“She said I have a gun,” Sarah replied, pulling it out of her hoodie pocket by way of proof. “See. It’s nice and shiny. Trevor got it for me so I would always be protected. That didn’t work out so well, did it?”
Maddie licked her lips as she internally debated how to proceed. “I don’t understand what you’re doing here,” she said finally. “I’m confused.”
“I’m guessing that’s your perpetual state,” Sarah drawled. “You have all that blond hair. I’ve always assumed you were stupid.”
“Yes, well, that comes in handy now, doesn’t it?” Maddie managed to keep a hold on Catelynn, but just barely. The young girl was obviously curious about what was happening, and she didn’t appear to have a fear gene. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on and I’ll see what can be done to help?”
“I already know what can be done to help,” Sarah replied. “I’m going to get money and then leave this place. You know, put Blackstone Bay in the rearview mirror. It’s a hellhole anyway.”
Maddie flicked her eyes to the spot where her mother stood moments before and realized she’d disappeared. That actually made her feel better. Her mother had gone to Nick for help before ... and he’d managed to see and hear her. There was every chance she would be capable of doing the same again.
“So ... you want money.” Maddie instinctively looked at the cash box resting on her small table. “There’s about eight hundred bucks in that.” She pointed for emphasis. “Take it and go.”
“I’ll definitely take it.” Sarah’s grin was evil. “I’m not ready to go yet, though. Eight hundred is barely gas money. I want the money I was promised.”
“What money?” Maddie thought back to her conversation with Nick and something sparked in her memory. “You’re talking about the money Trevor hid in your name. Nick and Dale froze it, didn’t they? You can’t access the funds.”
“I can’t and I’m not happy about it,” Sarah admitted. “I should’ve run right after he died. I should’ve moved the money into accounts that couldn’t be accessed by anyone but me and escaped. I don’t know why I stayed behind.”
“Probably because you’re stupid,” Marla suggested.
Sarah slammed the butt of the gun against the back of Marla’s neck, causing her to whimper. “Shut your hole, you tramp. This is all your fault.”
“Knock that off,” Maddie warned, taking a step forward.
“Knock that off,” Sarah shot back, mimicking Maddie’s voice. “Since when are you Marla’s great protector? You don’t like her. She’s always been horrible to you.”
“She has,” Maddie agreed. “She’s pregnant, though.”
“So what?” Sarah rolled her eyes. “She only got pregnant to trap Trevor.”
“I know that. That baby is innocent, though.”
“Innocent?” Venom practically dripped from Sarah’s tongue. “That baby is the reason all of this blew up. Alicia shot Trevor because she found out Marla was pregnant. Oh, don’t bother denying it. You know it’s true. Your boyfriend didn’t come right out and say it when he was questioning me earlier, but I could read between the lines.
“By the way, it’s good you came home when you did,” she continued. “I had my eye on Nick last year. I knew he was about done with Cassidy and I planned to swoop in and nab him. I was going to run the same con Marla ran on Trevor. You know, get pregnant. Unfortunately for me — and pretty much every other woman in this town — the second you arrived he became blind to anyone but you. I had to adjust after that.”
“And you adjusted to Trevor?” Maddie was appalled. “You knew he was married and went after him anyway. Actually, both of you did that. It makes me sick.”
“No, you’re the one who makes me sick,” Marla shot back, not caring that she was talking out of turn. “You don’t even know what you have. Do you have any idea how rare it is to find what you have with Nick? It shouldn’t have been yours. Everything always comes so easy to you, though. Of course Nick fell at your feet the second you were reunited.”
Maddie glared. “You don’t understand. That’s your problem. You’ve never understood the bond between Nick and me. It was always going to be us. I just didn’t realize it until I matured, got out of my own head, and grew up. Some things are meant to be. You don’t have to force relationships to get what you want.”
Sarah snorted. “Oh, good grief. Do you hear yourself? What a freaking Mary Sue.” She looked to Marla for confirmation. “Am I right?”
