When Nick didn’t get out, she looked over at him.
“Turn off your headlights a minute,” he said.
The dark night enveloped them as did his silence. She could see him squinting; his sight set on something beyond the windshield. He’s still searching, she thought, but said nothing. It would be like touching the wrong key on your computer while it was doing a file search.
After a while her eyes adjusted to what light the few Center lamps offered. It took a minute before he pointed across the dim parking area, his attention and sight still fixed where he indicated.
“Who parks over there?” he asked. “Two spaces over from the opening in the wall there.”
Georgie looked, she too squinting as though it would help. “I’m not sure...”
“Think. Dark, SUV. Two spaces.”
Georgie looked back at him. “I don’t normally come here at night... Wait. A Durango, maybe?”
This time he turned slightly, his eyes meeting hers. His face was a mask of sharp sculptured lines in the low light. “It was a Durango that almost hit you.”
“What?”
“I’m telling you. It was a Durango. Who drives that car?”
“It doesn’t mean it was that car,” she said, a dread turning over in her stomach. “I mean... Nick...”
“It’s gone. It was there when I arrived. Trust me on that. Now it’s gone.”
“Well, Jeffrey probably went home...” She bit her lip, but it was too late. The words were out and there was no taking them back.
Nick now had that bone in his mouth and she knew he would not let it go. He turned all the way to face her squarely, but she was certain he was not seeing her. It was as though he was studying a jigsaw puzzle that wouldn’t come into focus for him.
“Jeffrey.” His voice was flat, hard. “Little mild mannered Jeffrey from the shop?”
She couldn’t lie to him. He would see right through it. “I’m almost positive he normally parks his car there. He does drive a forest green Durango. But...”
“Where does he live?”
“I don’t know.” When his eyes sharpened, she added, “I honestly don’t know. I’ve never been to his house. You don’t really think it was him. I mean... come on.”
His whole body relaxed, but Georgie felt it was a role he was playing, trying to keep it all cool. “It wouldn’t hurt to take a look at his car. Clear him first, and move on. You know.”
“Okay. I’m not stupid. Out with it.” She pointed at him and made exaggerated circles with her finger. “I can see those little wheels turning in your pointed little head. I can’t see Jeffrey being that careless in a parking lot filled with people. I...”
She stopped and thought back to that moment. There was the rev of the engine and the high beams came on, blinding her, but the gunning engine didn’t back off. If anything, it roared even more as the car came at her.
“Oh, my God. You really believe it was intentional?” she asked, and shivered in the warm car.
Nick’s nod was a mere wisp of a shadow.
“Now you do too.”
Chapter eleven
“But.” Georgie couldn’t say it.
She looked to the empty parking space across the way. Jeffrey? She’d known him from the day of her wedding to Sam. He had accompanied his dad. She was still in Beauty School, Sam in his first year of Veterinary School. Jeffrey was still in Business College. From that time on, even while she was in school, every three weeks, he sat in her haircutting chair... over twenty years.
“No. I will not believe Jeffrey would do something like this. Even if it is what you’re thinking.”
“You know why I didn’t get anything off the plates?” he asked, but didn’t wait for her to answer. “There were no plates.”
She could almost feel his eyes move over her face, waiting for her to absorb what he had said.
“But... new cars don’t have them for a while... you know. While they wait...”
“Georgie, there was nothing,” he emphasized. “Not new ones, in between ones, no paper tags on the windows, nothing.”
“Okay, but why. Why would he do it?” she asked.
His intense look softened and he almost smiled. “He was pretty pissed off the other day.”
“Well, he was stressed out...” Georgie couldn’t finish. She could find nothing to say to further her argument. She just didn’t think Jeffrey was capable of harming her, or anyone for that matter.
“Stressed out over what?”
“I don’t know. I...” But she did know, or thought she knew, but she certainly didn’t want to tell Nick about her using Mason to ward off Jeffrey’s attentions.
“What?” Nick asked.
“It was nothing. At least not anything that would make him want to run me over. I mean, my God, Nick.”
The car swayed as Nick shifted in the seat. After a second, he took an exaggerated deep breath. “For a writer you have a limited imagination.”
“Nick. This isn’t one of my novels.”
“No. If it were one of your novels, you’d have written yourself a little smarter.”
“Okay, get out,” she ordered, turning her headlights back on.
“I’m sorry.” He lifted his hands in surrender, his head lowered and shaking in shame. “I apologize. Stupid remark on my part. Very insensitive and all that crap.”
Georgie could see her knuckles get little white snowcaps as she gripped the steering wheel, struggling to keep from laughing. There was just no staying angry with Nick. Gathering all her patience, she set her sights on him. “You really really do need to work on your apologies. They suck.”
“God, don’t I know it,” he laughed and sat back into the seat. Finally, he took a deep breath, his body truly relaxing. “Uh... Georgie Girl?”
The honey sweet tone of his voice sent her warning signals into red alert. “Whatever it is, the answer is no.”
“Aww, Georgie Baby.”
Here it comes, she thought, and let out a heavy sigh of her own, giving in to the inevitable. “What is it?”
