by Carol Ross
“Nice necklace.” Hazel complimented the glittering letters on the silver chain.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” Shay gushed, lifting the charms to show Hazel, who knew each one contained the intricate engraving of the names along the swooping curve of each letter—an S, J, M and C.
“Shay, Jonah, Maggie, Caleb,” Hazel said. “That is so cool.”
“I know. From my Secret Santa. Who would be thoughtful enough to include Caleb on here? I’m not even joking, I had tears when I opened it. Don’t tell anyone, but when I find out who mine is, I’m going to ask them to give Jonah some gifting tips.”
“My lips are sealed,” Hazel promised.
Looking around, she realized that except for the kids, her entire family was in attendance. Everyone except...
“Hey, where’s Cricket?” Iris asked, joining her by the silent-auction table, where she’d bid on a blown-glass lamp donated by local artist Kella Jakobs.
“Not here yet.”
“Everything okay?”
“I hope so.” Hazel sighed. “I don’t know... He was acting funny earlier. Kind of distant. This whole robbery thing has shaken him.”
As the minutes ticked by and he didn’t arrive, she struggled to hold on to that holiday glow.
* * *
“LEE, CAN YOU hear me? Where are you?” Cricket was almost shouting into the phone.
“Yeah, bare...ly.” A staticky Lee’s voice came through the horrible connection. “I got...tied...something.”
Cricket strode through the lobby of the Faraway Inn, moving toward a window, where he hoped for clearer reception. He stopped in time to hear Lee, in a voice now clear and crisp, ask, “How’s Hazel?”
“She’s fine.”
Lee’s sigh of relief came through, too. But it didn’t last. “That’s great. She’s...awes...Crick...” He moved again.
“She is. Are you coming back tonight? I’m at the Festival of Trees, but I’ll be home later, and I need to talk to you.”
That made it worse. “Sorry...van. Some...need...tomorrow.”
“Lee?”
The line went dead.
Cricket groaned in frustration and tapped his phone off. Sorry van? What did that even mean? He hated how much he was doubting his brother.
He stepped inside the dining room just as the mayor approached the podium. His deep voice boomed across the room. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Festival of Trees. Thank you all so much for being here tonight. Wow. Do we have some extra-special trees up for grabs this year, or what?” Applause broke out. He went on to outline the evening’s schedule while Cricket homed in on Hazel’s location across the room.
She stood with a group that included Iris, Ashley and Kai. He began to weave his way through the crowd, but soon halted again when the mayor changed direction. “As many of you know, Operation Happy Christmas, a charity started by our own Margaret James, had their van stolen yesterday. The vehicle was full of gifts and valuable electronics. If anyone has information on who may have committed this terrible act, please call either the Rankins or Glacier City police departments.”
Cricket braced himself for an evening of inquiries and suspicion. He focused on Hazel. If he could just reach her side, and remain there, maybe he could get through this evening. Maybe then the walls would stop closing in on him. Taking a step forward, he restarted his journey when a familiar voice had him halting again.
“Cricket.”
“Hey, Tag,” he said, turning toward the sound, relief rushing through him. He could use his friend’s support right now, too. “I’ve been meaning to call you. I—”
But Tag’s tone was pure ice when he interrupted, “What were you thinking?” The tension emanating from him was matched only by the force of his stare. Apparently, he wasn’t quite finished being angry.
“About what, specifically?”
“How could you have put my sister in danger like that? She told me that she drove Lee to Glacier City yesterday.”
“What are you implying, Tag?” But he knew, and it pressed directly on the already-exposed raw nerve that was the robbery.
Tag huffed. “That didn’t come out right. I know you wouldn’t purposely put Hazel in danger.”
“No, I wouldn’t,” he said, irrationally defensive because he was getting angry now, too. But not at Tag. At himself.
Tag looked away for a few seconds before seeming to reach a decision. Looking squarely at Cricket, he said, “I’m not the only one wondering what Lee was doing yesterday after Hazel dropped him off. Everyone is talking about it. Crab Johnson is convinced that Lee and Frank pulled it off together. If you can look me in the eye and tell me that the possibility of Lee being involved hasn’t occurred to you, I’ll drop this right now.”
And that was the moment that Cricket realized how pointless his efforts truly had been. All of them. Almost forty years of doing the right thing, being the best person, student, pilot, citizen, rotary club member, volunteer—the best friend—he could possibly be, and none of it mattered. Because he had put Hazel in danger, however inadvertent it may have been.
And he’d never be forgiven. Not completely. Because he could never forgive himself. Without another word, he turned around and walked away. From everything.
Hazel caught up with him in the lobby. “Cricket!”
For a second, he considered that maybe he should just keep on walking. What was the point in dragging this out? But he’d promised that he wouldn’t hide his feelings anymore. The least he could do was keep that promise.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going home.” But not for long, he silently added.
“What? Why? I saw you and Tag talking. Then I saw you leave. What did he say to you?”
