Searching for Beautiful

by Jennifer Probst

  WOLFE SIPPED HIS SAMBUCA, enjoying the burning hot flavor of licorice coating his throat. The chatter of voices in the kitchen rose, but Maria had kicked him out, so he prowled the outside deck, enjoying the fall evening. The lawn spread out before him, bright green and cheery. A weeping willow tree stood by an old swing set, a bit battered and rusted. He imagined Gen growing up here, surrounded by friends and family who cared. Even with the troubles with her father and Izzy, they had battled through and triumphed.

  The box bolted and locked deep within his soul shuddered. Then grew silent again.

  "Wolfe."

  He turned his head. Jim MacKenzie slid the glass doors closed with a decisive click. Uh-oh. The older man's face was set in a serious expression that didn't bode well for him. Why did he have a bad feeling about this?

  "Jim. Great night, huh?"

  He didn't answer. Just studied him with a narrowed gaze. What had he done to inspire such distrust? The entire family fully accepted him into the fold except Gen's father.

  "Or maybe not," Wolfe muttered. He took another sip, wondering if he should just go back inside.

  "I want to talk to you about Genevieve."

  Yep. It was gonna be bad. Wolfe squared his shoulders, met his gaze, and nodded. "I figured something like this was coming. I'm not sure if I ever offended you, or did something out of turn. If so, I apologize."

  His eyes softened a tad. "Actually, you didn't. You've always been polite in my home. Nice to my family. In a way, I'm sorry I've treated you with distance. I was actually hoping I'd never have to engage in this conversation, but now I realize I have no choice. I'm concerned that Gen is getting too close to you. I know you've been friends for a long time, and I kept a careful eye on it, but I never sensed a problem. Until she broke up with David."

  Wolfe tightened his grip on the glass. "David hurt her. I hope you see that. I know you always defend him, but he's dangerous for your daughter, and I swear I'll never let him hurt her again."

  Jim pointed his finger. "See? That type of protectiveness is growing. Do you know how many times you looked at each other during dinner? My daughter is glowing, yet she just broke up with her fiance. She's seeing you in a new light, and I can't let that happen."

  Shame filled him. Was he so bad that her father hated the idea of him being in her life? Inside, a dangerous battle raged, but he swallowed the emotions back and kept his face impassive. "Is it the piercings? The tat? What has you so worried?"

  Jim shook his head. "Of course I don't like them, but that's not it. You see, Wolfe, you're just like me. One man recognizes the other. And I can't allow Gen to fall in love with someone who's eventually going to destroy her."

  Wolfe jerked back. He respected Jim MacKenzie. He'd failed his family, followed the lure of alcohol, but managed to battle through and help others. Managed to heal his family. "I don't understand. You're a good husband. Father. You made amends for your mistakes."

  Jim's eyes burned with purpose. "I'm an alcoholic. I grew up with demons chasing my every step. I thought Maria could save me, and she did for a while, but they found me and dragged me into the pit. I destroyed everything good. My wife. My kids. I brought pain and heartache, and I always knew it was there, waiting on the edges for the time when I was weak. Yes, I finally won. I got counseling, went to AA, dedicated my life to helping others and making sure my family never suffered again. I got lucky. They forgave me. But I look at you, and I see the same demons in your eyes. You run, you fight, but they'll get you, and you'll take Genevieve with you. I won't allow that. Not again. She's been through too much, and she deserves a good life. A career in medicine, and not a partner who's damaged."

  The words floated, fell, and buried deep into his soul. Like a cigarette burn, it seared, then became dull. Lifeless. But Wolfe knew there would be a scar forever. Damaged. Jim knew it whenever he looked at him. As if he knew what happened on that night so long ago.

  The years spent building himself back up and surrounding himself with the support of Sawyer and Julietta blew away in a cloud of smoke. Suddenly he was back where he had started. Penniless, empty, living on the streets with nothing. Wanting to die but being sentenced to live.

  Her father was right.

  Gen deserved more.

  Amazingly, his voice sounded steady. "You're right, of course. And I understand."

  Jim looked startled, peering at him with suspicion. He studied him for a long time before slowly nodding.

  The door opened.

  Izzy and Gen came out, arms linked. "What are you guys doing out here?" Gen asked.

  Jim laughed. "Just guy talk. Is dessert ready?"