“Well, they haven’t turned on the gas or electricity at my place and it’s very cold there.”
The skin around her eyes and mouth tightened as her brow puckered. “And this is important to me, how?”
“Do you really want me to spend the night in an old cold, cold house?”
“What old house? Thought you had a condo.”
“Nope. Bought back my mom and dad’s house last year.” He held up a hand. “Before you ask... I don’t know why. I just wanted something of my past, I guess.”
“Don’t we all,” she said.
“But I found it’s not the same without you and Cassie. So. I think I’m going to sell it again, not sure yet. But it is old and very cold without the gas and lights on. So how about it?”
She was about to answer, then thought for a second. “Wait a minute. Where have you been staying the last two three nights?”
“Uh.” He looked out the window then down at his hands. “Her husband came home.”
Instinctively her hand shot out to give his head a sharp shove. “What is wrong with you? Do you have to play the traveling salesman part to the limit? When are you going to grow up?”
“Being a grown up is no fun, and she is hardly the farmer’s naïve wife, let me tell you.”
“Oh, please don’t,” she pleaded with a wave to stop him. The pause lengthened, tugging at her heart. He was Nick after all.
“So, can I?”
“Speak to me.” She waited. Nothing. Lacing her fingers, she then set them on her tummy, leaned back into her seat, and closed her eyes. “If you want me to do something for you, you will have to ask me flat out, and with great charm I might add.”
A loud grunt of frustration rumbled out of him. “You can be such a...”
“Lacking charm here.”
“Can I please please spend the night with you?”
She rolled her head to look over at him, showing absolutely
no humor to his remark. His leather jacket squeaked as he tugged at the collar opening as though to adjust the fit. She waited.
“Too forward, huh?”
She didn’t answer, but kept her sight steadfast on him. He tried smiling but failed, then sobered with a clearing of his throat.
“Can... may I please stay the night at your place, at least until they turn on the utilities at my place?”
“Get on your damn motorcycle and meet me at home.”
“You’re the best, Georgie Girl!” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek before she could stop him, then reached behind the seat for his helmet. She watched as he pulled off the bike’s cover, unchained it, and rolled it to where he then straddled it. It quickly roared into motion.
~~0~~
All the way home, Georgie kept seeing dark colored Durangos. She never gave them any attention before. Now, they seem to be everywhere; coming toward her, in the cross streets, parked along the curb, in her rearview mirror, then realized they were all just large dark colored vehicles, not necessarily Durangos. When it started to drizzle, she gave up looking and turned her attention to driving.
For some reason, the normal drive was extra long this evening. Perhaps she should sell the house and buy a condo closer to the shop? But then, it wouldn’t be home, she thought, with a sigh, and Daisy and Max needed a home with yard space.
As she pulled into her driveway and up to her house, the sensor activated lights guided her way.
A small gasp caught in her throat. Mason’s black 4Runner was sitting there with its motor running, but leaving her enough room to enter her garage. As she approached, the exhaust from the tailpipe died, and Mason got out of the car to wait for her. He was out of uniform and had on his leather jacket with a light gray turtleneck. She flicked the remote for the garage door, but didn’t pull in.
Oddly, she suddenly found herself regretting she had said yes to Nick spending the night. The roar of a motorcycle scolded her for the bad thoughts, but she could only smile at Mason as she opened the door to her Subaru. Whatever situation he had been called to answer had let him return unharmed.
Before she could say anything to Mason, Nick’s headlight came up the slope. This time he drove the bike into the garage and parked it near the left wall and out of the way of her car. He walked over to them, tucking his helmet in the crook of the arm.
“Are we just going to stand out here?” he asked with a wide grin. “Put your car in the garage, Georgie Girl.”
“Why thank you, Nick,” she said, giving him a sharp side glance. “I think I’ll do just that.”
Once she put the car in the garage, Nick was quick to her side as she turned off the ignition, and got out. He leaned in to her and whispered, “We didn’t even have to call him.”
“Can you behave?”
“Not on your life. This is going to be too much fun.”
“If this is a bad time...” Mason said.
“No.” Georgie shook her head with an appreciative smile. “In fact, according to my friends, this is perfect. Let’s go inside.” She flicked the remote to close the garage door and entered her kitchen.
Daisy began her front paw prancing, saw both men, and backed up with a small whimper. Max jumped down off his seat and meandered down the hall. Georgie smiled at Daisy. Instead of choosing either Nick or Mason to go to, the Schnauzer came to stand beside her.
“Oh, now you come to me. Wise choice,” she murmured, and took out her coffee pot while the men each took off their jackets and hung them over the back of a kitchen chair. “While that’s perking, I’m going to change into my comfies. Nick, like it or not, behave. Don’t make me hurt you.” She turned up the thermostat on her way with Daisy and Max at her heels.
~~0~~
Once in her comfy sweats, she made her way back down the hall to the kitchen. The men’s voices reached her and she slowed down, listening.
“This f... This man held a gun to his kid’s head.” It was Mason’s voice, low, solemn. “Four hours they talked to him, and each minute makes him crazier, poking the barrel into the kid’s temple. This was his way of trying to win back his wife.”