“He didn’t say anything that everyone in that room isn’t thinking—or talking about. He just took it up a notch because he loves you. And I...” I love you, too. No, he wouldn’t say it and complicate this further. Suddenly, he was glad he hadn’t yet spoken those words aloud. It would be easier to let her go.
“You what?”
“Hazel, I can’t stand the thought of what could have happened. You could have been killed.”
“But I wasn’t! Cricket, I am fine. It barely fazed me.”
“But it should have. It fazed me.” He clapped a hand to his chest before gesturing toward the dining room. “And Tag. And the rest of your family, even though they are all too kind to say what Tag did. You heard your dad and Seth talking about how much worse it could have been. And now the whole town is wondering if Lee had something to do with it. This is my fault.”
“Not the whole town! And not my entire family. This robbery was in no way your fault. You don’t even know if Lee was involved, and I don’t think he was!”
“That doesn’t matter. You don’t get it, Hazel. The speculation alone is enough. My brother, my dad, their choices—the consequences of being a Blackburn have always affected me, and they always will. I can’t change that, but I won’t let it harm you.”
“So, that’s your answer? To leave? To give everyone a reason to believe that their unsubstantiated gossip bothers you?”
It did bother him. It bothered him because the gossip was usually true, or at least mostly accurate. She didn’t understand, and he couldn’t expect her to, could he? She was a James. Her family name was beyond reproach. She’d never been the victim of a scandal or gossip the way that he had.
“It’s about so much more than that, Hazel. All these years, it made it easier in a way to keep my distance, knowing I wasn’t good enough for you. But then this—us—happened, and I thought... For a little while, I let myself believe that maybe I’d finally escaped the Blackburn reputation. Your mom and dad seemed fine about us being together, and I’d worked so hard to overcome my family name, so maybe I deserved to have what I wanted. But then
Lee came back, and the robbery just reminded everyone—including me—of who I am and where I come from.
“I should have known better to think we could... Tag is right. I put you in danger. I should never have let this go so far. And I don’t know what to do.”
“What do you mean you should have known better? Are you talking about us?”
He didn’t answer.
“Cricket?”
He couldn’t bring himself to say the words.
“Please,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and he could see how much he was hurting her. And his own pain was so intense he could barely hold on to her gaze. “Can we please talk about this? I don’t see this the same way that you do.”
“You don’t have to. Because I know that I put you in danger simply by being me—and I don’t just mean physical danger. If it hadn’t been the van, it would be something else eventually. I’m, uh... I need to go right now, Hazel. I need some time. I have to talk to Lee and figure things out. I’ll be in touch.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
SHOCK AND CONFUSION churned inside of Hazel as she watched Cricket push through the door of the Faraway Inn. I’ll be in touch? she scoffed. What was that? Like they were business associates. And what did he need to figure out? Because it sure sounded like he meant their relationship.
The truth stabbed into her heart. Slowly, the pain spread from there, making it difficult to move, or to breathe, or even to think clearly. She was losing him. And after they’d overcome so much to get here.
What to do?
She wanted to leave, too, even took a few steps to follow. Not smart, she immediately realized. With Cricket gone and the rumor mill already grinding about Lee, she wouldn’t give people something else to talk about. Which was also why she decided not to confront Tag in front of the entire town. But, wow, she was angry with him. And now she was a little angry with Cricket, too. Why didn’t he fight back?
Maybe, after he talked to Lee and was confident that he wasn’t involved in the robbery, they could work this out? They had to because she’d already begun to plan for a life with him. She refused to give up.
But what if he was pulling away for good this time? That was when she realized that regardless, she couldn’t go through this again—this hope and dejection, hot and cold, Cricket and no Cricket. She needed him to be all in. Or out. But what if he chose out? Fear and despair joined with her anger, and the crack in her heart began to widen.
No, no, no, she told herself, blinking back tears. She would not cry. Not yet. She inhaled a deep breath, forced a smile and went in search of her lifeline, her people. Where were Seth and Iris?
She knew she and Cricket were worth fighting for! How could he not see that? And Tag and his opinions? Right now, she didn’t care that it was all wrapped in a veil of caring. Her brother was just... Ugh! Yes, stay focused on the anger, and she would get through this evening and then...
Then both of these men would hear from her. Tag first. She was preparing her speech when she reentered the dining room.
“What’s wrong?” Seth demanded, appearing at her side.
“Are you okay?” Iris asked from the other side.
Okay, so maybe there’d be no hiding of emotions where these two were concerned. There was a surprising amount of comfort in that.
“Everything and no,” she answered them both.
Iris said, “What happened?”
“Tag attacked Cricket, and then Cricket may have broken up with me.”
“Attacked him?” Seth repeated anxiously. “With what? Is he okay? Where are they?”
“I think she means a verbal assault,” Iris said. “Not with, like, a baseball bat or whatever it is that you’re thinking—that is what you’re thinking, right?”
“Maybe,” Seth confessed. “My money would be on Cricket. Don’t tell Tag I said that.”
