A Penny for Your Thoughts

by Bess McBride

  “Sorry about that,” he mumbled.

  “No problem,” she whispered. To give him time to compose himself, she discreetly studied the shoreline in the opposite direction. The foamy waves rolled in and out in a soothing and gentle rhythmic motion.

  She heard him clear his throat and glanced at him. His red face indicated his embarrassment and the depth of his emotion. The whites of his eyes were streaked with red, the lashes still wet.

  “Man, I haven’t cried in years. It doesn’t feel very good.”

  Penny nodded sympathetically. “It looked painful.”

  “Yeah,” he smiled crookedly. “I don’t cry much.”

  “I understand.”

  He shuffled his feet and grew silent.

  Penny opted for a mundane comment to give him time to continue to collect his thoughts.

  “So, are you off today, Cliff? It’s Monday, isn’t it? I can’t even keep track of the days anymore.”

  He cleared his throat again. “No, not really. I’ve got to head into Mobile and do some stuff at the office.”

  “Oh,” she replied, wondering what else she might say. She certainly had no intention of burdening him with her stalker tales, although she did wonder how his previous resentment toward her affected his decision to investigate the calls. He read her mind.

  “One of those things is to call your boss as I thought about doing last night. Matt hasn’t had much luck with him over the phone and asked me to put some pressure on him to come up with a name or two of someone who might want to terrorize you.”

  “Oh, I can call Tim and get him to do that.”

  Cliff scratched his head. He continued to avoid direct eye contact, Penny assumed because of embarrassment over his emotional state. “Well, that’s the thing, Penny. We’re not absolutely sure he’s not involved...or someone else in your office.”

  Penny shook her head vehemently. “That’s just not possible. I know those guys.”

  Cliff glanced at her quickly and looked away. “I have to tell you, Penny, I’ve been in this business for a long time. People aren’t always what they seem.”

  Penny gave him an ironic look. Didn’t he realize he was one of those people who weren’t what they seemed?

  She bit back a retort and sighed. “I know, Cliff, but these guys... I just can’t even imagine them doing such a thing. Or why they would.”

  Cliff shrugged but remained silent. He glanced at his watch. “I’d better get going. It’s about an hour and a half to the office from here.” He stared at Penny for a moment before dropping his eyes to the sand. “I’m sorry about...you know...before,” he mumbled. “The blubbering.” His cheeks flamed.

  “That’s okay, Cliff. I understand. I’m sorry for your loss.” Though Penny’s response was heartfelt, it seemed trite under the circumstances.

  He glanced at her again. A muscle worked in his jaw. She couldn’t decipher the expression in his dark blue eyes.

  “Yeah,” he murmured. He raised a hand in farewell and walked away, his hands shoved in his pockets as he shuffled slowly through the sand toward the parking lot.

  Penny watched him for a few moments before she sank weakly back into her chair and stared out to sea with a painful knot in her throat. She had no more tears left.

  ****

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Tim. I’m sorry to call you at home.”

  “Hey, Penny. That’s okay. So, your chief of police has been calling me. What’s his name? Matt Williams?”

  “Oh, that’s what I wanted to ask you about. They say they’re having a hard time getting information from you.”

  “Who’s they?” he asked sharply.

  “There’s a guy from the FBI, Cliff Sutton, who’s kind of working with Matt, and I guess he’s going to give you a call.”

  “I haven’t heard from him.”

  “Well, I just talked to him this morning. I’m sure he’ll call you when he gets around to it.”

  “I wonder why. I told that Chief Williams I don’t think anyone here had anything to do with the calls.”

  Penny fell silent. Should she say something?

  “Penny, are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here. It’s just...” She stepped out onto the balcony. The sun had set, and it would soon be time to get down to the parade route. “Well, you know...since the phone calls have been coming from Michigan...from your number and the office...they’re thinking...” She paused then rushed in. “I know it’s silly. I tried to tell Matt it was impossible.”