“You are, but I think you’re psycho so I don’t really want to agree with you,” Marla sniffed. “I don’t understand why I’m even a part of this. I can’t help you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Sarah’s expression turned dark. “You have money. You have access to more money thanks to your mother and grandmother. I need money. You’re going to get it for me.”
“Or what?” Marla was confused. “What are you going to do if I don’t call my mother and ask for money?”
Sarah waved the gun in Marla’s face. “What do you think I’m going to do?”
“You’re not going to shoot me for money. You’re not a killer. You’re just ... confused. You were in love with Trevor and he broke your heart. Trust me. I get it. I thought I was the one he really loved, too. It turns out that he loved everyone equally ... meaning he didn’t love any of us at all. It’s harsh, but you need to suck it up.”
The expression on Sarah’s face was contemptuous. “I don’t care about love. I never did. It was always about the money. I knew Trevor made a decent amount and he wanted out. He mentioned that he wanted to hide money. I knew exactly how to play him.”
“Is she talking about my dad?” Catelynn asked, tugging on Maddie’s sleeve to get her attention. She’d been so quiet Maddie almost forgot she was there.
“She is,” Maddie confirmed. “I don’t want you to be frightened, though. She’s not going to hurt you.”
“Oh, don’t lie to the girl,” Sarah drawled. “I’m actually interested in hurting her. I blame her mother for ruining my plan, and what better way to get back at Alicia?”
Maddie moved directly in front of Catelynn to shield her. “She’s a little girl.”
“She’s thirteen.”
“It doesn’t matter. She’s a little girl. I won’t let you touch her.”
“You won’t let me, huh? She’s the reason I’m here, you moron. I saw her with you. I didn’t come for you. Thanks for the eight hundred bucks and all — and I’m totally taking it, for the record — but I didn’t come here for you. I came for the kid.”
Maddie’s heart skipped a beat. “I don’t understand. Why?”
“Because I’m owed money. Trevor promised I would be able to spend that money with him. That’s the only reason I stayed with that loser.”
“I still don’t understand.”
“I’m taking that kid and forcing her mother to give me the rest of Trevor’s money,” Sarah replied. “I have no intention of hurting her. You’re another story, though.”
Grim, Maddie worked her jaw. “I see.”
“Do you? I often wonder with you. You’re older than me so I didn’t know a lot about you when I was in high school. When I got out of high school, I thought about going after Nick even then. I was warned it was a bad idea because of you, but that never made sense to me.
“Then you came back to town and I saw it with my own eyes,” she continued. “Nick practically tripped over his own feet to get to you. You guys were together in record time. I swear, it was as if you were sewn together at the hip.”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not where they were connected,” Marla drawled.
Sarah ignored her. “You’re not part of my plan, Maddie. I’m willing to let you live, but you have to give me the kid and let me tie you up before I leave with Marla and Katie.”
“Catelynn,” the little girl corrected, her eyes flashing. “You know my name. You were my dance instructor.”
Sarah made a face. “Here’s a little tip
: I don’t like kids.”
“Well, I don’t like you either.” Catelynn shifted her eyes to Maddie. “I’m bored. I thought you said we were going somewhere fun.”
“We will.” Maddie had no idea how she managed to keep a smile on her face. It was difficult and took every ounce of strength she had. “Just give me a few minutes, okay.”
“Okay.” Catelynn didn’t look thrilled but bobbed her head. “Five minutes and then we have to go.”
“Five minutes,” Maddie agreed before turning her full attention back to Sarah. “I’m not going to let you leave this tent with Catelynn. You have to know that.”
“I do.” For a moment, Sarah almost looked sad. “That means I’m going to have to kill you. I don’t have a choice.”
“If you shoot me, everyone will hear the shot,” Maddie warned. “You won’t get out of here. We both know it.”
