In the Shadow of Love

by Annie Bruce

  Maggie stared back at him with a blank look on her face.

  “Well, I did leave one.” His tone sounded almost indignant.

  “Well I didn’t get it.” She snapped back. Sighing she let her arms drop to her side. She didn’t want to fight with him. She didn’t like this negative energy invading their relationship that was still so tenuous. “Are you sure you dialed the right number?” She was grasping for anything that made sense.

  “Yes, and it was your voice on the greeting.” His tone was sarcastic, something she’d never heard from him before. Impatiently he walked over to her and took the portable from her hand. Cradling the receiver with the number pad facing downward he paged through the phone numbers of callers that day.

  “See, I called in the morning.” He presented the evidence to her.

  Maggie looked at the phone number listed and the time. “But I didn’t – I mean the only message today was from Davis.”

  She didn’t know what to think. Except for a brief walk to get the mail, she was here all day. “The shower.”

  Morris looked confused.

  “I was taking a shower when you called.” But her explanation only led to more questions. Why hadn’t her phone recorded the message? Davis’ message recorded. Making a mental note to follow up with the phone company she put the issue aside.

  “Davis?” Morris still looked perplexed and concerned. “Are you sure Davis left a message?”

  “Well, yes. He said it was him and it sounded like him.” Running her hand through her tussled hair was a sign that she was tired and frustrated.

  “And he called back just a little while ago and I talked to him.” She turned away and tried to recall the events of the day and their timing. As days normally went for Maggie with two twin boys, the day was fairly uneventful.

  “Look, I don’t know what’s going on, but,” she paced further away from Morris and then turned abruptly, “maybe you’d better tell me what you think is going on.

  He didn’t seem eager to talk just yet and to some extent Maggie wasn’t sure she wanted to know what he thought, but if they were going to get any resolution to the mysteries now surrounding their lives, she had to know.

  “Just what did you discover in Maryville today?” The question had to be asked.

  “I think we’d better sit down.” His tone was gentler now.

  A shudder shot up her spine as she remembered the last time he said those words. That turned out to be a horrible day. Her gut told her this wouldn’t be much better. Sitting across the kitchen table from each other, tension filed the air.

  “Well?”

  “It appears that Owen Cassidy was the last person to see the Strong family alive.” His words hung in the air.

  “Are you sure?” She felt like someone just punched her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She didn’t want to believe that the Owen she knew was capable of what Morris was suggesting.

  “A witness placed him at the scene. The Maryville police interviewed Owen after the murders and confirmed that he was there the day before.” His tone was matter of fact.

  “That doesn’t mean that he had anything to do with their brutal deaths.”

  “No it doesn’t. However, it does make me wonder how much he knew about the murders before they happened–,” he paused and she felt him gauge her reaction, “–and just how far he was willing to go to keep Mr. Strong from testifying against him.”

  “Now wait a minute.” Maggie’s Irish blood began to boil. “There’s absolutely no proof that Owen had anything to do with any criminal activity let alone those heinous murders.”

  “True, but we can’t rule him out either.”

  “You think he’s a suspect?”

  “He’s certainly on the list.”

  “I don’t believe this.” Maggie shot up from her chair and paced frantically across the tiled floor as she tried to talk some sense into Morris. “There’s no way that Owen had anything to do with those murders.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because I am,” she paused to take a deep breath. “Just like I knew he hadn’t committed suicide.” Her eyes locked with his. “I just knew.”

  He shifted his weight in the chair and leaned further back, his arms now crossed over his chest. “Okay, then, who do you think we should be looking at?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been reviewing those same documents all day and I just don’t know.” She sat back down in the chair she had abandoned moments before then leaned forward resting her chin in her hands, elbows propped on the wooden surface of the table. She felt helpless.

  “I have something that might help.” Morris left the house as quickly as he had arrived. Returning with papers in hand, he placed them before a weary Maggie.

  “Oh, just what I need. More paper to look at!” Exasperation laced her tone. Taking a deep breath she pulled the papers closer and began to sort through their contents.

  Some were photocopies, others looked like originals. There were a range of memos, letters, and hand-written notes.

  “Where did you get these?”

  “I don’t want to tell you that yet.” She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

  “Why all the intrigue?”

  “I don’t want to taint your assessment.” He paused. “It’s important, Maggie. What you tell me about those documents could very well help us catch a murderer.”

  He had her attention. “Just what is it you want me to do with these?” Holding up two fists full of papers she demanded to know at least that much.

  “See if you can match any of the writing style and contents of these documents to the ones we’ve already isolated.”

  An eerie feeling swept over her as the enormity of the situation sunk in. A killer could have touched the very documents she was now holding. Placing the papers before her, she hugged herself as a chill surged up her spine.

  “Are you okay?” As always, the concern in his voice touched her, warmed her, and made her feel less alone.

