by Deanna Chase
“Or maybe she was just a selfish witch,” Noel said.
“Maybe,” Lin said, giving her a sad nod. “But the point is, we don’t know, and we aren’t likely to ever know. Would knowing really make a difference in the outcome anyway? She wasn’t here. We survived, thrived even, and our lives are filled with love. I just want you to have everything you’ve ever wanted; the family, the 2.5 kids, and even the dog. Nothing good ever comes from closing ourselves off.”
“You already took care of the dog part,” she said, narrowing her eyes at him.
He chuckled. “So I did.”
They were silent for a moment. Then Noel said, “If I keep my barriers up, maybe I won’t get everything I want, but I won’t get hurt either.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asked.
No. The word popped into her mind without her even giving it any thought. She didn’t want to be alone, didn’t want to lose whatever had started between her and Drew. She just didn’t know if she could handle it if someone else she loved left her again.
“Without trust, we’re not whole, my sweet girl,” Lin said, squeezing her fingers again. “I just want you to be happy. To live your life your way and without fear.”
“I do live my life my way.” She was sure of that, at least.
“Yes. You do.” Lin patted her knee as the healers returned. “Just think over what I said. See if any of it fits.”
“Sure, Dad.” Of course, his words fit. Her dad always could see past her defenses. The only problem was she didn’t know if she was ready to let go of the past.
Chapter 14
Drew pulled into the parking lot of the Moon River Inn. The rundown motel was south of Eureka and sat on the banks of the Eel River. Drew climbed out of his SUV and scanned the mostly empty parking lot. Not exactly a happening place, was it? That was both good and bad. Xavier wouldn’t have been hard to remember. But if there wasn’t anyone around to notice him, then Drew would be up a creek without any witnesses.
The sun was already low in the sky when Drew walked into the motel’s office. Stale smoke combined with a faint mildew smell hung in the air, and he wondered when they’d last opened a window or thought to spray a little air freshener.
“Need a room, handsome?” an audacious redhead said from behind the counter. She was wearing a low-cut blouse, her ample cleavage spilling out onto the counter as she leaned forward. Drew imagined most men had a hard time not staring at such a display, but he was still trying to process the beehive hairdo and the fake eyelashes that were so long they looked like she had a spider attached to each eyeball. Interesting look, he thought.
“Actually, I’m looking for someone,” Drew said, pulling out Xavier’s picture.
“Aren’t we all,” the woman said, puckering her lips as she swept her gaze down the length of Drew’s body.
Drew felt his skin start to crawl and had to force himself to stay put. His reaction surprised him, and he chalked it up to a sixth sense warning him to tread carefully. The woman was certainly over the top, but so far she hadn’t done anything too outrageous. He placed the printout of Xavier’s picture on the counter and asked, “Have you seen this man?”
“Today?” she asked as she picked up a pack of cigarettes.
“In the last week or so.”
She pulled a cigarette out of the pack and rolled it between two fingers. “Who’s asking?”
“Deputy Sheriff Baker, ma’am.” He slid a card across the counter to her. “I’m just trying to get in touch with him.”
“Is he in trouble?” She placed the unlit cigarette between her lips and fiddled with a lighter but made no move to light it.
“Not that I’m aware of,” Drew said. No wonder the place smelled of smoke. Under California law, smoking wasn’t permitted indoors, but Drew was willing to bet the woman would light up just as soon as he left the building.
She glanced at the printout again, appearing to study it. When she looked up, she just shrugged. “I don’t recall seeing anyone who looks like that. But then again, this place is pretty busy.”
Drew glanced around the office and peered outside. There were only two other cars besides his in the parking lot. “Do you get a lot of overnights here?”
“Yeah,” she said with an enthusiastic nod that pulled a few locks loose from her beehive. “I imagine we’ll be getting an after-dinner rush here shortly.”
