Love Inspired Suspense July 2015 #2

by Terri Reed

  The sound of glass crunching drew their attention to the doorway. Tony stood there with a shocked expression on his face. “What happened here? Everyone okay?” The young man seemed paler than usual, probably due to knowing the shop only feet from his father’s bakery had been vandalized.

  Ashley stepped forward before Ellie had a chance to speak. “Someone shot out the glass on the door.” She nearly petted the sleeve of Tony’s white coat. “I was so lucky I didn’t work last night. But it could have been me.”

  Tony’s eyes drifted to Ellie. “Did you see who did this?”

  She shook her head, unable to find the words to explain once again how the helmeted shooter had zipped by too fast on a motorcycle. When her vague response obviously didn’t suit him, he asked, “Were you alone?”

  “I was with her,” Johnny said.

  Tony’s eyebrows rose and something flitted across his face that she couldn’t quite read.

  Tony stepped away from Ashley, a hint of annoyance flashing on his face. “My father and I are worried about the few incidences here. Our shop is right next door. Do you think these are isolated events? Should we be concerned?”

  “Concern would be an appropriate response,” Johnny said matter-of-factly. “We have reason to believe someone is targeting this gift shop because of a drug shipment.”

  “Drugs, really?” Tony asked, running a hand across his mussed hair. “That’s messed up.”

  Ellie turned to Ashley. “Any chance you found a strange package and stashed it somewhere? Something you might have forgotten about?”

  Ashley scratched her head, as if it helped her to think. “I thought those monkey things you ordered were weird.” She did her usual deflecting with humor.

  Ellie huffed her frustration. “No, nothing like that. Anything that looked suspicious? Drugs?”

  “No,” Ashley said, disbelief and annoyance lacing her tone. “Don’t you think I would have told you if I had?”

  Ellie hoped so.

  “Listen—” Ashley waved around her hand “—I went into business with you because I thought it would be fun.”

  Ellie’s heart began to race as she waited for Ashley to admit going into the gift shop business had been a mistake.

  Ashley flicked a strand of hair over her shoulder. “This shop has become a real drag. And…” She let the word hang there for emphasis, the way she usually did when she was waiting for all eyes to turn to her. “I’m not an ATM machine. I can’t afford to keep throwing money into a lame business venture.”

  And there it was.

  “It takes time to grow a business.” Ellie swallowed hard, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice, something she’d rarely achieved when she’d pleaded with her former boyfriend. Ellie hated that side of her—the weak, supplicant girl.

  “I understand, but we’re going to have to adjust things.” Ashley crossed her arms. “Mainly, I don’t plan on working here.” She jerked her thumb toward the plywood propped up near the door. “I’m not up for getting shot at.”

  “Who is?” Ellie said, her pulse whooshing in her ears. “You can’t bail on me now.”

  “This isn’t productive,” Johnny interrupted. “We need to clean up the shop and take precautions.”

  Tony frowned. “I thought you were in town to help your grandfather move. Are the rumors true? Are you saying you’re investigating drugs running through Williamstown?”

  “Yes.” Johnny studied Tony carefully over his coffee cup. “Do you have any information you’d like to share?”

  Tony’s eyes flared wide. “No. Not at all. I’m concerned because my family’s business is next door.”

  Johnny nodded. “Have you noticed any unusual people hanging around outside? In the alley? You work long hours at the bakery, right?”

  “Yeah, sure.” Tony rubbed his jaw, as if he was giving it some thought. “Can’t say I’ve seen anything unusual, but I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open.”

  Johnny looked as though he wanted to say something but suddenly his stern expression softened. “Can’t hurt to have more eyes.” He reached into his pocket and handed Tony his card. “Call me if you see anything.” He paused a fraction. “Or if you remember anything.”

  Tony brushed a kiss on Ashley’s cheek. “I have to get back to work.” Ashley muttered something Ellie couldn’t hear.

  Her business partner spun around. “Should I be afraid?” She batted her eyelashes at Johnny, not looking one bit afraid. “Working at the store to sell a few birthday cards isn’t worth the hassle.”

