Twenty-Four
I stare out the fire engine window as we drive through the town. Every business we pass is open, and customers are happily shopping. A tinge of jealousy rushes through me. That should’ve been me today. But it was taken from me. Jace wouldn’t let me see the front of the shop, and if I’m being honest, I’m not sure I could’ve handled it. I’m nervous when the time does come, the first time around was bad enough, but this I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle it.
Luke parks in front of my house, and Keegan opens the door for me .
“You doin’ alright, Teagan?” Keegan asks as he helps me out.
“Eventually. Thank you for coming today.”
“Anything for a friend.” He squeezes my shoulder.
I’m grateful to have this group of guys around; they’ve helped so much that I’ll never be able to thank them. Jace meets me at the edge of the truck, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and walks me to the curb of my front yard.
“Did you want me to come in?”
“No, I’m gonna call Mom and Dad.” I would tell him Silas said he would come, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
He pulls me in for a hug. “If anything happens, call me, and I’ll be here. I can always send Ivory over for a girls' night if that makes you more comfortable. I don’t want you alone tonight.”
“Thanks, Jace. I can always go to Mom and Dad’s.”
“Or the fire hall. Don’t be afraid. You have a team behind you, Tee.” He squeezes me tighter, lifting me off the ground until my back cracks. “Get in the house. We’ll leave once you're inside.”
I walk across the grass, disregarding everything around me. I find my keys and unlock the door. I step inside and barely close the door when a hand covers my mouth. Startled, I drop my bag, letting out a muffled yelp. I quickly reach up to pry the hand away.
“Shh, Dimples. It’s me.” Silas drops his hand, and I burst into tears. “Love, come here.” He pulls me close, wrapping his arms around me and gently caressing my hair. Feeling the aroma of his earthy cologne engulf my senses, I draw him nearer.
“I’ve missed you, Sunshine.”
“I’m sorry about today. I promise to find out who did this to you and make them pay. You didn’t deserve any of this. I should’ve been here today.” With a gentle touch, he lifts my chin, causing me to tilt my head back. His face is concealed in his baseball cap, making his deep green eyes seem even more intense.
“It’s fine. You had your reason for leaving. I need to call my parents. Excuse me.” I grab my bag off the floor and leave Silas by the front door. I slip into my bedroom and close the door. I can’t believe he showed up. I only wish it didn’t take me being scared out of my mind to get him to come back. Why couldn't he come back when I asked him before? I’ll never understand him. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I grab my phone. I hope that the news hasn’t broken within the town yet.
“Hi, hunny. How’s your day so far?” Mom asks in her bright and cheery voice.
I pinch the bridge of my nose when I feel the tears starting. “Mom.” My throat grows thick with emotion.
“Teagan. What happened? Caleb!” She yells for Dad. “Hold on, I’ll put you on speaker.”
“What’s wrong, Small fry?”
I try to find the words without crying. “The shop, it’s um.” I stare at the ceiling when the tears well up. “It’s gone.”
“What do you mean it’s gone? What happened to it?” Mom rushes her questions.
“Are you okay? Where are you?” Dad adds.
I wipe the tears away and wipe my nose. “I’m at home. Nancy was waiting at the shop.”
“Fuck her.” Mom cuts in.
“Janette,” Dad scolds her. “Let her talk first, and then we can bash that stupid witch.”
I would laugh if it were under different circumstances, but just thinking what Nancy had done turns my stomach. The door to my bedroom slowly opens, and Silas approaches me, sinking to his knees in front of me. With a tight grip, he holds onto my knees.
I stare into his eyes and try to focus on this morning. “My shop is destroyed. From the little info Jace told me, they broke the windows to get inside. Trashed all the shelves and.” I close my eyes, and Silas tightens his grip. “And hauled the books out and lit them on fire.” I clutch the edge of my mattress at the thought.
I think that’s the worst part. They burnt my books. Jace wouldn’t tell me who was involved. He didn’t want to ruin Taylor's investigation and questioning with me. This entire thing goes beyond a threatening note to Nancy McCunt face. Now she’s getting personal.
Mom starts crying, and I can hardly make out her question. “My God, Teagan. Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m okay or will be, eventually.”
“Are you alone? I don’t like the thought of you being in that house alone. What if they tried to do something.” Dad’s voice was calm, but there was an underlying urgency there.