  "Almost." Gen smiled at him, her eyes lit with a hidden joy from being with her sister. It was also part of her nature. She was light, happiness, life. She was . . . everything.

  He forced himself to smile back. "Sounds good. The mosquitoes are biting tonight. I'll meet you inside."

  He turned and went inside, knowing once again everything had changed.

  twenty-five

  I'M GOING TO Italy. I'll be gone for a while."

  Gen studied his profile. Something had happened. His usual ease and humor was gone. In its place was a stiff, reserved man who spoke to her politely, smiled in the right places, and was completely numb.

  "Oh. To see Sawyer and Julietta?"

  "Yes. He wants me to come out for a while. I forgot to tell you about it. I'll be leaving in a day or two."

  She backtracked and tried to keep up. Why did he sound funny? As if he was reciting a speech? Gen flipped through the past twenty-four hours. Nope, the sex had been amazing. The drive and dinner at her parents' tonight were fine. He'd joked, relaxed, and treated her normally. Then she'd found him on the deck with her father and--

  Her father.

  Yes. During dessert he refused to participate in conversation. Acted like a robot. Something had transpired between them and it wasn't good. Uneasiness skittered through her. She was going to murder her father for getting involved.

  Gen kept calm. "Sounds wonderful. I know you've missed them."

  "Yes."

  "What did you and my father talk about?"

  His fingers tightened around the steering wheel in a death grip. Bingo.

  "Nothing."

  "Bullshit."

  His brows snapped together. They pulled into Verily and crawled down Main Street. "It was nothing. Football."

  "He doesn't talk about football."

  "Baseball, then. The Mets, of course."

  "It was bad, wasn't it?"

  He didn't answer. She dragged in a breath and got ready to dig her heels in and attack the problem head-on.

  Until she saw her house.

  Wolfe eased to the curb. The bright yellow bungalow with white shutters suddenly seemed menacing and evil. In bloodred spray paint, the word whore was scrawled across the front of the house.

  Wolfe cut the engine and muttered a curse. He flew out of the car, immediately scanning the scene for lingering intruders. She climbed out, mouth gaping at the dirty, hateful word destroying her safe haven. Why? Why would someone do this?

  David.

  He'd brought her stuff back. Was leaving the hospital. Or so he said. Was this just another angle to control and break her mentally?

  "Stay here. I'm gonna check the house."

  She watched him walk around the property and disappear inside. After a while he came back out, flipping open his phone and hitting three numbers. "I don't see anyone around. I'm calling the police. It's going to be all right."

  A combination of horror and outrage flooded her. Wolfe spoke quickly into the phone while she stared at the vandalism. How dare he try to steal her sense of safety? This type of humiliation had his signature all over it. Cowardly. Manipulative. Her fists clenched with the urge for retaliation.

  In minutes a siren screamed, the familiar red and blue lights flashing madly and interrupting the serenity of the small town.

  The car pulled up next to them an
d Officer Stone Petty climbed out. His uniform was slightly wrinkled, but he radiated a dominant, brutal energy that reminded everyone he was in charge and things were on his terms. His sharp eyes took in the scene as he slowly walked forward. His leather shoes squeaked on the concrete. "Ms. MacKenzie. Wolfe. You call this in?"

  She tilted her head way, way back to meet his gaze. "Yes."

  "You just get back home?" He jerked his head toward the house.

  "We went to dinner at Gen's parents' house. Just pulled up and saw this. I looked quickly around the property and in the house but didn't find anything. Then I called 911."

  Disapproval tightened those brutal lips. "Never go inside the house. Always call it in--you never know what you'll find."

  Another car door slammed. Officer Devine joined them. His caramel hair looked slightly tousled, and his uniform was sharply pressed. He greeted them with a friendly, open look, and exchanged words with Petty.

  "The ex?"

  "Maybe." Petty turned to them. "Have you heard from Dr. Riscetti lately?"

  Gen nodded. "He came to see me over on Main Street. Asked to talk. We spoke briefly, and he said he's moving to Boston and that I should go back to the hospital. He apologized for his behavior, but I told him I'd never forgive him. He seemed apologetic. He returned my stuff this weekend."

  Petty nodded, making some notes. "Did he say anything about Wolfe at the time? Threaten you again? Insult you?"

  "He said Wolfe was an asshole and I was above him."

