Secret Hunger (The Harper Sisters)

by Satin Russell

  Fear and stress wracked his body in a fit of quivers. He quickly wiped the sweat off his forehead as the officer approached his window.

  “Sir. Roll down your window, please.”

  Pressing the button he offered a weak smile. “Hello, officer.”

  The man looked him over carefully, then let his eyes wander over the passenger seat before returning his gaze. “Do you know why I pulled you over?”

  “Um…” Peter glanced around the cab of his car. “I’m not sure.”

  “You were going seventy in a fifty-five, you changed lanes without using your indicator, and you passed someone on the right.”

  “Oh.” Damn. He was such an idiot! He had been given one job. One simple job. “I’m sorry…”

  “I need to see your license and registration please.”

  The request had Peter wiping his brow again. “Is that really necessary? Wh-what if I promise not to do it again.”

  He watched as the officer’s demeanor hardened. He leaned closer to the window, letting his shadow fall across Peter. “License and registration, please.”

  “Well, uh…” Peter went to reach for his wallet, sensing the tension emanating from the other man at his movement. “See, the thing is, this is my friend’s car, but here’s my license.”

  He watched as the officer looked at the license he handed to him. His brow furrowed and Peter’s heart sank further. “Sir, I need you stay here for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

  Peter watched as the officer went back to his vehicle to run his license. Was it possible he didn’t notice it was expired?

  Peter doubted his luck was that good. Sure enough, the cop was back a short moment later. “Sir, I need you to step out of the vehicle.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Sir, step out of the vehicle now, please. Move slowly and keep your hands where I can see them.”

  This situation was sliding from bad to worse. How could he possibly get out of it? “Wait, can’t we just talk about this?”

  “You have until the count of three. One…”

  “Okay! Okay.” Peter took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. “I’m coming out. Just, just, don’t shoot me or anything, okay?”

  Before he could come up with a plan, he was facing the car with his hands spread on the hood, his legs apart, while the cop frisked him. Cars roared by, buffeting them with the breeze of their passing. A small part of him was tempted to jump out in front of one of them. It was probably a better alternative than what was in store for him. He stared into the cab of the Ford Explorer, hoping against hope he’d wake up from this nightmare he was having.

  The cold bite of metal around his wrists brought him back to the moment. “Wait, what are you doing?”

  “This vehicle isn’t registered to you and you’re driving with a license that’s been revoked. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

  “You’re arresting me?!”

  “You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you.”

  “This can’t be happening! All this because I passed some old lady on the right?”

  “Watch your head, please.”

  Any further protest Peter may have made died on his lips as the door slammed in his face. He looked at the vehicle parked in front of them on the side of the road. The cop climbed into the front seat.

  “What’s going to happen to my car?”

  “It’s not your car.”

  “You know what I mean, man. What’s going to happen to it?”

  “It’ll be impounded while we try to track down the owner. If that doesn’t work, then worst case scenario is, we’ll put it up for auction.”

  Peter would have dropped his head in his hands if they hadn’t been handcuffed behind him. His boss was going to kill him. Hell, he might as well have jumped in front of one of those cars. “Auction?! Well, how long do I have before that happens?”

  The cop turned in his seat to look at him, keen curiosity in his eyes. “About ninety days, give or take. Why?”

  Three months. Shit, he was so dead. Peter squirmed under the other man’s scrutiny. The last thing he wanted to do was give this guy any more reason to look at the vehicle too closely. He knew better than most that the compartment the drugs were hidden in was hard to find, even if you did know it was there. But, given the way his luck was running, he’d rather not tempt fate any more than necessary. “No reason. Just wondering for my friend.”

  After another beat, the cop turned to face forward. “I think you should be worrying a little more about yourself, don’t you?”

  The cop had no idea how true his words were.

