by Anne Canadeo
Maggie still didn’t know what to think of Dr. Riley. “When did you tell him that?”
“He sent me a text and asked if I had one of Rose’s files. He’s looking back to see if she had any instances of her memory coming back while she was working with Emily that he wasn’t aware of. I didn’t have the file, but I did tell him where we were going and the good news about Holly.”
“I see,” Maggie said.
“Is Rose up yet? Have you told her what happened?” Dana sounded worried.
“The doors to the parlor are still closed. I’m glad you called. We can give her some good news. Holly is doing much better and is almost back to where she was yesterday. Isn’t that so?”
“That’s a good way to put it. It’s the truth, too. I don’t want to hide the event from her. That doesn’t seem right. Have her call me if she gets too distressed. I can reassure her that Holly is back on track.”
Maggie had the feeling Rose would call Dana immediately after she heard this latest news. “Lucy or I will bring Rose to the hospital. I’m sure she’ll want to see Holly right away.”
While Dana spoke, Maggie glanced at Lucy, who stood at the counter, filling a small bowl with cereal.
Lucy nodded. “No problem, Dana,” she called out. “We’re on it.”
“Thank you, guys. That will be a huge help.” Maggie heard someone speaking to Dana. It sounded like one of Holly’s nurses was asking Dana a question. “I have to go. Let’s touch base in a little while.”
Dana hung up, and Maggie heard the parlor doors slide open. She looked out the kitchen doorway. Rose was leading a stream of dogs out of the big room, toward the front door, some on leads and some, like Tink and Wally, following along without constraint, looking happy to be in the parade.
“I’m taking the dogs out. I’ll be right back. Is Aunt Dana up yet?” Rose called from just outside the door.
Maggie walked as far as the foyer. She wasn’t sure how to answer. “She is . . . but she had to go out this morning, very early. Don’t worry. I’ll explain everything when you come back inside.”
Rose’s placid expression quickly tightened with worry. But the dogs were on the march, and she had to follow. One of her favorites, Wolf, stood in the portico, waiting for her. “All right. I’ll put them in the pen and be back in a minute.”
Maggie nodded and returned to the kitchen. Lucy was quickly spooning up her cereal.
“We have to tell her in the calmest way possible,” Maggie said.
“She’ll be upset. We all are,” Lucy said between bites. “But Holly’s condition is totally under control. The sooner we get ready, the sooner we can get Rose to the hospital to be with Holly. Rose will understand that.”
Maggie had no time to answer. Rose came through the back door, her eyes shining and her cheeks bright from the chilly morning air.
“Is Aunt Dana coming back soon? She said we were going to see Holly this morning.”
Maggie approached her and stopped a few steps away. “We are going to see Holly this morning. Aunt Dana is already with her. There was a problem with one of Holly’s medical machines last night. She had a problem breathing. But everything is . . .”
Maggie had nearly reached the reassuring part of her little speech when Rose started trembling. She squeezed her eyes closed and put her hands over her ears. “No . . . How can that be? She was fine yesterday. She talked to me. She was coming home soon . . .”
“She will come soon. In a few more days,” Maggie tried to explain. “It’s just a little setback. She’s going to be fine, Rose.”
Rose wasn’t listening. She was lost in a cloud of panic. She began to take deep, ragged breaths, her brow glistening with sweat. “I have to see her. She might die in there, and I can’t even say good-bye to her . . . Will you take me there, Maggie? Can you take me right away?”
She was crying and fell to her knees on the kitchen floor. Maggie ran to her side and stroked her back in gentle circles.
“Rose, please . . . take a deep breath and listen. Holly is going to be fine. Aunt Dana is with her. You can call her if you want to. There was a problem last night, but Holly is totally out of danger now.”
Lucy had crouched down on Rose’s other side. “We’ll take you to the hospital, Rose. Right away. Let’s all get dressed, and we’ll go. Holly is going to be fine. You’ll see for yourself.”
Rose finally lifted her head, and Maggie handed her a bunch of tissues. She wiped her eyes and let out a long, shaky breath.