Drew doubted that. The motel wasn’t right off the highway. It was unlikely they got a lot of drop-ins who overnighted on the way up and down the coast. “Okay. Thanks for your help. But if you do see him, can you give me a call?”
She glanced at the card again. Then she swept her gaze over him one last time as she licked her bottom lip. “Sure, Deputy Sheriff Baker. It would be my pleasure.”
He gave her a short nod and strode out of the office and back to his SUV. He climbed into his vehicle, but instead of firing the engine right away, he eyed the woman inside the office. Night was falling, and thanks to the office lights, he could see right inside and watch her every move.
She picked up his card, appeared to study it, then ripped it in half and tossed it into a nearby garbage can. A moment later, she lit her cigarette. He wasn’t surprised. Despite her obvious interest in him physically, she hadn’t had one bit of interest in helping him find Xavier. He had a feeling she was hiding something or protecting someone. Xavier maybe? Would Noel’s ex really go from a class act like Noel to someone who looked ready to perform on a Vegas stage?
Drew wasn’t quite sure what to make of her. All he knew was that getting information out of her was a lost cause.
He turned the engine over and pulled out onto the two-lane highway, heading for the diner he’d passed on the way to the inn. There weren’t a lot of businesses nearby, so it was reasonable to assume that if Xavier had stayed at the hotel, maybe some of the nearby residents had seen him.
The gravel crunched under his tires in the Pies, Pies, and More Pies parking lot. A neon sign flashed over the entrance that read, Blackberry. A few seconds later, it changed to Apple. His mouth watered as he thought about digging into a fresh-from-the-oven apple pie.
With Xavier’s picture in his pocket, he entered the modest establishment and sat at the counter. The place looked like it had last been updated in the eighties. The booths were orange vinyl with laminate tables. The linoleum was so worn there were actual holes wearing through to the subfloor. But the round-faced waitress behind the counter had a genuine smile as she set a menu and a ceramic mug in front of him and asked, “Coffee?”
“Yes, please. Thank you, Sally,” he said after reading her nametag.
Her eyes were bright and inviting as she filled his cup and asked, “Cream and sugar?”
“Black is fine.” He flipped the menu over, spotted the apple pie a la mode he coveted and pointed to it. “Just get me a slice of this, and I’ll be forever in your debt.”
She chuckled. “You got it, champ. Anything else?”
“That should do it for now.” He passed the menu back to her and said, “Thanks.”
While Sally bustled around behind the counter, Drew turned and scanned the joint. It was surprisingly busy for a place that was a little bit off the beaten path. A handful of young families were dining on burgers and fries; two older gentlemen were in a booth off to the side, playing cards; and a half-dozen teenagers, drinking sodas and sharing a giant plate of nachos, filled a table near the back. Then there were all the singles, hanging out and eating pie. He had to laugh. He fit right in.
“Here you go,” Sally said, sliding his pie in front of him.
“Thanks.” He picked up his fork and took a bite. He closed his eyes and let out a little moan of pleasure as the mixture of cold ice cream and warm pie hit his tongue. “This is delicious.”
“That’s what they all say.” She winked at him and moved on to refill some coffee mugs. Sally had the same warmth with all her customers as she did with him. It was obvious she liked people, and Drew was
sure that if she’d met Xavier, she’d remember him.
He took his time finishing his pie, and when Sally returned to refill his mug, he said, “Can I ask you a few questions?”
She leaned an elbow on the counter, cocked her head to the side, and said, “Shoot.”
There was no suspicion with this one. Good. He was in luck. “I’m trying to track someone down. He was staying at the inn down the road a week or so ago, and I’m guessing if he wanted to eat, he likely stopped in here.”
Sally nodded. “Probably. Everyone seems to make it here sooner or later.”
“I don’t doubt it. That apple pie was the best in recent memory.” He took the scanned photo out of his pocket and slid it over to her. “Can you remember seeing him around here?”
