6
How did I miss it? Reed wondered for the umpteenth time. He’d been so focused on making a nice breakfast he hadn’t been paying attention. That was a rookie mistake and one he couldn’t let happen again. This woman deserved his protection and he had to keep his marshal hat on at all times.
It was hard though, he admitted to himself. She was sweet and cute and funny. And she was so skittish. But when he cooked for her, she relaxed, and he thoroughly enjoyed watching her eat. He’d never seen anyone so prim and proper eat like Susan did--enjoying every bite.
Aw dang, I did it again! The two seconds he’d spent thinking about Susan were two seconds where he’d let his guard down. If that happened again, he’d have to tell Maggie he couldn’t protect Susan. That admission could cost him his job. “I’d rather lose my job than let anything happen to my witness,” he whispered.
“Are you ready to go to school?” Susan’s voice broke into his reverie, startling him. He turned and looked into her eyes, but he couldn’t tell if she’d heard him talking to himself. He decided the safest course of action was to act like nothing had happened, so he nodded and replied, “I’m ready as I’ll ever be.”
She stopped and looked at him intently, a frown on her face. She set her purse and jacket on the table and walked up to him, her eyes searching his.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Reed,” she said, her voice kind, yet firm. “Neither of us heard a thing. If you’re at fault, then so am I,” she raised her chin and dared him to contradict her.
Again, she’d impressed him. She wasn’t caving in to her fears, so he couldn’t let her see his doubts. “Okay, then, I won’t beat myself up about it,” he told her, crossing his fingers behind his back. He’d say anything to make her feel safe and keep her from looking at him with disappointment.
“Mm hmm,” she replied. She turned and grabbed her things then walked towards the front door. She paused as her hand touched the doorknob. “Did you and Maggie remove the rosemary or is it still there?”
“Maggie took it with her. She decided to see if she could lift any prints or DNA off the leaves or the ribbon they’re tied with.” Her pinched look relaxed and she nodded as she opened the door.
She really is a brave woman, he thought. Most of the time she didn’t even seem scared, but it was the little things that gave her away. He was grateful she trusted him enough to show her fear.
“Okay, class, that’s it for today,” Susan announced. Her words were met with cheers and the rustle of students putting their books away.
“Are we still meeting today?” a quiet voice caught her attention. She turned to look into the cool, green eyes of her student, Mary. “I mean, if you’re too busy . . .” her voice trailed off as she frowned and dropped her eyes.
She reached out and placed her hand on the young woman’s shoulder. “Of course, we’re meeting, Mary. I’m never too busy for you.”
Reed was in the back of the room and he looked up, meeting her eyes. He walked towards them; his long legs stiff from sitting at the desk. “I need to move around a bit and loosen up. I’ll meet you in the break room when you’re done, sis.”
He smiled at Mary who ducked her head and looked away. He met Susan’s eyes and looked at her pointedly, reminding her he’d be keeping an eye on her. She nodded and walked him to the door. She closed the door after him and turned to face her student.
“So, what are we doing today? Did you bring the application forms?” Mary liked to take pictures, and she’d been encouraging the girl to enter her photos in contests. She figured it would help build her confidence and she was so talented; Susan knew she could win.
The girl hesitated. “I know you’re busy, Miss Sinclair. You don’t have to help me. I can figure this out myself.”
“Of course, you can,” Susan shrugged. “But you don’t have to. I’ve been looking forward to seeing which photos you’ve chosen to submit.” She sat down next to Mary and scooted her chair closer so she could see better.
Mary still looked unsure, so she reached over and opened her portfolio. “Oh wow! This one is amazing; you’ve captured the exact moment the sun set behind the library.”
She smiled at her teacher and the sparkle returned to her eyes. They settled in and discussed the pros and cons of each of her photos.
Reed was engrossed in the article on his laptop when he heard someone clear her throat. He looked up and saw it was Susan’s friend, Jenny. He closed the laptop and grinned up at the woman.
“Well now, I can’t believe your sister just left you here, all alone,” she simpered. She fluffed her red hair then placed her hand on her hip, causing her red silk blouse to strain across her chest.
He plastered on a fake smile but wished he didn’t have to waste time talking with the woman. This assignment had been thrown at him last minute and he was reviewing all of the case files and newspaper articles to catch up and see if they’d missed anything. If it had been Brenda, he would have told her he was too busy to talk, but this woman was Susan’s friend, so he figured he should be polite.
“I’m not alone, I’ve got you here to keep me company.” Reed mentally groaned when her cheeks turned pink and her eyes lit up at his words.
He gestured for her to have a seat across the table from him but wasn’t all that surprised when she sat in the chair next to him, then scooted it closer. He was glad he’d had the foresight to close the laptop. It could have been a disaster if Jenny had seen the article and learned Susan’s true identity.
He’d been reading a news article about the attack Susan had witnessed. It detailed the murder and gave an accounting of the murderer’s criminal history. It was clear this guy was dangerous and not the kind to leave any loose strings. Once again, he was amazed by how well she was dealing with everything, all on her own.
