“How’s Diego?” There were a lot of people in town, but John liked to keep as apprised as he could on how they were doing.
Matthias shrugged. “Haven’t seen him since that night you saw us in the street.”
“And Izzy?”
“Same. The mom, too.” Matthias shook his head. “I’m supposed to be at rehearsals tonight, but I’m going to tell Andy and Shelby they need to cancel the whole thing until Frannie’s better or I’m out, too.”
“They’re not going to be happy.”
“I’m not kissing Frannie’s mom, even if she is the understudy.”
John laughed, loud and hard enough Matthias glared at him.
“Andy and Shelby, and even Frannie’s mom, are the least of my worries,” Matthias said. “Someone keeps trying to get to Frannie, and until we finally catch them—” He slammed his fists on his legs. “—I’m not losing focus.”
“Good.” John pulled up on Main Street, outside Sweet Times. Nadia Marie’s salon was only a couple of doors down.
“Aren’t you supposed to tell me to back off because you’re taking care of it?”
John studied his friend. “Would you?”
“No.”
And that was good. Because Frannie’s well-being didn’t matter too much if the entirety of Sanctuary’s security was compromised. If they were going to solve all the problems they had right now, they’d need to pull together.
**
Matthias opened the Jeep door, but stayed sitting in the passenger seat hoping no one noticed his lack of energy. He hadn’t wanted to leave the medical center, but Frannie had adequate protection. The unexpected arrival of this particular dog wasn’t good. Had something happened to Nadia Marie’s brother, or had Grant done the impossible and gotten her request approved? Matthias figured it was the former, given the look on John’s face.
It got worse when Bolton came out of the sheriff’s office, talking on John’s satellite phone. He ended the call and tossed the unit to the sheriff. All of them winced, but John caught it smoothly. The thing was a DOD prototype that was way more than a regular satellite phone—or a police radio—and who knew how expensive to replace.
Matthias felt the dog’s fur brush his ear, and then a wet tongue swiped it. He waved the dog away and got out to pop open the back door.
Nadia Marie strode out of the salon in black fitted pants and boots with heels that brought her almost to Bolton’s height. The question on her face evaporated when the dog jumped out and ran to her.
“Dauntless?” She sank to a crouch and greeted the dog, who nuzzled and licked her. “But Grant said—why is my brother’s dog—?” Dread washed over her face.
Matthias walked toward her.
“Something happened to Shad.”
Bolton got there before Matthias, putting his arm around Nadia Marie. John moved closer so they formed a huddle around her.
The sheriff’s look wasn’t encouraging. “Grant wanted to be here himself. He wanted to be the one to tell you, but—”
Nadia Marie gritted her teeth.
“Shad is missing in action.”
She sucked in a breath. The dog moved closer to her, nudging her with the side of his head. Matthias grabbed her hand even though Bolton still had his arm around her. Andra poked Matthias in the side. He shifted, and she inserted herself in the huddle with a small smile for him, putting her arm around her fiancé.
“He’s not dead.”
John didn’t disagree with her. “There’s no body, but there are also no signs he was taken by someone, or injured either.”
“I would know if he was. I would feel it.” Matthias must have reacted in some way, because she turned to him. “Shad isn’t just my brother, he’s my twin. If he was hurt, I would know.”
Matthias nodded. Bolton shot him a dirty look, despite the fact this was hardly the time to start getting territorial.
“And he would never walk away from his duty.”
John said, “The Marines are doing everything they can to mount a search for Shad.”
“What about Billy?”
John waited a second, like he was bracing himself before he told her. “I’m sorry to say Staff Sergeant William Martinez was killed in action.”
“Eleanor.” Nadia Marie closed her eyes for a second. “Shad wouldn’t have left him. They’re teammates.”
“It’s conceivable he had no choice, Nadia.” John pressed his lips together. “Grant is going to forward me the report so you can read it. I know it’s not much, but we have enough pull you can at least know the full story of what happened—as much as the military knows, or is willing to share.”
She nodded, glancing at Andra for a second. “Thank you.”
“The minute I hear anything, you’ll be the first to know.”
“And Dauntless?”
“Grant wanted you to have Shad’s dog with you, since he’ll need watching for an indeterminate period of time.”
“You mean my mom found out Shad is gone, and she was going to get rid of him.”
The side of John’s mouth curled up in a small smile. “You don’t get rid of a dog like this. Grant sent his wife to your mom’s house. He says it took her all of five minutes to persuade her to give Dauntless up to you.”
Nadia Marie laughed, though there were tears in her eyes. “I would’ve liked to have seen that.”
They were all chuckling when a scream rang out. Then a crash.
A chair flew through the window of the bakery, taking all the glass with it. The spray of shards rained onto the sidewalk and the street in front of Frannie’s store.
Multiple people screamed as John ran over to the bakery. Matthias’s boots crunched on the glass as he followed. He looked back to make sure the dog wasn’t going to step in it. Bolton was already leading Nadia Marie away, clicking his fingers for the dog to follow.
