Hidden Danger

by Jennifer Pierce

  “I believe whoever is behind this is targeting you specifically, and that they won't stop until the rhyme is finished.”

  The room started to spin, and she couldn't breathe. Loud pounding filled her ears, and her lungs ached for air. Her vision started to go black, and then she was pushed forward until her head was between her knees. A warm hand rubbed her back. The pounding faded, and she could hear Cody speaking comforting words to her.

  The warmth of his hand spread through her entire being. She focused on that warmth and slowly her composure returned. Focusing on her breathing, she sat up and looked at Cody. His eyes were filled with concern. He took both her hands in his and rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, the comforting gesture he had done whenever she’d had moments of grief after her mother's death.

  She had missed him so much, but she couldn't sit here and allow herself to open back up to him. She pulled her hands from his and stood to put some distance between them.

  “Why would someone be targeting me? Like I told you before, nothing in my life justifies this kind of craziness.” She paced in front of the coffee table.

  “I’m just as confused as you are. But apparently, this is about you.” He stood and placed his hands on her shoulders, stopping her pacing. “With this new information, it's best if you find a more secure place to stay.”

  She shrugged his hands from her shoulders. “I've already told you. I am not going to be bullied into leaving. I've taken every available precaution to keep myself safe. I've got new locks, window and door alarms.”

  “Maggie, you need to take this seriously. I was able to get in through Jake's window without you knowing. The house isn't as secure as you think.”

  “That's true, but you were here more than you were at your own house. You know all the secrets of this old house.”

  He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I care about you. I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you.”

  She cringed at his words, at his touch, and turned her head, breaking contact. She was silent for a moment. Was he telling the truth? Did he care for her as his Magpie or as a case? She took a step back and turned her head. “Why would I believe you?” The truth was she didn’t know what to believe anymore.

  “Maggie, please let me explain.” He pleaded with his eyes. The anguish she saw in them only intensified her own.

  “I’d rather not.” She didn’t want to hear about why he’d rejected her. What about her had turned him away. She picked up her mess from the coffee table and disappeared into the kitchen.

  She threw away the trash and crossed to the sink. Tears slowly streamed down her cheeks. His eyes told her everything she needed to know. He was truly sorry for what he had done, and he wanted her to know why he had made his decision. She wasn’t ready to hear it. She wasn’t ready to finally know what was wrong with her.

  She turned on the cold water and splashed her face. Her eyes cooled, she dried her face. She grabbed two bottles of water and went back to face Cody.

  She handed him a bottle and took her seat on the couch. “You said that this nursery rhyme had several lines. The first line was ‘One for sorrow.’ I assume that was why there was only one shot? And ‘Two for joy’ would be the rings because two people get married and that is a joyous occasion. What's the next line?”

  “In most versions, it's ‘three for a girl’ and then ‘four for a boy’. I really don't know what to think about those.”

  She remembered a baby shower she went to recently. “You know, there are old wives’ tales about predicting the sex of babies. Maybe that is what those two lines refer to. I'm not pregnant and in no position to be so anytime soon, so I don't think whoever is doing this will interpret it that way.”

  Cody’s shoulders seemed to relax when she mentioned she was unattached, or had it been a figment of her imagination? Was he hoping to rekindle their relationship? That wasn’t going to happen.

  “I hate sitting here wondering when and if someone will strike next.” She yawned, exhausted from the stress.

  “Maggie, please reconsider what I said about staying somewhere else. I know you don't want to be bullied, but I’m talking about your safety.”

  “I’m not leaving. Like I said before, the locks are changed, the door and windows are alarmed, and you’ve got a deputy checking on me. I also have dad's old pistol, if it becomes necessary.”

  He looked her in the eye. “Call me if you need anything, even if you think it's silly. There is nothing silly about your safety.”

  She nodded.

  “I’ll go so you can get some rest.” He stood and walked to the door. “I’ll use the front door this time. I did place an old metal bar I found in Jake’s room above the window to keep it from opening.”

