She gets it.
They reached a chain-linked fence and walked alongside it, taking in the view of the wide open field to their left.
“Won’t be long before the fair is up and running,” Grace said.
“Maybe you and Mac could bring his daughter here this summer.”
“I thought you understood why I don’t think I should meet her yet?”
Madigan stopped at the large metal gate that stood between the fairgrounds and the path to the parking lot and turned to her. “You and Mac are getting pretty serious, aren’t you?”
“I guess.”
“Well, I’m not surprised he wants to introduce you to his daughter. I get that you might think it’s early—maybe it is—but maybe he finds it difficult to be as close with you as he wants.”
“How so?”
“I’m sure his daughter is his top priority, and if for some reason he doesn’t think you two get along, or it’s just not the right fit, he’ll know it’s not going to work out.”
“Gee, that sounds swell. Really makes me want to meet her right now.”
Madigan nudged her arm. “But, on the other hand, if you do get along and seem to enjoy each other’s company, and he sees that you care for her, that could be a special thing.”
Grace sighed. “I get what you’re saying. Listen, I have to go, and it’s not just because of kid talk. Call me tonight if you need me, and I’ll make sure to see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” Madigan wrapped her arms around her and squeezed. “Enjoy your night with Mac.”
“Enjoy your night out.”
They let go, and Grace called goodbye to Buster as she walked down the path to the lot.
I can concentrate now that I know she’s going to be okay. Maybe her mom will come around, and maybe she won’t, but Mad knows I’m here for her.
That’s what matters.
Grace walked into the department and found Mac, Tarek, and Malone chatting by Tarek’s workstation.
“Mac just filled us in,” Malone said. “That’s one sick guy.”
“And Raven would have been next,” Tarek said. “Can’t believe it.”
Grace leaned against the table. “I know. I need to book a time to question Gaines for myself.”
“That’s silly,” Malone said. “They have him there, and I’m sure he isn’t busy. You should be able to walk right in and talk to him.”
“If I can’t get access tomorrow, I probably will.”
“Nice.” Malone sauntered off to the coffeemaker.
“So do you think I’ll get to look into the tech?” Tarek asked. “Mac said there was a laptop there, and a burner cell phone that was probably used to contact Tyler Gibbons.”
“I bet they have one of their guys on it already,” Grace said.
Tarek sat at the desk as she pushed off it and joined Mac off to the side.
“There’s still something weird about this. If Gaines wanted to kill Tyler, why not just do it right then and there at his house?” Grace asked.
“He wanted it to look like a suicide, right? Or at the very least an accident. It’s what he did to Edgar.”
She nodded, recalling his words.
Charles thought he could guilt them into confessing. Leave his daughter’s items around, and they’d know whom they belonged to. Only Detective Newcomb would have received a picture of Donelle. Only he’d have a real chance at knowing what the other items were about.
“I have to debrief Banning, and then we can go,” she said.
“Okay, sounds good. We can drop your car off at your place; you can grab your things, and then come stay for the night. Maybe even stay the next day and meet Kenzie.”
She pressed her lips together and stared at him.
He should know if there’s a real future with us before bringing his daughter into it. Maybe Madigan’s right, and he won’t know until I meet her.
“You really don’t think it’s too soon?”
“I don’t.” He rested his hands on his hips. “I take everything regarding my daughter seriously, and I wouldn’t do something that would hurt her.”
“No, of course not,” she said. Malone stared at them from the corner with the coffee. “Can we discuss this after?”
“Having a lovers’ quarrel?” Malone chuckled before taking a sip of his coffee, his eyes smiling at them over the mug.
“Don’t start, Malone,” Mac said in a deep voice.
“What?” Malone chuckled and turned to Tarek, but he had continued typing away at his desk.
“Sheppard?” A deep voice called from the hallway, and Banning walked around the corner. “Sheppard, good. I’ll see you in my office now.”
Did he hear what Malone said? Does he think we aren’t taking the job seriously? Are we in trouble?
Banning turned back down the hall.
“Hey,” Mac whispered, “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s okay. You mind waiting for me to be done with Banning?”
He shook his head, and she followed Banning down the hall, into his office.
“Sergeant Colette called me,” he said, plunking down into his seat. She rolled her eyes. “I know. Listen, I’m about done with whatever’s going on with you two, but in this case, he’s even bullying me away from the Gaines investigation.”
“You spoke about Gaines?”
“He told me you’ll have to set up a meeting through him to talk to Gaines. He also wanted me to be there. He said since it involves an investigation in Tall Pines, I should be there, too.” He shook his head and pulled his chair up to the desk. “He might as well have come right out and said he doesn’t think you’ll get the job done.”
“I don’t know why he didn’t.”
“Well, I’m beginning to have the same question.”
“Chief—it was my investigation and visit to ask Gaines questions that led to the findings in his basement.”
