Mistaken

by Karen Barnett

  Susan nodded, her gaze never leaving the board.

  Pressing her palm over the earpiece, Laurie ran fingers across the board, going through the motions of checking the voltage meters and line connections.

  Samuel’s voice sounded in her ear. “Yes, sir. I believe we may have some action on the area around Crescent Beach. Let’s keep a Coast Guard cutter in that area and watch for boats. I’ll take a drive out and survey from the beachhead. Some of the residents reported hearing squealing tires and grinding engines, like folks getting out in a hurry. I’m going to keep a few men on surveillance for a few nights and see what’s going on.”

  A gruff sounding voice replied. “Keep me updated. Let’s give these clowns a good scare. Got it? How many men you need?”

  Laurie bit her lip, her pulse quickening.

  Samuel’s rich voice took over. “I’ve already talked to a few on this end. I think we’ve got it covered for now. If we see action, I’ll give you a call. But if you could make the arrangements with Gallagher over at the Coast Guard, I’d appreciate the backup.”

  “I’m on it. Good work, Brown.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The lines went dead. Laurie returned the cords to their original positions, her fingers slick with sweat. The scent of hair tonic brought her back to the moment. She made a note in her log.

  “Is everything all right, Miss Burke?”

  She lifted her chin and smiled at the narrow-faced man reading over her shoulder. “Yes, Mr. Quinn. I thought I detected some crackling on the line, but I just ran a check and everything seems fine now.”

  He adjusted his glasses. “You weren’t due for a check for another forty-five minutes. But I suppose that shows initiative, Miss Burke. Good work.” He wandered on down the line.

  “I’ve got it now, Susan. Thank you.”

  A line pinched between Susan’s brows. “Are you sure everything is all right?”

  Laurie placed her hand over her mouthpiece. “It will be.”

  Daniel maneuvered the broom around the edges of the doorway, guiding the road dust back to the street where it belonged. It had been a tougher job when he was a kid, before the roads and sidewalks were paved.

  A dog sniffed its way down the sidewalk, its tongue lolling out to one side. Two doors away, the animal flopped on its haunches outside the grocery store.

  It had been a busy afternoon, but now that Marcie had arrived, Daniel relished the quiet moment. That, and sweeping made it easier to keep an eye on the switchboard exchange door. On the tick of 5:30, it swung open. Laurie wore a yellow polka-dotted dress, short enough that he could almost see her knees under the hemline.

  She kept her eyes to the sidewalk as she hurried down the street, not stopping to look into store windows.

  Daniel leaned on the broom, clearing his throat to catch her attention before she ran over him.

  Her eyes looked surprised. “Oh, Mr. Shepherd. I didn’t see you.”

  “I noticed.”

  She blushed. “Well, if you can excuse me, I­—”

  Daniel stood firm. “I have something for you.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small package.

  She cocked her head to one side. “What’s this?”

  Daniel smiled. “A new headache remedy. I’ve made some adjustments to the formula. That old one you keep requesting is quite outdated. I think you’ll find this one is much more effective.”

  “That’s very kind of you, but I don’t have any money on me to pay you for it and our account—well, it’s . . .”

  He pressed it into her hand. “It’s a free sample. If it works, you can come back and buy more.”

  Her fingers closed around the packet, but jerked back from his touch. “I hear you spent some time with my brother.”

  Daniel sucked in a deep breath, the pained expression on her face cutting into his heart. “We were classmates. I hadn’t seen him in years. It was good to get reacquainted.” He backed a step from the heat of her stare. “Look, Miss Burke.” He lowered his voice. “I expect you’re concerned I might tell someone about our first meeting. I don’t intend to embarrass you in any way.”

  “Embarrass me?” Her voice hissed. She clamped a hand on her hip. “You don’t care about embarrassing me. If you did, you wouldn’t have rushed off to report to my brother about me spending time with Samuel.”

  Coldness spread through Daniel. “I was concerned for you. I don’t think Mr. Brown is who you think he is.”

