Surprised at the insight, Molly pushed the screen door open. “You’re probably right. Would you like to come in? Maybe have a drink or something? I believe there’s a bottle of wine in the fridge.”
Victoria hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure. Why not? I don’t have anything else to do.”
Molly hid a smile. This was the Victoria she had first met. “Come on. I can rummage up a snack too.”
After pouring them each a glass of wine, they took it out to the front deck along with a plate of fresh fruit and dip.
They sipped their drinks, quiet for several moments. Molly cast a sidelong look at Victoria. Had she and Sam ever been intimate? For some reason, she couldn’t see the two together because Sam was such a quiet no nonsense kind of guy, while Victoria was loud and didn’t seem to filter anything she said. Molly gave a mental shrug. Who was she to judge? It wasn’t as if her track record with men was anything to brag about. On the other hand, she could totally see Johnny and Victoria as a couple.
Molly took a slice of apple and dunked it in the dip. “Did you and Johnny have a nice evening the other night?” She bit the slice, savoring the light creamy dip with its hints of black cherry and vanilla. Her brother had only mumbled something when she had asked him the same question, so now she was curious.
Victoria chuckled. “You mean he didn’t tell you?”
Puzzled, Molly shrugged. “No, but then he doesn’t normally tell me too much. Did something happen?”
“Johnny got wasted, which is fine—it’s not like we’re married or anything. We were having a good time and I was introducing him to some of the locals. He was playing pool with some of the guys.”
“That doesn’t sound so bad.” Molly was relieved. She had expected something much worse.
“Wait, it gets better.” Victoria paused to sip her wine. “Some rough looking men I don’t know were playing pool at the other table, and before long, Johnny was challenging them to some games. Still nothing bad, but he was getting more and more drunk, and started talking—no, make that bragging—about getting shot at by some motorcycle gang. He made it sound like he fended off a whole posse single-handedly.
A jolt of fear stabbed through Molly’s stomach. Johnny knew that he was supposed to keep everything quiet. She tried to act casual. “What did they say?”
“They laughed him off at first. I mean, no disrespect, but your brother doesn’t exactly look like the tough guy he pretends to be.” She threw Molly an apologetic look and continued, “I was laughing too, but then he mentioned Sam and how the two of them fought off some gang called the Ravens.” Her tone became serious. “I saw some of the guys give each other a look like they knew something. It scared me, and I tried to get Johnny to shut up, but he just kept going on and on about this gang and how he and Sam were going to take them down.”
Molly’s heart had stopped beating somewhere around the time Victoria had mentioned the Ravens. What if those men knew one of the Ravens? What if word got back to the enforcer? Would they come looking for Johnny way up here? She set her wine down. “Did they say anything?”
“Hell yeah they did. They laughed, but it was the kind of laugh that makes you shiver, you know? Not the kind that makes you feel good. Anyway, Johnny said Sam had been shot so he’d had to save him. He even mentioned something about his sister patching Sam up.”
“Oh God.”
Victoria held the stem of the glass with one hand while tapping the rim idly with the thumb of the other. “I’m sorry. I finally got him away from the group by telling him it was time to go. I’ve been worried about it ever since.” She shrugged as her mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I know you don’t like me.” She waved off Molly’s instinctive protest and continued, “I don’t blame you. I don’t like you either.”
Stunned at the candor, Molly could only gape at her guest.
“It’s not personal, Molly. You seem nice enough, but I’ve loved Sam since he was a seventeen. He never noticed me though. I was just the kid sister of his best friend. By the time I was old enough where he might have paid attention to me, he was out of college and didn’t come back here very often. Unlike Sam, I was stuck here year-round. I didn’t get to leave when school started and go live someplace where shopping at the local “Fleet and Farm” isn’t the highlight of the month.”
