Chapter 17
Maggie hummed to herself as she parked her car in the Haven lot, her heart light.
Grace and Rosa had promised to keep an ear out in case of any apartments coming up for rent, and she would soon be making enough to cover a lease.
She happened to look down at the welcome mat when she opened the door to the Haven and saw it.
Another package with her name on it, with the Haven’s address.
She picked it up and carried it inside. Virginia called out from the living room.
“Maggie, is that you?”
“It’s me, Virginia.” She rounded the corner into what Victorians probably called the parlor, and found her hostess sitting on the sofa with her cross-stitch in her lap and a tea service on the low table in front of her.
“Would you care for some tea?”
“Tea sounds lovely.” Maggie set the package on the couch beside her and poured herself a cup.
Maggie sipped her tea as Virginia asked about her day. When she told her about the social media accounts she’d taken on, Virginia asked if she’d do the same for the Haven.
“I don’t do social media except to follow up on my nieces and nephews. I don’t know how to run a business page.” She lifted the fabric she was embroidering. “Cross-stitch? Sure. But computers…” She shook her head. “I’m a clueless old woman. My nephew set up the online booking for me.”
Maggie smiled. “I’d love to help.”
Virginia clapped her hands. “Wonderful! I’ll reduce your rate and we’ll call it a trade.”
“That sounds perfect.”
She finished her tea and stood. “Thanks for the tea, Virginia.”
“Anytime, dear.” She gestured at the tray. “Just leave it there, I’ll take care of it later.”
She set the delicate cup back down. “I’m going to go email Rosa like she asked me to.”
“Do you want to join me for dinner tonight? I made a whole meatloaf and it’s too much for just me.”
“That sounds lovely.”
Maggie took the box and headed upstairs to her room to email Rosa and set up a schedule for herself. With this many clients, she needed to be sure she could give them all the attention they deserved.
She remembered her purchase at Pandora’s Box and set her new figurines out on the little dresser that held all her clothes. She smiled as she petted their porcelain fur.
“I think I’ll call you Cheeky,” she said to the one on the branch, “and you will be Peanut,” to the other. Then she sat on the bed and pulled her laptop onto her legs and got to work.
Once her email was sent, she remembered the odd package. She didn’t feel like going back downstairs to ask Viriginia for scissors, so she mangled it while unwrapping it. Inside was a black velvet box.
“Oh my God, Kirk. Get a clue, buddy.” But when she popped the lid open, it was clear it wasn’t from Kirk at all.
Inside the box lay her wedding rings.
She froze, her mind spiraling with everything this meant. Sean knew where she was.
Sean knew where she was. He knew where she was.
Her heart beat in double time and her breaths came fast and shallow. No, she had to get a grip. She set the box down on the dresser, its demand clear.
Come home.
Maggie lost track of time as she tried to get a handle on her breathing. What could she do? Alex was in Oklahoma and Sean knew where she was.
The knock on her door shocked her out of the spiral. “Maggie? Dinner’s almost ready.”
Somehow, she kept her voice steady as she answered. “I’ll be right down. I just have to make a quick call first.”
She glared at the rings she’d never liked, and snapped the box closed. No. Sean didn’t get to scare her away from this town.
After Virginia’s footsteps vanished, Maggie dialed Alex’s number. Since it was Saturday, she got her secure voicemail. “Alex, it’s Maggie. He knows where I am. He mailed my wedding rings to the place I’m staying. If I don’t hear from you otherwise, I’m taking them to the pawn shop Tuesday.”
She could sure use the money.
Luke’s phone rang while he was working in the diner.
They were pretty busy for a lunch shift in the middle of the week, but Mom had anticipated with the half-day at school, they’d see their teenage crowd today.
She had Maggie, Katya, Luke, and Shorty all on deck.
Thank goodness, because without Shorty here he wouldn’t be able to take Gabe’s call.
Luke stepped to the back door, propped open to let the heat of the kitchen vent into the cool spring day. He slid his finger to accept the call. “Hi, Gabe.”
“Hey, Luke. I have good news and bad news.”
Luke huffed a breath and leaned against the rough bricks. “Hit me with the bad news first.”
“Well, technically it’s the same news.” Gabe cleared his throat, and Luke’s stomach dropped. “Sheriff Metz says you’ve given us enough information to ask for a warrant.”
Luke gripped his phone and bent over as his stomach threatened to send his lunch up, leaning on his hand against his knee. They would arrest Aaron.
