Danger Zone

by Stacy Claflin

  “I have her.” There was no mistaking the bite to her tone. “Can you get Zander cleaned up?”

  Zander was spreading spaghetti sauce across his face and laughing.

  Alex turned to answer Zoey, but she was already out of the room. He definitely wasn’t imagining her new attitude. By the time he got Zander and the high chair clean, everyone else had tidied the kitchen and bolted.

  He held the tyke on his hip. “Looks like it’s just you and me, kid.”

  “Dada!” Zander grabbed some hair and planted a slobbery kiss on Alex’s cheek.

  His heart warmed. “You up for visiting Grandma and Grandpa?”

  He babbled and yanked again on Alex’s hair. Alex loosened his grip and headed next door. In between the two houses, a text came in. Hopefully it was Zoey or Ariana.

  It was Stalker420.

  The message simply read: You still haven’t taken down your blog.

  “Can’t get anything past you,” Alex muttered. “Go find someone else to bother. I have too many other problems to deal with.” Then a thought struck him and he went to his contacts list and called Sergeant Wu.

  “What do you need, Mercer? I don’t have anything on the mummy, if that’s what you want to know. We’re still waiting to hear from Seattle.”

  “I’m not calling about that. I was wondering if you could look into that guy sending me messages again.”

  “Is he back to threatening you?”

  “Basically.”

  “I couldn’t find anything last time, but I’ll try again. Send me over what you’ve got, and I’ll look into it.”

  “I appreciate it. See you tomorrow.” Alex ended the call and took a deep breath. Between his heckler and his family issues, he was ready for that vacation now more than ever.

  Discuss

  Alex plopped down in the chair across from Nick and waited for him to get off the phone. He pulled out his phone and checked for about the fortieth time to see if Zoey had responded to the texts he’d sent.

  She hadn’t.

  His heart ached. Maybe she was just busy scheduling more interviews. That had to be it. He hadn’t been able to get much more out of her the night before. After speaking with his parents, he’d returned to the apartment to find her and Laney both sound asleep in the bed. By the time he woke, she and the twins were gone. According to the note tucked under his phone, she’d taken the babies to meet Macy and Robin at a park before the forecasted rain hit.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Nick’s voice brought Alex back to the present.

  He glanced at his friend and shook his head. “You’d need an entire piggy bank at this rate.”

  Nick frowned. “That bad?”

  “Things seem to be going from bad to worse. My mom thinks I should cut back on the overtime. Says that could be why Ari and Zoey are frustrated with me—I’m never home.”

  “Zoey now, too?”

  “She had an interview that didn’t pan out yesterday, and she’s been acting upset with me since then.” Alex fiddled with his phone. “Seems to me, if I work less, it’s just going to put more pressure on her.”

  Nick rose from his chair. “Sounds like we both have complaints to air out. Want to grab some lunch? I hear that new sushi place is good.”

  “I’m up for lunch, but not sushi.”

  “Thought you liked it.” Nick grabbed his coat from the hook.

  Alex got up. “Just not in the mood. How about pizza?”

  “I’m always up for that.” They made light conversation as Nick drove.

  Once they were seated at a booth in the back, Alex asked what was bothering Nick.

  He released a long, drawn-out breath. “I’m having reservations about moving into our new place.”

  “Because of the mummy?”

  “Yeah. What if there are more bodies? I don’t want my kids discovering more of them. I’m already wracked with guilt about Hanna finding the one in the attic. It’s my fault—I should’ve checked everything out more thoroughly before letting anyone else up.”

  Alex sipped his root beer. “What does Genevieve think?”

  “That’s just it.” Nick frowned. “She doesn’t seem to care. Says everything is fine at her parents’ place after discovering all those bodies buried in the yard.”

  “Maybe she’s right.”

  Nick glared at Alex. “You too?”

  “Do the kids seem bothered by it?”

  “Not at all. They think it’s cool. They don’t get the seriousness of it. Someone died in our house.”