“I know, but you need to close the Gibbons case, and this will prolong it because Colette wants to mess with you. Doesn’t care that it’s an inconvenience to me. Mr. Gibbons called. They want to know what happened to their son. All this about Gaines will be in the Amherst news soon if Colette has anything to do with it. It’s a big mess, and you need to wrap this up. Call Colette. Get the interrogation time with Gaines. Then come back with some answers so we can put this to bed.”
“Yes sir.”
As if I haven’t been trying to do all of this from the start.
“And Sheppard? Keep your personal life out of here.”
I knew this would happen. I knew he heard all that—probably a lot more, too.
She turned away, hiding her hot cheeks.
“Yes, sir. I will.” She turned and left the office, sneering at Malone as she passed him.
Just have to prove them wrong.
“Ready to go?” Mac asked.
She nodded without stopping, and he followed behind her.
Thirty-Three
“Twelve-fifty.” The cab driver handed Madigan the debit machine, and she paid for her ride.
The bulb-style outdoor lights turned on in the distance, surrounding Roy’s deck overlooking the coast, reflecting off the glass window of the car.
I need this night to just take my mind off of everything.
“Thank you.” Madigan handed the machine back and slipped out of the cab.
She fussed with her frizzy hair as she walked to the front doors, the gravel of the lot crunching under her ankle boots with each step until she opened the door.
“Hey, Knox,” Joe, one of the regulars called to her, and a few others shouted hello.
She smiled, waving back to them and stepped into a hug from Roy.
“Knox, we miss ya,” he said. “How’ve ya been?”
“Not bad.”
“Cindy’s at the bar if you wanna say hello. She sure misses you at the paper too.”
“Will do.” She scanned the crowd, looking for Raven and Melanie.
“You go on up t
here and get your first drink on the house, okay?” Roy said. “After all, it’s practically your house too.”
She gave him another squeeze, welcoming the warmth, and walked through a small crowd toward the bar.
How is the man I disappointed, who had to fire me, more loving and welcoming than the people who’ve been in parental roles to me?
“Madigan,” Cindy said, her quiet voice just above a whisper over the loud music. She smiled and waved her over to the bar, and Dana stood behind it. “Hey, what’ll ya have?”
“Rum and coke, please,” Madigan said, “with some cherries?”
“Comin’ right up.”
“How’ve you been, Cin?”
“Great,” she said, a permanent grin on her face as she turned from Madigan to stare at Roy across the room. “He’s been so good to me, you know. I was sick, off work for two whole weeks, and he was right there for me the whole time. Always bringing me soup, medicine, videos of cute cats doing cute things. I’m a lucky woman.”
“And he’s a lucky man.” Madigan leaned against the bar.
“Take a seat.” Cindy patted the stool beside her.
“I’m actually here to meet some people, but I don’t see them yet.” She scanned the bar once again. “I should probably check the patio once my drink is ready.”
“Sure, sure.” Cindy crossed her legs and leaned against the bar. “What have you been up to lately?”
She’s so sweet. She knows I was fired and didn’t specifically ask what I was doing for work, knowing it could be a sore spot.
“I’m actually a P.I. now.”
Although this last case didn’t get solved by me, the investigator.
“A private investigator?” Cindy opened her eyes wide. “Really? Roy didn’t tell me that.”
“Roy doesn’t know.”
“Roy doesn’t know what?” Dana asked and set her drink on the bar.
“Madigan’s a P.I.” Cindy leaned in toward Madigan. “That’s not supposed to be a secret, is it? Oh, have I put my foot in my mouth?”
“No.” Madigan squeezed her arm. “Not a secret.”
Just not something I can be proud of myself for lately.
“I was one of her first clients.” Dana beamed. “And she probably saved my son’s life.”
Madigan waved her off as Cindy’s eyes opened wide.
“Not exaggerating,” Dana said as another patron waved her over and she left to tend to them.
“Well, isn’t that something,” Cindy muttered to herself.
Madigan took a sip of her cold drink as Cindy leaned in to be heard over the music. “It seems perfect for you. You’ve always been passionate about helping people. You’re going to do more with this than you could have at the paper, you know that? You weren’t valued there, but what Dana just said? You be proud, girl. You’re making a real difference.”
Cindy grabbed her shoulder and kissed the side of her head over her hair as Madigan’s eyes teared up and the simple kindness overwhelmed her.
She pulled away and cleared her throat. “Thanks, Cin.”
I needed that more than you could know.
“Madigan?” Melanie called to her from the patio door. She walked into the bar toward her alone. “I’ve been waiting outside.”
“Hey, is Raven here yet?”
She shook her head. “No. I came in to look for her. Just going to do a lap and then check the parking lot to make sure.”
Madigan turned back to Cindy with an unsettled feeling in her chest.
“Any special man in your life?” Cindy asked.
“No, not for a while now.” Madigan grabbed her phone from her bag and tapped Raven’s name. “I haven’t had the time.”
“Oh, I understand,” Cindy started and said something else as Madigan typed.
Hey, at the bar with Melanie. You on your way?
She sent the text as Melanie pushed through the front doors and turned her attention back to Cindy.
“…and all in good time. That’s what I say.”
