Vermont Escape

by Marsha R West

  God, he hoped they didn’t want him to kill someone, but he knew himself well enough if they asked him, he’d probably do it to keep his own head. “What’s the favor?”

  “We need you to find an item for us.”

  Whatever they wanted, he’d do his damndest to deliver. He nodded his agreement.

  Cranston’s cold expression filled with contempt, and he popped each knuckle on his hands. “You should find this simple. We believe what we’re after is in Woodstock, Vermont. A place, you’re familiar with.”

  Far from bringing him any comfort, that this guy wanted him to do a task in his hometown made Mitch’s stomach tighten into a ball of nerves. He nearly gagged. But what choice did he have?

  “Sure, what do you need me to do?”

  FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

  Cranston, an impatient bastard, had handed Mitch a ticket for later the same day plus several grand to tide him over. They wanted him to find a flash drive or another type of data storage device. They hadn’t given him much more information. Except they believed Jill Barlow probably had what they wanted.

  She was the woman he’d met at his mother’s Fourth of July celebration. He might’ve been mistaken, but he suspected heat between his big brother and the woman. It’d be interesting to see how this played out. If he could somehow hurt his oh-so-perfect brother at the same time he handled his business...yeah, that’d be damn fine. One thing for certain, he’d do whatever Cranston wanted. The airplane ride between Las Vegas and Hartford hadn’t been too bad. The wind currents made both landings and takeoffs at McCarran International Airport a challenge for anyone with a weak stomach. Not a problem for Mitch Phillips. You couldn’t be a gambler and have anything but cast-iron insides and balls of steel. Mitch prided himself on having both of those.

  When he got to Woodstock, he’d go to the store first. The best place to hide a flash drive would be in the back room. Or maybe the woman’s house. He didn’t know where she lived, but it couldn’t be too far from the store. At the picnic, she’d talked about walking to work.

  Several hours later, he pulled into a parking spot on the corner of Elm and Central Streets. He’d have a long walk, but this time of year finding a space was always a joke. He hated his hometown in the fall. The idiot leaf peepers came from across the country and acted like they’d never seen a tree covered in red before. God, they drove him crazy.

  Maybe he’d get lucky and find the flash drive that Cranston wanted right away. Then he’d take off for parts unknown until the tourists cleared out.

  The large clock on the corner bonged out the quarter hour. The shops stayed open another fifteen minutes. He pushed through the door to Crystal Rainbows. That damned tinkling bell. It always drove him crazy. Shit. The store was busy for this late in the evening.

  “May I help you? Oh, Mitch, hi.”

  He did an automatic sweep of her body. Not exactly hot, but not bad for an older broad. Brown skirt and boots with an orange colored sweater, which displayed a nice pair of knockers.

  “Are you looking for a special gift, Mitch?”

  He pulled himself together. “Yeah, something for Mother’s birthday.” He didn’t remember when that was, but at some point, she’d have a birthday, and he’d need a gift.

  “Let me point you to her favorite artist. I’ve gotten in some new pieces by Andrews. I know she’d love one of these.” She gestured toward several crystal flowers. “I’ve got to help a couple of other customers, and then I’ll be back with you.” She hurried over to another counter. She’d gotten into this whole deal, hadn’t she?

  Smiling at the tourists. Listening to them.

  Seeing to their needs. Ignoring him.

  Like Mother.

  Jerrod had already been in school with friends and activities to keep him busy, when she’d gotten into the whole store thing. Mitch had to hang out in the back room more times than he wanted to remember. Any wonder he had no use for the place?

  At nine, Barlow turned the sign in the window from “Open” to “Closed,” but she had one other person to help. Finally, the customer left, and she turned to him.

  “Now, have you decided on which piece, Mitch?”

  “These are nice, but I need to look around some more.”

  “Well, help yourself. I have a few things to do before I can leave. Let me know if you make up your mind before I’m finished.” She walked toward the back room.