  “Thank you.” She followed behind him and disabled the alarm on the door.

  “Lock the door and set the alarm behind me. And, please, call if you need something. Anything.”

  She closed the door and set the alarm.

  Before heading to bed, she paused at the bedroom window. Could someone be out there watching her? Maybe she should have listened to Cody. She raised the blinds, illuminating the drive below.

  Cody’s car was still parked outside. He looked up. Her heart fluttered at the sight of him standing guard. Despite the anger she harbored, she was grateful he cared enough to stay. She shook her head and gave him a small wave before closing the blinds and getting ready for bed.

  Chapter Eight

  Sunlight streaming through the window woke Maggie. She checked the drive first thing. Cody's car was gone. He must have left when dawn broke or perhaps he’d been called away on an emergency.

  His face last night, when he’d practically begged to explain himself, had been compelling. Maybe she should hear him out. The only thing stopping her from hearing his side was she was afraid of what he was going to say. Amelia had given her the impression Cody had acted like he’d been the one whose heart had been broken and not the one breaking hearts. She wasn’t ready to find out what she had been lacking back then.

  She pushed away from the window and started getting ready for her breakfast with Cassie, her best friend from high school. She’d called the day before Maggie had arrived in Whitehaven and asked Maggie to have breakfast with her at the old diner in town. It was a welcome relief. Maggie definitely needed a distraction.

  She locked up the house and climbed into the old truck. Just like it had been since she got to town, it was stubborn and didn't want to start. She turned the key again, gave it some gas, and the engine roared to life. She tuned the radio to the local Christian station and headed into town.

  When she arrived at the diner, Cassie was sitting in a booth at the rear of the restaurant. When Cassie saw her, her eyes lit up. She stepped from the booth and gave Maggie a huge hug. They slid into the booth as the waitress came to take their order.

  “Good morning, ladies. What can I get you to drink?”

  “I’ll take a glass of orange juice.” Maggie smiled. The waitress was young, probably still in high school. Her blond hair hung down to her shoulders, the tips a light shade of purple. “I love your hair.”

  “Thanks. My sister is in beauty school so guess who gets to be the guinea pig?”

  “I think it looks great,” Cassie chimed from across the table.

  The waitress blushed at the compliments.

  “Thank you. I’ve got an orange juice for you, and what can I get for you?” The waitress turned to Cassie.

  “I’ll take water with lemon.”

  “Great. Are you ready to order, or do you need more time?”

  “I’m ready if you are.” Cassie looked to Maggie.

  Maggie looked over the menu quickly, searching for her favorite breakfast food. She found it. “I’m ready, too. I’ll have the French toast platter with extra bacon.”

  The waitress jotted down the order. “And for you?”

  “I’ll have the same.” Cassie handed her their menus. “Thank you.”
<
br />   “I’ll go put your order in and be right back with your drinks.” The girl disappeared into the kitchen.

  “So, Maggie, how's it going?” Cassie asked after the waitress left.

  She told her about the vandalism, leaving out the beanbag attack, and the stolen rings. She didn't want to worry her friend.

  “I can’t believe anyone would do that. Do you think there’s more vandalism you haven’t seen yet?”

  “No. I walked around the house and looked before I went to the sheriff’s station.”

  “So, you know Cody Smith is the new sheriff, then.”

  “Unfortunately, I do.”

  The waitress dropped off their drinks and bustled away.

  “I take it that means you’ve already seen him?” Cassie pulled the lemon off the rim of the glass and squeezed the juice into her water before dropping the whole slice in.

  “I have. A couple of times.”

  “Are you okay with that?” Cassie took a drink.

  “Not really. He wants to talk about things. I don’t. I don’t want to know what was wrong with me that drove him away.” She wadded up the straw wrapper.

  “I’m going to tell you now, like I told you then, he’s an idiot. That’s what was wrong.”

