by R. T. Wolfe
* * *
Sitting in the pub, Nathan ordered burgers and fries for the two of them. He'd chosen a ridiculously small table in the restaurant side of Mikey's, then drank his beer thinking about how Brie, indeed, looked better even though pale and tired yet.
"Anybody home?" Dave said, waving his hand in front of Nathan's face. He pulled up a chair and motioned to the waitress. "You're miles away, man."
"I need to do something. Anything. Did you read the paper? Shit. I need you to tell me what to do."
"I figured that from the sound of your call. How is she?"
"Actually pretty good. Too good. And there's more than just the lockdown at her job." He took a long drink and sat back. "I ordered you a burger."
"Just a burger? I'm starved." Dave signaled for the waitress. "I'll have what he's drinking and two pounds of wings, hot."
She nodded and took his menu.
"What more?"
"She got home later than usual. Someone left poisoned meat in her yard for her dog to find. She found her dog. I found her. The dog's going to make it, but it was pregnant and lost the pups."
"Son of a bitch. That's a bad day." The waitress came back with Dave's beer. "You don't think it's a coincidence." He took a drink and leaned back in the wooden chair. "Is she going to file a report this time?"
"Yes. She says she needs a few days to wrap her head around it. She's organizing notes for you, wants me to go with her to the station. And, no, I don't think it's a coincidence and neither does she. Someone knew her dog was having puppies and we only found out a few days ago. They knew which buttons to push that would hurt her the most and knew when she was the most vulnerable."
"The scene will be compromised in a few days. Probably already is."
"We've got a few hours of daylight left. Let's finish here and go check it out."
"Unofficial."
"Better than nothing."
They ate and switched to water. Dave went over what he was legally allowed to and what he'd found out in the past few weeks. He'd made a list of all of the employees at Bloom six years ago that were still employed there now. He did the same with the neighbors in a half-mile radius. Most of the neighbors had stayed the same; he couldn't say the same about the turnover at the school.
"No wonder. The principal's a piece of work." Nathan finished up the crunchy corners of fries left on his plate.
"I heard something about that. The officers on duty mentioned she may be the one to be fired. They've got Brie's back and are saying she kept the parent from reaching the classroom. That the principal snapped—not the first time—breaking confidentiality by alerting the parent Brie was the one who reported his abuse. Everyone heard her." Dave took a last bite. "Don't say anything to Brie. It might not work out that way."
They threw some bills on the table before heading for the door.
* * *
They parked at Nathan's house.
"Where have your parents taken Duncan and Andy this time?"
"To the library. They'll be back soon. They're trying for a few days at Niagara Falls and a trip to Colorado when school's out for summer. Pike's Peak. Let's walk from here." The rain had let up, but the creek was high and the floodplain was a black mud hole, so they took the long way around.
"I was thinking about talking to Lucy Melbourne and Amanda Piper. See what they remember. They might recall which neighbors were home that night," Nathan said as he walked in the street.
"I've already talked to Amanda," Dave said. "She can't remember much of anything about who she saw, just that someone was walking when she passed a window."
"That's convenient. I mean the talking to Amanda part. You still seeing her?"
"Yup. We're getting married. She doesn't know it yet."
Nathan choked on air. "Shit, that's quick."
"I know and I don't care. I'm in love with her. She's perfect. Her little girl is perfect. You know Rose can speak fluent Spanish? Cutest kid I've ever seen. She loves me back. Both of them. They just don't know that yet either." Dave stopped and put a hand out to stop Nathan. "Look, there." He pointed between two houses.
Chapter 17
"What am I looking at?" Nathan asked.
"Footprints. Let's walk around."
"Someone walking in their own yard?"
"Probably, but not as likely in this weather."
They walked around in the drizzle, then made their way to where the homes' backyards met. Walking up to the edge of the property, Dave pointed again.
"There. Look at how the ground has deep prints in that spot. Looks like someone stood here for a long time. Could be a good spot to watch Brie's backyard, to watch Brie find her dog. Damn it, I wish she would step this up so I could come out, knock on doors and take pictures. Let's go back to her place."
* * *
Brie was worn even though she'd spent most of the day sitting. The longer she thought, the more names she added to the list for Dave. Sandy Finley and Susie Phillips were early to work the day of the rifle shooting and rock throwing practice. Sandy would be just the person for all of this, but sweet Susie? How ridiculous. She wrote it anyway.
Walking in her socks with her denim shirt untucked, she ate a toasted bagel as she went through her house, locking up to silently please Nathan. The bolts were smooth and she had to admit it was very handy to have the single key that fit them all.
She added to the list neighbors she knew were on vacation during any incident and ones she was sure weren't. The Morleys, two doors down, never liked Brie. But the Morleys didn't like anyone. They had told her four different times they didn't want Macey in their yard when Brie had first gotten her. Not exactly a tire-slashing disagreement.
She laid the yellow notepad on her nightstand and perched on the edge of her bed. The room felt lonely. Conceding that it was missing Macey was obvious, but she found herself wishing Nathan were with her, too. She couldn't remember ever sitting on the side of her bed thinking of any man. In it for the long haul, he'd said. Regardless, sleep took her quickly as she pulled the sheets up, falling almost immediately into the dream.