He pushed his chair back and rested one foot on his knee, effectively creating a physical barrier between himself and Jenny. He watched her face as she assessed the situation, the left side of her mouth dipping down in irritation. Reed wanted to laugh, but he didn’t want to hurt her feelings, so he sat quietly, waiting for her to speak.
“So, where is your lovely sister this fine afternoon?” she asked. Her voice dripped with contrived interest as she tried to maneuver closer to Reed.
“She had a meeting with one of her students.” He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back in the chair.
“Oh, yes, little Miss Mary.” Reed’s interest was piqued. Jenny’s tone was venomous, and she seemed like she wanted to share, so he decided to encourage her. He might learn something helpful in the process.
“You don’t like Mary?” he asked.
“She’s a drama queen,” Jenny said, rolling her eyes. Her face turned pink as soon as the words were out of her mouth, and she quickly added, “I mean, she lost her mom recently and she’s been having a rough go of it. Susan spends time with her and encourages her photography, but I mean, we all know it’s a waste of time.”
“Really? Why would that be a waste of time?” Reed felt himself getting annoyed, but he wanted to know why she was so willing to write off a child’s future. He smiled slowly at her and raised an eyebrow, his charm effectively flustering the woman. He could see the pulse in her throat speed up as he leaned closer. “Just between the two of us,” he whispered, his voice even deeper and raspier than usual.
“Oh my,” she said, “did it just get hotter in here or what?” She fanned herself furiously for a moment while Reed waited patiently. “Well, the thing is, her daddy killed her ma. Right in front of her. And then she turned on him and told the cops.” Jenny took a breath and leaned towards Reed, lowering her voice as she shared her conclusion. “Coming from a trashy family like that, well, she isn’t going to be going very far, if you know what I mean.”
Reed sat back in his chair slowly, trying very hard to keep his emotions from showing on his face. How dare she! he thought. How dare she talk about the poor girl that way. Reed despised people who goss
iped and acted superior. God didn’t see people that way and Reed believed that God judged people by the way they treated others, not by who they were unfortunate enough to be related to.
But the woman wasn’t done. “I told Susan it was stupid to help that girl, but Susan just kept at it and ignored me.” She sniffed and paused for a moment, waiting for Reed to agree with her. When he didn’t say anything, she narrowed her eyes. “Don’t tell me you agree with your sister?”
“I absolutely agree with my sister,” Reed replied. He stood up slowly and tried to keep from clenching his fists as he looked down into her face. “Everyone is worth helping. It doesn’t matter who their parents were or what they did. What matters is what they do today and how they treat people. I think you might want to take a hard look at yourself before you go around judging others.”
Reed placed his hat on his head, picked up his laptop and walked away as she gaped, her mouth flopping open and shut. As he walked towards Susan’s classroom, he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. People like that made him angry and he was glad he’d been able to tell her what he thought, although he was certain there would be repercussions.
7
“These are really good, Mary.” Susan clapped her hands excitedly. “Your photos capture the subjects perfectly and I think you’ve chosen the best ones to submit. I can’t wait to help you with the essay part on Friday, when we meet again.”
This particular contest required seven photos along with an essay explaining why the photographer chose those photos and what they mean to him or her. Mary had expressed her uncertainty about writing the essay and Susan had offered to help her.
Mary grinned at her teacher and started to say something, but there was a sharp rap at the door and Reed stuck his head in.
“Sorry to interrupt, I just wanted to let you know I’ll be waiting out here in the hallway.”
Mary’s smile turned to a frown. She ducked her head and grabbed the pictures, stuffing them into her backpack. Susan frowned. What is that about? she wondered.
“No worries, Reed, we’re just finishing up here,” she told him, still watching her student’s face. Reed looked at her with a question in his eyes, but she just shook her head at him. He nodded and headed for the back of room, where he usually sat.
“I’m proud of you, Mary,” she said softly.
She looked at her and nodded. “Thanks Miss Sinclair. I’ll see you in the morning.” She picked up her backpack and walked out of the room.
“Was it something I said?” Reed asked, breaking her out of her trance.
“I honestly don’t know,” she replied. “We were doing fine then all of a sudden, she got quiet and withdrew. She’s been going through a lot, but I thought she was getting better.”
“Jenny just told me some of it. That poor girl,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s amazing she’s functioning at all.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Human beings can be amazing, but they can also be horrible.”
“Speaking of horrible, I might have created a situation in the break room.” His voice sounded regretful, but she saw a flash of anger in his eyes and realized that whatever it was, he was still fuming.
“Why don’t you tell me about it over dinner,” she suggested. “I’m famished!”
“That sounds like a plan.” He grinned and she could see some of his tension ease. “What sounds good?”
They discussed their options as they walked to the car and had narrowed it down to Mexican or burgers when Reed suddenly stopped and thrust his arm in front of her. He turned and moved in close to her, his hand reaching into his jacket.
“Stay here and don’t move,” he hissed. His eyes were scanning the parking lot as he pulled his gun out of its holster, holding it down near his thigh. He looked into her eyes and whispered, “I mean it.”
