Nowhere to Run

by Jeanne Bannon

  “Love you, angel,” Mrs. G. whispered, and Lily smiled up at her, giving her a wink. It might have made the others feel bad if Lily had said, “I love you, too,” but the wink let her friend know she did.

  Lily continued unloading the buggy. “I’ve got wool and patterns for the ladies and crossword and Sudoku puzzles, as well as some paint by numbers. We’ll set them out on the table at the back, and you can take whatever you like.”

  Sharon, a long-time employee who was so ancient she could easily pass for a resident, shuffled over and scooped up the goodies Lily had unpacked. “I’ll take the treats to the kitchen. We’ll sort out who can have what later.”

  “Thanks,” Lily replied. “I brought some sugarless treats, too.”

  “You always do,” Sharon called over her shoulder.

  After a half hour of chatting in the common room, Lily visited some of the bedridden residents and the ones who preferred the solitude of their rooms to the common areas. She spent a good amount of time with each, never rushing and always patient, even with those who tried to keep her with them, not wanting to let go of the company. She left a present with each of them—a book, a DVD, a jigsaw puzzle. After so many years, she never grew tired of the weekly visits, and now that she had money, she was all too happy to buy a big-ticket item for the facility every now and then. After all, she had more than she could spend in a lifetime and her needs were simple.

  When she was done, she went back to the common room and bade a quick good-bye from the doorway. She was met with waves, blowing of kisses, smiles, and thank-yous.

  Leaving was always sad. She couldn’t help but wonder if everyone would still be there next week when she returned. Life was a precarious thing at any age.

  On her way to the car, her cell phone rang. The sight of Aiden’s name on the phone made her heartbeat quicken.

  She let it ring one more time then answered, trying not to seem too eager.

  “Hi. I was just thinking about you and wanted to hear your voice. Where are you?” Aiden said.

  Lily’s heart did a flip-flop. He was thinking of her! “Just running a few errands. I’ll be heading home soon.”

  “Does it always snow here in October?” He laughed. “I wasn’t prepared for this.”

  “No. This is just weird. I’m getting into my car now, and it’s really coming down. I’ve got on a warm enough coat, but no boots. My feet are soaked.” She hoped the premature winter weather wouldn’t make him second-guess his move to small-town Maine.

  “Hope it doesn’t pile up. You might have a hard time getting up my driveway. It’s pretty steep.”

  Disappointment struck. Was he going to cancel on her? “It should be fine,” she said, but worry stabbed when she realized she didn’t have her snow tires on yet.

  “OK. You know this town better than I do. If you still want to come to the cabin, it’s more than fine with me.”

  She heard the smile in his voice and that made her relax. “No worries. I’ll be there at four.”

  CHAPTER 6

  Aiden yanked on the bill of his cap so that it concealed much of his face, then threw on the hood of his fleece jacket as an added protection. Lily was on her way home. That was good. There’d be no chance he’d run into her on his way to see Sheriff Wilkins.

  There were others who might recognize him and rat him out to Lily. He was thinking of the regulars at the diner. As the stranger in town, he’d noticed their curious stares and heard the whispered questions. There was Annie too. It hadn’t been suspicion in her eyes, but something far worse, attraction. He didn’t think she’d make a play for him, but she might be on the lookout, hoping they’d run into each other.

  Snow fell in heavy wet dollops. What a godforsaken place. Snow in bloody October! He’d stuffed his folder on the Valier case safely inside his jacket to keep it from getting soaked.

  Parking spots were hard to come by on the short strip of the downtown core, but he’d found one up the street from the sheriff’s department and had to hoof it through the sloppy white stuff. Good packing snow, he thought absurdly. Maybe building a snowman would be in his future.

  As he walked along the double-wide sidewalk, he couldn’t imagine Higgstown in its midsummer glory, all bright and sunny, filled to brimming with tourists. This day was gray and cold. The kind that chilled to the bone. He stuck close to the storefronts. Most were canopied and kept the snow off him. His fleece jacket soaked up the flakes as well as any sponge would. As he walked, he glanced into the stores and made mental notes. The menswear shop had a warm-looking jacket in the window. He’d stop in on his way back.

