by Lynn Shannon
“No. It’s difficult to hit the right angle and have enough force.”
“He took out the light for additional protection. Maybe because Tara can identify him?”
Was that the aspect tugging at Grady? Had he subliminally recognized the way the perpetrator moved?
“Possibly. If he was simply after her purse and car, the dark clothes and ski mask would have been enough. There are some additional inconsistencies between this crime and the others. All the other women described the perpetrator as being around five-eight and two hundred fifty pounds.”
“That’s not this guy. He’s over six foot and roughly two hundred pounds.”
“There’s one more thing. The third woman he attempted to rob fought back.”
“Was she hurt?”
Luke shook his head. “The attacker ran away. It doesn’t necessarily mean this isn’t connected, but coupled with the difference in physical descriptions I’m inclined to think this isn’t the same guy. Could be we have two men working together to rob women. Or it’s possible your instincts are spot-on and this is a personal attack made to look like something else.”
Grady’s gaze shot to the bloodstain on the asphalt. His stomach tightened. “How much of the information you gave me was in the papers?”
“All of it.” Luke’s tone was grim. “Is there any reason why someone would attack Tara?”
“Not that I know of.” Grady shoved his hands in his pockets. “However, she recently adopted a baby from a neighbor who was murdered five months ago. The case hasn’t been solved yet.”
“You’re wondering if the two incidents are connected?”
“I find the timing curious. Tara has set up a reward for information that leads to an arrest, plus she’s been pushing the detectives for answers. Vikki Spencer was shot four times while parked on Old Greer Road. It was done in the middle of the night and there are no witnesses. Her purse and cell phone were left in the vehicle, untouched. It’s like the guy drove up, shot her, and fled. Now Tara is attacked by a masked gunman in a parking lot. Coupled with the differences between this crime and the other robberies, it only makes me more suspicious. Maybe someone wants us to believe these are two separate cases, but they aren’t.”
“That’s a stretch, Grady.”
It was. But getting shot had taught Grady never to ignore an investigation thread unless the evidence showed him otherwise. “But not impossible.”
“No.” Luke was quiet for a moment. “Listen, chances are this is connected to the robberies in Navasota, but I’m not one to take options off the table. I’ll put a rush on the gun recovered from the scene. Maybe we’ll get prints or a hit on ballistics.”
One of the benefits of having a case worked by a Texas Ranger was getting priority at the state lab.
“Since you’ve been in contact with the detectives investigating Vikki’s murder, can you clear the way for me to look at the file?” Luke asked. “Never hurts to make sure nothing was missed. Besides, if someone is trying to silence Tara to prevent Vikki’s case from being solved, the more people looking into it, the better.”
The vise around Grady’s chest loosened. Tara and Maddy were in good hands. Not just his, but Luke’s too.
“Consider it done. And, Luke, I appreciate it.”
His friend grinned. “Enough to consider us even in IOUs?”
Grady laughed. “Don’t push it.”
“So, it’s not Ebola?”
Tara shifted Maddy in her arms, struggling to keep the phone between her shoulder and ear while she opened the garage door. Tuesdays were supposed to be her day off—a trade, since she worked on Saturdays—but who was she kidding? This was the fourth call from a patient today. She dropped her keys.
“No, it’s definitely not Ebola.” The garage door gave a squeal and opened. “In fact, Mr. Williamson, you are healthier than men half your age. As I said in the office yesterday, I suspect it’s a mild virus. Plenty of fluids and rest should do the trick.”
“Are you sure?”
“Mr. Williamson, we’ve discussed this before. Using an internet web service to look up your symptoms can be helpful, but it will also give you a broad range of diagnoses, including the worst-case scenarios.”
