Silence.
“That deadbeat jerk! You let him—”
“He didn’t know about Lin. I never told him.” And she’d never told Hollis. Only Mama. Mama, who had begged her to give Locke a chance. But Greer couldn’t. And she wasn’t sure what she was going to do now.
“He didn’t know about... You kept it... Greer!”
“Well, he knows now.”
“And he’s cleaning out your gutters? What does that mean?”
Greer blew away a strand of hair sticking to her cheek. “It means my gutters were full and he’s... I don’t know. Working things out in his head.” Locke had to stay busy to think. Never could rest. Be still. “But that’s not why I called.” Greer inhaled deeply and let everything that had happened since Thursday spill over the line. “I’m fine, though. Locke is staying here. At the house. Platonically. We’re over and—”
“Greer Annabeth Montgomery! I am not concerned about where Locke is sleeping—at least not this second. I am worried about your life. I’ll be on the next flight out.”
“No! No.” Greer breathed deep a few times. “Hollis, I get you want to come and protect me. I do. But we’re doing everything we can, and Locke is here. He can clean gutters, and he can look out for me. You know he can. You know his family and how he’s been trained.”
Hollis grunted.
“Do you really think his dad, his grandpa—his cousin, whom you know well—will have let him slip through the cracks?”
“Wilder Flynn wouldn’t let his cousin be defenseless.”
No, he wouldn’t. Greer stole another peek as she edged out of the garage. Locke’s arms were defined, cut. His T-shirt stretched tight against a wide back that tapered at the waist. He probably still practiced his karate katas every morning and hung a punching bag from a heavy tree near his camper. Did crunches and push-ups before calling it a night. A zing hit her middle and she flushed, then beelined it back inside the garage. “If I think it’s too much for us, for our department, I’ll ask you to come. You know I will.”
Hollister sighed. “I’ll be praying. What’s going to happen with you and him concerning Lin?”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t want kids.”
“Well, he should have thought about that before—”
“I gotta go right now.” She had stuff to do and didn’t need a lecture from Hollis. Locke hadn’t mentioned not wanting Lin since he’d found out about her. If anything, he seemed determined to have a role in her life. But for how long? “Love you.”
“Love you. Be safe.” He hung up and Greer wasn’t a hundred-percent sure she wouldn’t see his face in a few hours. She went inside for a drink and when she returned Locke was sitting on a patio chair in the garage, his hair damp around the temples, the edges curling. Like Lin’s.
“Gutters are clear.”
“Thank you. You want a drink?”
“I’m gonna wash my hands and get some water. That okay?”
“You know it is.” She smiled.
A few moments later, Locke returned with a clean T-shirt, face and hands, and a bottle of water in one of them.
“I saw you on the phone.”
“Hollis. I updated him.”
Locke’s right eyebrow inched toward his hairline. “How long until he arrives?”
“He says he won’t.” She shrugged.
“I need a change of scenery. I’m coming out of my skin.”
Only a few hours and he needed a new view. He was proving her point that he couldn’t settle down and be happy without even realizing it. A few Saturdays working on the house and in the yard would get old to Locke at some point and he’d fly the coop, devastating Lin. “What do you want to do?”
“Sky is overcast. I could get some great shots with light streaming through the trees, like a cascade. Put them up on my website gallery. Park is public. We can be careful.”
Greer would love to sink into photography and leave the worry of a killer behind. But that would never happen. “I’ll go if we’re careful.”
Twenty minutes later they pulled into a parking spot at Goldenville City Park. Locke unloaded the camera equipment from the trunk and Greer donned her camera.
A creepy feeling crawled across her skin.
“Greer? What’s wrong?”
Like a gazelle’s instinct when it knew a lion was lurking, Greer raised her head and scanned the park. A few other families were enjoying the brief minutes of nice weather, though the ground was muddy in spots. Dog walkers. Nothing perilous, but that nagging feeling wouldn’t let up. They’d been super careful on the drive over. Hadn’t noticed a tail on them. “I’m jittery is all.” She had her personal weapon concealed. “Are you carrying?”