“I just need to bring in the dogs and feed them,” she said, coming to her feet.
“I can help you,” Lucy offered.
“All right. You can set up the food and the water bowls in the parlor. I’ll bring the dogs back in.” Rose dashed out the back door.
As Lucy headed for the parlor, she called, “I’ll do the dog bowls, then run up for a fast shower.”
“I’ll clear up in here. I think there’s a shower in the bathroom down here, too. I’ll duck in there,” Maggie replied.
Maggie checked her phone. It was half past eight; with any luck, they could be at the hospital by ten. She called Dana in the hope that Rose would speak to her for a minute when she came back inside. That should help, she thought.
The back door opened, and the pack ran in, the lucky off-leash dogs leading the way. They skittered through the kitchen, nails clicking on the slippery floor, as they raced each other to their bowls. Maggie was caught in the canine stream of paws, snouts, and tails and quickly stepped to the side to keep from being knocked over.
At the rear of the herd, Rose appeared with several dogs on leashes. Once inside, she let go, and they galloped across the kitchen to follow the leaders.
Rose stood in the doorway, only half in the house. Maggie caught her gaze and knew something was terribly wrong. Something more than her anxiety about Holly.
“Rose . . . what is it? Close the door. It’s cold out there. We need to get dressed to see Holly.”
“Oreo is missing. She wasn’t in the dog yard. I have to find her.”
“Oreo?” Maggie found that hard to believe. The border collie was Rose’s favorite comfort dog. She followed Rose like a shadow, barely letting her out of her sight. “Are you sure? Maybe she’s in the yard somewhere? Chasing a bird or a squirrel?”
“She’s gone. I looked all over, and I called for her. She always comes to me when I call, even if she runs off to chase something. I have to find her before she gets too far away . . .”
“Of course you do. We’ll help you. I’ll get Lucy. Wait right there, Rose. Please? Don’t run off by yourself. Promise me?”
Rose nodded, but her eyes flashed with impatience. She bit down on her lip, and Maggie felt the risk of taking her eyes off of the young woman. But she had to. She backed toward the kitchen door and called for Lucy. Then ran to the staircase and shouted up to the second floor.
Lucy is in the shower. She’ll never hear me.
Maggie grabbed her jacket and ran back to the kitchen, wondering where she could find a pair of shoes. She couldn’t run out barefoot in this cold, could she?
As she had feared, when she glanced at the doorway, Rose was gone.
She saw a pair of rubber boots in the mudroom, grabbed them, and stumbled out the door. Rose stood at the edge of the woods and looked back at her.
“Rose . . . please . . . wait for me . . . I’m here. I’m coming. . .”
“Go back. Don’t follow me. Please . . . I can find her. I know where she is now.”
Rose held her phone in one hand, then stuck it in her pocket. Had someone called or sent her a text?
A chill coursed through Maggie’s body. Was someone luring Rose away from the house? Did they know she had started to remember what happened Tuesday night?
Maggie suddenly realized who was behind all this. Rose was in danger, terrible danger. She had to catch up to her before it was too late.
Maggie ran forward, tugging on one boot and then the next. She fell in the grass
and scrambled up. Then started running again, her side aching.
“Maggie . . . what’s going on? Where’s Rose?”
Maggie turned and saw Lucy running toward her, long, wet hair flying. Rose’s dog Wolf loped alongside.
“I saw you from the window. Did Rose run away?” Lucy called.
“Oreo disappeared, and Rose ran off to look for her. She told me not to follow. I think someone is trying to trap her.”
“Oh no! We have to catch her.” Lucy picked up speed, and Maggie did, too.
Wolf seemed to sense the urgency and ran ahead.
“She took this trail,” Maggie said. “I’d hate to lose another dog. But there’s no time to bring Wolf back.”
“He ran out when I opened the door. Maybe he’ll lead us to Rose.”
The sleek, powerful dog crashed through the trees and brush, a pale streak in the shadowy woods. Maggie heard her own labored breath and heavy steps crunching on the twigs and leaves.
“Rose . . . Rose! Wait for us . . . please!” she shouted as she ran, her voice growing hoarse.
