“Keep this with you,” he said. “It’s loaded with a full clip, which means you have twelve bullets, so make them count if you need to use it. But you have no business getting into any gun battles, so it should be enough.” He grabbed my arm. “If you’re in danger, shoot to kill. Do you hear me? Don’t try to be a hero because that always bites you in the ass,” he said bitterly. “You kill the bastard and save yourself.”
I nodded absently as I stuffed the still-wrapped gun into my purse. He sounded like he was speaking from experience, which made me all the more curious about his past.
“You need to get a gun in your name as soon as possible. Today. See if Alvin will let you take a break to get one.”
“I don’t have my car, Colt. It’s still at the apartment.”
He groaned. “Shit. That’s right.”
I offered him a smile. “It’s okay. I’ll see if Belinda will take me to get it. She might ask questions, but she’ll drop it when I refuse to give her answers. I’ll go first thing in the morning.”
“Call me if you need me, but I’ll be busy tonight. I won’t be able to get away.” He paused. “Mags, I think you should stay at Bennett’s tonight. It will be safer if he’s with you.”
“I’ll be fine, but thanks for being concerned. I mean it.”
He gave a quick nod, his lips pressed into a tight line. I looked back a couple of times, even after I went through the back door of the shop, and he was still there, watching me with a blank face.
Turned out my purse was big enough to accommodate my clothes. I explained the athletic shoes by telling Alvin about my plan to walk to Belinda’s store when I got off. Just like last week, he tried to pry information about Ava’s Bible study out of me, but I just grinned and told him tall tales that were obvious lies, like that Martians had crashed the party and spat their tea in Miss Ava’s face.
We were busy again—which was great for job security—but I didn’t have much time to check my phone. By the time we closed, Brady still hadn’t responded to my initial text, or the one I’d sent during a quick break a couple of hours earlier. In fact, I was beginning to worry about him. I still hadn’t told Belinda whether or not I was coming by her shop. When Alvin locked the door at five, I texted Belinda and told her that I still hadn’t heard from Brady, but I’d let her know as soon as I did.
I got started with my inventory count in the back of the store, quickly becoming so absorbed I’d lost track of time. So I was shocked when I heard Alvin say, “Magnolia, I thought you were going to Belinda’s shop.”
My head jerked up from my count of antique crystal drawer pulls. “I am.”
“She’s outside the front door.”
I climbed to my feet as Alvin let my sister-in-law in. She was wearing a pair of light-blue linen pants and a white button-down, short-sleeve blouse with light-blue buttons to match her pants.
I brushed off my hands as I walked toward her. “Belinda, I wasn’t expecting you.”
She offered me a sweet smile. “I finished up early, so I thought I’d drop by. This way I get to see Alvin too.”
Alvin beamed. “It’s always a pleasure to see you, Belinda.”
“I know you’re working on inventory,” she said. “You can put me to work if you’d like. Free labor.”
He waved his hand and laughed. “Don’t be silly, but if you want to go back and keep Magnolia company, feel free. She’s still got fifteen minutes left.” He grinned. “And I can’t thank you enough for recommending Magnolia. She’s a wonderful addition to the staff.”
“She is wonderful, isn’t she?” Belinda asked. “I’m so grateful she’s part of our lives.”
A blush rose to my cheeks, catching me by surprise. Belinda was one of the best parts of being here in Franklin. It was humbling to hear her tell Alvin she felt the same way.
Belinda followed me to the back of the store. “I still haven’t heard from Brady,” I said in an undertone. I checked my phone again, and sure enough, still nothing. My stomach twisted with worry. I knew his job was dangerous, and despite my need to back off from our relationship, I still cared about him.
“That’s okay. I’ll help you count until he gets here.”
Belinda was one of the nicest people I knew, but her offer struck me as odd. So did the fact that she’d shown up without any warning. Nevertheless, I handed her a basket full of napkin rings made from vintage silverware. “Well, thanks. You can work on these. They all have different patterns. You just have to count how many forks and how many spoons.”
“Okay,” she said with a sweet smile.
I’d lost track of my crystal drawer pull count, so I started over, not a huge deal since the final count was twenty-six.
“I found you the most beautiful dress,” Belinda said as she wrote her counts down on the clipboard Alvin had given me. “I can’t wait to see it on you.”
I wanted to ask her about Roy and also about her meeting with Bill James, but this wasn’t the place to get into that discussion. Especially with my gossipy boss listening.
After I’d counted a stack of napkins and recorded the quantity, I tugged my phone out of my pocket and checked it again. Still nothing from Brady and it was 5:58. Now I was really worried. I was about to confess as much to Belinda when Alvin said, “You’re quite popular tonight, Magnolia. Now Brady’s here.”
My eyes widened in surprise. Why hadn’t he answered my texts?
Belinda dropped the aprons she’d been counting and stood. “Hello, Detective Bennett,” she said in a very business-like voice.
Brady looked surprised to see her. “Belinda.”
I felt a strange vibe coming from both of them. Did they know each other? Then I remembered Belinda had dropped some clothes off at Brady’s apartment over the weekend. She’d made a comment about how Brady wouldn’t let her in to see me. Was she holding a grudge? It seemed unlike her.
