by Lena Gregory
“Sure. Why?”
“I just need some air, and I want to talk to Zoe about taking Thor overnight when we go to Disney.”
“That’s a great idea. I have to be honest, I was expecting you to try to find a way to worm your way out of going, and I figured Thor would be the perfect excuse, so I already checked into boarding him down by Disney.”
Gia laughed. Leave it to Savannah to think of everything. “I’m not going to back out. Actually, I’m really looking forward to it. But I would rather leave Thor with someone he knows if Zoe can take him.”
“I don’t blame you. I didn’t realize she did overnight visits.”
“Me neither, until she mentioned keeping Brandy overnight for Trevor.”
Savannah frowned. “When was that?”
Gia’s mouth went dry. “The same night Ron Parker was killed.”
Savannah grabbed her arm and pulled her through the swinging door to the back room. “Are you kidding me, Gia? Did you tell Hunt that?”
Gia bristled. “No, why would I?”
“Seriously? You don’t see that as one heck of a coincidence?”
“I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it.”
“Where was he?”
“I have no idea. I haven’t spoken to him, remember?”
“You need to tell Hunt about this.”
“Oh, fine. I’ll mention it when I see him.”
Savannah lowered her chin and raised a brow.
Gia huffed out a breath, annoyed with Savannah’s constant suspicions about Trevor. “All right, already. Jeez, I’ll call him after I talk to Zoe.”
“Thank you.”
“Whatever.”
“And while you’re at it, let him know about Disney on Sunday. I left Leo a message, but he hasn’t called or texted me back yet.”
“Yeah, okay. Oh, and Cole is doing steak and eggs Saturday night if you and Leo want to come.”
“Of course, I’ll come, and I’m sure Leo will if he can get away.”
“Great.”
Savannah wrapped her arms around Gia. “You know I only worry about you because I love you, right?”
Gia hugged her back. “Of course, I do. Sometimes you’re just a little overprotective.”
“Well, get used to it, ‘cuz that’s what family does.”
Gia smiled and stepped back. As irritating as it could sometimes be, she definitely wanted to get used to it. “Thanks, Savannah.”
“No problem. Now get out of here and go talk to Zoe.”
Gia tried to order her thoughts as she walked down the sidewalk toward the doggie day care center. No matter how she tried, she just couldn’t see Gabriella as a killer any more than she could see Trevor in that role. Of everyone in the group of kids that had hung out together in high school, she’d have pegged Gabriella, Trevor, Harley, and Donna Mae as the least likely to commit murder. Ron Parker, Bobby Fischetti, and Mitch Anderson would have topped the list. And yet, two of the three of them were now dead. Murdered. And Gia couldn’t shake the feeling it had something to do with that group.
She walked past Storm Scoopers on the opposite side of the road. Though she tried to see in the windows, only the reflection of Main Street stared back at her. At least all the crime scene tape had been removed, and the street out front cleared of the litter that had been dropped while hordes of reporters and concerned citizens had stood out front chomping at the bit for information.
She kept walking until she reached the doggie day care.
A petite woman with gray hair she’d never seen before sat at the reception desk when she walked in. “Hi. How are you?”
Gia looked around but didn’t see Zoe or any of the regular staff. “I’m doing well, thank you. How are you?”
“Very well, thank you. I’m Layla, Zoe’s mother. Just filling in for Janet today, since she’s at her daughter’s wedding.”
“Hi, Layla. It’s nice to meet you.” Gia extended a hand. “I’m Gia Morelli. I own the café down the street.”
“Oh, yes.” Layla shook her hand. “Zoe and I have gone to breakfast there many times. I just love your vegetable omelets.”
“Thank you.”
“What can I help you with today?”
“I was looking for Zoe. I wanted to talk to her about keeping Thor for an overnight visit.”
The woman’s face twisted up as if she’d sucked a lemon. “I can get her for you, and you can ask, but I’m not sure she’ll agree after the last overnight she agreed to.”
“Why, what happened?”
“The man never showed up for his dog.”
She couldn’t possibly be talking about Trevor. “You mean Brandy?”
“Yes. You know her owner?”
“I do.”
“Well, if you see him, tell him Zoe still has his dog. Not for nothing, but that’s not right.”
“No,” Gia admitted quietly. “But I can’t really judge since I don’t know why he never came back.”
“Or called.”
“Right.” What could she say? Though she found Layla’s gossiping about Trevor to a woman she’d never even met in poor taste, she could understand her frustration. And she couldn’t even begin to imagine why Trevor wouldn’t have come for Brandy, or even called, when he’d been released days ago.
“If you’ll excuse me for a minute, I’ll get Zoe.” Layla pushed her chair back and stood. “It was nice meeting you.”
“You too, thanks.”
Gia stared at the book sitting open on the desk, the book Zoe always jotted down notes regarding Thor’s care in, then glanced toward the closed door to the back rooms. She could just take one quick peek through it and see what notes Zoe had made about Brandy on Trevor’s page. She plopped onto a chair in the waiting area, then stuck her hands beneath her legs for good measure. She wouldn’t want someone walking into the café and invading her privacy.