Molly gazed at the lake as the last rays of the sun turned the water the color of fire. The eastern sky was a deep blue with the first few stars emerging to twinkle on the horizon. A loon’s call echoed over the still water. “I can’t imagine wanting to leave this place.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Sure, it’s pretty, but it’s also boring as hell. I dreamed of moving to Chicago or New York.” She toyed with the empty glass, and Molly thought about offering a refill, but since Victoria had already admitted to not liking her, all she wanted to do was get her out as fast as possible and call Sam on his cell. The other woman raised one shoulder in a careless half-shrug and said, “But, it wasn’t meant to be. I got pregnant when I was nineteen and got married. I lost the baby a month later.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, me too. If I had miscarried just a month earlier, I would have had my chance to pursue my dreams. Instead, I stayed here with Don. He had a good job at the sawmill, but we never got ahead.” She glanced at Molly and must have read the horror on Molly’s face at her callous recount of her miscarriage, because her eyes turned cold. “Don’t judge me. I was devastated at the time, but it was years ago. I stayed married thinking we’d go off and have the whole dream of a little house and children, but Don liked to hang out at the bars more often than he liked to be home with me. I tried for years to make that dream a reality, but I ran out of energy. While I was working two full-time jobs to save money for our own house, he was out at the bars drinking up our savings. I finally had enough and kicked him to the curb.”
Molly didn’t know how to respond. She had her own rocky history with men and didn’t consider herself even close to being an expert. “It sounds like you did the right thing.”
“Yeah, well too little too late, as the saying goes. I’m pushing thirty and my dreams of being a model died a decade ago. When I heard Sam was back in town, I thought we’d finally have our chance, but instead, he had you and your little girl.” She didn’t sneer, but her tone came close.
Molly had heard enough of Victoria’s sob story. She stood, picking up her own glass and taking Victoria’s as well. “Look, you can say what you want about me, but don’t use that tone in conjunction with my daughter ever again. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m beat and was about to call it a night.”
Victoria stood and took the last apple slice from the plate, and dipped it. “I don’t know what tone you’re talking about. I think your daughter is adorable.” She popped the apple into her mouth.
Molly gave her a long look, but shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. Thank you for telling me about my brother’s encounter with those men. I’ll call Sam and let him know.”
* * *
“Sam?” Molly sat on the steps of the porch, wishing Sam was here. “Victoria stopped by last night and she had some news.” She recounted her conversation with Victoria. “I’m worried.”
“I’m not sure how much I trust Victoria’s account of things, but I think we’re about done down here. I got some info from an old contact that the Ravens haven’t been around for a few weeks.”
“So does that mean you’re coming home?” She’d intended to say, ‘coming back’, but coming home had slipped out instead. This little cottage had become a home to her and already she hated the thought of leaving, but they couldn’t stay here forever. She stood and leaned against the railing, craning to look around the corner to make sure Kelsie hadn’t gone near the water. Molly was happy to see that she was still engrossed in some kind of Barbie drama with her new dolls.
Sam seemed not to have noticed her slip about home . “Yeah, I don’t see any point in staying down here. The trail’s gone cold.”
<
br /> She heard regret in his voice and it reminded her of Sam’s personal mission in regards to The Ravens. If only he could achieve peace without seeking vengeance. Molly dipped her head, scuffing the toe of her tennis shoe at a dried chunk of mud on the porch, sending the small clump sailing off into the grass. “I hope Johnny’s not causing too much trouble.”
“No, he’s doing okay. We picked up your mail and got the other things you asked for. If we get on the road in the next hour, we should be back by dinner time.”
“I’ll make something nice for dinner.” As soon as she hung up, Molly spun in a circle, cheeks aching from the grin that couldn’t seem to wipe away. Sam was coming home. It had only been a few days, but she felt like the time had crawled by.
* * *
Sam paced the living room. Since coming home the night before, he’d decided that maybe it would be a good idea to get his field office in the loop. He’d had no luck on his own at finding Howard. As much as it killed him, he might have to see if he could get any help, either officially, or perhaps from his friend, Dave.
