Living in Shadow

by Georgia Florey-Evans

  He just needed to get to Shadow. Then he’d slip away after he finished with Davis. He had a whole new identity waiting, and was totally prepared to vanish. Starting over wouldn’t be all that bad. Especially with the large payouts from the Kelley girl’s insurance.

  But first, he had to finish with Davis. His plan was still going to work.

  Chapter 52

  Haley smiled as she hung up the phone. It was the second time today her future mother-in-law had called to discuss the wedding. If H.B. were still in the hospital when they got married, the wedding would take place in their church. Although Haley would miss having her friends there, it gave her a sense of contentment to know she’d be marrying Beau in the church he grew up attending.

  Of course, they still hadn’t set a date. While the Janitor was dead, the person who hired him and those other men was still out there, and now it appeared Dohner had his suspicions Beau was alive. So far, he was fishing, keeping his ear to the ground and eyes open. Beau wouldn’t be able to visit his parents again until they arrested Dohner.

  Her heart lifted. Thanks to Audrey Dohner, things might be taken care of soon. Elliott had described it as a race—Audrey reaching an agreement with the FSA and turning the evidence over before her uncle confirmed Beau was alive and located him. Haley often prayed for it to happen that way. The last time Beau had spoken to Elliott, Rich Stephens reported Audrey was coming in with evidence in hand, this coming Monday. That was two days away. Surely, Ted Dohner wouldn’t be able to confirm his suspicions and locate Beau before then.

  The thought of the criminal locating Beau scared Haley more than anything. Primarily because the reason he refused to leave was her. Even though she told him she’d go with him, he wouldn’t uproot her from Shadow and make her live on the run. He stated that Shadow was his home now, and it was as good of a place as any to make a stand. Dohner might come after him, but Beau had his plans. And support from an entire community.

  Her doorbell rang, jolting her out of her thoughts. Even though she no longer needed protection from the hired hit man, Haley still automatically checked through the peephole. She was surprised when she saw who her visitor was.

  “Matt!” She smiled as she opened the door. “What are you doing here?”

  He walked into the living room and dropped onto the sofa. “I haven’t had any tickets or fines to pay lately, so I haven’t seen you around. I just wanted to make sure my favorite girl is doing okay.”

  She knew she was blushing. “I’m doing wonderfully.”

  His brows rose. “That wouldn’t have anything to do with a particular man and a rumor I’ve heard, would it?”

  Her face grew warmer as she smiled. “Beau and I are getting married.”

  “I knew it!” He slapped his knee. “I knew the first time I saw the two of you together; this would happen. You were made for each other.”

  “I think so, too,” she admitted. “I can’t imagine my life without him.”

  Matt’s smile faded. “I’ve heard something else, too, Haley. That the two of you might be in danger.”

  Now Haley frowned. “Where did you hear that?”

  He shrugged. “Hardy told me. Have the two of you thought about moving away and starting over somewhere else? Where you’ll be safe?”

  Beau and Matt were friends. Haley just hadn’t realized Beau confided in him. “This is home . . . for both of us. Beau doesn’t want to leave. Besides, there’s a chance this whole problem will end very soon.”

  “What about the person who hired those men?” Matt asked, his gaze penetrating.

  Haley was once more surprised by the depth of information Beau had shared with the other man. "The FSA has some leads on him. For now, they’re sure he’ll stay out of the picture. He’s too much of a coward to come after Beau himself. He’d have to find somebody else like those men to hire, and the FSA is ready for something like that.”

  Matt’s expression was unreadable. “Sometimes, a person gets desperate enough to do something he’d never do otherwise, Haley. It might be best if you and Hardy just left town and disappeared.”

  “We’re not going to do that.” Haley didn’t understand his insistence that they leave. She decided to change the subject. “Can I get you something to drink? I keep my refrigerator stocked with cola since Beau likes it so much.”

  “No thanks.” He stood up. “I’d better be going. I just wanted to stop in and say hi.”