  Chapter Two

  Steel-toed boots tapped in time to the driving beat of the rock song being blasted from the speakers strategically hung on the walls of the garage. The familiar smells of grease, sweat, and exhaust filled the air as Liz quietly cursed the hulking metal looming above her head. Giving a final yank with her wrench, she pulled herself up out of the bay.

  The transmission on the old car had been a pain in her neck for the last few hours, but at least she was satisfied it would keep running. As long as she did the proper maintenance, Liz knew the owner would be able to get at least a few more years out of it.

  Once again, she found herself grateful to her dad for teaching her a skill that was useful. It might make for long days, but no matter what the economy was like, a good mechanic was always in demand. Living in a somewhat financially depressed region made the option of buying a new car untenable for most people in the area.

  Overall, it was fulfilling work. It provided her with a sense of security and purpose that had been a comfort in the months after her parent’s death.

  Now, it was not only a means of earning a living, but also a way to give back to the community who had supported her and her sisters during that terrible time. Just as her father had done before her, she’d offered a payment plan to the single mom who had come into the shop needing her car fixed, even going so far as to give her a break on the labor costs.

  “Hey! What are you still doing here, Lizzie-girl? Did you forget about your sister’s dinner thing tonight?”

  A small smile passed her lips at hearing Paul call her by the nickname he’d been using since she was a girl. “Nope. Actually, I just finished this car and am about to take off. You’re going to be there – right, old man?”

  He shot her a scowl at the old man remark, but she knew it was all bluster. “Yeah. I figured Jimmy and I could use a decent meal at least once this week. One of us is going to need to give in and learn how to cook. I’m telling you right now, it’s not going to be me.”

  She laughed. “Yeah. Good luck with that.” Rolling her shoulders, she began to lower the car on the lift. “Why don’t you go ahead and take off? I’ll close things up here.”

  “Alright. See you later.”

  Glancing at the clock by the door, Liz wiped her hands with a rag that had seen better days. Good, still on schedule. There was just enough time to take a quick shower before heading over to her sister’s house.

  Liz hurried to turn off the bright fluorescent lights and radio, letting silence and shadows take over for the night. Instead of going out through the front office, she gave the hood of the old Toyota Camry an affectionate pat and headed out the back door.

  Wood creaked beneath her boots as she trudged up the steps to her place on the second floor and let herself in. The apartment couldn’t be mistaken for luxurious, but Liz had never felt the need for anything too fancy anyway. As long as it was serviceable and clean, she could handle the sparseness of plain white walls. The living room was filled with a mix of second-hand furniture and some pieces she’d picked up at Ikea.

  She headed towards the kitchen and downed a glass of water. The most used appliances in the room were the refrigerator, coffee pot, microwave, which reflected her preference for reheating her sister’s leftove
rs. There were a stack of takeout menus in the drawer by the fridge for those nights when she didn’t have her sister’s cooking to fall back on.

  Hydrated, Liz grabbed a clean towel and hopped into the shower. Five minutes later, she ran the towel through her short, pixie-cut hair and slapped a bit of gel in before getting dressed.

  Here, finally, was her sanctuary. Despite her busy schedule she’d taken time to set up her space in this room. The walls were painted a warm toffee color, and a luxurious king-sized bed sat prominently in the room. To keep things from being too dark, her throw pillows and comforter had sage green and turquoise accents.

  As much as she loved her job, she found herself surrounded every day with dark grays and metal, loud noises, and the smell of burnt rubber and oil. Here, she could reconnect to her feminine side in the evenings. The natural décor and colors brought her back to nature and served as a much-needed counterpoint to her working environment.

  She gave the mystery she was reading a rueful look and wished she could slide into a comfy pair of yoga pants and chill. Unfortunately, it wasn’t going to happen tonight. She knew she’d have a good time at Olivia’s dinner party; it was basically going to be everybody she cared about under one roof. That didn’t mean she couldn’t regret the quiet night she’d be sacrificing by attending.

