by Jennie Marts
“Look who’s headed this way.”
Maggie jumped as Edna appeared next to her elbow. Maybe Edna should have worn that ninja costume. With those thick-soled shoes, she could sneak up on anyone. Maggie started to turn but Edna batted at her arm.
“Don’t look over there. You don’t want to be too obvious.” Edna kept her voice low, talking out of the side of her mouth. “I just wonder what Captain America is so excited to talk to our Jedi about.”
Maggie moved deeper into the booth and swept her hand over a stack of Captain Kirk uniform shirts. Turning her head, she saw Skyler approach Jeremy, and he did not look happy. She watched Jeremy’s back stiffen so he stood an inch taller, possibly trying to intimidate the smaller and younger man.
Yeah, right. Jeremy was about as intimidating as Clark Kent. Maggie only prayed that he turned out to be Superman underneath and not Lex Luthor.
This time, they didn’t have to get closer to hear the conversation. The way they started yelling, everyone around them heard it.
Jeremy’s raised voice carried to Maggie and Edna. “You’re trying to tell me you just came up with this new system, that’s identical to mine, and just happened to be launching the same week as my company’s? That’s bull.”
Captain America shouted back: “You’re not the only one around here who can invent new code.”
“You didn’t invent anything except more stupidity. There is no way that you created the exact same gaming system that we did in the same few months.”
“What are you accusing me of?”
“You’ve been trying to convince me how brilliant you are. Why don’t you figure it out?”
Good one, Jeremy. Maggie tried to act engrossed in the comic books in the box in front of her, but she was thrilled to hear Jeremy putting that little conceited jerk in his place.
Skyler puffed up his Captain America-clad chest and took a step closer to Jeremy. “What I’ve figured out is that when people don’t agree you with you at your company, they end up dead.”
That comment must have been too much for Jeremy. Without a moment’s hesitation, his right arm came up and he punched Skyler right in his smug, cocky little face.
Skyler howled in pain, very un-Avenger like, and reached for his nose, which was now dripping blood on his shiny blue bodysuit. “You punched me,” he said, his voice full of disbelief.
Jeremy leaned forward, his voice low, but full of force. “Don’t you ever talk about Jim like that again. He was a good man, and now he’s gone. And if you ever accuse me of hurting my employees again, I will sue you for slander so fast that your head will spin.”
Skyler pulled his hand back and looked at his bloody palm. The expression on his face changed from one of disbelief to a look of rage. He slammed into Jeremy, tackling him to the ground and throwing punches at his chest and face.
Out of nowhere, a flash of black and gray appeared, and Batman was there, lifting Skyler from Jeremy’s body. Batman easily held the smaller Captain America in a one-armed choke hold while he reached down to offer a hand to the Jedi Knight.
Jeremy waved his hand away and stood on his own, straightening his clothes and the costumes cloak. He nodded at the caped crusader. “Thanks, Batman.”
The Batman patted Jeremy on the shoulder. “You all right, man?”
Maggie heard Jake’s reply and saw Jeremy’s flash of recognition at his friend’s voice. A strange look crossed his face. She couldn’t tell if he was just surprised and confused that Jake was there and wearing a Batman costume, or if it was something more.
Could he be nervous about Jake showing up at the Comic Con? Worried that he may have seen him with Charlotte or maybe just bothered that Jake saved him in a fight? There were too many questions and not enough answers. It was time to talk to Jeremy.
A small crowd had gathered around the men, some cheering Batman on, thinking this was part of the con’s entertainment.
Maggie saw Jake talking into Skyler’s ear, and she could tell by their faces that it was not a pleasant conversation. Maggie almost smiled, as she could hear that Jake was using the deep-throated Batman voice to tell Skyler he needed to walk away.
Jake released the smaller man, and Skyler gave Jeremy a glare filled with hate. “This isn’t over, Rogers.” He stomped off in the direction of the autograph signings.
Jeremy approached Jake, shaking his hand and thanking him for the help. A couple of teenagers in the crowd snapped pictures. “What are you doing here, Jake?” he asked.
