He squeezed her hand tighter. Hanging on like it was his job to protect her now. Like he wished he could have protected her then. “You got out.”
She did. She came here. To the town she’d visited before her bad memories were made. “I’m a success story. Success means leaving everyone else behind. No good leaders are left in the hood. Nobody with morals. Only the drug dealers and gang leaders and slum lords. Which leaves everyone else weak and defenseless.” She lifted her gaze. “They take advantage of kids. They probably took advantage of Zam.”
Greg released his tight grip to run his fingers along her arm. “This is a whole new world to me. I’ve never thought about life from this perspective.”
Tandy bit the inside of her cheek. “I’m glad you haven’t had to.”
“I’m sorry you did.” His eyes flashed with a silver flare of concern. “It’s just that Zam’s not there anymore. He got out too. And if he hired a hitman and threatened your best friend, then he’s making those choices for himself.”
Tandy’s stomach churned. She’d also been judged when she first arrived in town. It seemed to be standard for small town folk. But she’d seen the best and worst of both worlds. “I don’t want to assume he’s a bad person because he made some mistakes in the past.”
“I admire you for that.”
His words eased the knot in her gut. He didn’t judge her for what she’d been through; he respected her for what she’d come out of.
If only she’d known this kind of love back then. The kind that saw her at her worst and loved her anyway.
Yeah, Zam was right about how she didn’t need to fear man, only God, but he’d missed this second important lesson. He’d missed what Marissa had learned at the safehouse. He’d missed the part about how perfect love casts out fear.
“Thank you.” Her voice cracked.
Greg pulled her hands together then lowered his lips to brush over them. “I’m going to buy you that donut burger now. Then I’ll go check on Griffin and see where he’s at with an arrest warrant. I want justice for Zam either way, but since Cash was released this morning, my priority is to make sure you’re safe.”
Tandy understood his viewpoint, as well. But she was still torn. She wanted Zam to be a Cincinnati success story as much as she wanted Grace Springs to be safe again.
She wanted Cash to go to jail. She wanted Susan to stop eating like she was at the Americana Festival every day simply to cope with the possibility of more attempts on Randon’s life. She especially wanted Marissa to be able to sleep in her own home. Because, good night, that woman had a bedtime routine that would have rivaled Queen Esther’s twelve months of beauty treatments.
So she and Greg ate donut burgers together, then she went back to work while Greg joined Connor and Marissa in getting henna tattoos and playing carnival games. Greg returned to check on her from time to time, bearing hand-crafted jewelry and a balloon animal bouquet.
All the while, Zam poured drinks like a barista Olympian. Hope swelled in Tandy’s chest that he wasn’t going to get a call from Cash after all.
After dinner Marissa reappeared on her crutches. She sank into the folding chair Tandy had brought to the booth but hadn’t had a chance to use. “The guys are watching a comedian, and it’s standing room only. I need to sit.”
Tandy poured strawberry basil iced tea into a glass mason jar and handed it to her.
Marissa sipped. “I have taught you well. If I’d known I was going to get this kind of treatment, I would have hobbled over here sooner.”
Zam flipped a customer’s change into the air before handing it over then spun to face his bosses. “Hey, Marissa. I’m sorry to hear about your ankle, but I’m also glad for the work. Are you safe here?”
Marissa sipped serenely while studying him. “What do you think?”
He grinned at Tandy. “Your partner is the only one I know who sets things on fire, so you are on very dangerous ground.”
Tandy snorted. “Thanks.”
Marissa motioned to the booth. “Things going well? Besides Tandy trying to burn down our shop?”
“Very well. Watch this.” He stepped away, tossing a mug before Tandy was even ready.
She dodged and gripped it in time to prevent it from crashing to the ground then automatically went into her spin and flip. It became easier every time. Made her want to learn more tricks. Made her sad that the next time Zam got to perform this, he might be in prison. Though if he’d hired a hitman, she really shouldn’t be sad for him.
