by Lena Gregory
He glanced at Savannah. “I’m sorry, Ms. Mills. I tried to tell the police at the time, but no one would listen to me. Floyd Masters killed your mother.”
Savannah was frozen in place, seemingly unable to speak. Gia put a hand on her shoulder.
Thor went ballistic.
McNeil’s hands shot back up into the air and he squeezed his eyes closed tightly, then apparently thought better of the idea and opened them again.
“Quit playing games, McNeil, and explain yourself. Now.” If Gia hadn’t just read that Masters was questioned, she’d already be headed back to the house for her phone. As it was, she’d give him one opportunity. If he started talking, she’d hear him out. Otherwise, all bets were off. She petted Thor and left her hand resting on his head. “Easy, boy.”
“Sara was my friend. A good friend. Truth be told, I’d had a thing for her for years, all through school, but she’d never had eyes for anyone but her husband, even when they were kids.” He lowered his hands and took a few steps toward them, moving very slowly.
“Floyd Masters was a no-good shyster. He’d cheat his own mother if it’d make him a dime. Lower ’n a snake’s belly, that one.”
Gia scanned the ground. Why’d he have to mention snakes?
“He’d been buying up property cheap for years, then set his sights on my bar. Figured he could turn it into a few apartments and rent ’em out. Didn’t matter a lick that I didn’t want to sell. He and that snot nosed son of his decided it was theirs. What happened to his kid…” McNeil looked down and shook his head. “I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. I just wanted the boy to leave, you know? Just wanted him to have his drink and go.
“Anyway, after that, Masters hounded me relentlessly. Even after I paid my fine, he wouldn’t let it go. He harassed me, he sent hired guns into my bar to harass me. Got to the point no decent folks would even come in anymore. So I finally closed up shop and left town. But the harassment didn’t stop there. He followed me. Tortured me no matter where I went, ruining my reputation so I could never get a fresh start without my past rearing its ugly head.
“I had nowhere left to go.” McNeil swiped a hand over his mouth. “So I came back here, and there he was, sitting on the town council like the pompous ass he is, trying to close down the café.”
Gia’s head whirled trying to connect everything. “Get back to Sara Mills. What makes you think he killed her?”
“Masters had found the original zoning, placing the bar in a residential area. Even though everything else on Main Street was zoned commercial, everything north and south of Main Street was zoned residential. The café sits on the end of a residential street and was somehow included in that zoning back in the day. Didn’t matter that it had been a business pretty much since Main Street went in, he was still planning to use it to close me down. But he made the mistake of confiding in Sara, who worked in the records department back then, before he found out what good friends we were.”
He swiped at the tears running down his cheeks. “I don’t know how he found out she told me, but he did, and he confronted her. She was terrified. And the next thing you know…”
He didn’t have to finish. They all knew the outcome.
Gia looked at Savannah to make sure she was okay.
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she seemed to have at least a tenuous control of her emotions.
Gia returned her attention to McNeil. She was going to have to get Hunt or Leo somehow. No way could she let him just walk away and disappear again. “Did you go to the police?”
“Yeah. Fat lot ’o good that did. Masters was brought in for questioning, a joke if you ask me, and then let go. Soon after, his brat nephew swept everything under the rug.”
“Assuming this is all true, what are you doing here at my house watching me?”
“I already told you. I’m concerned for your safety. This is like a repeat of what went on twenty years ago. As if life has come full circle.” He shook his head. “I’ve actually been back for a while, just kept a low profile. Then I heard about the council trying to shut you down because of the zoning law, and I knew Masters was behind it.”
“Why wait so long? The building was apparently empty for twenty years. Why now?”
“When I left, I sold the bar to a corporation, a dummy corporation I own.”
Gia remembered the letter she’d received. “The Starboard Corporation?”
“Yes. When you made the offer on the building, I figured I’d just accept it and be done with the past. But then I figured out what was going on, and I tried to buy the building back. I also approached one of the council members and told her what went on back then.”
“Marcia Steers.” It wasn’t a question. Gia already knew the answer.
He swallowed hard and nodded, holding Gia’s gaze. “Yeah.”
“So if Marcia knew what was going on, why did she seem so intent on shutting me down?”
“I don’t know. Fear maybe? Not that I blame her. Especially seein’ where she is now.” He shrugged. “Anyway, after that, I took to keepin’ an eye on you.”
Gia didn’t know what to make of his story, and she couldn’t talk to Savannah with him standing there. Something didn’t ring true, and yet… Hunt had been looking for him, so she couldn’t just let him go no matter what she thought. “Go inside and call Hunt, Savannah.”
“I’m not leaving you alone out here with him.”
“I’m not alone. I have Thor with me.” She held out the hand still clutching the bear spray. “And this.”
Savannah reluctantly ran back to the house.
“Do you really think Masters killed Sara Mills?”
“Yes. I’m sure of it. I just couldn’t prove it.”