“Let me have a turn,” Lucy said, then repeated the chant between ragged breaths.
Maggie pushed herself to keep up and not fall on her face again. They were coming to a fork in the trail. She staggered to a stop and leaned over, with her hands on her knees, drawing in deep breaths of the chilly air. The big dog had disappeared.
“Which way? Right or left?” she asked Lucy. “Did you see which way Wolf ran?”
“No, I didn’t. Unfortunately. Let’s be very quiet,” Lucy said. “Maybe we’ll hear something.”
They listened for a moment. All Maggie could hear were her gulps for air and her pounding heart. Should they split up? she wondered.
A fragment of color on the trail to the left caught her eye, a color that didn’t belong on the mulchy path. She ran toward it and picked it up.
“Oreo’s collar, the one Rose made. Let’s go this way.”
Maggie took off, and Lucy followed. They ran side by side.
“We’re headed to the river. See the water through the trees?” Maggie said.
“We’re high up. I didn’t realize,” Lucy replied.
“There are cliffs along the river around here. Looks like we’ll reach them a little farther down on the trail.” Maggie looked in all directions as she ran. “I don’t see any sign of Rose. Or Wolf. Maybe we went the wrong way?”
Lucy jogged to a stop and put her hands on her hips. She took in a long breath, then pointed. “Look! Someone’s over there. I see Wolf running in that direction.”
Maggie followed her gaze. Through the trees she spotted two figures wrestling and falling to the ground. One was a man, but she couldn’t tell about the other at their distance.
Was it Rose? Had someone lured Rose out here to assault her?
“We’re coming, Rose! Don’t worry . . .” Maggie called out.
Lucy swooped down and grabbed a large branch, barely missing a step. They burst through the trees and reached the battleground.
Maggie instantly recognized the assailant. Carl Thornton! She knew it. She looked for Wolf. Why hadn’t the dog attacked him to protect Rose? Had he hurt the dog in some way?
She ran toward him and flung herself on his back. She tried to poke his eyes, as she had learned in a self-defense class, but he easily shook off her. She stumbled and bumped into a long flight of rickety wooden stairs that led to the rocky riverside at least a hundred feet below.
“Let go of her, you monster!” Lucy screamed, taking aim with her branch.
Thornton turned, his eyes wild with surprise. He raised his arm in self-defense. “Slow down . . . You’ve got this all wrong . . .”
Maggie was breathless. She couldn’t answer. Her gaze swept down to the ground. She was expecting to see Rose cowering there.
It was a woman and Thornton had a strong grasp on both of her arms. But when Thornton’s captive turned to face them, Maggie saw Beth Duncan. The blood rushed out of her head.
“I knew it . . .” Maggie looked back at Thornton. “Where’s Rose? Have you seen her?”
“I’m over here.” Rose stepped out from behind a tree, with Wolf at her side.
“Oh, Rose. Thank goodness you’re all right.” Maggie ran to her. “Why didn’t you stop when we called you?”
“Someone sent a text. They said they found Oreo on the riverbank, but she was hurt and I had to come alone if I wanted her back.”
“Here’s the someone! She did it all. Attacked Holly. Set the fire. Who knows what else she was up to.” Thornton grabbed Beth by the arm and pulled her to her feet.
He’d used his red bandana to gag her, and she stared at them, her eyes bulging with outrage. She tried to pull free of his grasp, but it was no use. She couldn’t move or speak.
Thornton sneered at her. “I came along just in time. She was about to push Rose into the river.”
Maggie heard barking and looked down the wooden stairs. Oreo was tied to a post at the bottom. The border collie looked unharmed but confused; she was obviously wondering why no one had come down yet to claim her.
Rose headed for the steps, and Wolf started to follow. “Stay, Wolf. I’ll be right back. All these steps are bad for your hips.”
Wolf whined but lay down and stared after her.
“I’ll call the police.” Lucy pulled her phone out.
“Good idea.” Maggie saw Thornton flinch, his jaw set, but he didn’t let go of Beth. “Why are you here?” Maggie asked him. “How did you know Rose was in danger?”
