Before We Were Strangers

by Brenda Novak

  She saw her phone lying on the carpet. It was only a few feet beyond him, but getting to it would mean putting him between her and the door, and she wasn’t going to do that. She wasn’t going to take any chances, wasn’t going to stay in the cabin to look for her purse or her keys or anything else, so long as there was a chance he might get back on his feet and come after her again.

  After grabbing hold of the nearest table for balance, she left him behind and dashed out of the cabin.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Paige hadn’t answered a single text or phone call, hadn’t been on Facebook or any other social media. Once she’d found a motel room in San Antonio, she’d closed herself up in it with some sandwich makings and a couple of bottles of wine from the convenience store on the corner and had been drinking and watching TV ever since. Although she was doing her damnedest to avoid reality, what was happening in Millcreek was never far from her mind. It hung over her like a dark cloud—oppressive, upsetting, ominous.

  If Ed released those pictures, her son would hear of the scandal. Millcreek was small enough that he wouldn’t be able to miss it. Even if he didn’t understand the full import of what she’d done—God forbid anyone ever showed him those photographs—that wasn’t the image she wanted him to have of her. And with the internet being what it was, she’d never be able to put it behind her. Those pictures would, no doubt, surface again and again.

  They would destroy her life...

  So she was going to destroy Trevor’s father’s life instead.

  She cringed at the thought. But Micah had more options than she did. He could leave town with Sloane; she couldn’t go anywhere. Not only did she own a business in Millcreek, she needed her parents and sister now that she was divorced. And she couldn’t imagine it would be good to drag Trevor away from his school, his friends, his grandparents and cousins.

  She was doing the right thing. She had only ugly choices, but this was the path that would impact her son the least. That was why she had to take it. She just had to stay the course.

  Finally, after hours of shoring up her determination, she turned on her phone. Micah had tried to reach her dozens of times. Sloane had, too. Most recently, however, it’d been her parents. Considering how many times they’d called, they must’ve heard what was going on and were freaking out.

  She felt bombarded from all sides. Even Ed came up under her recently missed calls. Just seeing his name made her shudder. She’d never hated anyone quite as badly as she hated him. He was so nonchalant about crushing her in order to save himself!

  “You son of a bitch,” she muttered as she stared at the symbol that notified her he’d left a voice mail. Sloane had tried to warn her about the kind of man he was. But she hadn’t listened, which meant she had only herself to blame.

  Sick with anxiety and regret, she was tempted to shut off her phone again and spend another few days hiding out in the motel. She couldn’t face what was going on at home.

  She ignored Ed’s voice mail message along with all the others, didn’t even listen to them. But a text she’d received from Trevor, which she spotted as she scrolled through, stopped her dead in her tracks.

  Mom, why won’t you answer your phone? I need to talk to you. I almost cut off my finger.

  The lump that rose in her throat nearly choked her as she dialed her parents’ number.

  * * *

  Micah had no trouble finding the cabin, despite the rainy weather. As soon as he reached Granbury, he’d stopped at the hardware store, where the sales associate, bored from how slow it was, informed him that he’d detailed Ed’s boat over the summer and told Micah exactly how to find the cabin.

  Although Micah had to slow for traffic in two different places where water encroached on the road, the accident he’d heard about must’ve been cleared because he saw no sign of it.

  When he arrived, he expected to find the police at the cabin—or Sloane, at the very least. That he saw no vehicles parked out front made him uneasy.

  What was going on?

  Fortunately, the front door wasn’t locked. He walked right in. “Sloane?” he called.

  No answer. He hurried through the dining room to the kitchen and saw a large knife lying on the floor. That caused him to gulp, but it was nothing compared to finding the blood on the carpet in the living room, and Sloane’s cell phone lying not far away.

  No wonder she hadn’t answered. He shoved a hand through his wet hair as he left everything right where it was and called the police again.

  The same sergeant answered. “I sent an officer out there. He had to call an ambulance.”

  “Is she okay?” he asked. “What hospital?”

  “It wasn’t a she who was injured. Officer Birch found a white male on the floor, unconscious, with a head injury.”

  “What about the woman? Where’s Sloane McBride?”

  “I don’t know,” he said. “She wasn’t there when the officer arrived.”

  “Did he look for her?”

  “That’s what he’s doing now. Last time he checked in, he said he was driving around that side of the lake, canvassing the other cabins, but he wasn’t finding a lot of people at home.”

  Where could she be? Micah wondered. What’d happened here?

  Micah turned toward the windows. He couldn’t see much, just the wind bending the trees and the rain hitting the glass. Was she out in the storm? And did that blood only belong to Brian Judd or was she hurt, too?

  He was just about to go outside, to start searching the property in case she’d staggered or stumbled out of the house and then passed out somewhere in the wet and cold, when he got a call from a strange number.

  “Hello?”

  “Micah?”

  “Sloane?” She was speaking so low and with such a rasp that he could barely recognize her voice. “Where are you?”