She took one glance at the photo and nodded. “Sure. That’s Victor. He was here with another guy. Xavier, I think.”
“Victor?” Drew wrote the name down in his notebook. “You’re sure that’s what he was calling himself?”
She laughed. “I have no idea what he called himself, but that’s what his friend called him.” Her eyebrows knit together as she contemplated what he’d said. “Why? Was he using an assumed identity? Was he using stolen credit cards?”
“Stolen credit cards?” Drew shrugged. “It’s possible I guess, but credit card fraud isn’t why I’m looking for him.”
“I swear to the goddess, if we get charges back because of those two douches, I’m going to pitch a freakin’ fit.” Her eyes flashed with anger as she slammed her fist down on the counter.
“Hey!” One of the old guys called out. “Keep it down, would ya? I’m trying to concentrate here.”
Sally ignored him and stared straight at Drew, her vivacious personality suddenly heated. “I knew those guys were trouble. I just couldn’t put my finger on why.”
Drew raised both eyebrows. “Can you elaborate on why you were suspicious of them?”
She let out a huff of laughter. “Sure. The one guy, not this one,” she said, pointing to the picture in front of her, “was a complete jerk. He kept calling me honey, and normally that wouldn’t bother me, but when it comes with a leer and an ass-grab, it’s more than I can take.”
Son of a… what the hell was Xavier doing hanging out with that jackass? Drew had known the man when he’d lived in Keating Hollow, and Xavier had never been anything but a gentleman as far as Drew knew. Why was he associating with a guy like that?
“Victor,” she said, pointing at the picture again, “told the douche to cut it out, but his friend just laughed like it was a big ole joke. At least Victor was a decent tipper.”
Drew cleared his throat. “Did they say anything about why they were in town?”
She frowned and rubbed her forehead, concentrating. “Something about a job with a fishing boat, I think. They were usually headed to Yachtsmen’s Harbor.”
“Perfect.” Drew made another note. “When was the last time you saw them?”
She shrugged. “Maybe a week ago?”
Drew nodded. “That’s helpful. Anything else you remember about them? Anything they talked about or did?”
She held her hands palms up in an I-don’t-know gesture. “I listen to a lot of people. I think the only reason I remembered them is because that Xavier guy was a complete a-hole.”
“And Victor?” he asked, knowing that when she said Xavier she was talking about the John Doe. “How was he?”
“Fine I guess, except for the company he kept.”
Drew shut his notebook and handed her his business card. “Thank you, Sally. I’m Deputy Sheriff Baker, and if you see this guy again, I’d appreciate it if you’d call me as soon as possible.”
“Is he in trouble?” she asked, biting her lower lip.
“No.” Drew shook his head. “We just need to talk to him.” He threw a twenty on the counter, knowing it was about four times as much as his bill. “Thank you for your time. You’ve been very helpful.”
Chapter 15
Noel placed a cup of hot cocoa and a tray of cookies on the end table and fluffed a pillow before tucking it under her dad’s knee. “Here’s your energy potion and the supplements Healer Whipple recommended. Faith is on her way with a stew she cooked up today, so you’ll have something to eat for the rest of the week. When she gets here, we can play a game. What do you think about Monopoly?”
“Noel.” Her father covered her hand with his. “Relax. I’m fine.”
“Of course you are,” she said, handing him his mug of cocoa. “Drink this before it gets cold.”
Lincoln Townsend glanced down at the mug then at the smiley face cookies Noel had decorated after dinner and shook his head. “What am I? Five?”
“Dad, I’m just—”
“You’re hovering, Noel.” He placed the mug back on the side table. “I’m going to have to insist that you get out of my hair. Go take that silly golf cart out with your sister. You two are driving me crazy.”
Noel placed her fisted hands on her hips and shook her head. “I’m not going anywhere. Who’s going to be here if you need something?”
“Daisy will be here.” Her dad gave her a withering glare. “Now go on before I call Deputy Baker and have him haul your butt out of here.”