  Mitch ambled around behind the counters, checking the sliding doors on them. Locked like when his mother ran the store. If they’d been open, he could’ve pocketed a few things and made himself some money on the side. Nothing worked out for him.

  He crept toward the back room, sticking his head around the door to see what Barlow was doing. She sat at the desk filing what appeared to be receipts. He slid up behind her. “Can’t make up my—”

  “Oh, my God. You startled me.”

  She’d jumped right out of the chair. Mitch swallowed a laugh.

  She stood with a hand to her chest, which heaved in short breaths. “I’m sorry, Mitch. I got caught up in the details and forgot you were here.”

  Yeah, good ol’ Mom all over again. “No sweat. Decided not to get anything tonight. I’ll probably be back later for one of those crystal flowers.”

  “Okay. Sally’s usually here with me in the evenings. She had a cold coming on, and I convinced her to leave earlier than usual.” She blew out a puff of air. “Let me get the door for you.” She started toward the front room.

  “When are you leaving?”

  “Oh, I’ve got another five minutes.” She stopped and looked back at him.

  “How about I stay until you lock up and make sure you get home okay.”

  “Thanks, that’s sweet of you. We’re normally finished around nine-thirty when everyone else is, and all of us shopkeepers leave about the same time. We had so many customers I’ve been a slow poke. If you’re sure you don’t mind, I’ll take you up on the offer.”

  She turned back to her books. Mitch took the opportunity and wandered around the office and stock room. Sure enough, the spare keys still hung where he remembered them next to the restroom door.

  “Mind if I use the facilities?”

  “Of course not.”

  JILL DIDN’T LOOK UP when Mitch left the room to do his business. She hunched her shoulders trying to release the stress. She hated this part of the work. Her stomach twisted into knots. If Sally ever left her, she’d have to sell the store. Jill put the last info into the computer and was in the process of shutting down when the commode flush reminded her of Mitch’s presence. Nice of him to offer to see her home.

  She’d have to figure out a different system when she was in the store alone. By the time she was ready to leave, the other shop folks were long gone, and only a handful of tourists remained on the streets. Given everything her family had experienced, she was amazed how safe she felt in this little town. Everyone seemed to watch out for each other. Comforting.

  This late, aside from the couple of ice cream stores, everything else would’ve closed. The computer completed shutting down.

  “You about ready?” Mitch joined her by the desk.

  “Yes. I appreciate this. I feel perfectly safe when I leave earlier in the evening.” She pulled on a jacket, grabbed her large satchel purse, switched off the lights, and pulled the door closed behind them. The tinkling sound of the chimes filled her heart with pride. She never tired of hearing them. After turning the key in the dead bolt lock in the front door, she set off down the street with Mitch.

  He was quite different from his older brother. Taller, with at least several days growth of beard, but not neatly trimmed the way Jerrod’s was. Mitch dressed the part of a biker gang member. In fact, if she didn’t know who he was, she wouldn’t want to meet him on a dark street at night.

  Terribly stereotypical of her. Despite spending part of July Fourth with him and his family, Mitch and she hadn’t had an opportunity to visit.

  “So, Mit
ch, you weren’t around much during the summer.”

  “No, I travel quite a bit.”

  “You travel for a living?”

  “You could say. You know how some people gamble on the stock market?”

  “Yeah.” The word “gamble” shot adrenalin through her body. Her fingers tightened on the strap of her purse. What was the matter with her? This was Jerrod’s brother, and he was talking about gambling on Wall Street.

  “Well, that’s what I do. I bet. Make my living from the cards.”

  “Oh, I see.” She didn’t, but they’d reached her house. She’d pursue whatever Mitch did with his life another time. Karen or Anne could fill her in if she remembered to ask them.

  “Here I am. Thanks for walking me home.” She pulled out her keys and crossed the grass to the front door. The porch light, set on a timer, provided its soft yellow glow and spelled home.

  “I’m sure we’ll see each other around, Mitch. Thanks again.”

  He nodded before he turned and walked back the way he’d come. A shiver ran over her shoulders and down her back. The click of the strong deadbolt brought security.

