Heart of Gold

by B. J Daniels

  “So you saw Lindy?” Shep asked, hoping to get Wagner back on track.

  The elderly man nodded. “That girl had the prettiest blond hair. Shone like a lamp that night even though it was pitch-black out.”

  “You saw her outside the front door?”

  “That’s where she was the first time I saw her. She seemed to be poundin’ on the door like she was locked out. But when I looked again, she’d gone around to the back.”

  “Did you tell the police this?”

  “I suppose I did since the way the house was, I could see her at the back. I saw her bend down and pull something out from under a flowerpot at the edge of the house, then she disappeared back inside. I watched for a moment, but she didn’t come back out.”

  So she hadn’t been locked out the whole time. “She didn’t put the key back?”

  “Not while I was watching.”

  Shep leaned back in the chair, trying to make sense of this. Lindy had never been locked out? So why the hysterics at the front door? Had Charlie been right that Lindy was playing her?

  “You’re sure you told the police this?”

  He saw the man’s hesitation. Wagner hadn’t told the cops. They hadn’t looked for the spare key. If Lindy had come out of the house to put the key back... Was that when she was attacked?

  Shep realized that even if Wagner had told Mulvane what he’d seen, it wouldn’t have meant much to the cop. He didn’t know about Charlie locking Lindy out.

  “I felt bad for that dark-haired one to have something like that happen, just the two of them alone in that house.” Wagner nodded, smiling from his skeletal face. “She was so lucky that night, wasn’t she?”

  “Yes, she was.” Shep rose. “Thank you for all your help.”

  “Not sure I was any help,” the man said as he tried to struggle to his feet.

  “Please, don’t get up on my account. I can see myself out.” Shep had a thought as he remembered Charlie saying that she once saw Lindy wave to the stepsons. It was a long shot, but he had to follow any and all leads at this point. “Would you mind if I spoke with your stepsons?”

  “Not sure they have anything to add, but you’re welcome to it.” Wagner picked up a pad and pen next to his chair and labored to write down their names and phone numbers.

  Shep took it and glanced at it in the dim light. The man’s handwriting was almost unreadable, but there appeared to be three first names on the paper with telephone numbers after them. He stuffed the paper into his pocket and thanked Wagner again as he left. The man had been more helpful than he knew.

  * * *

  CHARLIE LOOKED UP from her desk to find Daniel standing over her. Startled, she tried to rise from her chair when she saw that Amanda was right behind him.

  “Look who’s come to see you,” Amanda said and gave her a huge smile, eyes glinting maliciously. Charlie remembered Greg telling her that the woman had seen her with Shep—not that she’d known his name. She’d thought it was another, newer boyfriend. So the smile meant that she was hoping for fireworks.

  “Daniel.” Charlie met his gaze. He looked upset. What had Amanda said to him? She could only guess. “What are you doing here?”

  “I figured if I wanted to see you, it was going to have to be here,” he said.

  She could hear anger in his voice. “I was going to call you.”

  He looked as if he didn’t believe that. She could see that Amanda was hanging onto their every word.

  Charlie’s cell phone rang. She fumbled it out, meaning to simply turn it off, but then she saw who it was. Shep couldn’t have picked a worse time to call. She hit Accept, quickly put the phone to her ear and turned her back to Daniel and Amanda. “I can’t talk right now.”

  “Bad day?” he asked. “Sorry. I have some good news and thought you might need some.”

  “You have no idea.”

  “Can you take a break? Meet me at that coffee shop on the corner near your office and I’ll tell you everything.”

  “I...I can’t. I’m sorry.”

  “I get the feeling there’s someone standing next to your desk?”

  “Uh-huh, but thanks for calling.” With that she disconnected and turned to Daniel, pasting a smile on her face. “I can take my break. Why don’t we go next door to the coffee shop?”

  “There’s coffee in the break room,” Amanda pointed out. “You can certainly visit in the conference room.”

  “I could use the fresh air,” Charlie said and gave Daniel a pleading look. She’d told him enough about Amanda that he had to know how uncomfortable this was making her.

  “Fine,” he said, and turning, he headed for the front door.

  “He seems upset,” Amanda noted with no small amount of glee. “Maybe he heard about...the other man.” She gave Charlie a grin.

  “There is no other man,” Charlie snapped.

  “Tell it to Daniel,” Amanda said as Charlie hurried after her boyfriend, passing Greg on his way into work.

  * * *

  SHEP COULDN’T HELP being disappointed. He’d called on his walk down to her office moments ago hoping to share the good news with her. Lindy had never been locked out. It had been a ruse, just as Charlie had suspected it was. He couldn’t wait to tell her that she wasn’t responsible for her stepsister’s death, just as he’d been telling her. But now he had solid evidence.

  It was late afternoon, the downtown busy with the holidays so close. He’d almost reached her office and had started to turn away when he saw Daniel come storming out of the building scowling. Shep stepped back into the shadows of the building next door as Charlie came out right after Daniel. She’d sounded so harried on the phone. This could explain it, he thought.