But maybe he hadn’t. He’d worked all day without distraction. Maybe Cash had already reunited with his real partner in crime.
A vibration whispered over the carnival music and carnie calls. Zam set his glass down and reached for his back pocket. He pulled out his phone and squinted at the screen.
Tandy’s stomach cramped.
Marissa looked up at her. “Does he get many texts?”
Tandy wanted to hush her friend, but since Zam had turned his back to them, they were free to talk as loudly as they wanted without concern of being caught.
Tandy didn’t want to talk about him at all. She wanted him to teach her more juggling tricks. “No. But that doesn’t mean anything.”
Zam turned around to face them. “Since most people are going to head to see the fireworks soon, do you mind if I take off now?”
Tandy couldn’t meet his eyes. The guy may be a lip reader, but surely he was also as attuned with expressions. And hers would undeniably read disappointment. She busied herself with mixing cold brew coffee with Mexican Coke over ice. “That’s fine.” He didn’t move, so she stuck an American flag toothpick in a cherry and added it to the drink. “Happy Fourth.”
He waited a moment longer before saluting. “Happy Fourth.”
Tandy lifted the bittersweet mixture to her lips and chugged until her line of site was high enough to watch Zam’s retreating back.
Marissa flipped their sign from “open” to “closed” and locked the cash box in a cabinet. “We’re going to have to hurry to keep up.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Tandy sprinted ahead to keep watch on Zam in the dimming light. She’d hide herself around corners and wait for Marissa to join her. Thankfully he didn’t seem to be in a hurry. Or was it unfortunate? Because with the way he kept looking around, he was obviously waiting for someone.
He paused outside a large trailer marked Mirror Maze.
Marissa announced her presence by bumping into Tandy. She slumped with her armpits on the padding of her crutches. “I hope that’s where he’s supposed to meet Cash because I don’t think I can go much farther on these things.”
Tandy did a double take. “You want him to meet Cash in the maze of mirrors? We could get lost in there.”
Marissa’s eyes widened. “It would also be a great way to spy without Zam seeing. And even if he did see us, it would only be a reflection. We’d have time to escape.”
“I know you like your reflection, Marissa, but…”
Marissa slapped her arm. “He bought a ticket. Let’s go.”
Tandy spun around to watch. Sure enough, Zam scanned his surroundings then took a step through the entrance.
Marissa swung her crutches forward and took off with renewed vigor. “Do you think he was looking for Cash, or do you think Cash is already in there and he was checking to make sure he wasn’t followed?”
Tandy shook her head at both the question and the situation then trotted to catch up. “It would actually be a good place to meet up in secret.” Everybody else was headed to the high school football field to watch fireworks, and anybody who did see Zam and Cash together in the maze might be too busy trying to get out to even notice.
“Right.” Marissa stopped at the entrance to reach into her pocket for tickets. “Have your camera ready to film him because I can’t use my camera and crutches at the same time.”
Tandy dug into her back pocket for her phone then swiped the screen to camera mode. Her heart jittere
d. Maybe she shouldn’t have chugged that Coke with coffee. Caffeine and anxiety were not a good combination.
Marissa nodded for her to enter. “You enter first,” she whispered. “I don’t want to trip you with my crutches.”
Tandy crouched down to keep out of Zam’s line of sight. Though Marissa wouldn’t really have that option with the crutches holding her upright. “I’m going in.”
She took baby steps through the entrance. Techno music blared around her and neon lights kept changing the atmosphere of the maze. Red felt angry. Blue felt eerie. Green felt like a sci-fi movie.
She stopped at the first corner to peek around. A million Tandy’s peered back.
Marissa tried to see over the top of her. “Did you spot him?” she whispered.
“No.” Now where? It was like someone who looked exactly like her blocked her path in every direction. She reached out a hand toward the smooth glass and finally found an opening. “This way.”