  She heard Tim grunt over the phone. “You mean me? They think it’s me, don’t they? I can’t believe this.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Penny winced. “No, Tim, not you. Well, I hope they don’t.” She bit the edge of her lip. “Okay, I guess they’re thinking it might be. But I don’t.”

  He snorted. “Well, it’s not me, so they’re wasting their time. And I don’t think it’s one of the clients here either.”

  “I didn’t think it was, Tim.” She went on to tell him about the last call.

  She heard him tisking over the phone. “I’m sorry, Penny. I wish I knew how to help.”

  “Thanks, Tim. I don’t know what the guy wants. He sure seems angry about something though.” She thought of Cliff for a moment. “Oh, that reminds me. Guess what?” She went on to tell Tim about Cliff and his connection to Jerry.

  “Are you kidding? How strange is that?” Tim murmured. “How is he taking it?”

  “Not well,” Penny said. “In fact, he actually said he thought he hated me before he met me, but now...” She couldn’t find words to finish; her thoughts were jumbled, half-formed. Hadn’t the stalker said something like that? She gave herself a swift shake.

  “Now what?”

  “Well, I thought since he’d gotten to know me that he didn’t still blame me, but I don’t know.” She heaved another heavy sigh. “I’m so confused, Tim.”

  “Well, hang in there. When are you coming back to work?”

  “March is the plan, right?”

  “That’s about three weeks away. Are you ready?”

  “Three weeks?” she squeaked. “So soon?”

  Tim laughed. “Time must fly down there on the Gulf Coast because that’s a long way off to those of us who can’t wait for the end of winter.”

  “Three weeks,” she murmured. She stared out to sea. Several brown pelicans glided just above the waves until they landed with a splash. Three weeks, and she would have to return to the north, perhaps never to see Matt again.

  Matt believed she hadn’t changed. She was beginning to think she hadn’t either.

  “Yes, I’ll be back, Tim.” She heard the resigned acceptance in her voice, and hoped Tim didn’t pick up on it.

  “Okay, I’ll see you then. Oh, and tell them to keep their eyes out for the guy who’s really making the calls, because it isn’t me.” His snort made Penny’s lips twitch.

  “I know that. I’ll see you soon, Tim.” She closed the phone and stared at it. Her stalker had not called her again. Had he grown tired of the game? No, not a game. Definitely not a game. She feared returning to Michigan with this death threat hanging over her head. Who was he?

  She wished she could talk to Matt right now more than anything in the world. To ask him about Cliff. But she dared not call him. He probably wouldn’t take her calls anyway. She didn’t blame him. Her impetuous behavior in the past had been too much for him to handle, and she’d done little to convince him over the last few days that drama wasn’t still her middle name.

  Penny slipped the phone into the pocket of her jeans and took a last look at the sparkling sea before she turned away, grabbed her chair and shuffled back to her apartment, contemplating the long, lonely night ahead.

  ****

  From his position behind the concrete wall of the parking garage under a condominium building, he watched her walk back to her building, with slumped shoulders and a slow gait. She looked depressed. Good! It was nothing more than she
deserved.

  He fingered the key in his pocket, taken surprise by a compelling urge to talk to her again. In fact, he needed to talk to her again. This was more than just searching her apartment for something that might not even be there. This was more than just revenge. Much more. Now he knew why Jerry went to see her. She seemed so real, so...vulnerable. And he liked that. Oh, yes, he liked vulnerable. Soft on the inside.

  He rubbed the serrated edges of the key with his forefinger and contemplated his next move. He was going up to talk to her...to make her listen to what she had done to him...to Jerry. And he wanted her to say she was sorry...and mean it this time. Some real honesty. He was done pussy-footing around. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

  ****

  Matt stormed into the station, past Patty with a nod and strode into his office. He shut the door, something he rarely did, and tossed himself into his chair.

  He jumped up again with restless energy and pulled open the door.

  “Patty! Did Cliff call at all? He’s not answering his cell phone.”

  “No, sir.”

  Matt nodded, ignored Patty’s searching gaze, shut the door again and reclaimed his seat. He leaned back in the chair, put his feet up on the desk and steepled his fingers, absentmindedly tapping his nose.

