Shadows from the Grave

by Haddix, T. L.

  Chase grunted. “Okay, but don’t let this get out.” He grabbed his bag and started up the steps. “I have a reputation to protect, you know.”

  Annie laughed. “Your reputation could only be enhanced by such a rumor. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure everyone in town who knows our names already thinks we’re an item, so it’s probably a few months too late for saving either of our reputations. We might as well enjoy it.” She actually heard Chase’s gulp of surprise, and sighed inwardly, cursing her stupid tongue. Their teasing had developed a tense edge, each of them dancing closer and closer. Ignoring her growing feelings for him was becoming harder.

  “So, do you want to know what I brought you?” Chase asked as they reached the bedroom.

  “You didn’t have to bring me anything, and you know it,” she said. “But if you went to the trouble of getting me a present, then, yes. Please give it to me.”

  Chase set his bag on the bed and opened it. He pulled out a tastefully wrapped package that was a little smaller than a shirt box.

  “Here you go,” he said, holding it out to her.

  Annie flushed and barely prevented herself from squealing like a schoolgirl. It’s ridiculous to feel this way, she told herself.

  Taking the box, she immediately noticed its weight. “Oh, it’s heavier than it looks. I figured it was an ‘I Love Vegas’ shirt.” She gave the present a gentle shake as she sat down on the bed to open it.

  “Why do women do that?” Chase asked with a small yawn, as he moved his bag to the floor and went into the closet to grab a t-shirt and pair of shorts. He came back out and watched as Annie carefully unwrapped the box. “It’s not like the paper’s made of gold, you know. I didn’t take that long to wrap it, and I’m a man.”

  “I know, but the unwrapping is part of it, Chase,” she scolded. When she had the paper undone, she lifted the lid to reveal the contents. For a suspended moment, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Suddenly wide-awake, she raised her gaze to his.

  “How did you get this?” she whispered, her tone reverent as she lifted the hardback book out of the box. “It isn’t due to be released for another week and a half.”

  Chase shrugged, trying to look casual. “The author’s husband happened to be one of the attorneys at the conference. One of the geeks, no less. We all had dinner together Friday night, and I recognized her name from hearing you rave about her books. I mentioned that you were a fan, and she gave me that. You have to hold onto it until it’s released, though, and not tell anyone about it.”

  Annie knew her eyes had grown huge, but she couldn’t help it. “You had dinner with her? Honest to God sat down and ate with her?” Before Chase could do much more than nod, Annie jumped off the bed and dashed to him. She threw her arms around him and squealed, unable to hold back her excitement.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said, dancing in place as she squeezed his waist. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe it!” She pulled back and turned the book over to look at the back cover.

  Chase smiled. “Annie. You might want to look inside.”

  When his words registered, she quickly flipped to the front of the book. There, on one of the blank pages, the author had inscribed a personalized note. “To Annie – the kind of reader who makes every bit of this labor worthwhile. The depth of enjoyment Chase described you as experiencing from reading my work keeps me going through the hard days. With warmest regards—” It was signed with a flourish.

  To her surprise, Annie felt the sting of tears. “Chase, I swear I don’t know when someone has gotten me something that means more. I can’t believe you got this,” she said. “Thank you.”

  He cleared his throat and gave her a quick hug. “I’m just glad you like it.” He headed to the bathroom. “I’m going to change clothes.”

  “Okay,” she said softly, her eyes still on the book as she ran a hand over the dust jacket. When the door closed behind him, she gave in and held the book to her chest. As she did, she caught a whiff of Chase’s cologne, still on the book from where he had wrapped it, presumably. Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes at the familiar scent. With great reluctance, she walked over to the chair where she had placed her clothes for the next day and laid the book on top of them. She was sorely tempted to open it and start reading, but she was tired, and she knew Chase was as well.

