Buried Memories

by Carol J. Post

  Tyler raised the radio to his face. “This is Wildcat two-one. We’re caught in an ambush and receiving fire. Over.”

  The cushion beneath Marty erupted in flames. Tyler stepped in that direction as another mortar round whizzed into the room. The explosion threw him backward, slamming him into the side wall. A bone snapped, and pain shot through his left arm. The staccato rhythm of AK-47 fire continued, and another man went down. Where was that other squad?

  An agonized scream rose over the sounds of the small arms fire. Marty was engulfed in flames. Steve would be next. With his left arm hanging, Tyler moved toward them on his knees, firing off several shots through the damaged wall. Another mortar round slammed into the building. Mud bricks and debris crashed over him, knocking him flat.

  The next moment, a series of creaks sounded above him. That section of the roof was giving way. He threw his good arm over his head just before the full weight of it crashed down on him. Steve’s screams joined Marty’s, forming a hideous chorus.

  He tried to rise, but he was pinned. Flames spread to the newly fallen support beams, and his own screams mingled with those of his dying men. He had to get out. His men needed him.

  Suddenly his arms were free. He threw his hands back, fighting his way through the debris holding him. His fist connected with...something.

  The screams faded and disappeared, replaced by barking. Dim light crept into the room from somewhere else. He blinked several times. He was in Andy’s living room. A figure lay on the floor on the other side of the coffee table, barely visible in the glow of the light seeping in through the front door. A dog flanked each side, still barking.

  “Nicki?”

  He flew to his feet and clicked on the lamp, a vise clamping down on his chest. If he’d hurt her...

  “Are you all right? Tell me I didn’t hurt you.”

  The dogs settled down but still eyed him warily. Nicki pushed herself onto her hands and knees and sat back. Her left cheekbone was turning an angry shade of red. Callie gave her several sloppy kisses on the side of her face. Nicki grimaced, then ran a shaking hand down the dog’s back.

  He dropped to his knees and gathered her into his arms. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “Yes, it is. I hit you.”

  His brother appeared at the end of the hall, followed by Joan. “Everything okay? We heard a scream.”

  Nicki spoke. “Tyler had a nightmare. Everything’s fine.”

  “No, it’s not. I hit her.” And he hated himself. He was a danger to those around him. He’d thought if he just kept his weapon locked away, he couldn’t hurt anyone. He’d been wrong.

  “I shouldn’t have approached you.” Her eyes held concern mixed with understanding. “I was awake and heard you thrashing around. By the time I got out here, you were talking in your sleep. Something was apparently going horribly wrong.” She cast a glance at his brother. “Andy and Joan would probably appreciate me not repeating your exact words.”

  He cringed. “Sorry about that.”

  “Your talking got louder and more agitated, and I tried to wake you up by calling your name. When that didn’t work, I put my hand on your shoulder and shook you. Then you screamed and started swinging. I tried to twist away, but I didn’t escape fast enough.”

  He shifted his gaze to the coffee table, and his stomach filled with lead. “I hit you hard enough to knock you over the table.”

  “Not totally. I was already off balance, my weight shifting that direction. You just helped.” She started to smile, then winced.

  Apparently having decided the danger was over, Andy and Joan disappeared back down the hall. The dogs must have sensed it, too, as they lay back down. He tightened his hold on her and buried his face in her hair. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize.” Her words were the softest whisper.

  She turned so she could wrap her arms around him, and for several minutes they sat, locked in a comforting embrace. He breathed in the faint floral scent of her shampoo, letting her soothing presence drain away the last of his tension.

  He’d cherish it while it lasted. Because like every other good thing, his time with Nicki would be all too fleeting. Soon he and Andy would finish their work on the inn. Eventually whoever was tormenting Nicki would be caught. Then Tyler would leave.

  He’d entertained thoughts of staying, of trying to make Nicki feel something more than friendship. That had been nothing but a pipe dream. Tonight had proved it.

  Because if he stayed, if they became more than friends, he’d never know when he might hurt her. He’d always be a threat.

  Maybe as much of a threat as whoever was after her.

  NINE

  Nicki couldn’t help shaking her head as she hung up the phone. Tyler was still sitting at the kitchen table, and she plopped into the chair next to him. After he and Andy had worked a short day at the inn, the four of them had had a late lunch, and Andy and Joan had run into town. Tyler was probably thankful for the afternoon off, since they’d stayed out way too late last night. At least he’d enjoyed his first game night with her friends.

  She turned to him now. Almost a week had passed since the fire, and she’d just gotten her first piece of news. “That was Chief Robinson. The preliminary report shows the right rear burner under the pan I’d fried eggs in was left on medium high.”

  Tyler raised his brows. “You forgot to turn off the stove?”

  “No, I didn’t.” She was too much of a double-checker to walk away with her stove on.

  “Maybe you were distracted.”

  “I’m positive I turned it off. Besides, I fry eggs on medium, not medium high.”

  She rose from the table and began to pace, a knot forming in her stomach. She’d hoped it was faulty wiring or some other accidental cause. This proved otherwise.

