Madison could feel her arteries hardening but she had to admit the wafting aromas from the food were tempting. She rarely let herself eat whatever she wanted.
The waitress came to take their appetizer and drink order and before she knew it Sherry had ordered something fat-laden and two beers. The waitress bustled away and Madison frowned.
"I don't drink beer."
"You need to loosen up. A beer will help you."
"Why do I need to loosen up exactly?"
Sherry didn't answer. Instead her attention was caught by something behind Madison. Sherry waved and Madison twisted in her seat to see who had come in. It was Dan, Sherry's boyfriend and another man who looked vaguely familiar standing by the door. Sherry was beckoning to them.
"I did this for your own good," Sherry said, never taking her eyes from the men heading for their table. "I need to see how you interact with a man so I know what we need to work on."
Madison wanted to throttle Sherry. She leaned forward so only Sherry could hear her. "I can't believe you did this. I don't want a man in my life. I told you that last night."
"And I told you that I'm going to fix you up with Sheriff Tanner Marks. You'll make a great couple. I want you to be happy."
"So why this guy?"
"It's sort of like Animal Planet. I need to see you in a mating situation."
Madison pressed a hand to her forehead. "I'm going to kill you."
Sherry shrugged. "Probably. Now smile because here they are."
They certainly were. Dan slid in on Sherry's side and the other man slid next to Madison. She scooted over as far as she could but he was still right there next to her. He had a big grin on his face and she wanted to slam her head on the table repeatedly. This was going to be a disaster of monstrous proportions.
"Brent Hubbard." The man held his hand out. "Remember me?"
How could she forget? He'd called her "four-eyes" and "carrot top" in school. She shook his hand and tried to scoot a few more inches away, but she was already pressed against the wall.
"Nice to see you again, Brent." Lightning didn't strike her, which was a bonus as she was lying through her teeth. She should probably put aside her animosity toward those who had teased and bullied her in school, but Brent had been particularly loathsome, not letting up until she was in tears. Luckily, in junior high and high school his family had moved from Springwood. Apparently, Brent had moved back.
"Nice to see you. Wow, you sure look different than you did before. You could be a model now, and you were so funny-looking as a kid."
"Was I? I don't remember."
"I sure do. You had all those freckles with your bright red hair. And those glasses and braces. You're looking good now." He looked her up and down with appreciative eyes that made her cringe.
Madison took a big gulp of her beer, deciding she did need it after all.
Brent laughed. "I'm glad Dan invited me today. It's fun to see old friends from school."
She and Brent had never been friends but he seemed to have no memory of torturing her when they were children. Perhaps she'd overblown it in her own mind?
Nope. He'd been a real pill.
The waitress brought their chili cheese fries and took the men's beverage order. Brent and Dan were waxing poetic about college basketball while Sherry tried to turn the conversation to more personal topics. Madison was content to stay quiet which she knew frustrated Sherry. Despite the basketball talk, Madison had found out Brent owned the hardware store in town and was divorced.
"This is so great," Brent enthused. "You're a great listener. We should all go out together again some time." Madison gave Sherry a look that promised retribution. When it was time for Sherry's flu shot, Madison was going to use the biggest fucking needle she had.
"So, Dan," Madison interrupted. She needed to change the subject quickly. "How's the real estate business?"
Dan rested his arm on the back of the booth and around Sherry's shoulders. He looked like a man in love. It was only a matter of time before these two got married. "It's going well. The market's picking up so I can't complain. How's the doctor business?"
"I can't complain either. I start in Dad's practice tomorrow morning."
"You're a doctor?" Brent asked, clearly amazed. "You always were smart. Holy shit, a real doctor?"
"A real one," she replied.
Brent whistled. "A real doctor. I bet you're loaded. Doctors really rake it in."
How one man could be so socially inept Madison had no idea, but Brent was giving it all he had. She decided to ignore his remark about money.
