by Diane Bator
“Watch it, lady.” His sour breath made her cringe.
Katie’s stomach ached. She took several shallow breaths and backed away. Laura had warned her about Mitch Davidson who ran the 7-Eleven up the street. According to Ray, he kept his office wall covered in pictures of pin-up girls and a stash of beer in his desk drawer. The Tipsy Duck was his favorite haunt.
“Aw, geez. I’m sorry, honey. I know I said I’d be home early, but this guy had some business to discuss and suddenly it was three hours later…” He stumbled to the nearest garbage bin and retched.
Mitch wiped his mouth then narrowed his eyes, studying her with dilated pupils. “You’re not my wife. You’re skinny. She’s an oil drum.”
“No. I’m definitely not your wife.” Grateful he was sober enough to know that much, she drew in a deep breath in an attempt to steady her hands and took a tentative step back. If he tried anything, she’d run to Java Jo’s. Gut feeling told her to go home and lock the doors. Fear kept her riveted to the spot.
When Mitch came toward her, her eyes widened and her palms sweated. Fight or flight time. She clenched her hands, ready to strike if she had to, but he pushed past her without a backward glance. The scent of stale beer trailed behind him.
Up the street, a man in dark clothing cupped a hand over his eyes and peered into the bookstore. The Mystery Man or just some guy too late to pick up a last minute gift for his wife or girlfriend? He glanced in both directions then walked toward the coffee shop.
She swallowed hard, positive he was the man from the salon. Instinct told her to follow him, but instead, she walked briskly toward home, senses on full alert, The cool evening air sent a chill through her. She shut her eyes and blew out the breath she’d held. They’d order dinner in.
As she rounded the corner, every sound made her jump and every breath of wind made her shudder. Footsteps behind her sent a shiver slithering down her spine. Someone came into the store and asking questions and wanting to meet her. Now someone was following her home. Her legs turned to rubber. Maddox and his men could be around the next corner.
Hilda’s house was up the block on the corner.
Katie’s heart hammered until she’d climbed the flight of cement steps up the little hill in the front yard. The footsteps behind her faltered then continued when she stepped onto the wide white porch and glanced over her shoulder.
A tall man in a dark coat and blue jeans walked past the house. His hands were stuffed into his pockets and his head was covered with a black toque or dark hair. The man from the salon came to mind. She didn’t even know him. Why would he bother to follow her?
Katie’s stomach squirmed. She took a deep breath to calm down.
When the front door opened, Katie shrieked and grabbed her chest. “Geez, Hilda, you scared me.”
Her landlady peered out in amusement. “I didn’t think I was that frightening.”
“Sorry. I got spooked.” Katie glanced down the empty street.
“Did you bring dinner? I was craving chili from the deli today. I love those little rolls they give you. I like their chocolate chip cookies the best.”
“I know.” She pushed aside her overactive imagination and followed her into the house. “I thought we’d order in tonight. How does Chinese sound? I’ll pick up chili tomorrow night.”
“I’ll call Ming’s, but I’m holding you to chili and cookies for tomorrow.” Hilda wagged a finger.
Katie peered out the front window and leaned against the wall. The warmth of Hilda and the house made her feel safe. For now.
Chapter 13
Danny
Ray always knew when Danny was hiding something. So did Hannah. Cop instincts ran through their family like blue eyes and dark hair. Or maybe Danny’s body gave off an aura of guilt only his family saw. They hounded him about his latest case all through dinner. The only thing that saved him from a night of torture was Nate and the kids telling horrible jokes.
While the kids went to have baths, Nate and Hannah cleaned up.
Danny sought peace working in the early evening sunshine in the entrance of the garage, but his solitude was short-lived.
Ray stood in front of the Honda and planted both hands on his hips. His eyes bored into Danny’s. “What are you up to?”
He wiped his hands on his jeans and tried to escape his uncle’s glare. Before long, Hannah would notice they were missing and come to his rescue. On second thought, that might make things worse for him. “I thought you wanted me to work on your car?”
“Stop changing the subject. I know you’re up to something. You looked like you had something on your mind at the bookstore, but I didn’t get the chance to talk to you, what with Laura running in and out of the room like a yo-yo.” He scowled. “You get fired from the force?”
“I’m not up to anything.” Danny held up his hands. “Honest. Work is fine. I took a couple days off to help out here.” And to find Paulina Chourney.
His uncle’s head bobbed, but the scowl stayed put. “I don’t believe you.”
Danny groaned. “What could possibly happen in Packham? Nothing ever happens here.”
Ray frowned. “I used to think that, too. Now we have strangers moving to town. Plus, we have a crooked mayor.”
“Bruno’s not crooked. I went to school with him. He’s so honest he’d make Abe Lincoln look like a gangster.”
“Says you. He sounds like a crook. Besides, you don’t live here anymore.” Ray folded his arms across his thin chest. “You up and moved to the big city. What’s wrong with Packham?”
“Nothing ever happens here.”
“You’d better not be into drugs. Your mother would roll over in her grave if you got into that crap.”