“The more important question is, what are you doing here? Meeting up with your girlfriend?” Edna had appeared at Jeremy’s elbow and he looked down at the person in the Hogwarts cape in confusion. Edna pushed back her hood with a grand “ta-da” gesture, as if she had just unveiled the magician behind the trick.
“Edna, what are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that?” Jeremy looked baffled and mildly amused as he searched the crowd behind her. “Is my grandma here too? You guys are a hoot.”
“Mabel’s not here. I didn’t want to bring her along to see this. But I did bring a few other ladies that are pretty interested in what kind of shenanigans you’re getting into up here. ” Edna waved the others in, and they each stepped forward from their hiding places.
Wonder Woman and Batgirl had been searching through a box of comics in one of the stalls, and Piper had been trying out light sabers. Jeremy’s face lit with surprise and laughter as he took in their costumes and then recognized each one. “You guys look awesome. But what are you doing here?” He scanned the surrounding booths. “And where’s Maggie?”
She stepped out from behind the curtain of the Star Wars booth, pulling her sunglasses from her face. “I’m here.”
The tone of her voice had Jeremy’s look of excitement fall from his face, and suspicion took its place. “What’s going on? Why are you all in costumes? Are you spying on me?”
Edna raised her hand. “Ding! Ding! Ding! Give that man a prize! Good deduction, Sherlock.”
Jeremy looked to Maggie, waiting for her to answer.
She nodded. “Yeah, we followed you up here. I wanted to see—” Emotion choked her voice and she swallowed back the tears threatening to fall. She did not want to cry in front of all these people. “I wanted to see why you were meeting Charlotte.”
Jeremy looked confused. “Charlotte? What does she have to do with anything? And who said I was meeting her?”
Sunny moved to Maggie, putting a protective hand on her friend’s arm. “You can drop the act, Jeremy. We know about you and Charlotte. About the affair.”
“Affair? What are you talking about?” He took a step toward Maggie. “How could you think that? I’m not having an affair with her. Or with anyone. Where would you get such an idea?”
“From the police.” Edna pointed a finger at him. “They told us that your alibi was as false as a set of dentures. That you were really spending the night in a motel with Miss Green-Glitter Hussy-Pants.”
“Spending the night in a motel? With Charlotte? That’s insane.” Jeremy turned to Jake. “Where would they get such a ridiculous notion?”
Jake pulled the Batman mask from his head, his face holding a serious look. “From Charlotte herself. She went to the police and told them you couldn’t have killed Jim because you were in a motel that night. With her.”
Jeremy looked genuinely shocked. Either he was actually surprised by this news or he was a damn good actor. Maggie wasn’t sure which. “Why would she make up something like that?”
Jeremy shook his head, seeming to be honestly dismayed. “I have no idea. Maybe to protect me. But I can assure you that it’s not true. I’ve never been to a motel with her. I’ve never been with her at all. I was home that night. Alone.”
“Prove it,” Piper said. “Call her right now and get her to come back here. We all saw you talking to her a few minutes ago. Tell her to come back and get her to admit she lied.”
Jeremy pulled out his phone and pushed her contact
info. “Fine. That’s a great idea. I have some questions for her too.” He growled in frustration. “It went to voicemail.”
“That’s convenient,” Edna muttered.
Jeremy rolled his eyes and left a voice message. “Hey, Charlotte, it’s Jeremy. I’m hoping you’re still at the con. I wanted to talk to you again. Call me back or text me where you are, and I’ll come meet you.” He ended the call and put the phone back into his pocket. “What now?”
Jake pulled his mask back on. “I say we go find her. We all saw her, and she stands out in that green get-up she’s got on. Let’s see if we can track her down and get her to tell us why she lied.”
“Good idea.” Jeremy reached for Maggie’s hand. “Will you stay with me?”
Maggie’s throat constricted on those five simple words and the meaning they held. Her eyes filled with tears again, and she looked away so Jeremy wouldn’t see her crying. She knew he was only asking if she would stay with him right now and help her to search for Charlotte, but the weight of his words and the question it posed sat heavily on her heart.