Tara loaded Maddy into her car seat while her patient muttered something about no-good doctors before he hung up. She chuckled. Mr. Williamson was cranky and irritable, but he was also lonely. Half of his visits were to have someone to talk to. Ten to one, he was going to be back in her office tomorrow, convinced he had the bubonic plague. No, that was last week. Maybe—
A shadow loomed. She gasped and spun, nearly tripping over her feet in the process. Her phone dropped from her shoulder. A hand shot out and caught it.
“Hey, hey, hey. Are you okay?”
She blinked as her brain caught up with her eyes. She sucked in a breath. “Ken. You startled me.”
“I’m sorry. I called your name, but I guess you didn’t hear me.” Her neighbor opened his palm, revealing her phone. “Thank goodness this didn’t hit the cement.”
She plucked it from his hand. “Especially since it’s new. Good catch. Thank you.”
“Sure thing.”
Maddy fussed. Ken reached into the car and pulled on the string of the toy hanging from the car seat. Pop Goes the Weasel played. He laughed and adjusted his wire-rim glasses. “That has got to drive you insane. I didn’t try it at the store before I bought it. Guess I should have.”
“Not at all. It makes her happy.” She opened the driver’s side door and tossed her purse inside. “I haven’t seen you around lately. We missed you at church on Sunday.”
“I was working. We’re short-staffed at the moment, so I’ve been picking up some double shifts.”
Ken worked as a tech specialist for a security company in the next town. Dark circles hung under his eyes and his skin was pale. He was working himself too hard.
On the street, a patrol car rolled past. Tara raised her hand in a wave and the officer gestured back.
“They’ve been making a lot of rounds on the street the last couple of days,” Ken said, jerking his thumb at the patrol car. “Any idea what’s going on?”
“I was robbed on Saturday night in the grocery store parking lot.”
His eyes widened behind the rims of his glasses. “Are you…well, obviously you’re all right. What happened?”
“It’s still under investigation. The short story is my purse was stolen. The guy got away but the police are working hard on the case.”
It was the same story she told everyone. The bare facts and nothing else. Truth was, she didn’t have much more than that. It terrified her to think about the attack in the parking lot and the way the man had threatened her. Thank goodness for Grady. Not only had he stuck close, but he’d arranged for Sweetgrass PD to keep watch as well.
“That’s horrible.” Ken shook his head. “I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”
“Thanks. Me too.” She paused. “Did you need to talk about something in particular or were you just dropping in to say hi?”
“Oh, I hate to bother you. Never—”
“No, no. Please,” she encouraged.
Ken was always considerate. It was one of the things that made him such a great neighbor. She hated to think he needed something but didn’t want to ask because he’d learned of the attack.
“What’s going on?”
He reached into the back pocket of his slacks and pulled out a sheet of paper. His nails had been bitten down nearly to the quick. “Ma’s numbers are terrible. She’s not taking her medicine like she should and she’s eating sweets, even though I’ve explained to her a hundred times it’s not good for her diabetes.”
Tara scanned the numbers. “I can see why you’re concerned. These are much higher than they should be.”
“Is there any way you can talk to her? Convince her to take better care of herself?” His mouth pursed. “With Wayne back in the house, it’s creating an impossible situation. He doesn’
t take her diagnosis seriously.”
Tara’s heart went out to him. He didn’t get along with his older brother. Wayne’s criminal streak had created a host of trouble for his family. She folded the paper and handed it back. “Bring your mom in. I won’t make any promises but hopefully, between the two of us, we’ll convince her to take her diabetes more seriously.”
“She lives far and I work most days. I won’t be off in time to make it during office hours.”
“No problem. Just call the office and let Carol know what day you can do it. I’ll stay late.”
His shoulders dropped. “Thanks, Tara. You have no idea how much this has been weighing on me.”
“Of course. It’s not a problem.”
She crossed the garage and picked up her keys from the floor where they’d fallen before jiggling the back door knob to make sure it was locked.
“There’s one more thing,” Ken said. “I was cleaning my roof last week and noticed a hole in Vikki’s eave. I’ve seen some squirrels around and I’m worried they’ve gone inside and made a nest in her attic.”
