Love You Madly

by Ashlee Mallory

  “I’ll need to speak with them.” He pulled out a pen and small notebook from his back pocket and poised his hand, ready for the information.

  He waited.

  “Can’t we try and track Darcy’s cell phone?” She’d caught every episode of Veronica Mars and had seen this done dozens of times. “You’re some sort of investigator. Shouldn’t you have something that can do that?”

  “Sure. But I wouldn’t hold your breath. You said her phone was going to voicemail, meaning it’s likely dead. Which means…no signal. So unless you want to argue and second-guess every move of my investigation, thereby delaying and potentially putting your daughter’s safety at risk, let’s start with where she was last seen.”

  His condescension was almost over-the-top, but he had a point. She sighed. “Allie McBride. Single mom. Darcy was watching her daughter, Violet, last night.”

  Another flicker of something close to surprise crossed his face, but then it was gone. “Do you have an address? I’d like to speak with her in person, see if she remembers anything important that might tell us where Darcy was heading.”

  “Not off the top of my head, but I know where she lives. I can take you now if you really think it’s important.”

  “I need a few more answers before I decide whether I’m taking the case, and Ms. McBride might be able to help. Wouldn’t want to waste your time or mine any more than is necessary.”

  Wait. Was he kidding? Was he actually vetting her? Bright, angry sparks of red flashed across her corneas. True, this wasn’t an arrangement she was used to making, hiring a consultant–slash–security expert–slash–investigator. But shouldn’t she be interviewing him? Deciding if she wanted his help?

  “I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with the etiquette here, but I will be employing you, correct? I’ll be the one to decide if we’re wasting our time and money.”

  He leaned forward quickly and she blinked. It was the most movement she’d seen him make, in comparison to his almost statue-like position across from her for most of this interview.

  “You may end up paying the final check, ma’am, but I call the shots during the investigation. It may surprise you, but I get a number of calls a day from prospective clients who want my assistance, and I have to decide where my services are most needed. The only reason I’m here now is your old man called in a favor with my boss. And like I told him, I’ll check it out and decide if it’s something that needs our—my—services. There are too many people in need of help for me to waste my time looking for a spoiled rich girl who might just be out to test her stepmommy’s will.”

  “Is that what you think this is?” She leaned forward, refusing to let his intensity intimidate her. Not flinching, she met his gaze, noticing his eyes weren’t just the dark, intense green she’d previously thought but more olive, with flecks of brown. “My daughter testing her will against mine? Have you not been listening?”

  He sat back again and resumed his usual robotic stance. “Yes. And I’m not yet convinced there’s any evidence of foul play. But, like I said, once I speak with a few more possible witnesses, I can better assess the situation and make my final decision.”

  Meredith loathed the arrogant man who had just chalked her up as an overbearing, hysterical mama. But she had to remember why she was here—for her daughter. And if this guy was as good as he thought he was—and as her father thought he was—then he was her best chance of making sure Darcy came home safely.

  So rather than deliver a biting comment, she nodded her agreement to the terms. For now.

  For the next few minutes, they went through several more questions, such as the make and model of Darcy’s car and whether Meredith had noticed anything missing from Darcy’s room that would indicate she had planned to stay out a day or two—which she hadn’t. When Travis seemed satisfied, he returned his pen and notebook to his pocket.

  “I’d like to chat with Ms. McBride first and maybe Darcy’s friend. You’re free to ride with me, or point me in the right direction.”

  No way was she going to be stuck riding in a car ankle-deep in empty Cheetos bags and soda cans with this arrogant asshole. But permitting him to forge on alone without knowing what, if anything, he learned? Forget it. “I prefer to drive my own car. You can follow me.”

  Travis muttered something under his breath that sounded a lot like, “As always…”

  She must have misheard him, but since she didn’t give two figs about his opinion of her, she ignored him.