  He spied an A&P. Spaghetti and meatballs, he reminded himself.

  He came to the small, unassuming red-bricked police station on the corner of King and Elm Streets. Next to it stood a furniture store and across the street, a coffee shop and real estate office.

  Aiden remembered the first time he met with Wilkins and how he’d thought of Lily Valier simply as a murderer who’d, so far, managed not to get caught. He was surprised at how, in just a few short days, a crack had opened as to the possibility of her innocence. Usually his instincts kicked in and he knew in an instant whether someone was guilty or not, and ninety-nine percent of the time, they were. He couldn’t get over the feeling he knew Lily. Really knew her. And when they’d kissed, he felt something, something more than desire. Holding her in his arms felt way too comfortable for a man being paid to sweep her off her feet. A niggling of guilt sneaked up on him.

  Antonio met Aiden at the front desk. The sour-faced deputy lifted his head from his paperwork and gave a little nod. His wispy moustache twitched up in a short but quickly fading smile.

  “Hey, Antonio.”

  “He’s in his office,” Antonio said, his tone curt.

  Aiden knew the way. It would be damned near impossible to get lost in the small building. A few strides down the hallway brought him to the sheriff’s door.

  Wilkins checked his watch. “Right on time.”

  Aiden smiled. “Of course. I’m nothing if not reliable.”

  “Sit.” Wilkins gestured to the battered, institutional-looking chair in front of his desk. “Coffee?”

  “No, I’m good.” Aiden removed his cap and tossed it onto another ancient chair, along with his damp jacket.

  The office was sparse. Wilkins’s desk, circa 1960, was a clunker of dull gray metal. On its surface lay an ink-stained blotter. Framed family pictures populated a corner, and on the other side stood a half-inch stack of papers.

  Sleepy town with not much going on. His days must sloth by like the proverbial molasses in January. The Sara Valier murder was surely the most exciting thing to hit this place in like…forever. It was no wonder Aiden had been called in. Every time he looked into Wilkins’s eyes, he saw his desperation to put the case to rest.

  Aiden placed his folder on the desk in front of him and took a seat. After rubbing the circulation back into his hands, he flipped it open.

  “Before we get started, let me call Deluca in here.” The sheriff punched in an extension number on his desk phone and a moment later, Antonio sauntered in.

  Aiden moved to take his stuff off the chair beside him to make room for the deputy to sit.

  “Leave it,” Deluca said. “I’ll stand.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall.

  “Got anything yet?” Wilkins asked Aiden.

  Aiden sucked in a breath and let it out in a huff. “Like you said, Lily Valier’s a hard nut to crack.”

  “Nothin’?” The sheriff sighed and leaned back, his tired old chair squalling in protest.

  Aiden gave Wilkins his best smile. “I’m seeing her again tonight, and I think she likes me. No worries, sheriff, Lily will let her guard down. But, in the meantime, I’ve got some questions.”

  Everything had seemed so cut and dried when he and the sheriff first spoke. Lily Valier was guilty of her sister’s murder and that was that. Both the sheriff and his deputy were sure of it. All Aiden had
to do was charm her with his wits and good looks and she’d melt. He’d be out of town in no time with seven grand to add to his bank account.

  He looked again at the horrible pictures of Lily. True despair was in that face. Surely he could tell the difference between despair and guilt? With a sigh, Aiden flipped the photos over and pulled out the list of questions he’d jotted down that morning.

  “Tell me about Zander Lyons.”

  The sheriff crossed his arms and took a breath. “Well, he admitted to fathering Sara Valier’s baby. They’d had an affair that lasted a little over a year, and he’s a married man with a grown daughter. Think she’s nineteen or twenty.” His tone was matter-of-fact.

  “He didn’t kill her,” Deluca said.

  Aiden turned to him. “And you know this, how? I can’t imagine he was thrilled when he knocked up his mistress.”

  Deluca gave Aiden the once-over as if sizing him up. His lips thinned into a line of displeasure. “He’s not our guy.”

  Aiden had to fight the urge to stand up. He was twice the size of Deluca and wanted to let the man know he wasn’t easily intimidated, but he kept his mouth shut, not willing to bite the hand that feeds and all that crap.

