by Nora LeDuc
“Sullivan can’t lock you up without evidence,” Lucy said, interrupting his nightmare.
“Circumstantial cases are sometimes better. The jury has the facts and no eyewitnesses to doubt. Point them in the right direction, give them motive and opportunity, you’ve got a case. Sullivan believes I fit the criteria.”
“You need to contact a lawyer. Now. The Moose can wait.”
“I’ll work on that.”
“Noah can give you a name.”
“I’ll be okay. How’s the evening crowd?”
“Sparse. The church held an impromptu potluck supper tonight. Most people headed there. I guess Barley bonded at the prayer vigil. Sadie and I made the sandwiches for tomorrow’s search. Everything is bagged and sitting in the walk-in.”
“Thanks. I expected a bigger turnout after the show Sullivan put on at the Moose earlier. He staged the police invasion of my business when most of the town would see it happen.” Liam tapped his fingers on the desktop. “Maybe people aren’t coming to eat because they’ve heard about my upcoming arrest and are afraid.”
“I don’t believe that’s true. A few customers will stop in for a drink when they finish their suppers.” She rested her hip on the desk, but her mouth tightened, and the way she avoided meeting his gaze told him she was lying.
She hated hurting someone’s feelings. That was Luce. Stray strands of her hair curled around her flushed face. Her eyes filled with worry when she flicked him a glance.
“Tell me, what’s been the word in the bar?”
She shrugged and crinkled her forehead. “Customers are saying you’ll be arrested this week. Sullivan and his men have to sort through what they took in the search, but he’s getting assistance from the state and the FBI.”
The truth smacked him. He tried to get his footing by looking down at the folders of papers he’d pulled out while searching for the receipts. They covered his desk.
What he wanted most wasn’t on paper, but having her near and knowing his chance was gone hurt. “I gotta finish up my orders.” He nodded toward the door.
Her cheeks flushed. “Oh, I’ll go. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” Her lower lip trembled as she straightened and left him.
He fisted his hand and went to work.
Chapter 35
March 30
The next morning, Lucy woke determined not to let Liam push her away. After the awkwardness of her visit to his office, she’d given him space and left Target to keep him company.
Now that Hank and Sadie had arrived, she headed downstairs.
At the bar, Hank was slicing limes on a cutting board. He raised his head as she approached. “Morning, Lucy.”
“Morning.” She glanced around. “Is Liam in the kitchen?”
“He rode up to my apartment to use my printer for the Mixology Night posters. He planned to cancel, but at the vigil, I talked with the regulars. Everyone wanted to enjoy an evening of normalcy. Only the usual townspeople and their friends will be allowed to attend. Security and all.”
“O-kay. Is that the drink contest?”
“You got it. People will sample and vote for the cocktail they like best, Liam’s or mine. We’ll hang the name of the winner of our first annual Ryan Award under Morse.”
“Cool idea, and my brother would worship a drink named after him. Has Liam been gone long?”
“He should be done in another five minutes.” Hank laid down the knife. “He looked like he hadn’t slept all night.”
“How’s Bella? She was having a bad time at Ali’s prayer vigil yesterday.”
Hank scooped the fruit into a container before answering. “My sister’s super sensitive. She takes other people’s problems real hard, like they were hers. When your brother died, she cried for days. Her heart broke when she lost him. I don’t understand Bella myself, but she’s always been that way. Growing up, kids used to tease her a lot to get her to cry. Can you talk to her?”
“Me? I’m not really qualified to offer therapy or anything.”
“She thinks no one cares about her now that Ryan is gone. If you took a little interest in her, she’d be happy.”
“I’ll try, but isn’t that what therapists do?”
“Bella might stop crying if she had a friend. She’ll be here in a few minutes to drive the food out for the searchers.” He set the lime container on a shelf and turned to her. “I appreciate your taking time with her, Lucy. She likes you. You were Ryan’s sister, and you’re down-to-earth.”
