Secrets of Redemption Box Set

by Michele Pariza Wacek

Barbara shifted her weight from one foot to the next. “Yeah. It was one of the last conversations I had with her. She told me she had met you and how nice you were, and how you were going to help her out.” She raised her gaze to look me in the eye. “I’ll be honest. There were a lot of things I didn’t see eye to eye on with my mother. I wanted her to move closer to me, so I could help her. That didn’t happen. I wanted her to get a second opinion on her medical conditions. That didn’t happen. And I most certainly didn’t believe in your aunt’s teas. But, my mom did, and it made her so happy that you were living in Charlie’s house and willing to help her out. I can’t believe you would take the time to make her the tea and bring it over to her only to do her harm.”

  I was touched. “Thank you,” I said again with sincerity.

  She smiled briefly. “What I’m trying to say is I’m sorry I was so rude when you came out to the house the other day.”

  “You don’t have to apologize,” I said. “Your mother just died. I get it.”

  Barbara’s smile turned to embarrassment, and she went back to staring at her feet. “Still. It wasn’t right.” She paused and raised her head to look around. “Are you still planning on staying to help with the search?”

  “I don’t know,” I said as I looked around at the crowd. It had mostly dispersed after Louise and Gina left, but I could still feel eyes watching me. “It doesn’t feel like I’m particularly wanted. And the last thing I want to do is make things worse.”

  “You should stay.” She reached out to squeeze my arm. “I know there’s a good turnout but we really can use the help.”

  “I’m happy to do whatever is most helpful for Brittany.”

  A couple of kids chasing each other ran past us, the boy nearly running into Barbara. “Hey Joe, slow down,” Barbara said, although her tone was much warmer than her words. “Save some of that energy for finding Brittany.”

  Joe glanced up, a hunk of brown hair falling into his eyes. It was the boy I had seen earlier with the little girl, presumably his sister. “Yes ma’am,” he muttered. “Sorry.” He slunk away.

  I blinked, trying to place him, when it finally hit me—he had been playing in the backyard where Bear lived when I visited Pat.

  “He lives near Pat, doesn’t he?” I asked.

  “Yeah. I’m not surprised the family is here helping,” Barbara said, shading her eyes with her hands. “Alice, their mom, is volunteering.” Barbara pointed to the harried-looking woman behind the rectangle table. As I watched, she shouted something to her kids before going back to handing a flyer to a middle-aged man with a large beer gut. “They were neighbors, after all.”

  I blinked, confused. “Neighbors? Whose neighbors?”

  “Why, Brittany’s of course. They were all neighbors. Brittany’s family, Pat, and Alice’s family.”

  Chapter 26

  For a moment, I could only stare at Barbara, trying to sort out what she had just told me.

  Brittany lived by Pat? And Bear?

  The devil got him.

  Was it a coincidence? Or was something else going on?

  Pieces started dropping into place in my head, and I suddenly knew I needed to find Daniel.

  I quickly made my excuses to Barbara and headed back toward the church. I wasn’t sure where he would be, but I figured that would be the best place to start looking.

  Luckily, he was in the parking lot, talking to a twenty-something dark-haired man with tattoos covering both of his exposed arms. When he saw me, something unreadable flickered across his face but it was gone so quickly I thought maybe I imagined it. Daniel said one last thing to the tattooed man before heading over to me.

  “What is it?” His voice was professional but a little abrupt. I wondered if I had caught him at a bad time. Maybe I should have waited.

  “Do you have a minute?”

  He adjusted his dark glasses so I couldn’t even get a peek at his eyes. “Is it important?”

  “It might be.”

  He paused and looked around, as if to see if anyone needed him, before turning back to me. “Okay, I can probably spare a minute. What is it?” He folded his arms and stared at me, clearly impatient. I could tell I’d better make it fast.

  “Did you know Brittany was Pat’s neighbor?”

  He gave me a blank look. “That’s what you want to talk to me about?”

  “Have you considered what that might mean?”

