by Geri Krotow
“Give me a break. You read the paper, right? And you’re married to the dude who broke the case to start with.” Kayla’s exasperation with Zora was mock, as the women all were tight. Abi had seen evidence of no less since meeting them all.
“Bryce doesn’t tell me everything about his work, you know. Maybe Rio tells you more?”
Abi wondered what she used to occupy her thoughts with before she had Keith to daydream about. Not that she was doing it like a teen did when they had a crush or anything. More like she thought about how well they worked together, even when neither of them wanted to.
“No, Rio doesn’t say a whole lot. He lets me know if he thinks I need to be more careful, like with the other cult members moving into town here, it’s crazy. And of course you know how we met—he knows that with running a business in town, anyone can walk into my shop at any time.”
Abi knew that Kayla had provided key evidence for SVPD when the former mayor had been brought down. The mayor that Wise had replaced after a lawyer from out of state had pressed charges against her was now back in office and Silver Valley couldn’t be happier.
“Speaking of significant others, Abi, what’s the deal with you and my brother?” Kayla’s eyes sparkled and Abi couldn’t get angry with the warmth that the florist gave off.
“The deal is that we’re working closely together, which makes perfect sense since he’s the fire chief and I’m an arson expert.”
“Sounds like some heat could come from that.” Zora giggled and the rest of the group joined in.
* * *
“How’s it going, bro?” Rio slapped Keith on the back and helped himself to the empty seat beside him at the diner counter.
“Hey, Rio. What are you doing out so early on a Saturday? My sister throw you out?”
“Nope. Kayla left early to open her shop and make sure her employees had what they needed, then headed to yoga class. She’s at Abi’s new store now.” The waitress came by and Rio ordered the breakfast special number one, same thing Keith was eating.
“I’m thinking you know all about Abi’s shop?”
Keith focused on his hash browns. “Did you ever notice that Silver Valley Diner’s hash browns are the absolute best? I think it’s because they’re so simple—no onions, no peppers. Just potatoes.”
“Gotcha. So. You and Abi.”
“There is no ‘me and Abi,’ Rio.” Didn’t Rio have a cult to bust up?
“Just like there was no me and Kayla? It’s all over your faces every time we have a sit-down at the station. Don’t get me wrong. You’re both always very professional, and I’m sure no one else has caught your goo-goo eyes.”
Keith choked on his coffee. “Goo-goo eyes?”
Rio threw back a swig from his mug. “You know what I mean.”
“God, man, you are whipped. And it’s my sister who’s done it. Who would have guessed? Wait—you’re digging for information for my sister, aren’t you?”
Rio didn’t answer and took a long time adding more cream to his coffee. “Kayla may have asked me what I thought was going on.”
Keith groaned. “Do not tell her anything. I mean, there’s nothing to tell. Aw, hell. Abi and I get along well with work. I actually like doing the detective kind of thing with her. But nothing beats firefighting in my book.”
“What about after work?”
“We’ve only had a chance to go hiking. We might go kayaking or something, if this quiet period gets any longer.”
“I’m not betting on it.”
“Me neither. Any dibs on when they’ll try to make their move?” He had to ask Rio. Besides, Rio was the only one he trusted, except for Abi, to shoot straight with him.
“No idea. Claudia’s getting tense, but in an anticipatory way. You can tell this is her bread and butter. The chief’s not happy. He’s been miserable ever since she announced she’s going into the cult’s crazy trailer park thing.”
“She’s really going to live there?” Keith used the mirror behind the counter to make sure no one was in range to overhear them.
Rio nodded. He didn’t have to say anything. They both knew it was going to be a tough go for Claudia. Not the physical part—she was retired Marine Corps. A war veteran. The psychological and mental part was the bitch.
“How will we know she’s okay? They’ll be checking her for any wires, right?”
“You can bet on it. We’ve set up a way she’ll leave notes for our other undercover officers to find. It’s the safest way to do it for now.”
“I’ll bet Colt is about to crap his pants over this.”
“Pretty much, yeah.” Rio sipped from his mug. “He’s a no-nonsense chief, the best we’ve seen in Silver Valley. But he has his human side like the rest of us and he deserves to be happy, deserves to not have to see the woman he cares about in danger.”
Keith saw the way Rio stiffly put his mug back on the counter. “It reminds you too much of what you went through with Kayla last year at the mayor’s daughter’s wedding, doesn’t it?”
Rio looked at him. “You know it. Yeah, that was a bad scene, the couple of times I thought she was in the worst kind of trouble.” He shook his head and chuckled. “And she’s not trained for any of this kind of risk, you know that as well as I do.”
“I’ll admit I wasn’t your biggest fan as things were going down.” Keith was grateful he hadn’t known the half of it while the crook mayor was being taken out, the first inroads to the cult being made. Kayla was his sister and he would die for her. She’d taken good care of him when he’d been on admin leave because of the false accusations. And now he knew she’d been a Trail Hiker, like he was.
“I wasn’t my biggest fan, either. The last thing I wanted was for her to be involved. And you know she’s highly capable, trained or not.”
“Yes, that she is.”