“Once we get the warrant, we have to set trail cams in the area that will allow us to track their movements. It’s going to take time, because he wants to get as many of them off the street as possible.”
Luke nodded as his pulse tried to drown Gabe out.
“There is another bit of good news, though.”
“What’s that?” Damn did he need it right now.
“Metz said he’d be happy to have you along for the raid, as long as you understand you’re not there in any official capacity unless we discover they’ve been taking it across state lines.”
Relief swamped Luke’s chest and fought with the grief. He could be there for Aaron. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. You brought this to us. Plus, if it turns out we do need the Feds, you’ll save us a bunch of red tape.”
“The local cops won’t be happy with me.”
“Yeah, that’s true. They hate when we step on their toes.” Gabe was silent for a moment. “But then, that’s what they get when they tell you something’s outside their jurisdiction, isn’t it?”
He could hear the smile in Gabe’s voice, and he answered it with one of his own. “True. Thanks, Gabe.”
“Anytime. We need to get a beer after this is over.”
“Definitely.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up. Luke took a minute to just breathe against the wall, letting the smells of the diner and the early spring breeze fill his lungs.
He didn’t dare say anything about what he’d done to anyone. Not Maggie, and definitely not Mom. It would compromise the investigation if word got out. But he ached to talk to someone.
Luke wandered into the kitchen and tapped Shorty on the shoulder. “I need a few more minutes. Will you be okay on your own for a bit?”
Shorty must have seen something in his face. His eyes softened, and he gave Luke a sad smile. “Yeah, do what you got to do, kid.”
Luke snorted at the moniker and headed back to Mom’s office. He unlocked it with his spare key and slipped inside.
There on the wall, in an old brown frame, hung the one wedding picture Mom and Dad had taken when they got hitched.
It had been a courthouse wedding, a small affair.
But they were smiling, happy and in love.
And between them, holding both their hands, was a ten-year-old version of himself, just as happy as Mom had been.
He stared at the smiling face of the man who’d raised him and choked. “Dad… I’m sorry I let you down. I failed Aaron. I failed you. And I failed Mom.” He blinked back tears, bowing his head as he regained his composure. “I don’t know how this happened.”
Luke lifted his head and made him a promise. “But I want to make it right. I’ll be there for him as much as I can. It’s not fair he didn’t get as much time with you as I did but I can’t let him keep hurting people. I know it’s not what you would want.”
The photograph didn’t speak, but Luke could feel the warmth of a hug from the man who he called Dad. He pressed his eyes shut, wishing the sensation wouldn’t fade. But he had a job to do. Raising his right hand, Luke did a quick tap-tap over his heart, sending love to Dad’s photo.
“We love you. We miss you. And I’ll do better. I promise.”
More intense warmth, like the squeeze Dad would give him right before he let go, then the sensation faded.
Luke wiped his face and chuckled at himself. He hadn’t cried for his dad in almost ten years.
Gathering his wits, Luke took tissues from the box Mom kept on the desk and cleaned himself up. Just as he blew his nose, a knock sounded on the office door.
“Come in.”
Shorty opened the door, flipping through envelopes. “Mail’s here. And we got a weird package with it. It’s addressed to Maggie.”
The older cook shrugged his shoulders. “I gave it to her; hope you don’t mind.”
Luke’s brows furrowed. Diner workers didn’t typically get mail at the restaurant. “That is strange. And yeah, that’s fine.” Just then, he heard a high-pitched scream. Both men dropped what they had in their hands and bolted for the sound. That sounded like…
“Maggie?”
She stood frozen over a small box on the floor of the kitchen, her hands over her mouth, and her eyes wide. Shorty got there first, and bent over to see what had frightened her. “Jesus fucking Christ on a cracker!”
Luke startled. Shorty hardly ever swore. “What is it?”
Katya stood next to Maggie, her hands twisting in her apron. “It’s a … dead squirrel.”
“Not just dead.” Shorty closed the box and removed it from Maggie’s line of sight. He was paler than usual, his sepia skin looking a little gray. Shorty took a look at Maggie, then slashed his hand across his neck and mouthed the word, “Decapitated.”
What the hell? Luke’s brain started firing as to what they should do. “Put it outside but don’t get rid of it just yet. The cops may need it as evidence. Katya, can you take care of the tables while I get her settled?” Katya nodded, her blonde ponytail moving up and down.
Slowly, Luke slid in front of Maggie. “Maggie, are you with us?” No answer. Her green eyes were wide and distant, and she trembled from head to toe. Luke waved a hand a few inches from her chalk-white face. “Maggie? I need you to breathe for me, sweetheart.”