  He paused, folding his arms across his chest, his shirt damp with sweat. “Go on.”

  “Brittany was also neighbors with the family who lost Bear.”

  He frowned, his expression shifting. I could almost see the wheels starting to turn. “Keep going.”

  “The devil,” I said. “Remember what Pat said about seeing the devil? About the devil killing Bear?”

  “Hang on a minute. Are you thinking Brittany may have been stalked?” he asked slowly. “That she was taken deliberately? Pre-meditated? And, whoever was stalking her did something to Bear?”

  “Yes, that’s it,” I said excitedly. “Did you ever find your Peeping Tom?”

  “No, but that may not even be related,” Daniel said, a slight frown on his face as he put the pieces of this new theory together.

  “But it could be,” I pressed. “And what if it is? What if whoever was hanging around Pat and Brittany’s house was also hanging around my house? What if there is a link between Jessica and Brittany? And what if that link is buried somewhere in my missing memories?”

  “That’s a lot of ‘what ifs,’” Daniel said. “You’re leaping to a lot of conclusions.”

  “But it’s worth looking into. Right?”

  Daniel tilted his head, like he was acknowledging the point. “Yes. However, the problem is, we’re spread pretty thin right now. Between all this,” he waved his arms toward the search parties, “and the officers checking on every store that sells the particular type of birthday candle Brittany was after, it’s tight. But yes, it’s definitely worth looking into.”

  An idea flashed in my head right then, and it was the perfect way for me to kill two birds with one stone. “Let me help,” I said impulsively.

  He shot me a look. “We’ll handle it.”

  “You haven’t even heard my offer.”

  “I don’t need to,” Daniel said, turning away. “If fact, I should get back to work.”

  “You said you’re stretched thin,” I said quickly before I completely lost him. “You need all the help you can get.”

  “Absolutely not,” he said firmly, not even looking at me as he strode away. “End of discussion.”

  “I’m not offering to help you investigate Brittany,” I said, hurrying after him. “Just hold on for a minute. Let me see Jessica’s file.”

  “Jessica’s file?” His voice was full of disbelief. “How is that going to help anything?”

  “Maybe it will trigger my memory.”

  Finally, he stopped. He took off his sunglasses to wipe the sweat off his face, clearly exasperated with me. “Christ, I can’t deal with this right now.” His cell phone beeped, and he pulled it out of his pocket.

  “Honestly, I’m not trying to make things worse for you,” I said. “I want to help.”

  He read the message and sighed. “Becca, I know you’re trying to help. I do. I’m just not as convinced as you are that your lost Jessica memories are going to help us find Brittany.”

  “It’s worth a shot though.”

  “Maybe.” He started typing on his phone. “Or maybe it’s a big distraction. Look, I have to go. Let me think about this. Okay?”

  That seemed to be the best I was going to get at the moment. “Okay. Thanks, Daniel.”

  He nodded as he walked away, already sucked into his phone.

  I wiped the sweat off my forehead and pondered my next move. Should I go back and joi
n the search? Or was my presence simply going to cause more issues? God, why did my trying to help have to turn into a “thing”? Why did everything I involved myself in end up so complicated in this town? And what might that mean when it comes to starting a business here? Maybe this was a sign I should just pack it up and go back to New York ...

  “You never told me your name.”

  Startled, I jumped before whirling around, my hand on my chest. “You scared me.”

  A man was standing there, wearing faded, tight jeans, a tight white tee shirt that clearly showed off his well-developed muscles and a cowboy hat. He gave me a rakish grin.

  “Who ...?” I started to say, but then he tipped his hat back and I saw those high cheekbones and beautiful mouth—the cowboy from the bar. “Oh, it’s you.” Great. One more thing I didn’t need today.

  His grin widened. “Why, that’s not very friendly, ma’am.” Now that I was looking at him under a bright sun, I could see that his dark eyes were actually more hazel.

  “Neither is stalking,” I muttered.

  He took a step closer. “Didn’t hear you.”