  Where the heck was Cliff? Had he pressed Tim again? Man, that guy was hard, Matt thought. Willing to help in any way he could finding Penny’s phone stalker, but completely unwilling to talk about anyone in the counseling center other than to say none of them had the right mentality for that kind of thing.

  What did that mean? The right mentality...

  Matt snorted. He was frustrated. Frustrated he couldn’t help Penny. Frustrated he couldn’t figure out who this caller was. Frustrated he’d gotten angry and turned his back on her when she needed him most. Frustrated because he still loved her, no matter what.

  Matt reached into his side drawer and pulled out the picture of Penny and Travis. Had she changed at all? She’d been out with this guy at the ice cream joint and then she’d given him her number? After getting calls from a stalker?

  His quick anger at the phone call from some guy showed that he still had trouble with jealousy, something he thought he’d gotten over long ago. Something he never let Penny know about. Ever.

  His desk phone rang. He sighed and picked it up.

  “Chief, Mrs. Brown is here.”

  Matt dropped the phone on the receiver and jumped to his feet. He pulled open the door. Penny stood by Patty’s desk with bright red cheeks. He reached her quickly and grabbed her hands.

  “Has something happened? Did you get another call? Are you all right?”

  Penny threw a glance at Patty and shook her head.

  “Come here.” Matt took her by the hand and led her back to his office. He closed the door behind her and seated her in the chair opposite his desk.

  “Are you all right? Are you injured?” He bent to peer into her face, allowing his eyes to travel the length of her body to see if she was hurt.

  “I’m all right.”

  With a sigh of relief, Matt touched the tip of her nose and walked around the desk to sit. He leaned his elbows on the table.

  “What’s going on?”

  Penny dropped her eyes to her lap and fidgeted with the bag in her lap. “Lots of things.”

  “Like what?”

  She shot him a quick glance. “Well, a couple of things anyway. But what I want to know is...why did you walk out on me?”

  Matt froze. He pulled back in his chair, away from the glitter in her eyes.

  “I-I...” Now, it was his turn to drop his eyes. He picked up a pen and started to wind it through his fingers. “Look, I’m sorry about that. I shouldn’t have left you like that. Not right now when things are going so bad for you.”

  Penny untangled her fingers and crossed her arms. Matt saw her gaze slide to the picture on the desk. Her lips twitched, but she clamped her mouth shut when she met his eyes. He felt the heat on his cheeks.

  “You haven’t changed much,” he smiled as he looked at the picture before putting it back in his desk.

  “So you said.”

  “Look, Penny, I’m sorry I said that. I don’t know what came over me. I just couldn’t believe you would give someone your new number...when you don’t even know who’s calling you.”

  Penny’s shoulders slumped, her righteous indignation soon spent. “I know. I can’t believe I did either. I wasn’t thinking. I was getting out of the car, and he...” She paused. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I did it, and it was stupid. But he’s not the caller. I just met him the other day.”

  “Probably not, but you need to be more careful.”

  Penny nodded. “Matt...um...how well do you know Cliff?”

  Matt quirked an eyebrow. “A long time. Couple of years anyway...since I’ve been here. Why?”

  Penny dropped her arms and looked down at her hands.

  “I-I... This is really weird.”

  “What is it?”

  “Did you know he’s Jerry’s brother?” she blurted out.

  “Jerry?” He narrowed his eyes and gave his head a quick shake. “Jerry? Your client? Are you kidding?” Matt leaned forward and stared at her. “Cliff is Jerry’s brother? How do you know? Are you sure? How did you find out?”

  “He told me...today.”

  He cut her off sharply. “Cliff? When did you see him? He’s been really hard to get hold of.”

  “On the beach...a couple of hours ago. I was sitting there and...”

  “Tell me exactly what he said,” Matt urged.

  His mind was running a mile a minute while Penny related the conversation with Cliff, but not so fast that he didn’t notice Penny avoiding eye contact. He knew her well enough to know she was holding something back.

  “Was he upset?”

  “Very.”

