by Lena Gregory
“Nah. I was kind of expecting to find at least Mitch and maybe Ron in some of the club photos, maybe debate team or one of the political clubs or something like that.”
“Nothing?”
“Not that I can find. Just this.” She held the book out to Savannah, opened to the chess club picture.
“Hmm… What do you make of that?”
“No idea, but he doesn’t look too happy to be there.” She leaned over Thor to put the open book back on the coffee table. “Here, help me look through the candid shots; they’re harder to search.”
Apparently tired of her moving around, and realizing it wasn’t yet quiet time, Thor jumped off the couch and settled at her feet with a stuffed chew toy.
Gia started skimming through the photos. By the fifth page, her eyes were going blurry. She closed them for a minute, then opened them and sipped her tea. “None of them seemed particularly popular in high school. That seems odd to me, for a group of kids from affluent families, with ties to the community.”
“Yeah, you’d expect them to be taking leadership roles in school.” Savannah picked up the book and continued to look. “You said Debby said they stayed to themselves.”
“To the exclusion of everyone else, according to her.”
“Seems she was right.”
Gia settled back and sipped her tea. Peach, her favorite.
“Bingo.” Savannah sat up straighter, held out the book, and pointed to a photo in the bottom right corner. “Look.”
A group of teens sat in what looked like a park.
“It’s all of them, plus a girl named Felicity Meyers and another named Allison Monroe.” She pointed both girls out. “And they’re all paired up like couples.”
Felicity sat on a picnic bench leaning back against Ron Parker, who sat on the table with his arms draped casually over her shoulders.
Gia looked closer. “You think Ron was dating Mitch’s wife?”
“It seems that way.” Savannah handed her the book. “Look at the others.”
“There’s Gabriella and Bobby, but we already knew they were a couple, even back then.”
Bobby sat with his back against the tree, his legs straddled, while Gabriella sat between them, her back against his chest.
“And there’s Trevor lying in the grass next to Allison Monroe. Can you tell if it’s the same woman you saw at the café?”
Gia squinted. “No, I can only see the side of her face, because she’s looking at Trevor, but it’s the same long, blond hair. It could be her. Why didn’t we find her in the portraits?”
“Read the caption. Next to Allison and Felicity it says junior in parentheses.”
“I’ll have to look through the underclassmen photos again. They must have been in eleventh grade. No wonder we didn’t find them in the senior portraits.”
“They should be easy enough to find now that you have their names and grades.”
Gia started to turn the page.
Savannah held out a hand. “Did you see Mitch and Skyla?”
“Yeah.”
Skyla sat on the grass, legs folded, elbows resting on her knees, with Mitch next to her, scowling at something in the distance. Not the most flattering picture of him.
“Even though they’re not sitting as close, I still get the impression they’re a coup…” Savannah’s mouth fell open, and her gaze shot to Gia. “Oh, no.”
Technically, she hadn’t told. But it wasn’t hard to figure out. Given Willow’s age, the timing was right.
“Ah, jeez. No wonder Skyla’s such a mess. Does Willow know?”
“No. Skyla is terrified she’ll find out. You can’t say anything to anyone, please.”
“Of course, I won’t. You know me better than that.”
“Yes, I do. But Skyla is scared, Savannah. Really scared. She doesn’t want Willow anywhere near any of this.”
“I don’t blame her. Does Mitch know?”
“She told him before she left town, but who knows if he paid enough attention to realize Willow’s his daughter?”
“I guess he wasn’t interested in being a daddy, since she left alone.” Savannah gazed sadly at the picture of a young Skyla.
“The circumstances were less than ideal. According to Skyla, that aspect of the relationship was not exactly consensual.”
“Oh, no.” Savannah closed her eyes tight and lowered her head. “What a creep.”
“Yeah, but he’s managed to convince enough people that don’t know him that he should be mayor.”
“No wonder she freaked out the way she did when she saw him on TV. If it was me, I’d have wanted to put my foot right through the screen.”
“No kidding.”
“What about Gabriella? Does she know?” Savannah asked.
“Skyla seemed to think everyone did. Why?”
“That might explain why Skyla got so weird running into Gabriella that day. Maybe she was afraid she’d say something in front of Willow.”
“True. There’s definitely no mistaking Willow is Skyla’s daughter. They look too much alike not to be related.”
Thor jumped up and barked, then trotted toward the front door just as it opened and Hunt and Leo walked in.
Hunt offered a sheepish smile. “Hey, there.”
Gia resisted the urge to stuff the yearbook under a couch cushion. Secrets had caused enough trouble already. But she would still protect Skyla’s, so she closed the book before laying it on the coffee table. Hunt and Leo would draw the same conclusion as easily as Savannah had if they studied the picture. “Hey, yourself.”
He gestured toward their empty plates. “Got any more of that barbeque I smell laying around?”
“I don’t know. I guess that depends on how much you grovel.”
He shot her a grin. “I’d be willing to grovel a lot for a piece of Xavier’s chicken.”