Ragged gasping shook her frame even more.
“Mags, can I touch your shoulders?”
Her eyes snapped to his, and she gave him a shaky nod.
Gently, Luke rubbed her shoulders, and her arms dropped to wrap around her middle.
He stepped into her and wrapped her in a loose hug as he murmured soothing words.
She buried her face in his chest, and he took it as permission to wrap her up tighter.
“I got you, sweetheart, You’re safe.” He stroked her back up and down with one hand. Tears soaked his apron and uniform shirt, but Luke couldn’t care less. He pressed his lips to her head and rocked ever so slightly.
When she seemed calmer, he pulled back enough to look at her face. “Do you want to take this into the office?” She nodded, and he kept one arm around her as they maneuvered down the hall.
Shorty tugged on his sleeve before he could follow her. “We need to call the police.”
Luke shook his head, thinking of the way he’d been brushed aside. “Call the sheriff’s office. She’s met Gabe before.”
The elder cook just raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you trying to invite trouble? Who knows how long it’ll take them to come down here? Plus, we’re literally steps from the Hawthorn Hills station. The sheriff won’t send anyone for this.”
Shit. Shorty was right. Luke tried to remember which of his classmates had also gone into law enforcement. “Does Mari MacDonald still work there?”
Shorty nodded. “Yup, she’s still there.”
Luke scrubbed a hand over his face. “Ask for her. I know she’s a good one.”
The look on Shorty’s face made him pause. “Whatchu sayin’, Luke?”
Ugh. He shouldn’t have said a thing. Looking through the door, which she’d left slightly ajar, he could see Maggie just standing there, wringing her hands.
“I can’t talk about it. It has no bearing on this anyway, just…
see if Mari’s on duty? I’m sure she’d be more comfortable with another woman.
” Once Shorty nodded, Luke grasped his shoulder in thanks and went inside.
In his mom’s office, he sat down on the office chair and gently drew Maggie into his lap. They sat there, the silence thick around them. Shorty stuck his head in. “Cops are on their way,”
“Thanks, Shorty.” Shorty nodded and shut the door.
Luke rubbed Maggie’s back. “Maggie? Talk to me, sweetheart.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “Please.”
She swiped at her face, and he handed her the box of tissues. “I… I think I have a stalker.”
Luke closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, tempering his reaction. “Do you have an idea who it could be?”
Maggie wiped her face with the tissues. “I… I don’t know for sure.”
Her eyes darted away, giving away the lie. She suspected someone. For some reason, she wanted to keep it from him. Luke’s heart sank. He hadn’t fully earned her trust yet, but he wasn’t going to push. “Everything’s going to be okay, sweetheart.”
Nodding, she leaned back against him, and he reveled in the knowledge that she at least trusted him to comfort her, even if she didn’t trust him with the truth.
Not like you’re trusting her with the truth, either… the little voice inside his head reminded him. But that was different. He couldn’t jeopardize the investigation. That was his story, and he was sticking to it.
The embarrassment was real, though. And he understood that was true for her as well, taking in her flushed cheeks and her downcast gaze.
A brisk knocking broke the silence. “Hawthorn Hills Police Department.”
Maggie sat up straight, her back a stiff rod. Luke’s only reaction was to grip her waist tighter.
“Come in,” he called out.
“You called the cops?” Maggie hissed at him.
Luke thumbed away some stray moisture she missed. “Shorty did. We have to document this or else the health inspector could come in.”
She deflated as the door opened. Marigold MacDonald stood there in her navy uniform, her brown hair pulled back in a tight bun. She’d put on some muscle since high school, but her face will still the same kind one he remembered.
“Hi, Maggie. I’m Officer MacDonald with the Hawthorn Hills Police Department. I’m here to ask you some questions. Do you want Luke to stay in the room?”
Maggie chewed on her lip, then stood from his lap and shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
Surprised by her dismissal, Luke stood as well, but didn’t take his hands off her. “Are you sure? Nothing you say would—”
“Please.” Her voice trembled. “I need to do this alone.”
“Okay. Whatever you want, sweetheart. Come find me in the kitchen when you’re done, okay?”
She nodded, and Luke saw the sympathy on Marigold MacDonald’s face as he rounded the desk.
“I’ll take good care of her, Luke,” she whispered as he passed them and shut the door behind him.
Luke took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen, praying she would trust him fully someday.