  When she had told him that it meant more than anything she could think of, she meant it. It surprised her that Chase was so familiar with her reading habits. “I can’t believe he paid such close attention, Murphy,” she told the cat as she got in bed. “What do you think it means?” The gift of the book touched her deeply. Annie had been teased about her voracious reading habits quite a bit over the years, and now she only let those closest to her see how much enjoyment she derived from reading. That Chase cared enough to pay attention wasn’t expected, and it caused something to shift inside her. She didn’t examine her feelings too closely. That was something she had learned not to do with Chase. Too close of an examination could lead to revelations she wasn’t sure she was ready to handle, at least not yet.

  ~ * * * ~

  When Annie’s cell phone rang at seven o’clock on Sunday morning, she had to untangle herself from Chase’s limbs in order to reach for it. To her relief, he seemed oblivious, and just rolled over at the disturbance. A hot blush stained her cheeks, but she ignored it.

  “Hello?”

  “Annie?” the man on the other end of the call said with an urgency in his voice that was disturbing. “It’s Jason. Are you still at Chase’s place?”

  “I am.” Still disoriented, she sat up. “Why? Do you need to talk to him? He’s here.” There was a lot of noise in the background, and Annie heard Jason telling someone that she was okay. “What’s going on, Jason?”

  “I’m downtown, at the square. There’s a fire in the block where your shop is. They’re trying to contain it now, but it doesn’t look good. I just wanted to make sure you were safe,” he said. “I’m sorry, Annie.”

  For a moment, Annie just sat there, stunned, and then her feet started moving her body toward the side of the bed. As she moved, Chase woke up. “What’s wrong?”

  She put her hand over the phone. “There’s a fire downtown.”

  Speaking into the phone again, she said, “Jason, I’m heading that way now.” She disconnected the call and grabbed her clothes from the chair. Before she made it to the bathroom, Chase was sitting up on the side of the bed.

  “What’s going on? There’s a fire?” he asked, his voice husky with sleep.

  “Yes. That was Jason,” Annie told him over her shoulder. “It’s in the block where the shop is, and it’s spreading. I’ve got to get down there.” She closed the door.

  When she came back out, Chase was coming out of the closet, tugging on a pair of jeans.

  “I’ll drive,” he said, scooping his keys and wallet from the dish on the dresser. Within a couple of minutes, they were on their way downtown.

  “Is that all you know?” Chase asked. “That there’s a fire?”

  “That’s all Jason said,” she responded. “God, I hope they can stop it before it does too much damage.”

  The traffic going into downtown Leroy was practically non-existent, and they reached the square in less than five minutes. Annie’s heart sank. There were flames shooting from the second-story windows in the building next to her shop. It housed a real estate company and a small magic shop. The three-story building on the other side of the magic shop, on the opposite end of the block from Annie’s Arbor, had partially collapsed and looked to be a total loss. Annie felt as much as heard Chase’s indrawn breath at the sight. The heavily damaged building had housed his family’s law firm for over fifty years. Coming on the heels of J.R.’s death, the destruction was a particularly cruel blow.

  “Oh, Chase. I’m sorry,” she said. He shook his head as he parked the car on the side of the square opposite the burning buildings, in front of the offices of the Olman County
Journal. They didn’t speak as they hurried across the park in the middle of the square. Even though it was early on a Sunday morning, there were several people milling around, watching the fight to save the buildings. Annie recognized most of them as the owners of the businesses that lined the town square. She spied Jason talking with their uncle near a picnic table in the middle of the park. Chase ushered her in that direction, not stopping to talk with anyone on the way.

  As they approached, Annie saw that they both wore grim expressions, but Jason’s relaxed slightly when he saw Annie and Chase. “Hey,” he said. “It isn’t looking good, Annie. I’m sorry.” He gave her a hug. Turning to Chase, he did the same. “You’re home. When did you get in?”

  “Early this morning,” Chase said, moving to give his uncle a quick hug. “Any idea what happened?”

  John shook his head. “You know we’ve been renovating the offices. The fire chief speculated that might have something to do with it, but he won’t know for sure until they can get in there.” He looked at Annie. “They’re hoping they can stop the fire before it spreads to your shop, Annie. I’m glad you weren’t in there this morning.”