  Chapter Two

  Fifteen minutes later Meredith pulled her car up the driveway of the tiny bungalow where Darcy was last known to have been. It was cute in its quaint charm, she supposed. Cute…similar to what she’d heard about the house’s owner.

  If you like self-righteous, know-it-all do-gooders. Which she didn’t.

  Meredith pushed open the door and slipped out of the car. Travis pulled up to the curb in a black Land Rover. He didn’t attempt to get out of the car, but rather watched her from behind sunglasses.

  Really? Was he going to make her stand there all day?

  She resisted the urge to tap her toe on the cement and instead made her way up the path. He might not be in a hurry to get to the bottom of this, but she most certainly was.

  She rang the doorbell and waited. The door swung open as Travis reached her side and Saint Allie appeared in the doorway. The woman who’d made it a habit since the sixth grade of showing everyone just how rotten Meredith was.

  Well. Everyone who mattered back then. Like her father. Who’d always asked why Meredith couldn’t be more like that sweet little Allie girl. Telling her to cut Allie a break, she was an orphan after all. Lost her mom as a kid, he’d tell her. Even if for all intents and purposes Meredith’s own mother was lost to her. Maybe not by death, but in a way just as hurtful, when she walked away without even a good-bye. His comments later turned to why she didn’t ask Allie over anymore until, eventually, he stopped asking.

  But she’d never forgotten.

  Now she stared at the woman who she’d come to loathe by her teens, a feeling that hadn’t lessened with time. It was hard to miss the thick bandages that still covered both of Allie’s lower arms.

  Meredith had heard the news, of course. Of how Allie had been attacked and nearly killed. She’d also heard how Allie had been valiantly rescued from near death by Sam Fratto, a guy whom Meredith had been hoping to kindle a little something with herself. But like always, Allie had perfected the role of victim, and Sam had fallen for her.

  To say there was a lot of history between her and Allie would be putting it mildly.

  “Meredith? This is a bit of a surprise. If this is about next weekend’s gala, I’m sure you could have just called.”

  Meredith didn’t miss the reticence in the woman’s voice and was sure that Travis had noted it as well.

  Whatever. Might as well get this over with. “It’s Darcy. She’s missing and I had a few questions—” The deep throat clearing from her companion reminded her of his presence. As if she needed reminding when his brooding silence screamed “notice me” the moment she met him. She clarified, “We had a few questions for you.”

  “Darcy? Oh, God. Come in, please,” Allie said and finally ushered them inside.

  They all sat, Meredith and Allie on opposite ends of the couch, leaving the recliner for Travis. Meredith started the introductions. “Allie, this is Travis. He’s…” Crap. What had she decided he was? “He’s an investigator. He’s helping me locate—”

  “Wait. No. Travis?” Allie stared wide-eyed at the brooding figure.

  Meredith turned her head to look at him again, trying to figure out why Allie was acting like she knew him. She nearly fell off the couch when she saw the slight, wry smile lingering on his full lips.

  She hadn’t thought him capable of smiling.

  “Allie McBride. It’s been a while,” he drawled.

  Good God. Why did this not surprise her? Allie was known and loved by everyone.
/>   Allie jumped up from the couch and crossed over to him. She bent down and squeezed the hulking figure, who actually placed his own arm briefly around her and squeezed back.

  Unbelievable. Was he going to make a pass at the English teacher, too?

  “It’s been, what? Ten, eleven years? I nearly didn’t recognize you, you’ve changed so much, and yet”—she shook her head as she stared at him—“you’re still the same.”

  Instead of returning to her seat on the opposite side of the couch, Allie squeezed next to Meredith to be closer to Travis, almost pushing Meredith over. Didn’t the woman have any respect for personal boundaries?

  Now Meredith was really confused. Eleven years ago she and Allie had graduated from St. Andrew. Had they known each other from high school?

  “Oh, God, you were the smartest kid I knew then, always knew you’d—” Allie stopped abruptly and brought her hand to her mouth. “Crap. But that’s not why you’re here. This is about Darcy. You say she’s missing?”

