The Milburn Big Box Set

by Nancy McGovern

  “Can we read about Moomoo The Elephant?” he asked.

  “All right. Let’s go. You want some water first?”

  “No.” His fears forgotten now that his mother was coming with him, Will bounded back to the door.

  “Hey, say bye to your uncle Harvey and aunt Nora first,” Simone said.

  “Bye.” Will gave Nora a shy wave, and ran off.

  Bernard watched them both go with a smile on his face. “Family,” he said as he turned back to Nora and Harvey. “Family centers a man like nothing else. Do you know, when I was 20, I thought all I wanted out of life was to travel the world? I didn’t have much ambition. Oh, I knew how to make money, but unlike my dad, I never saw the need to make too much of it. My plan in life was to do odd jobs while traveling Europe.”

  “Did you ever do it?”

  “The first year I was studying in Paris I spent a few months of the year in Portugal and Spain,” Bernard said. “Of course, once I met Simone, my plans changed a little. Now I wanted to travel the world, but with two tickets. But Simone… well, Simone was a passionate woman. She’s always loved to bring sweetness into other people’s lives. I guess I got caught up in her dream and made it my own.”

  “Ice-cream’s a funny business to go into, isn’t it?” Harvey said. “What made her do it?”

  “Oh, her grandfather and his father have always sold ice-creams,” Bernard said. “It’s a family obsession with them, I think. Bakeries, chocolate, ice-cream - anything sweet. It’s a wonder they haven’t all got diabetes! It’s also a happy coincidence that she met a man who ran a dairy and a ranch.”

  “You’re meant for each other.” Nora smiled. “And little Will is lucky to have two smart, ambitious parents who care so much about each other and the world.”

  “But about him, most of all.” Bernard smiled. “After he came into our life, well, it felt like the universe shifted for me. Everything I do now is for his sake.”

  Harvey, who had been growing increasingly uncomfortable during this conversation, suddenly excused himself. “I’ve got a call I’ve been ignoring far too long,” he said as he walked away.

  Simone came back out, smiling peacefully, as Nora and Bernard watched Harvey go in surprise. What had happened to him? Nora wondered. The more she and Harvey dated, the more she thought that he was the one for her. She didn’t think she was being vain when she suspected he felt that way too.

  But whenever Harvey was around kids, well, he’d act strange. Scared. Did the prospect of being a father scare him, since he’d never really known his own? That would explain why he got so uncomfortable at Bernard’s words. On the other hand, maybe it was just business. As a real estate magnate, Harvey had his own share of worries when it came to finances and legal troubles over plots of land or construction. Nora had noticed him ignore phone calls earlier. Maybe she was over thinking this. Maybe he wasn’t ready now, but surely, when the time came, Harvey would want kids too.

  “Shall I top up that champagne for you?” Simone asked.

  “What?” Nora looked up. “Oh. No. Thank you, but one glass is quite enough for a Thursday night.”

  “I just opened up your salad,” Simone said. “What a wonderful idea, pairing peaches with halloumi.”

  “We ought to warm that up a bit before we serve it,” Nora said. “Just thirty seconds in the microwave, maybe. I kept the greens separate so they stay fresh.”

  “I love it,” Simone said. “Nora, you ought to consider expanding your diner. If Harvey’s building that chain of hotels like he plans, why, a fine dining restaurant would be right up your alley.”

  Nora laughed. “I just started the Madness Diner, and I’d rather focus on quality over quantity for now. Managing two restaurants is a feat I’m not ready for. Besides, I love the feeling my diner gives me. I’m in control over a lot of the decisions, and the regulars are slowly becoming like family to me. Whenever I picture myself as an old lady, I picture myself with blue hair, sturdy shoes, flowery print dresses, and my own very little diner.”

  “No kids?” Simone teased. “No real-estate magnate husband?”

  Nora blushed. “So… what’s on the menu tonight?”

  “Look at that, she’s changing the topic.” Bernard smiled. “Go on, Nora. Answer the question!”

  Before she could, however, Harvey had appeared. His face was passive. Striding up to them, he sat on the chair and let his legs sprawl out. Looking at Nora, he asked, “What did I miss?”