  Annie acknowledged his words with a small, strained smile. “So am I,” she agreed. “It hasn’t been a very good week, has it? I was sorry to hear about your father, John.”

  “How’s Grandmother holding up?” Chase asked.

  His eyes still on the fire, John shrugged and moved to sit on the picnic table. “Hard to tell. Olivia and I have stayed with her since it happened. Sometimes she seems fine, and other times she’s just lost. I don’t think it’s really sunk in just yet that Dad’s gone.” The three men exchanged a look that was full of unspoken concern. Ethel Chase Hudson wasn’t an easy woman on a good day. Now that J.R. was gone, how she would respond was anyone’s guess, but it was certain that it would be an uncomfortable time for everyone. For several minutes, no one spoke as they watched the efforts of the fire fighters.

  “You know, if this had to happen, now is probably as good a time as ever,” John mused.

  Annie, who had sat down beside him, turned to look at him. “How so?”

  He shrugged. “Well, we’d moved all the records out of the building and into the temporary offices while the foundation was fixed and the new filing system was installed. Those files are the most important things in the office. Essentially, they’re the practice more than anything other than the people. Losing them would be hard to recover from. Plus, you weren’t home when the fire started, and who knows what might have happened if you had been? If this had happened in the middle of the night, or at any other time, the loss could have been much worse than what it’s going to be.” He sighed. “I don’t know if Sammy’s going to feel as lucky, though.”

  He was referring to Sammy Bolen, who owned the real estate company. Just last fall, Sammy’s son Taylor had been killed in a car accident that had left her brother-in-law, Reese Bolen, paralyzed from the waist down. “This is going to be another hard blow for her.”

  “If you all will excuse us, we’re going to go check on things, try to get an update,” Jason said.

  Annie watched Jason and Chase walk away, then turned back to John. “The last few months haven’t been easy for a lot of people in this town.”

  “No,” John agreed. “They haven’t. And somehow, I don’t think it’s going to get any easier in the weeks to come.”

  “I know it has to be hard for you, watching this,” she said, gesturing at the fire. “Especially after your dad... Anyhow, I’m sorry, John.”

  John nodded. “It’s not been a great week. That’s a fact. It could have been worse, though I’ll take the blessings where I find them,” he said.

  ~ * * * ~

  While Annie and John talked, the brothers set out toward where the fire chief was standing.

  “Have you talked to Mom and Dad this morning?” Chase asked.

  “Yeah, they’re on their way, actually,” Jason said. “What a week, brother. I’m sorry your trip got cut short.”

  Chase shrugged. “Is what it is.” They both jumped when a loud crack sounded, and a yell went up from the firefighters. The roof of the second building had collapsed. Chase looked back at Annie, who had covered her mouth with her hand. “Damn it,” he cursed. “They aren’t going to be able to save her shop, you know.”

  “I know. As hard as this next week is going to be for us, the next several weeks are going to be harder for her,” Jason said. “I’m not sure your arrival this morning is going to help.”

  Chase scowled. “What do you mean?”

  Jason met his gaze straight on. “You two looked awfully cozy when you showed up here a little while ago,” he remarked. Chase’s frown deepened, but he didn’t speak. Jason continued. “Look, I love Annie to death. I’m glad you have whatever it is you have with her. She’s good for you, and I think you’re good for her, but I don’t want to see either of you hurt. All these months, you’ve been swearing there was nothing between you but friendship, but now? You show up here together, and it’s pretty obvious you both just rolled out of bed. If you think I’m the only one who’s noticed, you’d better think again. Take a look around, Chase.” He did what Jason suggested, his hands on his hips as he surveyed the people in the park. While most of them were watching the fire, there were more than a handful keeping close tabs on the Hudsons and Annie.

  “Ah, shit.” Chase shook his head. “I can’t stop people from talking, Jason. What do you think I should do? You know she’s been babysitting Murphy. Besides, it’s nobody’s business if Annie spent the night at my place or not.”