  Liz slid into a clean pair of jeans and t-shirt, grabbed her jacket and keys, and was out the door. A blanket of heat swamped her as she stepped out. The whole summer had been unusually warm. It was great for the tourists who flocked to Maine every year, but she was looking forward to the cooler weather.

  She just hoped this next season wouldn’t be as traumatic as the last one. This past winter had been long and especially difficult. Not only because of the harsh weather, but because of her sister’s ordeal with a stalker a few months before.

  Luckily, everything had ended well – better than well, considering how happy Olivia and Mason were. The last few months had helped to relegate those events to the past. And once the new restaurant was open, they’d all be free to move forward.

  She pulled her Jeep into the driveway, unsurprised to discover she was the first to arrive. Her youngest sister, Fiona, was perpetually running late. Liz knocked on the front door and was immediately greeted by Mason.

  “Liz! Nice to see you.” Mason gave her a quick hug and a cold beer. “Thought you could use one of these.”

  “Hey, Mason, thanks.” She smiled and took a quick swig from the bottle. “How’s work going?”

  Mason had been a Boston police detective until he moved to Bath to be closer to Olivia. Luckily, there had been an opening in the local department when the head of the Detective Division retired at the end of last year. Now, instead of working missing persons and stalker cases in the Boston Metro area, he was the new Detective Sergeant for a three-man division.

  “Maybe too agreeable. I need to be careful with Olivia’s cooking.” Mason patted his stomach. “Work’s not too bad, actually. There was one guy who resented me taking over the department, but everybody else has been pretty positive about it. It’s a bit slower than Boston, but there’s still plenty to keep me busy. Overall, I’m liking the change of pace.”

  Liz was happy to hear it. The past year hadn’t been tough only for Olivia. She knew it had also taken its toll on Mason, especially when his partner had been shot and killed by the same man who ended up stalking Olivia. She suspected he still blamed himself for leading danger to Olivia’s front doorstep. As far as Liz was concerned, if any couple deserved their happily-ever-after, it was them.

  “Well, there’s no question you have the right experience for the position. I’m glad to hear it’s working out for you.”

  “I appreciate that. Why don’t you head back to the kitchen and catch up with your sister? She’s sending me to the store to pick up more ice.”

  Liz followed the spicy, comforting scent of food, and caught her sister with a spoon in her mouth, tasting a batch of something that smelled like heaven. It was a cozy scene, one she’d seen a thousand times growing up. However, the black polka-dotted apron Olivia was wearing was not at all what she was used to seeing. “Where’d you get the fancy smock, Livvy?”

  Olivia blushed. “Mason got it for me.” She fingered the ruffles. “I know it’s over the top, but I kind of love it. What do you think?”

  Although it was a pretty big departure from Olivia’s usual plain garb, Liz liked the smile it put on her face. “It’s perfect.”

  As she turned towards the sink, Olivia asked, “Hey, can you do me a favor?”

  “Sure, what’s up?”

  “The dishwasher is acting up a bit, and I was wondering if you could take a quick look at it.”

  “Okay.” Liz set her beer down and went to turn the dishwasher on. “What’s it doing, exactly?”

  “I’m having difficulty locking it closed, so the whole machine won’t turn on.”

  “Huh. Sounds like it may be the latch.” Liz bent down to look at the dishwasher door. “Do you have a screwdriver handy?”

  “You know where the toolbox is in the basement. Help yourself.”

  Liz headed down the stairs and was immediately transported back to her childhood. She’d spent a lot of time down there with their dad, watching him work on parts and handing him various tools. Those memories always caused a pang in her heart. Not wanting to linger in the past, she quickly located the Phillips screwdriver she needed and headed up the stairs.

  Her mouth watered as she re-entered the kitchen. “It smells amazing, Livvy. What are we having tonight?”

  “Shrimp gumbo. Here, have a taste.”

  Liz took a sip from the spoon Olivia held out to her and was pleased to find it had some kick.

