She had plenty more she could say, but not without stopping for air.
“Claire, it’s not what you think, I don’t have a girlfriend and never did,” he managed to get in.
“Oh, then you’re just dating. You were on a date, right? You said so.”
“Well, technically, but—”
“Oh look, there’s Tammy!” Claire exclaimed, as he pulled into a vacant space in front of the church. She seized her opportunity, and jumped from the truck.
From the sound of the door slamming, he wasn’t far behind her.
“Claire!” Tammy exclaimed. The poor woman looked positively frantic. She threw her arms around Claire, and hugged her hard. Then she held her back, and looked stern. “Claire Elizabeth Davis, what were you thinking!”
“Uh… I was thinking I might go to class…” Claire replied, playing dumb. She had a feeling she was about to get lectured again. Whatever she said could, and would, be used against her.
“What are you talking about?” Alec asked. He sounded concerned.
“Weren’t you with her?” Tammy turned her piercing gaze in his direction.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he replied.
“No, he wasn’t,” Claire said.
“You were by yourself, and you did that?” Tammy snapped.
“Me and the Blue Lightning. Afterward, we were strenuously lectured by two policemen. Then Mr. Lochlan said if I ever risk my life for the sake of the museum again, he’s going to find a new sorter. If you yell at me too, I may cry. I was the one who had a gun pointed at me last night. Me and the Blue Lightning. I can’t take much more.”
She did feel ready to cry.
“What?” Alec snapped, as Tammy hugged Claire again, but more in a motherly way, rather than an I-feel-like-shaking-you kind of way.
“There now, I’m sorry,” Tammy said comfortingly, as she patted her back. “It was terrible, I’m sure.”
“I have never had a worse night in my life,” Claire replied, seizing her chance to get rid of the tears that didn’t escape between three and four.
“Claire, what happened?” Alec demanded. He sounded stressed. Maybe he was stressed.
“You don’t know?” Tammy frowned.
“No! I have no idea what you’re talking about!” he exclaimed.
“Alec wasn’t there. He was on a date. With a supermodel,” Claire sobbed. She was already sobbing. It was all about almost getting shot, it had nothing to do with Alec being out with some girl. And while Claire could not be angry with him for doing nothing wrong… she had a sneaking suspicion Tammy could.
“What?” Tammy snapped. Her gaze was blistering. Claire could practically feel the heat.
“No!” Alec snapped back. “I wasn’t!”
“Well she could be, if she wanted,” Claire sniffed.
“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” he snapped. He sounded frustrated, and kind of mad. “And I have no idea what happened last night! What happened?”
“Claire was nearly killed when an armed gunman tried to break into the museum,” Tammy said in an unmistakable tone of reproof.
“You were working last night?” Alec snapped. He was beginning to remind her of a snapping turtle.
“I was on my way to pick up dinner,” Claire sobbed.
“And that’s why you called—Claire, I’m so sorry,” he said. He sounded utterly dismayed. Was he? “I can’t believe—are you alright?”
He managed to wrestle her away from Tammy. He held onto her shoulders, so he could look into her eyes. She glanced away.
“I’m fine,” Claire sniffed, using the tissue Tammy handed her to absorb the tears.
“I had no idea you needed me,” he choked. He sounded like he might cry. But that was ridiculous. She couldn’t glance up at him, not that it would tell her anything if she did. She was getting hugged, whether she wanted to be, or not. Now, his heart was the one beating hard. “What happened?”
“What did happen?” she heard Joe ask. She glanced over and was surprised to see a crowd of concerned museum employees, plus several more people she didn’t know. She wiped her eyes again, and managed to wriggle loose.
“I was on my way to pick up dinner last night, and I saw a man trying to break in through the sorting room door. It’s badly dented, and the camera smashed. I—or, the Blue Lightning, anyway—jumped the curb, and we almost got the guy, but he ran around to the front, and into the courtyard. We blocked the gateway, but he pulled a gun. I ducked, and he scrambled over the hood and escaped down the street.”
“You must’ve been so scared,” Gina said, her face pale.
“I was when he aimed the gun at me,” Claire admitted. “But he didn’t shoot.
“Thank goodness,” Alec hugged her again. She tried to squirm free, but it wasn’t going to happen. Not without making a scene. Which wouldn’t exactly look natural.
“Why would someone try and break into the sorting room?” Joe wondered. “Did they think they could get into the museum that way, and bypass security?”
“But he knew the sorting room was wired, because of the camera, which he busted,” Frank, the custodian pointed out. “I went by there this morning, after Mr. Lochlan called. The guy made a mess of the door.”
“Mr. Lochlan has security on guard throughout the weekend,” Claire managed to assure everyone, although her voice was muffled. If Alec didn’t loosen up, she’d have no choice but to make a scene. Either that, or give up breathing. “A new door will be put in, later today.”
“From now on, there’ll be security patrolling at night, too,” Tammy added.
“What did he think he’d do, once he was inside?” Gina questioned. “The alarm would’ve gone off.”
“Maybe he knew how to bypass it,” Joe suggested.
