“Ricky.” Ivy nodded her head a few times in slow succession. “You’re Ricky’s girlfriend, aren’t you? The woman he mentioned in my aunt’s store was real after all.”
“I told him that was a mistake, but he insisted on following you.” Mary rolled her eyes, as if she were discussing nothing more important than a pebble in her shoe rather than her husband’s murder. “He was convinced you were holding something back. After seeing that store, he was sure you were a witch and going to cast a spell on him. Can you believe that?”
“I would love to cast a spell on him,” Ivy replied, nervously playing with her belt loop as she debated how to proceed. “I would like to curse him into believing he’s in a cage and can never get out.”
Mary barked out a mirthless laugh. “You’re funny.”
“And you’re not who I thought you were,” Ivy countered, heaving out a sigh. “You’re good. I have to give you that. I didn’t see it when you came to my front door. All I saw was a confused woman who was struggling with the death of her husband.”
“That’s all you were supposed to see,” Mary pointed out. “I wasn’t lying about how I found you. That probably bothers you, but the detective who questioned me brought up your name and I couldn’t help being curious. That was when I thought Dorian died straightaway, of course, so I pushed it out of my head.
“It was only after the initial interview that Ricky told me that Dorian spoke to someone before he died,” she continued. “He was watching. It was supposed to be a two-person job, an easy job, but it didn’t turn out that way.”
“So … you were all in this together?” Ivy remained confused.
“Ricky and I dated in high school. It was love at first sight.”
“So how did you end up with Dorian?”
“It was a few years ago.” Mary seemed bored with the telling, but Ivy wanted to keep her distracted for as long as possible. “Ricky and I hit a bit of a rut. I met Dorian at the bar one night. He was feeling low because he was going through a divorce and his ex wanted full custody of his kids.”
“I knew it,” Ivy muttered under her breath, causing Mary to arch an eyebrow. “Sorry. It’s just … I knew when I was at your house earlier that you didn’t have kids. The house was too … quiet.”
“You don’t have kids.”
“So?”
“So how do you know my house was too quiet?”
“Because I was once a kid and my brother and I were rambunctious,” Ivy replied. “If you had kids in the house they would’ve come to the door.”
“Maybe they were at school.”
“On Christmas Eve?”
Mary held her hands up and shrugged. “I didn’t even consider that,” she admitted after a beat. “I guess that’s what happens when you don’t have to take care of kids. You lose sight of the mayhem they add to a household.”
“You made me believe you had kids,” Ivy pointed out. “You wanted to use kids to put me at ease. I thought it was odd you came to my house that day, but it was the kids who did it for me. I wanted to provide closure for those kids you don’t even have.”
“Again, that wasn’t your fault.” Mary was blasé. “I’ve done this a few times. I know what I’m doing.”
“So you dated Ricky but married Dorian,” Ivy noted, changing tactics. “You haven’t told me why yet.”
“Money. I thought Dorian had some. He had a good job and benefits. That didn’t last very long, though. I guess that was poor planning on my part.”
“Yes, well, it could’ve easily been poor planning on Dorian’s part,” Ivy pointed out. “So … what? Did you pair Dorian and Ricky up to work together for extra money?”
“We had a plan,” Mary answered. “We were supposed to pick area businesses – but only one in each city so the police wouldn’t become obsessed with finding us – and rob them. Most of the businesses we targeted were cash rich because of the holidays.
“We picked a ski resort out in Beulah, a Christmas wonderland in Acme, and a snowmobile trail place in Grayling,” she continued. “They were well spread out. They had no ties to one another. They were all solid scores.”
“I didn’t hear about any of those places being robbed.” Ivy wrinkled her nose. “That would’ve been all over the news.”
“We’ve been doing it since the day after Thanksgiving,” Mary supplied. “We’ve been spreading out the robberies. You weren’t supposed to hear about them. We didn’t want them tied together.”
