Sins of the Past

by Dee Henderson

  “But someone just tried to kill you.”

  “And I’m safer in a crowd, don’t you think?”

  He tilted his head and studied her. “Maybe.”

  “I’ve got my uniform and toiletries at the station. I can stay there for now.” She paused. “I might be safer in a crowd, but do you think I’ll be putting the others who work there at risk?”

  He shook his head. “There’s no way to know.”

  She rubbed her eyes. “All right, I’ll talk to my boss and see what he says. If he wants me to take some personal time, I will. If he’s okay with me working, then that’s what I’ll do.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes for a second. “After I call my insurance company.” She looked down at her bare toes. “I don’t suppose you have any shoes I can borrow?”

  He grunted. “Those are my sister’s clothes. She probably left some flip-flops or something behind. I’ll go look.”

  While he was gone, she called her boss and filled him in that her stalker was targeting her once again. “I don’t know what to do. I want to work my shift, but I don’t want anyone to be in danger because they’re paired up with me.”

  She heard his sigh come through the line. “I don’t have anyone else I can pull at this short notice. Come in and we’ll take it one day at a time.”

  “All right. Thanks.”

  “Yep.” He hung up.

  She looked up to see Chad back in the den with a pair of white tennis shoes in his left hand. “No flip-flops, but I found these. Size 7 okay?”

  “I’m a 7 and a half, but I’ll make do. Thanks.”

  She slipped them on her feet, her toes curling only slightly.

  Chad rubbed his nose. “Want me to escort you to work? Make sure you get there safely?”

  She paused. Then gave a slow nod. It would be stupid to say no. “Yes. I’ll take you up on that.”

  “Good.”

  “I’m going next door to see if my purse survived,” she said.

  He nodded. “I’ll come with you.”

  She walked out the door with him at her side. Five steps later, she stopped. Standing in his small front yard, she stared at the mess that she had called home and felt the tears well. She held them back and took a deep breath.

  Chad’s hand came down on her shoulder with a gentle squeeze. “It looks bad from here, but maybe inside isn’t as awful. Come on.”

  She walked to the front door and pushed it open. “They didn’t bother to lock it.”

  Chad placed a hand over the weapon strapped to his side. “Let me go in first.”

  “Okay.” She stepped back and he swept past her. She followed but quickly came to an abrupt stop. “The fire didn’t do this.”

  Her living area wasn’t just scorched and drenched, it was trashed.

  He pulled his weapon. “Stay behind me.”

  She shivered. “You think someone’s still here?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She fell silent and watched him go to work. He cleared the house with her right on his hip. Every room had been tossed, and her blood pressure skyrocketed with each new find.

  When he came full circle back to her living area, his shoulders relaxed slightly. “Well, whoever was here is gone now.”

  “When did someone have time to do this?”

  “After everyone left and while we were sleeping, I guess.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and she shook her head.

  “Don’t.” She pressed her palms to her cheeks. “Just . . . don’t bother.”

  “What? I’ve got to call it in.”

  She shrugged. “Won’t do any good.”

  “Might get some prints. We can compare them to this ex-boyfriend who just got released from prison.”

  She nodded. “Fine. I’m going to see if my purse is still here.”

  “Just don’t touch anything else.”

  “Right.”

  She’d been so tense, just waiting for someone to pop out from under her bed or out of the closet, that she’d forgotten to look for her purse. She walked into her bedroom and was grateful that it was relatively unscathed—other than every drawer emptied onto the floor and every piece of clothing stripped from the hangers in her closet.

  The worst of the bomb and water damage had been done to her den and the roof. Hopefully it wouldn’t take long to get it repaired. The rest of the damage had been done by whoever had broken in. Her anger simmered.

  She grabbed her purse, which still sat next to the small desk in the corner of her room. She stared at it. So whoever had broken in hadn’t been interested in stealing her wallet. She went into the bathroom and, using a washcloth, opened the medicine cabinet. It hadn’t been touched. She had a prescription for Lortab she took for the occasional migraine. The bottle was still there, front and center. Which meant it hadn’t been someone looking for drugs or money.

  So what had the person been after?

  EIGHT

  After filing the report and talking to the officers who’d responded to his call about the break-in, Chad took Macey to the police station, where she was printed. “Now we can rule out your prints on the note thrown in your window.”

  She nodded. “Thanks.”

  “You look tired. Are you sure you shouldn’t call in?” She shot him a black look and he held up his hands in surrender. “Forget I asked.”

  Her expression softened. “I know you’re just concerned, but no, I can’t call in.”

  “Okay then. I’ll shut up.”

  “Thank you.”

  But I won’t stop looking out for you. He followed Macey to work. She drove with confidence and precision, the scared, trembling woman from last night replaced by someone who looked forward to going to work. Someone who knew her job, enjoyed it, and was comfortable doing it. He thought about how she’d taken care of his head wound last night. How she’d stayed cool even when she was in danger. How she didn’t want to put him in danger by telling him everything, but realizing she needed help, had enough sense to finally ask for it. Yep, he’d want her by his side in an emergency.