  “With you?” He searched her face. He didn’t have a sense of what Cliff’s emotional state had been, and Penny wasn’t really forthcoming about it either.

  “No, not me. Well, at least I don’t think so.” Penny shrugged and looked away. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

  “Do you think this is a problem, Penny? Do you want me to talk to him?”

  “Oh, no,” she gasped as she swung her head in his direction. “No, please don’t say anything. I don’t want him to know I told you.”

  He leaned back in his chair and studied her. She had shadows under her eyes.

  “Okay, but there’s something very strange about all of this. There are too many coincidences. And I’m really concerned that Cliff didn’t say something to you earlier. Or me, for that matter.” He began to lace the pen through his fingers again. Where was Cliff anyway? They were no closer to finding a lead in the bank case.

  “Oh, I’ve been forgetting something. Maybe it isn’t a big deal, and maybe it’s something I did. I lost my address book. I think it was in the car when it was broken into.”

  Matt leaned forward again.

  “Are you sure?”

  Penny nodded. “Well, it’s missing. I’d taken it with me to mail a box of stuff to Travis, and now, I can’t find it. Do you think that could be a problem? I mean...is my mother in danger...or Travis?” She shook her head quickly. “Oh, that’s just silly. I probably put it somewhere and now I don’t know where.”

  Matt wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and hold her. She looked so worried.

  He resisted the urge and sighed.

  “I don’t know, Penny. If the guy who broke in was just looking for the stereo or cash, then he wouldn’t care about your address book. And if you’re not sure it was even in the car...”

  Penny visibly squared her shoulders and nodded. She clutched her bag and rose. “You’re right. I’m worrying over something that may not have happened. I just need to turn the apartment upside down and find it, that’s all.”

  Matt jumped up. “Are you leaving already? How about dinner? You know...to make up for my taking off this
morning.” He gave her his best imitation of a charming smile, hoping it would work on her. It used to.

  “I don’t think so, Matt. I think I’m just going to go home and get some sleep. You know...rest up for the big night tomorrow. Mardi Gras. Thank you though.” While she talked, she swung around and opened the door, and before Matt knew it, she’d moved quickly through the station, past an observant Patty, and gone out the door.

  Matt froze in the office doorway with his jaw hanging open. Patty swung her expressive eyes toward him. He caught her sympathetic gaze and shook his head before he turned around and reentered the room. Dropping into his chair, Matt closed his eyes and let his head sag back over the top edge of the seat.

  Well, he’d certainly blown it this time...again. He never should have let her go all those years ago. He could have stopped her. Matt filled his lungs with air. He’d sworn years ago that if she ever came back to him, he would marry her and never let her go...no matter what. He rubbed his aching eyes. He’d been given a second chance. He had to do better.

  ****

  He pulled out onto the darkening street after her. So, she’d been to the police station. What was she doing in there? Begging them to protect her? He’d seen Matt’s black SUV in the parking lot. Had she gone to see him? Well, of course, she had. He’d seen the blush on her cheeks when she spoke of her old flame.

  The thought enraged him. She didn’t deserve to be happy. And he was going to see to it she wasn’t.

  He followed her as she turned onto the main street, keeping his distance a car length behind. He hoped she was headed home. That was the easiest place to get to her. When she was alone...

  She drove considerably under the speed limit, and the car behind her passed, leaving nothing between his car and hers. He tapped his brakes repeatedly to stay some distance behind. No point in giving her advanced notice, he thought. She’d probably grab her phone and call her precious Matt again.

  She turned right onto Beach Boulevard. He hesitated at the green light to give her some room before he followed. He saw her turn into the garage of her condominium, and he pulled into the unlit parking lot of an apartment complex across the street. He gave her about five minutes, and then jumped out of his car and sprinted across the quiet highway into the dimly lit parking garage, racing up the stairs until he reached the third floor. Chest heaving, he waited in the stairwell until he caught his breath. He needed the element of surprise, and he couldn’t do what he needed to do if he was out of breath. From his vantage point, he could see her door. He leaned against the wall and waited for the pounding in his chest to subside.