“You didn’t answer my texts,” I said in an accusatory tone even though I was grateful he was okay.
“I was busy,” he said, walking over to me and pulling me into a hug. His lips brushed my temple, and he kept his arm around my back as he turned to face Belinda. “I’m surprised to see you here.”
“I’m sure Magnolia told you that something came up, and I need to steal her away for the evening.”
Brady stiffened. “We had plans.”
Belinda offered him a sweet smile, but there was a glint of determination in her eyes. “I know, but seeing how you’ve had her since Saturday, I’m sure you can let me have her for one night.”
I glanced between the both of them, trying to figure out what was going on. Alvin had picked up on the weirdness too, and he was openly staring, his mouth gaping. This would probably give him gossip fodder for a week.
Finally, Brady glanced down at me. “Maggie?”
“Do you have any leads on Emily’s case?” I asked.
His eyebrows rose. “No.”
Now I was really torn. Taking Brady to the house could help him find the killer, but if it was really important, why hadn’t he made this official? Not even Miss Ava could have held it against me if I’d left her Bible study to help out a murder investigation. Tromping through the muddy woods at night seemed like a bad idea. And I couldn’t ignore the little voice inside me that told me not to go. I’d relied on my instincts a lot since I’d come home four weeks ago, and so far they hadn’t steered me wrong. “I’m going to ask for a rain check. Belinda really needs me tonight.”
Brady looked incredulous. “This is important, Magnolia.”
I turned my attention to Belinda. “Can you give us a minute?”
She looked torn, probably worried Brady would convince me to change my mind—maybe that was why she’d dropped by in person. But when I gave her a reassuring smile, she turned and gave Brady the best glare she was probably capable of giving. “I’ll go have a chat with Alvin.”
I waited until she moved to the front of the shop, then walked toward the back door and waited for Br
ady to join me.
“Maggie,” he said in a pleading tone. “You can hang out with your sister-in-law anytime. Hell, you just had breakfast with her yesterday morning. But there’s a serial killer on the loose, and what I find in that house could help me break this case.”
I had to admit he was convincing, but then something unsettling occurred to me. “How did you know I had breakfast with Belinda yesterday?”
He gave me a sheepish grin. “I told you that you’re famous. One of the detectives I work with saw you there.”
I put my hands on my hips and squinted up at him. “And he just happened to mention it to you? Why would he tell you?”
“She knows you’re staying at my apartment. Gossip travels fast.”
The indignation bled out of me, and I dropped my hands to my sides. His explanation made sense, but it still made me uneasy, especially since he’d also known about my presence at the church dinner the other night. All the more reason to take a few steps back from our relationship.
“Brady . . .” I paused, realizing this was terrible timing, but then again, there probably wasn’t a right time. “I packed up my things this morning. I’m going to stay somewhere else tonight.”
His body went still. “Why?”
I took a breath and lifted a shaky hand to the base of my throat. “A million reasons. My life’s an utter mess, and I need to get it under control before I start a relationship. Also, there’s the fact that a killer might be after me.”
“All the more reason to stay with me!” he whisper-shouted.
“No,” I said, gaining more courage with every word. “It’s a terrible reason. I’m mistaking my need for protection for romantic feelings.”
“Are you saying you don’t have romantic feelings for me?”
I did, but not like I had for Colt. However, I was sure he wouldn’t appreciate the comparison. “You know I do, but I think it’s best if I rely on you less right now.”
Anger filled his eyes. “I knew we were moving too fast.”
“Maybe so, and I’m sorry if I hurt you,” I said, even though I couldn’t really regret sleeping together. He’d found my scar, and I’d discovered the serial killer connection. It had (hopefully) brought us one step closer to finding the murderer. But Brady was a good guy, and I did regret causing him pain. “Please try to understand.”
He was quiet for a moment, then gave me a soft smile. “I want what you want, Maggie. If you need to take a break, I understand.”
“Really? Brady . . . thank you.”
“I’ve told you before that I’m a patient man.” His face hardened a bit, as though preparing for a fight, then he pushed out a breath. “But I still need you to take me to that house tonight.”
“I’m sorry, but I still can’t go,” I insisted. “Belinda needs me.”
“Needs you? What does she need you for?”
While I understood why he was being short, I didn’t like his abrasive tone. “Why didn’t you answer my texts today?”
“I told you—I was busy.”
“You couldn’t have told me you were busy?”
He clenched his jaw, then turned to the side and looked out the back window into the parking lot. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
I’d expected him to come up with another excuse, so his apology caught me off guard. “I’m still not going tonight. Besides Belinda needing me, I don’t think it’s a good idea to be hiking in the woods after the rain last night, let alone in the dark.” I lifted my chin. “I can’t handle going out there at night. We have to do it during the day.”
His jaw tightened and irritation flashed in his eyes, but he said, “Okay. What’s your schedule like tomorrow?”
The tension in my shoulders eased slightly. “I work for the Belles tomorrow night, but I’m also supposed to work for Miss Ava,” I fibbed. I wanted to track down Rowena Rogers—or at least try—and I had no idea how long that would take. “But I’m going in later. Close to noon.”
