Chapter Six
Glenna watched the expressions race across Patrick’s face. He clearly didn’t want her to stay. She didn’t want to stay. There were no other options.
“Pack a bag,” Patrick said. “Where’s the cat food and bowls? I’ll get Agnes ready.”
Glenna didn’t move. “I can’t go to Effie’s.”
“I’m not taking you to Effie’s. I’m taking you with me. I have a spare room for Margaret Kathleen’s kids. It’s not great but it is safer than here.”
“I can’t go home with you.”
She didn’t have any real argument about why she couldn’t, she didn’t want to stay home and face Lance. He wasn’t a big man, nothing like Patrick who if you put him in a kilt would look like he stepped out an episode of Outlander. But she did not wish to have a repeat performance of her earlier encounter when she’d first moved to town.
She stood to pace and think.
Patrick watched her with a scowl. “You can’t or won’t?”
“Patrick, you hardly know me. What will your family think?”
“That I’m doing my job and protecting a damsel in distress.”
She laughed. “You’ve had one conversation with Mr. Grumpy Pants and he’s already rubbing off on you.”
“Let’s not waste time arguing, because you’re going to lose. Go pack and I’ll get Agnes.”
“Just like that? I have no say in the matter? I’m a grown woman, I can make up my own mind. I will stay here.”
“Tyler said you were not the type to turn tail and run.”
“You talked to Tyler?”
“I thought your sister still lived in San Fran, I only called to find out if you could go there.”
“You could have asked me. I would have told you Reagan moved back east. I’m not your responsibility just because my brother called you. I’m sure you have other assignments more important. I’m really mad at you, now you have my family worried about me.”
“First, your family is already worried about you, your brother called me. However, the Agency opened a case. This is my assignment and you are my responsibility whether you like it or not.”
She stomped her foot, a left over reaction from childhood—one she had in common with Jessica. And then she folded her arms over her chest.
“How old are we? Stomping your foot and pouting. Glenna Beckett go pack a bag.”
She decided to go along with the reference to age. “You’re not the boss of me.”
At which he burst out laughing. It went a long way to ease the tension. He was right though, she was being childish. It wasn’t a trivial matter, her life very well could be in danger. She’d have to commute to work for a few days, but wasn’t it worth her life? Besides she wanted to meet Finn and Horace.
“How long do you think I’ll need to stay?”
“Until we catch Gordon and or the murderer or at least until Effie’s place is fixed and you can stay with her.”
That last part made it seem he didn’t really want her at his place. She didn’t want to be a burden.
“Are you sure I can’t stay here until I can go to Effie’s? I can call an alarm company tomorrow. I don’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not going to put me out. Is this because I said until Effie’s place was fixed? You can stay with me as long as needed. I just figured you’d rather be with her than two stinky males and a dog.”
She thought about it. She really did want to stay with the two stinky males and their dog. A jolt raced over her as she realized, she trusted Patrick.
“Okay. The cat food is under the sink…” She paused in the doorway. “Horace isn’t going to eat Agnes, is he?”
“I hope not, but how about this, if there are any problems tonight, when we go to your shop in the morning, we’ll bring Agnes and ask Mr. Grumpy Pants to watch her.”
Her tummy rolled, so many things to consider. She’d have the kennel to keep Agnes safe if needed. “Give me a few minutes, I’ll hurry.”
It was a little longer than a few. Every time she thought she had everything, she’d think of something else. She was used to being able to run home if she forgot something. Knowing she wasn’t going to be living close to her shop, she grabbed just about everything.
“I guess if I’ve forgotten something I can come back during the day,” Glenna said as she threw her bag in the back of the 4Runner.
“No, you cannot return until we know who was in your house. You could walk in on someone.”
“Wouldn’t I know if someone was in the house?”
“He’s not going to pull into the drive. Which Mr. Grumpy Pants confirmed ‘the young scallywag came on foot’.” A chuckle escaped before he continued. “People who break into homes are a careful lot, parking on another street among other things.”
“Okay, I get your drift.”
She closed her eyes and pictured herself walking through her home, checking her routine. Had she picked up her laptop? Yes. Had she picked up the receipt book she’d brought home yesterday to work on? Yes.
“I’ll be right back.”
She opened her eyes and saw Patrick go talk to Mr. Barlow again. She was at least 99% positive she had everything. That would have to do. By the time he finished talking to the neighbor she was in the vehicle and waiting.
“He is going to watch your place. I’m going to check in with him every day to find out if anyone has been here.”
“Why doesn’t he just call you?”
“He doesn’t have a phone. He doesn’t have anyone to call.”
Glenna glanced over to her neighbor. He was staring at them as they pulled out of the drive. She rolled her window down and waved at him, which he didn’t return, that was normal.
“That’s just sad. How would it be to have no one?”
She watched Patrick’s hands on the wheel as he navigated out of the drive onto the road. Once they were on the road he seemed to be deep in thought, she figured he was going over the case, until he spoke.
“Do you know his story? Does he have any family?”
Glenna thought over the years she’d lived next to him. How long had she lived in her house? Now she felt like the worst person.