  She could feel her sister watching her face closely for her reaction. “I was feeling like something with a little personality tonight. Do you think it will be too hot for Abby?”

  Abby was the daughter of Olivia’s best friend, Jackie. She might be only six, but Liz knew from past experience the kid would eat anything from sushi to Indian curry. “No, I think it’s just right. In fact, if I remember correctly, Tom’s chili is hotter than this, and I’ve seen her devour bowls of it.”

  Olivia laughed, “If it’s one thing I can’t fault Jackie for, it’s introducing her to a variety of foods at an early age. It probably doesn’t hurt now that Tom and his cooking have moved in.”

  Liz agreed. “Am I going to be in the way if I work on this while you’re cooking in here?”

  “I think it’ll be okay. Everything is pretty much finished and just has to simmer for a bit. Thanks for taking a look at it.”

  Liz nodded and began the task of unscrewing the panel on the dishwasher door. Even though this was a newer model dishwasher than the one she’d learned on as a kid, she was sure the general concepts were the same. “Let’s just hope the issue isn’t anything electrical. If it is, I’ll have to grab my VOM from the shop.”

  “Oh.” Olivia looked confused. “VOM?”

  “Volt-ohm meter.” At her sister’s blank expression, Liz explained, “It measures volts, currents, and stuff. Let’s me know if something is getting enough juice.”

  “And it’s called a volt-o-meter? Sounds like something out of a science fiction book.”

  Liz laughed. “Volt- Ohm- Meter, not Volt-o-meter.” Ever since she could remember, she had liked taking things apart and seeing how they worked. It used to drive her mom a little crazy whenever Liz would accidentally break something, but eventually she grew to appreciate having someone who could fix things around the house. Things had also gotten a lot better once her dad had started bringing home small used appliances for her to dissect instead of household items.

  Olivia poured herself a glass of wine and sat down at the kitchen island, watching her sister tinker. Liz glanced over at her. “So, who all is coming tonight, anyway?”

  “Let’s see. Well, of course Paul, Tom, Jackie, and Abby…”

  “Oh right. Paul mentioned gi
ving you a call to see if he could bring Jimmy tonight.”

  “Yeah, I told him of course he should bring him.”

  “That’s what I said. It’ll be good to see Tom and Jackie again. I haven’t had a chance to talk to them much since the grand re-opening of the café. How are they doing?”

  “Really well! Business has been good and everybody seems to be happy to have their favorite breakfast place available again.”

  “Good. I’ll have to make a point to stop in and grab lunch from them this week.”

  Her sister nodded. “I’m sure they’d appreciate that. I also invited Mason’s sister, Melody, and Brad said he might come by after he gets off shift. You know, I think he has a thing for her.”

  Liz glanced up from her task. “I was wondering about that. I thought I noticed a strange vibe between those two during Thanksgiving last year.”

  “Yeah. So far, she hasn’t seemed overly eager to follow up with him, but I think they’d make a cute couple.”

  Liz gave it a thought as she removed the latch from the door and re-aligned it. “I could see it. But Melody seems as independent as me, if not more so. I’m guessing it won’t be easy for him to convince her to take a chance.”

  “We’ll see.” Olivia wore a knowing smile. “Funny how things have a way of working out.”

  Liz grunted. She understood that Olivia and Mason had found their happily-ever-after, but not everybody was lucky enough to get that. Or even want it. She sure wasn’t looking to settle down anytime soon.

  “Well, once you include Fiona and me on your list, it sounds like it’s going to be a packed house.”

  “Yeah, should be fun. Oh, and I also invited my subcontractor, Alex.”

  Liz got a little flutter when Olivia mentioned that last name, but she quickly quashed it. Funny how years later, the thought of him could elicit the same response.

  It was annoying.

  Liz shouldn’t have been surprised he was coming, though. She knew he’d been working on her sister’s new restaurant for a few months now. Of course Olivia would have befriended him and invited him over. In fact, it was more surprising that Liz hadn’t run into him before now.