by Nora LeDuc
Sadie bounced into the room. “Hiya. Boss wants me to take your lunch order. Our special today is tuna melt and fries.”
“I’m in for the sandwich, but I shouldn’t eat fries.”
“If you like ′em, you should eat ′em. That’s what I learned from your brother’s death.”
Lucy blinked at the unexpected sting. “Right. Ryan won’t be eating anything.”
“I’m sorry.” Sadie sank down on the couch, shoving the sleeping bag out of the way. “I shouldn’t have mentioned your brother. Sometimes I wonder what’s wrong with my mouth.”
“You’re human.” Lucy scrubbed a hand over her face and regained control. “I’m supposed to be working on the website, but I keep thinking about Ryan. I made up a list of people who’d shoot him.”
“Wow. That’s scary. Hey, I’m not on it, am I?” Sadie leaned forward, raising her chin to sneak a peek at the names.
“I didn’t write your name. How often did Ryan come into the Moose?”
“Not enough for me to want to kill him. He never complained about my cooking. In fact, he complimented me a few times.”
“Okay, did he ever have a run-in with a customer, or did you hear rumors that someone was mad at him? A girlfriend or a husband?”
“Sorry, hon. Bella talked about him, but if you listened to her, Ryan was better than all the guys who’d been on The Bachelor.”
“I’m sure.” Lucy glanced down at her short roll of suspects. “I’ve lost touch with the people Ryan hung with over the last few years.”
“That’s easy. He dropped in to talk to the boss and Bella. Hey, what about his ex-wife? She seems meaner than a turkey vulture on steroids.”
“Clarissa is memorable. Did Bella and my brother argue?” The Girlfriend Did It. That could be the name of a movie.
“If she had her way, she’d be living with Ryan. She explained he was gun-shy about marriage after his last one, but she’d picked out an engagement ring that he bought and she wore on Valentine’s Day. Supposedly, she returned it to him because she wanted a surprise proposal.”
“Maybe she got tired of waiting.” And she’d given him a surprise.
“They were together a lot, and Bella was always smiling. She’d have to change real quick to become a killer, but the TV shows talk about women who snap. Guess you should put her on the list. I don’t know his teacher friends.”
“No one mentions them much.” Mr. Carlyle might help, but he seemed almost like the token rep sent to all the funerals.
“I gotta go back to work or Chip will start cooking the orders. He has his eye on my job.” She started across the room.
“Oh, Sadie, how are things with you and Hank?”
Her mouth became a slash. “No action there. The guy says he can’t afford to get involved until he settles his custody case.”
“He mentioned a daughter.”
“Yup, he showed me her picture. She’s a cutie. I’ll put in your tuna melt order with extra fries.” Sadie winked. The door clicked shut behind her.
Lucy plugged Mr. Carlyle’s name into the search box on the monitor and found the school number. Thank you, Mr. Google. She dug out her cell and listened to the ring. Maybe she’d catch him at lunch. The secretary asked her to hold on, and she’d find out if Mr. Carlyle was available. As Lucy was about to disconnect, the teacher answered. Lucy set up an after-school appointment with him and then resumed work on the website.
Liam was busy with distributors most of the day. He stopped up to see her, and she pulled up the candids of the teams for him.
He nodded to the screen. “I doubt you’d call them candids since they posed, but they do convey each team’s uniqueness.”
“They look like people enjoying themselves at the Moose. When I put up the new website, I think you’ll attract more customers.”
He glanced out the window. His eyes darkened, and silence fell over the room.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“What? Yes, I’ll be busy with Moose business. If you need me—” He crowded up to her chair. “Text me.” His fingertips brushed her collarbone and lingered too long to be an accident.
Before she could say more, he turned and left. Unable to stop herself, she retrieved their picture from the screen’s trash.
