by C L Hart
It had to be the evidence Lincoln had promised her, and she gladly took it.
“Looking for Sarah, were you?”
“Yeah, but I gather she’s not here.”
“She left early this morning,” Helga said as she started back up the driveway. “Is there a problem?”
“Huh? No, I just— Thanks for bringing this over.” She turned and started back to her cabin before Helga could ask anything further.
♥
A cup of fresh coffee in her hand, Abby became engrossed in the evidence Lincoln had completely lost track of time. She heard solid footsteps on the deck and looked up to see Helga going past the side window. Abby moved quickly to the door, hoping to stop the elderly woman from coming inside. There were too many things lying about that might upset her. “Helga,” Abby said with a smile. She was about to ask her what she was doing there, but the tray of food she was carrying gave it away.
“Well, my child, I figured if Mohammed won’t go to the mountain for food, then the mountain must go to Mohammed with food.” She held up the tray.
“I wasn’t hungry for lunch; that was why I didn’t go up to the lodge.”
“That is fine, but this is supper. Lunch was hours ago.”
Abby looked down at her watch and was startled to see the time. “Oh, my God, it’s after six! I was only going to look at this stuff for a bit.” She gestured to the papers on her table. “I wanted to go over and talk to Sarah, but I wanted a cup of coffee first. That was...hours ago.” She smiled almost apologetically at Helga. “She’s back, isn’t she?”
“Oh ja, but she hasn’t been into the restaurant all day either.” Helga pulled back the colorful towel covering the food. “There is enough here for two.”
Abby reached for the tray. “Helga, do you ever get tired of playing matchmaker?”
“Never,” she said over her shoulder.
Walking down the driveway, Abby noted that Sarah was in her usual spot, sitting in front of her computer, but as she got closer, she could see that Sarah wasn’t typing, just looking at the monitor.
“Hello inside,” Abby called as she stepped onto the deck. At the sound of her voice, Sarah reached to fold down her laptop. If Abby found her reaction strange, she showed no sign of it. “I come bearing food.” She held up the tray with a smile, hoping to be welcomed.
Sarah didn’t disappoint her as a smile spread across her pretty face. “Hi,” she answered shyly as she opened the door.
“Helga informed me that you haven’t eaten all day.” Abby uncomfortably recalled how they had parted. “I hope you didn’t stay away from the restaurant because of what happened last night.”
“No, it wasn’t that. It was... I just had to... I uh, got busy.” Sarah turned and indicated her laptop, but didn’t embellish.
Feeling the change in the atmosphere, Abby put down the tray of food and walked over to put her hands on Sarah’s shoulders. She noticed the slight discoloration around Sarah’s neck, and guilt and shame came crashing down on her. Without uttering a word, Abby reached out and lightly ran her fingertips over the bruises.
“Sarah, I’m sorry. I can’t apologize enough. I didn’t mean to push and I didn’t mean to assume—”
Her words were cut short by Sarah’s fingers on her lips. “You didn’t push and you didn’t assume.”
“Then what?” Abby wanted nothing more than to continue from where they had left off last night.
Sarah paused. “Just...just know you didn’t assume and leave it at that for now, please.” She placed her hand on Abby’s cheek. The simple physical connection sent a wave of aching desire right through Sarah’s small frame. “Please?”
Abby studied her face and knew she had no choice but to comply with Sarah’s wishes. She nodded.
“Thank you,” Sarah said in a mere whisper as she placed a tender kiss on Abby’s cheek. Taking a step back, Sarah looked down at what Abby had brought. “So, what did Helga bring us for dinner?”
Polite small talk continued throughout the meal and afterward. Abby looked over at Sarah and could see that something was still nagging at her, but she was trying to hide it. “You’re a million miles away, Sarah.” She paused. “This isn’t about last night is it?”
“No.” She shook her head. “It’s more complicated than that.” She examined the lines on her palms intently.
Sarah’s world was closing in on her — the walls of truth and integrity were pushing her from all sides. She hadn’t counted on falling in love, and now with Abby only inches away, Sarah felt the fear of discovery tapping on her shoulder. The truth of who she was had to come from her because she knew if Abby found out from someone else, there would be no explanation worthy of the betrayal she was sure to feel. But if she told her now, would there be any chance that Abby would look past it? Could there be a chance?
“Complicated things don’t scare me, Sarah. Silence does.”
Sarah refused to look up. She knew those haunting dark eyes were watching her every move. Reaching over toward Buck, Sarah kept her eyes and hands busy by scratching at the side of his jaw, much to the delight of the massive dog. “Abby, I...” The moment she looked up, her courage deserted her. “I...I just need some more time.”
The agonizing expression on her face tore at Abby’s heart. She looked so lost and vulnerable that all Abby wanted to do was to gather her up in her arms and protect her. “Does it have anything to do with what happened last night?”
“No...well, yes, but not in the way you think. Abby, please just give me a few days to finish this.”
“If that is what you need, then you take all the time in the world, and when you’re ready, I’ll be here waiting for you.”
“Promise?” Sarah asked as she bit at her lower lip.
Abby smiled reassuringly. “Promise.”