“Yes, why?”
“Good.” Made her feel safer. She decided to try and shrug off the sensation of intrusive eyes watching, biding time. “You still like to sight-see when you have downtime?”
Locke shrugged and used his camera to take a few shots of the surroundings. “For the most part. That and take photos on my own time. Try new foods.”
Freedom. He did what he wanted, when he wanted.
“Did you know there’s this burger joint in Collierville, Tennessee, where they never ever change out the grease they cook their burgers and fries in? It’s the best burger and fries you’ll ever eat.”
“Yeah, because you’ll die before dessert.”
Locke grinned, and she laughed. He captured it on film. “I ate there three times when we were in the Memphis area. Couldn’t get enough. When Lin can eat burgers and fries and enjoy it, I’ll take her.”
Not we. I. “Locke, what exactly are your intentions with Lin?”
A divot formed along his brow. “What do you mean? I intend to be in her life. I’m her dad. I know I said I didn’t want kids, but I have one now. Things have changed on a dime.”
“But how?” A whole new fear swept over Greer. “Just gonna swing into town when you’re in the area? Take her on a few long weekends? Show up at her graduation and maybe birthdays if you’re able? Because I’d rather you not be around at all than be a revolving door she can’t count on to be there when she needs you.”
Lowering his camera, he cast a long glance at Greer. “You think I wouldn’t be here if she needs me, don’t you?”
“Tornadoes come first to you, Locke. They don’t wait for when it’s convenient for you to photograph. Lin might be top priority now and maybe even two or three years from now, but at some point, she will become less and less of one. Until she’s not one at all. And that’s not fair to her.”
“Is that so?” he murmured and his gaze reflected the wound Greer had inflicted. She held her ground, clung to the truth. A truth she’d experienced firsthand.
“It is.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, squeezed his eyes closed. “Why did you ever tell me you loved me?”
“What?” When? What did this have to do with anything?
“You once told me you loved me. You’d go anywhere with me. We talked about marriage...a lifetime together...”
“And that never came to be. Did it? We were together over four years. I never saw a ring.”
“Because I bought it right before you left to take care of your mama. I planned to propose when you came back. But you broke things off. So, yeah. You never saw a ring.”
And she never would now. Locke was going to propose. But after a week of being home, she’d discovered she was pregnant with Lin. While she was choosing to end things, Locke had been deciding to make them last forever.
“And before you say anything, it had nothing to do with what happened before you left. It wasn’t a ring out of guilt for crossing lines. It wasn’t a ploy to make those crossed lines official so they could keep happening. It was simple. I loved you. I wanted to be with you. Always.”
Past tense.
All past tense. Greer could hardly stay on two feet. Even if he had proposed, it wouldn’t have turned out well because Greer had gotten pregnant.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Well, it won’t be yes anymore, now will it?” He tossed his hands in the air. “And I’m glad. Because you obviously never loved me. Love thinks the best about the other. You clearly think I’d be the worst father ever to walk the face of the earth.” He froze, eyes wide, as if a sudden reality hit him. “I was setting myself up for rejection the whole time, wasn’t I? You would have never married me.”
Locke stormed off to the seesaws, pain etching his face. Pain etched her heart.
What he’d said wasn’t true. Greer had loved Locke with everything in her and she always thought the best of him, but when it came to fatherhood... Well, she wasn’t sure anymore what she believed.
She waited around until he returned. His face was a mask. She had no idea what he was thinking and she was too emotionally exhausted to get back into it. “I got what I needed. No sense staying out here any longer than necessary.”
Locke stayed nowhere any longer than necessary.