Tara’s gaze went to the empty house across the street. It was next door to Ken’s, and together they’d been working to keep an eye on it. While Vikki had made arrangements for Maddy’s guardianship, she hadn’t done anything regarding her assets. Tara hadn’t been given the legal authority to sell the house yet.
“Animals in the attic could create a huge mess.” She checked her watch. Mr. Williamson’s phone call had delayed her. So had the conversation with Ken. She had errands to run before meeting with Janet to try on wedding dresses. “I can’t check it now, but I promise to do it later on tonight. Thanks for letting me know.”
Five
“This wedding dress makes me look like a peacock.” Janet blew an errant curl off her face and eyed herself in the full-length mirror. “What was my aunt thinking?”
Tara cleared her throat to hide the laugh bubbling up. “The feathers are a bit much.”
“A bit? Let’s be honest. Maddy and I could go to the Halloween fair tonight as zoo animals.”
Maddy blew raspberries and smacked at the toy attached to her stroller. The clear ball spun, rattling the smaller, more colorful shapes within. Hanging from the stroller was the baby’s costume for the fair later tonight. She was going to be a lion, complete with the cutest mane and ears.
“Watch,” Janet continued. “Two out of my five crazy relatives will love it and World War Fifteen will commence.”
She lifted her skirt, revealing ballerina flats and marched out. A chorus of ahhs was canceled out by an emphatic no.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mama.” Janet’s voice filtered into the dressing room. “It’s gorgeous. I feel positively royal.”
Tara clapped a hand over her mouth, her stomach clenching with laughter. Moments later, her best friend strolled back in. Her lips were pressed together—probably to keep from giggling—and her eyes twinkled.
“You’re terrible.” Tara shook her head. “Absolutely terrible.”
“If they’re going to make me try on the most hideous dresses in the shop, I may as well have fun.” Janet turned her back so Tara could undo the zipper. “Besides, while they’re fighting we can talk. Has there been any news about the attack?”
“Not yet. By the way, thanks again for coming over the other night. I didn’t realize a double feature and brownie sundaes were what I needed, but it felt so good to laugh.”
“There’s nothing that can’t be fixed by chocolate and a great comedy. We should do it more often. In fact, we could even go out next week. Todd’s been wanting to see the latest action flick and now that Grady’s back in town, we could all see it together.”
She shot her friend a look. “Don’t start matchmaking.”
“I’m not.” Janet’s mouth twitched. “Okay, maybe I am a little. But you guys have been spending a lot of time together lately. I mean, you’re going to the Halloween festival together. You can’t stop a girl from trying.”
Tara handed the gown to the clerk waiting outside the dressing room and shook her head. “Your brother and I are just friends. He’s been sticking close because of the attack, which I appreciate, but it’s as simple as that.”
Janet pressed her lips together. Whatever she wanted to say, it was killing her to keep it in.
“What is it?”
“I’m not trying to rock the boat, Tara, but I’ve seen the way you look at him sometimes. There’s a spark there, and it’s been obvious ever since you moved back to town.”
She wanted the carpet to open and swallow her whole. If Janet had noticed the shift in her feelings, who else had? Had Grady? Heat rose in her cheeks.
Janet’s eyes twinkled. “It’s obvious to me because I’ve known you since the first grade.”
“Stop doing that.”
“Reading your mind? But I’m so good at it.”
“I—”
A quick rap cut the conversation off. Janet’s mother popped her head into the dressing room. “Since you two gabby gusses are taking forever, Tara, can I borrow Maddy? It might be nice if the flower girl had a tiara.”
“Sure thing.”
Maddy caught sight of Deeann and bounced in the stroller. Janet’s mother was one of her favorite people. The baby flashed her an open-mouthed grin.
Deeann laughed. “She is such a cutie.”
