22. Charlie
22
W e’re in Noah’s car and driving to an unknown location out of town.
“How far are we going?”
“Just the next town over.”
“What’s there?”
He wiggles his brows. “Hot new territory.”
I laugh. “For what? Scoping out women? Am I your wing girl now?”
“Sort of. I need you for moral support.”
Fifteen minutes later, we’d parked in a busy outdoor lot in a quaint little town I’d only driven past. I smell food the moment we step out of the car.
“Mmm…that smells good. What is that?”
“Why, you hungry?”
“I am now.”
He takes my hand. “I think it’s coming from this way.”
We walk toward an active street and instantly, I know we’ve hit the food truck jackpot.
A street fair.
“Oh, I love these. We never have them at Hideaway Springs.”
“Corn on a cob?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Fried dough.”
Noah smiles and pulls me toward a truck.
In minutes, we’re both covered in powdered sugar, with my sweet tooth satisfied and Noah’s OCD about clean hands out of control.
“There’s our booth.” He points.
“What booth?” I follow him to a setup with two familiar faces. Levi and Jackson are standing behind the most adorable booth set up. Its walls are white and lavender, with deep purple velvet curtains framing an open window. Shelves stacked with books are built-in along the sides and lying flat on an extended table in front of the window.
But the part that stops my heart…gold letters across the top that read; Charlie’s Web .
Levi spots us through the little window and waves. “There they are.”
“What…is this?” My voice is a whisper in the middle of a crowded street.
“I couldn’t get it here with my car, so Levi latched it onto his truck and brought it over.”
Still confused, I approach the table with caution. “Are these?”
“All from the box sitting behind your desk for the past week.”
Levi holds up a finger. “Plus a bunch of Jackson’s books he’d long outgrown. Hate to throw them out so this is kinda perfect.”
I look up at Noah, speechless.
Levi clasps his hands. “Okay, there are labor laws and we need to feed this kid. So we’ll be back in an hour—or two.”
“Dad, I’m not hungry.”
“Jackson, take a hint. Let’s take a walk.”
“Have fun,” Noah calls as they step out, then holds the little side door open for me.
I don't know why I'm afraid to walk through it. Maybe because I might cry.
“Don’t worry, I’m not putting you to work. I get that you have no interest in doing this anymore, so I’m hoping you’ll give me some pointers.”
I step in slowly. There's a small chair inside, a few bottles of water, and a few empty book crates. I step up to the window, scanning the used books with blurry eyes. I blink up at him. “You built this…for me?”
A woman comes up to the table with a little boy who looks about seven. “Hi there. Beautiful setup you got here.”
I'm so choked up that I can't even say hello. I turn away, and Noah doesn't miss a beat. He steps to the window. “Thanks. Welcome to Charlie’s Web. This is Charlie. I’m her assistant, Noah.” He bends his head to the little boy. “What do you like to read, kid?”
“I like really fast cars.”
“Oh. Okay. Um…” Noah slides on his glasses, scanning the spread of books in front of him. He picks one and I wince. “How about one with a police car? Probably teaches about speed limit laws and stuff.”
I snicker and cover my mouth. The kid doesn’t look impressed.
I move beside him to help. “I think I have one for you.” I sweep my eyes across the pile. “I bet you’d love this one. Transformers.”
His eyes light up, and he reaches for the colorful book I hold.
“Enjoy!” Noah calls as they walk away with their new free book.
I shake my head at him.
“What? I told you I needed your help.”
I throw my arms around him. He stiffens for a moment before embracing me, holding me for a long moment until I pull back. “When did you do this?”
“I proposed it to Levi a few days ago." His eyes wander around the space. "Between the two of us we figured out what we needed.”
Something about his response reminds me of my sketches for the children’s wing. This booth resembles a design I had for a corner. Only mine didn’t have a window and certainly wasn’t on wheels.
I look up at him with misty eyes. “You found my plans.”
“Is that what's been bothering you the last two weeks?”
The question is so unfair. Because he deserves the real answer. "It's part of it."
“Will you tell me the other part?”
I bite my lip. The other part has nothing to do with books and everything to do with him.
And my white lie. I nod. "Just not today."
I take a long shower after my workout. Not that I needed to work out at all after taking Jackson on nearly every ride for a second time after he and Levi returned.
It only took two hours for us to distribute all the books at the street fair. It was amazing to watch Charlie in action. She knew exactly what everyone would love. It’s as if the kids had the book they wanted tattooed on their foreheads.
She was born for this.
It was killing me not knowing what was going on with her. What she wasn't sharing with me. And since I'd long lost the privilege to ask, I had to figure it out for myself.
If only I knew what that other thing was. I bet I can help with that too.
Charlie was reading in bed when I came into the room. It was the first time I found her without that wedding planner scrapbook of hers.
She’s been pretty quiet on the ride home and I imagine it's exhaustion. Which is too bad because the Charlie I saw today, the confident, determined, happy Charlie, is sexy as hell.
I step out with the towel wrapped around my waist, finding her asleep on the bed.