  “Yes.” Her voice cracked just a little. “I just need a moment to clear my head.” Standing up she walked across the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Steaming mug in hand, she leaned back against the counter and sighed.

  “To think a killer is as close as the papers on my kitchen table–” she couldn’t go on.

  In lightening speed Morris was by her side. “I know, I know.”

  Taking the mug from her hand he folded her into his arms. As she rested her head against his chest the steady rhythm of his beating heart lulled her into a sense of serene comfort. The strength of his hold soothed her in a way that nothing else could. With every beat of his heart that pulsated next to her cheek she knew this was where she wanted to stay forever.

  He would always be there for her. She was certain of that but could she handle the uncertainty of his job? Her own involvement in this case was too much for her to handle, but because she was involved and because Owen was missing, she had to see it through. Could she handle worrying about Morris every time he went to work, wondering if he’d come back to her?

  Her body tensed and Morris gently pushed her away from him. “What’s the matter?” He looked into her eyes, his gaze penetrating. He knew she couldn’t lie, not to him, not to anybody.

  Pulling away, she walked across the room and struggled to regain her composure. She had to do that a lot with this man. He had such an effect on her. From across the room he watched her pace back and forth.

  “I know!” She stopped abruptly, her voice louder than she intended. “We’ll ask the one person who knows.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “Owen.” Maggie didn’t give Morris time to object. “I have to get changed.” The words were flung over her shoulder as she sped up the stairs.

  Flinging clothes across the room, she hurriedly changed into something comfortable for a long trip in the car.

  It wasn’t long before Maggie and Morris were in his car headed away from the city. It was a gra
y day. There had been too many gray days lately. The last days of winter hung onto Chicago with a vengeance resisting the transition to spring.

  “Just where are we going?” He thought it prudent to know his destination so he could actually arrive there safely.

  “To Wisconsin.”

  “Wisconsin?” It wasn’t that Morris was adverse to the state of Wisconsin it’s just that he’d like to know what he was getting himself into. “Dare I ask what’s in Wisconsin?”

  “A cabin.” Morris waited patiently for more information but the only other sound besides silence was the purring of the car’s engine.

  “And what or who is at this cabin?” He hoped he didn’t have to drag the information out of Maggie one piece at a time.

  “Owen.” Looking straight ahead, she sat rigidly in the seat. The further away they drove from Chicago the further Maggie seemed to withdraw from him.

  “Okay, Maggie, you want to tell me what’s on your mind?”

  She finally looked his way. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve been distant with me for the past hour.” He tried to keep his voice from becoming angry but he was definitely feeling angry. “Did I do something wrong?”

  As the car sped along the expressway, the silence stretched between them. It was becoming painfully clear to her that she had let her emotions and sexual desire get in the way of her better judgment. She had rushed into a relationship without giving thought to the consequences it would bring.

  “No, I did something wrong.”

  “How so?”

  “I never should have gotten so involved with someone I just met.”

  “I see.” But his tone said he didn’t.

  “It’s complicated.”

  ”Apparently.” The anger seeped into his voice. “Don’t I get a say in the matter?”

  “That’s just it.” Her words stumbled out of her mouth. “I’m not sure I’m ready to let someone else have a say in my life. And,” she looked away and stared rigidly through the windshield of the car, “I have my boys to think about.”

  “When did you decide all of this?” He jerked his head her way for just a moment, one eye still on the road ahead.

  “Today.” Her pronouncement was simple, straightforward. “While I was waiting for you to call and worried sick that something terrible had happened.” She avoided looking at him. “I’m not sure how much of that I can take.”

  “Are you sure that’s all it is?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing - forget it.”

  But she couldn’t. She’d keep it to herself for now, just wanting to find Owen as soon as possible.

  The friction between them intensified as Morris steered the car towards Wisconsin, where city gave way to open farm land. It didn’t take long before Maggie sat back in the seat and relaxed. The detective in him wanted more information but the man in him didn’t want to further the distance that had been building between them. Still he needed to know more about where they were going. Geographically, that is, although he was determined to find out where their relationship was going as well. Maggie may have given up on them but he hadn’t.

  On one level Morris couldn’t blame her for feeling as she did. He understood it. He knew it wasn’t easy being a cop’s significant other. It’s one of the reasons his marriage had ended. But from the beginning he felt Maggie was different. He believed she could understand what he did and why he did it.

  “Can you tell me exactly where this cabin is and why you think Owen will be there?”

  “He told me.”

  “You’ve talked to him recently?” Morris bristled at the thought that she might have kept that piece of information from him.

  “No, not recently.” Maggie sat up straighter and turned in his direction. “I remembered him telling me that if anything ever happened to him that the answers would be at the cabin. Nobody else knows about it.”

  “Just when did you remember this?”

  “Just before you arrived, but I didn’t realize it at first.” She paused. “After Davis called and got disconnected I remembered once when Owen called me from the road. He was on his cell phone in his car headed towards his cabin and he passed through a dead spot.” Maggie realized her choice of words after the fact.