There was a long pause as they stared into each other’s eyes.
“Abby,” Sarah said, almost enjoying the squirming of the tall detective. She leaned forward and kissed her squarely and purposefully on her lips. “A couple of days, and I’ll tell you everything.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Abby said with a smile as she turned and left with her dog.
♥
Helga could see Abby stretched out on the sofa, but the long body didn’t move when she tapped on the glass. “Abby, wake up, dear.” She peered into the cabin and watched as the woman stretched awake. Lifting her head off the arm of the sofa, Abby waved her in.
“Since when do you do wake up calls?” she muttered as she swung her legs around onto the floor.
“Your Lincoln is on the phone and he wants to talk to you now.”
Abby looked up at the elderly woman. “Lincoln is on the phone?”
“Ja. He was quite agitated, barely even said hello to me.”
“My Lincoln. Hmmm, I wonder how Carla would respond to that,” Abby mumbled as she pulled on her cowboy boots and then followed Helga out the door. She was still wiping the sleep from her eyes when they passed Sarah’s empty driveway. Abby’s long strides slowed for a moment while she pondered the absence of Sarah once again. With Helga urging her forward, Abby tabled the question as she headed toward the waiting phone call.
“Lincoln?” she said into the receiver.
“Partner, huh?” His tone was angry and harsh. “I’ve known you for how long, and I have to find out from this morning’s paper that you own that resort!”
“What?”
“It was in the paper, Abby. I had to find out you own that entire resort from a newspaper!”
Abby closed her eyes and sighed deeply. “It was in the paper?” she asked.
“Yeah, front page, right next to the picture of you and Billy. I’m here fending off allegations about our shoddy police work and you—.”
Abby cut him off. “A picture!” There was a change in her voice and attitude.
“Yeah, they have that favorite one of you with your fist in his face! The entire resort, Abby? I mean, I knew you had money, but I had n
o idea...but then, how could I?”
“Linc, I can explain,” Abby pleaded.
“I’m sure you can. Right now I just don’t care to hear it. The press is all over us about this case and about you. It seems someone leaked the information that Billy has been under our surveillance, and since there was no way he could have killed this Reanichi girl, then maybe he was innocent all along!”
“What? We both know that he is guilty as sin!”
“Do we? I’m starting to wonder just what I know and what I’ve been told.”
“Lincoln, I’m sorry I never told you I own the resort. I had my reasons. Besides...I didn’t just keep it from you, I kept it from everyone.”
“Well, obviously not from everyone. Look, we dropped the ball on this one, Abby, and now it’s blowing up in our faces. I just thought I should warn you that Lieutenant Banks is on the rampage. She’s upstairs right now, but when she gets back, I’m sure you’ll be number one on her hit list. And I’m sure once everyone finds Gold Creek on a map, you won’t be alone for long.”
“Lincoln, can you let me say something?” The phone clicked loudly in her ear, and all she heard was the dial tone. Abby didn’t realize that she was still holding the receiver until Helga came and took it from her hand.
Abby looked up at her. “Where’s Günter?”
“He is still in serving breakfast. You want I go and get him?”
“Yes, please. I need to talk to both of you.” Helga nodded and left in search of her husband as Abby reached for the phone. She had just finished her call when the Helga and Günter arrived.
“What is it, child?” Günter asked, not liking the look of concern on Abby’s face.
“It seems that... Lincoln called to tell me the press has discovered that I own the resort.”
Günter looked to Helga, and then smiled at Abby. “But that is the truth. Why would that bother us?”
“I guess it won’t, but the press will...” Abby sighed as she stood looking out the window at the view of the mountains. “I’m gonna have to leave. Now that they know where I am, they’ll be coming here in droves.”
Turning around, she looked at the two of them standing side by side and holding hands. With a faint smile, she wondered if her parents had lived, would they be holding hands after so many years. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. I show up after all these years, and now I have the entire press corps on its way.” She shook her head with regret. “I’m sorry this happened.”
“Don’t be sorry, child.” Helga walked over to her with her arms open. “We got to spend time with you, and that, my dear, is priceless. Just please promise me you will not wait twenty years to come back.”
Returning the loving embrace, Abby smiled. “I won’t. Buck and I will visit often. My lieutenant will be phoning soon, I’m sure. Tell her I’ll call her back, then come and find me.”
Abby noted with concern that Sarah hadn’t yet returned. Trying her best not to think about where she might have gone and what she was doing, Abby busied herself with her packing. Standing in the living room, looking out over the lake, she heard footsteps and hoped it was Sarah. She tried not to show her disappointment when Günter came to the door.
“Your Lieutenant Banks is on the phone,” he said. “She is waiting for you.”
“Great, ” Abby muttered.
“Things are not good?”
“No, things are not good. In fact, they’re going downhill fast, she said under her breath as she hurried for the phone.
♥
“Detective,” Banks answered gruffly in response to Abby’s greeting. “I will assume you’ve heard about the headlines in this morning’s paper, so I won’t get into that. How long will it take you to get back here?”
“I can be there for tomorrow morning’s briefing.”
“Not good enough. The upstairs brass needs to do a press release to try to head off some of this. We need you here before the six o’clock news.”