“I’ve lived there about seven years and I don’t know anything about him.” She looked out the window a moment.
“That’s just sad.” She repeated her earlier statement.
“Don’t beat yourself up over it, he’s not the easiest or the most forthcoming person.”
“Well from now on I’m going to go out of my way to be nice to him.” She sat up in her seat and twisted to look at him, as best she could with the seatbelt restraining her movement. “Maybe I shouldn’t call him Mr. Grumpy Pants, that’s rude.”
“I think you’re okay with that, he is Grumpy and he does wear Pants.”
“Thank God for that.”
As Patrick negotiated the Silverado Trail road, he’d decided not to go through Napa on 29. The evenings in the valley could be become stop and go with all the travelers and locals vying for parking at restaurants, shopping, and wine tasting. He’d said he’d rather go a few miles out of his way than fight the traffic, and she was fine with that. She’d done the same on many occasion.
The silence in the car was a comfortable one, Glenna appreciated that. They didn’t know each other well, it could have just as easily have been awkward, but there was something about Patrick that calmed her and made her feel safe. She hadn’t decided if he’d changed his opinion of her yet. She didn’t know what it had been or why, but he seemed to be coming around.
Patrick’s phone jingle shattered the silence, startling her out of her thoughts. She placed a hand over her heart to stop its racing.
Even though the SUV was older, Patrick must have had it upgraded to make sure he could be hands free for the phone. In his profession that was most likely a must.
“Hello Bud. Did you get dinner?”
“Naw. I’ve been at football practice, just got home.”
“Yeah, hopefully we go to regionals, otherwise this is the last one.”
“You guys are doing great, I bet you go. Oh, while we’re on the subject, will you write the time of the game on the calendar? I want to be sure to arrange my schedule.”
“Dad, you’ve never missed any of my games. I’ll write it down. When are you getting home? I’ll wait to eat if it’s going to be soon.”
So this was his son, their voices sounded very similar. She could picture a miniature version of Patrick, though if he was on the football team, he could be a bit larger than she had first thought. She watched Patrick glance at the clock and then to the road again.
“Why don’t you call in an order for pizza at that new place, what was it called?”
“Pizza Stop?”
“Yes. Anyway tell them I’ll pick it up in fifteen minutes, oh and make sure there is enough for three, we have a house guest for a few days.”
There was a pause. Finn must be surprised. She didn’t know how many house guests they entertained, but by the length of the silence he’d caught his son by surprise.
“Um, okay. May I ask who and why?”
“She’s sitting right here,” Patrick said.
“Hi Finn, I’m Glenna and your dad is a life saver literally.”
“Um, okay,” Finn repeated.
“I’ll explain over dinner. See you soon.”
“Wait dad, what kind of pizza? Ms. Glenna what do you like?”
Glenna usually didn’t eat pizza, in fact she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had any. But Patrick and Finn were giving her a safe haven she wasn’t about to be difficult.
“I’m easy, you pick your favorite and I’ll be fine.”
“Okay, see you guys soon.”
And with that, the connection was broken. He seemed like an easy going kid. “He seemed to take a visitor in stride, though he seemed surprised.”
“He’s a good kid. He knows to expect the unexpected with my line of work. Though, he did take the first time having a house guest in stride, especially since you’re a woman. This should be interesting.”
Glenna considered the man she would be staying with, what did she know about him? He was a federal agent, which didn’t necessarily make him one of the good guys, but the fact her brother called him did. He had manners, which went a long way with Glenna. It seemed like many of her generation didn’t know what manners were. He seemed to be honest and speak the truth, she felt she could trust him.
He hadn’t earned that trust yet, so she’d hold back if for nothing else but self-preservation. She’d learned the hard way not to give her trust to everyone. Since the attack ten years ago, she tended to keep people at arm’s length. It was a precaution, and she wasn’t about to change now.
“You’re pretty quiet over there. What’s going through that head over there?”
He hadn’t taken his eyes off the road to look at her, but she still felt the weight of his words. She needed to be honest. This wasn’t a game of flirting and dating. This was her life. And he was her protector not a potential boyfriend. A situation she’d never been in before.
“I was thinking over the situation. Just so you know, I don’t give out my trust to everyone. I’ve trusted in the past and been hurt.” She again twisted in her seat so she could see his expression in the dim light. “Though I’m trusting you to keep me safe, I’m still holding some of that trust back until you earn it.”
He didn’t answer for a moment. She could see he was considering his answer.
“That’s fair enough. And since we’re being honest, I have a confession to make.”
“Oh?”
“You’ll have to earn my trust also. I may not have been hurt physically like you from trusting the wrong person, but my heart has been permanently damaged by Finn’s mother.”
“Joyce?”
“None other. She was perfect in every way, or so I thought when I met her.”
Glenna pulled her legs up on the seat and sat cross legged to face him. The belt cut into her neck, she pulled it out and situated it so the strap was under her arm. Probably not safe, but she wanted to watch his expressions. They’d barely known each other for a day, yet it had been such a full day that she felt she’d known him for years. The closeness of the darkened car made for confidences. There may not be another chance to hear about Finn’s mother and Patrick’s heart break. She didn’t want to waste the opportunity.