They made slow progress. Slower because Marissa hobbled behind her. Zam wouldn’t have been this slow. Maybe he’d reached the exit already.
A thought struck her. She looked over her shoulder at Marissa. “What if he saw us following and only led us in here to lose us so he could go meet Cash somewhere else?”
A hand touched her from behind. She jumped and spun, hands out like she was prepared to fight kung fu even though she still held a phone in her hand.
Marissa stood in front of her. Apparently, the Marissa she’d been talking to was only a reflection. The real Marissa eyed her hands. “Were you going to karate chop me or threaten to take a bad picture of me and post it on social media?”
Tandy’s pulse settled back into a manageable elevated state. “Which would scare you more?” she challenged.
Marissa nodded at her phone. “The bad pic.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Marissa pointed forward, if indeed the direction Tandy had been facing would lead them forward and not into a mirror.
Tandy nodded and resumed her reach and creep technique. They’d have to turn another corner. This was taking forever. “I bet he’s out by now.”
Zam appeared, his face lit up green like an alien. “Who?” he asked.
A scream burst from Tandy’s lips. She turned and ran directly into a warm body.
Zam gripped her shoulders, in front of her for real this time. She’d run from his reflection. How had she not considered this scenario when deciding to sleuth in a mirror maze?
His gaze pinched harder than his grip. “Why are you following me?”
“I…uh…wanted to practice more juggling. Catch!” She tossed her phone in the air.
Zam released his grip.
Tandy spun and charged directly into Marissa, smashing her against another mirror.
Marissa’s head thunked into the glass. She grunted. “I think I’d prefer the bad Instagram pic post to being trampled.”
Tandy pushed against the mirror and scrambled to balance herself in order to help right Marissa’s crutches. She’d have enough trouble escaping Zam through the maze by herself. She’d never be able to get them both out. She needed another plan.
Zam scratched his cheek while watching her from every angle. It was like she was surrounded. “Here.” All the Zams held out the phone towards her.
She lifted her hands, ready to protect herself, then twisted around to see if she could figure out which image to be afraid of.
The cool rubber of her phone case brushed her arm. She whirled to face the man who held it.
He tilted his head and squinted. “Are you afraid of me?”
She ripped the phone from his grip. “My fear is in the Lord.” Yeah. She threw that back in his face. How dare he quote scripture to her while plotting to kill her best friend.
He dropped his hands to his side. “Then what are you doing following me around?”
Marissa righted herself and faced the wrong Zam. “We know what you did.”
Good night. Were they going to have it out right in the middle of a carnival attraction? Might as well get Marissa to address the real man.
Tandy tapped her friend’s shoulder and pointed to where Zam stood. “I don’t think he read your lips because you’re facing the wrong direction.”
Marissa took a moment to move her crutches and reposition herself. She finally looked him in the eye. “We know what you did.”
Zam held out his hands. “What?”
Okay, this had gone on long enough. “We know about your bar fight with Randon.”
Red light intensified Zam’s profile. “You do?”
If things got out of control, it would be two against one. No Cash here to help in a fight. Yet.
“Yeah.” Tandy crossed her arms. “You claimed you gave up the bar when you became a Christian, but really Randon made you lose your liquor license. Then you lied to me about not knowing who Randon was.”
Zam stuck his hands in his pockets. “You’re right about how I lost the bar. That was my low point. That’s where I turned to Jesus.”
Another lie. Tandy threw her head back and laughed. “If you truly believe your fear should be in the Lord, then why pretend you weren’t angry at Randon? Why lie to me?”
“I didn’t.” Zam ran a hand over his thinning hair. “Randon wasn’t behind the ransomware attacks. He told me he had proof.”
Marissa shook her head. Zam had to be guilty. Otherwise she’d backed out of being a witness for no reason. Cash would be released from jail to meet up with his co-conspirator, and she was following the wrong person.
But no. She wasn’t ready to give up. “If Randon didn’t do it, then why did someone want him killed?”
