The Girls Across the Bay

by Emerald O'Brien

  She nodded and kissed him as he walked by. Each time he did something nice for her, she felt even more out of place.

  “Thanks,” she muttered under her breath.

  He went to the iPod station and changed the music to a jazz song she couldn’t recognize.

  “Babe,” she said, “I was listening to that.”

  “Oh, sorry,” he turned to her. “But I thought this song would be fun.”

  She cocked her head to the side as he waltzed over and took her hands in his. “To dance to,” he said, smiling, and spun her around.

  “You’re so cheesy,” she laughed and let him lead her around the kitchen.

  “You make me want to dance.” He pulled her in close. “I can’t help it. I still want a private show after dinner though.”

  After dinner, she had a drink date with Grace.

  “Ah, Will, I can’t,” she said, letting go of his hands. “I forgot, I’m meeting Grace at Roy’s for a drink.”

  His hands dropped to his sides, and his smile faded.

  I should invite him to come. I should want to invite him to come.

  “It’s just for a little while. I’ll be back before eleven.”

  He nodded and rounded the counter to the other side as she dropped the pasta into the boiling water. “I was hoping to have you to myself tonight.”

  “I know.” She turned around, the invitation to him on the tip of her tongue, but she stopped.

  I need to talk to Grace in private about John.

  “But,” she said, smiling and gesturing to the stove, “hopefully this dinner makes up for it.”

  He smiled, but it wasn’t real.

  Say something. Get mad at me.

  “So how was work?” he asked.

  She sighed and stirred the pasta. “Alright.”

  Why can’t you just get mad at me, and then we can get over it instead of letting it fester?

  He sat at the kitchen table and rested his head on his hands. She couldn’t stand to see him mope around.

  “Actually,” she said, setting the spoon down. “I got the front page.”

  “What?” He held both hands out. “That’s great!”

  “Well, I’m sharing it with Thane, but it’s a step in the right direction, I guess.”

  He rounded the counter and lifted her up, giving her a peck on the lips before setting her down again. “Your hard work’s finally paying off. I’m sure you’ll get the cover all by yourself. So what’s the story?”

  “A woman was found dead in her home.”

  “Oh, I heard about that,” he said and smiled. “That was you? See, your story’s got everyone talking.”

  “She was a realtor here in town. Her fiancé is probably a suspect.”

  “Wow,” he said, shaking his head and setting the table. “They say it’s always the husband. It’s an odd saying, because obviously it’s not always true, but it had to come from somewhere.”

  As he continued on, she thought about John.

  Maybe he’s more messed up than I am, living in that house for so long.

  After dinner, Will insisted on cleaning up, and Madigan headed out to Roy’s.

  On the ride down the coast, the motorcycle’s engine drowned out the crashing waves along the rocky shoreline. The sun had almost set as she pulled into the lot and drove around the whole thing twice before she found a space.

  As she entered Roy’s, the amber light fixtures glowed in the darkness, illuminating the bar, and tiny red candle holders gave a romantic, cozy glow to the booths around the perimeter. Billiard balls clicked together behind the bar, and between the loud chatter and laughter that filled the room, it felt like coming home. It had been a second home when she worked there as she attended college, until she got the job at the paper.

  Roy’s howl rang out above it all, and he smiled, nodding to her as she reached the bar.

  “There’s my favourite lady,” he chuckled. “What’ll ya have? The usual? It’s on the house, Knox!”

  Madigan nodded. “You’re in a great mood.”

  She turned to one of the old regulars beside her. “Billy, can you guess why?”

  “I’ve heard all about it,” Billy groaned.

  Roy chuckled with his back to them while mixing her a Jack and Coke.

  “I want to meet this woman,” another patron called from the other side of the bar.

  “You won’t catch her in here with the likes of all you assholes,” Roy hollered, laughing as he added four cherries to Madigan’s drink.

  “Shut up.” The patron laughed.