“What do you expect me to do?” Sarah practically exploded. “I need money. I can’t stay here. Your boyfriend and doofus Kreskin are going to figure out the truth before it’s all said and done. I can’t stay and I have no money to leave thanks to them. This is my only move.”
Things finally snapped into place in Maddie’s head thanks to a brief glance of something terrible in Sarah’s mind. She only saw it for a moment, but she realized what it was right away. “You killed Trevor.”
Catelynn stiffened behind Maddie. “No. I ... .”
Maddie slapped her hand over the girl’s mouth to silence her and snagged gazes with Sarah. “It was you. You’re the reason he never woke up like they expected.”
“He was actually worth more to me dead,” Sarah agreed. “He could’ve made a stink about the money I planned on taking. I wanted to make sure that didn’t happen.”
“But you ripped apart your own meal ticket.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You did.” Maddie’s fury took over. “You could’ve gotten money out of him if you let him live. I don’t understand why you did what you did.”
“You don’t? Look around.” Sarah gave Marla’s arm a vicious shake. “How many other mistresses do you think Trevor had tucked away? Someone like Marla was bound to come along a second time and try to trap him. His money wouldn’t have lasted long if that happened.”
“No, but ... .” Maddie trailed off. She realized that arguing with the woman was a complete and total waste of time. They would never see things the same way. “You should go,” she announced, making up her mind on the spot. “The only way you’re going to escape is if you go now.”
“I can’t leave without Catelynn,” Sarah countered. “I need her to force her mother into giving me money and I plan to use Marla for the same reason. Once I have that money, I’ll leave.”
“It’s already too late.” Maddie was certain of that, and the feeling bolstered her. She’d felt a reassuring presence brush against her mind seconds ago and knew reinforcements were already here. “You can’t get out of this. All you can do is make things worse.”
“Oh, right. Like I’m going to believe you.”
“You should believe her,” a male voice announced, joining the fray. Nick, his own service weapon gripped in his hand, moved to the spot behind Sarah and pressed the short barrel to her back. “Drop the gun or I’ll be forced to shoot you, Sarah.”
Maddie watched the woman’s face for signs she understood there was no winning play to be had ... and came up empty.
“No.” Sarah was firm. “I’ll kill Marla if you don’t let me go ... and give me that kid.”
“That’s never going to happen.” Nick was firm. “If you shoot Marla, I will shoot you. If you try to take Marla or Catelynn, I will shoot you. If you as much as move your hand, I will shoot you.”
“Because Maddie is here, right?” Sarah sneered.
“Because it’s my job and you’re a murderer,” Nick replied as Kreskin slid into the tent and took the position on the other side of Sarah. “There’s no move for you here. You know that. You have to surrender ... or die. Those are your two choices.”
“I recommend surrendering,” Maddie said. “The alternative isn’t a happy one.”
“I don’t know,” Catelynn countered. “That ghost hanging at the back of the tent doesn’t look unhappy.”
Maddie jerked her eyes in that direction and, sure enough, Olivia stood there watching the situation play out. She looked more solid than ever ... and completely worried.
Nick didn’t look away from Sarah as he prodded her with his gun. “Drop it, Sarah. You’re done here.”
With one more twisted expression, Sarah did as she was instructed. The gun hit the ground with a loud thump and Nick immediately holstered his weapon before drawing cuffs from his belt. “Sarah Salinger, you’re under arrest,” he started, his eyes moving to Maddie so he could offer her a reassuring wink.
Maddie returned it before exhaling. “Well, that was exciting, huh?” she said to Catelynn.
Catelynn merely shrugged. “Not really. When are we going to see your grandmother? You said she was funny.”
“I think we should see your mother first.”
“I guess ... but she’s not funny at all.”
“Things might change.”
“I doubt it.”
“Have a little faith.”
Catelynn tilted her head to the side, considering. “Okay. Can I have more licorice before we go?”
“Absolutely.”
Twenty
Every bride was beautiful.