Iris gave her head a little shake and said, “You are such a guy sometimes.”
“Thank you?” Seth said and shrugged an agreeable shoulder.
To Hazel, she attempted to clarify, “Tag and Cricket had an argument? What do you mean, he broke up with you? Tell us everything that happened.”
* * *
DETECTIVE CARTHY HAD phoned him early this morning while he was already on the way to Glacier City. Stopping by the station seemed simpler than talking over the phone, especially since he had questions of his own.
“So, you’re saying you haven’t heard from your brother?” Detective Carthy stared Cricket down as he wondered how many different ways she could ask the same question?
The Glacier City police station was significantly busier this morning than it had been when he and Hazel were last here. Presumably, the holidays were as busy for criminals as they were for everyone else.
“Like I said, not since last night.” He reached across the desk and handed her his phone, the string of texts between him and Lee displayed on the screen. “Go ahead and pull up the call log, too. You can see the call at 6:53 p.m., which, as I already explained, was cut short. I texted him an hour later. He responded, saying he’d call when he had better reception. That’s it.”
Cricket was very aware that trying to find Lee could be a waste of time, but that didn’t matter at this point. It was something he had to do. He’d cleared his schedule, arranged for another pilot to take his flights for the next several days. His friend Laurel had agreed to care for the cats if he didn’t make it back to Rankins for a day or two.
“Is Lee a suspect? Is that why you want to speak to him?”
“No. There is no evidence that your brother was involved,” she answered. “He has a solid alibi. He was at work. Several people have verified.” Cricket didn’t let his relief show. Better that the detective thought he had no doubts.
“That’s good,” he answered confidently, hoping to learn more.
She went on, “The evening of the robbery, he voluntarily came in for questioning because he assumed we’d want to speak with him. Cooperated fully. He also seemed extremely anxious about Hazel and adamant that we solve the case.”
Cricket nodded. All good.
“What I wanted to speak with you about is your visit to Otter Creek Correctional Facility the other week.”
“Oh. Uh, not much to tell there. I went to visit Lee, but he’d already been released.”
“Right. That’s what the visitor log shows. What I can tell you is that we have information that the crime may be connected to Otter Creek.”
“What does that mean?”
“We have an informant who has given us details about the robbery, which leads us to believe someone, or multiple persons, may have planned it from the inside.”
“Is that informant Lee?” he asked even though he couldn’t see how that was possible.
“No. But since Lee was recently released from there, I’d like to see what he knows.”
“I think if he knew anything, he would have told you.” Cricket didn’t know that, though he wanted to believe it. But he also knew that informing was a huge violation of the thief code.
“What I’m thinking is that he might not know that he knows. I’d like to speak with him again.”
“Ah. I see. When I hear from Lee, I’ll let him know.”
“I appreciate that, thank you.”
Detective Carthy smiled, finally. “How’s Hazel?”
“Completely fine,” he said. “It’s like it didn’t even bother her.”
“I got that vibe from her. In my experience, there are people in this world who are just good at that, at extracting the positive parts out of life and discarding the rest. She seems to be one of them.”
“I agree. She is like that.” He loved that about her.
“But sometimes the effects of trauma can take a while to hit a person. My advice is to be aware of that, too
.”
“I will. Thank you, Detective.”
Two thoughts ran through Cricket’s mind as he left the station. Was it wrong not to say where he thought Lee might possibly be? It seemed so far-fetched, though, that it felt safer just to go see for himself. The second was, would the police follow him? No, that was ridiculous. This wasn’t a television drama. No one had been murdered or injured, and the detective stated outright that Lee wasn’t a suspect.
Toni Mullens’s home address hadn’t been difficult to obtain, and neither had the location of the vacant property she’d mentioned. A simple records search on the borough assessor’s office website had revealed two properties in her name. Now Cricket typed the address of the first property into his phone’s navigation. As he set off, he wondered if this was what it felt like for a police officer to have a hunch.
He would have just called Toni and asked but didn’t want to put her in a position of covering for Lee if his worst fears were in play and Lee was hiding from law enforcement.
He’d know soon enough, and roughly a half hour later, after driving out of town, his phone alerted him that he’d arrived. The driveway appeared almost like a tunnel through the thick brush. The path was unplowed, but there were relatively fresh tire tracks.
He proceeded forward. A dilapidated shack soon came into view. It appeared unlivable. No windows with the roof caved in on one side. But he was far more interested in how the tracks led around behind the cabin. He proceeded that direction, where he discovered an old tarp-covered camp trailer with Lee’s SUV parked beside it.
Like he’d been expecting him, Lee emerged from the camper before he could even turn off the engine. Waving, he tromped over to the passenger side and opened the door. “Hey, little brother!” he called cheerfully, tossing his backpack over the seat and climbing in. “Good timing. Car won’t start again. Thought I could make it until my next paycheck to put in a new alternator. You saved my bacon. I was just getting ready to hike into town.”
“Lee, what is going on? Why haven’t you called me back?”