Mariah (MARIAH and SHANE Series Book 1)

by Carol Devine

  "No, but I didn't want to make a scene when it involves you."

  "He likes to follow me around. Now that I'm leaving, he'll have reason to disappear. I'm saying good night to make it easier on everybody, including you."

  "You're letting him chase you away?"

  "It's my choice. Tell Ana 'Happy Birthday' again for me, will you? Thanks."

  He finally let her go, watching her walk away from him. Too conscious of it, Mariah made sure she didn't look back.

  .

  CHAPTER Five

  Pablo Cabrillo unlocked the rear delivery door of his store and held the door open for his niece. Lucy emerged awkwardly, carrying a stack of flattened cardboard boxes. A petite 15 year-old, the cardboard was far wider than she was. Pablo turned on the outside light and brought out another load of flattened boxes, propping them along the outside of the building. Dusk was beginning to fall as the sunset kissed the mountainous horizon.

  "You sure you don't need help, Lucy?"

  "I'm sure."

  "After you finish, come around front and help break down the fruit and vegetable displays. Diane wants to close exactly at 8 tonight."

  "Okay. Thanks, Uncle Pablo."

  Pablo disappeared inside and the door closed behind him. Holding her stack, Lucy gamely shuffled towards the big metal trash and recycling containers in the alley. After spending the day re-stocking shelves, this was the fifth time she'd made the trip and she was beginning to think she could do it in her sleep.

  Since the recycling container was taller than she was, she laid the stack of flattened cardboard on the ground, went to get the other one and stacked that by the container, too. Commercial-sized, it was made of green metal. There were two lids to make it possible for a regular human being to lift them. Lucy could do it, but her height and arm strength allowed only about four inches worth. She wedged a brick in the corner to keep the lid open and used two hands to feed the cardboard inside the container one or two boxes at a time.

  "Hi, Lucy. Remember me?"

  Startled, Lucy dropped the next stack of cardboard.

  "I bought some cookies. You waited on me."

  Kelly stood so close, she jumped back, hitting the container with her backside and scattering the stacked cardboard at her feet.

  Although he was only an inch or two taller, he seemed bigger than she remembered, wearing a jean jacket this time along with his black cowboy hat.

  "Sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to startle you. Do you need some help?"

  "No, I-I can do it. I'm recycling this cardboard."

  She knelt to pick up the scattered pieces. Kelly knelt, too, stacking it for her.

  "I'll hold the lid open so you can throw it in all at once."

  He lifted the lid and the brick fell inside, clanking loudly as it hit the metal floor.

  "Oops. Didn't mean to do that." Hefting the lid, he seemed to find it rather heavy, too, leaving only a narrow gap. "Will that work?"

  Lucy started feeding the boxes in the same way she'd done before. Abruptly Kelly dropped the lid, catching a box in the gap.

  "It's too heavy. I'm gonna try another way." He tossed his hat on the ground and, gripping the top edge of the container, swung sideways in a quick, clean move, catching the top edge with one sneakered foot. A split second later, he was standing on top of the container, grinning as he looked around. "Hey, it's pretty cool up here."

  "Be careful. I think you better come down. My aunt and uncle wouldn't like it."

  "Don't worry, it's strong." To demonstrate, he jumped up and down, one foot on each side of the split-down-the-middle lid, rattling the metal edges against the sides. He extended his hand down to Lucy. "You wanna see the view?"

  "No, that's okay."

  "Chicken?"

  "No, I have work to do."

  "I'll open one of the bins for you." Kelly stood, sidestepping on one lid while pulling the other. He held it vertical for maximum access.

  Lucy gathered the entire stack but hesitated as she looked up at him.

  "You don't want your uncle to think you can't handle taking the trash out, do you?"

  Lucy stood on tiptoe, straining, and forced the entire stack up and over the edge. The top pieces of cardboard cascaded in, thudding dully. Suddenly, the lid crashed down, nearly catching her hands.

  She screamed involuntarily. Kelly jumped down beside her and grabbed her hands.

  "Are you okay?"

  "I-I think so." He was close to her and their clothing touched. She backed against the container but Kelly continued to grip her hands, bending to peer at them closely. It was getting dark.