  Wolfe shook his head. "Called me an asshole, huh? Well, he's the real asshole. And if you guys don't get your shit together, I'm going to do things my way."

  Officer Petty raised a brow. "I hope I didn't hear that. Stay here, please. We're going to look over the house and grounds, and then take some more information."

  Wolfe simmered with impatience but managed a quick nod. Officer Devine shot them a sympathetic smile and the cops began doing their thing. The ugly red word made her gut twist. Whore. What would the neighbors think? She wanted it off now. Scrubbed clean.

  "We'll fix it," Wolfe said, as if knowing her thoughts. "He's not getting near you, Gen. Not with me here."

  She thought of him leaving for Italy and being alone in her once-safe house. No panicking. She'd be fine. If she got spooked, she'd stay with Kate. Or Arilyn. Or at her parents'. David wasn't going to run her life any longer, and it was time she dealt with this.

  Gen squinted at the sight of a slender, ethereal figure floating down the sidewalk. A ghost?

  "Are you okay? What happened? I heard the sirens and saw the lights, but I wasn't sure it was for you. Gen, why aren't you talking?"

  She almost laughed at the sight of Arilyn hauling ass in a long white cotton nightgown. Bare feet, hair loose, she looked like she belonged in another century, the moonlight bathing her in mist. She was no image though. Strong hands pulled her in for a hug, as if she needed to make sure her body was intact.

  "What are you doing here? I'm fine. We just got back from dinner at my parents' and found this."

  Fierce heat glowed in her friend's green eyes. "I'm babysitting Robert tonight for Kate. They're in the city for a business dinner. I heard the sirens." Her gaze studied the ugly word and she pressed her lips together. "Now I'm done. Your ex has officially pushed me too far. I'm gonna get him."

  It was so rare to find Arilyn in any type of temper. Gen actually laughed, her mood lifting at the mama bear protectiveness of her friend.

  "Get in line," Wolfe muttered. "He's a dead man."

  "Are the cops here? Did they take forever again when you called? I hope it's somebody more qualified than that Stone Petty. I don't think he knows what he's doing."

  "Ms. Meadows. What a pleasure to meet you again. Or not."

  Arilyn spun around and glared. The cop towered over her, even with Arilyn's impressive height. But her friend didn't seem to care, stepping forward and bristling with outrage, even in her white gown and bare feet. "Is this finally enough evidence to lock that psycho up?" she challenged. "Or do you need CSI to do some forensics?"

  "A spray-painted insult doesn't warrant a CSI investigation, Ms. Meadows," the officer drawled. "It's ugly, juvenile, and a call for attention. But not a death threat."

  Arilyn's lips twisted. "Great. So David has to verbally threaten her with murder for you to do your job? Do you plan to do any work at all or sit back until she's in real danger?"

  Officer Petty practically snarled, lowering his face closer to hers. "Maybe if I didn't get interrupted constantly by snooping neighbors who believe they have all the answers, I could actually use my time to investigate instead of defend my job."

  "I don't snoop," she challenged. "And perhaps we need a different officer here to confirm the investigation is done properly."

  Gen made a squeak. Wolfe didn't say a word. Devine looked fascinated.

  A muscle ticked in Petty's jaw. "Perhaps you need someone to keep you in line and out of trouble. And since no one else will volunteer for the job, perhaps it's gonna be me. How about a night in jail for police interference?"

  "You wouldn't dare. First I'll report you. Then I'll sue you."

  He gave a mean laugh. "Go ahead. I'll look forward to it."

  She gasped. "I don't like you!"

  "I don't like you either." His voice dropped to a growl. "Now, be a good girl and get out of my way so I can finish up here and get some donuts."

  Arilyn stepped back. And fell silent.

  Yep. Round two went to Officer Petty.

  The sound of a walker slapped against concrete and the blazing light from her next-door neighbor's house gave fair warning. The evening was about to get much worse.

  Mrs. Blackfire reached them, her beady eyes peering over her thick glasses. She wore house slippers, a hairnet, and a faded pink housedress. She took in the bloodred scrawled word on Gen's once happy house, the flashing lights, the policemen, and Arilyn's ghostly half nakedness.

  "What's going on around here?" she snapped out. "This is my neighborhood and I'm a taxpayer. I demand to know who did this."