Brady frowned. “That woman can’t make you pay off the debt for those damages, Magnolia. If that’s what’s going on, tell me right now and I’ll deal with it.”
“I told you. It’s for extra money. And if that were the case, I’d deal with it.”
After several moments of somewhat uncomfortable silence, he said, “I’m not sure I can get away tomorrow, but I’ll let you know.”
“Okay.”
“What are you and Belinda doing, anyway?” Brady asked. “I realize you’re not staying with me, but I’m still worried about you.”
Oh crap. This was about to get a whole lot harder. I didn’t want him to know about the dress, the ball, any of it. Not yet.
To my surprise, Belinda walked up to us and looped her arm through mine. She beamed up at him. “Roy’s out of town, so we’re having a good old-fashioned slumber party.”
The look on his face suggested he didn’t buy it for a minute, but she’d just given me a safe place to stay tonight. I resisted the urge to throw my arms around her neck and give her a hug.
But Brady wasn’t fazed for long. He lifted an eyebrow in a teasing manner, even though the look in his eyes wasn’t playful. “On a school night?”
Belinda squeezed my arm and leaned her head against mine. “I know. That’s what makes it more fun.”
“Where are you girls staying?”
“My house,” Belinda said with a smile. “Magnolia’s going to help me with a special project for the wedding I’m putting on tomorrow night.” A mischievous grin lit up her face, and she leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Only, she doesn’t know it yet.”
The Brady I’d gotten to know would have laughed at that, but the man in front of us only stared at her. Of course, he had plenty of reason to be stressed, between Emily’s murder and its possible connection to so many others, not to mention I’d just broken up with him. I felt terrible for hurting him, but I wouldn’t be doing either one of us any favors if I stayed.
“I’ll be fine, Brady.”
The fear in his eyes felt genuine, which made me feel guilty for not entirely trusting him. Still, I didn’t want to go out to that house tonight, and now more than before, I didn’t want to stay at his apartment.
“There’s still a murderer out there, Maggie,” Brady said. “I’m worried about you.”
“I have a top-notch security system, Detective Bennett,” Belinda assured him. “And I have a marble rolling pin I can use in self-defense should it come to it.”
“Magnolia’s life isn’t something to joke about,” he said in a harsh tone.
“Is there something new I should know about?” I asked as fear wormed its way through my gut.
“No. But I’m still very concerned.”
“I’m concerned too,” Belinda said. “I’m sorry I made light of a serious situation, but I assure you, my home is like a fortress. My husband tends to lean on the side of paranoia. We have cameras outside, double deadbolts, and even a panic room.”
I shot her a look of disbelief, sure she was joking, but she was dead serious.
She and Brady began stare-off number two, and finally Brady caved. “Please check in with me tonight. And keep your phone with you so I can check on you.”
“I will.”
I knew I should feel guilty for ending things with him, but all I could feel was relief, not just that I’d broken up with him, but that he wasn’t watching over my shoulder. He was a police detective and I knew I should trust him, but my gut told me to be wary.
I wasn’t sure what to make of that.
Chapter 21
Brady insisted on walking us to Belinda’s car, which she’d moved to the back parking lot. Why hadn’t she knocked on the back door?
She stopped next to her car and turned to look up at him, her key fob dangling from her hand. “As sweet as your concern for Magnolia is, it seems overzealous. Is she in any danger?”
Brady held her gaze. “She has ties to several people who have been murdered since she came back to t
own. I think my concerns are justified even if there is no clear connection.”
The setting sun had made the sky a pallet of pinks and oranges and reds, casting Belinda in an unearthly glow. She looked more like an avenging angel than a wedding planner. “She’ll be perfectly safe with me.”
Standing in the parking lot like a sentinel, which now seemed more suffocating than protective, he watched us drive away.
“I know this is none of my business,” Belinda said, her eyes firmly on the road. “But how serious are you and Brady?”
I resisted the urge to squirm. “We just got involved last week.”
“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” she said in an even tone. “I have plenty of brides show up who have only known the grooms a few months.”
My mouth dropped. “I’m not getting married.”
“I never said you were,” she said, unruffled by my protest. “But you can still get serious.”
“Let’s just say he wants a relationship, and after a brief attempt, I’ve decided it’s a bad idea.”
“You broke up with him?” When I didn’t respond, she said, “It’s obvious he’s not ready to let it go.”
“I suppose.” I sure wasn’t about to admit how unsettled I was by the way he was handling my experience with the serial killer.
She grinned at me. “I’m your sister-in-law. I think it’s my job to quiz you on your love life.”
Like you answer questions about your love life with Roy? But I was smart enough to keep that to myself. Instead, I got the point across by asking, “Is Roy really out of town?”
“Yes.” She glanced my direction again. “I would never bring you to my house if he was there. I would never willingly subject you to that.” She hesitated. “But if you’re really in danger, maybe we should just head to my house. It really is safe. You can come with me to the shop in the morning and try the dress on then.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I don’t really feel like trying dresses on anyway.”
Call Back: Magnolia Steel Mystery #3 (Magnolia Steele Mystery) Page 23