Ivy hated to admit it – even to herself – but it was a good plan. She watched the news nightly and didn’t remember hearing a hint about a rash of robberies. “So why go inside of the mall? That’s different from your other targets.”
“That was Ricky’s grand idea,” Mary replied. “Dorian finally agreed to join them – he was such a baby for so long because he didn’t want to break the law – but Ricky finally got him to agree. Then he noticed Dorian was recording one of our conversations one day.”
The final piece of the puzzle slipped into place for Ivy. “Dorian was going to turn you all in.”
“We think so.”
“For all you know, though, he could’ve been using the voice recognition on his phone to type a Facebook message,” Ivy pointed out.
“That’s always a possibility,” Mary conceded. “I can’t say with any certainty what he planned on doing down the road. We’d grown apart. I wanted to leave him, but Ricky is far too alpha to allow something like that. He didn’t want to take a chance of Dorian ratting on us after the fact. He also didn’t want Dorian to live since I had sex with him. He’s kind of territorial.”
Ivy swallowed her distaste at the proud look on Mary’s face. “He sounds like a real winner.”
“He’s a loser, but the heart wants what the heart wants.” Mary ran her tongue over her teeth. “What does your heart want, Ivy?”
“I’m pretty sure you don’t care and I have no intention of confiding in you,” Ivy replied. “In fact, I have no intention of doing anything you want. I have no idea why you followed me out here, but … what do you expect to happen?”
“What do you expect to happen?”
“You’re like the world’s worst television psychiatrist,” Ivy groused. “Repeating a question back to me isn’t going to solve our problem.”
“Do you think there’s a way to solve our problem?”
“I have no idea,” Ivy answered. “The thing is … this isn’t going to end how you think it’s going to end.”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m a witch, aren’t I?” Ivy was only half joking with the declaration. She felt something in her heart and she knew … she knew Jack was there and he was methodically working his way to her. She hadn’t heard signs of violence from the store, but that didn’t mean they weren’t coming. It simply meant that Jack was here, he was close, and he was coming for her.
“Do you believe in that stuff?”
“I believe there are things that we can’t explain,” Ivy replied without missing a beat. “I believe there’s magic in the world.”
“Do you have that magic in your life?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t think I do, though, do you?”
Ivy opened her mouth to answer and then snapped it shut, tilting her head to the side as she debated how best to placate a woman on the edge. Finally she decided that the truth was the best course of action. “I think every child is born with magic in his or her heart. Whether you keep it is entirely up to you. I think, in your case, you decided a long time ago to relinquish the magic.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Look at yourself.” Ivy refused to back down. “Your husband was killed, shot in the back, and you don’t care. Norman Fell was shot in the back of the head and set on fire. You don’t care. People are being arrested and there are innocent people out in that store who are in danger because you want what you want when you want it. You don’t feel a second of guilt.”
“You
’re right about that,” Mary confirmed. “I don’t feel guilty. All of those people out there are planning for a merry Christmas, a happy holiday. I deserve that, too.”
“The difference is that they’re not taking it from someone else,” Ivy argued. “You’re the one doing that.”
“I told you I wasn’t keen on going after you, but I got outvoted,” Mary said. “Now you’re the one who is in charge of keeping those people in the store alive. Matt and Ricky will start shooting without thinking twice about it. They actually believe a massacre is the best way to cover up your murder.
“I talked them out of doing that straightaway, though,” she continued. “I figure if they kill everyone we’ll never get out of here. They don’t see the big picture.”
“Do you?”
“I see more than they do,” Mary answered. “So, you can put up a fight, but they’ll start shooting. I’m sure everyone out there won’t be killed, but there will be a lot of unhappy holidays around these parts this year. Or, you can quietly leave with me and save Christmas for everyone else. You won’t be saving it for yourself, though.”
“So if I go with you they’ll all live,” Ivy murmured. “If I stay everyone will die. It doesn’t seem like I have much of a choice.”