Gia couldn’t think of what else to ask, so the two of them just stood there staring at each other.
McNeil cleared his throat. He lifted his hand.
Gia tightened her hold on the bear spray.
“Just got an itch.” He scratched his head, then lowered his hand slowly to his side. “Mind if I smoke?”
“I do mind, actually. This whole place almost went up in flames the other night thanks to your smoking. Not to mention the damage to my garage.”
“I’m sorry about that. I thought I crushed out the butt. I didn’t realize it wasn’t all the way out. By the time it smoldered and started to burn, I was already gone.”
“Well, no more smoking out here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He went back to scratching his head.
Savannah ran back out, barely winded. “Hunt’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Hunt?”
“He’s closer than Leo.”
“But he’s not—”
“No, he’s not.”
On the force right now.
Savannah narrowed her eyes.
The good part of being such close friends with someone, you could read between the lines. Gia kept her mouth shut. What McNeil didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. Then again, who knew? Maybe it would.
Hunt arrived a little while later. He pulled up beside them, his lights blaring in the surrounding darkness.
Gia shielded her eyes.
He climbed out of his jeep and petted Thor’s head, then kissed Gia’s cheek.
She still wasn’t used to the display of affection each time he greeted her, but she thought she could get very used to it.
He studied McNeil. “You’re a hard man to find.”
“Had to be.”
“Oh? Why’s that?”
“Masters has been doggin’ me for years. Latched on like a pit bull and won’t let go.”
Hunt pulled out a notepad and flipped through the pages. Since Gia was standing next to him, she could see the pages were empty. “Seems you and Masters have somewhat of a history.”
McNeil squirmed and pulle
d at his collar. “He’s been giving me a hard time for more years than I can remember.”
“Oh, I’d bet you remember exactly how long it’s been.” Hunt jotted something on the pad.
Gia read it over his shoulder. Leo dug up. All hearsay.
“Not every day you accuse a man of murder.” Hunt kept his expression neutral, but there was no mistaking the strain in his voice.
McNeil swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He lifted his chin. “No, it’s not.”
“Floyd Masters was questioned in Sara Mills’s death.” He pointed at McNeil with the pen. “At your insistence.”
“For all the good it did.”
“But you were suspected in her murder as well, weren’t you?”
Savannah gasped, and Gia reached for her hand.
“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Sara was my friend.”
As if that made him murdering her an impossibility, Gia thought.
Savannah squeezed her hand tighter.
Maybe it did.
Hunt flipped the notepad closed and stuffed it back into his pocket. “Are you willing to come with me and answer some questions?”
Sweat poured down McNeil’s face, Hunt’s headlights making the drips glisten. “Got nothin’ to hide.”
Hunt took his arm and led him to the jeep. He helped him into the passenger seat and went around to the driver’s side.
Gia half expected McNeil to jump out and run, but he didn’t.
Before he opened the door, Hunt leaned close to Gia’s ear. “Leo looked into what happened with Masters. He spoke to a retired detective who was around at the time. Everything I said is true. The only link they ever had between Masters and my aunt was McNeil’s statement. Stay away from him.”
Gia nodded. “What will you do with him? You can’t arrest him, can you?”
“No. I’m meeting up with Leo. He’ll take him in for questioning.” He kissed her cheek, then straightened and opened the jeep door. “Take care of Savannah. I’ll be back when I can.”
Gia nodded and watched him pull away, leaving the street much darker than it had appeared before his headlights had brightened everything up. She slung an arm around Savannah’s shoulder. “You okay?”
“Sure.”
“Want ice cream?”
“What flavors you got?”
“Black raspberry with chocolate chips.”
Savannah grinned. “Hot fudge?”
“Of course.”
“Oh, yeah.” They walked together to the house, Thor on Gia’s far side.
A shadow moved in the woods on the far side of the house.
“Did you see that?”
“See what?” Savannah studied the woods. “I don’t see anything.”
Thor paused and looked up at her, his tail wagging gently.
“Nothing, I guess. I just thought I saw something,” Gia said.
“Probably just a bear.”
“Just a bear? You and I are going to have to discuss the meaning of just.”
They laughed as they entered the house and Gia shut and locked the door behind them, but the nagging sense of being watched lingered.
Chapter 23
Gia spotted Savannah on the town hall steps and ran to catch up. She hadn’t seen Hunt since the night before, when he’d taken off with Sean McNeil. She’d been hoping he’d show up for the meeting.
“Hey.” Savannah waved and waited for her to reach the top of the stairs. “What’s going on?”
“Have you heard from Hunt or Leo?”
“No. Nothing. Normally I’d say it means a break in this case, but with all the storm-related issues still going on—electricity out, looting, unsafe structures, and one man still unaccounted for—it could be anything.”
Gia nodded. “Did you talk to Tommy?”
“Yup.” She hooked her arm through Gia’s and resumed her trek toward the town hall. “The council agreed to discuss the zoning tonight, right after the fire exit discussion, since they expect that one to be somewhat heated.”