  At first, Haley couldn’t identify the expression on his face, but then she realized what it was. “Are you sad about something, Matt?”

  He forced a smile. “No. I guess I’m just tired. Maybe I’m getting too old for this route. I think I should do something else for a while.”

  “You should be happy,” she told him as she touched his arm. "You're too special not to be happy.”

  His eyes lingered on her face as he touched her cheek. ”You’re the one who’s special, Haley. I wish . . .” He stepped away from her and shook his head. “I have to go. My truck is parked across four spaces, and any moment one of those deputies is liable to show up with a ticket pad.”

  Haley stared at the closed door after he’d left, and thought what a strange visit that had been. Matt seemed intent on convincing her that she and Beau should run, and then he’d started to say he wished something and stopped. Since she had known Matt for over six months and he’d never shown the slightest romantic interest in her, she knew he hadn’t been about to say something untoward. No. Something was going on with him. She just couldn’t figure out what it was.

  She had just finished putting a load of towels away when her doorbell rang again. This time, a huge smile came to her face when she saw who it was.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be on duty?” she asked her uniform-clad fiancé.

  He grinned as he backed her into the apartment. “I’m checking out a disturbance.”

  “And what would that be?”

  Beau leaned down and softly kissed her lips. “I’m disturbed we can’t make any definite wedding plans yet.” His strong arms wrapped around her made her feel safe.

  “I see.” She loved it when he held her like this. She felt safe and loved . . . cherished. “Maybe after Monday, we’ll be able to.”

  She could feel his sigh through his shirt. “I’m praying for that, Haley.”

  He seemed reluctant when he finally released her and stepped back. “I don’t like working on Saturday when you’re free. We could be doing something fun together.”

  “But then I wouldn’t be able to wrestle my vacuum around and dig a sock out of the dryer vent,” she teased.

  He shook his head and chuckled. “The first thing I’m buying after we’re married is a new vacuum. That thing you have is an antique that would probably suck up small animals if they were close enough.”

  “Did you drive by the Pickler house?” She hoped he had.

  “I like the looks of the place.” He smiled warmly at her. “And if Luke wants to lease the farmland, we can keep the goats and chickens if you want.”

  “Really?” Haley bounced on her toes. “I’m sorry Mrs. Pickler has decided to move to the nursing home, but I really would like to live out there. We’d only be a few miles from Luke and Holly.”

  His eyes sparkled with laughter as he frowned. “But you have to promise not to walk in the woods without me. At least not until you’ve passed a test on identifying the leaves of poison ivy, oak, and sumac.”

  She raised two fingers. “I promise. You have to promise me you’ll teach me to take care of the goats and chickens. And I want a garden, Beau. A real one like Holly’s. Mrs. Pickler has always had the best garden.”

  He pulled her back into his arms. “You can have whatever you want. As long as the house is structurally sound and you like it, we’ll buy the place.”

  Haley snuggled against his chest again. “Thank you.”

  “Haley?” Beau sounded uncertain.

  She drew back and looked into his face.

  “
Is this romantic?” he asked.

  “Anytime I’m in your arms, it’s romantic.” She answered him, confused by the question.

  “Good.” Haley felt him take her hand in his and slide something on her finger. Tears of joy came to her eyes when she raised her left hand to see the diamond engagement ring resting there.

  “I just wanted to make sure everybody in town knows you’re taken.” He kissed her, the most tender kiss she’d ever experienced.

  “I love the ring,” she told him, “but I’m pretty sure everybody in town already knows I’m taken.”

  “Just in case.” He hugged her tightly.

  “I’m sure all my friends know.” Then she remembered her visitor. “Beau, do you know if something’s bothering Matt?”

  He drew back and looked quizzically at her. “No. I haven’t seen Matt in a couple of weeks. Why do you ask?”

  “He was here a while ago. He acted . . . different.” That was the best way she could think to describe it. "He was worried about whoever hired those men and the whole situation. He insists we would be better off leaving town and disappearing. Then he seemed sad. He just wasn’t himself.”