SEVEN
Locke noticed Greer bouncing her leg as she sat in the passenger seat in his truck. After returning from the seesaws it had been beyond tense. It was one thing for Locke to be aware he’d screw up being a dad. It was a whole other sinking feeling to know that the woman he’d loved like crazy thought it, too. Enough that she’d hid the child from him. He had to push it aside for now. Locke and Greer had to get along and be able to be in the same room without fighting or tears. Focusing on the case was their only safe line of communication.
“You’re going nuts not being active on this investigation, aren’t you?”
“Completely. The carnival is in full swing right now. He’s there. I’m here.” She pulled out her phone. “I gotta do something.”
“Who are you calling?”
“Adam. He’s on duty today. Hey, Adam,” she said. “I need an update... I will. No, I’m on camera duty tonight. Community dance. I doubt I’ll be doing any dancing, but yeah. I’ll save you one if I have time.”
Locke balled a fist tighter than the one in his gut. He had to get over this. He didn’t even love Greer. They were over. Done. Dunzo. They were free to dance with anyone they wanted. Locke rolled his hand in a fast, circular motion, letting Greer know he was ready for her to wrap it up.
She scowled. “I’ll talk to you later.” She ended the call and made a display of putting away her phone.
“Well?” he asked.
“He’s at the carnival now. Doing some follow-up with the employees. No one is being overly cooperative. Not even Rudy and Jenna Dennsion.”
“The owner-managers? Why wouldn’t they want a killer caught?”
“Maybe there’s more hidden than we know. Secrets seem to run deep in that place.”
Tension mounted. Secrets ran deep in all sorts of places. “What is this about you taking photos tonight? You know a storm’s coming in, right? In fact, all of lower Alabama is in for some serious weather. Flooding. Tornadoes. It’s going to get bad for everyone.”
“Well, for us, it won’t get bad until after ten,” she said.
“Could be earlier. Later.”
“Part-time job. Every spring the Parks and Rec department hosts a community dance. Live local music. Kicks off the BBQ fest, so it’ll be smelling like something out-of-this-world. The actual contest and judging is tomorrow afternoon.”
Back at her place, she sat down with Locke’s laptop. Going through photos seemed to make her feel better. Locke snagged a cookie from the jar.
“When will you be swinging through again?” she asked.
“I don’t know.” He’d make a way somehow. Storms didn’t sit down and make a plan along with Locke’s. They just happened. “After June I have a good bit of time off. You know this about tornadoes. I can come back then. Stay for a few months. Or take Lin to see my mama. My sister.”
Greer bristled.
“Greer, I’m not asking to take her into a tempest. And I can’t deny I have a daughter. I can’t just pretend she doesn’t exist or that I don’t want her. You didn’t want kids and then she was here and you did. I guess it’s the same.”
“No, it’s not. The truth is I always wanted children. Why do you think I brought it up that one time? The one time it turned into an argument. I let it go and agreed. Pretended I didn’t really want them either because I... I didn’t want to lose you. You said I never loved you. Wrong. I did. So much I was willing to give up dreams of children to be with you.”
Locke raked his hands through his hair. “But why hide her?”
“I told you why. You had dreams and I didn’t—”
“Want me to give them up. I’m not buying that.”
“It’s true. And I knew you wanted to have a life where you could come and go as you pleased. That’s not the kind of dad Lin needs.”
“We’re going to have figure something out then. Now that I know... I can’t pretend I don’t.”
Greer rubbed her temples. “I know. Have you told your mama yet?”
“I haven’t told anyone, Greer. I’m still processing it myself.” He carried his coffee cup to the kitchen and washed it out, put it in the drying rack. “I’m going to the photo shoot with you tonight. Until I have to leave for my job, and I’m happy to help you with the shots because I’d like you to come with me when it’s time for me to head out.”
“Storm chasing?”
“Yes. You don’t need to be alone.”
“I don’t have to be alone.”
No. But he’d feel better if she were with him even if they were like oil and water right now. “It’ll be fun.” He hoped.
“I’ll think about it.” She checked the time on the microwave. “We need to get Lin to the Woolridges’ soon. I’ll pack her bags, then we can swing by Tori’s and pick her up. Drop her off on the way to the dance. It’s on the fairgrounds.”