  Tyler nodded, mouth set in a firm line. “If that’s the case, someone turned it on, maybe trying to make it look like a grease fire to hide the fact that it was intentionally set.” He drew his brows together. “Would Callie let a stranger into the house when you’re gone?”

  “I doubt it. But if someone broke the kitchen window, he could stretch across the counter and reach the knobs without even coming inside, since they’re on the back of the stove.”

  It was a distinct possibility. The kitchen window had been broken. So were several others. The day before yesterday, she’d gone in with Tyler and taken a look around. The tour had been heartbreaking. Ashes littered everything, charred remains of most of her earthly possessions.

  The room she used as her workshop had been the least damaged, leaving her stained glass tools and supplies salvageable. There was a lot of smoke damage, but fortunately, the insurance company had arranged for cleanup.

  The rest of the house hadn’t fared so well. The kitchen and living room were a total loss. The curios holding all her collectibles were reduced to a few warped and charred pieces of wood and blackened panes of glass. The figurines lay in pieces amid the destruction.

  Her bedroom was almost as bad. The flames had swept through the room, turning everything fabric to ash. It was all gone—curtains, blankets, bedding, clothes. And Lavender.

  Nicki sighed. After the first attack, she’d carefully stitched the rabbit’s belly back together and returned her to her place on the shelf. This time there would be no repairing her. Lavender was gone.

  She sank back into the chair and laid her phone on the table. “The investigator said the glass is still being tested to determine whether it was shattered from the outside first or burst from the inside due to the heat. Since the doors were still locked, I’m guessing they’ll find that at least one window was shattered from the outside.” She was pretty sure it was the one in the kitchen.

  Before Tyler could respond, he
r phone lit up and the ringtone sounded.

  “You’re popular today.”

  She frowned at the phone. She didn’t recognize the number. She swiped the screen and said a tentative hello.

  “Nicki?”

  Her pulse began to race. There was something familiar about the voice, a certain lilt that, even after twenty-two years, she’d never forgotten.

  “Jenny?”

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  She closed her eyes and clutched the phone more tightly. After seven long months of searching, and a couple thousand dollars, her dream was about to become a reality. She was going to be reunited with her sister. “Where are you?”

  “On my way to Cedar Key. I just need your address.”

  The front door opened and closed, and several moments later, Andy and Joan stepped into the kitchen. Nicki sprang from her chair and pointed at the phone, mouthing her sister’s name. Now that she’d gotten over the initial shock, she could hardly contain her excitement. She gave Jenny directions, then moved into the living room at a half skip.

  “How soon will you be here?”

  “About thirty minutes.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  After disconnecting the call, she bounded back into the kitchen. “Jenny’s on her way here.”

  Joan squealed and hugged her. Andy patted her shoulder. “That’s wonderful news.”

  Only Tyler didn’t share in her joy. He sat with his arms crossed and his jaw tight. Annoyance slid through her, and she tried to tamp it down. He was just concerned. Once he saw that everything was going to be okay, he’d be happy for her, too.

  At least, she hoped everything was going to be okay. Because the doubt chewing at the edges of her mind was hard to ignore.

  For the next thirty minutes, she alternated between pacing and parting the blinds to stare out the window. When she thought she could stand it no longer, a small white car pulled into the driveway. She opened the door and stepped onto the porch.

  The driver’s door swung outward, and a woman climbed out. Platinum-blond hair brushed her shoulders, and long legs emerged from cut-off denim shorts. A baggy T-shirt ended a couple of inches above the frayed hem. Sunglasses hid her eyes. She stopped just before reaching the porch.

  Nicki closed the remaining distance between them and wrapped her in a tight hug. Tears sprang to her eyes, and she had to choke back an unexpected sob. Jenny returned the hug, but not as enthusiastically as Nicki had initiated it.

  Nicki released her. Jenny was holding back. Nicki understood that. They had so much catching up to do. After twenty-two years, they were virtual strangers.

  “Come on in. I want you to meet my friend Tyler and his brother and sister-in-law.”

  Once inside, Jenny moved her sunglasses to the top of her head. Her eyes were the same green Nicki remembered. But there was a hardness to them, and creases fanned out from the outer edges. Jenny had other wrinkles, too, vertical troughs between her eyebrows and frown lines around her mouth, signs of the hard life she’d led.

  Nicki made introductions, and Joan extended a warm handshake. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “No, thanks. I had something on the way over.” She gave everyone an apologetic smile. “I was hoping Nicki would show me around Cedar Key. I feel like the two of us have so much to talk about, I don’t know where to begin.”

  Tyler stepped up. “How about if I chauffeur you? Then you guys can relax and enjoy the ride and not have to worry about a thing.”

  Jenny patted Tyler’s arm. “I’d like some alone time with my sis. I appreciate the offer, though.”

  A hardness settled in his eyes, and Nicki flashed him a warning glare. He was entitled to his opinions about her sister, but he needed to keep them to himself. She’d been waiting months for this reunion and she wouldn’t let him spoil it.

  She put her phone back into her purse, then followed her sister out the door. When she removed her keys, Jenny stopped her.