  “You can’t…” Ellie swallowed hard. She wanted to wipe the sympathetic look off Johnny’s face. She didn’t want or need his sympathy.

  “I think you need to shut down the store. Until we catch this guy.” Johnny reached out to touch her hand, but Ellie pulled away.

  “Wait—what?”

  “It’s not safe. You’ve had two near misses in a matter of days. Someone obviously has it out for you.”

  “Yes, I agree. We should close the store.” Ashley tucked a strand of light blond hair behind her ear.

  “Wait a minute. Ashley, we can’t just close the doors. It will drive us out of business. I’ve already explained all this.”

  Her friend shrugged, as if losing Gifts and More would be no big deal. Ellie’s heart sank. Of course it would be no big deal for her friend. She could take her money and do something else. Whereas, this shop was all Ellie had. It was far more than simply a job to her.

  The concern in Johnny’s eyes made her pause. Nausea welled in Ellie’s gut. Her dream was crumbling around her and someone wanted to hurt her.

  Or worse.

  *

  Drinking coffee wasn’t exactly the best way to calm his frazzled nerves. Johnny set his cup on a shelf in the gift shop and grabbed the broom from its resting spot against the wall.

  Ellie shook her head. “I got it.” She took the broom from him rather abruptly, their fingers brushing in the exchange.

  “How well do you know Tony?” Johnny asked Ashley, who didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to leave for someone who had just announced she wasn’t going to work at the shop anymore, or at least until the perpetrator was caught.

  Something about the baker had struck a nerve with Johnny. Had the young baker been solely concerned with the safety of his own shop? The well-being of the quiet community? Or was there something else going on there?

  Ashley scrunched her nose. “I know him as well as anyone I’ve only dated a few weeks. I mean, I’ve known him since high school—this is a small town—but we’ve only been dating for a few weeks.” Then came her bland compliment. “He’s nice enough. A little stressed about work, but who isn’t? Tough economy, right?”

  “Yeah.” Though Johnny hadn’t said anything to Ellie yet, he’d had the FBI run a check on Tony. The bakery was in some serious debt. Not unheard of with business owners, but enough to make Tony take up dealing drugs as a side business? He’d have to talk to the man later without an audience. Tony Vino was obviously shaken up and maybe his nerves would make him crack.

  If he had something to crack about.

  Ashley smiled demurely, as if having second thoughts. “I’ll go home and change and come back to help clean up.”

  Johnny held up his hand. “I’ll stay and help Ellie.”

  Ellie looked as if she was about to protest, but she didn’t say a word.

  “Well, okay.” Ashley stepped daintily around the broken glass. “I’m gonna scoot, then.”

  Johnny wondered why Ashley had even invested her money in the shop when she obviously didn’t care about it. Were she and Ellie such good friends that she just wanted to help her friend out financially? Something niggled at the base of his brain. Her ties with Tony also bothered him. He made a mental note as they watched Ashley leave.

  Ellie turned to Johnny. “You realize this will be the end of my shop. The dream will die before it even gets off the ground.” She paused a second, as if afraid to reveal the tre
mble in her voice.

  “It’s not over. My priority is to make sure you’re safe.” He glanced over at the two officers chatting by the register. “If you guys are done, you can file your report at Williamstown PD headquarters. Ellie Winters and I will wrap things up here.”

  Coffee cups in hand, the two officers left. Two gentlemen from the hardware store were installing a new door.

  Ellie placed the broom against the wall and sat slowly on the stool behind the register, the look in her eyes reminiscent of one he had seen a million years ago. Leaning on the counter, she planted her chin in the palm of her hand. “I don’t know why I bothered.”

  “With the shop?”

  “Yeah. I knew it was a long shot to begin with. I had no idea I’d be asked to close down due to a drive-by shooting the first week I was open.” Her tone indicated she wasn’t convinced she’d actually close the shop.