* * *
The school bus had already driven past on its afternoon run when Mr. Carlyle arrived. Lucy was waiting upstairs and invited him into the kitchen. She put the kettle on the stove for his tea and opened her almost bare cabinet. Maybe she should have kept a cookie from Bella. Nah.
“Are you hungry?” she asked, pouring hot water into his cup. “I’ll order something downstairs.”
“Tea is plenty.” He dunked his bag and then placed it on the napkin next to his mug. “With Ali Smith’s disappearance, you can imagine how little education is happening at the high school.” He straightened the neck of his long-sleeved shirt. “You said you wanted to discuss your brother. Was there a particular subject?”
“I’m reviewing people who had a motive to kill him.”
“Oh, dear. This must mean the police haven’t found the culprit. Your brother’s death was such a tragedy.”
She tapped her finger on the handle of her mug. “Did he help Ali Smith much?”
“She belonged to a group he tutored. I don’t know the names of every student. I remember stopping in his room and noticing her. She was, I mean, is, such a pretty young lady.”
“Liam is holding a meeting at the Moose tonight to organize searchers to help the police and state troopers.”
“Good thinking.”
She opened her mouth to comment and stopped. Did her brother possess the ability to care about others? “Mr. Carlyle, my brother wasn’t a saint. Not everyone liked him.”
My Carlyle patted her hand. “On Monday mornings, he brought muffins for the math department, and he volunteered to run detention on a permanent basis.”
“Really?” Her brother brought food and stayed after school voluntarily? Who was this person?
“I confess, the staff loves anyone who brings in snacks. As for volunteering, he had a way with the students who ended up in trouble. Most of them needed guidance or assistance with their academics. Ryan helped them.”
“Ryan taught kids experienced teachers couldn’t?” She ran memories of him through her mind. He had never shown much interest in people except to note what they had that he wanted. How did her brother morph into this other personality?
“Ryan possessed the admirable talent of seeing a part of himself in others and being able to relate to the individual.”
“Really?” A doppelganger had taken over Ryan’s life. There was no other explanation.
“I should be going. The tea was wonderful, but I’m old and need a nap.” He rose and pushed in his chair.
“Mr. Carlyle.” Lucy stood. “I have the feeling you can see the good in others and reach them in a different way.” She hugged the elderly man. “Don’t ever retire.”
“I don’t believe I will.”
She stayed in her apartment and worked on the inventory. She took Target outdoors as cabin fever set in around four o’clock. The dog sniffed the ground and trotted to his favorite spot by the Dumpsters.
The change of scenery didn’t silence the questions that Mr. Carlyle had raised about Ryan. Who was the man he described?
The dog pulled on his leash, grabbing her attention.
“Sorry, Target, we can’t explore much farther.”
She glanced at Liam’s empty parking spot before her thoughts returned to Ryan. She couldn’t shake him. She needed more exercise to get him off her mind. “Okay, Target, we’ll walk to the church.”
The dog trotted beside her. The cool air nipped at her face. At the corner, Target lingered near the building’s steps. She scanned the street and spotted Clarissa parking in front of the gift shop.
She slid out of the driver’s side dressed in her skinny jeans and a light blue jacket. Her gaze focused on th
e store. She walked with a sway of her hips that seemed to say, watch me.
Was she visiting Bella? Had the two women formed a murder pact against her brother?
The idea sent shivers up her spine.
“Lucy.”
She turned to find Liam’s truck idling by the curb.
He bent toward the lowered passenger window. “Where are you headed?” he asked as she stepped onto the sidewalk with the dog. “You shouldn’t be walking around by yourself.”
“Don’t worry. Target and I weren’t going any farther.” And I’m watching Clarissa enter the store where Bella works.
The wind shook the canopy at the shop as though shaking a finger at Lucy. She turned sideways to avoid the full blast of air. “What’s happening with your business meetings?”
“Done. I picked up the printed flyers about Ali. How about you get in?” Liam grabbed a pile of papers and shoved them on the dashboard.