  “Can you believe it, Billy?” Roy asked as he handed her the drink. “I’m dating a sober woman.”

  “For the tenth time, Roy,” Billy sighed. “I don’t care if she drinks or not. So’long’s I get mine!”

  Madigan took a sip of the drink, the fizzy carbonation tickling her nose. As she waved to a regular across the bar, just past him, Jack Holden took his shot at the pool table.

  As he stepped back, he looked straight at her, like he felt her presence. Madigan nodded toward him, and he handed a friend his cue before shuffling through the crowd toward the bar.

  Toward her.

  “She texted me over lunch,” Roy said.

  Madigan smiled and nodded to him, pretending to be deep in conversation.

  “Did she tell you you owed me this drink?” Madigan took a sip, and the carbonation bit at the back of her throat.

  “She didn’t have to.” Roy winked at her. “I know how to treat a lady. I’m seeing Cindy tomorrow for lunch.”

  “Great, Roy.” She nodded, feeling Jack’s presence behind her. “Oh, and cut it out with the swearing around her, alright?”

  Jack’s pine-scented cologne wafted around her. “Madigan,” he said, nodding.

  He slipped into the space between her and Billy, his leg brushing against hers.

  He’d taken the time to style his short, shiny, dark hair, and instead of one of his old firehouse t-shirts she always saw him in, he’d opted for a fitted white dress shirt and dark jeans.

  His biceps are huge.

  Or are those his triceps?

  Is he on a date?

  I shouldn’t feel jealous, but I’ll be disappointed if he’s with someone.

  “Jack.” She smiled. “How are you?”

  “Doing good, thanks,” he said, turning toward the bar and scanning the bottles of alcohol.

  “Out for a good time?” Madigan asked.

  He looked at her and grinned. “Huh?”

  “If you’re out for a good time,” she said, “I suggest Jaeger or my personal favourite shot, tequila.”

  “I think beer’s more my speed tonight.” He grinned. “Another pitcher of Canadian, Roy.”

  Roy nodded and turned away, leaving them there together. Alone—even in a crowded room.

  “So what about you?” Jack asked. “Are you here for a good time tonight?”

  “I’m having a drink with Grace.” She smiled.

  He frowned and leaned in closer.

  He can’t hear me over the crowd.

  “I’m having a drink with Grace,” she said louder, and he nodded. “She should be here soon. I’m surprised actually. She’s never late.”

  His cologne overwhelmed her in a way she would never admit, in a way that made her want to lean in closer.

  “I could sit with you until she comes,” he said, his lips almost brushing her ear.

  I need space.

  “No,” she waved him off, and he took a step back. “That’s fine. You know I can take care of myself.”

  His gaze fell, and she knew he was thinking about Drew. Drew had been her protector since the moment they met, a year before they became siblings legally.

  Jack Holden had been Drew’s best friend since birth. They rarely went anywhere or did anything without the other and grew up across the street from each other.

  The Knoxes and Holdens had been the best of friends.

  Jack took Drew’s death hard, jus
t like Madigan had, but they’d only grieved together until the day after the funeral service, when Madigan made the mistake of kissing Jack.

  She’d mistaken his kindness and sympathy for a real attraction, having had a crush on him since she’d arrived at the Knoxes’ home. He had pulled away just after their lips touched, telling her in no uncertain terms that he was sorry before leaving the funeral parlor.

  She remembered his shocked expression and the embarrassment she’d felt for months afterward, but the feelings of grief and guilt made the moment of embarrassment between them feel inconsequential, and she supposed it had for Jack too, because in all the years after the accident, every once in a while he’d check on her. It was a duty that had been passed on from her brother to his best friend without words, merely by an unspoken bond of brotherhood.

  She had taken care of herself before she’d met Drew, and since, but while they were siblings, she’d never felt more safe. He had made sure she would never let another man abuse her again, first because of him, and after, because of Jack.

  “Are you here with anyone?” she shouted, keeping her distance.

