“Hey again,” she said to the guy in the truck when she got there.
He raised a speculative eyebrow. “Did Nate need something else?” He clucked his tongue in surprise.
She laughed, finding it funny that he already knew Nate’s name. The man was a superstar. “No, I need some ketchup for the fries. Do you have any packets?”
“Oh, sure. Just a second.” He disappeared. While he was gone, Ana heard the rev of an engine and saw another truck coming up the street toward the lake. It was pink and covered in white painted lace, and she knew even before she could read the name whose it was. Lacey’s cupcake truck.
The man returned. “Here you go, Ana.”
“Thanks. Um, how often does Lacey’s truck come to the lake?”
He scowled. “Every day since it’s been frozen.”
“Really? Was she here last Thursday?”
“I don’t know.” He leaned down so he could see her face through the bottom half of the window.
“Can you think really hard? It’s important?” Ana pleaded with her eyes.
“Hang on,” he said. I’ll be right back.” He disappeared from view again. Lacey’s truck wound its way down the street and parked next to the pretzel truck. She got out and closed her door. “Hey, Ana.”
Ana kept her voice light as she spoke. “Lacey. What are you doing here?”
“Selling cupcakes and hot chocolate. What else?” She pinned Ana with her icy stare.
“Yeah, so you aren’t out at the hotels and ski lodges all day. Is that what you’re staying?” That was where Lacey said she was.
Lacey realized she’d been caught in a lie. “What are you talking about? I just came from there.” Her smile grew bigger, which only made it look more fake. “But I have to share my cupcake love with the sweet locals too, especially since your poor sister is out of commission.”
“Actually, she’s back at work. The town will be getting all of their cupcake needs from Lox again quick enough.”
Lacey glared. “Whatever, Ana.” She went to the back of her truck and out of Ana’s view.
The guy came back. “Yep, my hot chocolate sales were down that day a little later than now, which means she was here, sure enough.”
“Thank you! I appreciate you checking for me.” Ana quickly made her way over to Nate who lifted an eyebrow.
“What’s going on?” he asked between bites of his corn dog.
“Lacey lied is what’s going on. She drives right past Lox’s bakery every day around this time to park her overly lacey truck here so she can sell her stupid cupcakes and hot chocolate.” Ana tucked her knees under the table and squirted a bunch of ketchup onto the fry plate. “I’ll bet you a thousand dollars that woman is somehow involved with what’s happening around here.”
“How can we find out?” Nate finished the last of his corn dogs and sighed.
“We need to get over to Town Hall so I can talk to the mayor. I’m hoping she’ll tell me who this secret buyer is and then we can confront the culprit and tell them to stop hurting people.” She dunked two fries in the ketchup and popped them in her mouth. They were still warm and the sweet of the sauce and the salty from the potato and fries sent her mouth singing.
“I don’t know that the mayor will be able to share.” He eyed the plate of nachos.
“Maybe, but I’m hoping when I tell her what’s going on in her city, she’ll make an exception.”
He scooted closer and swiped a quick kiss.
Ana’s stomach danced in elation like little fairies were having a dance party in there.
“But what if she’s involved?” Nate asked. “Wouldn’t she have to know who is really buying all the businesses?”
Ana hadn’t considered that. “I don’t know, but you can bet I’m going to find out.”
Between the two of them, they polished off most of the food. Then they returned Nate’s skates and walked the short distance to Town Hall. It was nearly dark outside, but there was still a light on inside and the sign said it was open another fifteen minutes.
“Come on. Let’s hurry.” Ana was grateful the heat was on. When the sun went down, Fable Town got cold, especially during the winter months. “It’s quiet as a tomb in here,” she whispered.
Nate stood stock still as he looked around the empty hall. “Are you sure we should be in here?”
“Dang right.” Ana took a left, heading to the mayor’s office. She’d been inside the city building many times and for many reasons. She knew exactly where she was going. “The mayor either needs to answer for what’s happening or she needs to find out who’s doing this.”