  Her lips drew back from her teeth. “I know exactly who and what Mr. Brown is. You’re only concerned about yourself.” She thrust the package back at Daniel. “Take this back. I don’t want anything from you. I don’t want anything to do with people like you.”

  Daniel took the package, bewildered. “People like me?”

  She pulled off her hat, her short hair ruffling in the breeze. “And I will spend as much time with Samuel Brown as I like. At least he’s on the right side of the law.” She pushed past Daniel and took several steps down the sidewalk before turning and pointing her finger back toward his face.

  “And just so you understand, I’m doing it for Johnny. The rest of you can rot in jail, for all I care.” She spun on her heel and marched off down the road, her hat clenched in her fist, her hair bouncing as she walked.

  He stared after her, as lost as a boat drifting in the fog.

  Laurie hurried toward home, climbing the steep hill on Cherry Lane. Somehow she would need to cook dinner for her father and still find enough time to slip out and warn Johnny before he left for the evening. As she approached Amelia’s house, she spotted Johnny’s car. She sucked in a quick breath, her steps growing lighter.

  Amelia sat under the cherry tree in her parent’s front yard—Johnny stretched out on his back, snoring. She jumped to her feet as Laurie approached. Rolling her eyes at Johnny, Amelia paced across the yard to her friend. “Laurie, I’m so glad you’re here.” Her lip trembled as she spoke. “We were supposed to go on a picnic over at Lincoln Park, but then he called and said he didn’t have enough time. Mother suggested I invite him here, and now look!” She turned back to glare at the sleeping figure.

  Laurie’s heart went out to her friend. “He’s been working late.”

  “I know. I know.” She sighed. “And he told me that he’s been pulling double shifts, too.” She ran her hand along the whitewashed fence. “I don’t understand why he has to work so hard. Other men at the mill don’t put in nearly so many hours.”

  She beckoned to Laurie. “Come join us. I’m sick of sitting here watching him sleep. I’ve already eaten most of the cookies.”

  Laurie sank down onto the shady ground under the wide, spreading branches of the old tree. Clumps of green cherries stood out among the leaves, waiting for a few more weeks of sunshine to make them rosy red. As Amelia accosted her with a steady stream of chatter, Laurie let the anxieties of the day ease from her back and shoulders. Amelia’s home and yard had always been her haven, even as a child.

  Her thoughts traveled to the image of Samuel Brown, smiling at her from the stool at Larson’s, his knee brushing against hers under the counter. Unbidden, the image of Daniel Shepherd standing on the sidewalk offering her the headache remedy, rose to her mind. “I was concerned for you. I don’t think Mr. Brown is who you think he is.”

  “So tell me about him.” Amelia popped a strawberry into her mouth.

  “What? Who?” Amelia’s question dragged her back into the conversation.

  Her friend’s eyebrows puckered. “Honestly, Laurie, you and Johnny are cut from the same cloth. Haven’t you heard a word I said?”

  Laurie scrambled to remember what her friend had been saying, the words escaping like smoke dissipating in the fresh air. “I’m sorry. I had a rough day at work. Tell me again.”

  Amelia frowned. “Everyone’s working but me. Daddy won’t let me work and so I’m trapped all day with no one to talk to. Then when you all get home, you’re too tired to carry on a decent convers
ation.” She hugged her knees. “I was talking about Samuel Brown. Marcie says she’s seen you at the soda fountain twice with him and that you were quite friendly with him the second time. I guess my prayers are paying off.” She drew her lips down. “So, when were you going to tell me?”

  Laurie shrugged out of her sweater, the air suddenly feeling uncomfortably warm. “There’s not much to tell. We ran into each other there one afternoon and he offered to buy me a soda. It seemed impolite to refuse.”

  Amelia’s face brightened. She scooted closer. “And then?”

  Laurie glanced over at Johnny to make sure he was still sleeping. “I saw him over by the courthouse and he asked to see me again.” A smile tugged at her mouth. She couldn’t deny that the agent’s interest was flattering.

  “I knew it.” Amelia clasped her hands over her heart. “He’s such a good looking fellow.” She shot a guilty look at Johnny. “Well, not nearly as good looking as your brother, of course.”