“I’d think if he could do that, he’d know how to get inside without having to bust in the door,” said a man Claire didn’t recognize.
To her relief, the church bell rang, signaling the start of the five-minute countdown to classes. Everyone headed toward the door, telling her how glad they were she wasn’t hurt, as they went. She pushed away from Alec, filled her depleted lungs with oxygen, and would’ve followed, but he still had hold of her arms.
“Claire, I’m so sorry,” he said. He sounded distraught.
“It’s fine, Alec,” she replied, looking toward the door and doing her best to move in that direction.
“No, it isn’t fine at all,” he disagreed. “I can’t believe what almost happened! I should’ve been there—please let me explain. You’ve got everything all wrong.”
“I don’t think I do, and what does it matter anyway?” she said calmly, amazed once again by her acting abilities. “Of course you’d rather be out with a girl like that, than hanging out with your neighbor. I didn’t think we were going out, if that’s what you’re worried about. You don’t owe me anything.”
“Yes, I do,” he said adamantly.
“No, you don’t,” she said just as firmly, but she didn’t look ready to snap, like he did. He probably wasn’t, but… “I don’t want to be late to class.”
She managed to move them both two steps closer to the door.
“Stop pretending to be dense, I know you’re not,” he said sharply, digging his heels in. “I hurt you, and I am so sorry. If you’ll just let me explain—”
“You did nothing wrong, Alec. I don’t know why you’re acting like you did,” she declared dismissively, glancing pointedly at the door.
“I saw it in your eyes last night,” he persisted.
“I chased a dangerous criminal, and he aimed a gun at me,” she retorted. “When you saw me last night, I was in shock. So… if I looked shocked, I’m not surprised. Are you? My nerves can only take so much. We are going to be so late! I don’t want to walk in after class starts.”
He didn’t look like he believed her. He didn’t look happy with her, either.
“Fine. We’ll go to class. But whether you like it
or not, you do have everything wrong, and I will explain before the day’s over.”
“Whatever,” Claire shrugged, and managed to pull free. Naturally, of course.
He sighed and looked grim, then fell into step beside her. He sighed again, and glanced at her. She was pretty sure she looked natural, and entirely unconcerned.
“Maybe we can get back to our research after lunch,” he said. He sounded hopeful. She frowned a little.
“There’s no point.”
“What do you mean, there’s no point?” he snapped. He sounded mad again.
“There’s nothing left to research. I solved it.”
He said nothing, and she glanced at him.
His bible was tucked under one arm, his hands were in his pockets, his head was down, and his gaze locked on the ground at his feet. He looked hurt, and withdrawn, and as if he wasn’t going to try anymore.
“Okay. Fine,” he said quietly.
She suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.
“I wasn’t planning to solve it without you. I mean—I didn’t think you’d care. It’s not like you had nothing better to do…”
“Well… I do care. And I didn’t. But you wouldn’t know that, since you haven’t been willing to listen.”
The twinge became a sharp stab.
“Alec, I’m sorry,” she said, squeezing his arm apologetically. His nod was slight. His smile was even slighter.
“Apology accepted. And… congratulations.”
“Thanks,” she said, but now she felt even worse than she did the night before. Hurting someone was way worse than being hurt. “I’m sorry for not letting you talk, but you really didn’t do anything wrong.”
He frowned in thought as he shook his head.
“No, Claire. I think I did. This is the room, right here.”
And with that, the opportunity to communicate ended.
But only for the next hour, Claire thought, glancing at him sideways as they sat there, oblivious to the discussion going on around them. Alec seemed preoccupied. Depressed. Hurt, sad, and as if he wasn’t going to try anymore.
He said he thought he was guilty. Of what? Not that there weren’t plenty of options out there. But when she thought over the past week, and how desperate he looked when he wanted to talk and she wouldn’t let him… and his expression, when he realized she needed him last night, and he wasn’t there. Then, the look on his face, when he found out she solved the mystery without him. He didn’t even ask what the solution was.
One of the last things he said after lunch, before he left, was to leave some research for him. Not that she remembered, until now. Not like she didn’t have plenty of reasons to forget!
She did have plenty of reasons to feel hurt, but she shouldn’t have been mean. She should’ve been gracious, and heard him out. He said she didn’t know what she was talking about… why wasn’t she glad to hear that? At the time? Instead, she had to go and hurt him, before she would snap out of her determination to feel bad.
She sighed, and Alec glanced at her. She reached out impulsively and squeezed his hand. The hurt in his eyes eased, and she was glad. He smiled a little, and squeezed back. She didn’t let go, and neither did he.
The rest of those in the room began to talk, gather bibles and bags, and head for the door. Claire couldn’t remember a thing that was said during class. She had no idea what the topic of study was, either. She regretted that, but her focus in church was bound to be better, now that Alec no longer looked like she stabbed him in the heart. She still felt terrible about that.
“I’m sorry for not letting you talk,” she said quietly, as they stood and joined the rest of the group making their way to the sanctuary.
“I’m sorry for not asking you to go with me last night,” he replied.