Zoe saved her from arguing with herself any further when she walked in. “Hey, Gia.”
“Hi, Zoe, how’s everything?”
“Great.” She gestured toward the bandage on Gia’s arm. “What happened?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just a scratch.” Scratch, gunshot wound, whatever. It didn’t really hurt much anymore, but it had begun to itch in earnest.
Zoe glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Taking off early today?”
“Oh, no. I’m not here to pick Thor up yet, but I did want to ask you about keeping him over Sunday night.”
“Oh, uh…”
“Your mom was telling me Trevor never came back for Brandy?”
Her jaw clenched. “I’m sorry about that. As much as I appreciate my mom helping out when I need it, she never has learned a thing about confidentiality.”
“No problem. But I am worried about Trevor. Has he called?”
“No, I haven’t heard a word from him. Have you?”
She couldn’t tell her about the night of the shooting, because Hunt had asked her to keep that quiet.
“He hasn’t called me either.” True enough. “But I did hear he was released, so hopefully he’ll be in touch soon about Brandy.”
“I hope so. Now, about Thor…”
“I’m hoping to go to Disney World with Savannah and some friends on Sunday night and stay over until early Tuesday morning.” At least, that’s what Savannah was hoping. She insisted it would be better to just stay over and sleep for a few hours, then make the forty-five minute drive back to the café early Tuesday morning. Gia had her reservations. But after screwing up her last vacation, Gia didn’t want to throw a wrench in this one too. “I’d pick Thor up after work on Tuesday.”
Zoe hesitated.
“If it’s a problem, I can board him down by Disney. I just preferred to have him with someone he knows and I trust.”
She
smiled. “Of course, I’ll keep him. I’m sorry. I just never expected that from Trevor, you know?”
“Yeah, I do.”
They chatted a few more minutes, then Gia played with Thor for a little while before heading back to the café. The time spent relaxing with Thor had stilled her mind, giving her a much-needed reprieve from the situation with Trevor. But walking past Storm Scoopers brought it all crashing back.
On impulse, she looked both ways, jogged across Main Street, and looked in the front window of Storm Scoopers.
Something moved inside, toward the back of the shop.
She squinted against the glare, cupped her hands around her eyes, and leaned closer to the glass. A shadow crossed the doorway to the back room. Definitely someone moving around in there.
She looked up and down Main Street. Plenty of people were milling around, in and out of shops, strolling along, enjoying the warm spring afternoon.
Gia pulled on the door handle, and it eased open, despite the Closed sign hanging smack in the middle of the door. She poked her head inside. “Hello?”
Chapter 24
“We’re closed,” a familiar voice yelled from the back room.
“Trevor? Is that you?”
Trevor appeared in the doorway to the back room. “What are you doing here, Gia?”
“What am I doing here?” Good question, actually. Not that she had any intention of answering, since she had no clue. “What are you doing here? And why haven’t you called Zoe about Brandy?”
He shoved a hand through his already disheveled hair, and it flopped right back into his face. “Is Brandy all right?”
His concern tugged at her heart a little, and she softened her tone. “She’s fine, but Zoe’s worried sick about you.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
Gia moved farther into the shop, then leaned against the table by the booth closest to him. “Trevor, what is going on? Please, talk to me.”
“I can’t, Gia. You have to let it go.”
“Don’t you get it? I can’t. You’re my friend. And I trusted you, something that doesn’t come easy for me.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that. I don’t care if you’re sorry. Sorry for what? And what don’t you know? Talk to me.”
He slumped against the doorway and folded his arms across his chest. “I think I might have screwed up.”
“Ya think?”
“No need to be sarcastic.”
“You’re right.” She was trying to get him to confide in her, not alienate him. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been frustrated.”
“Trust me, I feel your pain. I’ve pretty much cornered the market on frustrated.”
“Why don’t you come sit down?” Gia gestured toward the booth behind her.
Trevor hesitated for another moment, then gave in and crossed the room. He rubbed a hand along the back of the booth seat. “This was my dream, you know?”
“What? Storm Scoopers?”
“Yeah.” He dropped onto the booth bench, rested his forearms on the table, and hung his head. “I always wanted an old-fashioned ice cream parlor. The kind where families go to celebrate special occasions and kids came to hang out after school.”
“How long have you been open?” Funny, she’d never thought to ask that.
“Almost ten years.”
“That’s a long time.”
“Yeah.” He traced a heart someone had carved into the table, ran his finger around and around the outline. “Some of the kids in my class couldn’t wait to escape the small-town life the minute they graduated, but not me. I embraced it. I loved it. I never wanted to leave and go anywhere else.”
She already knew he’d been out of high school for eighteen years. “What did you do when you graduated, before you opened the shop?”
“A little of this, a little of that, mostly nothing but feel sorry for myself and the mess I’d made.”
Her interest piqued. She couldn’t help but wonder if the mess he was talking about had anything to do with what was happening now. “What do you mean? What mess?”
