Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
VIVIAN
When I step outside, I ignore the white van partially blocking the lane and the cop standing at the back, both doors propped open, and retrieve my phone from my car.
I call Sepp. I know Jesse would help too, but he’s got Skye to think about.
“Hey, Vivian,” Sepp says. “Missed you today. What’s up?”
“Can you come to The Meadows?”
“Uh, sure. You okay?”
“Yeah.” I lean against the side of my car and hug my middle. “Someone broke into my place, and… there’s damage.”
“Did you call 9-1-1 already?”
“My neighbor did. Everett’s here. And some other people.”
“Okay, good. On my way.”
“Thank you.”
Gratitude wells up inside me as I wander down to where Everett and Mateo are playing at the edge of the creek. Matty’s got his shoes and socks off and is busy building something with the cobbles.
Everett is squatting down, looking so out of place in his forest-green deputy uniform and bulky duty belt, but his attention on Mateo is sincere. A feeling I don’t understand flutters behind my breastbone.
It’s visceral and raw and impossible to ignore.
Like a need. How is that even possible? Especially right now .
Everett glances up, but I can’t hold his gaze.
I plop down on the grass. It’s cool down here, in the shade.
“Sepp’s on his way,” I say.
“Good,” Everett says. He steps across the little creek. “If you’re okay with it, I’ll go meet up with our team, get them started. Anything missing?”
Emotion clots in my throat. “My mother’s jewelry box.”
I keep my eyes on the grass and the way the golden sunlight filtering through the cottonwoods plays across it.
“I’m sorry,” he says. It’s sincere though maybe I just want it to be. “I’ll need to ask you some questions, but we can do it later.”
I swipe my cheeks. “Fine.”
He disappears up the grassy slope.
“Mom, look!” Matty calls out, holding up some treasure.
I roll to my feet and walk closer. He’s holding up a tiny caddis fly casing made of sand grains and other creek detritus. They’re all over the river but finding one in our little urban creek is rare.
“Can I keep it?” he asks.
I exhale another full breath, and smile. “Why not?”
A car door slams from above, and seconds later, Sepp appears.
His warm hazel eyes lock with mine as he hurries down the slope.
“Sepp!” Mateo says. “Come look what I found!”
“Be right there, buddy,” he says, then folds me into a hug. “I hate the circumstances, but I’m glad you called me.”
I give him a soft squeeze then step back and dab my eyes. “I know they’ll need to get in there and I’m not supposed to disturb things, but I have to pack up some clothes, and a few of Matty’s things. Then I guess I should find us a hotel for the night.”
Sepp nods. “I’ll hang with Mateo. You can go back in and get what you need, then we’ll figure out where you can go.”
“Not a hotel?” I ask, frowning.
“Nope. My folks’ place in Ruby Gulch. We’ve got a cabin on the property.”
I wave my hands. “No, Sepp, I can’t impose like that.”
“You’re not imposing. Come on, you called me for help. So let me help.”
I release a shaky sigh. “Let me think it over.”
“Take your time,” he says.
Twenty minutes later, I’ve packed my suitcase with most of our clothes and the things Matty will need for the near future, like his favorite books, his train set, and Walter. Though I don’t have any toothpaste left, I pack our toothbrushes and my hairbrush. Everett won’t let me take my cosmetics. I know it’s not his fault, but it’s not helping me feel any less violated right now.
Using my phone’s web browser, I find five hotels within a ten-mile radius. One is the historic inn downtown, one is a motel in Pinedale, another is something called Log Cabin Suites, and two are bed and breakfasts. There’s also the VRBO route, but that would get spendy quickly.
I call the Bitterroot Inn first. But thanks to the annual quilt show this week and some sort of boating regatta on Bear Lake, they only have one room left, the deluxe suite for four hundred dollars a night.
Oof. No.
Next I try the Pinedale Chateau. They have vacancies but Pinedale doesn’t exactly give off a warm vibe. Mateo would love the train car restaurant though. The Log Cabin place has vacancies but they’re individual cabins and the cheapest one is three hundred bucks.
I’m just saying goodbye when Everett comes to the edge of the kitchen, his gloved hands at his sides.