  She made her way to the kitchen, flicking on lights in each room. A nice glass of wine, a good book, soft music, and she’d be relaxed in no time. Exhausted every night, still she sometimes had trouble falling asleep. Running the shop seven days a week left

  her physically drained. How Anne had managed was a mystery.

  Tomorrow Jill planned to ask Sally to find extra help for them, and then Jill could cut back on her hours. Sally could too, if she wanted.

  Upstairs in her room, Jill got ready for bed. She hadn’t made it to Liz’s Pilates studio in a month, nor found opportunities to explore the town and countryside further. A disappointment, because she’d looked forward to discovering the area.

  Walking to work provided glimpses of the glorious persimmon, ocher, and burgundy colored leaves. They lived up to the memories of her previous visit after George died. The different shades were truly amazing. Jill pictured an artist wielding a paintbrush to get the desired effect.

  She wanted to burst into song at the sight of them. Silly, for sure. Particularly when she couldn’t sing a note. These trees spoke to her soul. Her soul responded.

  When Jill had run out to buy lunch for Sally and her earlier that day, she’d caught the scent of leaves burning. Truly, she experienced sensory overload. She abhorred the reasons for moving to Woodstock, but she found herself almost content, as if none of the awful events her family experienced had taken place. A counselor would say it was some sort of coping mechanism.

  SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

  At nine forty-five, Jill let herself into Crystal Rainbows, but she left the closed sign in the window facing outward. She enjoyed a few moments on her own with the lovely glass creations. Some were shaped like flowers, others like animals. Her favorite, the dove with wings spread and a sprig in his beak, sat in a prominent place on a pedestal. Others, the artists had based solely on their imaginations, with no use or purpose existing other than to catch the light.

  The lure of a medium-sized vase had been impossible to resist. She bought the Gerald Duff creation the second day she owned the shop. Filled with fresh flowers, it sat on one of the counters.

  The sunlight, already streaming in the windows, cast rainbows around the room, soothing her spirit the way they had the first time she’d visited. She extended both arms over her head, stretched, and yawned.

  Coffee. She needed more coffee.

  Nightmares had plagued her sleep for the first time in several months, causing her to oversleep.

  If she could get down another cup before the first customers arrived, she’d be all right. Not feeling well, Sally had taken off yesterday, but promised she’d come in today. Jill was glad. She’d missed a couple of sales because she couldn’t get to the tourists quickly enough.

  Just inside the office area, she stopped and looked around. Pride and gratitude for what was hers brought a tear to her eye. Running the store had built her self-­confidence. Three years ago, if someone had told her she’d be doing this, she’d have scoffed. She still made errors with the stupid credit card machine, and readily admitted Sally’s skills kept them out of trouble. Overall, Jill had gotten back a sense of control over her life.

  She knew all too well the falsity of that concept. Everyone was a hairsbreadth away from disaster.

  She drew in a deep breath and admonished herself for being morbid, got the coffee going, and lit a few scented candles around the showroom. They provided the lovely, calming scent of lavender when Anne owned the store, and Jill had continued the practice. The chimes tinkled, and she looked up to see Sally enter. She flipped the card to “Open.”

  “You could’ve stayed home another day.” Jill welcomed her employee.

  “If I needed to, I would’ve, but the extra sleep and scads of Vitamin C put me in great shape. What time did you finish up here last night?” Sally hung her coat then got a cup down from the shelf.

  “It was almost ten before I closed the door.”

  “I hope you didn’t walk home that late at night by yourself.”

  “No. Mitch Phillips showed up looking for a birthday gift for Anne. He walked me home. When is Anne’s birthday, Sally? I want to get a gift for her.”

  Sally opened her mouth to answer, but the front door swung in, the chimes rang out, and the first of many customers poured through the door. People weren’t only window-shopping, they purchased. The day flew past with Sally throwing frozen dinners in the microwave oven for their lunch, which they ate at different times. Supper was the same thing, but by late in the evening things tapered off a little.