"Dad wants to retire in a year or two. I'd always promised him I would take over the practice–I just didn't realize it would be so soon."
Dan nodded. "Your dad is a good man and respected in this town. It will be a loss when he retires but now that you're here to take his place I think the town's in good hands. Sherry said you were working in an emergency room in a big Chicago hospital."
"I was. It was exciting work but the hours sucked."
Sherry laughed. "The hours aren't much better here. Last night we had an unexpected visitor. Sheriff Marks needed a couple of stitches."
"That explains the bandage over his eye then." Dan nodded toward the other side of the sports bar.
Madison looked over and straight into the gaze of Tanner Marks. He was looking right at them and he didn't avert his eyes when she turned his way. He simply nodded and then finally turned his attention to one of the televisions showing basketball. She felt a little sorry for him. He was sitting all by himself at a table in the corner.
She turned back to her own table and picked up her menu. "What are you going to have, Sherry?"
Sherry was studying Madison, a smile playing around her mouth. "We're both going to have cheeseburgers and then chocolate cake."
Madison knew when she was beat. This entire afternoon had gotten away from her the minute they'd stepped inside this place. She might as well give in gracefully.
"That sounds good. Let's make those double cheeseburgers."
Sherry giggled. "That's a great plan."
Dan was shaking his head, but dropped a kiss on Sherry's temple. "I'm glad its Madison's plan. I've learned to fear your plans, baby."
Madison feared them as well. Sherry had only shown her the tip of the iceberg today and Madison knew enough to be afraid. Very afraid.
Chapter Three
Sherry never did anything by half-measures and the next week was evidence of that fact. Madison saw Tanner Marks everywhere. Yes, it was a small town, but this was ridiculous. She saw him on Monday night at the library when Sherry invited Madison for dinner and to browse for books. She saw him at the pizza place on Wednesday night when she was having dinner with Sherry and he was having dinner with his daughter. She saw him again on Friday at the drug store and had to duck into the cold remedy aisle. She didn't want him to think she was following him. He'd arrest her for stalking.
The last run-in hadn't been engineered by Sherry. At least Madison thought it hadn't, but these days she couldn't be sure. Sherry in her determined mode was a formidable opponent. She wouldn't be happy until Madison and Tanner were married with three kids and a dog.
It was a snowy and cold Saturday morning but Madison wouldn't have any fake meetings with Tanner. Sherry was safely working, organizing an out of town wedding. Madison was going to walk down to the coffee shop and get a latte and a bear claw. She'd finished her first week in her father's practice and it hadn't gone too badly. Most people were welcoming although there had been a few males who had balked at a female doctor.
As she walked down the street, she was surprised by how many people stopped and greeted her. She'd been gone so long it was a wonder she was remembered at all. It took her twice as long to get to her destination, and she was almost frozen as she headed to the counter to place her order. She stuffed her gloves in her coat pockets while she waited for the barista to make her vanilla latte. The coffee shop looked almost empty w
ith only a few customers at the tables and one at the counter. She saw a nice table by the window overlooking the street and slung her coat over one of the chairs. She headed back to the counter where her coffee and bear claw waited. She took a taste of her coffee and turned on her heel, choking on the hot liquid and almost dropping her sweet roll.
Tanner Marks.
She coughed, her eyes watering at the pain of a burnt esophagus. He appeared to be waiting for his order as well. He wasn't in uniform today. Instead he was dressed as a civilian wearing jeans, cowboy boots, a flannel shirt and a heavy coat. Snowflakes were melting on the brim of his cowboy hat.
"You okay?" His brow was furrowed, his expression concerned.
"Fine. Hot coffee, that's all." She gave him a quick smile before ducking away to her table. She tried to relax but her heart was pounding. She hadn't expected to see him this morning and now here he was. It was as if the entire universe was plotting against her. What was it about this town that made her feel like the awkward girl she'd once been instead of a competent, professional physician?
