by Penny Harmon
No Final
Destination
The Happy Endings
Resort Series
Book #17
Penny Harmon
No Final Destination
Copyright©2017 Penny Harmon
Publication Date: April 2017
All Rights Reserved.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, names, places, and events in this piece of work are simply products of the author’s imagination and/or are used in a fictitious manner to enhance the story. Any similarity to actual events, people, or places is coincidental.
No part of this book may be used in any form without express written permission of the author. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.
Cover Design by: Kari March of Kari March Designs
Edited by: Genevieve Schull
Acknowledgments
I want to thank all of the awesome authors participating in the Happy Ending Resort Series and for allowing me to be a part of such a wonderful community. You guys ROCK!!!
I also want to thank my partner, Dan, for putting up with me, which is not always an easy thing to do.
Chapter 1
Paige Ellison glanced at herself in the mirror and cringed. She’d altered her appearance several years ago, but even now, if she wasn’t prepared, she could startle herself. Pulling at the spikes of the once-blonde, now-purple, Mohawk-styled hair on top of head, she turned her head this way and that. Combined with the dark black outline of her eyes, the black lipstick and pale skin, she looked…well…ridiculous.
Paige chuckled. She could probably knock on her foster parent’s door and they wouldn’t even recognize her. Not that she ever would. Once she left, she’d made a promise she’d never go back.
A last glance in the mirror and she picked up her purse off the counter. The good thing was she loved going to her job every day. It didn’t even seem like work.
“You guys be good while I’m gone. No trying to break through the screens, either. It’s too hot in here to leave the windows shut, so be good.” She leaned down and kissed the black and white longhaired cat on top of the head and then kissed the gray and black, Maine coon. “Tom and Jerry, I’ll be back as soon as I can, so be good,” she said one last time and shut the trailer door behind her. They had a tendency to make messes and she knew that it wouldn’t make a difference to tell them to be good or not, but it was habit.
Looking around, she couldn’t believe the luck she’d had in finding this place. When she had first drifted into Endings, South Carolina, she was just about broke. The cold weather of the North had driven her to the South. When she’d gotten here in March, the temperature had been at least thirty degrees above what it had been in Maine.
When the pet shelter had undergone some cuts in the budget, she’d been informed that her job would end. Even though she still had her part time job at a book store and she’d fallen in love with the area, she’d packed up her old beat up Subaru and headed south. She’d thought about Florida, but it was in Endings where she’d had a flat tire and decided it was warm enough to stay.
For the first week, she lived in her car with her cats while she applied for jobs. That had been no easy task. As soon as she secured a position at the local pet shelter, the manager told her about Happy Endings Resort. After speaking to Rory, the owner of the resort, she agreed to offer pet sitting services for the guests at the resort and, in turn, she was offered a one bedroom trailer.
If it had just been her, a tent would have been fine, but she’d been dragging Tom and Jerry along for the past six years and she wanted them to be comfortable. They were getting up in years and they deserved it. After all, they’d been her only real friends since her parents died.
The resort was great. It offered her everything she needed and more. The only thing she didn’t like was the friendliness of everyone else living there. Being a loner, she would have preferred someplace more private.
Rory had told her that things were pretty calm right now, but she said when summer comes it’s in full swing. It was May and she was already noticing the difference from when she’d arrived last month. She didn’t know how she’d handle it when it really got busy.
Her trailer sat near the end on one of the side streets in the resort. She was within walking distance to the lake and it was the perfect spot to walk the dogs. While she’d only had two jobs since she’d been at the park, Rory said it would all change soon.
On her way out of the park, she waved to the guy at the gate. She couldn’t remember his name, but he was at least friendly without being too-friendly. He didn’t go overboard with questions when he’d first met her, which went a long way in her book. People just needed to mind their own business. That’s just how she liked it.
Once at the shelter, she put her things away in the locker she’d been assigned. The manager came around the corner.
“Paige! I’m glad you came in a little early. I know you’ve only been here a little while, but how would you feel about taking on a little more responsibility? I need someone to take over the training of the volunteers and scheduling them.”
Paige was shocked. Susan was going to trust her with training? Paige had immediately clicked with Susan upon meeting her. Once she had told Susan of her dream of owning her own animal sanctuary, Susan had hired her and told her she’d help her anyway she could.
She’d been surprised to learn Susan’s own story of divorce and how her ex-husband had beaten her and any animal in his path. Her ex-husband reminded her of her foster-father.
Susan must have noticed the shock on her face when she offered her the position as trainer, because she quickly said, “You have what it takes to do a good job. Now, the only thing I wish you would do is tone down on the punk look, but that is up to you...it’s not a requirement. My own daughter when through that phase not too long ago. She always said she just wanted to express herself, so I get it.”