“Huh,” she said, trying to make that make sense. She couldn’t. “Then I really can’t wait to hear what you have to say.”
He smiled, and the last traces of sadness vanished.
“That’s too bad, because now you’re going to have to.”
“Fine, I can wait. And… I exaggerated. I didn’t quite solve everything there is to solve. Do you still want to do some investigating this afternoon?”
“I’d really like that,” he said, and they both smiled.
They filed into the sanctuary along with the rest, and claimed two empty seats.
“Now talk,” she said.
The music minister stood, and approached the mic.
“Soon,” Alec replied.
Claire resigned herself to waiting yet another hour, and worship began.
The study this morning was in Philippians, and the pastor read from the Amplified version of the bible. Verse five, in chapter four, really spoke to her; “Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people. The Lord is near.”
She wasn’t exactly gentle, gracious, unselfish, merciful, tolerant, or patient with Alec earlier. She wasn’t, at all. She beat herself up again for choosing to feel hurt, when she was offered the possibility of feeling better. Not that she knew what he would say. Maybe she wouldn’t feel better, maybe she’d only feel a little less upset. There was the possibility she’d be even more upset! But glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, she didn’t think so.
At least she learned her lesson. From now on, she’d let the defendant speak, before convicting.
Services ended. Fellow churchgoers visited all around them, as she and Alec slowly made their way through the building toward the exit. He made introductions as they went, stopping every few steps to do so. As they neared the doors, Claire kept an eye on her half-sister, Marlena. She stood to one side, chatting with a small group of equally well-dressed women. Marlena’s gaze passed over Claire, then she looked back at her sharply. Claire smiled and half-waved. She half-expected no response at all, but Marlena left her group and approached.
“Well, Claire,” she said impersonally, devoting a moment to look at Alec, then back at her younger half-sister.
“Hi,” Claire said. What else was there to say?
“Our other engagement fell through. We’re on for lunch, after all,” Marlena informed her briskly. “Come with me, and you can follow us to the house.”
“Oh—but, I was—” Claire started to say, then looked up at Alec.
“It’s too bad you didn’t decide sooner,” he told Marlena. “A lot sooner. After you canceled, I invited Claire to have lunch with me. She accepted.”
Marlena’s blue eyes were like ice as she gave him a hard look.
“Really. On Tuesday, you did this.”
“Yes,” Claire said hesitantly.
What was with the weird vibe?
Marlena raised an eyebrow, and focused on Claire.
“Might I have a word, before you go?”
Claire looked uncertainly at Alec. He looked uncertain, too.
“Uh… I guess… you can’t just tell me whatever it is, right here?” she wondered.
“No,” Marlena said firmly. She took Claire by the arm. “If you’ll excuse us, Alec. We’ll only be a moment.”
“I’ll wait for you here,” Alec said, as Marlena dragged her away.
“What is this about?” Claire frowned, as Marlena headed for an empty classroom, and shut the door behind them.
Marlena turned to face her, arms crossed. She studied Claire for a moment. Claire’s frown deepened, and she looked pointedly at the door. Marlena’s forehead creased faintly.
“You and Alec are going out?”
Claire’s eyebrows knit as she looked back at her.
“To eat, yes. I’m kind of hungry, so whatever it is you need to say, can we get this done, please?”
Marlena’s blue eyes flashed with impatience.
“That’s not what I meant. Are you and Alec going out?”
“We’re friends.”
Marlena’s eyebrow rose as she considered that.
“Well. I’m glad to know you’re smarter th
an most.”
“What are you talking about?” Claire asked, her patience running thin. She’d rather hear what Alec had to say, than stand here having her time wasted.
“Be careful, though,” Marlena continued. “You may think you can handle being friends. But can you?”
“We already are,” Claire pointed out.
“He’s attractive. He’s fun to be around, I’m sure—for as long as he’s around. He’s nice, too. At least that’s what every other girl thinks when she goes out with him. They don’t feel that way when they never hear from him again. The girl he was out with on Friday certainly doesn’t.”
Claire stared back at her.
“Why do you think he was out with someone on Friday?”
“Rick and I saw him—and her—when we were at dinner that night.”
Claire’s eyes flashed.
“Why do you dislike Alec so much?” she demanded to know. She didn’t know if Marlena was telling the truth or not, but of that, she was certain.
“Be careful, Claire,” Marlena cautioned, as if she didn’t hear a word she said. “He asked you out to lunch. Do you not realize that’s a date? He’s setting you up to do the same thing he does to every other girl he’s ever gone out with. Is that really who you want to be with? You can do better than a mechanic who doesn’t know the meaning of the word commitment. Take my advice and stay away from him, or he’ll trick you into thinking he likes you, then use you like he does every other girl he goes out with once, then throws away.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” Claire said impatiently, trying to shrug off the seed of doubt that threatened to take root.
“Where was he last night, Claire?” Marlena demanded. “Where was he Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, of last weekend? And the weekend before that? He wasn’t with the same girl, I can tell you that for certain. That isn’t who he’s going out with tonight, either.”
Lochlan Museum: The Case of the Collectible Killer Page 29