  When she parked, she raised a hand in thanks and he waved back. “Be careful,” he muttered. He watched her walk into the fire station and wished he could stay with her, protect her, watch her back. But he couldn’t do that.

  What he could do was get to his desk and start looking into her past. He wanted to know exactly where Tyler Norwood had been the last three months and where he was in the early morning hours when Macey’s house had been bombed.

  He pulled away from the curb as one of her coworkers came out to greet her and together the two disappeared behind the steel door that shut them inside.

  Chad’s head still ached from the hit he’d taken last night, but a sense of urgency drove him. An urgency that warned him he’d better not miss anything. Deep in his gut he knew the clock was ticking for Macey, and it was up to him to beat it.

  When Macey stepped into the station, two of her coworkers were playing cards while two others worked on paperwork.

  And her sister sat on the couch.

  Macey’s partner, Chelsea James, patted her on the shoulder then walked into the kitchen. Macey appreciated the attempt to give her and Valerie some space to talk.

  “Valerie? What are you doing here?”

  Valerie rose and crossed the small area to wrap her arms around Macey.

  Macey returned the hug with a brief squeeze. “Why aren’t you at work? Are Mom and Dad okay?”

  Valerie ran a hand over her straight-as-a-stick blond hair. “Yes. They’re fine. I was just worried about you. I wanted to see for myself that you’re all right.”

  “I told you I’m fine.”

  “You said someone is after you because your memories are coming back.”

  “Yes.

  “So stop.”

  “What?”

  Valerie clenched her fists. “Stop trying to remember.”

  Macey grabbed her sister’s arm and pulled her into the conference room. Tha
nkfully it was empty. “Look, Val, I have to remember.”

  “Why? It’s all in the past. Let it go.”

  Macey stared at her. “Let it go? I can’t let it go. Someone is so concerned about what I might remember that he’s willing to kill me to make sure I can’t tell anyone what’s buried in my brain. And I’m just supposed to let it go?” Through the glass she could see several heads swivel in her direction and realized her voice had risen by several decibels.

  Valerie paled and Macey sucked in a calming breath.

  “I’m sorry, Val, I didn’t mean to yell. I’m just so tired of being unable to move beyond my past.” Tears welled up in her eyes. She really didn’t want to cry. “And if suffering migraines and dodging bombs and drawing out whoever killed David—because we both know his accident was no accident—is what it takes, then I’m willing to do it.”

  “Tyler called me,” Valerie said, her voice barely there.

  Macey recoiled. “What? When?”

  “A few days ago.”

  “What did he want?”

  “He was angry you wouldn’t talk to him, that you’d taken out a restraining order on him. He wanted me to convince you that it was in your best interests to talk to him.”

  Macey blinked, unable to believe her ears. “Why are you just now telling me this?”

  “Because I was afraid you’d go against all that is common sense and agree to talk to him. I told him you were remembering what happened that night and as soon as you did, the real truth would come out.”

  “You told him that?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you didn’t think that might put me in danger? That it might set him off and send him after me?”

  “No! Of course not. I told him to leave you alone, that you weren’t up to talking to him.”

  “I can’t believe you, Val, sometimes I just truly can’t.”

  Valerie paused and closed her eyes. “He also said something else.”

  “What?”

  “That he wanted what belonged to him and that he was going to get it one way or another.”

  Macey stilled. Finally her brain started working again. “But I don’t have anything.”

  “He said you have the bag of stolen stuff. He said he shoved it at you the night of the wreck and you disappeared with it. And now he’s coming to get it.”

  A fine rage started to boil within Macey. “And you kept this to yourself? You didn’t think I needed to know? Someone has been trying to kill me for the last three days! Actually, it’s more likely that they’ve been planning it since David’s death.”

  “I know that now! But you haven’t said a word since the car incident. And I told him I would talk to you, to see if I could get you to meet him. That I would even set it up.”

  “You told him that?”

  “Yes! I mean, I wasn’t really going to do it, I was just trying to buy some time.”

  “Time for what?”

  Tears welled in her sister’s eyes. “I was trying to protect you. Trying to figure out what to do. I didn’t want to tell you about his threat because I was afraid it would send you back into a tailspin of migraines and worry and fear. I’ve watched you come a long way these last six years, and I just—I’m sorry. I—I was trying to get together the money to pay for a private detective to keep an eye on you.”

  “What?” Macey could only gape at her sister.

  Valerie shrugged. She sniffed and swiped a tear from her cheek.

  “A private detective?” Macey asked.

  Could Valerie even be serious? Just because Tyler showed up asking about her?

  “You should have told me about everything, Macey,” Valerie said. “If I had known all the details, I would have done things differently.”

  Macey bit her tongue on a scathing retort. It wasn’t her sister’s fault. Not really. Valerie didn’t know about Tyler’s phone calls from the prison or that he’d shown up at her work. Or that she’d gotten a restraining order on him. A headache started to pound at the base of her neck. “I didn’t want to involve you, worry you any more than you already do,” she whispered.

  “But that’s what I’m here for, Macey. I’m your sister, your family. I love you. You have to let people help you.”