  “I’d like to believe that.” She gave a half-hearted smile. “How are things on the baby front?” Maggie knew Cassie and Hank were trying for a baby. Maggie hoped the change of subject would take her friend’s attention away from her and Cody.

  “I’m not pregnant yet, but we're still trying. We haven't given up. It's all in God's timing. How about you? Any big plans for your birthday? Two more days and you'll be a quarter of a century.”

  Maggie had hoped no one would remember. This was a year she didn't feel like celebrating. “No plans. I'm not really in a mood for celebrating. You know what I mean?”

  “I can only imagine how you feel. I won't press you into doing anything, but I do think you should get out of that house on your birthday. If you feel up to it, I'll treat you to a birthday lunch.”

  “Thanks. I'll think about it.”

  “How’s your writing? I keep waiting on an email saying you’ve gotten a contract.” Cassie wiggled her eyebrows.

  “It’s not.” Another thing she was no good at.

  “Oh, no. Which publishers have you tried?” Growing up, Maggie had told her how much she’d dreamed of a full-time writing career. In high school, Cassie would talk about graduating high school, marrying her boyfriend, and starting a family. Maggie would dream along with her, except hers would be a world full of stories and books. At one time, she’d pictured Cody by her side during all of it.

  “Just that first one I told you about. They sent back a long list of why they didn’t want it.” She’d cried after getting that email. There was so much wrong with the manuscript. She thought she would be able to fix it and resubmit, but every time she opened the document, she was reminded of what a failure she was.

  “You should try some more. It might not have fit with that publisher, but that doesn’t mean there’s not one out there that will love it. Don’t give up.” Cassie had always been her personal cheerleader. Always encouraging her.

  “Oh, I’m not… I’ve just been so busy during the school year and, well, I’m here this summer.”

  Cassie’s face fell. “I know. Do you need help at your dad’s place? I could come help.”

  “No. I can manage. There’s just so much to go through. I can’t decide what to keep and what to get rid of.” She wanted to keep it all. Sorting and getting rid of his stuff was so final.

  The waitress came to the table and placed their food in front of them. “Bon appétit.”

  “Thank you so much.” Maggie smiled at the waitress.

  Their breakfast was enjoyable. Her food was mouth-watering, and the reprieve from her constant worries over the house and the threats was a much-needed break. After Maggie paid for breakfast, she gave Cassie a hug good-bye at the door, and they parted ways. Maggie’s hand had barely grabbed the door handle of the truck when a scream let out from across the parking lot.

  The only other person that she remembered seeing in the parking lot was Cassie, and Maggie took off at a run in her direction. Cassie was standing next to her vehicle with her hand over her mouth. Maggie came to an abrupt halt next to her. Cassie's normally pristine car was covered in red paint. The same shade that adorned the side of Maggie's house. There was a message wiped in the paint on the windshield, Three for a girl.

  With sweaty palms, Maggie pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed the sheriff's office. She and Cassie decided to wait on the bench outside the diner. Cody was the first law enforcement officer to arrive, parking his cruiser in front of them.

  He climbed from the cruiser and walked to them. His crisp Dale County Sheriff’s shirt was pulled taut over his torso, and his utility belt rested perfectly on his hips. He was the picture of strength. It took all she had not to run to him, throw herself into his arms, and let him be her protector.

  “Hey. What happened?” He looked from her to Cassie and then back to her.

  She slowly shook her head. “Someone vandalized Cassie’s car.”

  “Did you see anyone around the car? Cassie, do you know anyone that would want to do that?”

  “It's not just vandalism to Cassie’s car.” Maggie stood with shaky legs. “It’s the third line.”

  Cody’s eyes widened in alarm. “Where’s the car?”

  She nodded toward the parking lot. “I’ll show you.”

  Cody and Cassie followed her. After a few feet, the car came into view. There was so much red paint, she couldn’t tell what color the car was supposed to be. The red liquid dripped onto the concrete, creating large pools under the car.