“Does that mean they’re going to deny it?”
Savannah looked at her, her expression grim.
“I don’t understand.” It seemed like such a simple thing to Gia. Common sense would dictate when you’re living in an area prone to wildfires, you would protect your citizens to the best of your ability.
“According to them, a lot of developments have no second exit. Some of them are surrounded by concrete walls. At least, in Rolling Pines, you could conceivably run out through the woods.” Savannah rolled her eyes.
“Yeah. Okay. That’s ridiculous.”
“You know that. And I know that. Now we just have to convince the council we’re right.”
“And what about Tommy? Does he agree?” Gia couldn’t believe Tommy would go along with this.
“He’s all for allowing a fire exit, as are some of the other members, but all of the land at the back of Rolling Pines is part of the Ocala National Forest, and it’s protected. So unless you can find a way around that, his hands are tied. He will, however, vote to give you more time after they blindside you.”
“Great,” Gia muttered. “Do you have your cell phone? I left mine in the car.”
“No, sorry. I locked it in the car with my purse. Want me to run and get it?”
Gia thought about it. What could she really do? She didn’t have the first clue where to start researching. “Nah, don’t worry about it. I’ll have to try to get an extension. Then, at least, I can research it properly from my computer.”
A familiar figure stood beside the door of the town hall, and Gia ran over to him. “Harley, where on earth have you been?”
He smiled. “Around.”
She stopped short of hugging him, though she desperately wanted to. Past experience had taught her Harley shied away from physical contact. “Are you all right?”
“Fine. But thank you for worrying. Everyone said you were looking for me.”
“Yes. I worried when you didn’t take your dinner all week.”
He looked at the town hall doors and swallowed hard. “I’m sorry I can’t come in with you, but Trevor is going to speak for me. He’ll tell them I want you to stay open.”
“Oh, Harley, thank you.”
“You’re nice. I hope they let you stay. Anyway. I gotta go. Too many people here now.”
“Thank you again, Harley. I left your dinner if you’re hungry.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He held the railing as he limped down the stairs and melted into the crowd.
Savannah grinned. “Feel better now?”
“Much.”
“Me too. Come on.”
Gia and Savannah entered the town hall, crossed the lobby, and peeked into the meeting room.
The room was packed full. Gia’s gut cramped. Not even one empty seat remained, and people already lined the back wall. She had no clue how the groups still lingering in the lobby would find room to stand.
“Gia, Savannah, hello.” Cole excused himself from a gentleman he was speaking to and greeted them each with a warm hug. He gestured toward the full meeting room, then led them across the lobby to keep from blocking the doorway. “Well, what do you think? Quite a turnout, huh? Better than I’d expected. I don’t see how they can say no.”
Gia was treading on thin ice. She couldn’t share the privileged information Tommy had given Savannah, yet she needed to do something. “Have you figured out where the road could go in yet?”
Savannah leaned close and whispered, “Good luck,” then disappeared into the crowd. If Cole should step forward with a solution, Savannah didn’t need to be seen talking to him.
“I hadn’t really thought about it. I figure at the back would make the most sense. There’s a development about five or six miles to the e
ast we could cut over to. Then we could exit from there on already existing roads.”
“Who owns the land you’d want to run the road through?” Gia willed him to pick up on her train of thought so she wouldn’t have to spell it out.
“I don’t think anyone does. It’s part of the forest.”
“Are you allowed to build there?”
“I don’t see why not.” He shrugged. “I’d think you could run a dirt road at the least.”
“But you’re not sure?”
He hesitated. “I’m not positive, no.”
“Can you look into it quick before the meeting starts?”
“Uh…sure. Let me make a few calls.”
“Thanks, Cole. I’d just like to go before them with as much information as possible. Don’t want to give them any excuse to deny our petition.”
“You got it.” He pulled out his cell phone and headed for the door.
Gia moved through the crowd, saying hello to people who were familiar to her from the café. When she spotted Earl, she stopped. “Earl, what are you doing here?”
“You think I’d let you stand up to the council alone? I’m here to lend moral support, to tell them how much the town needs the All-Day Breakfast Café.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Oh, Earl, thank you.”
“You bet.” He swept his hand out, gesturing around the room. “I have a sneaking suspicion a lot of these folks will be saying the same thing.”
“What are you…”
Savannah waved from across the room, her smile brilliant, obviously happy with the turnout she must have engineered.
“She’s a good friend,” Earl whispered.
“Yes. She certainly is.” Now that she paid more attention to the people in attendance, she recognized more than half of them from the café. These people hadn’t come out to support the fire exit, though she hoped most of them would; they came out to support her.
Tears spilled over and trickled down her cheeks. She wiped them away. To think, she’d wasted so much time wondering if she’d made the right choice staying in Florida. If there was any lingering doubt, it fled with the show of support from the community. The community who’d accepted her as one of their own and come together to rally behind her when she needed them. Her community.