  "They look okay."

  Suddenly he shoved her against the container and pinned her body with his, forcing her hands above her head. He kissed her with an open mouth, muffling her scream. She struggled, twisting and kicking to escape. But he was much stronger and insistent. He clamped his free hand across her face.

  "Wait 'til you see what I have for you, Lucy."

  She pleaded with her eyes. The hand over her mouth also covered her nose, making it difficult to breathe. Lightheaded, she sagged. Kelly abruptly turned her around and pushed the lid open with such force, it flew all the way up and banged the other side of the container. He boosted her high, gripping her hips, scraping her stomach over the top edge. Momentum bent her at the waist, and Lucy tumbled head first into the bin. She landed on her back on top of the stack of cardboard she'd just thrown in.

  Stunned, the wind knocked out of her, she saw the blackening sky above her. It looked normal, starting to twinkle with stars. Then Kelly appeared, standing on the closed half of the lid, looking down at her. He grabbed the open lid, bringing it straight up, threatening to drop it, slamming it closed and leaving her in the dark.

  Lucy scrambled to her feet, gasping. "Don't."

  "Don't what?"

  Lucy raised her arms, swaying. The walls of the bin were too high for her to get out on her own. The trash underneath the cardboard created uneven footing and she lost her balance. She crouched.

  "Please, let me out."

  "What'll you give me?"

  Desperate, Lucy racked her brain. "Money?"

  Maintaining his hold on the lid, he sat on the other, his sneakered feet dangling over her. "How much?"

  "I'm not sure. I haven't got paid yet."

  "Don't you have anything else?"

  She tried to think, but she was panicked, her heart racing, rushing in her ears. Kelly jumped.

  She lurched sideways, tossed by his weight hitting bottom. The lid crashed down, sealing them both inside.

  * * * * *

  "Kelly!"

  Carrying his phone, Shane jogged down Main Street. Twilight was descending, the time when dusk was turning into night. Streetlights had come on, casting circles of light along the sidewalk.

  He passed the General Store. Pablo and Diane were bringing in boxes of fruits and vegetables that sat on tilt tables along the sidewalk, preparing to close.

  "Have you seen Kelly?"

  Pablo and Diane glanced at each other and shrugged.

  "Not today," said Pablo. "You can ask Lucy. She's in the alley out back, breaking down boxes."

  "Okay, I'll check with her. If you do see Kelly, will you give me a call? His mother is looking for him."

  Shane strode on, passing a couple of smaller stores, both closed. He peered in the toy store window, which was stupid since it was black inside but he was feeling desperate. Jessie had called him forty minutes ago, frantic because Kelly wasn't at the skate park when she went to pick him up for dinner. After checking his house, the barn, the corrals and the arena, Shane was running out of ideas.

  He cut through the parking lot in back of the store, heading for the alley. There weren't many lights and the area looked deserted.

  "Help!"

  It was a girl's voice, thin and scared. Shane sprinted, following the voice.

  "Help me!"

  He turned a corner and saw Lucy, half-in and half-out of a gia
nt recycling container, her back supporting the lid as she struggled to get out from under.

  "Lucy!" Running forward, Shane grabbed the lid and held it up, rescuing her from the crushing weight.

  "My God, what are you doing up there?"

  Shane kept the lid open with one hand while he hooked Lucy around the waist with the other. Further down along the top edge of the container, Shane saw another pair of hands curl over the top as Lucy tilted towards him, falling into his arms. He let go of the lid to catch her.

  Whomever was inside screamed and thumped around. Cradling Lucy, Shane saw her forehead was scraped raw and dirt smeared her cheeks and arms.

  "Who's that?"

  Lucy hiccupped, barely able to talk. "Kelly."

  * * * * *

  "I need you, Mariah."

  The urgency in Shane's voice had her closing her laptop and grabbing her purse from her desk. "Where?"

  "Meet me behind the General Store. Sheriff's Department is already here and an ambulance is pulling in."

  "Two minutes."