Gia laughed and shook her head. She couldn’t stay mad at him. Besides, Savannah had wondered the same thing about her and Trevor, so maybe it was partly her fault. As Savannah had pointed out, she’d found it easy to trust Trevor, while Hunt had kept from moving too fast to give her time to learn to trust him.
Leo sat on the couch with Savannah curled against him.
“Come on.” Gia reached for Hunt’s hand. “Let’s get you and Leo something to eat and give these two lovebirds a little privacy.”
Hunt weaved his fingers through hers and held her hand loosely while they walked to the kitchen, then he opened the door and led her out onto the deck. He faced her, clasping both her hands in his. “I’m sorry, Gia.”
“Me too.”
He frowned. “What are you sorry for?”
“I think trusting Trevor came easier to me than trusting you, because I don’t have feelings for him like I do you. He’s a friend. Nothing more. And Savannah has already given me a ton of experience trusting a friend.”
His already dark eyes darkened even more, twin pools of melted chocolate.
“You mean a lot to me, Hunt, more than I sometimes care to admit, even to myself. When I came here, I was a mess. Frightened, insecure, jumpy, and you were there for me. I was vulnerable, but you didn’t take advantage of that like you could have. Instead, you protected me.” She took a deep breath. She’d never admitted it before, not even to herself, but there was no denying it. “It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”
Hunt cradled her cheek and brushed a tear away with his thumb. “I love you too, Gia, and I’m sorry I hurt you. I do trust you, and I do know you’d never betray that trust. I was never really upset with you. I was upset with myself because I didn’t pay enough attention, didn’t show you how I felt, and because of that, I risked losing you to someone else.”
“You’re not losing me, Hunt. I’m not needy that way. I love what I do, and it takes up a huge part of my ti
me. And I understand you love what you do, and you shoulder a tremendous amount of responsibility. All I ask from you is to be honest with me and spend time together when we can.”
“That I can do.” His lips brushed hers, gently at first, then growing more insistent.
The back door opened, and they jerked apart.
“A man could starve in here while you two are out there messing around.” Leo grinned.
Gia looked for something to throw at him, but there was nothing around, so she settled for glaring.
He laughed but sobered quickly. “Seriously, though, Hunt, I just got a call. We have to go.”
“Now?”
“Right now. Savannah is throwing some food together for us to take with us. Sorry, but it’s going to be cold.”
Hunt kissed Gia’s head. “Sorry.”
“No problem. Be careful.”
“Always.” He turned and left with Leo.
Gia stayed where she was, watching Thor run in his fenced section of the yard. She picked up a ball from the deck, scanned the immediate area for snakes and other creepy-crawlies, then went down the stairs and threw the ball for him. He didn’t bring it back to her, though, simply lay down on the ground and started chewing.
When the door opened behind her, she knew it would be Savannah.
She closed the door softly, walked over, and stood beside her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m good, actually.” And she was. Hunt had told her he loved her. Something she’d never thought she’d believe again from a man. But she did believe him.
“Oh, good. You guys looked so serious out here, we hated to interrupt.”
Gia turned toward her. “Did Leo say why they had to leave?”
“No, but I was sitting next to him on the couch when the call came in from the dispatcher.”
“What did they say?”
“They needed Hunt and Leo at a crime scene, a murder victim they thought might be connected to their case.”
“The Ron Parker case?”
“They didn’t specify, but I’m assuming so, since there aren’t that many murders in Boggy Creek.”
“So you keep saying.”
Chapter 22
Gia mopped up the coffee she’d spilled while filling Earl’s mug. “Sorry, Earl. I don’t know why I’m so clumsy this morning.”
“Maybe you need a vacation.” He winked at Savannah, who sat one stool over from him.
“Ha ha.” Gia tossed the dirty rag into a bin beneath the counter.
The keys Gia had left dangling from the locked door jiggled as Cole let himself in.
“Mornin’, all. Well, isn’t this a surprise? Didn’t expect to see you two here this morning.”
“Neither did I.” Savannah shot Gia a scowl.
“I can’t help it. I couldn’t sleep, and I wanted to come in and check on everything.” She’d actually wanted to come in and check on Willow. Though she had no reason to believe anything threatened her, she’d been terrified when Savannah had told her about the second murder and hadn’t slept a wink all night.
Cole laughed. “No worries. Everything here is under control.”
“I know. I just…”
“Don’t know what to do with yourself when you’re not working?” Cole finished for her.
“Something like that.” She shrugged him off. He’d hit too close to home.
“Know what you need?” Earl asked.
“No, what?”
“A trip to Disney World.”
Savannah perked up. “That’s a great idea, Earl. What park do you like best, Gia? I love walking around the worlds at Epcot, but I’d do whatever park you’d like, really. Too bad we can’t do the Food and Wine Festival; it’s amazing. We’ll have to go again in the fall. You’ll love it.”
“Actually, I’ve never been to Disney World.”
All three of them went still and stared at her.
Gia squirmed. “What?”
Savannah was the first to recover her senses. “What do you mean, you’ve never been to Disney? Since you moved here?”