  “I’m just here with the guys,” he said. “Why?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “Nothing—you just—you look like you’re on a date.”

  “I do?” He laughed, tilting his head to the side and pressing his lips together, shrugging while rubbing the stubble on his chin.

  She took a sip of her drink as Roy worked his way back over with Jack’s beer.

  “You know I’m here if you ever…” Jack said, the smell of beer on his breath.

  Madigan nodded as Roy set his pitcher down on the bar in front of them.

  Before he could say goodbye, she stood from her stool, saving them an awkward moment.

  “Have a good one,” she shouted and grabbed her drink, shuffling through the crowd to the patio door.

  She carried her drink around the large wrap-around patio that faced the ocean and spotted Grace sitting at a small table, watching the waves crash in toward them beneath the royal blue sky.

  She’s sad.

  Madigan knew, instinctually, as if they had been sisters by blood. As if they were twins with a special intuition that kept them in tune to each other’s feelings.

  “Hey,” Madigan said, sitting down on the chair across from her. “I didn’t know you were here already.”

  Grace pulled her blazer closed over her chest and smiled. “I love taking in this view.”

  “I know,” Madigan said and took a sip of her drink. “I saw Jack inside.”

  Grace raised her brows and turned to her. “Really?”

  “Yep,” Madigan sighed. “Awkward as ever.”

  “I’m sure he’s forgotten about it. You should, too.” Grace brought her wine glass to her lips and sipped the mahogany liquid.

  “Tough day?”

  “You could say that,” Grace said. “How about you?”

  “I got the front page. Well, sharing it with Thane, but still…”

  “Yes.” Grace set her glass down. “You broke the news about my case.”

  Madigan nodded.

  “Listen, it’s important to find out what really went on while assuring the town we’re doing everything possible to keep them safe,” Grace said, leaning forward in her chair. “So I’d appreciate it if you could run your info past me before publishing it. In the future.”

  Madigan cocked her head to the side.

  “Just for this case,” Grace said.

  “I know you have a job to do, Grace, but so do I. This is big for me.”

  “It’s not just a job. This is my career. It means a lot to me,” Grace said. “I’d like to make a good first impression here.”

  Madigan wanted to argue that she had a career too, equally important, but before she spoke the words, she knew she’d be lying.

  She tried her best, but she didn’t take the job with the paper even half as seriously as Grace did hers. Grace had been through several schools and programs to become a special detective. She’d come so far, but whatever happened while she was undercover had nearly drowned her—the waves still sucking her in, and she needed to keep afloat.

  That’s all she’s trying to do, and I have to help her.

  “Alright, but I can only control myself. Thane’s a shark, and when he smells blood—”

  “That’s all I ask.” Grace held her hand up and leaned back in her chair. “Thanks.”

  Madigan nodded. There wasn’t a good way to bring up what she’d discovered about John, so she took a big gulp of her cold drink to prepare. It burned her throat, and she smacked her lips together, kick-starting her confession.

  “I found something out today,” Madigan said. “Something that connects us to your case.”

  Grace pursed her lips and frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “When I saw John Talbot, Lily’s fiancé, outside the house last night, he looked familiar.”

  Grace frowned even more, revealing a few tiny lines across her forehead on her otherwise wrinkle-free face.

  “I did some digging,” Madigan said.

  “Of course you did.”

  “And it turns out, John is Johnny. Eli and Evette’s kid. They adopted him, unlike us, but still.”

  Grace’s eyes opened wide, and she stared past Madigan.

  “I know. It was hard to believe at first for me too, but I checked it out. I went to his employer’s place and spoke with him. I saw a picture there, and he looked just like he did in the photo Evette kept hidden in her drawer.”

  “I never saw it,” Grace said, shaking her head.

  “Then I—I went to see Evette.”

  Grace furrowed her brow. “You what?”

  “I had to know for sure before bringing it to you.” Madigan pulled a piece of hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, safe from the wind.