That’s what Maddie kept telling herself a few days later as she stared at her reflection in the mirror and worked to tame a strand of hair that refused to fall into place.
Her dress – the one she’d already tried on a hundred times – looked perfect. Her shoes fit without pinching. Christy did her makeup and it was gorgeous without being overbearing. It was just this one piece of hair causing issues … and it was driving her insane.
“This isn’t going to work.” Her nerves got the better of her as she pulled away from the mirror and came face to face with Christy. “I can’t do this with my hair looking crazy.”
Christy, the lemon yellow of her bridesmaid dress setting off her red mane in the perfect combination of summer pretty, smirked as she grabbed a comb and hairspray. “I believe that’s why you enlisted me to be your maid of honor.”
“I enlisted you to be my maid of honor because you’re my best friend.”
“Nick is your best friend.”
“He’s my husband … er, soon. You know what I mean.”
Christy giggled as she motioned for Maddie to sit. “Be careful of your dress, but you’re too tall for me to fix this otherwise.”
Maddie heaved out a sigh and did as her friend asked, risking a glance out the window to where people were gathered in the meadow next to the house. It was one of her favorite places, the field where she and Nick picnicked and played. She couldn’t imagine getting married anywhere else. They had a church on standby should the weather not cooperate, but it was a beautiful day.
“Do you think everyone is down there?” Maddie craned her neck, which frustrated Christy to no end.
“Yes. No one would miss a wedding almost three decades in the making. Now, face forward.”
Maddie’s smile was rueful but she acquiesced.
“Tell me something else,” Christy ordered. “Don’t squirm and tell me something else. I’m going to need a few minutes to fix this.”
“What do you want me to tell you?”
Christy shrugged. “How are things with Marla? I mean … technically you did save her life.”
Maddie’s smile slipped. “She’s the devil. She honestly wants to blame me for her being taken.”
“So … normal?”
Maddie nodded, earning a glare for the movement. “She also blames me for Cassidy moving. She just found out and she’s not happy.”
“She’s not happy because she’s jealous of you getting married to the man she always wanted for herself. Losing Cassidy is
a blow, though. She hates losing henchmen.”
Maddie snickered. “Yes, well … .” She trailed off. “Catelynn isn’t going to be charged.”
“Of course she’s not.” Christy never thought for a second the child would be at risk of being removed from her home. “Her mother told the truth that first night. It was an accident.”
“Alicia told Nick and Dale that Catelynn was just trying to get him to shut up while she was watching her program. They’re in counseling together as a family. Aaron isn’t keen on it, but his mother is making him go. I think it’s a good thing.”
“I definitely do, too,” Christy agreed, focusing hard on Maddie’s hair. “What about Sarah?”
“She didn’t get bail. She tried to deny poisoning Trevor after the fact, but they caught her on video at the hospital. Even though they don’t have footage of her actually doing the deed, there’s pesticide missing from the high school and Nick says it’s more than enough to convict her.”
“She turned out to be a loon, huh?”
“Most definitely.”
They lapsed into amiable silence for a bit, although Maddie’s nerves wouldn’t allow her to remain silent. “Have you seen Nick? He’s out there, right?”
Christy chuckled, exasperation warring with merriment. “Do you really think he would leave you at the altar?”
“No. Of course not. I just wondered how he looked in his tux.”
“You’ve seen him in a tux before. You know darned well how he looks.”
Maddie sighed happily. “Handsome.”
“Yeah. You’re a jittery thing, aren’t you? You need to settle down, Maddie. You’re not going to be able to recite your vows if you don’t chill.”
“Oh, I’ll be able to deliver my vows. I know exactly what I’m going to say, too.”
“Oh, yeah? What?”
“I’m not telling you. I’ll say them at the altar and you can hear them then with everybody else.”
“Fair enough.” Christy used the comb to go to combat with the strand of hair. “What about your mother? I know you saw her in the aftermath of what happened and then she disappeared. I would’ve thought she’d stop by for the big day.”
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