  “It could’ve been decades ago.”

  “Like that makes it better?” Nick shook his head. “It could’ve been this past summer. Wu said a body could mummify in just two weeks in an attic if it was hot enough. Remember how hot the summer was?”

  Alex arched a brow. “You’re saying a ninety-year-old senile man killed a girl and carried her up to the attic last summer?”

  “Someone could have. Or he could’ve done it twenty years ago. Either way, my daughter found a dead body, and it’s my fault.”

  Alex shook his head. “Could’ve happened to anyone.”

  “But it didn’t. It was my baby girl who found it.”

  A guy brought over the pizza, and they dug in, listening to the nearby TV show discussing sports scores.

  Alex sat back after his fourth piece. “If we aren’t called out of the station this afternoon, we can look into cold cases. Maybe it’ll make you feel better once the case is solved.”

  Nick shrugged. “Doubt it.”

  “It might. Do we know anything?”

  “She’s about Ava’s size, and she’s been there long enough to collect dust and cobwebs. Sound like any unsolved cases from your blog?”

  “That’s not really much to go on.” Alex finished off his pop.

  “Exactly.”

  “Are you more worried about the fact that a body was in the attic or the fact that you could be living in a murder house?”

  Nick just glared at Alex again.

  “You know what I think?”

  “That I’m moving my family into a murder house?”

  Alex shook his head. “The past is in the past. The old dude you bought it from is dead, and he took everything that happened there with him. You, Genevieve, and the kids have the chance to give the place a fresh start—a new history. You two are the perfect couple, and you can do so much with that property. Don’t let something from so long ago get in the way of that.”

  Nick didn’t say anything.

  “You know I’m right. Fix it up, make it new, make it yours. Leave the past behind.”

  “But that girl…”

  “The mummy?”

  “Yes. She’s been there for who knows how long. She’s part of the history of the place, and there’s no getting around it. It’ll only be worse if we find more.”

  “What if you’re able to solve her case? Then you’ll have changed the legacy of the house. Put the mystery to rest. Given her justice. Right?”

  Nick shrugged. “I suppose.”

  Alex slapped his napkin on the table. “You know I am. Let’s get back to the station and solve the murder. Actually, we don’t even know if it was a crime. What if she accidentally got locked up there and couldn’t get out? Could’ve been a complete accident.”

  “I thought we came here to talk about your problems.”

  “We came here to talk about what’s on both of our minds. And I want to focus on this. We can actually do something about your issue.”

  Nick grimaced. “I wouldn’t say I have an issue.”

  “Your property does. Let’s get to the bottom of it—find out if it was an accident or foul play. If she went missing, let’s give closure to her family. We both know how much they want that, no matter how much time has passed.”

  “You’re right.” Determination filled his eyes. “About all of it. Thanks, Alex. Let’s figure out what happened so we can offer closure to her parents or siblings or whomever has been waiting f
or it.”

  Open

  “Earth to Zoey!”

  Zoey glanced up at Macy, who was waving her hand in between them. “Sorry. What?”

  Macy held her hand up to block the bright afternoon sun. “Want to move to the shade?”

  “Sure.” Zoey got up and pushed the stroller to a bench under some pine trees. Both twins were sleeping, and poor Caden was left to play without his cousins.

  Macy sat with Caden and rocked him. “You haven’t been yourself the last few times we’ve gotten together. Anything you want to talk about?”

  Zoey kept her gaze fixed on some flowers across the park and shrugged. Hiram kissing her had been bothering her ever since it happened, and it only seemed to get worse instead of better the more time passed.

  “You know I won’t judge you,” Macy said. “Best friends for life, right?”

  Zoey nodded and blinked back tears.

  Macy rested a hand on Zoey’s arm. “What’s wrong, Zo?”

  She turned to her lifelong best friend and sister-in-law. “Something happened.”

  Macy’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “I want patient-client confidentiality.”