Dana’s words came back to her. Sometimes at night I feel as if someone’s out there, watching the house.
“Who are you, really?” Maggie said finally.
He met her gaze, then stared past her, his expression blank, his lips pressed in a tight line.
With one hand, he tugged on the edge of his beard, just under his earlobe, and pulled it off. In his hand was a stretchy, gooey skin-like substance with long gray hairs attached. Then he stripped off his eyebrows, which were like two gray caterpillars, and tossed them on the ground. Next, he slipped off a gray wig and a tight flesh-colored cap. Last but not least, he pulled out fake, yellowed teeth. Thick brown hair sprung up in place of the silver locks, and a smooth-skinned, handsome young man stared back at her.
“My name is Jeremy Carlson,” he said slowly in what Maggie realized was his real voice. “Holly and I were friends a long time ago—”
“I know who you are,” Maggie interrupted. “Why did you disguise yourself?”
“I always regretted the way I spurned Holly. I thought about her a lot. When I got out of prison, I spent some time moving around the country. I became a professional actor, just the way Holly and I had once talked about. A few years went by, and I still wanted to see her. Just to find out how Holly and Rose were getting on. I knew that their parents died a long time ago. I was concerned about her. But I didn’t want to upset her life, if she was happy.”
“So that’s why you talked her into a job and worked at the nursery a few days,” Maggie mused. “Why did you quit so abruptly?”
“I thought she was involved with that doctor. I didn’t want to mess that up by telling her my real identity. But after I left on Tuesday, I had regrets. I didn’t get very far.” He looked down and shrugged. “I took off my disguise and came back to face her. The fire had just started, and I saw this woman running away.” He pointed at the gagged Beth Duncan. “She’s Tabetha Lynch, Chip’s sister. I didn’t have time to chase her. I pulled Holly out and saw Rose wandering, in one of her states. Then she collapsed, too. I pulled her body clear of the flames and smoke and put her next to Holly. But I was afraid of the police. I knew they wouldn’t believe my story and might think I did it, out of anger for the jail time I served.”
“You can face them now,” Lucy said. “It’s clear that Beth—or whatever her real name is—was behind all of it.”
“And it’s quite a long list,” Maggie added. Blackmailing Holly, attack
ing her and setting the fire. And probably the second attempt on Holly’s life last night in the hospital, when her oxygen supply mysteriously failed.
Beth Duncan—or should she call her Tabetha Lynch now?—sat on the ground next to Jeremy, her head bowed and her clothes covered in mud. She’d obviously realized there was no use trying to get away. Maggie knew she could hear every word they said, but was unable to deny or defend herself.
“I know it sounds odd, but I feel sorry for her,” Jeremy said. “She was never able to move on after losing her brother. So many lives were damaged that night, in just an instant. She’s a victim here, too.”
Maggie thought that was true and also a very wise observation. There was little she could say. Perhaps now some of that damage could be repaired. She hoped so.
She heard sirens in the distance. The sounds was coming closer. There was much more to this story than could be explained here, and she could barely wait to hear the rest. And hash it all over with her friends.
* * *
It had taken over four weeks for Maggie to keep her promise of the “dogs welcome” knitting night. Finally, on the last Thursday night in April, the back room was set up for the meeting, and dinner was heating in the storeroom kitchen. She was going to teach the basket stitch tonight to the more advanced knitters. Rose and Holly were ready to advance to needles and learn the basic knit and purl stitches.
Maggie was ready with all the supplies and patterns, and hoped the dogs would behave long enough for the lesson portion of the evening to be completed. She hadn’t thought of any appropriate entertainment for them, but Rose was going to bring some toys, including puzzles that hid treats. She promised they would keep the dogs amused for hours. Maggie only hoped for long enough to get through her lesson.
She was carrying a plate of crudité and dip from the storeroom when, her friends seemed to arrive all at once, bustling in the shop with their knitting bags and contributions to the meal.
“Yum! I’d know that smell anywhere,” Suzanne tilted her head back and let her nose lead her to the back of the shop. “Maggie’s famous pasta and meatballs!”