“Don’t go to Pinedale,” he says.
My hackles spring to life at his bossy tone. “Why not?”
He arches an eyebrow. “Because Sepp gave you a better option. Ruby Gulch. ”
“I haven’t decided yet,” I snap. Though reality is quickly sinking in. Accepting Sepp’s offer is the wise choice.
His fierce gaze lingers, but I turn away so I can stuff my yarn and needles back into my basket. At least he’s letting me take my knitting.
“I think you guys would feel comfortable there,” he says to my back.
This makes me think of my tampons and pads strewn all over the bathroom floor and the applesauce turd in the kitchen.
I shut my eyes to keep from screaming.
When I’m loading the suitcase and my knitting basket in the back of the Kia, Everett comes outside, peeling off his gloves.
“I need a few things from you before you go. The rest we can cover later,” he says, pulling a small notebook and a pen from his breast pocket. Just like during the blizzard.
I’m not feeling any more helpful today, but I lean my back against the side of my car. The metal feels solid and almost too hot from the sun, but I don’t have the energy to move.
Everett uses the top railing of my stairs as a writing surface—his left hand curling around the pen. His gun is holstered on his left hip. My sister’s left-handed, too. I wonder if Everett struggled with things like right-handed scissors and right-handed desks in school like she did.
I wipe down my face. Why am I thinking about this right now?
“Your neighbor, Mr. Graham, said he saw your door ajar about three o’clock when he was walking his dog. I got here around three fifteen. From what I’ve gathered from your other neighbors, nobody saw a strange car enter or leave the park, or one parked at your place. It’s likely he walked in from the back.”
I cross my arms. “In broad daylight?”
“It’s not uncommon.”
I guess the alternative is a break in while we’re home, asleep. A shudder walks down my spine. Kent wanted me to learn to shoot. It wasn’t so much the skill that I couldn’t get behind. It’s what guns do to people. I’m a nurse. I’ve seen it. How could I possibly shoot another person? Unless it was to protect Matty, I’m not sure I could pull the trigger. At the very least, the hesitation would be enough for someone to overpower me.
Everett cocks his head. “Have you noticed anything suspicious recently? Like cars in here that don’t belong?”
I glance past my unit to the sparse forest edging the back of the park. Is that where the thief came from “Some of my neighbors have visitors. I don’t really pay that much attention to the cars.”
Everett’s gaze flicks his notebook to meet mine. “Have you noticed anyone hanging around, maybe even following you?”
Wait a sec. “What are you getting at?”
Everett’s lips press together, then he rubs down his chin. “Some burglaries are random. Some aren’t.”
I focus on a tuft of grass growing through the cracks in the pavement. Who would pick me as some kind of target? It makes no sense. I drive a crappy car. I live in a trailer the size of a bus. I don’t take fancy vacations. My only luxuries are the spendy brand of English Breakfast tea I’m addicted to and a handful of dresses I bought at full price.
“Vivian?”
I shake my head to banish my runaway thoughts. “No. I haven’t noticed anyone.”
“Do you have any idea who might have done this?”
“No.”
“No ex-boyfriend?”
I glare up at him. “No.”
“How about someone from work?”
Dr. Boone’s lingering gaze flashes into my mind. “No.”
“Okay,” Everett says, and flips his notebook shut. “We can stop there for now.”
For now? Ugh. I push off the car and head down to the creek and convince Mateo that the adventure we’re headed for is better than staying here to play with Sepp.
“Are you coming?” Mateo asks Sepp .
“I can. Would you like that?”
Matty grins, flashing that gap in his teeth. “Yes!”
Sepp ruffles the top of his head. “Count me in.”
“What about Deputy Everett?” Mateo slips his hand into mine and lets me lead him up the slope.
“It’s Deputy Rumsey,” I correct.
“I’ll be there too,” Everett says, grinning at Matty.
“Why don’t you follow me there?” he says while Sepp slides behind the wheel of his Subaru.
Though I haven’t formally accepted this offer, in this moment, I no longer have the energy to fight it.
“Just for tonight,” I say, but he’s already walking to his SUV.