He sighed and slumped against the back of the seat, dropping his hands into his lap beneath the table. Where she couldn’t see them.
A small jolt of fear shot through her, then she scolded herself. This was Trevor. He wasn’t going to do anything to her. He was her friend. “Tell me, Trevor. I want to help. Who knows? Maybe I can.”
He shook his head and looked down. “You can’t. No one can.”
“What do you mean? Did you try talking to Hunt, answering his questions? I don’t understand why you wouldn’t talk to him. He’s a friend, Trevor.” She lowered her voice, even though there was no one around to hear her. “He helped me when I was in trouble.”
“There’s one big difference, though.”
“Oh?” She sat back, frustrated with his attitude. “What’s that?”
He leaned toward her, folding his arms on the table. “You weren’t guilty.”
She gasped and jerked back as if he’d slapped her. Her chest tightened, sweat popped out on her brow, and she sucked in a breath to scream, then remembered no one was close enough to hear her. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. Turned out all she could manage was a wheeze. “Guilty?”
He held his hands up in front of him. “Ah, jeez, Gia. I don’t mean I killed Mitch.”
She struggled to regain control of her breathing.
Trevor jumped up and ran to the refrigerator case by the front door, grabbed a water bottle, then came back and handed it to her.
She uncapped it and sucked down a big gulp, then recapped the bottle and set it on the table and glared at him. “You’re going to want to be careful how you phrase that.”
“Ugh… You’re right. I’m so sorry.” He shook his head. “But the fact that you could even have thought that says a lot, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, it says you’ve been acting strange lately. I try to call you, and you don’t answer or return any of my calls. You don’t bother to pick up your dog, or even call to see how she is. I come to your house to see if I can talk to you, and it turns out to be a fortress, complete with concrete wall and guard dogs, and then, as if that’s not enough, someone shoots me. So, what do you think, Trevor? Do you think it should shock me when you sit there and confess your guilt?”
“I guess not.”
“Well, it did.”
His gaze shot to hers.
“Because I never once, through all of that, never once thought you were guilty.”
“Ah, Gia.” He clasped her hands in his. “I’m so sorry. It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s just that I care about you, and I didn’t want to get you involved. And as for Brandy, I love her so much, and I didn’t want to take a chance of her getting hurt, so I left her where I thought she’d be safe.”
“You’re my friend, Trevor, a very good friend. How could you think I wouldn’t get involved if you needed help?”
A small smile played at the corner of his mouth. “I guess I should have known better.”
She laughed. “You got that right.”
He lowered his head to rest on their joined hands, and she accepted he was going to keep his secrets bottled up tight. He released her hands and sat back. “How’s your arm?”
She looked down at the bandage. “It’s fine.”
“I’m sorry you got hurt. I never wanted that. I never wanted anyone to get hurt.”
“I know. It’s okay. That wasn’t your fault; it was my own.”
“If I had answered your calls, you wouldn’t have felt the need to scale my gate in the middle of the night, and you wouldn’t have gotten shot.”
What could she say? He was right. “Technically, it was morning. Just very early morning. And, for the record, we went over the wall, not the gate.”
>
“I guess I’ll have to rethink my security set up.”
“You’re going to need a bigger wall.”
He laughed, then sighed and rolled his shoulders. “Ah, Gia. I really screwed up.”
She stayed quiet. No sense offering to hear him out or help again. She’d offered enough times. If and when he wanted to talk, he would. Until then, she’d just sit there with him and be his friend.
As Savannah had done for her when she’d needed it. Sometimes you didn’t need a friend to interfere; sometimes you needed them to stand by while you made a mess of your life, then jump in and help pick up the pieces.
“All through school, I hung out with one group of kids. The rich kids. The ones who came from powerful families. The ones with high ambitions. The kids who would one day rule the world. Mitch swore he’d be president one day. And Ron was going to be right there with him, his vice president, his right-hand man, as he’d been all through school.”
“Then how did Ron end up running against him?”
He spread his hands wide. “I have no idea. I kind of figured they had some sort of disagreement. It’s just the only thing that makes sense.”
Gia had to agree. “What about Bobby Fischetti?”
“Bobby didn’t have political aspirations, but he was next in line to run his old man’s oil company, as powerful a position as any.”
“Did he end up running the company?”
“No, actually. He took off, and his younger brother inherited the throne, so to speak. It was quite a scandal at the time.”
“What about Gabriella Fischetti?”
“All of the girls in our group had high hopes of becoming important and influential figures. Except for Gabriella. All she ever wanted was to get married and have a houseful of kids.”
Gia realized she didn’t know if Gabriella had ever fulfilled that dream. She’d never seen any kids with them or heard any mention of them, but it was just as possible they’d chosen to keep them far away from this mess.
“And I wanted to open an ice cream parlor.”
Gia smiled at the young, goofy kid she imagined him to be.
“The point is, I didn’t fit in with them. Not really. Not even back then. They were mean and ruthless in a way I could never be. They were willing to climb over anyone to make it to the top.”