“No, I’m sorry, you don’t,” Mary agreed. “If it’s any consolation, I promise to make it quick. I won’t let them do anything to you and I’ll make sure they put your body in a place your boyfriend can find it. I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’re close with him.”
“I am.” Ivy felt sick to her stomach. “I’ll go with you.”
“I figured you would.” Mary pulled a small handgun from the waist of her jeans and prodded Ivy toward the door at the other end of the store. “Let’s not go through the inside, huh? I’m thinking that might turn ugly for both of us.”
“We can leave through this door.” Ivy turned on her heel, mechanically putting one foot in front of the other. “You said you heard through the grapevine that I’m close with my boyfriend. Who have you been talking to?”
“Matt and Ricky have been watching you since Dorian’s death. They said your boyfriend is practically glued to your hip.”
“He is.” Ivy bobbed her head as she reached for the push handle that would open the door, warmth washing over her when she recognized a familiar mind brushing against her own. “Did Ricky and Matt tell you what he does for a living?”
“Yeah. He’s a cop. You mentioned that before leaving yourself, although you were so rattled you might not remember it.” Mary didn’t sound bothered as Ivy pushed open the door and stepped outside, the sunlight hitting her square on the face. “It’s too bad he couldn’t get here on time, huh?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Ivy slid her eyes to the left and didn’t put up a fight when Jack grabbed her arm and whipped her body behind his.
Mary, realizing Ivy was no longer in front of her, increased her pace and raced through the door. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“She’s spending Christmas with her boyfriend,” Jack answered, leveling his gun on Mary as Ivy peeked out from behind his back. “I believe that’s what she’s been trying to tell you for the past five minutes. By the way, honey, why didn’t you start herding her in this direction before now?”
“I thought you were on the other side of the store,” Ivy replied, adopting a whiny tone as she kept one eye on Mary. She was partially convinced the woman would attempt to draw on Jack and then things would take a decidedly dark turn just in time for Christmas.
“No, you didn’t,” Jack shot back. “I know the exact moment when you knew I was here.”
Ivy stilled, her heart rate increasing. “What?”
“I felt you recognize me,” Jack answered without hesitation. “I felt it. That’s how I knew you were okay … and not in the front of the store. One of the workers saw you walk back here, by the way, so that was a big help and a dumb move.”
“Oh, whatever.” Ivy rested her cheek against Jack’s back. “You felt me?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“You felt me, too,” Jack said. “I know you did.”
“I did.” Ivy didn’t feel odd admitting it. “I’m surprised you felt me, though.”
“Perhaps I’m a witch, too,” Jack teased, causing Mary to roll her eyes.
“Have you guys forgotten I’m here?” Mary challenged. “And that I have a gun?”
“We haven’t forgotten,” Jack replied, returning to the problem at hand. “That would be negligent.”
“Well, I’m not alone,” Mary said. “If you don’t give me Ms. Morgan then my friends will shoot everyone in that store. Do you want that?”
“What friends?” Jack asked, squinting one eye. “Do you mean Matt Bloom and Ricky Hughes?”
Mary clearly wasn’t happy with Jack’s calm demeanor. “I … how … what … ?”
“You might want to look in that direction.” Jack inclined his head to the alley where the delivery trucks parked. When Mary shifted her eyes in that direction she found a state police cruiser resting about fifty feet away. Matt Bloom was cuffed and secured in the backseat.
“Where is Ricky?” Mary asked, her voice taking on a definitive edge. “What have you done with him?”
“He’s in another car on his way to the state police station in Traverse City,” Jack replied, keeping his voice calm. “There seems to be a race to make the first deal. Ricky insisted on being questioned first.”
Mary’s mouth dropped open, outrage obvious. “That snake!”
“Now you have a choice,” Jack prodded. “Matt and Ricky went down without any fight at all. They were too busy looking for you to see us coming from behind.”
“How did you even know what was going on?” Mary looked disgusted.
“I called him while I was still in line,” Ivy offered. “I knew he was coming.”