She didn't feel completely asleep, although it was as vivid as ever. The musty cigarette smell of the cab, the dampness of the balmy night on her skin. Despair crept up her back and into her heart, but she refused to let it take her. She forced herself this time to focus on the walking couple. As she rode past in the backseat, she turned her head and stared at them from the window. Familiarity. Damn, she knew them. Both of them.
The shock jolted her awake before the dream ever reached her parents' drive. Breathing heavily, sweat beaded on Brie's upper lip and along the back of her neck. She couldn't get the faces of the pair to come to her but was certain it was someone she knew. In the dark she wrote the word familiar on her notepad and went back to sleep.
* * *
The clinic wasn't open on Sundays, but Dr. Lanter agreed to let her in when he came to check on the animals. Brie sat in the parking lot, again watching the rain fall in smooth sheets down her windshield. She had her large yellow writing pad with all of her notes in the form of a timeline tucked away in her bag. Macey stood and did her happy dance when she saw her. She was slow, but today Brie was truly convinced she was going to be okay. They pressed foreheads together and she rubbed her cheeks. They worked on simple commands like sit, lay and stay. Macey loved the practice, but tired quickly.
"I'd like to see her eat a little more throughout the day before we let her go home, but it may be this afternoon." Dr. Lanter crouched down next to Brie. "You should know that Mr. Reed gave us his credit card number. He asked us to charge the bill to him. What would you like me to do?"
Shaking her head, she rubbed her hands over her face and looked up. "Do you have a copy of the bill I could take a look at?"
"Of course. I'll make sure the receptionist prints one when she comes in tomorrow."
She pulled her knees up and rested her cheek on one of them. She knew she wouldn't have the money to pay for this,
would need to make payments for who knew how long. Smiling, she had an idea of how to deal with Nathan Reed and pulled out a gray binder from her bag.
* * *
A few peaceful days later, Brie had barely gotten Macey settled at home when her doorbell rang. Brie opened to a frowning Liz.
"I'm glad to see your door is locked, but I want you to know it's annoying. I grew up here, you know," Liz said.
Walking casually past her, Liz dropped her jacket on the newel post on her way to the kitchen. "With Nathan Reed as a boyfriend, I would think you would have more furniture around here by now."
She recognized Liz's attempt to keep it casual. "Since when is he my boyfriend?" Brie followed, then pulled down a bag of pretzels and a bowl.
"Honey, he's been your boyfriend for a long time now. Where's the patient?" Liz sat in a chair at the kitchen table and folded her hands on her lap.
"She's sleeping on her rug, and you scare me when you sit like that." She walked over to Liz with the bowl of pretzels and set it on the table.
"Sit like what? Have a seat, will you?" She kept her hands folded, but moved them up on the table and leaned forward. "Good news first or bad?"
"Bad."
"Figures. Your suspension will go to a sort of trial. The union lawyer thinks it's ridiculous, but honestly is a little worried about the break in lockdown procedure, especially considering the extent of it."
"Good news?" Brie leaned back and picked up a pretzel.
"Your suspension will be paid. There will be some talks and a decision by the next board meeting, the second Wednesday of this month. This should all be over soon. The charges are not worthy of termination, Brie. The best news is she's gone."
"Who's gone?"
"Sandy." Liz mimicked Brie and leaned back in her chair, picking up a pretzel. "Fired. Done. Apparently she's the one that let Babb in. Even gave him a visitor's pass before she bothered to check out who he was. Then there was the thing about her blabbing all over the front office and foyer that you were the one to make the confidential hotline call. I hear there's more, but the rest is under lock and key." Liz tossed the pretzel in her mouth.
She looked out the windows, then back to Liz.
"Your buddy, the assistant super, is coming in to interim until they find a replacement. Can you believe it?" Liz tapped the next pretzel to hers in a toast before taking another bite.
* * *
Brie sat on her heels with her knee pads dug in the mulch. She had several yards to prepare for spring. Ornamental grasses were cut back before setting the leftover stubs on fire, allowing fertile room for new life. The smell of decaying leaves and fresh mulch mixed nicely with the overturned soil and burned reeds of grass. It helped her feel her own kind of awakening.
The introverted side of her could have spent much more than a few days working like this. Cutting back the winter brown, making room for sprouting plants, her arms were covered with scratches down to where her gloves stopped below the elbow. She left the roses and hydrangeas untouched for now and tucked new mulch around the emerging green to protect it from the last few freezes that were sure to come. An efficient system in place, she could clear an average-sized yard in less than five hours. This was a much better workout than any gym. Her muscles ached and her undershirt was damp with sweat even in the chill of spring.
Stopping at home to check on Macey between customers meant it took her all of two days and the morning of a third to finish with the first group of houses on her list. The hot water from her shower was like therapy running over her shoulders. She stood in it until the water ran cold.
* * *
Dr. Lanter warned her about walking Macey too soon. So, early the next afternoon, Brie decided to drive the short way to Nathan's house. She pulled in his drive and found another batch of pickup trucks and this time a full-sized van. There were rectangular boxes scattered across his roof and a crew busily working to secure architectural shingles. So much for keeping her dog calm. Macey jumped and whined on the seat.
