke to the police chief. You know I have to publish all the department’s arrests. Well, I saw that your father was—in residence there at the station. I just wanted you to know that we’re all here for you, if you need anything.”

  Leigh fought back a wave of nausea. Of course. She had forgotten the paper published everything the police did. It was one of the disadvantages of living in a smaller town. Apparently, the first time Jenna had called the police on her dad, they had just warned him and escorted him home. But this time, they'd taken him in. There would have been a written police report.

  She nodded her thanks to Suzy. Inwardly, she wondered if Jenna was going to press charges. He did threaten her. But she didn’t think he would have actually hurt her. He had never hurt her or her mother.

  Not yet.

  The day loomed even longer ahead of her.

  * * * *

  Andy sat at his desk at Tanaka Farms, his elbows propped on the desktop, his head resting in his hands. He hadn’t been able to make sense of the numbers in front of him. His mind kept going back to yesterday’s discovery. The entire family had grown up with stories of their illustrious ancestor, the fierce samurai warrior and founder of the original Tanaka Farms. Now, they had a tangible, direct connection with him.

  But something niggled at Andy’s mind. After his initial excitement, his grandfather had grown silent. It was as if something had deflated his enthusiasm. His grandfather had always been a happy man. He’d have to find out what the problem was.

  “Problem, Andy?”

  Andy turned to greet his father. James Tanaka was a nationally known horticulturist and often appeared on television newscasts as an authority on flowers. With his white lab coat over his tall, muscular stature and his wavy, graying locks, he was the perfect spokesman for the trade. He had his share of adoration from women admirers, but his heart belonged to his high school sweetheart, Lily.

  “Sorry, Dad. Just worried.”

  “Anything I can help with?”

  Andy shrugged. Even with his family, he spoke as little as possible.

  James turned to go, but Andy had a question for him.

  “Dad, did you and Mr. Becker have an argument?”

  James was usually an outgoing, open man, but now his face closed. “Why do you ask? Did he say something?”

  “No. But you don’t see him any more. Leigh says he just mopes around the house all day.”

  James weighed his words. “Sometimes old friends drift apart. Often, there’s no real reason. You get busy, and gradually the things you used to do all the time don’t get done. That’s life.” He shrugged, and walked off.

  Andy stared at his father’s retreating figure. He hadn’t answered the question. It wasn’t like him to be so evasive. James was one of the most open and direct people Andy knew.

  He worried about Leigh, too. He couldn’t forget the way she had taken a deep breath before opening the car door. It was like she’d had to talk herself into going inside her home. Something was up. He’d better check it out this evening.

  * * * *

  Leigh stood up, stretched, and groaned. She had cleaned every inch of her new apartment. Jenna had come over to help for a little while, but the children had gotten restless, so she had left. The apartment was small, but it was in a nice neighborhood and affordable. She still had her college loans to pay, but she would manage.

  Her mother had finally returned her call. She was in New York, and didn’t expect to be back for at least a week. She had offered a blithe apology for forgetting to mention it to anyone. Her reaction to Leigh’s account of the previous night had been a simple, “Oh, dear.” And then, “I’m sure Frank didn’t mean to cause any harm. You’re all right now, aren’t you? I wish I could be there, but this is a very important case for our firm, and I’ve got to get this witness to testify. But anyway, you’re old enough to be on your own. I’ll come and see you when I get back.”

  Leigh had disconnected, feeling lost. When had her mother grown so callous?

  She would have to start looking for furniture sometime. Right now she had a sleeping bag and a beanbag. Most of her clothes were folded in the same laundry basket she’d used in college. She'd managed to squeeze it in the back of her car, along with a few other necessities. She'd also grabbed some of her favorite mugs, and some paper plates. It would take a while to furnish this place.

  She put down her cleaning rag and headed to the car to get her things. On the way to the parking lot, her cell phone rang. She looked at the readout to see who was calling, and her spirits lifted when she recognized the number.

  “What's up, Andy?”

  “I wanted to see how you were doing. It was late when you got home last night.” Pause. “Is—is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, it's fine. Why do you ask?”

  “I’m outside your house. Your car isn’t here. Where are you?”

  “I just got an apartment at Pine Ridge.”

  Silence.

  “It was kind of a last-minute decision.”

  More silence. Then, “Which apartment?”

  She told him the apartment number, and he promised to be there to help. For the first time in several hours, things were looking up. And not for the first time, she wondered why Andy always managed to lift her spirits.

  Andy knocked while she was still hanging clothes in her closet.

  She let him in after looking through the peephole. She still wasn't ready to face her father. It wouldn’t have surprised her if he had managed to find her. He would probably blame her for his incarceration. If she hadn't run, he wouldn't have had to go looking for her. Never mind the fact he had been drinking and had threatened her. It would still be
her fault.

  Andy came inside, looking at her as if he hadn't seen her in ages. He studied her face, not looking in her eyes, but looking for something. Then he walked around her, looking her up and down.

  “Andy, what are you doing?”

  Finally, he looked in her eyes. “Are you okay?”

  “I was until you stared me down.”

  “Why did you need to move so suddenly? You've never even mentioned it.”

  “What makes you think I never thought about it before?”

  “Most people, when they move, make plans and ask for help moving their—stuff...” He looked around. “Which you don't seem to have.”

  “I've got everything I need.”

  One dark brow rose. “You do? No furniture.” He walked into the kitchen and opened a few cupboards. “No dishes, no pots or pans.” He stormed into the bedroom. “And no bed.”

  He planted himself in front of her, arms crossed. “What's going on?”

  There was no reason to lie. “Dad had—too much to drink last night. I didn't feel safe staying there, so I went to the Shadyside Motel. Jenna put me in the room next to the office, and I heard Dad come in and threaten her. She called the police, and they took him away. It wasn’t the first time she's had to call them. So, I finally took Jenna's advice and got my own place.” She took a deep breath. “I stopped at the house before work and grabbed what I could fit in my car.”

  “Did he hit you?”

  “No.”

  “Did he try anything else?”

  Her hesitation was all the answer he needed. “Leigh, what did he do?” He stepped closer. “What did he try to do?”

  “Nothing.” She hadn't given him the chance to try anything—this time.

  “He's tried something, before, hasn't he?”

  She couldn't deny it. A few times, when Frank drank, he had confused Leigh with her mother.