  “Never mind,” I said, suddenly realizing I was more alone with this cowboy than I liked. There was a group of people by the church, but they were pretty far away, and their backs were to me, too. Would they hear me if I screamed? I edged my way toward them, trying to discreetly circle the cowboy.

  He tracked along with me. “Was that the husband? Or the boyfriend?”

  I gave him a blank look. “Excuse me?”

  He stuck his thumb in the general direction of where Daniel had been. “The guy you were just talking to.”

  I stared at him. “You are stalking me.”

  He backed up a step, holding his hands out. “I was just heading over to help with the search. Couldn’t help but notice you two together. And,” here he grinned again, “as I’m new to Redemption, I don’t know all that many people yet. Besides, how could I ever forget such a pretty face?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh, save it.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “What? You don’t realize how beautiful you are?” He sounded mystified.

  “If you’re here to help, let’s go help,” I said, picking up my pace.

  “Lead the way,” he replied, falling into step next to me. I could smell his cologne, old Spice, mixed with something else—maybe a hint of chewing tobacco. Whatever it was, it was very masculine. “So, you didn’t answer my question.”

  I eyed him carefully as he easily matched my speed, his stride loose and easy. “Which one?”

  That made him grin again. “I guess all of them. But I’m talking about the boyfriend or husband one right now.”

  “None of your business.”

  He laughed. “Oh, one of those relationships. Good to know.”

  I was kicking myself for walking right into that one when I heard someone call my name. It was Daniel, standing by the side of the church. He didn’t look very happy. “Can I have a word?”

  “Becca,” the cowboy mused. “It suits you.”

  Great. Now the cowboy knew my name and I still didn’t know his. I glared at him.

  He just grinned. “I guess I’ll go help with the search by myself.” He took a few steps before calling over his shoulder. “The name is JD. Don’t ever let it be said that I don’t keep my promises.” He loped off toward the search, hands stuffed in his pockets, whistling.

  God, he was annoying. But at least he was gone.

  I approached Daniel who was busy glowering at me in the shade of the church. A cold knot started tightening in my stomach. Oh no, was there bad news? “What? Did something happen?” Although his uniform wasn’t nearly as tight as JD’s getup, it still clearly showed off his broad chest and well-defined arms.

  His frown deepened, which brought out a hint of stubble I hadn’t noticed before. I wondered how long it had been since he last shaved.

  “Who was that?”

  I looked at him in surprise. “Who? You mean JD?” Is he jealous? Is that what this is about?

  Daniel pulled a notebook out of his pocket. “What’s his last name?”

  “I haven’t a clue.”

  Daniel lowered the notebook. “Why don’t you know?”

  “Because he didn’t tell me.”

  “Did you ask?”

  “Why would I ask?”

  Daniel shut his notebook with more force than necessary. “Have you lost your mind? A teenager has disappeared, presumably having been taken by someone, and you’re hanging out with a stranger?”

  I drew myself up. “I am hardly ‘hanging out’ with him.”

  “You were at the bar with him.”

  “I wasn’t at the bar with him. He sat down next to me. Uninvited, I might add.” I paused to narrow my eyes at Daniel. “Just like a certain cop I know who also sat down next to me that night.”

  Daniel ignored the pointed jab. “You know his first name.”

  “Because he just told me,” I said. “Like two minutes ago.”

  “Becca, you have to be smarter,” he said. “I can’t always be around to help if something happens.”

  I lifted my chin higher. “I never asked you to protect me,” I said. Even though I too had thought being alone with JD wasn’t a smart idea, I was still annoyed. Daniel was treating me like a child. Did he really think I was that stupid? “I can take care of myself.”

  “Doesn’t look like it from this angle.”

  I gritted my teeth. “Don’t you have a missing teenager to find? Maybe focus on that and don’t worry so much about what I’m doing.” I jerked away before he could answer and headed toward the crowd.

  I barely noticed the people around me as I stalked away, just missing slamming into a heavy-set man with a beer gut eating a cookie. I stopped, breathing hard. I had to be more careful.