She saw him look around for a table but every one was filled, which was strange as there had hardly been anyone in the place when she'd come in. It would be churlish not to ask him to share her table. Her father had brought her up better than that.
"I have a table. Would you like to share?"
He looked conflicted for a moment, and then smiled. "Sure, that's nice of you."
He settled into the chair opposite and immediately she fidgeted in her seat and her stomach twisted. She never knew what to talk about or what to say to a man. And Tanner was definitely a man. All muscle packed onto a six-foot frame, he looked every inch the alpha male. He was probably over forty but had a better physique than most men half his age. His face wasn't too bad either with his square jaw, tan skin, and dark blue eyes. He kept his brown hair short but she could see that it had a bit of a curl at the nape of his neck. All in all, Tanner Marks was a handsome man. The type that made her stutter and stammer and sweat through her clothes.
He took off his hat and set it on the table.
"Snowy morning. We're supposed to get a few inches today."
He wanted to do small talk. She wasn't very good but she would give it a shot. "I heard something about that. How's the forehead?"
He touched the bandage and chuckled. "Fine. When can I get these stitches out?"
Shit, she'd forgotten to tell him that. In the ER, she rarely saw people after she’d stitched them back together. "It's been a week. I can take them out today if you like."
He frowned. "Is your office open today?"
"No, but it's no big deal. It will only take a few minutes."
Tanner dug into his bear claw with gusto. "You probably had other plans besides taking out my stitches."
She shrugged. "Coffee, a stop at the grocery store. Nothing earth shattering."
"No plans with Brent?"
She didn't know who he was talking about for a minute, then remembered he'd been at the sports bar last Sunday. "Brent is a friend of Dan's, not a friend of mine."
Tanner sipped his coffee. "He looked pretty happy to see you. Did he ask you out? I bet he did."
Brent had, but it was none of Tanner's business. "I don't take bets."
Tanner chuckled and sat back in the chair. "Then he did ask you out. Did you turn him down?"
She nodded. "He's not really my type." He was a creep who shouldn't be allowed to reproduce, actually.
Tanner laughed, a sound rich and deep, and a few heads whipped around to look at them. "Madison Shay, you are probably the most polite woman I've ever met. First, you offer to share your table with me, and then you simply say Brent Hubbard isn't your type. He's not any self-respecting woman's type. The guy is a total jerk."
Madison exhaled in relief. "How did you know? Have you arrested him or something? I didn't know if you were friends."
Tanner pulled a face. "We're not friends and no, I've never arrested him. But I've been around him more than enough. We both belong to the Moose Lodge. He cheats at cards and brags about women I doubt he's ever even dated. Not a nice combination."
"He gave me a creepy vibe." She shuddered. "He asked me if I had had work done. You know, since I used to be so ugly before."
She wanted to slap her hand over her mouth. What made her say that she had no idea. His face darkened and his smiled disappeared.
"Did he actually say that to you? What an asshole."
Madison shrugged. "He did but let's face it. He wasn't saying anything out loud that other people weren't thinking."
Tanner's lips were pressed together in a thin line. "You were not ugly. All kids go through an awkward stage. Both of mine did. I'm sure I did too."
She'd seen Tanner's picture up in the trophy case at school. He'd been the quarterback and captain the year the football team won the state championship. He'd been handsome and confident. He probably never got teased or called names.
"The problem was my awkward phase lasted about fifteen years."
"Well, it's gone now. You certainly got the last laugh."
"What do you mean?" She still felt like that kid most of the time.
Tanner leaned forward. "You're a doctor, and you sure aren't ugly now. You could be a model. Most of the people you went to high school with never left Springwood. They never went to college. Maybe they went into the military like I did. If they didn't? They work a blue collar job, getting dirty and sweaty every day for way less wages than they need to live. And when they can't do that anymore? They work double shifts at the Walmart. If they're lucky. Seems to me you've got nothing to feel awkward about."