  She drove the six blocks in her SUV to get there with ten seconds to spare. The scene in the alley behind the General Store was chaotic by sleepy small town standards. Security floodlights had been turned on, sending ghostly shadows along the alley's length. At one end, close to two large dumpsters, a Sheriff's Jeep and an ambulance were parked, surrounded by a growing group of onlookers, undoubtedly attracted by the hysteria generated by Jessie Travers.

  She was screaming Kelly's name and weeping, hovering around a gurney where Kelly was sitting. He was wincing in pain as his hands were being bandaged by an EMT.

  At the other end of the alley close to the General Store's rear delivery door, was the Cabrillo family. Lucy stood in their midst, being checked over by another EMT, who was examining what looked to be a bump on Lucy's forehead. Shane was pacing nearby. He approached Mariah as soon as she exited her vehicle.

  "Thanks for getting here so fast."

  "What happened?"

  "Lucy and Kelly ended up in one of the big recycling dumpsters. Lucy has a couple of cuts and it looks like Kelly broke some fingers. I found them and needed the Deputy to get him out."

  "Why were they in the dumpster?"

  Shane started striding towards Kelly's end of the alley. "Good question. I'm ready to ask Kelly the same thing. Lucy said she was throwing out trash. She wouldn't tell me how she got in."

  Mariah eyed the scene at the end of the alley. Jessie seemed to have gotten hold of herself. She was speaking to the Deputy, who was taking notes. Kelly, clearly in pain, had put on a brave face. As Shane and Mariah arrived, he started talking fast, interrupting his mother.

  "I'm sorry Lucy and me made so much trouble for Mom and Shane and everybody. We were just trying to recycle a bunch of cardboard."

  The deputy addressed Kelly. "How did you two get inside the dumpster?"

  "Lucy asked me to give her a boost. She wanted to make sure the boxes were lying flat on the bottom. I boosted her too high and she crashed in. I think that's when she hurt her head. I tried to get her out but the lid was too heavy and then I fell in, too. That's when Shane came."

  Jessie appealed to the EMT. "Is he going to be all right?"

  "Once he gets to the hospital, the doctors will examine him for any internal injuries. But he's definitely going to need x-rays on those hands. He's broken at least three fingers, maybe more."

  Shane stepped forward. "I was hoping I could go in the ambulance, too."

  Jessie grabbed his arm. "Yes, I think both Kelly and I would feel better if you came along."

  Mariah noticed Kelly didn't seem nearly as enthusiastic. She asked the obvious question. "Will there be room for Lucy?"

  Shane cut in before the EMT could answer. "Mariah, I think it would be better if you drove her along with Pablo and Diane."

  Acknowledging the concern behind Shane's suggestion, Mariah backpedaled, nodding. "Let's see if she needs to go to the hospital first. I'll be right back."

  The EMT was speaking to the Cabrillos as Mariah returned to their end of the alley. "It's just a scrape but she can come with us if you want a doctor to take a look."

  "No, no ambulance," said Lucy, who was clinging to Diane. "I want to go home, to your house. I don't want to call my parents. They'll be worried without any reason."

  Pablo and Diane looked at the EMT, who shrugged. "You're her guardians. It's up to you."

  The deputy trotted towards them, waving his notes. "I need to get a statement from Lucy. Kelly said you fell in the bin by accident. Is that true?"

  Annoyed by the leading question, Mariah joined the circle of people around Lucy. "Actually, Pablo, Diane, since Lucy's a minor, Deputy Johnson must have your permission before he can take her statement. Since she would like to go home and rest for awhile, I would wait until tomorrow to give that permission."

  "Is this true?" Pablo asked the deputy.

  Frowning, the deputy eyed Mariah with distaste. "It's not usually how things are done around here."

  Pablo crooked his arm around Lucy. "She's family, Clyde. You know us. It's not like we're going to disappear on you."

  "Bring her into the station first thing tomorrow morning. That is, if that's all right with you, Agent McBride."

  Mariah ignored his sarcasm. "Yes. Thank you, Deputy."

  Pablo shared handshakes with the deputy. After one last dirty look at Mariah, he strode away, heading for his patrol Jeep. Meanwhile, the ambulance was starting to roll out of the other end of the alley. The siren whooped in slow rhythm as it traveled through the crowd and turned onto Tabor Street.