I step around, lift the book from her hands, and turn off her lamp. Dropping my towel, I slide into bed next to her.
Somehow, I doubt she’ll mind I was too tired to put any pants on.
On Saturday afternoon, we drive to the smoke shop Harvey Finklestein owns—our newest lead. I prep Charlie on the way. If asked, she’s Pepper Woods, who is getting married to Chase Reeves of the Denver Kings in two weeks and is looking for her parents.
That’s it. She doesn’t ask questions or say anything else. Especially since I don’t know who we’re dealing with.
A heavy scent of tobacco fills the air as the bell above the door jingles. I glance down at Charlie at my side as she scopes the place out.
Dark wooden shelves line the walls. They’re stacked with rows of wrapped cigars. I squeeze her hand as we approach the man behind the counter, a muscular figure with a graying beard. His eyes narrow with curiosity and I realize we’re not his typical customers.
“Good afternoon.” I keep my voice steady and hand the man my business card. “My name is Noah Reeves. I’m here to see Mr. Harvey.” A personal tactic of mine is to pretend I don't know everything about the person I'm coming to see.
The man scans the card. “First name Harvey.” He corrects gruffly.
“My apologies. Is there a last name, Mr…”
“Harvey.”
“Alright. I'll cut right to the chase, Harvey. I'm working on a case from several years ago. For a man named Robert Woods.”
“You cops?”
“We’re not. You have my word.”
“I don’t sell explosives.”
“We’re not here about any explosives," I lie. "We’re here on a personal matter.” I turn to Charlie. “This…is Pepper Woods.”
“Woods?” Harvey repeats, his eyes shifting to Charlie.
“Yes. She and my brother are getting married in two weeks. About nine years ago, her parents disappeared and I’m told you may have heard from them. Robert and Emma Woods.”
He grunts, softening slightly, but his eyes remain guarded. “I might remember something, but it’s been a long time.”
“How long?” Charlie asks impatiently.
He turns to her. “Two, maybe three years ago, he and his wife came around here. Left a stolen vehicle with me and asked me to return it.”
“What were they doing with a stolen vehicle?”
He shrugs. “All they said is they went to visit a small town not far from here, lookin’ for something…or someone.”
“Why did they come to you?”
He deadpans me. “Maybe they wanted a box of cigars.”
“Right. Of course.”
“Do you know where I can find them?” Charlie asks again, clearly unable to follow directions.
The man turns his gaze to her.
“Please,” she pleads, ignoring my warning glare. “I think they came looking for me. I…I can’t walk down the aisle without them.”
Harvey’s eyes flicker between us. He reaches for a cigar and lights it. “What makes you think I can help?”
“So far you’re the only one who’s admitted to seeing them recently.” I offer.
Harvey exhales a cloud of smoke, his gaze growing distant. “Your father is a good man. I knew that the first time he and his wife walked in here."
“The first time? When was that?” I ask.
He studies us for a moment, then nods. “Follow me.”
He leads us through a narrow hallway at the back of the shop, stopping at a door marked ‘Private.’
Inside, the room is cluttered with papers, old photographs, and maps. Harvey shuffles through a pile, pulling out a faded photograph of Pepper’s parents. It’s from a newspaper cutout.
“This is how I knew him. Nine years ago, Woods was on trial for money laundering. Case brought against him by Stern & Associates."
"A firm that made him a partner just two years earlier," I state, letting him know I know this case backward and forward.
"I only know 'bout what I read in the papers. I knew his face the moment he walked in here. Can tell just by looking at the couple they ain't do nothin' wrong."
"What did they come in here for?"
He gives me another hesitant look.
"Look, I know the man was framed. I'm just trying to clear his name so he can come home."
Harvey sighs. "He tried to do that himself but ran out of time. So, they were making a run for it. Came in here for camping supplies to… start a fire or whatnot," he pauses. "I had a better idea."
Charlie and I exchange a glance.
"I sold them a set of …let’s call them fireworks…told him how to use it on his car a mile down or so and then I'd give him and his lady a ride to the train station for their one-way ticket out of town. They'd lose a car, but at least no one would come looking for 'em."
"That doesn't explain where the bodies came from," I say, hoping I'm not pushing it with that when he'd already given us so much.
"Woods was hesitant to the idea. Afraid he might make a bigger explosion and start a forest fire or something. So I followed him in my truck and offered to do it for him safely…for a price. On the way to the location, we found a car wreck and stopped to help. The car wasn’t in bad shape, but the couple inside…dead on contact. No identification. Robert and I moved the bodies into his car. He and his wife took off in theirs."
Charlie gasps beside me.
“Where’ve they been all this time?”
He glares at me. “I know that if the wrong person finds out you’re looking for people presumed dead…”
“Yeah,” I nod. “We’re aware of the risks." I hand him another card. "In case they happen to stop by or…if you have a way of letting them know their daughter is getting married."
He takes it and nods.
"Thank you for your time.”
“Was that another dead end?” Charlie asks when get back in the car.
I shake my head. “Let’s hope not.” I pull her toward me and kiss the side of her head. “You did great.”