Where One Road Leads

by Cerian Hebert

  The phone rang two minutes after she put the roll down.

  “Hello,” she answered idly.

  “I don’t appreciate you siccing the cops on me, Krista.”

  A chill, colder than the autumn night, sliced through her. She sat hard on the kitchen chair. “What do you want, Ricky?”

  He chuckled. “Well, I thought I’d welcome you back to town. Now you have me on this bad guy list, I’m not so sure.”

  “Cut the crap, Ricky. It’s just you and me here. Are you trying to scare me out of town?” Krista automatically reached for the pack of cigarettes that sat next to the empty ashtray. Her first cigarette in a week. She needed it now more than anything. It would help her sound more confident than she surely felt.

  “I really have no idea what you’re talking about.” He sounded so nonchalant. “In fact my feelings are really hurt. I thought we were friends and here you are, accusing me of stalking you and throwing bricks through your window. I’ve got better things to do with my time.”

  “We’re not friends, Ricky, and you can pretend all you want that you haven’t been skulking around the woods or doing your little drive-by thing. You’re not going to chase me out of here. I’m sticking around for a long time. Deal with it.” She kept her voice steady and cool. If he could tell how much this had shaken her, he’d never leave her alone.

  The laugh came again. “You seem to think I haven’t changed over the years. Well, I’m not the same delinquent I used to be. Nearly getting killed, having my best friend and my girlfriend dying right next to me put things in a new light, Krista. I’m a changed man, a respectable one, and if you think I would risk my reputation by hiding behind your house or throwing a brick through your window, you’re sadly mistaken. If I wanted you gone, I have other ways to do it. On the contrary, I wanted to congratulate you on your endeavors. Who would’ve thought a little ex-convict like you would make good. I really pictured you serving truckers in some greasy truck stop. I guess I’m not the only one who turned around a bad situation.”

  Krista pulled out a cigarette, put it to her lips and lit it. She drew in a long drag and blew it back out. “Well, glad your life is wonderful, but this conversation is pointless. So why don’t you and I say goodbye and not have any contact with each other? That way you won’t have to lie about it.”

  “It’s hard not to bump into people in a town this size, Krista, so that I can’t promise. I would, however, like you to make a promise. No more visits from Officer Burgess. For some reason he doesn’t like me. I know he doesn’t like you either, so let’s leave him out of the picture for both our sakes.”

  Ricky hung up before she could say anything. Krista followed suit, placing the phone on the table and leaning back in the chair, her eyes closed.

  Somehow she had the feeling she hadn’t heard the last from Ricky. And next time a broken window might not be all the damage he’d leave behind.

  Chapter 4

  “Stay away from Richard Crowe.”

  Matt glanced at his father.

  Ed Burgess had Jay’s height and Matt’s muscles. As a kid, Matt used to pretend his dad was a marshal in the old west. Even graying and a few years away from retirement, Ed remained impressive enough to intimidate most any badass they came across, but there was a twinkle in his eyes that gave away the jovial guy beneath the cop exterior. Always the one to play Santa at local holiday events, always the cop who went to the local elementary school to give talks to the little kids.

  Right now, though, there was no humor in his eyes. His jaw hardened with tension.

  “Are you kidding me?” Matt sighed. Of course he isn’t kidding. He should’ve expected this.

  “I got a call from Thomas Crowe this morning. If you have no proof Ricky was involved over at Krista’s house, you stay away from him.”

  “Come on, Dad. I may not like her too much, but in this case I believe her. And the expression on the guy’s face when I talked to him about it, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s involved in some way.”

  Ed pressed a hand to his forehead as if pushing back on a headache. “Looks don’t mean a thing, Matt. You know that. Concrete proof is all that matters. And even then the bastard will probably find a way to wiggle out of it. So until you have more, stay away from him about this. You’re a good cop, but the Crowes have the power to ruin your career.”

  At the curse words pouring from Matt, his dad sighed wryly. “Thomas Crowe had more colorful speech than that. Whether we like it or not, they’re not a family we want to be messing with. Spoiled brats, each one of them.”

  Matt nodded. It made him wonder if Ricky had had any words with Krista after his visit. It worried him that things might be worse now, that Ricky could up the stakes because he was ticked off and knew he could get away with it.

  He got to his feet. “I’m going to drive over to Krista’s. Make sure things are okay.”

  Ed nodded. “Just take care.”

  A local glass company van was parked behind Krista’s Jeep, apparently replacing the broken window. Gus lay on the front steps, enjoying the last of the warm October sunshine. Soon November would be here, along with the cold weather; rain and maybe even snow. The dog barely lifted his head when Matt walked up to him. Instead, he rolled on his back and exposed his belly with the hopes of having it scratched by some kind person. Matt complied.

  “Must be nice not to have any cares,” he told the dog before straightening and ringing the doorbell.

  Krista, dressed in faded jeans and a football jersey, opened the door, remaining behind the screen. A guarded expression fell across her face like a veil. Even though he was one of the good guys, she probably didn’t see him that way.