Zam crossed his arms, looking more contemplative than guilty. “Because Randon figured out it was Cash who’d been using the ransomware virus.”
Tandy turned wide eyes Marissa’s way as if questioning whether they should believe the guy. She obviously wanted to.
Marissa scrunched her nose. Even if Zam was guilty, it might behoove them to play along until they got free of the maze and could call for help. At this point, Marissa was even willing to call Deputy Romero. Her ankle throbbed, and they were going to miss the fireworks if they didn’t wrap this up soon. “You’re saying Cash is the computer genius behind the hacking? Nobody hired him, he simply did it on his own?”
“Exactly.” Peaceful blue light washed over Zam, trying to trick her mind. “That’s why he took Randon’s computer.”
Tandy shifted her weight. “Where did the computer go? He must still have had an accomplice.”
Marissa bit her lip. “His girlfriend had to be involved. I was right all along.”
Tandy lifted her chin in understanding. “You’re right. Because she claimed her falling out with Randon was over his ransom attacks.”
Zam nodded, watching them put the pieces together. “Yes. I’ve been looking for her but haven’t seen her anywhere. You’d think someone with pink hair would stand out in our small town.”
Marissa’s thoughts jolted to a stop.
The wrinkles in Tandy’s forehead reflected around them, mirroring Marissa’s confusion.
She spoke slowly as if easing on the gas to keep the wheels in her brain from spinning out. “Why do you think Cash’s girlfriend has pink hair?”
Zam looked back and forth between them. “Because they came into my bar together a lot.”
Marissa covered her mouth, allowing a crutch to clatter against a mirror. Tandy righted it for her.
“Zam.” Tandy took a deep breath. “The woman you’re talking about is dating Randon.”
Marissa nodded. “She’s been at the hospital with him ever since he got attacked.”
Zam looked from where he was reading her lips to study her eyes. “You mean she was at the hospital when there was a second attempt on Randon’s life?”
Marissa gasped. Could it be?
Tandy snapped her fingers. “She was on the float in the parade that passed Cash at the same
time Cash’s t-shirt, gun, and Randon’s computer disappeared.”
Marissa’s heart crashed into her chest. “She would have left it to come running back to the coffee shop to pretend to mourn over Randon…”
“So she would have had to break into Cross Enterprises to get it off the float.”
Zam’s gaze ping-ponged to keep up. “And if Cash is the computer genius we think he is, he could have given her directions on how to hack into the security system and destroy evidence.”
Tandy closed her eyes, her temple twitching. “She would have had to sneak past the front desk at the hospital to do all that, but it wouldn’t have been hard with the receptionist. Especially if she kept ordering food as an excuse to leave the room.”
The truth of their situation gripped Marissa’s gut like a fist. “When I left the safehouse, Susan could have seen me from the hospital window. She could have followed me back and set the fire with fireworks on purpose.”
Tandy rubbed her face. “Then what was up with Randon’s sister? Is she involved? Did she ever date Cash?”
Marissa blew out her breath. She really wanted to believe Moria did it, but she could have been as much a pawn as anyone. “Cash is from Cincinnati where Susan is from. What if they have a history together?”
Tandy’s chin bobbed like she was following along. “Susan’s dad had a past of crime. It wouldn’t be too far off to suspect that she’d run into some other shady characters.”
“Randon wooed Susan right away. If she had a history with Cash, he might have been jealous and researched Randon to discover they could take advantage of his brains.”
“Meanwhile, Cash dated Randon’s sister to get her to finger him for the crime.”
Zam nodded. “Randon is innocent. Cash and Susan used him and orchestrated this whole thing.”
Tandy lifted her chin. “If this is all true, then who texted you? Who were you going to meet, and why did you trap us in here?”
Zam reached for his pocket.
Marissa jumped, gripping her crutches to use as a weapon. She may not be able to get away, but she could defend herself.
A Latte Difficulty Page 19