  “Of course,” Laurie echoed. Both women held hands over their mouths to quell their giggles.

  “What’s he like?”

  Laurie folded her sweater on her lap and fiddled with its buttons. “He’s very nice. He tells the most exciting stories about his job. And he likes being outdoors. That’s why he asked to be transferred up here from Seattle.” She avoided any mention of his roving hand.

  Amelia scrunched her nose. “Imagine, someone wanting to come to Port Angeles.” She took another berry from the glass dish at her side. “But that’s perfect for you, Laurie. You always did like to be out in the woods and down at the beach and such.” Her eyes brightened. “You should take him on a picnic.” She sniffed, casting a glance at Johnny. “I bet he wouldn’t fall asleep.”

  Another giggle tickled at Laurie’s chest. “No, I suppose he wouldn’t. That’s a good idea.”

  Amelia sat up taller. “We could all go! Let’s plan it for a time when Johnny’s not working. We’ll go out to the beach. The weather is getting so nice. Just think how much fun it would be!”

  Laurie’s stomach tightened. A double date with her brother—fun? Unlikely. “Not yet. I barely know Samuel. I need more time before I introduce him to my family. Johnny can be so protective.”

  Amelia slid back down to the blanket. “Of course. You’re right.” Her face fell. “But before the summer is out, okay?”

  Laurie nodded, but her heart sunk low in her chest. Lying to Samuel Brown was one thing. Lying to her best friend was completely different.

  When Amelia excused herself, Laurie poked Johnny in the shoulder.

  “Uh, wha’?” he mumbled, squinting at the dappled light coming through the leaves.

  “Wake up. I need to talk to you before Amelia gets back.” Laurie jabbed him a second time.

  Johnny didn’t bother to rise, just cupped a hand over his eyes to block the sun. “What is it?”

  “Don’t go to Canada tonight.”

  He pushed up to his elbows, his gaze skirting the yard. “Why?”

  “They’re going to be watching the beach and a Coast Guard ship will be waiting in the bay.”

  Lines appeared on his forehead. “I thought I told you­—”

  “If you go to tonight, they’re going to catch you and put you in jail. I know what I’m talking about.”

  Johnny sat all the way up and rubbed his face. “How do you know? Did Samuel tell you that?”

  “I overheard him talking on the phone while I was at the switchboard.”

  He grabbed his cap and twisted it in his hands. “I thought you said you could get fired for that.”

  She glanced back at the house to double-check that Amelia hadn’t reappeared. “I thought it might be important.”

  He blew out a large breath, the air whistling between his teeth. “I don’t like you taking those kinds of risks.”

  Heat scorched through her veins. “Like you’re anyone to talk.”

  He ran his hand through his hair. “All right, all right.” He sat silent for a long moment before dropping his cap on the blanket. “Did Brown say which beach he was watching?”

  “Crescent Beach.”

  A slow smile spread across his face. “Gotcha.”

  Cold fingers tickled at her spine. “Johnny­—”

  “I won’t be anywhere near Crescent Beach. You got my word on that.”

  14

  Daniel fumed as he mopped the floor behind the soda counter. I don’t want anything to do with people like you. The packet bumped against his leg as he worked. It was ridiculous for her to keep using those old headache powders when the new formulation worked so much better.

  Hadn’t he seen another prescription in the back room with the Burke name on it?

  Daniel stowed the mop and closed the store for the evening. He walked to the back room, unlocked the cabinet and looked over the prescriptions waiting for pickup.

  Burke, Raymond. 154 Laurel Street.

  Daniel lifted the flask-shaped bottle and rolled it between his fingers. The dark glass obscured the liquid within. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face . . .” The verse floated from the murky depths of his memories.

  Daniel ran a thumb across the cap, a cold sweat washing over him. His throat clenched. Doesn’t this ever go away, God? He slipped the bottle and the headache remedy in a bag and dropped them in his pocket.

  Maybe some answers could be found on Laurel Street.

