“He’s probably just being territorial. Maybe thinks the very fact I’m asking questions means I don’t believe he did his job.”
“You don’t.”
This time he grinned at her. “You’re right. I did think that. Nolte—the retired detective—surprised me a little. He sounded like he’d done everything he could and should. The copy of the reports he forwarded are laughable, though. I have to think there’s something they’re hiding.”
She nodded, still unsure what this had to do with his mother.
“Mom has never been willing to tell me what she knows. I decided I wouldn’t take no from her tonight. By God, I want a list from her of what men she had on the side around then.”
Tess had picked up the iron again but set it back down in its rack, unable to take her eyes off his face. “Oh, Zach.”
His mouth twisted. “Oh, yes. End result is, I don’t have a single name I didn’t already know, and she thinks I was accusing her of having something to do with Sheila dying.” He rolled his shoulders. “I don’t know how we can go on from this.”
The unhappiness on his face had her sinuses burning. She couldn’t not go to him. “You’ll tell her you love her and eventually she’ll understand you’re thinking of Sheila.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed.
He grabbed on to her so hard, her face was mashed into his chest. “Oh, God, Tess,” Zach said, his voice raw, painful to hear. “I’m glad you’re here.”
When he finally loosened his hold, it was only to capture her mouth with equal desperation.
Tess barely remembered to unplug the iron before Zach swept her off to the bedroom.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
WE CARE PLUMBING paid for an ad in the Yellow Pages of the local telephone directory. “When you need us, we’re ready to serve you,” the ad read. It also featured the photo of a handsome man in a uniform shirt with We Care Plumbing stitched on the chest. He looked earnest and reliable.
Considerably older than Zach’s memory of him, but Sam Doyle, no question.
It wasn’t a lie to say he needed some plumbing work done, Zach thought, even if hell would freeze over before he’d hire this guy.
“I’d like Mr. Doyle himself,” he told the cheerful woman who answered the phone.
They agreed on ten o’clock Monday morning. Zach hadn’t expected We Care Plumbing to show up on a Sunday in the absence of an emergency.
Sunday, Tess spent the day working with him at his house. He’d finished the porch earlier in the week and was now set on gutting the bathroom. She alternated between hauling debris out to the Dumpster and staining the porch floorboards and steps. He gave her a last chance to use the bathroom before he turned off the water and removed the toilet, sink and vanity.
Then he went next door and returned with Dean Thompson, trailed by the kid, Dylan. Dean hadn’t seemed to mind being asked to help Zach haul out the tub.
He introduced Tess before leading him inside the house.
“Haven’t seen much of you this week,” Dean commented.
“I’m staying with a friend for the moment, but I’ll be here tomorrow. I have a couple plumbers coming in the morning to give me bids. The new fixtures are all sitting in the garage, so I’m set to go once these pipes are replaced.”
They each went to one end of the tub but before they could pick it up, Tess stuck her head in the bathroom.
“There’s no rot,” she said in surprise.
Dean laughed. “I can tell you’ve remodeled a house or two.”
They were both grunting and sweating by the time they got the tub out to the bin. Dean stayed to help carry the new vanity and then the toilet in, setting both down in the bedroom across the hall.
After Dean went home, Zach found Tess wandering around the yard. Envisioning landscaping, she admitted. When he told her he thought there should be a lilac, she agreed and they chose a spot. Since they were both at a good stopping point, they locked up and made a grocery store run before going back to her place.
Zach used the evening to make phone calls, figuring it was a good time to catch people at home. He hadn’t yet located Duane Womack, which made him think the guy had left the state. His ex was proving as elusive. Zach wondered if she had remarried and changed her name. He had identified the two daughters, however, and started with them.