  She began to talk but even after plugging the ear that wasn’t pressed to the phone, he couldn’t make out what she said. “Can you speak up?”

  “I’m trying! My throat is killing me.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “I’ll tell you when it’s easier to talk,” she managed to say. “I’m at a cabin by my father’s. I had to break in. No one was here to answer the door, and I don’t have a coat. I’m shaking so badly I couldn’t keep going.”

  He had no idea what’d happened, but it was obviously not good. He feared she might be in shock. “It’s fine. We’ll pay for the damage. Are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance?”

  “No. I think... I think I’m going to be okay.”

  Thank God. “Good. Give me the address. I’ll be right there.”

  “How? I’m in Granbury,” she clarified.

  He could tell she was rattled and possibly crying. “So am I,” he said.

  She told him she’d wound her way around the lake, looking for help and, after giving up about five cabins down, she broke a window.

  “What’s the address?”

  He had to wait several seconds while she found it.

  “Got it,” he said when she gave it to him. “Hang on, okay?”

  “Brian Judd killed my mother,” she said, suddenly bursting into tears.

  “The police have him in custody.”

  “He’s alive?”

  She didn’t know? “I can’t say for sure. He’s hurt. The police are going to want to talk to you, but I’ll be there with you, so you have nothing to worry about.”

  “Okay. I love you,” she said as she attempted to choke back a sob.

  He’d thought he’d never hear her say those words again. Closing his eyes, he let his head fall back as he drew a deep, calming breath. “I’m on my way,” he said and started for his truck.

  * * *

  Ed was dead asleep when his phone started ringing, but the noise disturbed him enough he cracked open his e
yes. There wasn’t any light glowing around the edges of the drapes covering the windows, so it wasn’t morning.

  He rolled over to check the time on his alarm clock. It was at least three hours before dawn. Who was trying to rouse him at this hour?

  Immediately, his mind went to Paige. He hadn’t been able to reach her to make sure she was saying and doing what she should, so he stretched across the bed to snatch his phone off the nightstand, just in case.

  Caller ID indicated it was Micah.

  Shit! If Paige had gone to him, if she’d told him that Ed had blackmailed her into signing that complaint, she was going to pay dearly and so would Micah. They thought the truth would save them, but the truth didn’t matter unless they could prove it, and they had no way of doing that. Ed would make sure everyone in town saw those photographs, and the fact that they looked like some Peeping Tom had taken them from outside his window meant no one could trace them back to him. He’d look like as much of a victim as Paige. But they wouldn’t reflect as badly on him. Paige wouldn’t be able to lift her head in Millcreek ever again. And Micah would never be able to return to law enforcement. They were fools if they thought they could fight him and win.

  He hit the talk button. “Hello?”

  His voice came out scratchy. Even to his own ears, it was apparent he’d been asleep. He just hoped it wasn’t also apparent that he was already angry and defensive, prepared for whatever Micah might have to say.

  It wasn’t Micah, however. His caller was female, her voice muffled by tears.

  “Daddy?”

  He sat up. It wasn’t Paige, either. “Sloane?”

  “Yeah, it’s me. I probably shouldn’t have disturbed you so late, but...” she sniffed and caught her breath “...but I needed to call you to say I’m sorry.”

  He blinked several times as he stared into the darkness. Was he dreaming? He’d never had a call like this from Sloane before. What had changed? “What is it, sweetheart? Why are you crying?” he asked. “What’s going on?”

  “So much. I’m at the hospital.”

  “Are you hurt?”

  “No. Just rattled. I’ll be fine. It’s a long story, but the bottom line is that I now know I was wrong about you and...and Mom, and I feel terrible about it.”

  He couldn’t believe the sudden shift. It was too good to be true. “What finally convinced you?”

  “I went to the cabin to look for Mom’s body—”

  “You went where?”

  “I’m in Granbury.”

  “So my cabin. How’d you get in?”

  “I broke a window. I’m sorry for that, too. I’ll pay for it, of course. But you won’t believe what happened after I got there.”

  She could already knock him over with a feather. “I’m listening...”

  “Brian Judd came and...and tried to kill me.” She broke down again on those last words.

  Ed threw off the covers, got up and put on his robe and slippers. “He what?”

  “He tried to choke me to death! But I managed to escape. He’s in the hospital now but will be going to jail for attacking me and possibly for Mom’s murder, as well.”

  “He killed your mother?”

  “Yes. He’s confessed. He took her out in the middle of nowhere and just left her. That’s what happened to her, Dad. She had no coat, no shoes, no water or money. She didn’t even know where she was, and it was the middle of the night. He’s agreed to take the police to where he forced her to get out of his car, and they’re going to search for her remains, so we might finally get the proof we need.”

  “I see.” Ed rubbed his beard growth as he tried to soak it all in. “That’s why you’re using Micah’s phone. He’s there with you?”

  “Yes. I owe him so much.”