She didn’t feel grounded herself. She hopped on the stool. “Were people talking about the police search at the prayer vigil or about Hastings?”
“The search and Hastings rate up there with the town’s fears that your brother’s killer lives in Barley. Hope I didn’t offend you.”
“No, I understand.”
He glanced at his watch. “Sorry, I’ve got to pack the food in the truck.”
“I’ll help.”
“That’s okay. Sadie, Chip, and I are on it. You wait for Liam. You can cheer him up more than a Mixology Night. I’ll let you know when Bella arrives.” He walked into the kitchen.
As soon as he disappeared, the front door opened and Target ran inside to her. He sniffed at her pockets and then raced into Liam’s open office.
“Luce.”
Liam was here. As usual, her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. She slipped off the stool and crossed the floor to him. “Good morning. I was just on my way upstairs.”
He stared over her head. “Let’s talk.”
He seemed distant. Her mouth went dry. They walked over to the booth in the rear. He sat opposite her. She remembered how, when they were a couple, he’d hold her hand or press his knee to hers beneath the table.
Now he felt miles from her instead of on the other side of the tabletop.
“Tomorrow, I’ve a day full of appointments.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I need to concentrate on business and can’t have you there.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll be upstairs, working on the inventory.” She rose before she said something stupid. Tears burned her eyes, but she’d rather pluck them out than cry in front of Liam.
“Luce, wait a minute.”
She took an extra second to compose herself before turning to him. He rose as his cell phone rang out from his pocket.
Hank appeared by the bar. “Bella is here. She’s waiting in the kitchen for you, Lucy.” He turned to Liam. “Are you set with the printer?”
“Finished. Thanks.” Liam tugged out his phone.
Glad his call helped her escape their tense exchange, Lucy walked past Hank and into the adjoining room. Bella paced the tile floor while Sadie and Chip grabbed the lunches from the counter.
“Lucy.” Bella stopped and wrung her hands together. “Hank said you wanted to see me.”
Sadie and Chip were watching with open interest.
“Uh, I’ll help you deliver the meals, and we can talk on the way. How you doing today?”
“I can’t sleep. My head swells up with worries about the missing girl and that evil man, your stalker. You understand, and thanks for helping me. We’re taking Hank’s truck. Are you ready?”
Lucy blinked at Bella’s mood swing from fearful to easygoing. “Okay.” She turned to Sadie. “Can I borrow your jacket?” She wanted to leave before she faced Liam again. He’d insist on tagging along with them. She needed a moment of freedom.
“My jacket’s on the hook in the corner.”
Lucy shrugged into the jean jacket, which hung below her waist. “Ready, Bella.” She trotted to the door, aware people were scratching their heads over her abrupt flight from the building.
Her goal for the day was to avoid Liam until she had it together. Maybe when she finally left town, she’d stay away twenty years.
Bella joined her by the truck parked next to the rear exit. “You look unhappy, Lucy. Are you upset about going out to the searchers?
What did you want to talk about?”
“Ah, I…I was getting cabin fever and thought we could hang out.” She jumped into the front seat while Hank and Chip filed out and finished packing the bed of the pickup.
Bella climbed into the driver’s side and stuffed a pile of papers between the seats. She reached over and laid a hand on the crook of Lucy’s arm. “You’ll feel better once we get on the road.”
Bella was offering her support. The world was upside down. If only Sullivan would arrest Ryan’s killer. Careful what you wish for. No, not Liam, he wouldn’t hurt anyone. Well, except her, and that was over.
“Are you staying in town?”
“I emailed my employer that I needed another week. His daughter subs for me to make extra money, so he agreed.”
“Oh.” Bella fell silent. The truck hit a frost heave, and Lucy’s stomach dropped and then climbed up into her throat.
“You know what I want to do?” Bella threw her a glance. Her eyes were clear and lacked the glassy light of the past few days.
Lucy’s chest tightened in warning. “I’m not good at guessing. Is it legal?”
Bella shrugged. “I’d like to see the pond.”