  “Of course.”

  “I’m serious. You can’t tell anyone.”

  Macy nodded. “That’s what confidentiality means.”

  Zoey took a deep breath and tried to ignore her thundering heart. “You know that job interview I went on?”

  “The one that wasn’t a good fit?”

  “It was more than that.” A lump formed in Zoey’s throat. Her heart threatened to explode out from her chest. She didn’t want to say what happened—she just wanted the entire incident to have never happened.

  “You can trust me.” Macy’s tone was reassuring.

  Zoey took a deep breath. “He kissed me.”

  Macy’s eyes widened. “Who?”

  “The jerk interviewing me!”

  “He kissed you? Like, on the cheek?”

  “No. Like, tongue down my throat.”

  “For real?” Macy’s mouth gaped. “What led up to it?”

  Anger pulsated through Zoey’s body. “He was late, and his assistant kept insisting I drink wine while I waited. I told him I was nursing, and the jerk had the nerve to ask if Hiram was aware of that! I eventually gave in and pretended, but I didn’t drink any. Then when Hiram finally arrived, he sat super close and kept brushing up against me. I did my best to stay professional but left after he kissed me. I should’ve gone before it got to that point, but I kept convincing myself it wasn’t a big deal. That I was misreading him and blowing it out of proportion because of what Dave did to me.”

  “Zoey, it’s not your—”

  “I’m so stupid!” A tear escaped and ran down her face. She didn’t bother wiping it away. “Why didn’t I leave before he did that?”

  Macy grasped Zoey’s shoulders and looked her in the eyes. “It’s not your fault. What he did was wrong. I repeat, it’s not your fault. You did nothing wrong.”

  “I should’ve worn a longer dress. Should have worn less makeup.”

  “No!”

  Zoey jumped at Macy’s harsh tone.

  “Would you listen to yourself? This isn’t you, Zo. You know the kiss wasn’t your fault. It was nothing you did. You could’ve worn a full-out Amish outfit and it wouldn’t have mattered. He’d have still done the same thing.”

  “I’m damaged goods. He probably sensed that a mile away.”

  Macy fumed. “That’s not true.” Her expression softened. “This has set you back. All the progress you made, we’re going to have to work on that again.”

  Zoey shrugged.

  Macy pulled her into an embrace. “Tell me exactly how you’re feeling.”

  “How I’m feeling?” Zoey sat back, a fire raging inside of her. “How do you think I’m feeling? Violated! Stupid! Want me to go on?”

  “Actually, yes.”

  “I’m the world’s biggest fool, Macy. I should’ve seen it coming. The guy was a total creep. I mean, seriously, who pushes wine during an interview? Anyone with half a brain would’ve gotten out of there before Hiram even showed up. The fact that we weren’t meeting in his office should’ve been a huge red flag! The jerk doesn’t even have an office in that building.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Zoey clenched her jaw. “I’ve looked into it. There isn’t anyone in that building named Hiram Ricci. And you know what else?”

  Macy shook her head.

  “His phone and email are both disconnected. He’s unreachable. Unreportable. There’s nothing I can do. Like I said, I’m so stupid!”

  Laney started crying. Zoey unbuckled her and held her close before Zander woke. She continued fussing, so Zoey nursed her.

  “You aren’t stupid,” Macy said.

  “I’m worse than stupid.”

  “Please stop, Zo. Calling yourself names isn’t going to help anything.”

  “You’re right. Nothing is going to help.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong.”

  “Why?” Zoey threw her an exasperated look.

  “You can do a number of things to move on. Just like you were able to move on from your abduction.”

  “Like what?” Zoey interrupted. “What can I do?”

  “Same things as before—keep talking to me, journal, talk to Alex, report it.”

  Zoey bit her tongue.

  “Have you told Alex?” Macy asked.

  She shook her head. “He’ll freak out.”

  “You think he won’t be supportive?”