  “I’ll drive. Just tell me where to go.”

  “All right.” Nicki slid into Jenny’s passenger seat. “So, what would you like to see?”

  “You pick. Show me whatever you think is noteworthy.”

  “How about if we start at the co-op?”

  Jenny’s brows went up. “Co-op?”

  “The Cedar Keyhole Artist Co-op. It’s where local artists sell their work—pottery, jewelry, leather, metal, paintings, you name it. I have some stained glass there. I’d love for you to see it.”

  Jenny shrugged. “Sure.”

  Nicki directed her through a few turns until they reached Second Street. Two blocks down, Jenny pulled into a parking space, and Nicki led her into the colorful building.

  Over the next several minutes, she introduced her to several people, pride swelling inside. My sister. She shook her head. It still seemed surreal, probably would for a long time.

  After stopping to study some blown glass, she grinned over at Jenny. “I could live in here. Every time I come in, there’s something different.” She pointed ahead. “There’s my stained glass.”

  Jenny followed her but seemed distracted, almost agitated. Or maybe she had no interest in art and was bored.

  “Is there something else you’d rather do?”

  “I was thinking it would be nice to go for a walk somewhere, just the two of us. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. I want to hear all about what you’ve done over the past twenty years.”

  “Sure.” She swung the door open and held it for Jenny to walk out ahead of her. “The Railroad Trestle Nature Trail would be perfect. It’s quiet and peaceful and private. It’s one of my favorite places to go.”

  When they arrived at the trailhead, the single parking spot was empty. Jenny stepped from the car and looked around her. “You’re right. This is perfect.”

  Nicki slipped her phone into her pocket and headed into the woods, Jenny next to her. “You wanted to hear everything that’s happened since we got separated.” She grinned. “I’ll give you the abridged version.” She picked up a piece of a broken limb and tossed it away from the trail. “Foster care was the pits. By the time I got out of there, I was ready to fight anybody and everybody, no matter how big.”

  “Yeah, if you don’t learn how to stick up for yourself, you can get eaten alive.”

  Nicki continued her story without slowing down to admire the scenery. Along the sides of the trail, a couple dozen signs identified many of the plant species there. She’d read them before. But not this time. If looking at the endless variety of art had bored Jenny, she wouldn’t care to read botanical signs.

  By the time they reached the end of the trail, Nicki had just finished telling her about losing her parents and inheriting the house. She looked out at the old trestle posts poking up through the shallow bay, remnants of the bridge that had carried the trains across the water. Now she would hear Jenny’s story. And maybe through the process of telling it, Jenny would find healing.

  Nicki headed back down the trail the way they’d come. “So did my PI catch up with you, or did you talk to Gina?”

  “Both. Gina gave me your number yesterday. But your investigator found me a few times before. Though we didn’t personally talk, his messages got to me. At the time, I wasn’t ready to see you.” She hesitated, and an odd coldness entered her eyes. “Now I am.”

  Unease darkened Nicki’s thoughts, a shadow passing through her mind. She shook it off. Jenny had no reason to want to hurt her. They hadn’t even seen each other in over twenty years. Before that, they weren’t close, but that was because of the five-year age difference. They’d gone to separate schools, had their own friends and varied interests.

  Besides, even if Jenny did feel some kind of animosity toward her, she wouldn’t be stupid enough to try anything. Too many people had seen
them together.

  Nicki cast her an uneasy glance. Jenny stared straight ahead, her whole body radiating tension. Finally she spoke.

  “We both got shipped off to foster homes the day after Mom was killed. That’s where I spent the next six years. Messed-up twelve-year-olds aren’t nearly as adoptable as cute little seven-year-olds.”

  Nicki’s uneasiness ratcheted up several notches at the bitterness in Jenny’s tone. She put her hand over her back pocket, which held her cell phone. If things got too bad, maybe she could shoot off a quick text to Tyler.

  Jenny continued, the bitterness increasing. “I never had the opportunity to go to college. And I never had a cushy job.”

  “I did go to college, but I’ve always had to work my tail off at my jobs.” She forced a laugh. “If you find out where the cushy ones are, let me know.”

  Jenny moved ahead as if she hadn’t spoken. “I never owned my own home, either. Of course, I never had anyone to leave me everything when they bit the dust.”

  Nicki’s jaw dropped, and anger surged through her. “I’d give it all back for another day with my parents.”

  Jenny ignored her again. “Always surrounded by friends and family. You have no idea what it’s like to have no one.” She shook her head and continued. “Two sisters. One given all the advantages. The other nothing. Do you think that’s fair?”

  Nicki gasped, realization slamming into her with the force of a freight train. No, it wasn’t fair, so Jenny was here to level the playing field.

  It wasn’t fair she had the “cushy” job, so Jenny tried to make her boss doubt her, even fire her.

  It wasn’t fair she had good friends, so Jenny threatened them, hoping to isolate her from them.

  And it wasn’t fair she had her home and all of her possessions, so Jenny set fire to it and destroyed it.

  Jenny had told Gina she was going to see a wrong made right. And that was why she’d come to Cedar Key.