  Mariah addressed Lucy, her tone ultra-gentle. "Shane asked me to make sure you all made it home okay. I thought I'd follow you in my car."

  Pablo was locking the rear door of the store. "Is that really necessary?"

  Mariah appealed to Diane, who still had her arm around Lucy. "I'd feel better if I saw you safely there. I promised Shane. I hope you don't mind."

  Diane glanced at Lucy, squeezing her around the shoulders. "It's okay, Pablo. This is about taking care of Lucy, don't you think?"

  Mariah checked with Lucy. "Do you mind if I follow you and your Aunt and Uncle to their place?"

  Wiping the remnants of her tears, Lucy nodded. Mariah backed away, climbed into her SUV, started the engine and followed them home.

  * * * * *

  It was after two am when Mariah drove by Shane's house and parked along the curb out front. Reassured by the number of lights on in his lower level, she jogged to the door and rang the doorbell. Shane opened the door, wearing the same clothes he had on earlier in the evening.

  "Sorry it's so late…" she began.

  "Thanks for coming. How's Lucy?"

  "Lucy's good. She's going to be fine."

  He retreated into his house, beckoning. "Come in. I'm glad you called. I probably wouldn't have slept tonight otherwise."

  "Yes, I thought that might be the case. I could have told you over the phone but there are details that you should know about…"

  "It's better in person. I was thinking the same thing." Mariah entered the foyer and Shane closed the door. "You have to tell me what she said."

  "First tell me about Kelly. Did he get admitted to the hospital?"

  "No, they took care of him in the ER. They took x-rays, put casts on one of his hands and some of his fingers, and stitched up a couple of cuts on his knuckles. He'll be okay."

  "He's with Jessie now?"

  "Yeah, they're staying at the Black Elk B&B. Did you come straight from Pablo and Diane's house?"

  "I saw your lights as I drove by. I'll get right to it, if you don't mind. You were right to be concerned about Lucy. Kelly tried to force himself on her. When she refused, he managed to hoist her into the dumpster. She said he jumped in after her. She was able to get away from him long enough for you to find her."

  "Do you think she told you everything? She was pretty spooked."

  "I stayed at the Chandler's h
ouse until I had a chance to speak to her. I did it with Pablo and Diane's consent. She's traumatized, there's no question about it. But physically violated to the point of permanent repercussions? No, not in my judgment."

  "Are you sure?"

  "She's a smart, resourceful girl who feels she won. She fought her way out of an bad situation. She said when he jumped in, she kicked him in the groin so hard, he fell down, rather incapacitated, I gather. The lid on the dumpster slammed shut and she couldn't see. But neither could he. And since he was down for the count, he wasn't able to stop her from climbing up the trash and getting her leg over the side. I think you got to her just in time."

  "Lord, I hope so."

  "Did Kelly tell you anything more?"

  "Jessie didn't give me a chance to ask. I think she knows he was up to no good because she was pumping me for information about the Chandlers. It seemed like she was trying to make a case whatever happened must be Lucy's fault."

  "What do you think?"

  "Kelly's got problems. Big problems. There's no doubt in my mind."

  "What are you going to do?"

  "Unless I can prove I'm his father, he won't be able to spend the time he needs with me to even address the problems. Jessie will see to that. She wanted me to guarantee the out-of-pocket insurance costs but she wouldn't let me near when she talked to his doctor."

  "That is her right. She certainly seems intent on freezing you out in every way that matters."

  "Do you think I can get hold of his hospital records? Maybe I can compare blood types or something."

  "Privacy rules make it illegal. Jessie needs to give permission."

  "Yeah, I thought so. She did let me see his x-rays. Or at least took pictures of them and forwarded them to me. Sent me one of Kelly and the doctor, too."

  "May I see?"

  Shane handed Mariah his phone. Skipping over the doctor/Kelly photo, she studied the two x-rays of his hands. "Do you mind if I forward these to myself? I'd like a chance to study them further."

  "Since Jessie sent them to me voluntarily, there's no invasion of privacy, is there?"

  "Exactly." Mariah rapidly forwarded the pictures to her phone and handed his to him.