“Keith, stop me if I’m overstepping it, but you do know that Abi’s a sure shot, right? She can handle herself just fine.”
“Right.”
“No offense, bro, but she’s got more training than you do when it comes to bad guys. You put fires out, right? Abi can take out a criminal and analyze the toughest arson scene. She was tops in her FBI Academy class.”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s on her résumé. Not something I’m sure she tells a lot of folks but it was important for her to get hired by SVPD. Even without the TH connection, Colt would have hired her. She’s damn good at what she does. Like you.”
“I’m not feeling very good at it, Rio. Not with all the leads we have that amount to nothing when we can’t catch all of them.”
“We’re not meant to catch all or any of them. Wise is playing with us, I’m sure of it.”
Dread lined Keith’s gut, making the delicious breakfast curdle in his stomach. He didn’t want anyone “playing” with Abi.
* * *
Sunday morning before dawn, Abi groaned when she got out of bed, achy from the long day of cleaning the shop. Two cups of coffee, ibuprofen and several hours later, she was engrossed in her files on Wise and the arsons.
A loud knock on her front door startled her and she grabbed her weapon. She immediately placed it on the foyer table after she opened her front door and squealed in surprise.
“Dad! Mom!” She hugged each of her parents, relishing the bear hugs and loud smacks of kisses they gave her as they stood on her front steps. “Come on in.” She led them to the kitchen where the morning light was streaming through the windows.
“Now hold on, Abigail. I want to take a good look around.” Her father’s gravelly voice was sincere as he took in her new digs.
“I see you could use some help with the final touches.” Her mother fingered a bare windowsill, looking at the window frame as if she were measuring it in her mind for draperies.
“I only moved in a few weeks ago!” Abi took them on a tour of the house, pointing out details she knew they’d both enjoy. “This area is only about twenty years old, as it’s an addition to the original stone farmhouse. That building may link back to the founding fathers.”
“Like Ben Franklin?” Her mother was positively giddy.
“No, Mom. Franklin was more central to Philly. I’m not sure whom—they think this is the nearest house to the tavern that was discovered to be where they wrote the Bill of Rights. I haven’t had time to discern the connections and all with my new business, but it’s exciting, for sure.”
“When will you be done with your arson work?” Her father’s gravitas weighed on her, despite the lighthearted tone he tried to take.
“I don’t know, Dad. There are some real bastards who used to be in a cult in upstate New York here. They’ve set up shop in Silver Valley since the head honchos were paroled almost two years ago. I can’t say that much more, but we’re hoping we’ll break it all wide open soon.”
“At least you’re not in the middle of dangerous operations with the police, even though you’re working with them. Right, Abi?” Her mother’s eyes were wide, her anxiety clear.
“Right, Mom. I’m basically an analyst, just like when I was with the Bureau.” White lies with her mother never hurt. Except her father never fell for them.
“Give me a break, dear daughter. It’s me, remember?”
“Sorry, Dad.” She ushered them back toward the kitchen. “Why don’t you let me grab you a glass of water, then tell me what motivated you to drive two hours to see me?”
Chapter 17
“Your mother wanted to see where you lived. I did, too.” Dick Redland’s large frame made her kitchen table look miniature as he swigged back the glass of ice water. “It’s a good day for a drive, too.”
“The hills are so beautiful here, Abigail. Have you hiked yet?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. And that brings me to something I need to tell you. I was going to wait until the grand opening, but I’d rather you know ahead of time so that you and everyone else can be here. I’m opening up my own business.”
“PI?” Her father looked intense. Ever since she’d joined the FBI, both her parents had asked when she’d be leaving to do something more “settled.” They hated the idea of her in danger.
“PI? Private investigator?” Abi laughed. “God, no. Dad, you think that all I do is go around busting down the doors of hardened criminals, don’t you?”
“Arsonists need to be apprehended.”
“Dad, I’m an analyst. And, no, I’m not going into law enforcement of any kind.” She fought back a wince at the teeny lie. They’d never know about Trail Hikers. “You know I’ve always liked to hike and camp. So I thought, why not open my own nature tourist shop? I’ll have kayaking, canoeing, hiking, camping—even golfing. I want to put the fun back into outdoor adventure.”
“You’re in some of the top fly-fishing spots on the East Coast. How far are you from the Yellow Breeches Creek?”
“Ten minutes. And, Mom, do you know what the Yellow Breeches are named for?”
Annie Redland shook her head, probably annoyed that it was the one American history fact she didn’t know.
“During the Revolutionary War, the British soldiers would cross the creek in their white britches, which of course became yellow from the limestone sediment and other minerals that are unique to the tributary.” Abi grinned. “I happened to read a portion of the county’s history last night.”
“Well done.” Her mother had always been a history buff and had instilled an appreciation for it in her children.
They sat and talked for another half hour, catching up on each other’s lives. Abi especially liked to hear stories of her brothers and their families. “I’d like to get home for Memorial Day. If this case is over by then, I will.”
“Even if it isn’t, you deserve a day off here and there.” Her father stood. “How much of the land is yours?”
“None of it, yet. I’m still renting-to-own. I’m renting the office space in Silver Valley proper, too.” Just in case...