All he had to do was look at her and this overwhelming desire to be with him streaked through her. Still, she hesitated. “It’s kinda silly to ride less than half a block.”
When she didn’t move, he swung the door open and held out a hand.
Before she answered, Target jumped into the truck, tugging the leash tight.
“Target doesn’t want to walk in the cold. How about you?” His hazel-green eyes fastened on her face, waiting for an answer.
Why not? It was a ride. “Okay.” She hopped in.
He stared into his rearview mirror. “Have time to help hang the flyers?”
“Sure.” That would keep her busy, and she could work with him. “I’ll post one on the Moose website, too, and ask the other businesses and anyone they can think of to share it.”
“Great. I heard her parents are working on posting Ali’s information on the website for missing people.” He shifted the truck and pulled out into the street. “Let’s drive out to Ryan’s road and tack a few on the telephone poles. Someone who drives that way every day might have seen Ali or something unusual.”
“What about the search party?” As Lucy asked the last question, she spotted Clarissa exiting the shop. She wasn’t carrying a store bag. Bella stood in the window, watching her customer depart. Strange.
“Searchers start at noon,” Liam explained. “One group will work toward the school, and the other will cover the ground by the castle. They’ll start near your brother’s house. Both parties canvass a five-mile grid. It’ll take a while to complete.” Liam looked in his side mirror as they drove away from the town center. Lucy tossed a look over her shoulder. Another car was at least four lengths behind them.
“Is something wrong?” She glanced around them, but saw nothing unusual.
“That car has followed me since I left the office supply store.” He raised his thumb and pointed over his shoulder.
“Lots of people must shop at the supply store.”
“I was headed to the Moose but did a U-turn when I spotted you. The driver following me did the same.” He hit the pedal, increasing his speed.
The dark vehicle in their wake kept pace, maintaining the same distance between them.
“Why would anyone shadow you?” He had to be wrong. Yet the tension cramp in her neck warned that she believed him.
“Don’t know, Luce.” They zoomed past Ryan’s driveway, up a hill, and around a curve. Liam slammed on the brakes and shot into a pullover on the side of the road used by snowmobilers. “Now we’ll find out who’s playing a game with us.”
Was he crazy? “Liam, what if it’s Matt?”
Chapter 26
As the vehicle came into view, Liam grabbed the door handle. He was ending this game right now.
“Wait,” she shouted. “What are you doing? Are you carrying the gun with you?”
“‘Always be prepared’ is the scout motto.”
“I don’t think so, and how would you know? You were kicked out of scouts after your second meeting.”
“I’m a fast learner. I only needed two meetings.” He jumped out and positioned himself in front of his pickup for a view of the driver. With luck, he’d ID the operator in a glimpse.
The click told him Lucy was getting out, too. “Go back.”
“And let you stand out here and have all the fun? No way.” Lucy and Target crossed the ground to join him.
“You always were stubborn.”
“You were always too confident.” She leaned her back against the truck and faced the road.
“Luce.”
“What?”
“I’m glad you’re home.” Every morning he woke thinking about holding her, kissing her, feeling her body against him. “But you should have stayed in the truck.”
“Thanks, but you shouldn’t confront people.”
Her answer centered his thoughts on the approaching driver.
“No conflict. I’m going to engage in a friendly discussion.”
A navy sedan appeared around the bend, slowed, and stopped. The driver’s window rolled down. “Are you all right? Did you break down?” An elderly, bald-headed man of about seventy sent them curious looks.
“That’s who followed us?” Lucy asked under her breath. “He looks as dangerous as St. Nick.”
“Appearances can fool you.” But Liam had to admit, she was most likely right. He pushed away from the grill. “I was waiting for my buddy. Wasn’t there a car in front of you?”
“Ah, there was. He turned around before the hill. If you have a cell phone, you might give him a call.”
“Do you drive this way often?”