She efficiently maneuvered the stroller out of the dressing room. “And you two get moving. The store is closing soon because of the Halloween festival, and we’ll never get done at this rate. The wedding is in a month. It’s a wonder I don’t have a full head of gray hair from all the stress.”
The velvet curtains dropped down behind her. Janet shook her head. “You know she’s going to pick the biggest tiara possible.”
“No sense in fighting it. She’ll get her way anyway. It’s a Jedi mind trick Southern mothers have perfected.” Tara selected the next gown from the rack and draped it open. “You heard her. Less talking, more dresses.”
“Hold on,” Janet stepped into the gown and shoved her arms in the sleeves, “we didn’t finish our original conversation. So, you're telling me there is no chance you would date Grady?”
Would Grady even want to date her? There was attraction on her side, but she had been so careful to avoid applying anything more to his actions than simple friendship. She was tempted to ask but tamped down the impulse. It didn’t matter what Grady thought.
“I like our relationship the way it is.”
Anything else would just be too complicated. Boyfriends had always been a take-it-or-leave-it thing for her. But Grady…she sensed he wasn’t like the other men she’d dated. He would dig in deep to her heart and she refused to give anyone the power to hurt her like her father had done to her mother.
Tara circled around and, without stepping on the train, scooted herself close enough to the gown to close the back. “Besides, you don’t want me dating your brother. I’m terrible at romance.”
“Maybe you just haven’t tried with the right person.”
She snorted. “That’s only what people madly in love say.”
Janet placed her hands on her cheeks. “Oh no. I’ve become one of those women, haven’t I? The ones who gush about their fiancés and constantly set single people up. I always hated them, and now I’m a member of the club.”
“You’re forgiven. Love looks good on you.” She stepped back to take in the gown and her mouth twitched. “That dress however…not so much.”
Janet looked in the mirror. “Ack! This one is worse than the last and that’s saying something. Maybe I should elope.”
“Don’t even think about it. Your parents would have a conniption fit. Besides, the wedding is in a few weeks. It’s not like you have much longer to go anyway.”
“Thank goodness.” She hiked up the dress and walked toward the door. “Hey, Tara. In all seriousness, don’t let our relationship hold you back if you have feelings for Grady. We’re al
l adults. We can handle it.”
The words seemed to hang in the air after Janet left. They taunted her resolve to keep Grady squarely in the friend zone. Seeing her friend so happy and in love also made Tara question her own decision to remain single.
Until she thought of her father.
He’d walked out when she was five, traded them up for a younger wife, and started a new family three states over. Her mother had been devastated and Tara had learned a hard-won lesson. Happily ever after didn’t always happen.
No, it was better to keep her distance and play it safe. Especially when it came to Grady since—
A scream tore through the store. Several more followed and Tara’s pulse kicked into high gear. She ran from the dressing room.
Janet’s aunt lay dazed and bleeding on the floor. People rushed to her side. Others, including Janet and her mother, were moving toward the front of the store. Through the glass, a man in a clown costume ran down the sidewalk pushing a stroller.
Her stroller. With Maddy in it.
Tara sprinted across the carpet, and burst out of the store.
“Stop that man! He’s kidnapped my baby!”
The lingering sunlight cast long shadows as Grady made his way to the bridal store. The Halloween festival was kicking off. Parents with children dressed in costumes crossed the parking lot toward Main Street, which had been closed off for the activities. The scents of pretzels and popcorn mingled with fresh cut grass. Several people called out a hello as he passed them.
It was his childhood all over again. That was the amazing thing about Sweetgrass. Time moved at a snail’s pace and change, while inevitable, rarely shifted the landscape. After more than a decade working undercover, it was a relief to be home again. He’d stretched his roots, tested the limits, but they’d held strong.
He rounded the corner of the building. His sister stood on the sidewalk, dressed in a wedding gown. She was speaking rapidly to someone on the phone. Inside the bridal shop, a group of women surrounded someone on the floor.