  “I know, big brother,” Jason told him as he touched Chase’s shoulder. “And as much as we tease you and Annie about it, I know the gossip bothers you both.”

  His gaze snapped back to Jason’s. “Why? What’s she said about it?” he asked. Jason just quirked an eyebrow, and Chase could tell his reaction had pleased his brother. “Never mind. Why is our private life suddenly a problem?”

  “Just be prepared that showing up here together like you did is probably going to start a new set of rumors. And warn Annie, okay? Most everyone is watching you two with bated breath, enjoying the chase; forgive the pun. But not everyone is pleased you’ve been so effectively taken off the market.” Jason smiled. “For what it’s worth, I think the two of you are a good match.”

  “Off the market? What am I, a slab of meat?” Chase asked, offended. “And who says I’m off the market?”

  “Oh, big brother, every move you make these days tells the world.”

  ~ * * * ~

  When the second roof collapsed, Annie’s heart fell into her shoes. “Oh, God,” she whispered. “It’s all going to go up.”

  John reached out and patted her shoulder awkwardly. “Annie, I’m so sorry.” She couldn’t speak, so she just nodded. All she had worked for the past ten years was literally going up in smoke right in front of her, and there wasn’t a damned thing she could do to stop it. Nothing anyone could say or do was going to stop it, and there was no ‘making it better.’ Not right now. Annie and John both knew that.

  She made a concerted effort to look away from the burning buildings, and when she did, she saw Charlie Clark hurrying toward her across the park. Annie was still getting used to the idea of Charlie being her brother. It had only been since his marriage that the two of them had really connected. Annie was the result of an affair Charlie’s father had conducted, and her relationship with Charlie had been contentious in the beginning.

  “I see Richard and Jackie. I’m going to go talk to them,” John said as he stood up. “Hang in there, Annie. Let me know if you need anything.” He headed toward his brother and sister-in-law, giving Annie and Charlie some privacy.

  “Annie, thank God,” Charlie said as he reached the table where she sat. To Annie’s surprise, he reached out and enveloped her in a hard hug, and she felt tears prick her eyes. “You okay?”

  Clearing her throat, she answered, “I’m fine. I don�
��t know about the shop, though. Lauren didn’t come down here, did she?”

  Charlie shook his head and sat beside her. “No way,” he said. “She wanted to, but I managed to talk her out of it… barely.” Lauren, Charlie’s wife, was eight months pregnant with their first child. As he spoke, his cell phone rang, and he gave a short laugh. “That’s probably her.” Confirming that it was, he answered the phone. “No, she’s right here. She’s okay. Hang on.” With a smile, he handed Annie the phone.

  “Hello?” Annie paused as Lauren asked if she was hurt. “No, I’m okay. I wasn’t home. I was still at Chase’s.” She didn’t see the frown Charlie shot in her direction. She and Lauren spoke for a couple more minutes, then Annie handed the phone back to Charlie. After he hung up, he held the phone for a minute before he slid it back into the case on his belt. To Annie’s surprise, he was frowning, with his eyes on Chase and Jason as they walked back toward the picnic table.

  “When did he get home?” Charlie asked.

  “Very early this morning, or very late, depending on how you look at it,” Annie said. “Why?”

  “I just wondered.”

  It took Annie a minute to connect the dots, and when she did, she blushed. “I’m a big girl, Charlie. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing so for a number of years now.”

  Charlie shrugged. “I know. I just… I guess I worry. You’re my sister,” he said. “I’ve never had a sister to worry about before.”

  “We’re just friends,” Annie said quietly. “That’s all.”

  With a sigh, Charlie put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “I know it’s none of my business. I like Chase. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  Chase and Jason reached them at the same time as Jackie and Richard. Jackie hurried to embrace Annie. “Oh, honey, I’m so glad you’re okay. How bad is it? Do they know?” She turned to Chase. “When did you get in?”

  “About three this morning,” Chase said as he hugged her. “The chief says it looks like they’ve slowed it down, but you’re going to have some pretty heavy damage regardless, Annie.”