Would she stay with him? Could she? She needed some answers. She had to find out the truth about Jeremy and Charlotte and who was lying. But could her heart take being broken again? Could she take a chance on Jeremy? She wanted so much to believe in him. She squeezed Jeremy’s hand and looked up into his eyes. “Yes, I’ll stay with you.”
Before they could take a step, a flash of red caught Maggie’s eye, and she pulled back on Jeremy’s hand. She pointed across the food court area to a man wearing a red Superman cape and a blue bodysuit.
What was up with all these men wearing bodysuits? And where did they even find them? This man did not have the muscular body of Jake to fill out the suit, so it hung loosely on his thin frame. He was looking directly at them, then he turned and strode off, disappearing into the crowd of people heading into the main convention hall.
Maggie looked to Jeremy for confirmation. “Wasn’t that Leonard? The guy who works in your office?”
##
“I don’t get it. Where could she have gone?” Jeremy checked his phone one more time before unlocking the car door and holding it open for Maggie. “And why isn’t she responding to my texts or phone calls?”
They had searched the conference for an hour and a half before giving up. They hadn’t seen a speck of glittering green dress or poofy red hair. They had seen plenty of Superman costumes, but no sign of Leonard again. It was as if they had vanished into thin air.
Both Charlotte and Leonard could have been avoiding them. Or, on the less mysterious side, they had most likely just had enough of the convention and went home.
Which was what the Page Turners and crew had elected to do. Sunny and Edna decided to ride back to Pleasant Valley with Jake. They offered to walk Cassie and Piper back to the minivan.
Maggie had thought it was a good idea to ride back with Jeremy, but as she climbed in the front seat of the car, she was rethinking her decision. What would they talk about in the car for an hour? If he did cheat on her or if he didn’t? If he did kill his employee or if he didn’t?
If he was a murderer, she should probably be afraid of him. But as he climbed into the car, his face drawn with worry and adjusting his Jedi cape behind him, all she felt was love…or a really intense like. Geez. Was she really ready to admit that she was falling in love with this guy? Even after hearing he was supposedly shacked up in a motel with Miss Poison Ivy Charlotte?
Maybe that was what this really was—Charlotte spreading her poison, and like a branch of ivy, it was winding its way around her, trying to choke out her feelings for Jeremy.
She jumped as Jeremy laid a hand on her bare leg. “You okay, Mags?” He looked like he was more concerned for her than he was about himself.
All she wanted was for him to wrap his long arms around her and tell her this whole thing was a big mistake. She just wanted to look in his eyes and see the truth and tell him that she believed him. But she had believed Chad too. Believed him every time he said he had a business meeting or had to meet a client for drinks. She had believed every lying word out of his mouth, right up until the day he left her. She couldn’t just let herself blindly believe in a man again. No matter how cute he was.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes. “I just wish I knew what was really going on.”
“Me, too.” Jeremy started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. “By the way, you look seriously sexy as Lara Croft. Could you keep that outfit and wear it for me again when all this is straightened out and you aren’t looking at me as if I strangle kittens in my spare time?”
Maggie laughed. “Sorry. I just hate this. I want to believe you, Jeremy. I really do. But I’m a lawyer. I hear guilty people say they’re innocent all the time.”
Jeremy took her hand and squeezed it. “I know. I get it. And you can quote work stuff all day, but I know where this is really coming from and I’m not him, Maggie. I’m not your ex, and I’m not lying to you. I’m just as confused as you are about what’s going on.”
Maggie held his hand as if it were a lifeline, and she was afraid she might drown. She didn’t want to lose this connection with him. She heard the sincerity in his voice, and she wanted to believe. She wanted to drink his Kool-Aid. Fill up her cup and ask for seconds. But she couldn’t make that leap. She just wasn’t ready to take a sip. “I’m trying, Jeremy.”
“I know. That’s all I ask.” He switched lanes and set the cruise control. “Now that I have time to concentrate, tell me again what this Officer McCarthy told you. Start from the beginning and don’t leave anything out. And since when does the Pleasant Valley Police Department make house calls?”