Locke would feel better having Lin at the Woolridges’—with a man in the house. But he sure wouldn’t be telling Greer that. It might unleash a women’s equality war, and he had no doubt that Greer could keep Lin safe. But having that added measure of protection made him feel better. It was what it was.
And if they were going back to the carnival site, Locke would make sure he was carrying.
* * *
Greer checked her cell phone. Almost seven. After Lin’s afternoon nap, they spent an hour or so playing with her, then they ran to the café to eat dinner. The people at the diner had been more cordial than the quizzical looks given to them the last time they ate together had implied. It wasn’t really fair to Locke to assume he was the bad guy, leaving Greer to do everything alone. She felt guilty for that. She’d prayed and fretted—more fretting than praying—and made the choice. That was that. No going back, but that didn’t assuage the guilt. Locke may one day leave them if she let him back into their lives, but he’d been sticking this whole thing out with Greer. Been by her side, helped with Lin, risked his life on more than one occasion and that meant something to her. Meant more than it should. If only Mama was here to shed some light on the situation. She’d urged Greer to let Locke know about Lin. Even if she were here to give advice, Greer was a pro at not taking it.
Greer and Locke had dropped off Lin at the Woolridges’ with the assurance Lin would be fine, but Greer would worry, anyway. Seemed like worry was a moth, and Greer was the flame. And her poor stomach was a sweater. Eaten up with it. And while she tried not to—and even repeated scriptures about not fretting and trusting God—she was still worried and fearful. God had her in the palm of His hand. He could be trusted to work everything out for good. She knew that in her head.
How did she make a scripture become real in her heart?
Now, Greer parked at the carnival. “Th
e pavilion is on the east side of the grounds near the BBQ tents. I’m going to be hungry all night.”
Locke chuckled and retrieved his camera equipment. “We need tripods?”
“No.”
“I’m grabbing both sets of lenses, just in case.”
“Okay,” she mumbled. Everyone was out tonight, dancing and laughing, and she was capturing their fun memories while trying to keep her own terror at bay on the inside. It was hard to talk lenses and tripods when a murderer was roaming around ready to steal, kill and destroy her. She slipped her camera around her neck and pocketed a fresh memory card. “The idea is family fun, and if we get a few couples in love, hey, all the better.” For them.
“Roger that.” Locke closed the trunk and adjusted his black jacket. He’d slipped his gun inside, no doubt. They trudged through the muddy grounds, the smell of cooking pork and spices wafting in the cool evening air. The clouds moved as if racing to get to the next place. She was sick of a pasty sky.
Clear lights twinkled from the pavilion rafters. At the far end, a local band played light country rock. Greer captured the lights. The romance. The band.
Locke ventured outside the pavilion, catching the stormy skies as a backdrop to the soft lighting inside. Locke always had an amazing eye. An incredible gift. Greer loved photography and was good at it. Good enough to make some extra income. But Locke was in a league of his own. His photos were pure art.
“Hey, hey,” Adam said with a grin. No longer in his deputy’s uniform, he was dressed in relaxed jeans and a ’Bama sweatshirt, but he still wore his radio. Unofficially on duty. “How’s the photo shoot going?”
Greer snapped a photo of him and grinned. “It’s going. Any news from earlier?”
“You’ll be interested to know that two games, three rides and one partial event were closed during the time frame right before and during your attack in the woods. I’ve secured alibies for four out of six.” He folded his arms over his chest and watched as folks line-danced. “Jewel was missing. A Bolt Masterson shut down his game. And while Marty Wise was seen around, his event was closed, and I have no alibi for Star Jumper. We’ve been getting a count on how many employees work or have worked in the fun house. About eight so far. Marty Wise and Bolt Masterson are in that group, which puts them at the top of my list. We questioned them, but they have alibis for that night.”
Killer Exposure Page 9