“You mean Squawking Geese? The police won’t let you through.”
“I heard at the prayer vigil that they postponed today’s dive until the end of the week. They’re waiting for equipment and hoping for warmer weather.”
“I missed a lot at the vigil, and you missed our stop.” Lucy pointed at the canopy for the searchers as they zipped past. This wasn’t good.
“We’ll go back in a few minutes.”
Goosebumps broke out on Lucy’s arms. “We should deliver the food before noon.”
“I will.” Bella gripped the wheel, and the pickup flew around the curve.
Lucy stepped on the invisible brake on her side. “This might be a bad idea.”
“I have to be where they’re looking for her.” Bella hit the pedal. They zoomed down the hill. At the bottom, she pulled into the clearing before cutting the engine. She released her seatbelt. “Come on. We have to look around before they call the Moose and ask when the lunches are coming.”
“I’ll wait for you. Besides, I’m not sure you should wander through a crime scene.”
“Prints.” Bella pointed out the window at the tire tracks in the mud and ice.
“Probably left by a cruiser or a fire vehicle. If you want to do this, why don’t you walk the area with Hank?”
“Hank won’t come. He’s too scared.”
“I’m with him,” Lucy mumbled. “Look, Bella, is this some kind of psychic thing?”
“I hate that word. Makes me sound like a liar and a fake.” Bella climbed out of the truck, walked down the path, and disappeared around a bend. Out on the road, a black car crept past them. Sullivan or the FBI or worse— Matt?
A phone rang out. Lucy glanced down and spotted the cell between the seats. The screen read: Hank.
Did he know they were AWOL already? The ring stopped. She grabbed the cell, jumped out, and walked five feet. Pausing, she debated going on or returning to the truck. She swallowed and shouted, “Bella! Bella!”
A crow circled and cawed overhead.
Great, a bird answered, but not Bella. Where was she?
Chapter 36
Lucy ran down the trail. Her feet slid under the melting snow. She stumbled and regained her balance. Ahead, Bella was coming toward her.
“Lucy, what is it?”
“I might be wrong, but I think someone is following us in a black car.”
“Where are they now?”
“They left. I don’t know who it was.” Lucy waved her hand, clutching the cell phone in the air.
Bella’s brows knit together. “Are you all right? Why do you have my phone?”
“Hank called. You scared me when I shouted and you didn’t answer.”
“I decided to talk to you in person instead of yelling. I was standing by the pond.” Bella took her cell and listened to the message.
Lucy inhaled deep breaths to calm herself while she waited. Everything is fine. No one is pursuing us.
Bella pocketed her phone. “We left the dessert at the Moose. Someone will drive it out to the searchers. We better go. I’m sorry that I overreacted.”
“Hank says I act strangely every day. Don’t worry. I understand.”
A few minutes with Bella, and Lucy had taken on her personality. Still, being careful wouldn’t hurt. “Let’s circle back off the path in case the car returned. That way we’ll hopefully catch sight of him or her first if they decide to walk in after us.”
Bella nodded. They went off the pathway, and Lucy soon wished she’d worn boots as a piece of ice penetrated her sneakers.
“Did you find anything at the pond?” Lucy tossed over her shoulder.
“No, but I might try again. I was hoping to feel if Ali was in Squawking Geese.”
Lucy halted. “Can you do that?”
“Sometimes I know things others don’t until later. I can’t explain it. She could be at the bottom, tangled in the weeds.”
Bella’s matter-of-fact voice sent a chill through Lucy.
Target bounded to them from out of the trees.
“What? Where did he come from?”
“Lucy! Bella!”
“It’s Liam.” Bella cupped her hands to her mouth. “We’re coming.”
“We just left the Moose,” Lucy said to Bella. “How did he find us so soon?”
Bella shrugged. “He does drive super-fast.”
Target pranced at their heels as Lucy and Bella cut back onto the worn track. Liam came into view, marching toward them.
“What are you doing here?” Lucy asked while relief flooded her.