“Which is why you agreed to go outside with me.” Mary’s anger shifted inward. “This just … I don’t want to go to jail.”
“I don’t see where you have a lot of choice,” Jack pointed out. “If you raise that gun, I’ll shoot you. Death or jail. Those are your only two choices.”
“What if … ?” Mary moved to snap up her gun, but Brian stepped from behind the Dumpster and grabbed her arm before she could extend it, wrestling her wrist higher in case the weapon accidentally discharged. Mary’s eyes went wide, but it was already over before she could muster another moment of fight.
Jack holstered his gun and slid forward, snagging his handcuffs from his belt and slapping them on Mary’s wrists as she began to wail about being treated unfairly and being framed. He tuned out the noise and glanced over his shoulder to meet Ivy’s gaze as she looked up from the spot where she rested her cheek against his back.
“How do you feel?”
Ivy considered the question. “I’m not worried or tired any longer. I … feel good.”
Jack smiled. “I was hoping you would say that. If all goes as planned, we’ll be able to enjoy our Christmas starting in exactly two hours.”
Ivy cocked an eyebrow. “Two hours?”
Jack’s grin was so wide it swallowed his entire face. “Time me.”
Twenty-Three
“Merry Christmas!”
Luna offered Ivy an energetic hug before braving the building storm later that night. After hours of questions, Ivy managed to snag her groceries and the store manager opened a private line to check her out before shutting down for the holidays.
Ivy proceeded to push her ordeal out of her mind, cook dinner, and then patiently sit through a very long meal while her father and brother ate themselves into a potential food coma. Then, right on schedule, the storm hit and Ivy’s family couldn’t say their goodbyes fast enough. They wanted to make it to their own homes before the roads got dangerous.
“Make sure you call us tomorrow just so I can hear your voice,” Michael said, pushing his daughter’s hair away from her face so he could study her features. She looked
strong and calm, but he knew her well enough to know that didn’t necessarily mean anything.
“I’m fine.” Ivy gripped his hand. “I swear it. I didn’t even get hurt a little bit this time.”
“That doesn’t make me forget how badly things could’ve gone.” Michael flicked his eyes to Jack. “Your knight in shining armor arrived just in time, though. Again.”
“I didn’t save her.” Jack, dressed down in simple jeans and a polo shirt, grinned at Ivy’s father. “She had everything under control. She knew I was out there.”
“And how did she know that?” Max asked, slipping into his coat.
“I felt him.” Ivy refused to lie. “I felt him in my heart and knew he was close.”
“Is this like the weird dreams you two share?” Max asked, stopping in front of Ivy and fixing her with a pointed look. “If so, I’m going to tell you what I should’ve told you when your minds started joining. Eww! You’re so codependent.” Max flicked the spot between Ivy’s eyebrows and chuckled.
Ivy rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You should get going. Aren’t you skiing tomorrow?”
“I am, but I’m going to call you to check on you, too.” Max pressed a kiss to Ivy’s forehead, locked weighted gazes with Jack for a few beats and then walked through the door. “Be good … and have fun.”
Jack shut the door behind them, taking a moment to breathe in the frigid air before turning his full attention to Ivy. He found her sitting on the floor in front of the fire, her knees drawn up to her chest and a blanket at her feet.
“What are you doing, honey?”
“I’m making a spot in front of the fire for you.” Ivy patted the open spot next to her and Jack wordlessly took it. Once he was seated, she spread out the blanket on top of them and snuggled in close to his side. “It’s Christmas Eve.”
Jack arched an eyebrow as he glanced over at her face. “I must’ve forgotten. Thank you for reminding me.”
“I don’t need the sarcasm.” Ivy rested her chin on Jack’s shoulder and lifted her eyes to his profile. “I wasn’t afraid today. Not at all. I was worried that some of the other customers might get hurt, but I knew you would get to me … and in time.”
Wicked Winter (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 8) Page 19