“But it will take me—”
“This isn’t open for debate. Get back into the city and in my office, now!”
“I still have to pack—”
“Am I not making myself clear here, Detective? ‘Now’ means now!”
“Yes, ma’am,” she answered curtly. Abby hung up the phone and turned to see a disappointed Günter standing outside the front door.
“You are leaving?”
“Yeah.”
Günter nodded, “What about Sarah?”
Abby’s stopped. What about Sarah? “She’s not back yet?” Abby asked as she looked in the direction of Sarah’s cabin.
“I don’t believe so.” Günter could see the despair on her face and it broke his heart.
She reached up and ran her hand nervously through her long, dark hair. She didn’t have much time. “You must have a number or something for her in the office, don’t you?”
“I’m sure we do. I’ll look for you.”
“Thanks,” Abby said as she hurried back to her cabin.
♥
The Jeep was loaded and the cabin was empty, but Sarah had yet to return. One last time, Abby walked through the trees that had been the only thing to separate them, and walked up onto Sarah’s deck.
“Where are you?” she groaned as she paced back and forth. Looking down at her watch for the hundredth time, Abby knew she couldn’t wait any longer. Peering inside Sarah’s cabin, she saw some papers sitting on her table. Not wanting to leave without some kind of note, Abby entered the cabin and walked over to the paper. Ignoring the few words scribbled on it, she turned the paper over and tried to write out a note.
Sarah,
I got called back into the city. I waited as long as I could,
but I had to go. I’m so sorry. This time spent with you
has been the happiest of my life and I can’t thank you enough
for that. I’m sorry I have to leave so quickly. If I could find
a way to stay I would.
Please call me as soon as you can — cell 555- 541-6776
and home — 555-
Abby heard Buck howl and lifted her head. Sarah? Leaving the note unfinished, she rushed outside, but Sarah’s driveway was empty. Buck’s howl turned to an irritated bark, and she could hear voices trying to soothe the animal.
Hurrying back through the trees, she was surprised to see a man with a camera and another man, trying to get a look into her cabin. “Hey, you! What do you think you’re doing?” she asked angrily, startling the two men.
“Detective Stanfield.”
Annoyance darkened her features. “Get out of here,” she ordered.
“Would you care to comment on the murder of Lisa Reanichi?”
“You’re on private property, and you’re trespassing. Now leave.” She walked right up to the man with the microphone.
He had been at the courthouse that day and he had seen what she could do with her fists, and he wanted no part of it. “All right, we’ll leave, but are you sure you wouldn’t like to apologize to Billy Ward?”
“Apologize!” Abby’s face turned red with anger. “Are you suicidal?”
“It is obvious now that you and the entire police department were persecuting the wrong man, an innocent man whose life has been destroyed by you and your witch hunt.”
It took everything she had to keep her temper in check, but she did it. Standing with one hand on her hip, she turned and spoke a foreign word to her dog. Buck instantly responded with a full snarl and a showing of his massive teeth.
Both men heeded the warning and turned to leave. “We’ll be waiting for you at the front gates,” the man with the microphone said over his shoulder as they quickly departed. “By the way, nice place you have here, Miss Stanfield. Just how does one afford a resort on a detective’s salary, especially one of this size?”
“Buck... morté!”
The large dog leaped from the deck on Abby’s command, and snarled and snapped at the two departing reporters. It was all for show, but the
men didn't know that as they quickly left. She called her dog back and opened the door to her Jeep. Buck happily jumped in and took his seat next to her. Pulling up in front of the lodge, Abby caught sight of the growing press corps just outside the gate. Günter and Helga were waiting inside for her, and she could see their mood was abnormally somber.
“We wish you didn’t have to go, dear.” Helga said.
“I know. Helga.” She opened her arms and gave Helga a hug, then released her. “Sarah still isn’t back...” She turned back as if to look at the still empty cabin. Then she remembered. “The note. I never got a chance to finish it. I don’t have time—”
“It’s okay, dear. I will explain it to her.”
“But there were so many—”
Helga placed a hand on her arm, “I will sit her down and explain it to her.” Abby smiled as Helga gave her a wink. “I went to the reservation file for her number.” Helga pressed a piece of paper into her hand.
“You better get going, my dear,” Günter said, turning away from the window. “Why don’t you take the back fire road, so you can avoid the press? Here’s the key to the lock on the gate. Just leave it in it, and I will go by later and pick it up.”
“That is a great idea, my dear husband,” Helga said as she turned back to Abby, “You will bypass all of them and they will never know it.”
Abby nodded as she took the key and said her final goodbyes. Twenty minutes later, she bounced out of an old unused fire road and onto the blacktop. No one saw her as she turned her Jeep toward the city.
She had missed them all, including Sarah, who had just arrived back at the resort, horrified to see the mob of reporters already assembled.
♥
Sarah had been in Dexton. She had waited there as long as she could, but there had been no response to the wire she had sent to her parents. Wandering around the small town, she passed a convenience store and spotted the dark headlines screaming from the newspapers.
Cops Witch hunt the Innocent
— Police surveillance proves Billy Ward’s innocence...