“Honey, you like it here enough to start a business. Don’t you think it’s time you put down roots?”
“Maybe. I just don’t know... I mean, how are you ever sure you want to stay somewhere? You guys have always lived in Philly.”
“True, but we’ve talked about a move plenty of times.”
“Like after the fire.” Both her parents turned their eyes on her.
“Abi, let it go, honey.” Her mother’s anguish was in her eyes, the way she gripped her water glass, now empty.
“You’re not still in arson, working this contracting case, because of that, are you?”
“Dad, give me a break. It’s in my blood. You were a firefighter until I ruined it.”
“My leaving the station had nothing to do with you, Abi. I’d served for many years and the house fire...it underscored that I’d been investing too much time in my job and not enough with my kids.”
Abi didn’t argue with him. It was true. Her dad was a self-admitted workaholic who’d loved the constant work being a Philadelphia firefighter had given him.
“You mean to tell me that if Donna hadn’t died, if you hadn’t been investigated for it, you wouldn’t have stayed on at the department?”
“It might have taken me longer but I was already coming to the same conclusion, yes.”
“He’s telling the truth, Abi.” Her mother frowned. “Please tell me you haven’t pursued arson forensics because of it. Joining the FBI after college, that was one thing. But to keep doing this kind of work at the same time that you’re trying to start a business, it’s a bit much, isn’t it?”
“I’m wrapping up my investigative work, Mom, trust me.”
“It’s just that... I’d hoped you’d want to settle down. Have you met anyone here?”
“She means, have you found a boyfriend, Abi?”
“Thanks, Dad, I get it.” She smiled at them both. “I have, but it’s nothing serious.” Yet. Or it was, but she wasn’t about to tell them. Yet.
The doorbell rang, followed by a knock. Abi was spared answering her mother, and shoved back any thought of mentally responding to the too astute observation.
“Keith.”
“Don’t look so thrilled. Are you okay? I saw the strange car in your driveway.”
“And wanted to make sure I’m not being held hostage.” She leaned against the doorjamb. “Actually, I am being held hostage—emotionally.” She kept her voice low. “My parents have paid me a surprise visit.”
“Your dad the firefighter?” Keith’s eyes lit up. “Where is he?”
Abi groaned. “I was hoping you’d rescue me from this.”
“After I meet him.”
* * *
“We may have a lot of new technology that you didn’t back in the day, but it’s only in place to help us do our jobs better. It’s the same work, all told.”
“You’re too easy about it, Keith.” Dick Redland had the same dark brown eyes as Abi, and Keith knew the man was sizing him up. Why wouldn’t he be, when his daughter had recently moved to Silver Valley and a strange man showed up at her door?
“Keith, how long have you known Abi?” Annie Redland was more about the other reasons Keith might be there. Other than what they’d already told them.
“Mom.” Abi’s one-word utterance sounded like the same warning his sisters gave his mother when she was digging too close to the live wires. Sex, marriage, grandchildren.
“Honey, let Keith answer.” Dick patted his wife’s forearm. She snarled at him. Keith laughed.
“Why don’t we leave Keith alone?” Abi’s mouth curled like her mother’s.
“
It’s okay, Abi.” He squeezed her hand and he wasn’t sure what was more hilarious—her mother’s annoyed expression or Abi’s look of helplessness. A rare sight from who he saw as the goddess of Silver Valley. “Abi and I are work colleagues, in a sense, as we’re both eager to get the arsonists that have been keeping my department far too busy these past several months. Of course, as you know—” he nodded at Dick “—when you work together under such dangerous conditions it’s easy to either learn you despise one another or that you could become good friends.”
“If Annie had worked with me when I was a firefighter, I don’t think I would have gotten much work done.” Dick smiled at Abi’s mother, who tried to continue to look annoyed but failed miserably.
“Abi, what were you planning for your day? Before we showed up?” Annie’s change of subject perked everyone up.
Keith looked at Abi. He’d been hoping to find her here on her own and to cajole her to take him on a kayaking trip. Or more.
God, he was thinking about the more part of his relationship with Abi often enough to make him think she had to be thinking the same thing. This kind of connection wasn’t one-sided. And it was soul deep.
“Abi?” He squeezed her hand again as she remained silent.
She shrugged. “Nothing much. Other than inventory what I have for my store in terms of equipment, and figure out what I need to order.”
“Don’t spend your life savings on this venture, Abi.” Dick spoke as someone who understood small business.
“Dad, I appreciate your concern, but I’ve got this. I’ve saved plenty all the years I’ve been working. As a single girl, it’s not impossible to put away a small nest egg.”
“But what about the cost of this house?” Her mother always chimed in to support her father, it appeared.
Keith saw the tense way Abi held her shoulders—she didn’t like her parents ganging up on her.
“I told you guys, I’m renting with the option to purchase. I’m keeping all avenues available. And the arson case is my priority, anyhow. I don’t plan on opening the shop until the case is closed.” Keith felt a release of the tension he’d held whenever he thought about Abi leaving Silver Valley. She was going to give it a good, fair shot here. Silver Valley Adventures wasn’t just an idea on paper or a whim. Abi was staying.