  From where he stood, he watched Charlie catch up with Daniel and, grabbing his arm, turn him to face her. Shep was only yards away so he couldn’t help but hear their argument.

  “Why would you come by my office knowing that I’m working and can’t talk to you?” she demanded.

  “I already told you. I figured this was the one place I might be able to see you. I want to know what’s going on. Why have you been putting me off?”

  “I want to explain, but not out here on the sidewalk.”

  “Well, I don’t want to talk in a coffee shop. Let’s go back to your place—”

  “I can’t.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Both. I have to finish work and then—”

  “Forget it,” Daniel snapped. In the reflection in the shop window, Shep saw him step back from her as she reached for him again. “Just forget it.” With that he stormed away.

  For a moment, Shep thought she’d go after him, but when her cell phone rang, she swore and pulled it out. Dodging shoppers on the sidewalk, she took the call. Whoever was on the other end of the line, they seemed to be asking her questions, which she answered with either a yes or a no. “I’ll meet you there.”

  He watched her disconnect. He thought she would head back toward the front of her office building. To his surprise, she turned in his direction. He thought for sure she would see him and would be furious that he’d witnessed the scene. But she was busy wiping away her tears as she started in the direction of her apartment.

  Shep was wondering who had been on the phone when he recognized the man now coming out of her office building. Greg Shafer, her boss, glanced after Charlie, hesitated, then began to follow her.

  Shep waited until Greg passed before he fell in behind the man.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHARLIE HADN’T GONE far through the falling snow and frantic shoppers when she realized she was headed in the wrong direction. The restaurant where the shower was being held was the opposite way. She stopped and was jostled by several shoppers. Then she remembered that after arguing with Daniel she’d decide to run home to get her shower gift. A shopper hit
her in the back with one of her packages.

  Clearly she couldn’t just stand here in everyone’s way while she debated what to do. She pushed open the door to what turned out to be a bar. But at least inside, she wasn’t being snowed on or attacked by the crush of last-minute Christmas shoppers.

  Tara had called and wanted her to come right away because Amanda had called to say she was headed over to the restaurant. No more explanation needed.

  Charlie couldn’t abandon her friend. She’d just have to give Tara her present tomorrow at work since she didn’t have time to return to her apartment for the gift and still save Tara from Amanda.

  Just the thought of spending the afternoon around Amanda was almost too much to bear. But she was doing this for Tara, Charlie reminded herself, and started to step back out onto the busy sidewalk when she saw Greg coming down the sidewalk.

  She ducked back into the bar and was looking around for the exit when she heard the door open behind her.

  “Charlie?” Greg sounded out of breath as if he’d seen her and had wanted to catch her before she got away.

  Cursing under her breath, she turned and pretended surprise at seeing him. “Greg.”

  “Today’s my lucky day,” he said. “Have a drink with me.”

  “Actually,” she said, stalling for time to come up with a reasonable excuse, “I can’t. I just ducked in here to use the ladies’ room,” she said, lowering her voice.

  He grinned. “Best go take care of that and I’ll get us a couple of drinks.”

  She opened her mouth with an excuse on the tip of her tongue.

  “Don’t tell me you don’t have time before the baby shower.” He knew about the shower. “Amanda’s gone over to be with Tara until everyone arrives, so you have no excuse. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something important anyway.”

  “Seriously, I can’t. I was on the way to my apartment to pick up my baby shower gift. I forgot it this morning.”

  He looked disappointed for a moment, but then brightened. “I’ll walk with you. We can talk on the way. This is important. It’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you for some time now.”

  She felt panic rise up in her along with bile. Walk her to the apartment? She didn’t think so. She couldn’t depend on Shep being there and maybe she was paranoid but she didn’t want to be anywhere with Greg alone. If Amanda found out...

  “You know, this is silly. I’ll give Tara the gift tomorrow at work. A glass of wine might be just what I need.”

  “Great. I’ll get us a table.”

  What could be so important that he had to talk to her right now? He had her cornered. There was nothing she could say at this point, she thought as he signaled the bartender and ordered their drinks.

  She could sit through one glass, couldn’t she? Much better than the thought of taking him back to her apartment.

  “Hurry back,” Greg said and paid for their drinks.

  In the ladies’ room, she washed her hands and returned quickly, just wanting to get this over with, whatever it was. Greg had gotten them a quiet, dimly lit corner booth. He was nursing his drink as she sat down across from him in front of her glass of wine.

  “I hope red is all right. I should have asked.”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “The bartender said it was a local favorite.”

  She smiled and took a sip. “Delicious.”

  Greg looked relieved and she felt guilty for trying to avoid him. She liked Greg. He’d been a good boss. Being engaged to Amanda must be horrible, let alone actually planning to go through with the wedding. Is that what he wanted to talk about?

  “So you must be getting excited,” she said. At his confused look, she added, “The wedding.”

  “Oh yes, the wedding. How could I forget that? Amanda reminds me daily if not hourly.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

  She actually considered reminding him that he didn’t have to go through with it, but smartly took a sip of her wine instead.