  Okay, getting to the details was important. But it was also important that Meredith knew everything she could about the man she might be hiring to look for her daughter. “Sorry, Allie. How do you two know each other?”

  Allie looked at her almost incredulously. Then looked at Travis and back to her again. “Travis. Travis Brennan. You mean you don’t remember him? Our senior year, he was the computer science assistant, even though he was only a junior, because he was freaking brilliant.” She threw what could only be described as a proud smile at Travis. “Braces back then, and—sorry, Travis, but it’s true—a bit of a mullet?”

  The computer aide? Meredith searched her memory but the only aide she could remember was a scrawny guy who always spoke to her like she had the intelligence of a monkey even though—

  Oh. My. God.

  It all finally came back to her. The taunting. The practical jokes. Not some of her best moments by any means. Not when she was on a power trip that last year as the head cheerleader and homecoming queen.

  And now she was hiring that same guy whose life she might have made particularly miserable to help her find her daughter?

  Fate had a funny way of kicking you in the ass sometimes.

  …

  Travis could not believe his luck.

  When he’d first heard who he was meeting today, he’d tried to tell himself that she couldn’t still be as bad as he remembered. She had to have changed. People mellowed with age, right?

  Meredith Sanders sure as hell hadn’t.

  Gorgeous, yes. Still had a long, thick mane of chestnut hair that made a man’s hands itch to touch. Long, shapely legs to wrap around his waist, a decent size rack to hold his interest, and dark, mesmerizing eyes that a guy could drown in. Until that razor-sharp tongue lashed out unexpectedly and cut him to the quick. After all these years, she was as mean and as selfish as when she’d first humiliated and taunted him back in high school, a decade before.

  Only then he hadn’t had the self-confidence or strength to fight back. He’d been a computer nerd who could barely lift his backpack. But three tours in Iraq and a ten-month op in Afghanistan had given him more than just his strong physique. It had mentally and physically prepared him for battle with forces of all calibers.

  Including selfish, mean-spirited girls from high school.

  She hadn’t even blinked when she met him. Hadn’t a clue who he was or their history.

  And up until this moment, he’d actually liked it that way. Liked the edge it gave him, the advantage over her, which he’d need if he was going to determine whether there was any foul play here or if the rich girl was playing a game with her stepmom. Hell, if Meredith was his stepmom, he wouldn’t stop looking for ways to throw a wrench in whatever plans and ideas she had.

  That would make this easier. Finding it all a ruse. Then he could finally get out of town and take that long-awaited vacation in Key West he’d been setting out for when he’d gotten the call from Jace. Having just completed a job up in Idaho and, being native to the greater Salt Lake area, he’d been the logical choice for this job.

  But now, seeing the dawning horror hit that pretty face, seeing the moment when who he was and what she’d done to him all came back to her…it was priceless.

  Damn. He wished he had his camera.

  “Yes. I think it’s coming back to me,” she said in that scary tone of voice she used before she sicced the varsity football team on your ass. He would know. He looked over to see her eyes narrow and her head tilt in that haughty way she had, like a queen staring down at her lowly subjects. “I’m curious, Travis…” Oh, yeah. She was definitely pissed. “…why you didn’t share this interesting little history with me before now. In fact, if Allie hadn’t recognized you, would you have ever told me?”

  He shrugged. “If it would have served a purpose.”

  As if knowing things were going to get heated and fast, Allie eased in. “Well, I’m glad to see you looking so well, Travis, and in any other circumstance, I’d be picking your brains to hear what you’ve been doing the past ten years, as last I heard you were in Iraq, but you mentioned Darcy is missing? You mean like she took off with some friends or something?”

  This sobered Meredith up and she seemed to deflate before his eyes. Interesting. He was surprised she cared so much for someone other than herself. Especially some stepdaughter who didn’t seem to particularly care for her, if what he’d learned so far was any indication.