“No drugs.”
“Girls?”
“No, Ray.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with you? You’re not one of those swishy guys, are you?”
Danny rubbed his forehead. “I don’t have time for girlfriends. I’m on call all the time and keep weird hours.”
Ray snorted. “I know someone else who has no time for dating. That silly girl in my bookstore I’ve been trying to get you to meet.”
“Oh?” This was exactly the conversation he wanted to have. “What’s she like?”
“Katie? She’s okay.” His uncle’s expression softened. “Kind of pretty. She’s uptight, though. I think she needs a man.”
Danny pretended not to care, but his interest was piqued.
“You should come back to meet her one day when she’s not crabby. You might like her.”
“I tried but I can’t stick around much longer, I’m…” He trailed off before he said the words Ray wanted to hear.
“Admit it.” Ray wagged a finger in his face. “You’re on a case. Those marks on your face are glue from an undercover disguise.”
“No. I’m just here for—”
“Who are you looking for?” He pressed his face into his nephew’s.
“Ray, I—”
“Come on. Humor me.”
Danny’s shoulders sagged. “You know your talents were wasted in the bookstore all these years. You should have been chasing down bad guys.”
“I’d need a wheelchair. Hurry up and spill the beans before your sister finds us.”
There was no avoiding the truth any longer. Ray was so stubborn and nosy he’d pry the whole story out of Danny before long. He ran a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “I’m looking for a woman who worked for a major firm in Newville. They think she embezzled money and left town.”
Ray’s forehead crinkled. “You mean that place that got busted for money laundering and stuff? What were they called? DMR? What do you have to do with them? Are you working for that bunch of crooks?”
“I’m not working for them. I’m finding a missing person.” Danny frowned and prayed Ray would forgive him when he found out the whole truth. He dug a photo out of his jacket pocket. “I’m looking for her. Her name’s Paulina Chourney.”
; His uncle studied the platinum blonde in the slinky evening gown and whistled. “She’s a looker. She looks a bit like Katie around the eyes and nose. Her hair’s red, though. Why hasn’t this been all over the news?”
“Some of it has been in Newville. They haven’t made a state-wide appeal to the public yet.” Danny’s heart pounded and he studied the photo yet again. He’d seen Katie in Queenie’s salon and in the coffee shop and didn’t think she looked anything like Paulina. He hadn’t thought Paulina was smart enough to use a disguise. “She could have cut and dyed her hair.”
“Maybe.” Ray frowned. “Katie’s like a frumpy librarian. She doesn’t seem like the type of girl to hang out with gangsters. Truth be told, I don’t think she gets out much.”
“People can change due to necessity.”
“Not that fast.”
Danny had to agree. He needed to get Leo to dig into both Paulina and Katie’s pasts, while he checked Katie out in person, like Ray wanted. He studied the picture and tried to remember what the girl in the salon looked like.
The Quonset door rattled. Hannah leaned against it tapping her foot, a dishtowel dangling from one hand. “I should’ve known. What are you two doing out here?”
“Busted.” Ray bowed his head. “How does she always find us?”
She smiled. “Easy. You guys always hide out in the garage.”
“Where’s Nate?” Danny asked.
“Putting the kids to bed. What’s going on?”
Ray and Danny exchanged guilty looks. “Nothing.”
“You can’t fool me anymore.” She folded her arms across her chest and stared them both down. “I have two kids. I deal with liars on a daily basis.”
“We were discussing one of Danny’s new cases.”
“Oh. What are you doing now?” Hannah hated his career choice but respected it was something he was compelled to do. She never hesitated to remind him he could quit and open a garage in Packham anytime, though.
“Tinkering with Ray’s car.”
She scowled. “I meant your case. It’s obvious you’re not here to be social.”
“It’s confidential.” Danny slammed the hood of the Honda.
“Yet you’ll tell Uncle Ray.”
He frowned. “Hannah, it’s complicated.”
“It always is.” She faked a smile. “Are you staying here tonight?”
“Yeah. I’ll take Ray home before I come in. He hates driving in the dark.”
Her mouth worked while she warded off tears. “Good. Maybe he can talk some sense into you.”
Ray grinned. “I’m not sure I can blast though cement that thick.”
Her eyes bright and watery, Hannah laughed. “Good point.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t do anything stupid.” Danny hugged her and hoped that promise wasn’t coming too late to keep.
“Come on.” Ray clapped a hand on his back. “Take me home before Nosy Nelly starts in on your case, your love life and everything else in between. I don’t have all night, you know. I have things to do. And you need some lotion for that rash.”
She scowled. “I wouldn’t do that. Do you want Nate to follow and drive you back?”
“Good idea. Ray might need his car tomorrow.” He kissed the top of her head.
On the way into town, his uncle asked a lot of questions. Danny refused to answer most of them.
Finally, Ray snorted. “What’s with the secrets?”
“You’re too close.” Danny drove Ray’s old Honda.
“To what?”
He thought fast. “Look, Ray, if Katie really is Paulina Chourney, I don’t want to get you involved.”