Maggie relayed their entire conversation to Jeremy. Well, she left out the part about him asking her to go for a ride on his motorcycle and fantasizing about him in leather chaps.
Jeremy tapped the steering wheel and moved his mouth from side to side, as if the combination of motions would help him to think. “She said we were at the Travel Inn? The one on the highway?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“I don’t think I’ve been there in years. Why would she pick that spot instead of one where I might actually have been seen?”
Maggie had an idea. It was risky, but she wanted to know the truth, even if it hurt. “We drive right by it on our way back into town. Why don’t we stop in and see if we can talk to the desk guy? See if he remembers seeing you?”
“He won’t remember seeing me. I just told you, I wasn’t there. But, that’s a good idea. I’d like to talk to the guy who claims he saw me. Maybe he can help us get to the bottom of this.”
Thirty minutes later, they pulled into the Travel Inn. Only a handful of cars were in the parking lot and Jeremy held the door for Maggie to enter the lobby. The motel’s registration area opened into the restaurant, and Maggie could see the bar area from the desk.
“You folks need a room?” The desk clerk didn’t bat an eye at their costumes. He probably saw all kinds of interesting things working here. He looked to be in his early twenties. His dark hair was greasy and in need of some shampoo, and he smelled like a combination of marijuana smoke and Taco Bell burritos.
“Actually, we’re looking to talk to the desk clerk that was working last Friday night, probably around nine.” Maggie used her official lawyer voice. “Were you working that night?”
The desk guy shrugged. “Nah. That’d be Scooter. He works the night shifts on the weekend. Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“No, of course not,” Jeremy assured him. “We just want to talk to him. Do you know when this Scooter will be in next?”
He looked at his arm, as if expecting to see a watch there. “Pretty soon. I get off in about twenty minutes and he should be here to cover the desk.”
“Thanks. We’ll just wait in the bar.” He turned to Maggie. “Can I buy you a drink?”
“Does it come with a shot of hand sanitizer?�
��
They walked into the restaurant, and Maggie recognized the woman sitting at the end of the bar, a short glass of clear bubbly liquid in front of her. Maggie waved and pulled Jeremy across the bar. “Hi, Lori.”
Lori Waddle looked up from her drink, and her face broke into a wide grin. She looked the couple walking toward her up and down. “Hey, Maggie and Hot Star Wars Guy. Isn’t it a little early for Halloween?”
Maggie plopped into the seat next to her. “It’s a long story. Can I buy you a drink?”
“Nah. I don’t drink anymore.” Lori hefted her glass. “It’s just 7Up, but I like the way it fizzes and the feel of the glass in my hand. I should be buying you a drink, though. Thanks for helping me out of the slammer.”
Jeremy looked at Maggie quizzically, as if he couldn’t quite figure out the friendly connection between these two women.
“It’s no big deal. I just made a few calls.” Maggie gestured toward Lori. “Jeremy, this is Lori Waddle. We met at the police station the night I was waiting for you.”
Jeremy leaned forward to shake Lori’s hand. “Nice meeting you. Do you come here often?”
Lori looked from Jeremy to Maggie. “Is he for real? Did your boyfriend just try to pick me up? Is that why you’re dressed like that? You guys are into some weird, kinky role-play stuff?”
“No!” Maggie and Jeremy cried together.
Maggie thought it was kind of cute how Jeremy’s face was turning bright red from the blush that started at his neck and burned up to his ears. “No. We’re dressed like this because we were up in Denver at a comic book convention. And Jeremy wasn’t trying to pick you up. He was really asking if you are here often, because we’re wondering if you may have seen a friend of ours here last weekend.”
“I wasn’t judging or anything. What two consenting adults do in their own time is their business, not mine.” Lori’s easy smile was back, and she winked at Jeremy, obviously enjoying the way he so easily blushed. “So, tell me about this friend. I’m in this very spot most every Friday and Saturday night. There’s not much I miss around here.”