If the Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago ATF office—Sam and Dave’s boss—didn’t agree, Sam would have to call the whole thing off. He had pleaded to go after the Ravens immediately after the funerals of his son and mother, but was denied. He requested again after seven months, but again, the SAC had refused. He said Sam was too close to the case, his grief still too acute. So, the bureau had plodded along with their investigation, but it was going nowhere. At least it seemed that way to Sam. While he wasn’t able to participate, he saw the memos. The ATF’s special arson lab had determined that the cause of the fire that took Sam’s family was definitely arson, but that was as far as it got. They didn’t have enough evidence as to who had started the fire and who had ordered it.
Sam rolled his shoulders, and tilted his head to work out a kink. He stalked to the window and stared at his dusty bike parked in the drive behind Molly’s vehicle. He’d missed the bike. The one he’d picked up hadn’t felt right to him and he’d let Johnny ride the new bike back. Johnny’s bike now took up space in Tuck’s garage. Johnny’s motorcycle was too big of an identifier. Letting the drapes fall back together, he thought about why his mindset had changed. He no longer had a fatalistic frame of mind. He had a reason to continue living. The reason had curly dark hair and a smile that could light up even the darkest room. He smiled and sighed. Part of him worried his feelings were too intense too soon. Was this just a rebound of sorts? Was it just a way to avoid his grief by immersing himself in a relationship? When he thought of Molly and the sparkle in her eyes, he didn’t think it was. It felt too real. They both had tried to deny their feelings and relationship, but he’d missed her the few days he’d been gone.
After crisscrossing the state of Wisconsin and hitting up their favorite hangouts that Sam recalled from his days in the motorcycle gang, they had come up empty. The only clue he really had was from Victoria, and that was far from concrete. Sam decided they needed more information, and the only place he thought he might get up-to-date intelligence was from the ATF.
* * *
“Dave…it’s me,” Sam said, as he paced the beach. He’d wanted privacy to make the call, and early morning, the lake was still and peaceful. Birds called out and soaring overhead was a bald eagle. Somewhere around the bend in the bay, a fishing boat droned, but the sound was distant. “I need some help.”
“Sam! It’s great to hear from you. How the hell are you?”
Sam smiled at Dave’s enthusiasm. “I’m okay.” And he realized as he said the words that he really was okay. Better than he had been in a long time.
“Where are you? I tried calling your apartment but the line was disconnected. I was thinking about putting out an APB on you.” Although Dave sounded like he was joking, Sam heard the underlying concern.
“I went undercover—“
“Undercover? You mean you aren’t on leave anymore?”
“Um, not exactly. I’m on leave, but I was doing my own little operation.”
Dave sighed into the phone. “Sam…”
There it was again, the pity that Sam had come to detest. “No, it’s okay, Dave. It’s not what you think.” Sam shrugged. “Well, it kind of is, but not exactly what you’re thinking.” He went on to explain about his encounter with the Ravens and saving Johnny’s ass, along with their subsequent escape to Sam’s cabin. When he got to the part about Molly, he tried to skim over it by just saying he had brought Johnny’s sister and niece here too, and that it was necessary to keep them safe.”
“I don’t have a good feeling about this, Sam. What can you possibly do on your own—legally that is?” Sam clenched his jaw. Dave probably guessed what the plan had been. Before he could answer, Dave continued, “Forget I asked that—I don’t want to know.”
“I’ll admit that I can’t guarantee that I’ll play by the rules when I find him, but…but there are complications now. I don’t want my actions to hurt anyone else.” He drew in a deep breath and tried to sound nonchalant as he explained, “I have a good incentive to do things the right way.”
There was a pause, and then Dave said, “Glad to hear it. You sound different, almost like your old self.”
Sam lifted one shoulder as he bent his head and kicked at a water-logged stick on the edge of the beach. “Yeah, well, I feel more like myself, but don’t get too happy yet. I want revenge on Howard still. That won’t ever change and I won’t stop until I get him—one way or another.”