  “I didn’t say that.” Zoey sighed. “It’ll hurt him. He’ll think I’m an idiot—because I am. I should’ve seen it coming. Left before it got to that point. But I didn’t.”

  “You aren’t an idiot, but you do need to tell Alex. He deserves to know, and he’ll want to support you. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

  Guilt stung. “You’re right about that, but I’m not reporting the incident. You do realize that would be broadcasting my stupidity to all of Alex’s coworkers, right?”

  “No. You’d actually be telling one of his coworkers, who wouldn’t blab about it.”

  “Doesn’t matter, anyway. The man can’t be found. He’s disappeared without a trace.”

  “You do realize I’m a mandated reporter.”

  “Great. If you find him, report him. I’m going to focus on how I should tell my husband and explain why I kept it from him.”

  Zoey’s stomach knotted at the thought of that conversation.

  Close

  Ariana jumped around the corner, and luckily ducked out of sight before Lola saw her. She and Emily expected Ari to join them at the baseball game to watch Neegan Bailey. But what they didn’t—and couldn’t—know was that she was spending time with someone much older and hotter than the first baseman from their grade. It was practically a date, in fact.

  Damon was taking her to the coffee house in his car. And not just any car. He’d told her to look for the cherry-red convertible.

  She hurried to the parking lot and waited in the shade of some cedar trees while the crowd of parents picking up their kids cleared. Dad sent her a text, which she ignored, but that gave her an idea. She went into her settings and turned off her location. The last thing she needed was for her dad, the cop, to ping her phone and show up while she was out with Damon.

  Five more minutes passed with no sign of the car.

  What if Damon forgot? Or worse, never had any intention of picking her up in the first place? What if he and his friends were out of sight, laughing at her right then?

  Her face flamed and she looked around, not seeing anything suspicious. She glanced at the time on her phone. Five more minutes and she’d join her friends in the stands.

  Time dragged on for what felt like forever. She pulled out her phone. Only one minute had passed. One minute.

  She sighed and leaned against a tree trunk, starting to feel like a loser. Why had she believed Damon? He
was probably just seeing how dumb she actually was. And it was totally clear, she was the leading lady in that department.

  Two minutes. She should just go now before rising to the rank of Queen Freak.

  Ariana shoved her phone into her bag and stepped away from the trees.

  A car squealed into the parking lot. Not just any car—a shiny red car with the top down. Damon waved to her and stopped right in front of her. He leaned over and opened the door. “Sorry I’m late. One of my teachers chewed me out, and I couldn’t get away.”

  Ariana sat on the leather seat, closed the door, and buckled in. “You got in trouble?”

  He chuckled. “It happens more than you’d think.”

  Her stomach tingled. Damon was an older bad boy with a convertible. Could this get any better?

  “Coffee house still good?” he asked.

  “Perfect.”

  He winked. “Great. Hold on.” Then he peeled out of the parking lot.

  Ariana laughed.

  “You like that?” He turned and flashed her that heart-stopping smile of his.

  “Yeah!”

  Damon shifted gears and sped through the streets until he pulled into a parking lot of a building tucked behind some large fir trees. He jumped out over his door and opened hers before she had unbuckled. Then he took her hand and helped her out before grabbing his bag and setting the alarm.

  Her pulse raced from his touch. “You don’t want to put the roof up?”

  “Nah.” He shook his head and raked his fingers through his hair. “Anyone goes near it, and the alarm will scare them off. It’s loud enough to wake the dead. I made sure of that.”

  She giggled.

  Damon held the door open for her and marched up to the counter like he owned the place. The barista immediately started flirting with him. She even knew his name.

  Red hot jealousy surged through Ariana. She took a deep breath. Time to chill out. It wasn’t like she owned him, or was even on a real date with him. He was tutoring her for extra credit.

  Damon turned to her. “What do you want?”

  She wasn’t about to admit her parents didn’t like her drinking coffee, especially this late in the day. “I’m not sure.”