  Wilkins was no picnic to deal with, but at least he made an attempt at hiding his distaste in dealing with an outsider. However, Deluca’s displeasure at Aiden nosing around the investigation was very much apparent.

  “He’s rich and has a high profile in the community. Think of what this scandal would do to him,” Aiden said to Deluca, an edge to his voice.

  Deluca raised a brow. “His alibi is as tight as spandex over a fat chick’s ass. He was out of the country when Miss Valier was killed. Checked it out myself and it’s airtight.”

  The deputy could be Zander Lyon’s lawyer with the way he was defending him. Aiden grew tense, muscles tightening, jaw grinding. He cracked and popped the tension away with a side-to-side twist of his head. “He could have hired someone.”

  The sheriff leaned forward. “We thought of that. There’s no evidence pointing to a murder-for-hire scheme.” He sighed and shook his head. “As much as I hate to admit it, facts are facts and what we’ve got on Lily, although circumstantial at the moment, is enough for me to think she did it.”

  Deluca chimed in, “You never really know what someone is capable of. When I worked homicide in Bangor, there were plenty of people as nice as Lily who did very bad things. Mostly heat-of-the-moment stuff, but that doesn’t make them any less guilty.” He put his hands on the back of the chair beside Aiden and leaned forward. “Lily was seen holding a gun on her sister. Remember the e-mail from Sara Valier’s ex-boyfriend? He saw her with the gun.” He said the last few words slowly, driving home his point.

  Aiden knew about the gun and the e-mail, but realized it would take some time before Lily would tell him that story, if ever. What reason would she have to hold a gun on her sister? Did Lily want her half of the money? She didn’t seem the money hungry type, living simply, still working seemingly because she wanted to. It just didn’t make sense. Nevertheless, a small knot of concern began to grow, supported by the fact the weapon had never been found.

  “An e-mail from a stalker ex-boyfriend is hardly proof,” Aiden argued.

  “Philip wasn’t stalking Sara.” Wilkins gave a small laugh. “He was hurt after she left him for Zander and drove by Lily’s place looking for Sara so they could talk. I know Phil. He’s a mild-mannered, sweet guy.”

  “That would be my definition of stalking,” Aiden replied. “Was Philip Kemp cleared of the murder too?” Aiden narrowed his gaze and studied Wilkins.

  “I questioned Phil. No way he did it,” Wilkins said.

  “Mind if I pay him a visit?” Aiden asked.

  “Knock yourself out.” Deluca pulled a beaten-up business card from his shirt pocket and tossed it to Aiden. “He runs a garage here in town. Hell of a mechanic.”

  Aiden took the card and placed it in the folder before closing it. He looked at each man; he had to ask the question burning a hole in his gut. “Why are you two so dead set on nailing Lily for this crime? Do you really think she has it in her to kill her pregnant sister?”

  “Look, ya know the facts by now. Sara was shot with a small-caliber weapon, we have a witness who says he saw Lily pointing a gun at Sara…and…” Deluca wagged a finger. “She’s got one hell of a motive to want her sister dead. Lily Valier’s a very rich woman now.”

  “Their dad was a sick bastard, always pitting them girls against each other. Sara was his favorite, and when he died, he left every penny to her and Lily got zilch. I think that would be enough to make her just a little angry,” Wilkins added.

  Aiden tapped a finger to his lips. He knew about dear old dad and his games—it didn’t seem enough. Besides, there was still one big unknown. “Do you know if Sara was willing to share the wealth with her sister?”

  Wilkins and Deluca eyed each other, then Deluca answered, “Their dad, Jack Valier, died eight months ago. Don’t you think in that time, if Sara was going to give Lily half the estate, she would have done it? We checked, Mr. O’Rourke, and there were no lump-sum payments made to Lily Valier before her sister’s death. So the answer to your question is no, Sara did not share her inheritance with her sister.”

  “But you didn’t come right out and ask Lily about the money?” Aiden said.