Abby snickered.
Noel cast an irritated glance at her sister. “You’re being unreasonable, Dad.”
“No, you are.” He fished his phone out of his pocket. “You have two minutes to get out of here, or I’m calling the law and turning you in for trespassing.”
“Drew isn’t going to haul us out of our family home,” Noel insisted, mortified at the idea of Drew having to deal with something as silly as escorting her out of her dad’s house.
“You sure about that?” He tapped on the screen. “Let’s find out.”
“Dad!” Noel grabbed for his phone, but he swiftly moved it out of her reach.
“Oh, look, it’s already ringing.” He pressed the phone to his ear.
“Stop! Okay, okay. I’ll let Abby take me out on her golf cart. Just don’t call Drew.”
He gave her a self-satisfied smile, tapped the screen, and then shoved the phone back into his pocket.
“But we’re going to wait until Faith gets here,” Noel said stubbornly. She wasn’t going to leave her six-year-old in charge of her father. Besides, what if Daisy got into some kind of trouble while her dad was laid up in the recliner?
“Fine. But wait for her over in the kitchen. I just want to watch the Duke take out these bad guys.” He gestured to the television, where the opening credits were rolling for one of his John Wayne movies.
“You win, Dad,” Noel said, chuckling to herself. He was right. She was hovering and worrying needlessly. Considering how feisty he was being, he obviously felt just fine. “Abby and I will be over there plotting how to annoy you next.”
“No doubt you will.” He picked up the cocoa and took a sip. Then he pointed the remote at the television and turned the sound up to an almost deafening level.
Abby slid off her bar stool and gestured for Noel to follow her. Noel glanced at Daisy playing with her dog in the middle of the living room, seemingly oblivious to the noise, and eagerly followed her sister into one of the bedrooms.
“What’s up?” Noel asked her.
“I got a text from Faith. She’s on her way with provisions for Dad. She and Xena are going to spend the night, so she said she’d love it if Daisy and Buffy could stay, too. She thinks it will be good for Xena to spend some time with a well-behaved puppy.”
Noel raised one eyebrow. “Buffy isn’t well behaved. Not yet anyway. She’s learning, but she still chews things she’s not supposed to. And she’s already had an accident since we got back from the healer.”
“I don’t think you can understand until you’ve spent some time with Xena. She’s literally the devil dog. You’re just gonna have to take pity on Faith and let her have this one.”
Noel narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Is this all some e
laborate plan so I’ll stay out later with you and do donuts in the mud?”
Abby laughed. “No. I’d come up with something way better than that. Something like maybe inviting Clay and Drew to the party.”
“Stop,” Noel said, shaking her head, but she couldn’t help the smile that claimed her lips.
“Oh… uh-oh, what’s this about?” Abby waved her hand in front of her sister. “You’re smiling, and it has everything to do with the town deputy.”
“Maybe.” Noel fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. “We have a date tomorrow night.”
“What?” Abby squealed and grabbed her sister’s hands. “You have a date with Drew? How did that happen?”
“He came by the inn today and helped me with a plumbing situation. I’m taking him to dinner as a thank you.”
“Plumbing situation?” Abby eyed her suspiciously. “That isn’t a euphemism, is it?”
“No!” Noel laughed. “Come on, Abs. You know me better than that. Or at least you used to.”
“Of course I do. When we were kids, you were always the cautious one. And now you’re even worse.” She crossed the room and rummaged through the closet. When she finally found what she was looking for, she spun around, holding two wine bottles in her hands, and said, “Ah-ha!”
“What are these doing in here?” Noel took one of the bottles and read the label. Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “These are special reserve from that great winery down in Calistoga. Where did you get these?”
“I have my evil ways.” She grinned. “Actually, they bought some candles from me for their shop in a rush. I might have over-delivered, and they sent me these as a thank you.”
“But why are they in the closet?”