  “I wanted to see how things were going,” he explained stiffly. “If anything else has happened since yesterday.”

  Krista pulled the door open and joined him outside. “No unwelcome visitors, if that’s what you mean. I did get a phone call from Ricky last night. Telling me to stop accusing him of things he’s too sweet and innocent to do. Since when did he become a pillar of the community?”

  Matt laughed at the description, even as the fact of Ricky making that phone call proved the idiot was as bold as he’d always been. “Ever since he decided he couldn’t get far if he remained a delinquent. What exactly did he say?”

  Krista gazed toward the road, frowning. “Basically that my accusations to the cops has ruined our ‘friendship’ but he wanted to welcome me back to town anyway. And that if he wanted me gone he had other ways to do it.”

  Matt didn’t reply right away. He took a moment to study her while she wasn’t glaring at him. Her skin looked pale and washed out, with dark circles under her eyes. She probably hadn’t slept too well and he couldn’t blame her.

  He remembered back those fifteen years, before the accident. She’d been vibrant, full of life, just like Jay. There was a three-year age difference, so he hadn’t known her too well back then, except she’d been the kind of girl everyone noticed. Some of that youthful vivaciousness had been sucked from her. Yet plenty of strength remained. Maybe more strength because of what she’d been through.

  His gaze flickered over the scars on her skin. As ravaging as they were, they still didn’t detract much from her simple beauty.

  “Unfortunately he’s found ways of improving his life and using his father’s connections,” Matt finally said, before she figured out he’d been studying her. “I’ve tried not to have anything to do with him over the years and that remains a good idea, but not at the expense of the law or other people’s safety.”

  Krista’s eyes held an undercurrent of alarm in their blue-gray depths. “Matt, don’t do anything that’s going to get you into trouble. I don’t think he’ll try coming around again.”

  From her expression, Matt knew she didn’t believe it. If Ricky had star
ted this, he probably wouldn’t stop, but he’d be more careful.

  The question was, why? What were Ricky’s reasons for wanting Krista gone?

  “Don’t worry about me,” he told her, unwillingly touched by her concern. “I can take care of myself. I’m more worried about you being out here on your own.”

  For the first time in fifteen years, he saw her smile. It transformed her; erased a lot of those hard years.

  “Well, those are words I never thought I’d hear from your lips, Officer Burgess.”

  Matt snorted. “Don’t get any warm and cozy feelings, Krista.”

  Her mouth puckered into a frown. “No, I wouldn’t dare.” Then she ruined it by grinning.

  She was clearly teasing him, and for some reason, he smiled back. Definitely time to leave. If he didn’t he’d be sharing a cup of coffee with her, or something just as cozy.

  He took a step backward. “Remember to call if anything else happens.”

  “I’ll remember. I don’t think Gus would offer the kind of protection a policeman could give me anyway.” She nudged the sleeping dog with her toe.

  “I don’t know about that, he seemed pretty fierce yesterday. He must be very loyal to you.”

  “I rescued him from a slow death. We’ve had a bond ever since.”

  Matt didn’t ask her to elaborate. He didn’t want to show his curiosity. Instead he nodded and stepped off the porch. Then turned. “Everything going okay over at the mill?”

  Damn, why don’t I just leave?

  “Couldn’t be better. Everything is on schedule.” She hesitated a moment. “Listen, while we’re on the subject, I have a question for you.” She stepped off the porch and walked toward him. “Word is you teach tae kwon do and kick-boxing. I’m trying to set up classes at the center. We need an instructor. Would you be interested? For a good cause?”

  Matt paused and considered the idea. He couldn’t make such a decision on the spot. “I’ll think about it. Come up with some kind of schedule and I’ll see if it would be possible.”

  Her smile returned, wide and engaging. It made a person not notice the scars that marred her face. “Thanks, Matt. At this rate I might have to change my opinion of you.”

  With a shake of his head, Matt returned to his cruiser and pulled out of the drive. Once more Krista Faye had surprised him. He’d have to make an effort to stay away from her.

  Krista moaned and pressed her hand to her mouth. “This cannot be happening.”

  She stood in the middle of the new nursery, slowly studying the wreckage that had once been her beautiful center.

  The damage was beyond belief. The day before, the nursery had been nearly complete, walls painted in pastels, a mural depicting teddy bears and bunnies covering one whole wall. New carpet.

  Now, all destroyed.

  Someone had brought in what must have been buckets of black paint and had splashed the entire room in the stuff. Even the ceiling was covered with splatters. Worse, someone seemed to have taken a box cutter or other sharp device and had gouged the walls and the carpet.

  Most bone-chilling was the single word carved right across one of the fanciful bears . . .

  Murderer. Just like the brick from three days ago.

  “Krista.”

  She turned and faced Mel Kangas, the contractor who had called her that morning at six to report the destruction.

  “You’d better come to the dance studio.”

