Lost Innocence

by Jannine Gallant

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Teague slid the lasagna pan into the oven, shut the door, and then set the timer. From the other room, Keely’s high-pitched laughter mixed with Nina’s lower tone. Relief that both his daughter and the woman he loved had survived the previous day’s nightmare gave a lightness to his step as he crossed the kitchen. Just the thought of those panic-filled hours still had the power to induce a cold sweat.

  He paused in the living room doorway to simply enjoy the moment. A Candy Land board was spread out on the coffee table between the couch where Nina sat and Keely, who knelt on the area rug with Coco at her side.

  Before he could move, his daughter jumped to her feet and danced in a circle. “You lose a turn. You lose a turn. That means I get to go twice.”

  “Of all the bad luck.” Nina’s gaze rose to meet his, and her eyes sparkled. “Are you sure you didn’t stack the deck?”

  “Huh?” Keely took a card and moved to a blue square then drew again. “Red. I win!”

  “And so graciously.” Teague stepped into the room and nodded toward the dog. “Can you take Coco to the backyard? She hasn’t been outside to pee in hours.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fine.” Keely’s pink tennis shoes scuffed against the floor as she moved slower than any turtle.

  Teague ruffled her hair as she passed. The need to touch her and know she was safe was constant. He waited until the back door slammed shut to round the coffee table and drop onto the couch next to Nina. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Like I got caught in a stampede . . . or pushed down a flight of stairs. I imagine I’ll be sore for a while, but at least I didn’t break anything.”

  A purple bruise marred the perfection of her cheek and complemented the dark circles beneath her eyes, the result of a mostly sleepless night.

  “The concussion is bad enough. I know the doctor told you to take it easy for a few days, but that doesn’t mean you have to play Candy Land. If you’d rather just have peace and quiet, I can find something to occupy Keely.”

  “I’m fine.” When he reached for her hand, Nina twined her fingers through his. “After the drama we went through, mindless board games are relaxing. Besides, it makes Keely happy. She needs normal right now, and I’m delighted to do my part.”

  “Thankfully, she doesn’t appear terribly fazed by what happened. Other than being a little clingy last night, she seems to have dismissed her kidnapping.” He squeezed her hand a little harder. “Meanwhile, I’m not sure I’ll ever recover.”

  “All we can do is encourage her to talk about her feelings so she doesn’t bottle them up inside. Maybe have her see a counselor.”

  “I already made an appointment with someone the Child Protective Services woman recommended. I asked Kitty about Emma, but she said she couldn’t discuss the case. I’m afraid that poor child has a long road to recovery ahead, but at least she’s been reunited with her parents. I know they’re doing everything they can to help her.”

  The back door squeaked open then slammed shut, followed by running footsteps and clicking nails against the floor. When several loud raps sounded from the front of the house, Coco barked like a lunatic.

  “I’ll see who it is.” Teague released her hand and rose to his feet. By the time he reached the entry, both Keely and Coco were at the front door. “I’ll answer it.” Gently pushing his daughter and the dog behind him, he glanced through the glass pane and frowned before opening the door.

  Chris Long stood on the porch. When Teague shushed the dog, the officer held up his hand. “Not another problem, I swear. I wanted to check on Nina, but she wasn’t home.”

  “Come on inside. Nina’s hanging out with us so I can keep an eye on her.”

  “I hope she’s not—”

  “Mild concussion only, but it’s the second one she’s had recently. The ER doctor we saw last night recommended rest.” Teague led the way into the living room.

  Nina glanced up from putting away the game and smiled. “Hi, Chris. How are you?”

  “Better than you, based on the number of visible bruises.”

  “I’m pretty much black and blue all over. What’s going on?”

  He cleared his throat and glanced over at Keely, whose eyes were wide as she stared at the uniformed police officer standing in her living room. “I wanted to see how you’re feeling and give you an update. I figured you’d be curious.”

  Teague rested his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Now would be a good time to straighten up your room. We’ll be eating dinner soon.”

  “It’s not that messy, and you said—”

  “The grown-ups need to talk. Please do as I ask.”

  “Can I watch extra cartoons later if I do?”

  “I suppose.” When a pleased smile curved her lips, he muttered, “Extortionist.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Teague pointed. “Go.”

  Chris’s smile broadened when her footsteps thumped up the stairs. “Your daughter is a born negotiator. We could use her on the force when she grows up.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” Nina waved toward the club chair across from the couch. “Have a seat. Thankfully, Keely seems to have bounced back from her ordeal.”

  “That’s excellent.”

  “I’m beyond relieved.” Teague sat on the couch beside Nina after the other man took the chair opposite them. “You have news to share?”

  “First, Stella Lange is recovering well from her surgery.”

  “Thank heavens. I called the hospital, but they wouldn’t tell me much.”

  Chris’s smile faded. “Unfortunately, that’s the only good news. I thought you’d want to know Marge Glazer has been talking. Actually, once she got to the hospital to have her injuries treated, she wouldn’t shut up. It was damn freaky listening to her go on and on about all her mistakes and how she had to get rid of the impostors.”