  Johnny leaned a hip on the counter, his thigh brushing against Ellie’s knee. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I’ll do whatever I can to get your shop back open.” He scanned the space. The back half of the store was untouched as a result of last night’s events. So were several unopened boxes in the back room. “Do you have boxes stored anywhere else but here?”

  Ellie sat upright and bit her bottom lip. “I have some in my parents’ basement, but nothing that was originally shipped to this address. Those boxes are pieces I’ve collected over the years. Antiques, photo frames, trinkets. Stuff I haven’t had time, or room, to display.”

  Johnny patted the counter next to him. “Okay, I don’t think that’s what we’re looking for.”

  Ellie wrapped her arms around her middle. “You say you believe me when I tell you I have nothing to do with this.”

  Johnny’s stomach bottomed out. He did believe her. But he doubted she’d be happy if she found out he had run checks on her brother and Roger since they had been previously arrested for dealing drugs. Both seemed to have kept their noses clean. Experience told him that those reports didn’t always reveal the big picture.

  “What happens if you find something on my property? What does that make me…guilty of possession of drugs?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Should I call a lawyer? Just to be safe?”

  All the color drained from her face as if she was mentally reliving her family’s experience when her brother had been arrested.

  He reached out and stopped her hand midway to shoving her hair out of her eyes again. “You have to do what’s best for you.” That was the logical advice. His professional advice. “But I’d hate for you to have to spend the money on legal fees. I know it’s tight with the shop.”

  Ellie’s lower lip quivered, as if she were on the verge of crying.

  “I know you’re not involved and I’m doing everything I can to find out who is. Can you trust me on this?”

  She lifted her eyes to him with an unspoken “Why?”

  “More than once I saw the look in your eyes after the arrest and trial of your brother. That experience devastated you. You’d never do that to your family. Not on purpose.”

  “You seem quite sure of yourself.”

  “Am I wrong?”

  She shook her head slowly. “But look at my brother. He got wrapped up in something that wasn’t even his fault.”

  Johnny studied the gray slate floor tiles. Her brother Greg had always been the Golden Boy. Still was. Could Johnny ever convince her otherwise? What point would it serve, especially when she was already so hurt? Johnny didn’t want to be responsible for putting any more hurt in that sweet woman’s eyes.

  SIX

  “Go on ahead.”

  Later that afternoon Johnny gestured with his free hand to Ellie to walk ahead of him. Greg Winters’s front walkway and porch were adorned with hay bales and pumpkins, all ready for fall.

  Ellie smiled and brushed past him, her hands occupied with a white casserole dish. He wondered when she’d had time to bake considering how busy they had been cleaning up the shop.

  Johnny stepped up next to Ellie on the small stoop. “Does your mother know about the incident at the gift shop?”

  “Yes,” Ellie hissed abruptly as she glanced at the door. “I promised her I’d be careful. And just so you know, I am not convinced I’m going to close the shop.”

  “Can we discuss it further?”

  “Perhaps we can discuss ways to keep me safe while I’m working.”

  “Good point.” Ellie was one stubborn woman. “Maybe I’ll win points with your mother for protecting you?” He couldn’t help but smile.

  Ellie laughed; a genuine laugh that warmed his heart. “I fear she might have wished you had been shot.” She tipped her head and her hair fell in a mask, hiding her face, as if she couldn’t believe she had just said that. “I’m just kidding. She’s a good Christian woman.”

  “Who happens to hold a grudge against me.”

  Ellie laughed again, as if she didn’t truly know what her mother would do when it came down to getting him out of their lives. “All things considered, I can’t say I blame her.”

  “Do you?”

  “Do I…?” Ellie angled her head.

  Johnny suspected she knew full well what he was talking about, but she was stalling. “Do you still blame me for ruining your brother’s life?”

  Ellie glanced at the screen door. “You picked a fine time to bring this up.” She shook her head curtly, as if to dismiss his question, and leaned on the doorbell with her elbow. A soft chime sounded inside the house followed by running feet.

  A little girl with long brown hair in two braids answered, smiling up at them. “Aunt Ellie.”