I look at Silas. “I’m not alone, and I think Taylor should be stopping by sometime to ask questions. Jace wouldn’t let him earlier.”
“That’s good. Small fry. If you want, we can come by.”
“No, it’s okay, Dad. I might try to take a nap. I’m exhausted.”
“That’s a good idea, hunny. Call if anything changes. We love you.”
“I love you guys, too. ”
Silas and I sit there in silence. He rubs his thumb along my knee and reaches his other hand for mine, which is still clutching the mattress. He tenderly brings it to his mouth, gently laying a kiss on my knuckles.
“I’m proud of you. You did everything you could today. The shop doesn’t define who you are; remember that. Don’t let this stop who you are. You didn’t let a little water damage stop you, right?”
“Yeah.” I nod.
He stands up, pulling me with him. “Let me make you something to eat, and it’ll make you feel better.”
I can’t help but laugh. Only Silas will be thinking about food. “There’s leftover chow mein in the fridge.”
“Dibs.” He drags me out of my room. I can feel my mood lifting already, but I’m afraid he’ll take the joy with him when he leaves. He’s like a little kid when he opens the fridge and finds more food than expected. He pulls out the container of ribs and grins.
“When’s the last time you ate?”
He shrugs. “I’ve been busy.” He leaves it at that and grabs a plate. “Want some?”
“No, I’ll find something, you enjoy.” I open the fridge and grab the chow mein. I’m about to place it in the microwave when the doorbell rings. I turn to walk out when Silas grasps my arm and shakes his head.
“I’ll get it. You stay here.”
I watch as he peeks through the peephole, his shoulder dropping. He unlocks the door and opens it. Taylor stands there with his hand on his gun, looking ready to shoot up the place.
“Can I speak to Teagan, please?” Taylor looks at me with no expression on his face.
Silas doesn’t move; he tilts his head, looking at me, eyes on mine, silently asking me if it’s okay.
“It’s Okay, Taylor. You can come in.” Silas crosses his arms but still doesn’t move far from the door. Taylor squeezes past him but doesn’t move from the entryway.
“Can I ask you a few questions about today?” He pulls a notepad and pen from his jacket pocket, clicking the pen open.
“I’m sure you are dying to blame me somehow, so get on with your questioning, Taylor.” I cross my arms and widen my stance. I’m not going down without a fight.
Taylor exhales, shaking his head. “It’s going to be like this then. Okay fine. Where were you last night?”
“Here.”
“Do you have an alibi?”
“Yes. Ben and Jerry. ”
He looks up from his pad. “Who?”
“Ice cream, Taylor. You would know this if you had a girlfriend. If you must know, it was chocolate flavour and to top it off I watched some true crime. And yes, I know how to hide a body.”
“Can anyone collaborate on this?”
“I can,” Silas says.
Taylor turns to Silas. “And you are?”
“Her boyfriend. Silas Blackwell. We were here all night, eating ice cream, watching true crime, and then I fucked her on the couch. Any other questions?”
My face heats up; I can’t believe he would lie to a cop. Taylor looks at me, raising an eyebrow. Can he sniff out a lie?
“This morning, Teagan. What time did you arrive at The Dancing Goat Bookshop?”
“I arrived just before nine.”
“And you went through the front door?”
“Jesus Christ, Taylor, you know I went through the back door. Cut the crap and tell me what Nancy and her minions did to my shop?”
“Listen, Teagan. I’m not here to start a fight. Only answers.”
I rub my forehead. He’s giving me a headache. I bet everything I owe, he’s in Nancy’s pocketbook. “Then ask the question you are dying to ask, Taylor. Did I or Did I not provoke Nancy? That would be a no. When I arrived, she was waiting at the shop, and I turned around. I called Jace and asked if he could come down, and then I texted Silas, telling him I was scared. He called and talked with me through the entire thing. He heard when the windows broke, and that’s when I called you. So, if you don’t mind. Do your fucking job.”
When Silas approaches me, he gently puts his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close to his side, making me feel safe and comforted.
“If you don’t have any more questions, I think you’re finished here,” Silas tells Taylor.
Taylor tucks his pad and pen away. “Yeah, I’m done. I’ll let you know the outcome of your shop.” He turns and heads for the door. “And Teagan. I’m sorry about your shop.” Silas walks behind him, closing the door and locking it.
I want this day to be over. What else can go wrong?
“Teagan, I need to talk to you.”
And there it is.