  Beau backed up, his hands on her shoulders. “Wait a minute. What do you mean, he was upset about those men and whoever hired them? How does he even know about them?”

  She frowned at him. “Didn’t you tell him? He said you did.”

  “Haley, I told you I haven’t seen him for at least two weeks.” Beau shook his head. “And even though I consider Matt a friend, I wouldn’t have told him about those things. He has to have gotten his information from somebody else.”

  Haley was puzzled. “But who? I can’t believe Mitch told him.” Then she had a thought. “Do you think Crystal has overheard enough at the station to pass it on to Matt? I don’t want to think bad things about her, but she’s done it before.”

  “I don’t see how.” Beau’s frown deepened. “Mitch and I have been very careful to keep her out of the loop. He saw her coming out of Biggs Bar and Grill on Karl King’s arm just the other night, and we definitely don’t need any of this information in the newspaper.”

  “Karl King is married!” Haley firmly pushed her engagement ring on her finger. “Please tell me he wouldn’t sink low enough to have an affair to get news.”

  Beau placed his hand under her chin and tilted her face up so she was looking into his eyes. “I know you want to see the good in people, and that’s one of the things I love about you. But sometimes, we have to open our eyes to see what’s really there. I’m going to have to tell Mitch about what Matt knows. If he decides Crystal has anything to do with it, I imagine he’ll fire her.”

  “But Matt’s not having an affair with her.” Haley was horrified by the idea. “He wouldn’t do that.”

  “I’m not saying he is,” Beau said calmly. “But that doesn’t mean she wouldn’t tell him things.”

  “I know.” She was saddened by the thought.

  “Don’t worry, Haley,” he implored her. “How about if we ask Pastor Rollins to have lunch with us after church tomorrow?”

  When Beau made his peace with God, he’d jumped back into his faith with both feet. Not only was he in church with Haley every Sunday, but he also attended the adult Sunday school class. Since Pastor Rollins taught it, the two of them had become good friends.

  “I’d really like that.”

  Haley silently thanked God for answering another prayer. The man she loved and intended to spend the rest of her life with felt the same way about God as she did. And their marriage would include God as well.

  Beau looked at his watch and grimaced. “I better get back to the car. I’m liable to end up back over at Hubert Belton’s again. He told me he might need to rinse off better when I left him a while ago.”

  “Isn’t it too nippy for outdoor sponge baths?” Haley smiled at the image of Beau instructing the old man to go inside or put some clothes on.

  “You’d think so.” Beau sighed. ”He just said his skin dries quicker in the cold air. I wish Betty Livingston would decide it’s too cold to go outside and peek around the bushes. That’s the only way she sees him.”

  “I think I’m glad I’m just the dispatcher.” Haley didn’t think she’d like to deal with either Mrs. Livingston or Mr. Belton very much.

  “I’m glad you are, too.” He leaned down and gently kissed her. ”I have to go. I’ll see you around six. You’re still fixing fried chicken, aren’t you?”

  They had both been pleased to discover she liked to cook for him. And Beau was enjoying the home cooking so much it had become nearly a daily ritual, interrupted only when their work schedules precluded it, or he simply wanted to take her out. Married life was going to suit them very well.

  “I’ll have it ready,” she promised him.

  “Okay.” He gave her another quick kiss. ”I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Her apartment immediately felt empty after he left. How quickly Beau Davis had filled her life! And soon—hopefully very soon, he would fill it even more. Haley had much to be thankful for.

  Chapter 53

  Walking into the station on Monday morning, Hardy realized how easily he’d fit in at the Shadow County Sheriff’s office. And even though he was the new guy, Mitch hadn’t given him a lousy schedule. Of course, it helped that Hank and Wayne took turns working evenings with Jeff Fielding; and Tom Winkler and Jerry Young were night owls. Mitch had been able to let Hardy work days.