  Standing in the crowd, it felt even more humid, if that was possible. I pulled at my sweaty yellow tank top, trying to cool off, while I thought about my next move. Since I was still here, it made sense to join the search. I turned to head toward the table where they appeared to be coordinating volunteers when I saw the cowboy hat. Oh no. I wanted no part of JD. How could I make sure I wasn’t in the same search group as him? Maybe if I went to the other end of the table.

  But, when I started to weave my way through the crowd to that end, I saw Gwyn standing in a small group with Celia and Ellen. All three of them were staring at me. As usual Gwyn, with her perfectly styled white-blonde hair, looked like she had just stepped off the pages of a magazine in a cool, cucumber-green blouse and white shorts (who wears white shorts to a search, anyway?).

  I paused and briefly closed my eyes. How could this be? How could Gwyn be friends with both Celia (who couldn’t seem to stand me) and Nurse Ellen—the nurse who tormented me when I was hospitalized? Could this day get any worse? Maybe I should just go home.

  When I opened my eyes, I saw Gwyn quickly look away. Was that a sheen of tears in her eyes? Celia stepped forward and put her arm around her before looking at me with barely concealed disgust. Her expression was clear. How could you steal another woman’s fiancé?

  I wanted to scream. I didn’t steal him. I wasn’t even going to date him! I didn’t have anything to do with him breaking up with you.

  But, was that true? If I hadn’t come back, would he have married Gwyn and lived happily ever after?

  I turned and started walking blindly away. I had no idea where I was going but it felt like everywhere I went, there were eyes watching me, judging me.

  I felt like I was suffocating. All these hot, sweaty bodies pressed against me. All these people staring at me, talking about me behind my back. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. How could I be of any help to Brittany like this? I couldn’t even help myself. Louise was right. I was a distraction. The best thing I could do for everyone wa
s to go home.

  I pulled my phone out to text Mia. I’m not feeling well. I think I need to go home.

  As I waited for an answer, I looked around, pressing my phone against my chest. What do I do about Chrissy? Should I look for her?

  Mia’s response came quickly. Can you drive? Do you need me to help?

  No, I’m fine. I think I just need to get out of the heat.

  Okay, let me know if you need me.

  I could feel hot tears swelling inside me. Mia was so good to me. I didn’t deserve her. Have you seen Chrissy?

  She’s searching, came the reply. She left with a couple of other teenagers. Friends of Brittany’s.

  I started walking toward the car. Okay. See you later.

  Mia replied with the heart icon.

  I lowered my phone and started weaving my way through the crowd. I’d text Chrissy when I got to the car.

  As I plodded toward it, I could feel the heat of eyes following me, burning against my shirt. I purposefully kept my gaze down, wanting to draw as little attention to myself as possible. I was a fool to think I could live in this town. Who would hire me? Who would frequent my business, if I started one? My mother was right—the best thing I could do was sell the house as quickly as possible and move back to New York before my parents changed their minds about helping me.

  But what was I going to do about Chrissy? I had made a commitment to her. Oh God, I felt sick. How could I have been so stupid? I couldn’t even support myself financially, much less a sixteen-year-old. What was I going to do?

  I reached my car without interruption. At least I had that going for me. I slid into the driver’s seat, put on my seat belt, turned the ignition key and burst into tears.

  Chapter 27

  I propped my head up on the kitchen table, a cup of coffee in front of me, and waited for the ibuprofen to kick in.

  Yesterday, after I had gotten myself under control, I drove to the store to pick up a large sausage-and-mushroom pizza, a bottle of wine, potato chips, dip and a gallon of rocky road. All I wanted was to indulge in a big old-fashioned pity party.

  I holed up in my bedroom, glad for the first time that I had moved into the master bedroom. After all, trying to have a proper pity party in the living room wasn’t all that desirable—who knew when Mia or Chrissy might walk in? But, spreading out in my spacious bedroom? Heaven. My adjoining bathroom even has a huge claw-foot tub, so I could soak in peace.