  Sally started on the record keeping while Jill took care of the remaining customers. Finally, nine arrived and she turned the card in the window to “Closed,” shut the door behind the last person, and propelled herself to the office through sheer force of will before dropping into one of the large chairs.

  “Whew. What a day. I can’t say you didn’t warn me, Sally. How much longer do we have such a huge number of tourists coming through? I’ve counted four busses this week alone.” Sally’s laughter told Jill she must look like an old, dirty dishrag. Not far off from how Jill felt.

  “We’ll keep this up through the middle of October, at least three more weeks. I could ask the gal who worked with us in the past if she wants to return. Anne didn’t get to it with the sale going on.”

  “Please do, Sally. See if she can come in three days a week for me. Gives me a chance to get back to Pilates with Liz. How about one day for you?”

  “Okay, I’ll do it first thing in the morning. But right now, I’m finishing up the receipts.”

  “Good.” Jill dragged herself out of the large chair. “I’ll straighten the kitchenette and set up the coffee for in the morning.” In twenty minutes, they were ready to leave, switched off the lights, and locked the door. Jill pulled her jacket around her, stuffing her hands in the pockets. “Burr. A definite chill in the air tonight.”

  “Yeah, we’ll see more of that with each passing day.”

  “But the days are spectacular, Sally, and I’m missing them cooped up in the shop the entire time. That’s why I want us to get some help.”

  “I hear you, and I’m certain we’ll have someone ready to go Monday at the latest.”

  “Thanks, Sal.” Jill hugged the woman without whom she’d be hard pressed to run Crystal Rainbows. “You’re invaluable.” She took a couple of steps away toward her house then turned back. “Oh, I forgot. You never told me when Anne’s birthday is.”

  “In February. I can’t imagine what Mitch was doing. You know to my memory, he’s never willingly stepped foot inside the shop before. It always appeared to me he had some sort of aversion to the place. Odd, huh?” Sally pulled her coat closer.

  “Yeah. Odd.”

  Chapter Eight

  MONDAY, OCTOBER 1

  Jill’s heart kicked up in excited anticipation at t
he prospect of three days off a week. Sally was a miracle worker. She arranged for Mary Ann Sanders to come in four times a week until the last of the fall leaf peepers left. The retired teacher had made her Christmas gift money working at Crystal Rainbows, and she’d been worried the new owner didn’t want her. Mary Ann was thrilled Jill did and started Sunday.

  Jill had anticipated working with Karen in the historical society, but that hadn’t been possible with practically living at the store. Other than checking on new inventory, she’d be unable to travel around the countryside to enjoy the scenery.

  Walking to work, Jill decided if she were smart, she’d figure out how to bottle this glorious New England fall morning.

  Sparkling, crisp, cold air.

  Trees so brightly colored in red and gold and orange they almost hurt the eyes. The quintessential fall smell of leaves burning.

  She indulged in one long, last whiff before she unlocked Crystal Rainbows and pushed open the door.

  No welcoming tinkle? Jill glanced up. No chimes. Something must have broken, and Sally or Mary Ann took it down to do repairs. She stuck her gloves in a pocket.

  First on the list, turn up the heat and get the coffee on. The temperature had dropped to almost freezing. Before long, her black wool coat wouldn’t be enough for the morning walk to the store. Setting her purse on a counter, she stepped into the back room, and then stopped mid-step. Her gaze flew around the office. File cabinet drawers stood open. Folders and papers strewn across the floor.

  Boxes of crystal dislodged.

  Her heart rate kicked up. Breath froze in her throat. Get out, her thoughts screamed. Someone might still be here. She scrambled for her purse and dashed for the front door.

  What should she do?

  Call the police.

  Of course. Her hands fumbled the phone from her purse. Come on. Come on. Fear fogged her brain and turned her fingers to mush. The cell hit the ground. She couldn’t function worth a damn. Breathing became almost impossible. She squatted down. Her stiff fingers scrabbled for the cell.