  Meredith dropped her gaze to the coffee table in front of her. “She didn’t come home last night. Last I saw her was around six when she was heading to your place to babysit. Then this morning, she didn’t show up at the library where she volunteers, and now—” Her voice actually seemed to catch at the end before she cleared her throat and finished. “All of her calls go directly to voicemail. She’s not even responding to texts.”

  “Have you reported this to the police?” Allie looked back and forth between them. There was obvious panic in those clear blue eyes. Meredith filled in her with the same details she’d provided him earlier, leaving him to his own thoughts.

  What he’d said to Meredith earlier was true—his services were in such demand right now he was able to pick and choose those cases that needed him the most. If this was nothing more than just a spoiled rich kid trying to punish her mom for not giving her the attention she wanted, then he’d walk. No matter the price.

  Which was why getting other people’s take on Darcy and whether this disappearing act was out of character could help him get a read on the situation. Allie had always been down-to-earth, rational, and pretty smart in high school. He’d respected her, even liked her. She wasn’t going to be prone to theatrics.

  “What can you us about last night?” he asked after Meredith finished.

  “Sam and I left at six thirty last night and got back around ten?”

  “Was she acting strange at all to you? Secretive, maybe?” She shook her head. “Did she mention anything to you about where she was going when she left?”

  “No, although she was texting someone when we arrived. She updated us on how the night went, how Violet had gone to sleep by nine thirty. Then we paid her, and she left. I just assumed she would be going home.”

  “How well do you know Darcy? Would you say she’s been acting differently the past few weeks?”

  “She was in my senior lit class this last semester, and she’s babysat for me for the past year, so I think I know her fairly well. But up until last night, we hadn’t seen each other since her graduation.” She looked off for a moment, recalling something. “She has seemed happier the past couple of months. More outgoing. Even had a little makeover. She was becoming almost like an all-new girl. I assumed it was just the excitement of moving onto the next stage of her life, moving away for coll—” Allie stopped abruptly and shot a quick glance at Meredith.

  “No, please, continue, Al.” Meredith’s use of the nickname seemed anything but friendly. “Tell him all about how excited Darcy wa
s to move across the country to get away from me. With no influence whatsoever from her favorite teacher, who, incidentally, went to the same school.”

  Allie sighed and leaned back to look at Meredith. “I’ve told you before, Meredith. The decision was Darcy’s. She came to me with the catalog for Wellesley already in hand. It’s one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country—what else was I going to do but encourage her to follow her dreams?”

  “I think we’re digressing here,” he said, noting the slight twitch that had developed under Meredith’s eye. “Did Darcy mention to you anything about a new boyfriend?”

  Allie looked even more uncomfortable and kept her gaze down. “I do think she was seeing someone. It’s pretty new,” she added hastily at Meredith’s quick intake of breath.

  It wasn’t hard to see that Meredith was jealous of the relationship that had developed between her daughter and her daughter’s teacher. Although he was certain there was a lot more than just that.

  Allie continued. “Bryce Bauer was in my senior lit class, along with Darcy. From my own observations, Darcy has been harboring a crush on him since the beginning of the year. Maybe longer. When I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago”—she touched the bandage covering one of her arms—“they came to see me. Together. And from the looks they were giving each other, I guessed that they were seeing each other. I wanted to ask her more about it last night, but with Sam around, she would never open up.”

  “Sam…?”

  This time Allie actually blushed and looked away for a minute. “Sam Fratto. You may remember him from school?”

  “Yeah. I think I remember him.”

  Who hadn’t known Mr. Popularity? Even though Travis’s friendship with Allie had been casual in high school, he remembered how crazy she’d been for the soccer star who’d been completely oblivious to her affections. Sam had better know what a catch he had in Allie.

  “Do you have any contact information for Bryce?” he continued. “I’d like to speak to him.”

  “I have a student directory.” Allie bounded up from the couch. “I think it’s in my room somewhere. Give me a minute.”