  "More taxpayers," Petty muttered under his breath. "Why'd I ever come to Verily?"

  "Is this a sex thing?" Mrs. Blackfire asked. "I saw this on 20/20. Is this woman running a brothel?"

  Gen's eyes widened. "No! I'm the victim here and I did nothing wrong. Someone vandalized my property."

  Officer Devine stepped in. "Ma'am, you live next door to Ms. MacKenzie? Did you see or hear anything?"

  Mrs. Blackfire snorted. "No, I fell asleep early tonight with the TV on. I woke up when I heard the sirens."

  Devine scribbled something down. "Name, please."

  "Mrs. Joan Blackfire. Who would do such a thing?" Her gaze narrowed on Wolfe. "You! Snake! Do you have any Jet friends who want to cause trouble?"

  Gen waited for Wolfe to lose his temper, but his eyes flickered with a touch of amusement. "It's Wolfe. And no, my friends would never do this. It's her crazy ex."

  "We don't know that," Petty said.

  "Maybe if you investigated we'd find out who really did it," Arilyn said.

  Petty smothered a curse. Arilyn glared. Officer Devine cleared his throat. "No evidence of intrusion, so it was kept to the outside. Other than Dr. Riscetti, is there anyone else who would make you suspicious? Girlfriends you fought with? Women after Dr. Riscetti?"

  "No," Gen said. "There are many people at the hospital who were angry with me, but we've had no contact for weeks. I haven't fought with anyone. The only person that makes sense is David."

  Officer Devine nodded and took out a business card. "Here's a company that can do discreet and quick cleanup for the house. Your insurance should pay for it minus the deductible."

  Her fingers trembled as she took the card. "Thanks. Will you let us know after you speak with him?"

  "Yes. We'll get his whereabouts, delve a bit deeper, and see what we come up with. I'll also be asking your other neighbors if they saw anyone. Unfortunately, if there's no witnes
ses, we may not get the person."

  Arilyn snorted.

  Petty glared.

  "Thanks for your help," Wolfe said. "You have our cell phones?"

  "We're set."

  Mrs. Blackfire raised her voice. "Officers, while I have you both here, can you please look at that tree?" Her bony finger stabbed the air toward the large, graceful pine tree bending slightly over. "It's diseased and ready to fall on my property. I'd like you to advise her to cut it down."

  Gen closed her eyes. The violence of the night faded under the ridiculousness of the whole situation. A chuckle almost escaped her lips. Leave it to her crazy neighbor to put things in perspective. The Tree of Spite rustled slightly in the wind as if it, too, were laughing at her.

  Officer Petty let out an impatient breath. "You need to call your insurance company, Mrs. Blackfire. Or a tree service. We can't help you with this issue."

  Her eyes narrowed. "You don't do much for the taxpayers, do you?"

  Stone Petty tightened his lips and turned his back, stomping to the police car. Devine grinned and followed.

  Mrs. Blackfire finally went home. Arilyn squeezed Gen's hand. "You'll stay with me tonight, Gen."

  "No. I'll take her to my place," Wolfe announced.

  Arilyn's mouth dropped open. The vocal claim went beyond friendship and into intimate lover territory. Gen's first instinct was to agree, but she wasn't about to allow David to chase her from her home again. "I'm staying here. I'll be fine."

  Wolfe's jaw clenched. "I don't think--"

  "He's not going to win." She practically spit the words in fury. "He's a coward and I refuse to leave my house."

  Wolfe muttered a curse, then nodded. "Fine. We'll stay here."

  Arilyn took in the conversation with interest. "Let me know if you need anything," she finally said.

  "I will."

  They hugged good-bye and Arilyn went back to Kate's house. Gen grasped the doorknob and stepped inside her bungalow. Wolfe followed.

  They gazed at each other in silence for a while. "I'm not running anymore," she finally said.

  "Yeah. I know. I just don't trust him."

  She set down the card Officer Devine had handed her and rubbed her temples. "I don't want you to worry about me when you're in Italy. I'll have Arilyn come stay with me, or my sister."

  "I was thinking I had a better idea."

  "What?"

  "Come with me to Italy."

  Gen blinked. Was he nuts? She couldn't go to Italy. She was too busy with stuff. Work. Family. Friends. Work. "I can't just leave everything and bop off to Italy. People don't do that. I have responsibilities here."