  “I’m working on that issue.”

  “Well, sounds like you need to work faster. Mom and Dad want to be included, too.”

  Macey stiffened. “Not them.”

  Her sister sighed and waved a weary hand. “Work on that issue, too, while you’re working on stuff. I’m still trying to find a bodyguard or someone who can watch your back. I’ll do whatever I have to do to help you.”

  “You don’t have the money for that kind of thing.”

  “No, I don’t. But I can cash out all of my credit cards and take a second mortgage out on the house. Something. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “I know you don’t. I don’t either. That’s why I’m trying so hard to make sure I take precautions. But I’m not letting this person, Tyler or whoever, get away with this. I’m not letting it go. That’s why I’m letting Chad, Detective Latham, help me. I’m following his advice, I promise.”

  “Good,” Valerie whispered.

  “And I need to know ASAP if Tyler contacts you again, understand?”

  Val nodded. “Fine.”

  “You look mad.”

  “I am mad. I’m sad and mad and have all kinds of emotions running through me. I want you to leave this alone. But I guess you’re going to do what you’re going to do. You always have.”

  Macey froze. “That was low, Val.”

  “I know and I didn’t mean—” She sighed. “I’m leaving now before I say anything else I’ll regret. I’ll see you later.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “To work, then to meet a friend for lunch.”

  Macey narrowed her eyes. “Which friend?”

  Val fiddled with the strap of her purse. “Trish. Okay?”

  Macey flinched. Why her? “I thought you two weren’t that close anymore.”

  “It’s true, we grew apart,” Valerie said with a slight shrug. “But recently she came to me and said she missed me and our friendship. She’s been amazing—and persistent.” At Macey’s silence, she sighed. “We’ve been friends since preschool, Macey, you know that. And when David died, she was right there.”

  “I know, I saw her at the funeral.” From a distance.

  “We’ve gotten together about twice a week since his death. She’s understanding and lets me go on and on about how much I miss him.”

  Macey dropped her chin to her chest. “I know you miss him. Does she”—she looked away—“you know . . . talk about him?”

  Valerie went still. “No. She doesn’t bring him up.”

  “I guess she’s buying?”

  “She is, of course. She just got her monthly check and wants to take me out. She knows I have to count my pennies now that David’s gone. And I don’t argue with her. It’s a nice treat in my otherwise dreary existence.” Her sister walked to the door. “Do you think it’s Tyler who’s doing this?”

  “I don’t know, but I sure can’t think of anyone else with a better motive, can you?”

  “No.” Valerie looked back. “Be careful, please?”

  “I will.”

  Valerie left and Macey stayed where she was for the next few minutes, replaying the conversation in her head. It ended the same way each time, so she finally blinked and moved to find her partner. It was time to get to work. She glanced at the clock. Past time. She’d have to process this new information another time.

  “Take the trash out, Adams.”

  She looked up from her thoughts to find her boss standing in the door. “Okay.”

  “You all right?”

  “Yes.” Or she would be at some point in the future. If she wasn’t dead.

  “You got this stalker thing worked out?”

  “No, not since I talked to you this morning.”

  H
e nodded. “Let me know if you see him around here. I’ll take care of him for you.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

  She went to the rolling trash bin in the corner of the room and pulled the bag from it. She set it on the floor and tied it off then hefted it over her shoulder. She propped the back door open then walked out to the dumpster and heaved the bag over the top. It landed with a thump.

  A scraping sound to her right made her freeze. An animal scrounging for food? Did she dare look around the corner of the bin? She took a step back. A shadow fell across the concrete. She turned to bolt toward the door but her upper arm was grasped in a tight hold. She didn’t even have the breath to scream.

  She spun and lost what little breath she had left. “Tyler,” she whispered.

  “I need to talk to you.” His hard gray eyes bored into hers. “And since you won’t give me the time of day, and since your sister is a big liar, we may just have to do this the hard way.”

  Macey tried to calm her racing heart, but it just beat faster as her fear multiplied. She pulled on her arm and to her surprise, he let her go. She backpedaled toward the door.

  “Are you the one who’s been threatening me? Trying to kill me?”

  His eyes narrowed. “No.”

  “Don’t lie, Tyler. Why are you doing this? How did you know I’d be out here?”

  “I’ve been waiting here for the past two weeks. I figured you would bring the trash out eventually.”

  Two weeks?

  “Did you try to break into my house last night? Did you throw a bomb through my window?” She kept a tight rein on the hysteria that wanted to burst from her throat. As a result, her words came out low and soft.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. All I want is that bag of stuff from the safe. I’ve been waiting for six years to get my hands on it. And I know it wasn’t found. My lawyer kept reassuring me it hadn’t been, that the only evidence they had was your testimony. So for six years I’ve been dreaming of this moment.”

  “I don’t know where it is.”

  He took a step toward her and she backed up, hand behind her, reaching for the door handle. She couldn’t find it, but there was no way she was turning her back on him to locate it.

  “Stay away from me.” Her arm still throbbed from his initial grip, and she didn’t think she could stand the idea of him touching her again.