“How old were you?”
“Young. I wanted to be in law enforcement for as long as I remember. I did my homework and found the best college for criminal justice. John Jay College of Criminal Justice.”
“The City University of New York.”
“You know it?”
She laughed. “You forget I grew up in Brooklyn. I probably would have gone there, but being the youngest I wanted to be out on my own, so Stanford it was. I fell in love with the area. Many of a girl trip to the Valley helped me pick my location for my shop. But this is your time. On with your confession.”
“Joyce had an affluent family on the Upper East Side. I met her at an Irish bar. Little did I know she was slumming. It was my birthday, twenty-one. Anyway, she saw in me the bad boy her parents would hate, and I didn’t disappoint.”
“Oh dear, I can see where this is going. You fell hard for her. But she was using you to get away from overbearing parents, right?”
“They weren’t really overbearing as much as they spoiled her rotten. She had everything handed to her. I think she had just had enough of prissy boys from her expensive university and circle of friends. I was the boy toy to trot out for them all to see.”
“And it helped that you looked like something out of an Outlander movie set.” She grinned. “I’ve not known you long, but I’ve already imagined you in a kilt.”
He took a moment to glance at her, the wicked gleam made her heart do a pitter patter. “Oh you have, have you? Well I just so happened to have one in my family Tartan.”
“Be still my beating heart.” Though she made it sound like she was joking, her heart was beating like it didn’t understand that.
He laughed. “Anyway, I loved her. No. That’s not quite true. I had her on a pedestal so high she couldn’t help but fall off. She got pregnant and I did what I’d been taught to do my entire life. Take responsibility for my actions. I wasn’t ready to get married, but I didn’t see any other option. I was thrilled to have a child. She wasn’t. Her parents gave her a choice to have an abortion or marry me.”
“I’m glad she chose to marry you.”
“She wasn’t. She wanted the abortion. She didn’t want to marry me. I couldn’t give her the things she wanted. But I told her I’d go to court to stop the abortion, and just in case she tried to sneak to do it, I let her parents know this. They knew I was studying law, though it was for criminal justice, I knew enough to stop the abortion, and they knew it. So they forced her to marry me.”
“That must have been awful. Did she try to make it work?”
“Not really, she rebelled by almost bankrupting me. We didn’t even live together. I lived in my dorm, she at her parents. As I said earlier, as soon as she had the baby and got her figure back, she filed for a divorce and ran off with a rich financial analyst from Wall Street. I think she’s on her fourth husband. Luckily, I’d graduated by the time Finn arrived. I moved home with my son, and my parents helped.”
“I like your parents already.”
“They’re the best. They’ve never chastised me for my mistake and they adore Finn. The hardest months of my life were when I had to train at Quantico and leave Finn with them. But I knew he was safe, and that’s what matters, right?”
“Does she see him or do her parents see their grandson?”
“No, they never even came to the hospital. I think they knew she wouldn’t be staying married to me. And Finn was the red headed grandchild they never wanted.”
“I don’t underst
and people. I’m so sorry. But I’m a little confused. Why is this your confession of trust? Because you trusted her? It really doesn’t sound like you did. You had to threaten a court order on her to keep the baby.”
He took a deep breath and pursed his lips to blow out the air before he gave her a quick glance before watching the road again.
“This is hard. And embarrassing. As I said I thought she was perfect. She had every hair in place. She wouldn’t step out in public if she didn’t pass the mirror inspection. That’s what she called it. She had no patience for people who didn’t understand that her needs and wants came first. High maintenance.”
Glenna thought she knew where he was going with this. And though she wasn’t very flattered, she hoped he’d changed his mind.
“And though when Tyler called me, I didn’t have any preconceived notions about you. You could have been a pink faery like your friend. But I’ll be honest, when you opened the door, all I could see was a perfect selfish bitch. But then you cared about Alex. You wondered what kind of person you were to have not checked on her sooner.” He paused a moment. “You ran your hand through hair and left it ruffled and you didn’t care. You had a person, and Effie is so different than any of the friends Joyce had, she would have never dreamed of being seen in public with someone that wore different color socks. Let’s see, oh and though you call Mr. Barlow Mr. Grumpy Pants, you’re nice to him. And you care. You are ashamed that you haven’t learned more about him.”
“So you’ve decided that I may not be so bad?”
“Yeah. Oh, one more thing. Well actually there’s probably more, but you love your house. No, you’ve made it your home. I can tell how much you care by the way you’ve made it your own.”
“I don’t understand, why would my house make you see me differently?”
He gave her a surprised look. “You’re kidding me right? After the picture I’ve painted of Finn’s mother, can you really picture her living in something so small and quaint? She would look at that property in disdain.”
“That’s why you looked so surprised when you realized I lived there. I had wondered.”
He turned down a residential street. The houses were modest but well kept. Nice family neighborhood. He pulled into a beige stucco rambler. He put it into park.
Abandoned (The Beckett Series Book 6) Page 7