  “Oh, please tell me you’re kidding,” she protested, but followed him out of the room. She felt ill, like crying and throwing up all at the same time.

  Three Quail Ridge police officers were already in the big dance studio, her favorite room in the whole place. On the first floor of the mill, one wall was made up of nearly floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the river that ran next to the building. Bright sunlight flooded in, warming the room. Along the other wall were long mirrors.

  All in ruins. More paint covered the new floors that were once shiny and ready to be used. Each mirror had been smashed.

  “I’m so sorry, Ms. Faye.” Mel put his hand on her shoulder.

  She just shook her head. She couldn’t even speak. Anger and fear knotted together in her gut and she pressed her hand to her mouth to keep in the pain.

  More words were written on the walls, repeating the same sentiment as in the nursery, joined by ‘leave town’ and ‘killer bitch.’

  How could someone hate me so much?

  She was desperate to come up with some kind of answer. Did Ricky really do this? Would he be so bold as to come in here and wreak this kind of destruction? Risk the life he’d built?

  Questions ricocheted around her brain, nothing she could answer. Maybe he considered her a threat to everything he’d done in the past fifteen years. They were the only two in the world who knew the truth of the night fifteen years ago. He’d lied, and no doubt with his father’s aid, convinced enough people of the lie so she’d paid the price.

  What could happen to him if people changed their minds about it? She wasn’t an expert on the law, but after so many years, could the truth damage him that much? She doubted it, except maybe through public opinion. After all, her foot had been on the brake. Her impetuous decision caused all the misery. But Ricky and Jay’s actions beforehand set the whole disastrous event in motion.

  She pushed her ragged emotions aside. “Well, how long does this set us back? We have an opening in three weeks. Can it be repaired?”

  Mel smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah, it can be repaired. It’s going to cost a lot, just to let you know.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” She stared at the devastation. “It needs to be done. I’m not going to let him beat me.”

  “Him?” Mel stared at her blankly.

  Krista gestured wearily. “Never mind. I suppose I should go talk to the officers. Then I need to call my partner.”

  Two hours later she finally reached Cameron. She hated telling him about the setback and decided to keep the personal attack out of it. Better if he thought a vandal trashed the place, not someone who wanted to trash her.

  Cameron was unquestionably upset and angry over the news. The idealist in him was ready to rebuild and worry about the finances later.

  “Do you need me there?” he asked.

  “No, I’m fine. You and Gretchen will be here for the opening. I think I’ll be all right until then.”

  “Okay, but if you need anything . . . Keep me updated on what the police are doing to capture these creeps.”

  Creep. Singular. A creep who wouldn’t easily be caught. “I will. I’m sure with all the attention. it won’t happen again. I’m so sorry, Cam. This town has always been a safe, sleepy-village kind of place. Occasional graffiti, toilet paper in trees, that’s about it.”

  “Then Quail Ridge was due. Unfortunately they had to choose the center. We’ll recover.”

  They said their goodbyes and Krista leaned back in her chair and stared out the window at the street. The morning traffic had already lightened. Leaves drifted across blacktop from the town common in a myriad of orange, reds and yellows. It didn’t seem possible that such hatred existed in such a small New Hampshire town.

  A tap on the door brought Krista out of her thoughts. She swung around. “Come in.”

  Matt pushed the door open. “You okay?”

  One corner of her mouth lifted in a half smile. “Better now the nausea has settled and I’m turning my fear into anger. I’m so pissed off, Matt. You have no idea.”

  “I think I do,” he replied with a frown.

  “How did he get away with it? Somehow I can’t picture him breaking in here and doing this. Well, I can see him planning it, but not carrying it out.” Krista pulled the pack of cigarettes out of her purse, then paused, glancing
at Matt, who seemed lost in his own thoughts. She shoved it back in the bag and pursed her lips. The cigarette would have to wait.

  “We’ll be talking to him.” Matt still stared out the window. “I tend to agree with you. He had to be the mastermind.”

  She laughed shortly. “Mastermind. Sounds so criminal, so big city. Hardly Quail Ridge.”

  “Not at all. I’m used to calling parents when I find their kids drinking by Crawford Pond. An occasional idiot with a can of spray paint. This is a hell of a lot different.”

  “Glad I could broaden your horizon,” she muttered sullenly. “He’s not going to chase me out of here. I’ve faced scarier people covering stories in the Mid-East and Africa. Hell, even in our own country. He’s child’s play.”

  She tried to sound braver than she felt. The kind of stories she went after forced her to remain as detached as possible. This time it was personal.

  She glanced back at Matt. “You go and take care of the creep and I’ll get this place up and running.”

  Matt nodded. “By the way, I accept your job offer.”

  He hadn’t meant to take the job until that moment. He planned on mulling it over for a good long time. The thought of working for her, or with her, didn’t sit too well, yet if it was for the kids it couldn’t be a bad thing. It would take away from his social life. Then again, it wasn’t as if he had such an incredible social life that he couldn’t sacrifice a little of it to a good cause.