Paige’s hand flew to her hair. She knew she looked ridiculous in a lot of people’s eyes, but she hadn’t felt she had much of a choice when she started. Six years later, she was used to it. She could barely remember what she really looked like beneath all the dye and makeup. Shit! Not how she’d planned things.
“Um, Susan, I don’t know if I want to change my appearance. Is that a problem?”
Susan laughed. “Absolutely not. I just think that people might take you a little more seriously if your appearance was…let just say, if it was a little more subdued.”
Nodding her head, Paige agreed. Over the years, she found that was the main problem, especially when it came to her jobs. But, she’d always thought it was a great way to keep people at bay, which is why she did it.
Susan grabbed her by the arm. “Let’s not worry about that right now. Your first training class won’t start for another week. In the meantime, come with me and I will show you how the scheduling works.”
In the office, a chocolate lab lay in the corner. Sadie belonged to Susan and came to work with her every day. If she had a dog, she could bring hers, too, but she’d never felt it was fair to take in another animal when she moved so often.
The boys she’d taken with her when she left her foster care. Jim, the foster-father had treated them horribly. If either was in the way, he’d kick them across the room. That was what started her argument with him.
He’d backhanded her into the corner, told her he wouldn’t abide any insolence from her, and then leaned in close and felt her up. After finally making it into her room, she’d locked the door. It took two weeks for her to get the chance to run, but when she did, she took the
two cats with her.
Since she’d left Ohio, she’d lived in New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine. Now, South Carolina. From the moment she left, she’d been wearing a disguise. She really didn’t think that she’d be prosecuted for stealing the two cats, but she didn’t want to take any chances of having to return them.
Susan had left her alone in the office after explaining the schedule and telling her to start on the new one. She’d look at it when she returned.
She had only been sitting there for fifteen minutes when she was startled when someone else entered the door and Sadie let out a bark.
“Sadie, it’s okay. Can I help you?” she asked. It wasn’t until she turned her head that she noticed the Sheriff’s uniform.
“Yes, I am looking for Paige. Is that you?”
Paige could feel her heart pounding and wondered if it were possible for him to hear it, too. “Um…yeah. I am. Is there a problem?”
He laughed and the first thing she noticed was how his nose crinkled when he did. It only made him look better.
“Not at all. I’m just signing up to be a volunteer and heard you were the one to talk to. I’m Clark Wentworth.”
Paige felt like an idiot and tried to ignore the burning sensations in her cheeks. “Um, yes. I just started doing this, so let me find the form for you to fill out. Can I ask why you want to volunteer?”
“I’ve been around animals all my life and I’m not allowed to have pets in the apartment I live in. I figured I could get my pet fix here and maybe it won’t bother me so bad. How about you? Do you have any pets?”
Paige gave him a nod. “Yeah, just two cats. I’d have more if I could.”
“Cats? I like them, but I don’t think I understand them. What I like about dogs is that you can teach them tricks. You can’t teach a cat tricks.”
“I beg to differ. Cats can learn tricks, but it takes someone special to teach them. They’re very independent.” Both her boys loved to play fetch. Of course, it took them a few years to trust her enough to let down their guards. They’d been through too much before she’d come along.
“Well, I am sure you are right. What I’d like to do is walk the dogs or just spend some time playing with them.”
“That can be arranged. Any particular hours you prefer?” she asked.
After rummaging around in the filing cabinet, she finally found the form and handed it to him.
“Can I take this with me? I’m on duty right now. Can I bring it back tomorrow? Will you be here?”
Paige nodded. “I work eight-thirty to five.”
“Sounds good, Paige. I’ll be back tomorrow.” With a nod, he turned around and walked out of the office, allowing Paige the chance to let out the breath she’d been holding.
Seeing him standing there in a uniform had startled her. It wasn’t like there was a warrant out for her arrest or anything and the missing person’s report had disappeared as soon as she’d turned eighteen and reported that she was fine.
She just felt nervous around cops and had been ever since one showed up at her house when she was sixteen to report that her mother had died in a car accident.
Sitting down in the chair, Paige looked at the schedule in front of her and tried her best to concentrate on it. Sadie was now curled up at her feet, completely unaware of the anxiety she was feeling.
Chapter 2
Clark got into the car, a smile plastered on his face. Paige was normally not the type he’d be interested in, but she’d blown him away. At first he’d been put off by her unusual attire, but within a minute, he saw right through her.
When she’d blushed, it had sent him reeling. He just wondered what she looked like when she smiled. From what he could tell, underneath all that makeup, she was a beauty, but it wasn’t just that. She’d come across like someone who was genuine. But then again, she also came across as someone who just wanted to be left alone.
Grabbing the receiver, he told dispatch he was headed back into town to conduct some routine checks. He’d only been on the job for about a month, but so far, he loved the community.
He’d only applied for the job because he had watched his last partner die during a drug bust. After counseling, he’d decided he’d needed a change and when one of his buddies told him of the job opening in Endings, he’d applied.