  Hardy still laughed about the odd-duck pairing of “Tom and Jerry.” He’d finally figured out they favored Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin and were almost as comical. Hardy liked them, even though he’d found it necessary to inform the unmarried Jerry, who hadn’t lived in Shadow very long, that the “hot, blonde chief dispatcher” was very much spoken for. He’d gone out and bought Haley’s ring not two hours after that conversation.

  As if the thought of Haley had produced her, she walked into her dispatch area from the back of the building just as Hardy reached it.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” He wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her, but he wouldn’t disrespect her job.

  She turned, her dimples firmly in place, and took a step toward him. ”Good morning.”

  “Did you just get here?” She usually parked in back and came in that way.

  “Good morning, Ray. How are you this morning? Did you have a nice night?” Ray Fine’s dry voice captured both of their attention.

  Haley’s cheeks were pink when she spoke to the night dispatcher, who still sat at the computer. “I’m sorry, Ray. How was your night?”

  Ray’s eyes sparkled with laughter as they briefly met Hardy’s before he answered. “Pretty routine. I had to send Tom and Jerry to the Thompsons."

  Haley's smile broadened. “What happened?"

  Ray grinned. “Reuben said Alice was trying to kill him."

  "She poured his alcohol down the drain again?"

  Hardy hadn't heard of this couple. “Domestic disputes over that?"

  Ray pinched his lips closed as he seemed about to burst into laughter. He finally pulled his fingers away. “This time, instead of Alice dumping his bottle, she took a bath in it."

  Haley's ponytail swung as she laughed.

  Hardy was quickly becoming accustomed to small town life, but this was unbelievable. “She did not."

  Ray shrugged. “Ask Jerry or Tom. She dumped two bottles of whiskey in the water like she would bubbles."

  "It has to be true, Beau." Haley's smile tempted him to get a quick fix. Just one little kiss. “They do something this every so often." Her gaze slid to Ray. “How would that be killing Reuben?"

  "When he called, he told me it was cruel and unusual punishment to be thirsting for a drink while his wife—and these are his words—was prancing around, smelling like a brewery."

  "Hardy finally chuckled. “And, here I thought outdoor baths were funny."

  “Good morning, Haley, Ray.” Mitch’s deep vo
ice interrupted them. “Hardy, you have a minute?”

  “Sure.” Hardy winked at Haley before following Mitch into his office.

  “Please close the door,” Mitch instructed him.

  Hardy hoped nothing was wrong. So far, evidence the state crime lab was turning up supported their theory about the four dead men and the Janitor, who it turned out, bore a striking resemblance to the sketch they had. They’d even identified the fourth man as Joe Brockman, a local man with a slightly tamer record than Callen’s. Nobody could explain it, but both Callens' and Brockman’s prints had magically appeared in CODIS after weeks of not showing up in the system.

  “I’m going to fire Crystal Stanley.” Mitch was blunt.

  Hardy wasn’t surprised. After his unsettling conversation with Haley, he’d called the sheriff and shared his concerns. The information Matt Ashford knew wouldn’t just provide sensational news; it would endanger him, and consequently Haley. “Are you sure she’s the one talking, then?”

  Mitch shook his head. “I don’t care. I’ve let her get away with too many things, and now since I know she’s seeing Karl King, I have no faith in her at all. I had a conference call with the majority of the county board members bright and early this morning, and they agree with me. We just can’t have a person we don’t trust working here.”

  “So, I assume the other three dispatchers will have to take up the slack until you replace her.” Hardy knew he was selfish, but he didn’t want Haley tied up more than she already was.

  “I’ll hire a replacement right away. One applicant has dispatched for nine years and has moved here to take care of her father. She has a great record in Philly,” Mitch replied. “I hope you and Holly won’t need time off for a honeymoon in the near future, though, because she’s going to have to train whoever I hire.”

  “I’d like to be able to publicly give her my real name.” With those words, the apprehension he’d been fighting since he awakened came back in full force. “Elliott will call me as soon as Audrey comes in.” The sheriff knew about Audrey Dohner’s planned defection. “Then it will take a few days for the agents to get their ducks in a row so they can arrest Dohner.”