  Twenty minutes later, Daniel maneuvered his Buick out of the alley to Front Street, remembering his days of playing cops and robbers in the old tunnels below the sidewalks. The passages remained a testimony to the city’s forgotten past, before the downtown was raised to prevent flooding

  The automobile’s engine labored up the steep hill. Newer homes lined the best view locations on Cherry Hill, quite a difference from the Hollywood Beach neighborhood where Johnny lived. He turned onto Laurel Street, where a dense grove of oak trees obscured a line of tiny houses.

  Daniel pulled the brown bottle from its paper wrapper and checked the house number. The Burke house sat back from the muddy road, in the shade of a spreading maple tree. Only weeds grew in the dim shadows under the giant tree. An old screen door hung crooked on its hinges. The aging Model T sat parked beside the small home.

  Daniel shut off the engine as sweat broke out between his shoulders. Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car and closed the door behind him. It’s just a delivery. Hopefully she wouldn’t throw it in his face, again. He swallowed hard and walked up the steps to the front door, clutching the package in front of him.

  A short, stocky man with a two-day growth of whiskers answered the door. “We don’t want any.”

  Daniel took a step back. “Any what?”

  “Whatever it is that you’re selling.”

  “Actually”—Daniel lifted the package—“I have a delivery for you from Larson’s Drugs.”

  The man’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s a different story, then.” He opened the door wider. “You ain’t Larson.”

  “I’m Daniel Shepherd—his grandson. Are you Mr. Raymond Burke?”

  The man stuck out his hand. “Yeah, yeah. Call me Ray. No one calls me Mister. Never took to it.”

  Daniel grasped Ray’s hand and shook it. The man’s eyes were red, like he’d been sleeping, and his hand left a hint of moisture on Daniel’s palm. “I’ve met your son and daughter, Mr. Burke. But I haven’t seen you around town.”

  Ray took the bag that Daniel offered him. “Well, I work over at the Crown Z Mill. I don’t make it into town much otherwise. Laurie works downtown, so she usually picks up what we need.”

  “I’ve seen several of these prescriptions come through for you lately. I hope there’s nothing seriously wrong.” Daniel chose his words carefully.

  Laurie’s father shifted his weight from foot to foot. “Well, I hurt my shoulder awhile back at the mill. This eases the muscles and helps me sleep.”

  Daniel nodded. “We have some other options, you
know. I could have a chat with your doctor. Pierce, isn’t it?”

  The man wiped a quick hand across his nose. “I’ve tried some of those other ‘options’ as you call them. This works fine. I’m careful, though. Wouldn’t want to drink too much of it, you know.” A wry grin lifted the corners of his mouth.

  “I understand.” Too well. “Your daughter mentioned she’s been having headaches. I put in a sample of a headache remedy I think she ought to try. No charge.”

  Ray’s brows pulled together. “Laurie? Headaches? First I’ve heard of it.” He ran a hand over his bristly chin. “Yeah, well her mother always used to have those, too. I guess it makes sense.” He nodded to Daniel. “Free sample you say? Well, I’ll give it to Laurie when she gets home.”

  Daniel edged backward, balancing on the edge of the stoop. “I’d better be going. Have a nice evening, Mr. Burke.”

  “Thank you. It’s mighty kind of you to run this out to me. It will save Laurie a trip to town in the morning.” The older man clutched the package to his belly.

  Daniel turned and headed down the steps.

  Laurie Burke stood at the gate, her eyes like giant blue sapphires in the center of a ghost-white face.

  15

  Wh-what are you doing here?” The woman’s pasty-white complexion caused a lump to form in Daniel’s throat.

  Daniel pasted on a smile. “Miss Burke, it’s good to see you again so soon. I’m just making a delivery. You rushed off so quickly this afternoon, you didn’t pick up your prescription.” He gestured toward the door. “I thought your father might be in need of it.”

  Ray Burke stood watching, framed in the doorway.

  “You can go now.” She pushed through the gate and held it for him.

  Laurie”—her father stepped out onto the porch—“what are you being so rude for? Mr. Shepherd drove all this way to deliver my medicine and threw in something extra for you, too.”