“Sadie noticed you forgot the dessert when you pulled out. I brought it. Why are you guys out walking in the woods?”
Lucy would let Bella answer that question.
“I wanted to visit the water,” the young woman said.
“Oh. Well, you shouldn’t be driving around town with Matt Hastings on the loose.”
“What are you doing here, Liam?” Lucy asked, ignoring his reprimand.
“I was doing the same as you. I was curious.” His brows tugged together. “Did you get a new jacket?”
“I borrowed Sadie’s.”
Liam shrugged. “You haven’t delivered lunch yet, have you?”
“I’m ready to drop it off now.” Bella held up the ignition key.
“After you, ladies.” He fell in behind them. Target stayed at his side as they headed to the road. Bella led the way.
Before they reached it, Liam grabbed Lucy’s arm, detaining her. “Are you okay? What’s happening? The pond is on the trail. What were you doing off it?”
“Well…we took a shortcut. Did you see anyone near Hank’s truck?”
“No one. Look, I don’t think going off with Bella is the best idea.”
“We were supposed to drive to the searchers and back. I wasn’t a big fan of the detour, but we’re delivering the food and heading straight to the Moose now. I better find Bella since I’m riding with her. We’ll talk at the bar.”
“Are you sure you should go with her? Is she all right?”
“Yes, and I’ll be fine. Confess, you were going to tag along after us with or without the dessert.”
He shrugged. “Okay, guilty. You should catch up to Bella. I’ll follow, as you already know.”
At the truck, Lucy jumped in the passenger seat. Liam trailed them to the roadside headquarters, where they delivered the meals.
“I’ll wait for an update on the hunt for Ali,” Liam said to Lucy while Bella talked to a volunteer. “I’ll be along in a few.”
“Bella needs company. Don’t worry. No more alternate routes for us.”
She and Bella finished their delivery and headed for the Moose. Would Liam question her further about Bella’s presence near the pond? Explaining her wish to feel the missing teen in the water wou
ld be tough. Lucy wasn’t sure she understood herself.
When they reached the bar, Lucy raced upstairs, relieved to be alone. Her solitude lasted less than ten minutes. The thud of Liam’s boots alerted her he was coming up. What would he say? She hoped it wouldn’t be another lecture.
Buck up, she told herself. She met him at the door. “Come in. I’ll put on the coffee.” She turned on her heel, and he shadowed her to the kitchen.
“Don’t fix any for me.” He dragged out the chair.
She flipped on the Keurig and sat beside him. Uneasy in the silence, she blurted, “Bella seems to believe she’s psychic. She wanted to feel if Ali was in Squawking Geese.”
He raised one brow. “Did she?”
“I don’t think she did. She just creeped me out.”
Liam dug in his pocket and produced her bus ticket. “You forgot to take this.” He shoved the receipt across the space between them.
Had he only come to give her a ticket? “Thanks for holding onto it for me.”
“You should be far away from Barley and the turmoil if I’m arrested. The press will dig up every problem or offense I have ever had to create a story that grabs ratings and sells.”
His words annoyed her. She wasn’t a weakling. “I can follow the papers online. I’ll handle it.”
“Don’t read them.”
She raised her chin. “I’m not going anywhere until Ryan’s killer sits in jail.” He couldn’t boss her around.
“I have nothing to offer you anymore, Lucy. Every moment will focus on my defense and then rebuilding the business, since I won’t have time for it until I’m cleared.”
“Maybe you won’t be arrested. Sullivan will discover the person who did kill my brother.”
“I had a call this morning from someone on the force. Sullivan is getting a warrant to take me into custody. Use your ticket. Stay out of harm’s way with your friends in Hawick Falls. They’ll make sure law enforcement gets Matt Hastings. I won’t be able to watch out for you.”
“Is that why you showed up near the pond?”
“I feel responsible for you.” Liam’s phone rang. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. “I have to return this. Listen, I need to tell you where to find the gun.”