“I wish I had news on that front for you. You know they won’t let me do much with the case either, since they consider me too close to it too.”
“But you have more access than I do.”
“That’s true, and I’m sorry to admit that I haven’t inquired lately. It’s been tough going discussing the case like it’s a routine case, when…when, damn it, Sam—I loved Sean too! And your mom was like a second grandmother to my kids.” There was a catch in Dave’s voice and Sam closed his eyes and sank onto his haunches, rubbing his forehead between his thumb and fingers. It had never occurred to him that the tragedy had affected his best friend. Since Sean’s death, he’d cut Dave out of his life. It was too painful. Dave was like the brother Sam had never had, and he couldn’t count the number of holidays he had celebrated with Dave’s family. Sean had once even asked if Dave’s kids were his cousins.
“I’m sorry, Dave. I…didn’t think about how all of this affected you, Cynthia and the kids. I should have. I miss you guys.”
Dave cleared his throat, the sound loud in Sam’s ear. “No apologies necessary and you should know that. We miss you, too. The kids ask about their Uncle Sam all the time.”
Dave’s kids had called him Uncle Sam one time in all innocence, not knowing the patriotic image the name inspired, and after it was explained, they had used the moniker whenever they saw him. Sam chuckled. “Yeah, well tell them I hope to see them soon. Maybe you all can come up here for a weekend or something when all of this is over.”
“Sam, I hate to say it, but what if it’s never over? What if you can’t do whatever it is you want to do with Howard? We know Howard ordered the hit, but the guy who gave that information is dead. Without something else to go on, even if you find Howard, there’s not enough evidence to convict him. You’d need to get a confession or something, and good luck with that.”
“The informant is dead?” Sam grabbed another stick and stabbed it into the sand, gouging out a hole, his mind racing. How could he arrest Howard now? He had only reluctantly considered arresting the man, wanting instead to mete out his own brand of justice, but now even arrest was off the table. Sam straightened and flung the stick into the gentle waves.”
“Yeah, he was killed in prison awaiting trial on another case.”
“Damn it.” Sam drew in a deep breath. “Well, I’m not sure what I’ll do now, but I’ll figure something out. I’ll try to play by the rules, but at the moment, I’m stuck anyway. I’ve been canvassing the st
ate looking for the man, but haven’t had any luck. If you hear of anything, will you let me know?”
“I will. Let me jot down this number you’re calling from. It must be new because I don’t recognize it.”
“It’s a pay as you go phone.”
“I figured. I’ll do a little digging on my end and let you know where the investigation stands.”
“I appreciate that, Dave.”
* * *
Sam paid for the groceries and headed across the street to the bakery after depositing his bags in the car. He hadn’t told Molly yet, but he was thinking of taking another few days to head to the western part of the state. There were plenty of bikers there, too. It was the region of the state he hadn’t yet canvassed. When he’d been with the Ravens while undercover, they had never spent time in that part of the state, so he had concentrated his efforts in the central and eastern regions instead. He wanted to make sure there was plenty to eat at the cabin, and to soften the blow—for Kelsie anyway—he made a detour to the bakery. Fresh donuts might deflect the little girl’s wrath. Midweek, the bakery wasn’t too busy. Good thing it wasn’t Saturday or he’d have no chance of getting a good selection in the middle of the morning.
There were a few customers in line ahead of him and he used the time to make some doughnut selections. A couple of chocolate, a raspberry-filled, an éclair, and two with pink frosting and colorful sprinkles. He smiled as he imagined Kelsie’s face when she saw them. He just hoped neither of the customers before him would choose them as they were the last ones in the case. Sam took a deep breath, inhaling the delicious aroma of fried dough, chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. They should bottle the scent of bakery. Not only did it smell amazing, but it brought back so many wonderful memories. This was the same bakery he’d been coming to since he was a child and not much had changed. Dark wood cases with glass fronts held a selection of cookies, cupcakes, pies and decorated layer cakes.
Seeking Vengeance Page 14