  “That’s kind of what I want to talk to you about,” Greg said and Charlie groaned inwardly.

  “I’m afraid I know nothing about planning weddings, if you’re looking for advice,” she joked.

  He smiled as if to say he wasn’t that easily fooled. “You must wonder why I’m marrying her.”

  Could this conversation get any more uncomfortable? She feared it could. She shook her head, trying to think of what to say to that.

  “I know you and Amanda haven’t gotten along all that well,” he said.

  She frowned. “I wouldn’t say that.”

  He laughed. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re too nice. But I’m aware that she’s been harder on you than all the other employees.”

  “She has a lot going on right now with her job, the wedding...” Her lover.

  “Amanda likes it that way. She says she has to keep busy or she goes crazy. I suspect you’re a little like that.” His gaze met hers and Charlie quickly shifted her attention to her wine. She didn’t want to drink it too quickly, but the sooner she could get out of here...

  “I love her. But sometimes I wonder if love is enough,” Greg said, staring down into his drink before glancing up at her again, his gaze intent. “This isn’t my first rodeo, as they say here in Montana.”

  “Just because one didn’t work out—”

  “It’s been more than one,” he said, catching her gaze and holding it. “I’m sure you heard about the one before you started working at the design company.”

  She nodded and tried to lighten the mood. “Though I doubt she was really taken away in a straitjacket.”

  “No, she wasn’t, though one of them might have been handy. I haven’t had a lot of luck when it comes to women. The first girl I ever kissed gave me a black eye.” He laughed. “It’s true. I went for years afraid of girls. Then I had a string of bad dates until I found The One.” He got a faraway look in his eye for a moment, then grimaced. “With her, it turned out even worse than you can imagine.”

  Charlie squirmed, not wanting to hear any of this.

  He took a sip of his drink. “I’m making you uncomfortable.”

  She wasn’t about to deny it.

  “I like you, Charlie. You’re the one person who might understand why I’m going to marry Amanda even though I know...”

  Her heart seized up in her chest for a moment.

  “She isn’t perfect.”

  “Who is?” Charlie said and took another drink of her wine instead of doing what she really wanted to, which was run.

  * * *

  SHEP COULDN’T BELIEVE what he’d just seen. First Charlie got a call, then ducked into a bar. Her boss came out of their office and went after her, ducking into the same bar Charlie went into. He didn’t think that left much doubt about the interpretation.

  The two of them were meeting at the bar. It appeared part of a plan, starting with the phone call. This was unbelievable. She’d told him that Greg was engaged to Amanda, the insanely jealous office manager who allegedly put something in Charlie’s food to make not just her ill but Greg as well. Knowing how jealous Amanda was, why would Charlie meet Greg in a bar so close to their office? What was he saying? Why would Charlie meet him at all?

  Moving across the street so he could watch the entrance, he waited, half afraid the two might have been followed by the unbalanced fiancée. But Amanda didn’t appear, fortunately. Was that the way Charlie and Greg had planned it?

  He knew he was jumping to conclusions. Charlie had Daniel. Greg had Amanda. Did Daniel suspect Charlie and Greg had a relationship outside of the office? Amanda apparently seemed to think so. Was it true?

  Maybe there was a perfectly good explanation for this. And yet as the minutes passed, Charlie didn’t reappear and neither did her boss.

  Finally, unable to take it any longer, Shep cro
ssed the slushy street. It had been snowing all day. Huge lacy flakes drifted down to stick to any and everything as he reached the front of the bar. Christmastime in Montana, he grumbled, feeling like Scrooge.

  His boots were soaked by the time he reached the front door of the bar. He walked slowly past, looking in through the window, hoping he wasn’t spotted. But neither Charlie or Greg noticed. They seemed to be deep in conversation at a back booth. As he watched, her boss reached over and placed a hand on hers.

  Shep swore under his breath. There were times when he would have said he knew Charlie better than any person on earth. Right now wasn’t one of them. What was she doing? How had he missed this?

  Because he’d been busy trying to find out why she was seeing Lindy. Why someone had defaced a doll that looked like her and left it on her doorstep. Why someone had given her a dead mouse. Why someone had doctored her dessert to make her so ill.

  The last two incidents could have been Amanda, especially if she was as jealous as Charlie said. He wondered what the woman would do if she knew that her fiancé and Charlie were meeting at a bar on a workday afternoon, but he pushed that ugly thought away.

  He reminded himself what he was doing here in Bozeman. It had nothing to do with Charlie’s love life. This had everything to do with finding out who the Lindy look-alike was and why she was stalking Charlie.

  So where did that leave him? Standing outside a bar in the snow feeling like a fool.

  * * *

  GREG REACHED OVER and put his hand on hers. He looked as if he was going to bare his soul to her.

  “I need to ask you something,” Charlie said, desperately wanting to change the subject before he did.

  He seemed surprised. “Anything.”

  She took her hand back. “Amanda said something—”

  “Oh, great. Something mean, I’m sure.”

  “No, she said you had another design company before this one.”