  Ed headed downstairs to pour himself a drink. He needed one—and why not? He had plenty of reason to celebrate. Brian Judd would be going to prison for Clara’s murder—even if they didn’t find a body. And he had his daughter back. Sloane would no longer be a threat to him. All the angst and upset he’d faced because of her was behind him. Everything had changed in one night. He couldn’t believe how fortunate he was. But he’d always been lucky. “I’m not sure I understand how everything went down,” he said as he entered the living room. “How did Brian Judd know you were at the cabin?”

  “Vickie told him.”

  “My neighbor?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t realize they were in touch.”

  “Neither did I. But she’s the one who told me...told me Mom was pregnant with Brian’s baby. And...and then I learned how unhappy he was about that, how desperate he was to make sure it didn’t ruin his marriage.”

  “He was desperate enough to kill her.”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry you had to learn all of that about your mother. I was trying to keep it from you and everyone else, didn’t see any reason to ruin her reputation.”

  “And I thought you were hiding the truth, hiding your own culpability. I feel so bad. I’m sorry for misjudging you. Randy has been right all along. It was just...some of the things I heard that night have stuck with me. They were so confusing, but now I see that they were also misleading.”

  “Of course they were,” he said, gentling his voice. “You were only a child when your mother disappeared. I regret she and I ever had that argument. I hate that the mean things we yelled were the last things we ever said to each other. But I told you I didn’t hurt her. I wish you could’ve believed me.”

  She sniffed. “So do I. It would’ve saved me a lot of pain. There was so much I didn’t know, and I let it drive a wedge between us all these years.”

  He poured himself a glass of bourbon. “I’m glad we have a second chance, sweetheart. Now that we know for sure your mother is dead, let’s have a funeral for her so we can put her to rest and give her a proper goodbye.”

  “I’d like that,” she said.

  “We’ll move on, start over.”

  “I’d like that, too. Are you willing to forgive me?”

  He couldn’t help softening; she was so humbled, so repentant. “Of course. I haven’t been perfect. I’ve made my share of mistakes, especially back then. But we’ll get past all that, okay?”

  More tears. She was choking up so badly that, at first, she couldn’t even answer. “Okay,” she managed at length.

  “And I’ll do what I can to help Micah,” he added. “Don’t worry about him.”

  “Help him?” she echoed.

  “I heard he’s been suspended from the force pending an investigation, but that complaint Paige signed is ridiculous. Why would she accuse him of threatening her life a year after the divorce? It has to do with jealousy, if you ask my opinion. Now that you’re back in town, she’s so green with envy she can’t stand it.”

  “I don’t know what she’s thinking, why she would suddenly do something so terrible,” Sloane said. “But it isn’t fair. Micah would never threaten anyone, especially with a loaded gun.”

  “That’s why I’m willing to step in and speak to the police chief on his behalf.”

  There was a slight pause. “Actually, please don’t get involved,” she said at length. “We appreciate the offer, but we’re not asking for any special favors. We’ll work it out through the proper channels.”

  “The proper channels don’t always get it right, Sloane. Do you really want to risk letting this go on his record? Let me do what I can. He’s a good man, deserves the help.”

  “But I don’t want to take advantage of being related to the mayor. I don’t believe in that sort of thing.”

  Was she for real? He didn’t understand why she wouldn’t avail herself of every benefit, like Randy. But he wasn’t going to argue with her; they were finally starting to get along. “Okay. I won’t get involved,” he said, but he was going to
have Micah reinstated, regardless. Now that Micah and Sloane were no longer his enemies, he had no reason to battle Micah’s family, all of whom were angry and ready to protect their own. Ed thought he could easily win the fight that was brewing, had planned on meeting that resistance, but now there was no reason to devote the time or the energy. “Would you like to have breakfast sometime this week, when you’re back on your feet?” he asked.

  “I would,” she replied. “And I hope Randy will join us.”

  He smiled as he sipped his bourbon. “I’m sure he will. Good luck dealing with that complaint against Micah,” he said as though he was going to honor his word, as though it was still going to be a struggle for them.

  “Thanks, Dad,” she said.

  * * *

  “How do you feel?” Micah asked.

  The paper covering the examination table Sloane was sitting on crinkled as she handed Micah his phone. The police had taken hers into evidence, since it had been found at the scene of the crime. “Better,” she said as she wiped her cheeks. “I know my father is a...a difficult personality. All the cheating he did when he was married to my mother, the lying, the way he’s treated women in general... I can’t condone any of that, but everyone has issues, so I’m willing to let the past go in order to pull my family back together.”

  “What about Detective Ramos and his suspicions?”

  “He might still believe my dad killed his own parents, but I’m not going to be wrong about him twice. I accused him of murdering my mother, and he’s innocent, Micah. I owe him some loyalty after that.”

  He put the People magazine he’d been leafing through back in the rack beside the door. “What’d he say when you told him we don’t want him getting involved in what’s going on with me?”