“Whenever I go or come home from Barley Center. Are you lost?”
Liam grabbed a flyer from the top of the dashboard. He approached the elderly man. “Have you seen this person?”
The man studied the picture. “It’s the missing girl. I heard about her on the news. Wish I had.”
“We’re posting flyers. Notice anything unusual on the road lately, or a vehicle pulled over, besides us?”
“Nope, you’re the first.”
Sullivan would love that answer. Liam looked like the guilty party trying to find out how much evidence was against him. “Thanks. Keep Ali’s picture and show your friends. If anyone thinks of something, no matter how small, report it to the number on the bottom.”
The man nodded and drove off.
“Might as well hang some handouts on the trees. I bought a box of tacks. It’s under the seat.”
“I’ll get it.” Lucy whirled around with Target.
The dog whined and pulled on the leash toward the woods.
“What is it?” Liam asked.
“Target thinks he’s found something he needs to explore.” She bit her lip and scanned the area.
Liam strode to her. He wanted to wipe the fear from her face. “I’ll walk him.”
His hand brushed against hers as she relinquished the dog. She moved away quickly, and he guessed she’d felt the charge between them. He set off with the dog leading.
“You better not be tracking a porcupine,” he mumbled to Target.
“Don’t go far,” Lucy yelled to him.
“We’re just going a few feet to make sure nothing was there.”
Target kept his nose down, following whatever scent he’d discovered. “Sorry, boy, the walk is over.” He wasn’t dressed for a hike into the forest.
Lucy moved to the edge of the path. “With our luck, he’s on the trail of a poor animal that was hit by a car.”
As Liam turned to head to the truck, he spotted a flash of color behind a clump of trees. “If the creature was small and pink, you’re right.”
“You mean you’re looking at a creature’s insides?” She winced.
“I’ll find out. Take Target.” He waited for her to join them and handed over the leash. Then he strode across the layer of ice and snow. The sound of his boots crunching lingered in the air. He halted after a yard or two. Lying in front of him was a phone.
“What is it?” she asked. “Is it alive or dea
d?”
“Target found a cell phone.” To be safe, Liam put on his gloves, scooped up the cell, and pushed the power button. Nothing happened. “It’s not working.”
He headed to Lucy.
“I wonder if a hiker lost it.”
“There aren’t any footprints, but with the wind, they could be gone. Or, since we’re on a snowmobile trail, maybe the phone belonged to someone out riding.”
She shrugged. “Maybe a driver pulled off the road for an emergency pit stop. The shoulder is narrow. There aren’t any facilities out this way.”
“The phone’s useless now. I’d bet moisture got inside.” He turned the phone over in his hand. “We can try the power button again when it’s dry.”
“Liam, this is a girl’s cell.”
A heart sticker was glued to the reverse side of the case. The initials A.S. stared up at him from the decal. Whoa. “We found Ali Smith’s best friend, her phone.”
He cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, “Ali! Ali!”
They tensed, waiting, hoping.
The buzz of Lucy’s phone shattered the moment. Text. She exchanged a glance with Liam and dug in her pocket. She inhaled a breath and touched the button for the message.
A picture downloaded. Ali lying on her back with her eyes and lips duct-taped shut appeared on Lucy’s screen with the words, See you soon.
Chapter 27
Matt had enjoyed sending the picture to Lucy. His excitement had led him to take the girl when they’d first arrived. He regretted not going slower, not that it mattered. She’d begged, cried, and pleaded. He’d heard it all since he was young. The girls who thought tears, sad stories, or threats would change his mind. Ali and the other girls didn’t know or understand him. Nothing they said affected him because he had no heart. Sometimes he wondered if he was born without one.
Now he was ready to enjoy her again. The added insulation and wallboard had been worth the extra work. Not that anyone was out in the woods.
His propane heater warmed up his little castle on wheels. He’d thrown a blanket over her naked body. Maintain her health and keep the game rolling.