“Did you take the shot?” Nick asked, his voice low.
There was a pause and a long heavy sigh. “When he drew back the arm, I shot him in the shoulder. After an hour and half with The Review Board, I’m on administrative leave until they judge whether it was a clean shooting.”
Georgie leaned on the wall. The pain in Mason’s voice sent a stab of grief to the deepest part of her. She wanted to take back her steps and not have heard any of this. How could she compare a broken purse strap to this, she thought, and looked back to her bedroom door.
“Eavesdroppers never hear well of themselves, Georgie Girl,” Nick called out. “Get in here.”
“George?”
She heard Mason’s chair creak as he turned to look. There was surprise in his voice, and Georgie sensed he probably never intended to unload like that, but Nick had a way about him... the father confessor. How many times had she and Cassie done just that, unload.
“It’ll be all over the news anyway,” Nick said as she entered the kitchen. He was talking to Mason.
Georgie put a hand on Mason’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’m not normally an eavesdropper.”
“You’ve been one all the years I’ve known you,” Nick said.
“I told you,” she said, wrapping her hands around Nick’s neck as if to massage his shoulders, but let the fingers meet in a choking grip. “Don’t make me hurt you.” With a smile to Mason, she went to pour the coffee, gave Mason a cup, then one to Nick as she looked him straight in the eyes. “All else in our lives seems so small compared to something like that.”
“No!” Nick shot back. “You almost run over by a car is just as important.”
“What?” Mason leaned forward, arms on the table.
“Nick,” she tried, but he would not be stopped, and all she could do was sit and listen as he began recounting the night’s event.
“And you really think it might have been intentional?” Mason asked, while his hand reached for hers, and she let it. It felt warm and she fought the urge to place hers over his.
Nick breathed deeply, thoughtfully, and nodded. “I think it was a dark colored Durango. Didn’t get a plate number though. I’m certain there was no plate; front or back.”
“Durango?” Mason murmured. “Doesn’t that Sanders drive a Durango?”
“I think Nick is...” Georgie tried to say.
“What, Georgie?” Nick snapped at her. “Nick is what?” He got up and grabbed her purse to hold out the torn strap with a shake. “If not the purse, it could have been you. That’s how close it was, goddamn it. Which reminds me. Where’s your phone book?”
“Nick,” she pleaded, but it was like trying to stop a moving train, and she got up to get him the phone book before he started a full house search.
“He lives on Upper State Street,” Mason said. When Georgie turned to him he shrugged. “I had to check him out over the Raggs incident. Can’t remember the number, but he lives on Upper State Street.”
“Here it is,” Nick said, jabbing a finger at the page. “2020 North Upper State.” He reached for his jacket. “Want to take a ride?”
Neither Georgie nor Mason moved.
“You can’t go over there just like that,” she told him. “You just can’t.”
“I want to check out his car. That’s all. What’s the harm in that? We don’t even have to knock on the door.”
When she refused to buy into his insanity, Nick looked to Mason. Mason opened his mouth, but she put a hand to his arm.
“No,” she told Nick. “You are not going to drag him into this. No.”
Mason gave her hand a pat, stood up, and began to slip into his jacket. Georgie stood her ground, grabbing hold of the thick leather.
“George, if I don’t go with him, he could do something stupid.”
“Oh, really.” She crossed
her arms and looked at him squarely. “And who will keep you from doing something stupid? You’re already on administrative leave. I won’t have you put in further jeopardy because of some silly parking lot mishap.”
Mason looked to Nick then back at her. His firm finger nudged her chin before it came to rest on her lips, then slid gently across.
“Oh, get a room already,” Nick said.
Mason smiled, ignoring the remark. “Hey, why not come with us,” he asked.
“What?” So distracted by his touch, it took her a second to comprehend.
“Great idea,” Nick said, clasping his hands loudly. She could hear the scrape of his skin as he rubbed them together, then raised one after crossing his heart. “Your decision will be our command on this. Swear.”
“Put your hand down,” she said.
“I’ll meet you two outside. There’s something I need from my bike.”
She nodded and turned to go get her coat. The leather scent of Mason’s jacket made her turn, found him next to her, and she looked up into his face. His gray eyes were warm, sad, with a touch of something else.
“About this shooting,” she said. “Will you be talking to someone... you know. It can’t be an easy thing to deal with...”
“First thing in the morning,” he said with a deep sigh. “Cops who don’t make use of department shrinks burn out. I don’t intend to burn. I know, deep down, if there had been any other way, that jerk would still be standing instead of in the hospital. Come on. Get your coat. Your Spook friend is waiting out in the cold.”
Georgie smiled. “He grows on you, doesn’t he?”
“God, it’s a frightening thought, but he does. He should have been a bartender.”
“There isn’t a drink you can name he can’t mix or tell you how it’s done.” At Mason’s doubting look, Georgie smiled. “Not kidding. And you know what? Had I not heard you two, he would never have told me what you said.”
Point of Attraction Page 9