  She stopped, as did Cassie. They didn’t want to go any further. Her stomach churned at the sight in front of her.

  Cody let out a heavy sigh before taking his radio from its clip on his shoulder. “Dee, call the Whitehaven police department, and have them send an officer to Earl’s Diner. Tell them they’re gonna need a tow truck and tarps. If Deputy Grainger is free, send him, too.” He clipped the radio back in its place and pulled his phone from his pocket. He circled the car taking pictures from several angles. “On top of the paint and the message, the tires have been slashed.”

  After he took a few more pictures, they all walked back to the bench where she and Cassie took their seats. “Unfortunately, this happened in the city, so it’s not my jurisdiction. Dee’s going to send Whitehaven PD. They’re gonna want to ask you some questions, and they won’t be able to release the car to you, Cassie. Do you have someone who can pick you up, or do I need to arrange for a deputy to take you home?”

  Cassie started to speak, but Maggie interrupted her, guilt inching its way in her conscience. “It's my fault that this has happened. I'll take her home, and then we can call about getting her a rental car.”

  “No, it absolutely is not your fault. Don’t even think that.” Cody’s face was severe.

  Cassie nodded. “He’s right. Some psycho trashing my car has nothing to do with you. I'll take that ride when Sheriff Smith says it's okay to leave though. Thank you, Maggie. I just wish I knew what was going on.”

  She grabbed Cassie’s hand, trying to decide how to tell her best friend that her being targeted by a criminal had caused this.

  “Remember when I told you that some trouble had happened since I got to town? Well, it’s actually a little more than vandalism. Someone took a shot at me the first night I was here. Whoever it was, broke in the house, stole my parents’ wedding rings, and had them delivered back to me at the house. And now your car. I didn’t want to worry you, but it appears my stalker has decided to bring you into it.”

  Cassie’s mouth formed a perfect O before she placed her hand over it.

  “I’m so sorry, Cassie.”

  “Maggie, please don't blame yourself,” Cody repeated. “This is not your fault.”

  Cas
sie squeezed Maggie’s hand. “Cody is absolutely right. But I don’t understand why whoever it was would vandalize my car to get at you.”

  “He’s using lines from an old nursery rhyme every time he threatens me. Three for a girl was wiped in the paint on your car. I guess he decided to take advantage of our breakfast.” Maggie stared off into the distance, trying to understand what was going on. Cody had said the next line after three would be “Four for a boy.” Would that mean an act of terror would be inflicted on a male close to her?

  She knew Jacob was out of town on work, so she didn't think it could be aimed at him. The only other male she was even remotely close to was Cody. She inhaled suddenly and glanced at him.

  “What is it Maggie?” He had been watching her the whole time.

  “Um, I guess it's leftover adrenaline from all of this.” She would talk with him later.

  A Whitehaven police cruiser, followed by another Dale County Sheriff's vehicle, pulled up behind Cody's cruiser. She recognized Deputy Grainger as he stepped from the Dale County cruiser.

  Cody met the officers out of earshot. She couldn't hear what they were saying as she sat there, taking in his six-foot frame. He'd added another couple inches and some bulk to that frame since the time they’d been together. She thought it suited him well.

  She was still staring when Cody turned and looked straight at her. He smiled a knowing smile. She abruptly looked away, feeling her face flush at being caught gawking at him. Cody would be able to tell she was embarrassed; her pale skin had always betrayed her.

  She turned to Cassie. “I'm so sorry for this. I had no idea this would happen, or I would have canceled our breakfast.” Tears pooled in her eyes.

  “Maggie, don't you dare apologize. You are not at fault. It's only a car. Hank hated that thing anyway. He'll be happy it's gone for a while. I'll call my insurance company and get everything taken care of.” Cassie wrapped her arms around Maggie and squeezed so tight, Maggie was afraid she'd pass out.