  “Oh, we’re interrogating Nora about the future.” Simone laughed. “Wedding plans.”

  Nora held her breath. Bernard and Simone continued to tease Harvey. As usual, his face was a mask and his voice mild. But Nora could feel it, she could feel the tension coiled in his body. She could feel the small tic of the vein on his forehead. Harvey was furious. He was pretending to be all right, but underneath, he was ready to take down an army.

  Under the table, she reached for his hand and squeezed it. Instead of squeezing back, his hand lay passive.

  “I’m sure Nora’s far too busy with the diner to think of weddings,” Harvey said. “Isn’t that right, Nora?”

  “Sure is,” she replied. “At the moment, the only plans I’m making are for next week’s menu.”

  “Speaking of which, I had a roast beef sandwich at your place yesterday,” Bernard said. “All I can say is, Wow! If I figured out a way to make roast-beef ice-cream, we’d be gazillionaires.”

  Nora wrinkled her nose. “Roast beef ice-cream! That sounds like the worst idea I’ve ever heard!”

  “Oh, don’t wrinkle your nose.” Simone smiled. “Savory ice-creams are the next big trend, I’m predicting. It sounds ridiculous, I know, but so did peanut butter before it came out.”

  “You’re the expert! For me, the formula is hot food, cold dessert. It’s simple and, so far, it’s working,” Nora said. “So, I plan to stick with it.”

  Harvey was looking down at his phone. “Guys, would I be a terrible boor if I announced I had to leave?”

  “Leave? But you just got here!”

  “I know… But there’s something I have to take care of back home,” he said. “It’s rather urgent.”

  “All right,” Nora said, though she felt a little hurt.

  “Why don’t you three carry on?” Harvey said. “I’ll do my best to be back before the hour is up. Don’t bother to keep dinner for me. I’m so sorry.”

  “Do you really have to go?” Nora asked, as he stood up.

  “It’s critical,” he said.

  “Work?” she asked.

  A shadow passed over his face. “Unfinished business.”

  *****

  Chapter 5

  Dinner was a quiet affair with Harvey gone. Simone and Bernard didn’t say anything, but Nora could tell what they were thinking. Was there trouble in paradise?

  Once the appetizers were done and Bernard had served the rosemary potatoes and roast chicken for dinner, conversation moved to the workings of the ice-cream factory. Nora nodded silently as Bernard and Simone began discussing what was obviously a well-worn argument.

  “I know he’s been there for thirty years,” Simone said. “But Joey Gallagher has been harassing a few too many ladies.”

  “He’s an old-fashioned man,” Bernard said. “Likes to call women darling. Thinks it’s ok to wink at one every now and then. He thinks he’s being cute.”

  “What he’s really being is creepy,” Simone said.

  “He’s great at his job, though, and he’s absolutely promised me he’d improve his behavior this time,” Bernard said.

  “Didn’t you have a talk with him twice already?”

  “Well, I guess he didn’t take me very seriously then. But I told him there would be dire consequences. Look, Simone, I know you never liked Joey much, but he’s a good man at heart. The workers all think he’s a great supervisor. He’s been in the company longer than any other man, and he’s about to retire next year. I’d really rather not fire him.”

/>   Simone sighed. “What do you think, Nora?”

  “Oh… I couldn’t comment,” she said, wisely choosing to stay out of it. “Do you two often discuss business together?”

  “It’s our worst habit,” Simone said. “That, and discussing little Will at work. There’s no boundary between our work and our private lives. Though we want to build one.”

  They heard a car screech to a stop outside, and the slam of a door.

  “Looks like Harvey’s back already.” Nora sat up straighter, and smiled. “I thought he wouldn’t-”

  But it was Sean’s voice that rang out. “Hello? Anybody home?”

  “Back here,” Bernard called, giving an astonished look to his voice. “Whatever could he want, Simone?”

  Simone looked at her watch. “It’s nearly 11 o’clock.”

  Sean came back around, his face tight. “Nora, thank God you’re here.” He relaxed a little when he saw her.

  Nora felt frozen. Sean being here could only mean one thing - bad news. He had his uniform on, still, and his face looked crumpled and anxious.