When Matthias entered Frannie’s store, John already had Mimi restrained. She was screeching, wrestling with him while multiple people looked on. May’s arm was around Elma, who was holding her cheek with her hand as though she’d been struck.
He went to the twins. “What happened?”
“She went crazy,” May said. Elma whimpered, her fear-filled eyes still on Mimi who was thrashing and screaming.
John set Mimi in a chair and got in her face. “Calm down.” The authority in his voice was such that Mimi’s howling cut off, and she choked on a breath. “I’m arresting you for criminal damage to—”
“She’s cutting me off!” Mimi screeched. “I’ve taken care of Frannie her whole life, and this is how she repays me!” Frannie’s mom motioned to a paper on the table.
Matthias grabbed it, scanning the printed words on the page issued by the Sanctuary bank. Stan evidently did not mess around, since Frannie had only approached him the day before about selling the house she, her mom and her sister lived in.
“She’s selling the house out from under me.” Mimi’s voice was quiet now, full of tears no doubt honed through years of professional acting. “Izzy is pregnant, and now we’ll both be homeless.”
Matthias was pretty sure they’d been fired from the bakery, too, not that they showed up for work half the time. Frannie had been carrying them both for a long time, but now that time was over.
He was just glad Frannie wasn’t here to see—
“Mom?”
Matthias spun back. Mimi started screeching again. Frannie stood in the doorway, Sonny at one elbow and Louis at the other with Michael behind them.
He took a step toward her, and the old-man posse reacted. Matthias stopped. “Should you be out of bed?”
Frannie didn’t even acknowledge him. She let her friends walk her into the store where she sat on a chair. Her skin was gray against her red hair. The woman did not look like she should be up and walking around.
“Mom, did you break my window?” She sounded like she was choking back tears. Matthias took another step toward her, but the three old men all reacted. As though they
needed to protect Frannie from him.
What was going on?
Mimi scowled. “I said you were going to destroy us if you testified, and I was right. You think you’re so much better than me and Izzy.” Her handcuffs clinked as she shifted in the chair. “And now you’re going to ruin both of our lives.”
“I’m sorry you think that.” Frannie’s voice was sad. “I’m sorry you think I’ve ruined your lives. But the only reason we’re in Sanctuary is because you refused to live quietly. We could have been anywhere, but I had to make this decision when I was sixteen because you’re too childish to appreciate the fact your life is in danger.”
“Because of you.”
“No, because of you. Because you married dad.”
“If I hadn’t, you wouldn’t even exist.”
Frannie didn’t react. She looked like she only had enough energy to sit and talk, not to express any kind of emotion. Or there simply wasn’t any left for her mother. Frannie waited a beat and then said, “We’re done mom. I’m not going to support you anymore.”
Mimi huffed, but there was a flash of fear in her eyes. “You can’t kick us out!”
“I already have. I’m selling the house. If you can’t afford the payments then you need to find somewhere else to live.”
“You can’t do this!”
John set a restraining hand on Mimi’s shoulder.
She glared at him. “I want out of Sanctuary. Izzy and I can’t live here anymore, not after what she’s done.”
“Izzy has to make that decision for herself,” John told her. “If you’re serious about leaving I can put in the request. It’ll take some time right now, given we’re still under heightened security.”
“You can’t keep me here. I won’t be a prisoner.”
Frannie looked at the ceiling. She still hadn’t acknowledged the fact Matthias was even there. He felt like a specter in the room no one could see, only able to observe what was happening but not able to participate.
“Mom—”
Mimi winced. Izzy stepped inside the bakery, glancing around and seeing immediately something had happened. “Mom—Fran—what on earth?” Izzy looked like she barely had time for either of them.
Mimi said, “Izzy pack our stuff. As soon as I’m out of jail, we’re leaving Sanctuary.”
John turned to Frannie. “Do you want to press charges?”
“Not if she pays for the damage. I just want this done with.” Frannie hesitated a second. “If they want to leave I won’t stop them.”
Frannie looked like her heart was about to break. The old men gathered around her, laying their hands on her shoulders in a move of solidarity. Izzy reached his side, sliding her hand through his elbow. When had she moved toward him?
Matthias shifted, hoping she would let go. She only smiled up at him and hung on.
“I’m not leaving, Mom.”
Mimi’s eyebrows rose at where Izzy was standing. “I see that.”
Matthias shifted again, but Izzy didn’t let go. It was like Mimi and Izzy were communicating without saying anything, like they were having a whole conversation just by looking at each other.
Mimi nodded.
Which couldn’t mean anything good, now could it?
Izzy laid her head on Matthias’s shoulder. “It’s too early to tell, but soon everyone will know about Matthias and I. A baby is just proof of our love. That’s why I can’t leave.” She beamed as dread settled on Matthias like a vice. “We’re getting married.”
Mimi’s smile was like an evil victory.
They were seriously so vicious toward Frannie they would make an accusation like this? Matthias took Izzy’s hand and pulled her grip from his arm.
“Are you kidding me?” He put all the disgust he felt over their actions into his question. How could they do this to Frannie? Only someone with no conscience would seek to harm another person—someone they should love—this way.