Madigan returned a smile to Cindy and took another sip of her drink as Roy joined them.
“How are my lovely ladies doing?” He wrapped each of his arms around their shoulders.
“Oh, it’s been so good catching up,” Cindy said.
“Dana,” Roy called as Melanie walked through the front door again. “You didn’t charge Knox for that, did ya?”
“No, sir!” Dana called back with a smile as Melanie approached the bar.
“Her car’s not out there,” she said.
“I just texted her.”
“Me too, while I was outside.”
Roy and Cindy began a conversation of their own as Madigan stepped away from the bar with Melanie.
“She told me she was taking a power nap,” Madigan said. “Maybe she’s sleeping? She can finally sleep now that the person who was leaving her all those things was caught.”
“They were?”
“Yeah. Maybe I should call her.”
“I will.” Melanie grabbed her phone. “Let’s go outside.”
Madigan followed her to the front and kept her eyes on the entrance to the lot as Melanie waited on the phone.
“No answer. She should have heard that. Should we wait? Maybe she’s just waking up? Or showering?”
“Could be…” The flutter fell from her chest to the pit of her stomach as they turned to each other. “I’ve been assured whoever was leaving her those things was caught.”
“But it doesn’t feel right, does it?”
Madigan shook her head.
“Let’s take my car.”
She followed Melanie to her car and took her phone out again.
We’re coming to your place to make sure you’re okay. Be there soon.
She sent the text and pressed the call button, putting it on speakerphone. It rang several times before sending her to the answering service, and she hung up.
“I have a bad feeling,” Madigan muttered.
“I thought she was coming with you,” Melanie said. “That you were watching out for her.”
“I was. She told me to take a break, and after I found out the guy was caught—”
“What guy?”
“I don’t know. My sister told me. She’s working on the case—”
“And she knows for sure it was this guy?”
“Yes.”
I think so.
Melanie sped down Main Street, rolling the windows down, and Madigan’s hair blew in all directions.
Maybe I should call Grace.
“Maybe we’re overreacting,” Melanie said.
Madigan gripped the phone tightly as they drove closer to the west end, and in the distance to the right, smoke billowed above Raven’s subdivision.
“What is that?” Melanie asked.
Madigan squinted as they drove over a small incline in the road, and her heart raced as flames flickered below the smoke.
“Fire.”
Mac inserted the key into the lock and twisted, opening the front door to his apartment in one smooth motion. He flicked the light switch on, illuminating an all-gray living room with a couch parallel to a TV on the opposite wall, and a sliding door to a balcony on the side.
Grace walked in behind him and turned to face a small kitchen on the right. “This is nice.”
“It’s small, I know.”
“It’s a two-bedroom, right?”
“Yeah.” He set his keys on the kitchen counter. “One has always been for Kenzie, even though she’s only here every other weekend.” He flipped the light switch and it shone against the stainless-steel appliances, including the fridge with several pictures hung by black magnets.
“Those are by Kenzie,” he said, smiling and admiring them.
“Oh? I thought you might have been a secret artist. Thanks for clearing that up.” She smirked, and he grinned, walking toward her slowly.
He kissed her softly and pulled away, still grinning. “I’ve thought about this for a wh
ile. Having you here.”
“I’ve wondered about your place for a while. It’s clean, nice—why didn’t you ask me over sooner?”
He shrugged. “You seemed comfortable at your place, and it was nice getting to know your routine, spend some time with Waffles, and then your sister.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close.
“It was nice,” she said and sighed, staring up at him. “But this is too.”
He nodded. “What do you want to do on your first night here?”
“Forget about work,” she huffed. “Did you have anything planned for us?”
He swayed her from side to side. “I thought maybe we could order in and eat on the balcony.”
“That sounds nice. Do you do that often?”
“Never.” He laughed and as it faded, he stared down at her longingly. “But it’s something I want to do with you.”
“Ah.” She looked down at his chest and undid the top button of his shirt.
“Chinese. Some white wine. A moonlit dinner,” he whispered as she undid the next button.
“I love it,” she whispered. “But there’s something I’d like to do first.”
“Oh yeah?”
She looked up at him, and he grinned. “What’s that?” he asked.
“I’d like to see your bedroom,” she whispered, then kissed him as her phone vibrated in her pocket before ringing.
Their lips locked as the ringing got louder, until Grace pulled away. “Sorry,” she whispered as she pulled out her phone. “It’s Madigan.”
He stepped back, running his finger over his bottom lip, still smiling as she answered.
“Hey, can this—”
“It’s Raven,” Madigan said in a shaky voice. “Her house. It’s on fire.”
“What? Are you there?”
“Almost. A firetruck just passed us.”
Keep calm. Keep her calm.
“Good. That means help is on the way.”
“I thought you said you caught him.”
Grace frowned. “We did. Are you sure it’s her house?”
Could it be a neighbour’s? An accident? Gaines is behind bars.
“We think so.”
“We?”
“Melanie’s with me. Raven didn’t show for drinks. Can you just come?”
The One Who Watches Page 18