  “What is it?” In her mind was a vision of Harvey, driving as rashly as he usually did. Had something happened? Her stomach clenched. “Is it Harvey?”

  “Isn’t Harvey here with you?” Sean asked, looking confused. “Mrs. Mullally told me he was. I tried calling you, Nora, but you didn’t pick up.”

  “I must not have heard it!” she exclaimed. “Sean, whatever is the matter? You look very tense.”

  “Sergio has escaped,” he said. “We transferred him to Fordham County earlier today to await trial, but there was a massive riot in their holding cells. Sergio must have used it to his advantage, because he’s missing. I just found out half an hour ago. I wanted to warn you and Harvey.”

  “This is terrible!” Simone exclaimed. “An escaped convict heading to Milburn!”

  “We’re well prepared for him,” Sean said calmly. “We’re confident he’ll be caught soon. We’re not even sure he is headed back here. The sensible thing for him to do would be to go to a larger city.”

  “But criminals like him are never very sensible, are they?” Bernard asked. “I don’t like this, Sean. I won’t sleep easy until he’s caught.”

  “I won’t sleep at all,” Sean said. “I’m taking an extra shift tonight, so are all my deputies.”

  “You’re a good man, Sean.” Bernard nodded.

  “Did you try calling Harvey?” Nora asked. “He’s the one who tackled Sergio. If Sergio wants revenge, he might stalk Harvey.”

  “I did, but he didn’t pick up his phone either,” Sean said. “That’s one reason I got so worried. Both of you refusing to pick up made me uneasy.”

  “Can we go to his house?” Nora asked. “Please, Sean? I’m nervous.”

  Sean nodded.

  “Do you want us to come as well?” Simone asked.

  “No, you have little Will to think about,” Nora said. “I’m so sorry that dinner was ruined, Simone.”

  “Not a problem,” Simone said. “Message me or call me once you’re sure Harvey is safe, all right? And lock your doors extra tight tonight.”

  “Come on.” Sean held the door of his car open for her, and Nora hopped in. He put on his lights, and reversed out of the driveway. Nora waved goodbye to Simone and Bernard, catching a final glimpse of them speaking animatedly to each other.

  “Did you ever find Tiffany?” Nora asked. “She’s the one who’s in most danger, isn’t she?”

  “She never showed up at the station,” Sean said. “We’d already arrested Sergio, so we didn’t make much effort to go after her. She was innocent, after all.” He sighed. “I would have done things differently if I’d ever suspected that Sergio could escape.”

  “Do you… do you think he planned it alone?” Nora asked. “The escape?”

  “I think it was just a stroke of luck for him,” Sean said. “He should be back in prison soon. The thing is, he’s made it a lot worse for himself by escaping. If he’d been cooperative, he’d have gotten a lower sentence. After all, the gun was fake.”

  “I was wondering why,” Nora said. “Why couldn’t he just access a real gun?”

  “Sergio’s record shows that he’s committed two felonies before this,” Sean said. “Drug abuse and auto theft. So he may not have been able to buy a real gun.”

  “From legal sources, no,” Nora said. “But surely he had enough criminal “friends” who could help him out.”

  “It doesn’t matter, does it?” Sean said. “What’s important is that no one was hurt. Well, no one has been hurt yet, at least.”

  Trying to calm herself down a little, Nora changed the topic. “How’s Karen?” she asked.

  “Oh, sure, rub that in, why don’t you?” Sean snapped.

  “What?” Nora looked up, shocked.

  “We broke up last week,” he said.

  “Sean, I’m so sorry. I had no idea!” Since Deputy Wallis’ death, Sean and Karen had been a couple. Sean had very passionately told Nora about his love for Karen, and to hear that they’d broken up so soon was a shock. “What happened?” she asked.

  “What always happens,” Sean said, sounding a little bitter. “She wanted different things than I did. She wanted to shift out of Milburn.”

  “I thought she liked it here.”