  Nina let out a little cry. “There were other girls like Emma?”

  “I’m afraid so. Since the Glazer woman ranted in front of half the hospital staff, word is spreading around town at warp speed. I wanted you to hear the unadulterated version, not that it isn’t horrible enough.”

  Teague picked up Nina’s hand and squeezed it. “What did that woman do?”

  “From what we’ve learned in the last twenty hours, Margery Guzman, aka Marge Glazer, was a single mother back in the early eighties, living in Pocatello, Idaho. Her daughter died of unknown causes. Unknown simply because her body wasn’t discovered until . . . well, I won’t go into details. Apparently Glazer had a mental collapse as a result of her death.”

  “I can imagine. How heart wrenching.” Nina’s voice broke.

  “Her grief is understandable,” Chris continued in a hard tone. “What followed wasn’t. Guzman kidnapped a local girl, disappeared with her, then assumed a new identity. She’s been going by Marge Glazer for quite some time now. Based on her own admission, after a few years, she came to realize her replacement wasn’t her real daughter, probably because she’d grown too old to fit the image in her mind. So she repeated the process. Each time, Glazer left the current girl buried somewhere near her home, found a new daughter, then moved to another location in the North-west.”

  “How many young girls has she kidnapped and murdered over the last thirty-odd years?” Teague asked. His chest tightened, just imagining all the grief the woman had caused.

  “We don’t know for certain, but if her account is to be believed, probably at least a dozen.”

  “I can’t—” Nina broke off and pressed a hand to her stomach. “How could she have gotten away with such evil for so long?”

  Chris’s eyes darkened. “She kept a low profile and brainwashed the girls into believing they were her daughter, Lynette. Since the average age of the victims was five or six at the time they were taken, it wouldn’t have been all that difficult to gain their cooperation.”

  “I might be sick.” Nina’
s face had lost all its color, and she swallowed a time or two. “It’s all my fault Keely was on that woman’s radar to begin with.”

  “What are you talking about?” Chris asked.

  “She said I picked up her winning lottery ticket off the beach. I don’t remember doing it, but I must have. That’s what she was looking for when she searched my house.”

  “She did mention a lottery ticket when she was ranting. I thought she was delusional, but a winning ticket was sold locally and never claimed.” Chris leaned forward in the chair. “Do you still have it?”

  Nina shook her head and winced. “I must have thrown it away. She was after that stupid ticket when she saw Keely.”

  Teague slid his arm around her. “Hey, it’s over . . . thanks to you. That woman will never hurt another child.”

  She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. “Keely’s safe, and you saved Emma before it was too late for her. Thank God for that.”

  “We have a lot to be thankful for.” He met her gaze in silent communication as the seconds ticked by.

  Chris rose slowly to his feet. “Unless you need something, Nina, I think I’ll go.”

  She tore her attention away from Teague. “I have everything I want. Thanks for stopping by and filling us in. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem.”

  Teague released Nina and stood to follow him to the door. “Thanks for keeping us in the loop.” When he held out his hand, Chris shook it.

  “Nina went through a lot yesterday, physically and emotionally. I wanted to make sure she was okay.”

  “I expect she’ll have a few nightmares. I know I will, but I intend to be there for her every step of the way.”

  The cop’s eyes darkened. “She deserves that. She’s a special woman.”

  “Believe me, I know.”

  He nodded and pulled open the door. “Great. Have a good evening, Teague.”

  “Thank you. I intend to.”

  * * *

  Nina dipped her brush in a brilliant azure and added streaks to the softer blue of the sky above the Sirens out in the cove. In contrast to the painting she’d done in this exact spot earlier in the summer, her current work was filled with brightness and light, reflecting the sunny day and her stellar mood. On the beach, Teague built a sandcastle with his daughter while Coco ran in circles, chasing seagulls. Keely’s happy laughter mingled with gentle waves lapping against the shore.

  Lately, Nina’s utter contentment had colored her work . . . and her life. After putting the finishing touches on a clump of seagrass, she cleaned her brushes and packed up her gear. When her phone rang, she pulled it from her pocket and checked the number. With a frown, she answered cautiously.

  “Hello.”

  “Miss Hutton, this is Patricia Herrington. Kitty from Child Protective Services told me you were asking about Emma and left your number. Since she couldn’t fill you in on an active case, I thought I’d give you a call.”

  Nina’s frown faded away. “I’m so glad you did. I’ve been painting on the beach lately, and your daughter has been on my mind. I hope she’s doing well.”

  “She really is. With counseling, Emma’s remembering more and more of her old life. Not everything, but enough.” Patricia’s voice rang with joy. “She loves her baby brother and enjoys helping with him.”

  “That’s terrific.”

  “We’re taking her recovery one day at a time, but I’m encouraged. I’ll never be able to thank you enough for your part in bringing her back to us.”

  “Knowing she’s recovering is all the thanks I need. I appreciate you calling.”