Susan gulped and nodded, then held her breath as he approached her car. He scanned the area around the car, then looked underneath it. He stood up and looked at something on the hood. He pulled a pen from his pocket and poked at something. He looked around again, then motioned for her to join him. She saw him discretely tuck the gun into the waistband of his pants.
Her heart raced and her hands and knees were shaking. She wasn’t sure she wanted to see what he’d found, but she forced herself to move towards him, keeping her eyes on his strong, handsome face for courage. As she passed the driver’s door, she saw something resting on the hood. Reed was alternately watching her and looking around, and when she reached him, he put his hand on her arm.
“I don’t know if we’re being watched or not, so try not to react. Just look down, then get in the car like it’s nothing,” he advised. His voice was low, but she could tell he was angry.
She looked down and saw a piece of paper. She shifted to see it better. It was drawing of a man that looked an awful lot like Reed. The eyes had been scratched out and under the drawing were the words, “He needs to go, now!”
Chills ran down Susan’s spine and she felt sick to her stomach. She felt his hand squeeze her arm and remembered his instructions. She looked up into his eyes and nodded, letting him know she was okay. She got into the driver’s seat and started the car while Reed picked up the paper by the corner, walked around and climbed in the passenger side.
She pulled out of the parking lot and continued towards the center of town. “What do I do now,” she asked. She was acting brave, but her voice quivered, revealing her fear.
“Just keep driving around. I’ll let you know when I’ve determined we’re clear.” He tucked the offensive drawing into his backpack, trying to touch only the edges so he didn’t get his fingerprints all over it.
Susan drove through town, taking some side streets she was familiar with, so she didn’t get herself lost. She drove past one of the restaurants they’d discussed and realized she wasn’t up to eating out. “Can we just go home for dinner?” she asked. “I don’t think I can handle being in public right now.”
“Of course, we can,” he answered. “I’m sure I can find something to whip up. How do you feel about a western omelet? I think you have everything I need.”
Her head whipped around, and she stared at him. “How can you be so calm and act like everything’s normal?” she asked, her voice rising as she started to panic. But his strong hand on her arm calmed her down once again.
She took a deep breath and looked over at Reed. “Okay, I get it. Act normal, don’t fall apart. Until we’re behind closed doors; because once we’re behind closed doors, all bets are off,” she declared.
She heard Reed’s chuckle and gave him a dirty look, but he was looking in the rearview mirror and didn’t see. “Okay. I haven’t seen anyone following us. I think it’s safe to head to your house now.”
Reed had her wait in the car until he signaled her to join him on the porch. “So far, so good,” he told her as she walked up the steps. “Now stay here and I’ll check the inside.”
“I know, I know,” Susan muttered.
He looked down at her and had the strongest urge to pull her into his arms. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to comfort her or himself. He would never admit it, but the image of himself with the eyes scratched out had shaken him to the core. He was supposed to be protecting her, not making things worse.
He walked through each room, hand on his gun, until he was certain they were clear. He walked to the front door and gestured for Susan to come in.
She sighed and headed immediately for the fridge. “I don’t know about you, but I could definitely use a tall, icy glass of lemonade right now.”
“That sounds good. If you don’t mind, though, I’m going to walk around the yard really quick,” he said. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“Say hi to Maggie for me,” Susan said sweetly, turning to smirk at Reed.
“Busted.” Reed looked her in the eye, assessing her emotional state. “I need to let her know what happened, but I don’t want to upset you.”
Susan shrugged. She turned
and poured two glasses of lemonade, adding ice and straws. She set them on the table and sat down, sliding one glass towards him. She looked up at Reed, a determined expression on her face. “I appreciate your consideration, but I’d rather hear what you two have to say than be left in the dark. I’d like to have some input on our next move.”
His admiration for her grew even more. He watched her face as she lifted her drink and placed the straw between her lips. Annoyed with himself for thinking about his witness’s lips, he cleared his throat, sat down at the table and called his partner.
“Hey Maggie, you’re on speaker.” Susan looked at him with her eyebrow raised, but he just shrugged. “It’s a cop thing,” he said. She continued to look at him and he felt his cheeks redden under her scrutiny.
“He’s right, Susan,” Maggie’s voice came from the phone speaker. “That’s what we’re taught to do any time we’re not alone. Don’t take it personal.”
“Mm hm.” her noncommittal reply made him grin.
“Anyhoo, I’m calling because we had another incident and Susan wants to be part of our next step.” He explained about the picture they’d found and how he’d handled it. He took a sip of his lemonade and waited for her to respond, knowing she was considering all the angles.
“That’s an escalation.” She sounded concerned, but also excited. “I think that means we’re on to something. We must have spooked somebody.”
“I thought that, too, at first,” Susan piped in. “But who? This seems out of character for men who kill without remorse. This seems more personal, more emotional.”
He grinned at her and they could hear Maggie chuckle. “I told you she was special, Reed.” She looked up at him, her eyes wide and her cheeks pink.
Murder and a Pinch of Rosemary Page 3