As she stepped out, Nathan opened his front door to let out his yelping dog. Macey plowed through her, and the two dogs had a reunion in the grass. Nathan swaggered out to meet her. The scene reminded her of the first day he meandered down his drive in the snow to greet her. He had on the same work boots and another faded pair of jeans. His unshaven face wasn't annoying this time, just sexy. He wore that damned crooked smile that made her knees weak as he picked her up and set her on the hood of her truck, wrapped her legs around him, then stopped his face inches from hers.
"Good to see you. You look better. Both of you."
"I feel better." Her eyes dropped to his mouth. "Kiss me, Reed."
"I can't resist when you wear your hair down like this." Tucking a side behind her ear, he laced his fingers just above the back of her neck. The kiss was deep, slow. The world around her erased. He could do that to her.
"The boys will be glad to see you. Come in." Nathan slid her down from the truck and linked their fingers together.
As the dogs followed them to the front door, she carried her bag over her shoulder.
"Watch your step. I'm replacing the rotted boards on the porch, and they're not all secured."
Guided through the front, she looked around at the transformation. "It looks so different." The walls were straight and smooth and painted a light color of subtle brown. The open dining room had a darker brownish color along the bottom half. Brie guessed a chair rail would be going up in there. The curved stairway was stained and finished and looked amazing against the slick, painted walls. The floors were still a mess and the walls were without trim, but she noticed that the doors to the closets, the family room, and what she knew would be a library were in place and had the same straight-lined style as the rest of the house.
Her obvious interest in his work always humbled him. "Let's go back and sit. You can catch me up on Macey's progress." In what would eventually be his kitchen, Nathan pulled out a folding chair for her. "Soda? Water?"
"Do you have diet?"
"Definitely not."
"Water then. What's all this?"
She was looking in the paper sack he set at the side of the folding table. It was full to the top with the written requests for his work. "Oh, that. It's nothing. People wanting furniture pieces."
She looked back in the bag. "All of them?"
"Yeah. I'm not open for business yet." He hesitated for only a second and pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge. He could hear young footsteps coming down the stairs and leaned against a wall near Brie. He could tell it was Andy.
Brie turned to see him. Andy rocked up on the balls of his feet when he saw her. "Miss Chapman!" He ran to her and surprised Nathan at the easy way he sat on one of her legs. "How is Macey? Is she better? Goldie missed her. Are you coming back to school? The newsman said you're not coming back to school."
Nathan stood with the water in one hand and his thumb in his pocket with the other. He'd forgotten how Brie had spent more time with Andy during the week than he did these past few months.
Placing her hand on his back, she looked down at him. "Macey is around here somewhere reminiscing with your dog. She is much better, and I'm afraid the newsman was right." She looked thoughtful before she continued, "I broke a rule and my bosses are going to decide on my punishment."
"Are you in time out?" he asked with a sincere look.
Nathan noticed Brie pressing her lips together. "You could say that, yes." She held onto him with one arm as she reached in her bag. "I brought you something."
"Really? What is it?" Andy strained his neck to see what she was pulling out of her bag.
"It's not much." She pulled out several decks of cards and handed them to him.
Confused, Nathan tilted his head and lowered his eyebrows.
Andy took the decks and bolted for the stairs, yelling, "Thanks!" as he ran.
"He's likely to make a mess. So, sorry." She pulled out a gray binder and set it on his table.
"No, I'm still working on that. I have a proposition for you."
Chapter 18
Nathan sat on the single empty chair, leaned back and crossed his ankles. "I'm listening."
"The binder is for my landscaping business. I threw some sketches together yesterday at the vet's. I would need to do more accurate measurements and to learn more of your personal tastes." She turned the binder to face him and flipped through pages, stopping at a sketch of his house. "I was surprised at how much I remembered of what your house looks like. Of course, I could easily picture the northwest corner since I see it every day, but I could picture the other sides, too."
He sat forward, looking at the first sketch. It was an excellent rendering of the front of his house with curvy lines of buried brick sectioning an array of plants and shrubs. He tried not to look smug that his procrastination ate at her. "You can draw."
She smiled bigger now. "I wouldn't say that with Duncan in the house." She leaned closer to him, turning the pages. She smelled amazing. "These are different angles of your home and what I recommend, but you can change whatever you want, of course. Basically, more color means more maintenance. See, this is an aerial view of the back and the corners that could be dug out at the ends of your land. Tiered is what I would recommend with the slope back there."
"Speak of the devil." He took the binder and set it on his lap, flipping through pages. He recognized Duncan's footsteps on the stairs.
When Duncan made the turn at the bottom of the stairs, Nathan noticed he had his own binder tucked under his arm.
"Hi, Miss Chapman. Andy said you were here. Macey and Goldie are crashed in the foyer. She looks better."
"It's good to see you, Duncan. What do you have there?"
"You said at lunch last week you wanted to see my latest drawings." Duncan shrugged a shoulder and handed his binder to Brie.