  “So did I. But she never got over JJ. Despite the way he treated her, she loved him. Despite how well I treated her, in the end, she just didn’t love me enough. So she says that everywhere she looks, she has memories of JJ. Milburn just isn’t good enough for her now. She wants to move to a bigger city forever.” Sean sighed. “I don’t know, Nora. I thought she was the one. I feel like all my faith in women has just evaporated now. I almost feel used.”

  “Maybe I should talk to her?” Nora asked. “When did she start wanting to leave? Besides, if you love her so much, maybe you could consider leaving with her. Just for a few years?”

  “I love her, but Milburn is my life,” Sean said. “My family is here, I’ve built a good career here. I won’t throw that away on a whim. Besides, she can’t run away from memories. She might think leaving Milburn will help, but the truth is it’s just her own unresolved feelings she needs to figure out. Karen’s quitting her job at the ice-cream factory next month. Till then, I’m going to do my best to try and make her stay.”

  They pulled up to Harvey’s house, and Sean shut off the engine. “Thanks Nora. Even with all that’s going on, talking to you makes me feel better. It always has.”

  Nora nodded. “Don’t thank me, just be nicer to my boyfriend, okay?”

  “I’ll try, but he’s kind of a jerk to me.”

  “Sean-”

  “Come on, let’s go check on Mr. Milburn Mansions.” Sean chuckled. “That’s his latest project, right?”

  Nora shrugged. “Last I heard, he’s working on an RV park that’ll bring in business.”

  “Hmm. Well, that should be a welcome change.” Sean strode up to the door and rang once, then twice. He peeked into the side window. “Hey Harvey, open up, man. It’s Sean. Nora’s with me.”

  Silence met his calls. Nora felt uneasy. Where was Harvey? He’d said he was going back home, wasn’t he? Could he have gone to the office instead? But then why would-

  “Harvey!” Sean banged on the door with his fist. “Open up, dude. In the name of the law!”

  “What?” Nora looked at him, surprised.

  Sean shrugged, and gave her an almost mischievous grin. “I just like saying that sometimes. It feels kind of epic.”

  “I have a key,” Nora said, fumbling about in her wallet. “Harvey gave me one for emergencies.”

  “Sure. Emergencies.” Sean grinned. “Looks like the old boy’s getting serious about his crush.”

  “Shut up, Sean. Here.” She pushed him aside and opened it.

  The house was completely dark. “What is going on?” Nora exclaimed, switching on the lights.

  Sean frowned. “You sure he said he w
as going home? Not the office?”

  “Yes, I’m sure. His files are all on his laptop anyway. So why would he go to his office?” Nora felt sweat bead on her forehead. “Sean, if something’s happened-”

  “Give him a call. Don’t get worried about things until there’s something to worry about,” Sean said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Stay calm, Nora. Harvey will be fine.”

  She pulled out her phone and called him.

  In the dark, a neon screen lit up, as Harvey’s phone began to ring in the next room.

  “Looks like he did come home,” Nora said. “He left his phone here.” They went into the next room and switched on the lights. A bottle of beer sat opened on the coffee table, half finished. Nora’s unease began to deepen. This wasn’t like Harvey at all. The phone was always on him. Why would he leave the house?

  “Let’s go swing by his office,” Sean said.

  Nora nodded. In times like this, when she felt far too panicked to think, Sean’s calm voice was like an anchor. He was a steady man, the kind of man who’d make sure things got done. No matter what he felt about Harvey, he cared enough to make sure that no harm came to him.

  “Come on, Nora,” Sean said.

  “Let me just… can I just use the restroom?” Nora asked.

  “Feel free.”

  She didn’t really want to use it. What she wanted was an excuse to go to Harvey’s room. Before they left, she had to make sure he really wasn’t in the house. She had a horrible feeling that… no. She didn’t let herself complete that thought. Harvey would probably be fast asleep in the next room. Maybe he’d drank too much and didn’t even hear them. That was possible, wasn’t it?

  She entered his room and switched on the light.

  A scream left her mouth but was cut off as a hand went around her mouth. She was jerked backwards, her feet leaving the ground. A grating voice whispered in her ear.

  “Tell me where he is!”

  She could only whimper, too afraid to say anything. Her body trembled as the man who held her shook it. “Talk!” he said.