  The little girl pushed open the door and Ellie shouldered it to keep it from closing. She kissed the crown of her niece’s head. Ellie gestured to Johnny with her chin. “Grace, this is my friend Mr. Rock.”

  “Hello,” the little girl said, tipping her head to look up at him.

  “Nice to meet you, Grace.”

  “Is everyone in the backyard?” Ellie asked as she walked through the small family room littered with dolls toward a neat kitchen in the back of the house.

  “Yes! We’re having a party!” Grace ran ahead and opened the sliding screen to the back porch. Ellie set the casserole dish on the stove and Johnny put the refreshments he had purchased on the counter.

  Laughter floated in from outside. Johnny silently communicated a quick, “Here goes nothing,” before she stepped out onto the back patio.

  He followed, not fully understanding why his nerves were wound tighter than when he’d squared off with a gun-toting criminal in a dark alley.

  Apparently sensing his unease, Ellie tossed a smile at him. “They don’t bite.”

  His eyes flared wide in feigned distress.

  “Come on.”

  About fifteen adults and a smattering of children were hanging out in the yard. Some were seated around tables, others were playing a game that involved slamming a Frisbee into a black barrel.

  “Ah, you made it.” A pretty woman, a little older than Ellie, was the first to greet them. Holding a glass of lemonade in one hand, she hugged Ellie with the other and then turned to Johnny. “Hi. I’m Beth Winters, Greg’s wife.”

  “Johnny Rock. I’m—”

  Ellie jumped in before he could say anything. “A friend of mine.”

  “Well, nice to meet you. Grab a drink and some refreshments. We’re very casual around here.” She smiled and lifted her glass. “We’re happy Ellie could bring a friend.” Beth smiled warmly at her sister-in-law.

  Ellie blushed.

  Apparently, Ellie didn’t bring male friends around. For some reason, the idea pleased him.

  “We’re blessed to have perfect weather for one last outdoor party. So make yourself comfortable.” Beth’s eyes flared wide and she scooted off after a small boy wandering dangerously close to a bigger child determined to test the laws of physics on the swing.

  The invisible but very real feeling of awkwardness pushed down on him. H
alf the people here—the half who didn’t know him—would assume he was Ellie’s boyfriend. The other half—the half that knew the truth—were shooting him die-man-die daggers with their eyes.

  Speaking of which, Ellie’s mother called to her from her lawn chair under the shade of a wide umbrella. “I see you brought a date?” Her voice hitched up on the last word.

  “Johnny was helping me clean up at the store,” he heard Ellie say as he stepped up beside her. “I thought it polite to invite him for dinner.”

  Nancy Winters’s gaze swept over him, as if she couldn’t decide whether to keep up the fight or let it go. She ran her hand along the sun-faded faux wood on the arm of the outdoor chair. “Thank you for keeping my Ellie safe.” She shook her head. “Can’t believe the crazy goings-on in this world.”

  Mrs. Winters pushed to a standing position and lurched forward, touching his arm when she lost her footing on an uneven paver. She lowered her voice. “I really do appreciate it, but please don’t cause any more trouble for our family.”

  “No, ma’am.” Johnny shook his head for emphasis.

  “Mom,” Greg said in a voice that seemed louder than necessary, “isn’t it great to see Johnny again?” The smile on Greg’s sun-tanned and freckled face seemed strained. “I think we can let bygones be bygones. Enjoy a nice meal together.” Johnny figured Greg’s cordial greeting was strictly for his mother’s benefit.

  Nancy Winters lifted a shoulder then lowered herself into the chair again. Johnny lunged forward and steadied the arm, the old fold-up chair nearly collapsing with Mrs. Winters inside.

  Next to him, Ellie laughed. “Careful, Mom.”

  Her mother waved her hand in dismissal, but her cheeks flared red.

  Maybe I’ve scored a few points for saving her from the embarrassing fate of ending up head over heels in the folded lawn chair.

  Greg smiled at Johnny, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Yes, it has.” The conversation seemed strained. “Nice home. Beautiful family. You’ve done well for yourself.”