10. Ivy
Chapter 10
Ivy
W hat remains of my bookstore looks barren and sad. My friends had been efficient because any sign of damage was eradicated in just a few short hours. But almost everything has been damaged. The floor to ceiling shelves and their books are intact, along with the chairs in the back. And that’s it.
I take a seat on the window ledge and scan the scene before me. I’ll need new tables, rugs, a checkout counter, computer, vases, and inventory. I let out a long sigh and lean back against the window.
“How are you, kiddo?” my dad asks, approaching from my office. It’s just the two of us left here since he stayed to help me go over all the insurance things.
“I’m alright, tired. How are you ?”
He takes a seat beside me and wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Oh, I’m just fine. The boys did all the heavy lifting.”
Tripp had hauled the massive table tops out on his own, and it’s a wonder no one caught me drooling over the sight. He had shed his jacket and flannel, leaving a tempting view of his rippling muscles through the light gray T-shirt.
“It’s a good group you and your brother have surrounded yourselves with. You don’t know how thankful your mother and I are for Tripp especially. Responding to your text message like that, he saved our little girl.”
I think back to hiding under my desk. I was afraid, of course. Anyone would be. But I also knew, in my bones, that Tripp would ensure my safety. There was no one else in which I had such confidence. The realization ignites my nerves, a tingling sensation rushing through me.
“He’s definitely worthy of your praise,” I agree, hoping I don’t sound as affected as I’m feeling. “But I’m serious, Dad. How are you? Stress is always a bigger factor than physical labor for you.”
“I’ve decreased my caseload at the firm, hence the new associates. I watch my diet, get a healthy amount of exercise. I’m following the doctor’s orders, my dear. To the letter.”
“And when are you going to tell the other doctor— your son —that you had a heart attack?”
It occurred two years prior. Specifically, nine months after I had moved to New York City for my new job in publishing. I had rushed home to be by his side with Mom. Wes was gone at the time, and our dad believed that calling him that day would only do harm. Since then, his heart attack has stayed between the three of us.
“It wouldn’t be fair to make him carry that guilt. Wes would blame himself for not being here,” my father argues, dropping his eyes to the ground. He rubs his shoe along a new nick in the floor, from where the corner of the table had caught.
“I think he would feel worse being the only one in the family left in the dark.”
“I wanted to tell him. But he was only home for a week between trips last time. That’s not enough time to really talk through things.”
“And now?” I ask, resting my head on his shoulder.
“Let’s get through this first. Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Has he told you when the next assignment is?”
“Actually,” Dad starts optimistically, “He hasn’t mentioned leaving at all, yet.”
We make eye contact, excitement humming within both of us. In the past, Wes had always lined up his next assignment before the current one was even over.
“Do you think he’s staying?” I ask.
“Here’s hoping, sweetheart.”
Tripp
“Vanessa,” I smile broadly as she steps into the department lobby. “Let me help you with all of that.”
She smirks, passing me two trays of coffee and a paper carryout bag. I open the bag first, revealing the baked goods she gets from Poppy. I’m already three bites through a popover when Millie joins us.
“I think you get more excited by my visits than Millie does,” Vanessa teases.
“I resent that!”
“No, she may be right,” I point out through a mouth full of pastry. Dropping off the extra coffees for the team, we step through to my office and all take a seat.
“How is Ivy doing?” Nessa asks me, settling in.
“Good, actually. She’s tough.”
“And how are you doing?” Millie adds, raising an eyebrow in my direction.
“What does that mean?”
The pair exchange a look, apparently they think they know me pretty well.
“Tripp?” a gruff voice calls, entering our lobby. Saved by the crotchety old deputy, then. I rise and meet him at his desk while the ladies say their goodbyes.
Waiting at Chuck’s desk, I don’t say anything until Millie joins us. He, however, doesn’t give her that courtesy.
“What the hell man, leaving me in the dark?”
“I haven’t left you in the dark about anything,” I reply mildly. “Your shift started two minutes ago.”
“It doesn’t matter if I’m off duty when it’s something like this. It’s Ivy .”
“You don’t need to explain to me who was attacked,” I growl at him. The chatter in the department silences, everyone in the room stilled by my outburst. Clearing my throat, I straighten my shoulders and regain my composure. “We will do a debrief as a team. Period.”
Millie steps over to join myself and her fellow deputies. But I take my time moving to the front of the room and beginning the briefing. Chuck doesn’t determine things around here and he could use a reminder of that.
“At twenty-one hundred hours yesterday, a business in the Brick District of Foxport, The Open Book, was broken into. There was clear and present intent to commit a crime, the first being done to obtain unlawful entry. At that time, there was criminal destruction of property within the premise.”
I clear my throat again, hating the next words I must say. “On this occasion, the owner of the establishment was present. It’s our belief that the perpetrator is wholly unaware of this. And we will be ensuring that remains the case. This detail does not leave this room.”
Pausing, I take in the glances exchanged. Chuck in particular looks pale as a ghost. He’s been neighbors with Ivy’s parents for years, it makes sense that he would be disturbed by this detail.
“That being said, she did not see the perpetrator. However, she did hear his voice and can confirm that we are looking for an adult male. Furthermore, there were two objects left at the scene, separating this from past incidents.”
I nod to Millie who passes around the evidence bag with the note inside. The next item, however, has not yet made its way to Millie for cataloging. I’m hoping to get it from Ivy tomorrow.
“The second object left behind, it is presumed, was not left purposefully. It was a set of keys.” A murmur passes through my team. “These keys do not belong to the establishment or the owner. It is believed that he was interrupted by the arrival of our deputy and fled impulsively. Again, these details will remain in this room. We will be increasing our patrol radius to the whole town of Foxport and surrounding part of the county. At this time, it is believed that the focus will remain on the singular town. That is all, thank you.”
I walk back to my office, ignoring Chuck’s questions on my way. He can read Millie’s report like the rest of them.
Taking my seat, I expect Millie to be just a few steps behind me. So, I don’t need to look up from an email when my office door closes.
“Mill.”
“There were keys?” she asks.
I steal a glance at her. “Ivy found them. She has them at her apartment. And here’s the kicker… there’s a keychain from Wes’s welcome home party last week.”
“No fucking way. Talk about burying the lead, boss!” She sits forward and plants her hands on my desk, eyes wide.
“I’ll get the guest list from her tomorrow, too. And we’ll go from there. Sorry you and Nessa just missed each other with your shifts today.”
“That’s the job,” she replies with a forced shrug. “But thanks.” Rising, Millie hesitates before exiting the room. “Hey, Sheriff.”
“Yes?”
“I think it’s a pretty big deal that Ivy called you specifically, instead of dispatch.”
“How so?”
“Think about it, are most people working through a logical thought process in a crisis? No. People react to their emotions. If their brain wants a loved one to be aware of what is happening, they text a spouse, a partner. Maybe their best friend. And they call 911.”
“I mean, I am the sheriff,” I counter.
“But what person thinks of their adult sibling and then his friend and then that guy’s job? No, she thought of the person that makes her feel safe. It was an emotional reaction.” A grin turns up the corner of her mouth. “Kind of like your reaction arriving on scene.”
“I—”
“It’s a good thing, Tripp,” Millie says softly. “But I won’t tell anyone what I saw when you got there.”
“Just checked on her, there wasn’t anything to see.” My voice is hoarse, remembering how close I was to kissing her the second she was in my arms.
Sinking down in my chair, I intertwine my fingers behind my head and sigh. It should be a good thing, shouldn’t it? To care so infinitely for another person. But that doesn’t make it an easy thing.