Page 611 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Walter frowned.

Sydney didn’t wait for a reply. She wanted him to understand where she was coming from first. “That’s why it was so important for me to come back here and work at the mill.”

“Sydney, Avery’s death was an accident.”

“Was there an investigation?”

“Yes, there was. It was determined that the explosion was caused from gasoline in the bilge. You see, Avery went to the gasoline station and filled his tank. There was a leak. If it weren’t for the fact that the fumes were so dense at the dock, the boat would’ve exploded right there at the fuel pump. When he got outin the water, he must’ve opened some windows. When he started the engine again, a spark caused the explosion.”

Sydney’s face was hot and she could not meet his eyes. “Accidents of a similar nature happen all the time,” she heard him say.

There it was. That sick, gut-wrenching feeling she got whenever she thought about the bilge. “I don’t know,” she said. “I just think there has to be more to it than that. I can pay an investigator if I have to.” The words came tumbling out and a lone tear trickled down her cheek.

Walter laid down his cigar and touched her shoulder. “It’s okay, honey.” He paused. “You’re so much like your father. That same wild imagination, always thinking there was something sinister behind everything.”

“You really think his death was an accident?”

“Absolutely! Why would anyone want to kill him? Why would you think such a thing?” He looked into Sydney’s eyes. “Did he ever tell you that he was in any kind of danger?”

“No, not really, but I remember he seemed really troubled about something the day of the accident. He said he had to get to an appointment.”

“Sydney, that was ten years ago. A young girl’s imagination can play a lot of tricks, especially if she’s missing her father. ” His explanation reminded her of a psychiatrist she’d seen in Dallas.

“But what about the?—”

“Walter?”

Sydney and Walter looked up to see Maurene standing on the balcony. “Hank just called. He and Jo Ann are meeting us at the Riverton Catfish house in thirty minutes.”

Walter forced a smile. “Okay. Thanks dear. We’re almost done.”

Sydney stood and smiled thinly. Before Maurene had interrupted them, she was going to tell Walter about the journaland Avery’s letter to Judith. Walter would probably explain that away too. “I’m sorry. I’ve taken too much of your time as it is.”

Walter reached for her arm. “I loved Avery. I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve gone through.”

Sydney stared at the floor.

“But I do know one thing. Avery would want you to put all this behind you and live your life.”

Sydney bit her lip to keep it from quivering. She nodded. “Thank you.”

“Walter!” Maurene called from the balcony. “You know how Jo Ann fusses when we’re late.”

He rolled his eyes. “I said I’ll be right up, dear.” He walked Sydney to the door and gave her a hug. “Remember, you’re family. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask. You’re welcome here anytime.”

“You were a good friend to Daddy.”

“No,” he corrected her, “Avery was a good friend to me. The best.”

She smiled. “Thanks.”

Walter watched Sydney leave.The layers of time pulled back, and the hurt was there again, festering like stagnant water. His conversation with Sydney had left him unsettled, giving him the uncanny impression that a trace of Avery’s ghost still lingered in the air. Even though Sydney bore no resemblance to Avery, there was something about her—the stubborn set of her jaw—that was just like Avery. Time was irrelevant where death was concerned. Avery had taught him that. Even though Avery’s death occurred ten years ago, it was always right there like bits of a kaleidoscope that shifted at random and displayedimages across his mind. Usually he tried to crowd them out. This time he let them flow. He and Maurene coming back from eating dinner. Maurene fixing herself a drink. Maurene laughing, the high-pitched sound grating on his nerves. Looking out the window, the police car coming up the driveway. Maurene laughing, always drinking. Walter’s clutch of anxiety at the grave expression on the sheriff’s face. The sheriff speaking. “I’m afraid I have some bad news.” Maurene crying, glass shattering, Walter collapsing …

He shook his head. What good could come from dredging up the dead? He’d loved Avery—more than anybody! But that was all in the past. Stirring up a hornet’s nest wouldn’t bring him back. He thought of Sydney, so young and vibrant. She had so much to live for. He’d spoken truthfully when he told her that Avery would want her get on with her life. That’s exactly what Avery would want her to do. Somehow he’d just have to figure out a way to convince Sydney.

Gettingready for the OSHA inspection was slow going. Thanks to Sydney, safety regulations, which should have been established from the start, were now implemented. Now all she had to do was make sure the employees were following them, and that was no small feat. Last week she caught two workers not wearing their hard-hats and another without safety glasses. She sighed. Sometimes she felt like she was trying to accomplish the impossible.

At least she had the accident reports now. She looked down at the folders on her desk. Her conversation with Barb last week did little to speed the woman up. Maybe Barb had known that Sydney was bluffing when she threatened to write a letter toSean and send a copy to Jake Roberts. Sean had been suspicious of her desire to dig back ten years to establish an accident trend, and she certainly didn’t want to send any red flags to Jake. So she’d played Barb’s little game. And now, a week later, she finally had the files. She could have jumped for joy when Barb barged into her office this morning and slammed the files on her desk.