“No, I’ve never been there at all. My father didn’t do vacations, and Bradley hated Florida.” She shrugged. “So, I’ve never gone.”
“Oh, we are about to change that,” Savannah said. “Who’s in?”
Ah jeez. What had she gotten herself into now? “Wait, isn’t Disney for kids?”
Savannah just laughed at her apparent ignorance.
“I’m game.” Earl raised his hand as if in school. “I go all the time with my kids and grandkids. I love it.”
“Why don’t you see if any of them want to come? We’ll plan it for Monday, when the café’s closed, so we can all go.” Excitement lit Savannah’s eyes. “Are you in, Cole?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Great. We’ll ask Hunt and Leo, and maybe Skyla and Willow would want to come.”
Gia couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm.
“I’ll tell you what…” Earl pulled out his phone. “My youngest works in reservations over there. How about I give her a call and see if she’ll book us a few rooms for Sunday night? We can meet up right after the café closes.”
Savannah clapped her hands together. “That’d be great, Earl, thank you.”
“Wait, I—” Gia started.
Earl ignored her. “What hotel do you like best?”
Savannah grinned. “Hmm…probably Caribbean Beach if it’s available. If not, I love Port Orleans Riverside.”
“You got it.” He stepped away from the excitement to make the call.
“Savannah, I’m not sure—”
“I’m so excited. A mini family vacation. This definitely makes up for not going to the Keys.”
Ugh…when she put it like that. “Looks like we’re going to Disney.”
“Yes.” Savannah pumped her fist in the air.
Cole frowned. “How about Universal? Have you been there?”
“Nope.”
“Never seen the Harry Potter section?”
“No, and I do love Harry Potter, the books and the movies.”
“We’ll do that next Monday.” Savannah pressed her phone to her ear.
Yikes, what had she started?
Willow walked in and locked the door behind her. “What’s all the excitement?”
“Looks like we’re going to Disney World on Monday,” Earl answered. “Would you and your mom like to come?”
“Sure. I love Disney.”
“What? Am I the only one who’s never been to Disney?”
A chorus of yeses answered her.
She laughed and unlocked the door. No mad rush waited outside, but experience had taught her the busiest time didn’t start until about an hour after they’d opened. She twirled the key ring on her finger, turned, and started back toward the counter. A breaking news alert on the TV stopped her short. She gestured toward the TV playing silently in the corner. “Hey, turn that up.”
Savannah disconnected her call, grabbed the remote, and turned up the volume.
The reporter stood in front of a small stucco house on a quiet residential street. “…found dead yesterday in what’s believed to be his rental home. The police have not issued a statement as of yet, but it’s believed to be the body of Robert Fischetti, a local man who’s lived in Georgia for the past two decades and only recently returned home. We have no details on how he was killed, other than that his death is considered to have occurred under suspicious circumstances.”
Gia’s gut cramped. Her gaze shot to Savannah.
“What?” Earl paused with his mug halfway to his mouth. “Who’s Robert Fischetti?”
“Remember the woman who came in and made Skyla uncomfortable?” Gia glanced at Willow, who stood staring at the TV.
“Vagu
ely. Someone she knew when they were kids, right?”
“Yes. Bobby Fischetti was her husband.”
“Hmm…” Earl blew on his coffee and took a sip. “What a shame.”
She couldn’t blame Earl for not understanding the significance of another member of the same group of old friends turning up dead.
Thoughts whirled through Gia’s mind, a chaotic mess she had no hope of sorting out. “What do you think happened?”
Savannah sat staring at the TV, her brows drawn together. She shook her head. “I have no clue.”
“Do you think that’s the call Hunt and Leo got last night?” No sense worrying about keeping anything a secret now.
“I assume so.”
When a commercial started playing, Gia muted the volume.
Cole rounded the counter and filled everyone’s coffee mugs, then sat and grabbed a muffin from a covered cake dish on the counter. “What’s going on?”
Gia tried to sort through the information in her mind and pick out what she was and wasn’t allowed to say, taking great care to be careful in front of Willow. “Turns out Ron Parker and Trevor ran in the same crowd when they were kids.”
Savannah gestured with her mug toward the TV. “Bobby Fischetti was also a member of their little group.”
“I remember those kids. Some of them, anyway.” Cole took a big bite of his chocolate peanut butter muffin. “Mmm…”
“I remember Mitch well enough,” Earl said.
Cole swallowed. “Sneaky little thing he was.”
“I take it you’re not a fan?” At this point, Gia couldn’t believe anyone would vote for that snake.
“Nah.”
“I can’t even believe that man ever got to be a candidate.” Savannah picked out a blueberry muffin and sat next to Cole.
Earl held up a finger. “Just a minute. Aren’t you the one who sat here a few days ago singin’ his praises?”
“Yeah, well, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.”
He spread his hands wide. “Whatever you say, dear. Just sayin’.”
She mumbled something under her breath, broke off a piece of muffin, and stuffed it into her mouth. Probably to make sure she didn’t blurt anything inappropriate.
