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| The Faith Creek Mysteries |
An unexpected visitor arrives at Jonah's office, unaware that he's been shot. But when Clarice learns where the shooting happened, she reveals something that could help Tessa piece together her father's final hours before the attack.
Episode 12 | The Last to See Him
The knock at the office door interrupted Tessa's thoughts.
Rae glanced up from the letter. "Come in."
A well-dressed woman in her mid-fifties stepped inside carrying a paper bag and a covered container. She stopped when she saw the two sisters standing beside Jonah's desk.
"Oh. I didn't realize anyone was here."
"Hi, Miss Clarice," Rae said.
The woman's face brightened. "Rae, honey. I thought you had classes today."
"Not this afternoon."
Clarice lifted the bag. "I brought your daddy some lunch. That man will work straight through the day if somebody doesn't remind him to eat. I tried calling him earlier, but he didn't answer. Figured he was busy with another case.”
Tessa looked from the woman to Rae.
"Clarice, this is my sister Tessa," Rae said. "Tessa, this is Clarice Bennett. She works over at the courthouse."
"Nice to meet you," Tessa said.
"You too. Jonah's mentioned you plenty of times." Clarice smiled. "The attorney in New York."
"That's me."
Clarice glanced toward Jonah's empty chair. "Where is your father? Don't tell me he's out chasing somebody down again."
Neither sister answered immediately.
Clarice's smile faded. "What's wrong?"
Rae looked at Tessa.
"Dad's in the hospital," Tessa said.
The bag shifted in Clarice's hand.
"The hospital? What happened?"
"He was shot."
Clarice stared at her.
"Shot?"
"He's going to be all right," Rae said quickly. "The doctors say he's recovering."
Clarice set the food on the nearest desk. "Oh, Lord." She pressed a hand against her chest. "When did this happen?"
Tessa told her.
Clarice lowered herself into one of the chairs. "Nobody called me."
There was no accusation in her voice, but Tessa heard the hurt beneath the words.
"I'm sorry," Rae said. "We've had so much going on."
Clarice nodded, although her attention seemed elsewhere. "Where was he shot?"
"Stanton Park," Tessa said.
Clarice looked up sharply.
"Stanton Park? I heard someone was shot there, but I never dreamed it was Jonah."
She fell silent for a moment.
"I was with him that night."
Tessa pulled out the chair opposite her. "You were?"
"We were having dinner when his phone rang." Clarice looked toward Jonah's desk. "He'd been distracted all evening. I knew something was bothering him."
"Did he tell you who called?" Tessa asked.
"No. But I knew it had something to do with that Wyatt girl."
Rae exchanged a glance with Tessa.
"Lena Wyatt?" Rae asked.
Clarice nodded.
"Your daddy had been asking questions about her again. He didn't tell me everything, but I could tell it was weighing on him."
"What happened when the phone rang?" Tessa asked.
"He answered it. Listened for a little while. Then he said he had to go."
"Did he mention Stanton Park?"
Clarice thought for a moment. "I don't remember whether he told me where."
"Did you hear what the caller said?"
"No. I only heard Jonah's side."
Tessa nodded. She wasn't going to push Clarice into remembering something she hadn't heard.
"Have you spoken with Sheriff Reyes about any of this?"
Clarice looked surprised. "No. Why would I? Until five minutes ago, I didn't even know Jonah had been shot."
"You were with Dad shortly before he went to the park. Reyes needs to know that."
"But I don't know who called him."
"You can still tell him what you heard. I'll contact him and let him know you were there."
Clarice glanced toward the door. "Can I see Jonah?"
"Of course," Rae said. "Faith Creek Regional Hospital. Room 214.”
"Is he awake?"
"Oh yeah," Tessa said. "He's been talking. Complaining, mostly."
Clarice gave a faint smile. "That sounds like Jonah."
She stood and reached for her purse, leaving the food on the desk. "I'll go see him, then."
Rae walked her to the door.
"Miss Clarice?"
"Yes, honey?"
"I'm sorry we didn't call."
Clarice touched Rae's arm. “ I understand. You had your daddy to worry about.”
After she left, Rae closed the door quietly.
Tessa remained beside the desk, looking at the untouched lunch.
"She and Dad are close?"
Rae turned around.
"I guess you could say that."
"How close?"
Rae shrugged, but the smile tugging at her mouth told Tessa she knew more than she was saying.
"Ask Dad."
"Rae."
"What? I'm not getting in the middle of that."
Tessa shook her head.
Apparently, there were a few things about her father's life she hadn't known.
Tessa glanced at the clock on the wall. "I need to call Sheriff Reyes."
Rae looked up. "About Clarice?"
"She was with Dad before he was shot. Someone needs to talk to her."
Tessa took out her phone and found the sheriff's number. He answered on the fourth ring.
"Reyes."
"Sheriff, this is Tessa James."
"Miss James. How's your father?"
"Recovering. Complaining about the hospital food, so I suppose that's a good sign."
Reyes chuckled. "Sounds like Jonah."
"Listen, Sheriff. A woman named Clarice Bennett just stopped by Dad's office. She was having dinner with him the night he was shot."
There was a brief silence.
"First I've heard of it, but I'm not surprised. Those two have been friends for years."
"She said he received a call during dinner and left shortly afterward."
"Did she hear the conversation?"
"Only Dad's side of it. But she may be able to tell you more about his behavior that night."
"I know Clarice. I'll have a talk with her."
"She's on her way to see Dad now."
"I'll stop by as well.”
"Thank you."
"Is there anything else I need to know, Miss James?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm getting the feeling somebody knows more than they're telling me. If you hear anything, I'd appreciate a call."
Tessa hesitated. The anonymous letter flashed through her mind. She hadn't even asked her father about it yet, and she wasn't about to hand over his files without understanding what she'd found.
"Of course, Sheriff."
After the call ended, Rae watched her slip the phone into her purse. "What?"
"Nothing."
Tessa gathered the papers on the desk and returned them to the Wyatt folder.
"We need to talk to Dad before we do anything else."
Rae sighed. "That’s the plan?"
Tessa closed the folder and looked at the initials written across the tab. LW
"For now. And I still think Dad's holding something back."
And until her father told her what he knew, Tessa had no way of knowing just how much danger he was still in.
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