“I’m with you,” Nate said.
Their footfalls squeaked as they walked on the shiny marble floor. Ana tried to make the noise stop, but her boots were wet, which made matters worse.
As they got closer, she could hear voices speaking in harsh whispers, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. “Stop,” she hissed at Nate so she could listen. They were still standing in the middle of the hall several feet from Mayor Cindy’s office. Ana could see the light on inside since the door was part of the way open. The mayor was seated behind her desk, her dyed blond hair piled up on top of her head and she was presumably speaking with someone seated on the other side of the desk, just out of sight.
“You’ve got to stop this. The town—” That sounded like the mayor.
“I’m tired of things just being comme ci comme ca. We need more. You know it.” His voice was low, and she couldn’t quite place it.
Beside her, Nate howled in pain and dropped to the ground.
“Nate! What—” Pain exploded in her head and everything went black.
Chapter Fifteen
For she didn’t know how long, Ana heard sharp whispering and frustrated words, but she couldn’t understand what they were saying. She tried harder to listen, but each effort shot pain through her eyes and ears until everything went numb.
That happened several times before the pain finally became more bearable and she no longer felt like she was having an out of body experience. When she became lucid, she blinked open her eyes, but there was blackness all around her. Was she still asleep? She tried to pinch her arm, but her wrists were tied behind her back. “Nate! Nate!” Tears filled her eyes as fear overwhelmed her. She had no idea where she was or what was happening.
“It’s okay, Ace. I’m here. Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust.”
Instant relief flooded her at the sound of his voice. She remembered seeing him topple like a giant tree beside her and then felt the pain in the back of her head. Someone had a thing for knocking people out and she didn’t like it. Not one bit. “Are you okay?” she whispered as she waited for her eyes to adjust.
“My head hurts like there’s a thunderstorm happening in there, but I’ll be fine. You?”
She jumped at the nearness of his voice and relief washed through her. He was okay and he was close. She reached her fingers away from herself but felt only the metal pole she was tied to. She wanted to sob. Instead, she swallowed back her fear. “Same, except I’ve got wild horses stampeding inside my head.” She didn’t know why she was trying to be funny. Obviously, this wasn’t the time, but she couldn’t help herself. Probably because she was concussed.
Off to the side, she heard the rush of water. That had to be the Elsa River. It ran too fast to ever freeze completely, even during subzero temperatures. “I hear the river,” Ana said, trying to get her bearings. It ran through Fable Town, but part of it couldn’t be seen because it went underground.
“That’s good. I thought I heard voices when I first woke, but there hasn’t been anything for a while.”
She turned toward the sound of his voice and let out a sob. She couldn’t help it. “Nate,” she said, her bottom lip trembling.
“I’m here,” he returned softly.
There was a scraping sound, but she couldn’t place it. Working to free herself, she scrunched down to touch whatever she was sitting on
. The cold and unevenness revealed the substance was rock. She shuddered and breathed in through her nose and she smelled dampened dirt. They were in a non-insulated place. Not necessarily outside, but it was cold. So cold, her teeth chattered. If they didn’t get out of there soon, they would freeze to death. “I’m sorry I got you into this,” she said, her emotions on overdrive. Tears trickled from her eyes. She couldn’t help it. She was trying to be brave, but her head hurt, her hands were tied up with rope to a metal pole, and she didn’t know where she was. “I didn’t mean to fail you.” She sniffled and then sneezed, sending a bunch of sparkles into the air around them.
Sparkles! Where did they come from?
“Bless you.” He paused. “Ace, why do you say that? You didn’t fail me. Not at all.” He paused again.
Ana worked to forget the sparkles and focus on getting herself under control. She needed to be calm if they were going to get out of this. “It’s just—,” she began, but Nate went on at the same time.