  Deluca rolled his eyes. “Like I said earlier, Mr. O’Rourke, I worked up in Bangor for a few years, in homicide, so I know what I’m doing. Got plenty of experience handling these types of cases. We didn’t have to ask Miss Valier about the money. Unless she’s stuffed it under her mattress, she doesn’t have it. We checked her bank accounts. That’s proof enough.”

  Why the hell did you hire me then? Aiden wanted to ask, but he knew it was Wilkins’s idea to bring him in on the investigation—probably driven to it by desperation. Aiden decided to change tack. No use arguing with Deluca, the knucklehead. “So, this Philip guy, he saw Lily holding a gun on Sara in front of Lily’s house, right?”

  The sheriff nodded.

  “Well, Sara wasn’t shot on Lily’s property. She was found dead in her own house.” He held up a stilling hand when the sheriff opened his mouth to reply. “I know what you’re going to say. Lily went home with Sara and shot her there. But it doesn’t make sense that Philip would just sit idly by and let that happen. Why didn’t he do something? Follow them or at least call the cops if he thought the woman he loved was in danger.”

  Wilkins threw his hands in the air in a gesture of surrender. “Guess everyone reacts differently in an emergency. Some bolt, some help. Could be Phil’s way of helping was to send that e-mail.”

  Aiden stood and gathered his things. “Thanks. I’ll be in touch.” He could use a set of snows on his pickup, and he knew just the place to get them.

  As he stepped outside, a tingle ran down his spine, giving him the feeling he was being watched. He looked around furtively, replacing his cap and making sure to pull the hood of his soaked jacket over his head. He spotted no one but just couldn’t shake his unease as he made his way to that menswear shop. A nice waterproof jacket was certainly in order.

  CHAPTER 7

  Before going home to get ready for her dinner with Aiden, Lily stopped by the diner. There was a vintage Merlot tucked away somewhere in the back. The staff at the seniors center had given it to her as a thank-you for the TV, but knowing how expensive it was, she couldn’t bring herself to open it without a special occasion to celebrate. Silly, she knew, since she could buy a whole case if she wanted, but New England practicality was in her bones.

  She decided to enter the restaurant through the back door, grab the vino, and get home so she could make herself pretty. That thought stopped her cold. Since when did Lily Valier care about making herself pretty for a man? She couldn’t help but laugh. Since the day Aiden rolled into town, she reminded herself.

  He could leave just as easily.

  Worry knotted her belly, but she
pushed the thought away. No, she wouldn’t let negativity kill the potential for happiness, and what’s more, after giving it some thought, she’d decided to be more open with Aiden despite Annie’s advice to take it slow. If he asked questions, she’d do her best to answer them. If he was really going to stay in town, it would be near impossible to keep secrets from him anyway. Like ripping a bandage from a wound, a part of her wanted to get it over with—no use dragging things out and risking falling in love, only to have him leave when the skeletons in her closet came tumbling out.

  Lily went to her office and looked around, trying to remember where she’d stored the wine. A wave of nostalgia hit her. It had been happening a lot since her sister’s death. It was if she was looking at the place with new eyes.

  If was hard to believe she’d actually lived in the diner with her mother and sister for several years when they first moved to town. Her office used to be their bedroom. She smiled as she recalled how all three of them shared the double bed. How cozy it had been, how safe and fun. The staff room across the hall was their family room, where many nights were spent watching television together. The small storage room had been a den of sorts, where she and Sara sat side by side at a small desk, doing their homework.

  She walked over to the couch and looked at the photos on the wall above it. All in identical black wooden frames, they were a tribute to the Valier women, spanning the years. Every picture was of either Sara, herself, or their mother and sometimes the three of them together. Smiling faces and interlocked arms showed the world how happy they’d been.

  Now, through a cruel twist of fate, she was the last one standing. Lily kissed her fingertip and planted the gesture of affection on a picture of her mother, and then on one of Sara. “Love you guys,” she said.

  Tears burned her eyes, but to staunch them, she searched deep down inside herself for something to be grateful about. Lily thought of the diner. Not the greatest prize in the world, but it was one she wouldn’t trade…couldn’t trade, unless she was willing to give over her heart and soul in the bargain. This place held her memories and kept alive the spirit of the people who meant the most to her.