"I—I never thought about it that way." She'd been too busy feeling inferior. "I have been very lucky."
Tanner nodded. "If anyone mentions the past to you, it's probably just their way of not feeling inferior."
"Do you think that's why Brent said those things?" Maybe she'd misjudged him. She wasn't going to go out with him, but perhaps he wasn't a total jerk after all.
Tanner grinned. "No. Brent's just an asshole."
Laughter bubbled up. Tanner had a dry but fun sense of humor. "You seem pretty sure about that."
"It's one of my gifts. I'm a good judge of character." He shoved the last piece of bear claw in his mouth.
"Have you judged me yet?" The words were out before she could stop them. She wanted to snatch them back but it was too late.
He tilted his head and looked at her. "You're a good person, Madison Shay. You have a good heart."
"You barely know me," she protested.
Tanner drank the last of his coffee and stood up. "You took time out of your Saturday night to stitch me up and offered to take time today as well. You offered me a seat at your table."
"That's no big deal. Anyone would have done that."
Tanner looked around the coffee shop, now almost empty. "But Madison, no one else did."
She opened her mouth to answer but she had no words. Tanner Marks was a nice man and he had a way of making her feel good about herself.
It had to stop immediately. If Sherry found out Madison had shared a table with Tanner, she'd never hear the end of it.
Tanner shoved his hat on his head. "I'll call your office on Monday to get my stitches out. I won't bother you on your day off. Thanks again for the company."
Just like that, he was out the door and ambling down the street leaving Madison to finish her breakfast. He'd given her some things to think about. She'd been so busy thinking about her past she hadn't really thought about what other people were doing while she was in Chicago. It changed the way she looked at everyone and everything. The only thing it didn't change was the past.
That still sucked.
* * * *
Tanner walked into the rundown house on the outskirts of town, the copper smell of blood hitting him at once. He grimaced at the grisly site before him. Another murder. This one messier than the last. The two previous had been by gunshot. This appeare
d to be from a large kitchen knife abandoned on the counter. There also must have been more than one perpetrator because it would have taken at least two guys to hold the victim down.
"Sorry I'm late, Sam. I was headed to Doc Shay's to get my stitches out. I had to turn around and head this way when I got your call."
"No problem, boss. Looks like these guys were sending a message." Sam had taken the call from a worried girlfriend who couldn't get in the locked front door. Tanner had already contacted Reed's guy in the DEA who was supposed to be on his way.
Tanner pushed up the brim of his cowboy hat. "I hope the message was received and understood. I don't want any more fucking murders in my town."
The county coroner was bent over the body with his camera. Tanner was lucky Dr. Stewart knew his stuff. He was semi-retired after a career in San Francisco. "The victim appears to have bled out, but I'll know more when I get him on my table."
Tanner's brows went up as he surveyed the. "I would imagine having your limbs removed one by one would cause some damage, Doc."
"I imagine it was pure torture, Sheriff." The coroner never looked up but continued to take pictures of the scene. "Torture on purpose. These people mean business. When are you going to catch them?"
"As soon as I can. I've called in the Feds to help."
The sound and vibrations of a helicopter shook the ramshackle structure. Tanner stepped out into the cold and watched as the chopper circled and then landed in a clearing. A man stepped out and headed straight for Tanner, his arm outstretched. Tanner shook his hand.
"Tanner Marks? I'm Jason Anderson, DEA. I believe we have a mutual friend."
Tanner was used to sizing up people immediately and he liked Jason Anderson. He had an open, easy way about him. Most Feds liked to come in, act superior, and take over. Reed had chosen well.
"Nice to meet you. I didn't expect you so fast." Tanner nodded to the bird.
Jason's expression grew serious. "This is a priority. I'm hoping we can share information and help each other out. Your little town is smack in the middle of a drug war. It's only going to get worse if we don't do something. Innocent people will get involved and die."
Justice Healed Page 3