Chapter Thirty-Two Raine
Chapter Thirty-Two
Raine
When I finally pushed through the front door of Hale House, I knew something was different.
My sneakers were still where I’d toed them off earlier. The bag I’d dropped when I first moved back waited in the same entryway spot. Everything was as I left it.
But the air felt wrong.
I’d just spent the afternoon standing beside Gabe in court, watching the judge set the bail at $2 million. The color had drained from his face. I’d promised him I’d handle it.
Now inside Hale House, I dug my phone from my purse, shut the front door, and hesitated about locking it. If I needed to get out . . . the lock would slow me down. I twisted the dead bolt.
The hallway was silent except for the old oil heater rumbling below. In the kitchen, I set my purse on the island but kept my phone in hand.
That’s when I saw it.
A fruit basket, perfectly wrapped in cellophane and tied with a hunter-green bow, sat by the sink. I hadn’t left it there.
My grip tightened around my phone as I approached. Inside the basket were apples, oranges, and grapes. I hesitated before I checked the card.
Happy Birthday! One more year of freedom.
A chill slid down my back.
I scanned the kitchen corners for movement, for shadows that didn’t belong. Nothing. Whoever had left the basket was gone.
How had they gotten inside?
I looked up the florist’s number and called. After a chain of menu prompts, a woman finally answered. “Morrison’s Florist.”
“This is Raine Hale. I just received a delivery.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I found the basket inside my house. Do you know how it got inside?”
She typed quickly. “The delivery instructions noted there was a key under a pot on the front porch. The driver was instructed to use it and leave the fruit inside.”
I had hidden a key under the pot when I’d lived here—seventeen years ago. But I’d collected it before I closed the house when I’d left for college. “Is that standard practice?”
“The caller insisted you wouldn’t want it left outside. Fruit can freeze.”
“Who ordered the basket?”
“Gabe Durant.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“When was the order placed?”
“Today. One this afternoon.”
He’d been in court—he couldn’t have placed the order. “You’re sure?”
“Yes, ma’am. One o’clock.”
“Thank you.” I ended the call.
Outside, I lifted the cracked pot filled with dirt and empty geraniums. A freshly cut key lay in a ring of mold.
I didn’t touch it. I lowered the pot back down.
I sat on the porch and texted Edith.
Me: Did Gabe send me a fruit basket?
Edith: No. Why would he?
Me: I don’t know. Did you do it for him?
Edith: No.
I dialed Judson.
He picked up on the second ring. “Raine.”
“I had a fruit basket delivery today.” I explained where I’d found it and my call to the company. “The order was placed while Gabe was with me in court. Edith didn’t send it, either.”
He exhaled slowly.
I added, “Even if he’d found a way, it doesn’t add up. He’s never sent anything like that before. I’ve barely spoken to him in the last few years.”
I’d never given permission for anyone other than Gabe or Edith to be in the house.
“Pull up the key. Have your locks changed.”
“I will.”
“You okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine. This is probably not a big deal.”
I shifted to my cousin. “What’s Maria’s status?”
“She’s going to be in the hospital at least a week. She wants you to take custody of Molly.”
Given the lawsuit, that was surprising. “When Maria and Gabe wrote their wills, they designated me as Molly’s guardian.
” I’d been honored at the time. But I had never pictured a scenario where Maria was incapacitated, and Gabe was behind bars for attempted murder.
“Edith isn’t going to be happy about the arrangement. ”
“I can meet you there in an hour. We can talk to Edith together.”
“I can handle her.”
“Don’t do this alone.”
A second incoming call beeped on my phone. “I’ve got another call coming. The bail bondsman. It’ll cost me $200,000 to bail Gabe.”
“You have that kind of money?”
The money from the sale of the town house wouldn’t cover it. “I’m using Hale House and the land as collateral.”
“That’s risky.”
“For all the estate’s problems, it’s still worth a fortune.”
“Why would you put it all at risk?”
“Gabe is my friend. When we were growing up, he was always kind. I owe him my loyalty.”