Izzy immediately produced tears. Matthias couldn’t look at Frannie—not until Izzy admitted she was lying. While the tears rolled down Izzy’s face, she covered her hand with her mouth and then said, “How can you say that? You told me you wanted our baby!” Her hands went to her flat stomach. “All that talk about marriage…it was just talk? How could you do that to me? You told me you loved me, Matthias. You told me you love our baby.”
“Our baby?” He felt his eyebrows raise and shook his head. “Seriously? You don’t think you’ve hurt Frannie enough without dragging me into the drama between you and Diego?”
“He doesn’t have anything to do with this. You told me you forgave me for that. I know it was history repeating itself for you, but I told you it won’t happen again. I’m not like that other girl. I’m not the one who’s going to leave you behind. Matthias, I love you. I love the baby we made together.”
The door shut. Frannie was gone, along with the old men. Andra stood just inside the door, arms folded, looking like he was next on her hit list.
He moved to the door. Izzy grabbed for his arm, but Matthias shook her off. “She’s gone?”
“You really think she was going to stay and listen to that?” Andra huffed. “She’s nowhere near able to fight them off, and you should’ve had way more care with her feelings than this.”
“But it’s not true. She should know that.”
“Matthias.” John’s voice was stern, making him back up a little. Getting mad at the sheriff’s fiancé wasn’t going to help.
He rubbed his head and tried to figure out what just happened. “She can’t have thought that was for real.”
Andra shrugged. “I don’t think she knows which way is up right now.”
“Why was she even out of the medical center?”
“I don’t think that matters. Not when you’ve got more important things to worry about. Like making her believe you’re the one telling the truth, and not—” She looked at Izzy. “—her.”
Matthias ran his hands down his face. He must have swayed or something, because John grabbed his elbows.
“Andra, help him back to the medical center. He has business to take care of.”
“No.” Matthias shook his head, still deciding what he should do. “I’ll have to wait until later. Frannie needs to rest.”
“Are you sure?” Andra frowned. “You don’t want her thinking this is true.”
“There’s no way she thinks that.”
If she did, Frannie obviously wasn’t the person he thought she was.
Chapter 20
Flashes of dreams from the time Frannie had been asleep wouldn’t give up their grip on her mind. She didn’t want to think about the word coma, a scary term for being anesthetized just to help her heal. Dan had been there when she’d woken up. He’d told her to simply close her eyes, take a breath and recite the Bible verse he’d shown her.
Stella hadn’t worsened, but she wasn’t better either. Frannie’s lungs were clear for the first time in days. She finally felt like she was getting past the worst of the chemical’s effect on her, even though her throat was still raw.
She glanced over at the guys, huddled together in the far corner of the room. Sonny, Louis and Michael were having an intense conversation with Hal—the Sanctuary radio DJ. The elderly biker was frowning, shaking his head.
Frannie sighed, raising her voice so they could hear her. “If you’re planning on sticking close until kingdom come, you should probably note the fact I’m going home soon.”
They all turned to her, but Frannie didn’t back down. “Sheriff Mason will be here in a minute to pick me up. You’ll need to re-format your plan to the apartment above the bakery.”
She didn’t want to be in the medical center one second longer. Not when all she could think of were crazy images of Stella sitting up—getting off the bed and walking around like the undead while Frannie couldn’t get away.
The residue of nightmares had left her shaky and needing air.
Whatever things are true.
At least her
nightmare images of the bakery were real, or as real as it could be when it was all Izzy’s lies. Frannie knew that. She knew Matthias was not the father of her sister’s baby, but it hadn’t stopped the slice of pain that ran through her like a samurai sword seeing them standing together talking about a child. His face had told her the truth, but with all the other images—most of them unreal—swirling in her mind, Frannie hadn’t been able to stick around and wait for him to explain what she already knew.
Whatever things are lovely.
Later, when they had some time, they could talk about it…after she’d slept for a year at least, first.
Frannie grabbed her bag, and the script she was supposed to be learning for the play. Half the stuff in her head was due to practicing her lines. Where else would all the stuff about dead people coming back to life have come from?
In the play, after Hero is accused of being unfaithful, the characters decide to tell everyone she has died until the truth can be revealed and her husband-to-be can prove himself honorable. And in the grief over his accusations, he unravels the truth.
It didn’t make for happy dreams, even though Frannie and Matthias’s characters were by-standers who fell in love during the emotional time where Hero—Nadia Marie’s character—is being slandered. It made Frannie’s messed up head wonder if she couldn’t fake her death to draw out the killer and thereby prove Izzy’s accusations to be untruth.
Whatever things are of good report.
But this was real life, not a story where the fairytale came to a “happy ever after” conclusion and everything was wrapped up nicely at the end. She had to live with the reality her sister and mother would do or say anything just to hurt her, simply because Frannie wanted to be free of them. And now they had sucked Matthias into their twisted plan.
Frannie kind of hoped they did leave town. Not that she wanted them to put themselves at risk. So long as they could be protected, she was good with them living far from here.
Sanctuary Buried WITSEC Town Series Book 2 Page 23