Endings was much quieter than Charlotte, but it didn’t mean that he’d be bored. Hell, they’d even been a murder at one point. But, he could guarantee it would be a much better place to raise a family and he was ready to find Miss Right and settle down.
The thought made him laugh out loud. His mother had been on his case since he’d turned twenty-five. She wanted grandchildren and she didn’t want to wait. At twenty-eight, he thought he was finally ready.
Thinking about Miss Right brought him back to the woman he’d just met at the shelter. Paige. She was something else, but he didn’t think she was Miss Right. However, she just might be Miss Right-For-Now if she’d give him the chance. But, he wasn’t going to do a thing about it. All he wanted was time with the animals.
For as far back as Clark could remember, he’d had a dog. When he’d graduated from the police academy and became part of the Charlotte’s police force, the first thing he did was to get a dog. Unfortunately, long hours and city living exactly make a good life for a dog that wanted his freedom. At every opportune moment, his beagle, Fred, would run. After about the tenth time, he’d found a home for him in the country where Fred would have room to run.
Until he was settled, Clark swore he’d never have another pet. In his current apartment in town, the landlord, Mrs. Nesbitt, threatened eviction if you even asked her about pets. He knew that firsthand.
As the end of the day approached, Clark swung into the station. It had been a quiet day and reports would only take about ten minutes. He thought about how many hours he’d spent at his desk in Charlotte doing reports and smiled. The less time he spent doing reports and the happier he was.
“Hey, Superman! Want to join us for a beer?” Dan, who was also a deputy with the department asked with a grin.
Clark’s first day on the job had quickly earned him the nickname of Superman because he had been the first to respond to a call regarding an elderly woman who had fallen. Her name happened to be Lois and Clark would never live it down.
“Sure. Where you headed? I’ve got a couple of things to finish up, but I can meet you there.”
“High Bar. Just don’t wear your uniform or you won’t even stand a chance with any of the chicks,” Dan laughed.
“Yeah, not worried about that, but yeah, I’ll change anyway. I don’t think Boss Man would want to hear about us out drinking in a bar in uniform,” Clark smiled.
Dan shook his head. “Been there, done that…not doing it again.”
Clark just shook his head. Dan was a few years older and had been a deputy for almost ten years. He was a great guy, but was always in the doghouse about not taking his job seriously enough.
Sheriff Tanner was easy to get along with, but he expected his deputies to take their job seriously and to show respect when out in the community. As a bit of a jokester, Dan was always being called out for some type of inappropriate comment or joke.
Once Clarke got home and took off his uniform, he quickly decided that staying home sounded better. He’d sent off a quick text to Dan saying something had come up and then threw on sweatpants, a pot of coffee, and settled in front of the television. He’d never been one to go to bars a lot, but it was something Dan and a few other guys did regularly. He’d gone a few times just to get to know them better, but it didn’t take him long to figure out that he preferred staying home.
Just before eight, his phone rang. It was his cousin, Jade. She lived in Moose Valley, Maine and he was surprised to see her number.
“Jade? What’s going on?” he asked.
“Hey, Clark. Nothing really. I just wanted to run something by you. I hope you don’t mind,” she said and then added. “Di
d I catch you at a bad time?”
“Nope, nothing going on here. What’s up?”
“Well, you remember Royce? He’s gone missing and now all of us are being questioned.”
Clark took a deep breath. When he was in his teens, he always went to stay with his Aunt Julianne and his cousins for the summer. He hadn’t been back in a few years, but he knew the story of Royce. He’d dated his aunt when they were younger just to try to get his hands on the lodge and the land.
“Yeah, I remember Royce. When did he go missing?”
“Just a couple of days or so, but honestly, we had nothing to do with it. The problem is that I got into a fight with him and…well, I probably said a few things I shouldn’t,” she admitted.
“Well, all they can do is question you. Without any evidence, I wouldn’t worry. How’s your mother?”
Jade sighed. “Pissed off. What would you expect?”
Clark wasn’t surprised. Ever since Royce had tried to use his aunt to get the lodge, Julianne had hated him and had never made any bones about it.
“That sucks. You know if you need anything, all you have to do is call. I wish I had something more to tell you, but don’t let it get you down.”
“Well, to be honest, it’s just pissing me off, too. Everyone around here knows the connection between us and the Harrisons has never been good and now they’re just assuming we had something to do with his disappearance.”
“Just take the high road, Jade. Don’t let them see you upset.”
“I will. I just thought you should know what’s going on.”
“Keep me informed. I don’t care what time of day it is, call me if you need anything.”
“Love ya, Clark!”
“Love you, too,” he said before hanging up the phone. Damn, that wasn’t good. If Royce had gone missing, it was no wonder that they were blaming his family. Royce had been nothing but a pain in the ass to his family. He wanted the lodge and would do just about anything to get it.