“If anything, I failed you, especially after Gus died. I should’ve been there for you, I should’ve supported you, and then when you asked for a divorce, I should’ve fought for you. I’m so sorry, Ace.”
She glanced over at him and could just make out his features in the not quite total darkness. “Nate,” she said, unsure how to start. She shuddered, leaning her head against whatever she was tied to, and closed her eyes. “What happened with Gus…” She swallowed down a sob before continuing. “It was an awful time. One I hope I—we—never have to experience again. I could’ve told you how I was feeling, and I could’ve let you in instead of running away. I was so wrapped up in my own pain, I forgot to think about yours and the fact that when I left, I left you alone.” The tears were flowing unabashed. She couldn’t stop them at this point, even if she wanted to. “I know you have your team and I’m beyond grateful for them. They treat you like family. But I was supposed to love you until death do us part, and I messed up. I messed up bad. And I know you’ve forgiven me, but I can’t forgive myself.”
She paused, debating whether or not she should say what her heart was dying to say.
“Ace, you’ve got to forgive yourself,” Nate whispered, his voice hoarse with feeling.
“I know and I’m trying,” she said, trying to force away the words pounding through her brain, but they tumbled out anyway. “I never stopped loving you, Nate. I lost my way for a while and couldn’t feel anything beyond my pain, but I know now, after spending the last week with you, that my love for you is still here, and stronger than ever.”
He sucked in his breath. “Ace, you mean it?” He cleared his throat.
“Yes, and I don’t care if you don’t love me back yet. It’s okay. I know I hurt you, but I’m willing to wait. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove to you that I will never leave you, ever again.” A sob escaped her throat. She couldn’t stop it or hide it since her hands were tied behind her back. “I’m mostly sorry that I waited until we were tied up under the town hall, destined to be killed, to tell you the truth, to tell you what I’ve been feeling since the moment you asked me to dance.”
“The town hall? Did you just say we were under the town hall?”
Ana’s eyes flew open and she couldn’t help the huge grin that grew on her face as she looked around. It was the smells that had reminded her of the time when she and her sisters were young, and they would come down here to play and hide from bullies and then later from boys, until they started bringing boys down here to kiss. “Yes, that’s exactly where we are.” She knew that there wasn’t much space above them because that was the floor on the main level of city hall. They were under the crawl space, which existed because part of Elsa River ran underneath. When the castle was now town hall was first built, they hadn’t accounted for spring runoff and the main floor flooded. So, they had to rebuild the whole thing and added the crawl space. Later, the metal support beams were added too. River rock was underneath them, which was why her butt hurt. Sitting on the rocks was very uncomfortable.
She tried to check behind her to verify, but it was too dark to see what she knew was there. “Behind us is a secret entrance into the mayor’s office. It opens between her desk and the back wall.”
“And you love me?” Nate asked, changing the subject.
Ana laughed, surprised she felt a jolt of happiness in their predicament. “More than ever.”
“I love you, too.” She heard the smile in his voice.
She wished she could see his face, the angle of his jaw, and the way his mouth moved when he spoke, but it was too dark. “I would kiss you now, except we’re tied up and might die.” The reality of their situation filled her mind.
“Oh, there will be kissing. Just wait.” Nate grunted as he spoke.
Her heart jumped at the prospect of kissing him—really kissing him and not just a peck on the lips. But she was distracted because he was making funny noises. “What are you doing?” She figured he was tied to another of the poles that connected to the beams used to support the foundation of the city building.
He continued to grunt until she felt his foot touch her leg. “I put my pocketknife in my boot to keep it safe. I didn’t want it to fall out of my pocket when I was ice skating.”
“Oh, awesome.” Ana tried to reach her hands toward him, but they were tight against the pole. “Dang it, I can’t reach.”
“Let me see if I can channel my inner Pilates instructor and stretch.” He chuckled and grunted at the same time.
“When did you start doing Pilates?” That was a new development.