  “Davis got disconnected?”

  “Yes, I think he was on his cell phone.”

  “And he didn’t call back?”

  “No, that’s why I thought you were Davis when you called earlier. He called right before you did.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He asked if I’d seen or heard from you.” She took a deep breath. “Then the line went dead,” she took another deep breath. “I tried the call back code but all I got was a busy signal.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?”

  “It didn’t seem important. Cell phones are always disconnecting.”

  “Maggie, everything’s important at this point. Even the smallest detail could be a piece of the puzzle.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her voice was strained.

  The drive continued in silence until the sign, “You are now leaving the state of Illinois.”

  “So, just where is this cabin?”

  “Not much further.” Her words were terse. “I’ll tell you when I recognize the exit.”

  He was almost afraid to ask. “What do you mean, recognize the exit?”

  He felt her look his way. “Owen never told me the address – just how to get there using landmarks.” He heard her breathing. “I wasn’t sure you’d go with me if I told you I wasn’t exactly certain where the cabin was.”

  “I see.” He kept his eyes on the road ahead of him. She still didn’t trust him, didn’t believe in him enough. He’d go with her anywhere, if only to keep her safe. The exits passed one by one. The miles seemed like a hundred by the time he steered the car off the expressway and onto a narrow county road.

  “That’s it.” Like an excited child, Maggie’s voice broke through his concentration. “That’s it. Turn off here.”

  “Turn left now.” She continued giving directions.

  Following the road they stopped before an expanse of water with dense trees. The cabin was nestled in a portion of trees that gave a breath taking view of the lake. Beautiful but remote, he understood why someone would escape to such a location.

  The gravel from the unfinished driveway crunched under the tires as he pulled to a stop behind a thicket of trees.

  “Look Maggie, before we go in there I just want to clear the air.”

  Sitting still she didn’t say a word, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. He’d seen her this way before and he didn’t like it. It felt off balance.

  “I don’t know what went wrong between us but I want you to know that ’m here for you.”

  “Let’s just get this over with.” She finally looked up. “Please.”

  “Okay.” He paused before leaving the car – just in case. She didn’t budge.

  As he made his way to the passenger side, he noticed a sudden movement near the cabin. Leaning in through the window, he motioned for her to be silent. “I want you to stay here.” His voice was barely above a whisper as he tossed her his keys. “Roll up the windows and lock the doors.”

  “Why - what’s the matter?”

  “I think there’s someone behind the cabin. Stay here and if anything happens leave immediately and get the sheriff.”

  His early words nearly broke Maggie’s resistance then danger reared its ugly head reviving her doubts and fears. Anxiously watching she saw him quickly work his way around the area, his weapon drawn. She followed his orders, afraid to do otherwise. What sounded like a car back firing broke through the painful silence then she saw Morris in pursuit, aiming his weapon and returning fire.

  Opening the door to shield her as she tried to exit she was anxious for reassurance that Morris was okay. More gun fire. Slamming the door she dove down on the front seat tasting the leather. She w
aited but the only sound was her heart pounding in her ears.

  Peering above the dashboard she saw the flash before she heard the sound of gunfire. That was the last shot fired as she saw the gunman head towards the lake and his escape by boat.

  Leaving the car she quickly ran in the direction of the cabin following the path that Morris had taken only moments ago. Unable to find him as she scanned the tree line and shore she headed towards the cabin’s back entrance. Through the screened-in porch she could see that the back door was open. Her throat constricted as she cautiously entered the cabin. It was dark and musty smelling as if nobody had been here in quite sometime.

  “Morris?” She called out his name in a whispered plea. No response. She moved further into the cabin and it’s combination living, dining room and kitchen. The sound of movement down the hall caught her attention. Holding her breath she approached cautiously and willed herself to put one foot in front of the other.

  The first door was ajar and she could see that the room was empty. Then a sudden movement further on made Maggie step back. She drew a deep breath and walked quietly towards the bedroom door. As she peered through the crack between the door and its frame she noticed a man lying on the floor face down. He looked so lifeless.

  Her heart raced as she reached out to push the door open. Suddenly grabbed from behind, her mouth was covered, halting her screams. Terror filed her entire body as she saw her life flash before her. An overwhelming feeling of regret and horror touched every nerve in her body. She didn’t want to die this way, didn’t want to leave her boys motherless. She prayed as hard as she could for some divine intervention.

  “Maggie, it’s me.” Morris’ voice penetrated her senses and she nearly collapsed in relief.

  She was excited and confused wondering where he came from and why his hand was still clamped over her mouth!

  “Stay quiet, the perp may still be here.”

  Maggie shook her head vigorously until Morris released his death grip on her.

  “I saw him flee in a boat.”

  “When?”

  “Shortly after I heard the last gun shot.” Still trying to catch her breath, she leaned against the wall in the hallway. “Who’s that on the floor.”