  “I was thinking . . .” Her voice was hesitant. “Maybe you’d like to paint a portrait of my two children next Christmas. If you do projects like that.”

  A smile curved Nina’s lips. “Not usually, but I’d be thrilled to paint them. I’ll look forward to hearing from you in the fall.”

  “I’ll be in touch.”

  She hung up and glanced toward the water. Teague waved as he strode across the damp sand toward her. His bare chest was tanned to a dark bronze, and his abs were clearly defined above low-riding shorts. The devilish gleam that lit his silvery eyes curled her toes.

  “I was planning to come join you.”

  “Did you finish your painting?” When she nodded, he rounded the easel and draped an arm over her shoulders. “Hey, you included Coco.”

  “Her silly antics seemed to fit the fun mood of the piece.”

  “I love it, but then I love all your work. If I had my way, you’d never sell a single one.”

  “Then I’d be a poor, starving artist instead of a moderately successful one. Anyway, I like knowing someone else is getting enjoyment from my art.”

  “True.” After tilting her face up with a warm hand, he kissed her slowly, thoroughly. “But maybe not as much enjoyment as you give me.”

  “I could respond to that, but then you’d have to hide behind my easel until you cooled off.”

  He laughed out loud. “Your humor is just one of the dozen reasons I love you.”

  “Only a dozen? I must be slipping.” Nina leaned against his hard chest. “No matter, I’m in an excellent mood. While you were building castles, I talked to Patricia Herrington.”

  “Emma’s mother? How’s she doing?”

  “Really well.”

  Teague hooked a strand of hair behind her ear and brushed her cheek with his thumb. “That’s terrific.”

  “Isn’t it? The perfect news for such a gorgeous day.” When he glanced over her shoulder and grinned, Nina turned around. “What’s Keely doing?”

  “Kicking down our sandcastle. Looks like Coco’s helping, digging like a fiend. She’ll be a filthy mess.”

  “Wouldn’t be the first time. Kids and dogs should be allowed to get dirty now and then.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Speaking of dirty, I need to go home to do some laundry, maybe bring over more clean clothes. I seem to be spending all my time at your house lately.”

  “About that . . . I’d like to make a few changes.”

  Her good mood dimmed as his eyes darkened from silver to pewter. She backed up a step. “Is something wrong?”

  “Yeah, something’s definitely wrong.”

  Her heart thumped behind her breastbone. “I thought everything has been pretty great, but if you want a little more space . . .”

  His face softened. “Not more space, Nina. Less. I’m tired of you running back and forth between two houses. I want you in mine. Permanently.”

  One hand crept up to cover her mouth as he reached into the pocket of his shorts. After pulling out a small velvet box, he flipped open the lid. A round diamond set on a plain gold band lay on his palm.

  “It reminded me of you. Straightforward. Elegant. Beautiful.”

  “It’s perfect.” She could barely speak through the lump in her throat as Teague dropped onto one knee.

  “I love you more than my life. I want you in my heart and in my home. I want to share with you the most precious gift I have, my daughter. Will you marry me, Nina, and make my life complete?”

  She could only nod as he slipped the ring on her finger and rose to his feet. She threw her arms around his neck, then stood on her toes to kiss him. “I love you, Teague. More than I ever thought possible. And I love Keely. I’d be honored to be your wife.”

  He swung her in a circle and kissed her again. “God, I love you.”

  Behind them, feet pounded against the sand. “Did you finally ask?”

  Teague grinned and pressed his forehead against Nina’s. “Yes.”

  “Did she say yes?”

  Nina turned her head to look down at the beaming, sandy face. “I did.”

  “Yay!” Keely danced in a circle around them, shouting with excitement, while Coco barked like a lunatic.

  Nina couldn’t stop smiling. “Is this what our life will always be like?”

  He smiled back and kissed her once more. “I sure hope so.
”

  If you enjoyed Lost Innocence, be sure not to miss the first book in Jannine Gallant’s thrilling Siren Cove series,

  BURIED TRUTH

  Visit Siren Cove, Oregon, for gorgeous beaches, miles of hiking, delightful small-town shops—and a dark side none of its residents could have possibly imagined . . .

  Leah Grayson has lived in Siren Cove all her life. It’s where she buried a time capsule with her fifth-grade class. Where she spent an unforgettable night on the beach with her first love. Where she married then divorced her rotten ex.

  But there’s something ugly going on in her pretty little town. When Leah organizes a reunion for her fifth-grade classmates to open their time capsule, they discover a roll of film no one remembers saving. Afterward, strange incidents begin happening. Warnings. Accidents.

  Random acts of vandalism.

  Luckily, her first love is back in town, too. Ryan Alexander has made it big with a wildly popular social media startup, but he’s still the same sweet, cynical man she fell for all those years ago. And the chemistry they felt as teenagers is as strong as ever.

  A nostalgic fling turns deadly when someone is convinced Leah has the key to secrets long buried. With no way to know whom they can trust, Leah and Ryan will have to seek out the answers themselves . . .

  A Lyrical mass-market paperback and e-book on sale now!