  Grace stared at her. “I can’t believe it.”

  Grace could be disappointed in her all she wanted, and she could think what she wanted about Madigan’s motives to see Evette, but the fact was, they knew a suspect. Lived in the same house he did. Were raised by the same people he was.

  “She confirmed it’s him. She doesn’t keep in contact with him either except birthday cards.”

  “Like she does with you.” Grace folded her arms over her chest.

  “And you,” Madigan said, “before you changed your address and didn’t tell her.”

  “I don’t want her cards. I don’t want anything to do with her.”

  “Well, it doesn’t change the facts about John.”

  Grace took a sip of wine and swirled it around in her glass. Madigan pictured her mind moving in much the same way.

  “Don’t believe me?” Madigan asked.

  “I’ve seen his records. I haven’t had time to study them, yet. It makes sense, but it doesn’t make him anything to us. He’s not our brother.”

  “Our past is connected though,” Madigan said. “There’s no denying it.”

  Grace tilted her head back. “What am I supposed to do with this?”

  She’s not asking me. She’s talking to herself.

  “Hey, we won’t say anything. I’m not telling anyone. I don’t want the people at the paper finding out. Or Will. No one needs to know.”

  “My boss does,” Grace said. “And my partner.”

  “Do you think John knows about us?”

  Grace pressed her lips together and shook her head.

  Madigan thought she might have seen a glimmer of recognition in John’s eyes the night before in his driveway. If Evette had ever mentioned them, it wouldn’t have been enough, but if he’d come back like she remembered, he might have seen them. Known their names.

  If he knew about them, maybe he’d agree to meet with her.

  “You sure?” Madigan asked. “You’ve talked with him. He didn’t seem to know you? Your name?”

  “No, and I want to keep it that way.”

  Grace had always known one�
�s past could haunt them.

  It followed her, taunting her, and taking away any moments of happiness in her personal life, but as her connection with John sank in, it had the potential to end any chance of rebuilding her life in Tall Pines.

  “Anyway,” Madigan said, “I just had to tell you. I—I don’t know what it means for your case. I’m still trying to figure out what it means for us. In general.”

  “Nothing, Madigan.” She grabbed the handrail that divided them from the rocky coast below. “It’s not going to affect us at all because it’s in the past.”

  Madigan rubbed her forehead and cleared her throat. “Do you remember that nightmare I used to have? About the body being dragged across the hall on Warbler Way? There’s a chance it was him, Grace. I think it was John.”

  “But it was just a nightmare.”

  “That’s what Evette told me, and you started telling me the same thing when I’d wake up and climb down into your bed, but it came from somewhere, and he has a tattoo like the one in my dream. The scorpion.”

  “You never told me that.”

  “Well, I hadn’t put it together until I saw that picture at Thom’s Tackle. If he killed Lily—”

  “Madigan,” she turned to her sister, “I don’t want you getting any more involved in this. I’ve got it handled. It doesn’t mean anything.”

  She tried to convince herself as much as Madigan, but because of their similarities, she knew neither would drop it.

  Drop the conversation, then.

  “Is that the reason you invited me here?” Grace asked.

  “Well, I had to tell you in person, but I also wanted to spend some time with you.”

  She studied her sister, her long highlighted hair blowing in the wind, hiding a disappointed look on her fair face.

  Grace gave her a small smile and sighed. “Me too. I was wondering if you’d be bringing Will along. I’d like to get to know him.”

  “He has to work early.” Madigan cleared her throat. “And besides, I wanted it to be just us. Like old times.”

  Doesn’t explain why he couldn’t share a quick drink with us.

  Madigan twisted one of the cherry stems from her drink around her finger.

  “Is everything alright with you two?” Grace asked.

  Madigan had walked on eggshells with her since she’d been back to town, but if she ever hoped to get back to the place they once were, it had to be give and take. Madigan had to be herself again too.