“About a year ago. It’s done wonders for my stretch. You should see the way I’m contorted right now. I’m practically laying on my hands so that I can reach you.”
“That doesn’t sound comfortable,” she said, reaching out her hands.
“It isn’t, but it’ll be worth it if you can get the pocketknife.” His booted foot touched against her hands.
“I can feel your boot. Which side is it on?” She tried to feel for a pocket, but all she felt was the zipper and the boots.
“It’s on the other side,” he said, breathing sporadically.
“Okay. Hang on.” She went to the other side. It was toward the back and the rocks they were sitting on dug into her fingers, but she couldn’t stop. She had to get to that knife.
“You can do it, Ace. I believe in you.” He sounded winded and in pain.
She refused to let him down. Grunting and contorting her body and her hands to find the knife. Finally, she heard the rip of the Velcro, reached inside, and put two fingers around the knife. “I’ve got it,” she said. Her hands were cold, making them stiff and hard to move.
“Good. Now hang onto it tightly.”
“I will never let it go.” She flicked open one of the tools, but it poked her in the fingers. “Ouch, I think I just found the corkscrew.”
“Try again, Ace. It’s okay. The blade will be on the other side of the corkscrew.”
She felt on the other side and flicked another tool open. She touched it. “It’s the blade. I got it.” She sighed and sobbed and laughed at the same time.
“Good. Now press it into the rope. You can do it.”
She heard the urgency in his voice as she began to work on the rope, but felt the knife drop. No, she thought. She had failed again. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks and she fought against the sounds of her crying.
“What’s wrong? What’s the matter?” Nate asked. She heard his worry.
Resting her head against the pole, she blurted, “I—it’s just—” She closed her eyes, wishing and hoping that somehow she could reach the knife. And suddenly it was in her hands. Like it never left. With her hands tied together she couldn’t get a good grip to push the sharp edge into the rope, but after a few traumatizing seconds, she felt the rope begin to fray. “I’m cutting the rope, Nate,” she said. Excitement and wonder giving her a buzz. “Almost got it.” The rope popped and loosened. With a groan she pulled her ar
ms apart and brought them in front of her, rubbing at her wrists. “I’m free and heading over to you.” She reached out in front of her, until she felt him.
He’d pushed himself back up into a sitting position. Ignoring the pounding of her head, she sawed with all of her might until the rope around his wrists separated.
“You did it, you amazing, beautiful, incredible woman.” He pulled her onto his lap, kissing her soundly on the mouth. She was surprised at first, then she wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss with all of her pent-up love and longing as he deepened their kiss.
After several long moments, they stopped. She could make out the outline of his face. “Why did you ask me to dance at the ball?”
“That’s simple,” he said, readjusting her on his lap. “You were the most beautiful woman in the room.”
She leaned in, hoping to kiss him again, but her lips found his chin.
They chuckled.
“Let’s get out of here. Do you know the way?” Nate took her hand.
Her face turned red as she remembered the times she’d been down here with high school boys. “Remind me to tell you some stories another time.” She tucked his knife into her pocket, squeezed his hand and carefully stood, but kept herself bent over. “The ceiling is really low. Be careful.”
“I can feel the ceiling with my free hand. Glad you said something.”
“Gotta protect Captain Handsome,” she said. Heat crept over her face. She couldn’t believe she said that out loud.
“Captain Handsome, huh? I like the sound of that. I might have to leak that to the press. Make Bryant jealous. The press can spin it, ‘Out with Captain America and in with Captain Handsome.” He laughed. “That’ll totally mess with his head.”
Ana snorted, tugging him slightly so that they could escape their confinement.
“I thought we would go through the secret passage?” Nate asked.
“We’re avoiding the bad guys. This way will be safer.” She crouch-walked her way out. The closer she got to freedom, the lighter it became. She glanced back and saw he was crawling, a pained expression on his face. The rocks on his hands and knees couldn’t feel good.
Iced Raspberry Cookies and a Curse Page 9