“If Katie is this woman you’re looking for, then I’ve been involved in this whole mess since the day she walked into my store.”
As much as he hated it, Danny knew he was right. “Which means you think you can spy on her and tell me if there’s anything suspicious going on.” He shook his head. “No way. I don’t want to drag you or Hannah into this.”
“No? Then what’s your plan, genius?”
Ray let out a sigh. “You don’t even have a plan. You’re winging it.”
“You have a problem with that?”
When the car slid to a stop in front of the retirement home, Ray made no move to get out. “Nope. I used to do it all the time. That’s how I got shot. It’s your funeral.”
Danny stared out the window. “Look, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to anyone about this. Especially Hannah.”
“I get it. I was a cop once, too, and a damn good one.” His uncle’s voice softened. “I should’ve been smart like you, instead of becoming a security guard.”
“That’s just how things worked out.”
“You’re a good kid, Danny.” Ray punched his shoulder. “I just hope you haven’t gotten in deeper than you can handle.”
“Me too.”
He paused with the door half open. “Were you in town today?”
“Yeah. I got a haircut.”
“That’s funny. Katie was at a salon this morning. You might have run into her.”
“Look, Ray. I know lots of fugitives run to backwater towns to hide, but I don’t think she’s one of them.”
“Why not? I did.” His words hung in the air like ice crystals. “See you tomorrow.”
Danny drove around to park the car in the back lot and wondered what he meant by that. Were there secrets his uncle had hidden from him as well? On a hunch, he’d followed her from the bookstore to her house before he went back to Hannah’s. Some detective he was. He hadn’t even recognized Paulina when she stood right under his nose. Something was different about her besides the change of hair color and the lack of makeup. She looked younger and more relaxed.
Nate honked the horn behind the Honda.
Danny jumped out and ran Ray’s car key inside. Ray’s room door was open, but he was nowhere to be found. From across the hall came the clacking of a typewriter. Ray hadn’t exaggerated the noise. The rooms were definitely not soundproofed.
He hung the key on a hook hear the door and wished Nate wasn’t outside waiting so he’d have time to snoop. Instead, he shrugged and returned to the truck. He’d have to check out Ray’s story later.
He and Nate were about a kilometer from the farm, chatting about the ball game on the radio, when it hit him. The reason Paulina—or whatever she called herself these days—looked so different was because she was sober.
Danny smiled. It might be worth a second try at meeting Katie Mullins after all.
Chapter 14
Katie
The television offered little to amuse Katie that evening and her paranoid thoughts made her restless. Before she’d had the bookstore renovations and withdrawals to keep her busy. Tonight she was too rattled to sit still and peered out the front window every five minutes.
She studied the photographs on the living room walls while Hilda put away the dishes. The lavender-scented octogenarian’s life hung displayed for the entire world to see. Photos of her childhood, marriage, children and grandchildren hung in a variety of frames.
Katie paused to study a yellowed black and white photograph of a handsome young man with a light beard and long-sleeved plaid shirt leaning on an axe in front of a tent. “Is this your brother?”
“My husband.” Hilda’s voice cracked as she returned to the front room and touched the photo frame. “He was the love of my life. I was six years old when he moved in next door. He was an older gentleman of eight and had seen much more of the world than I had since his father was in the military.”
She paused to sigh. “He was so adorable with that mop of red hair and freckles that made you want to grab a pen and play connect the dots. Of course, he hated girls, but I never gave up on him. I had a crush on him from the first day I saw him.”
“Really?” Listening to her landlady’s stories was better than being alone with her dismal thoughts. “When did he finally notice you?”
“At my tenth birthday
party.” Hilda’s blue eyes sparkled when she traced his image with her finger. “Before then, we played softball together and rode bikes when there was no one around. On my tenth birthday, I wore a lovely red velvet dress my mama made and he couldn’t take his eyes off me for the entire party. He wasn’t invited. Papa only allowed girls to attend, but he watched from his bedroom window.”
“He couldn’t even talk to you?”
“Not until after my friends went home. He met me at the tree swing under the apple tree in our backyard and pushed me for a while.”
“That’s sweet.”
Hilda opened a small treasure chest carved with roses on the mantle. “Sweet was when he worked up the courage to take me by the hand and tell me I was the prettiest little thing he’d ever seen. Then he asked me to marry him.”
“On your tenth birthday?”
She opened her hand to reveal a rhinestone ring that wouldn’t even fit Katie’s pinkie. “Of course, Father would never permit us to marry so young, but when we grew up, we dated for real. We even broke up several times. Not only was I pretty, as he told me countless times, but I was a bit headstrong as well.”
Katie studied a photo of Hilda with her husband and children. “I bet you were.”
“When he was fourteen, he worked two part-time jobs to earn money for our future.” She didn’t seem to hear Katie. “Some he spent on me, but most of it he saved for school. When he went to college, I still had two years of high school to go and missed him terribly. He studied hard and worked part-time so we didn’t see each other often, but we wrote all the time.”
“Then he came back.”
“He was my prom date.” Hilda fingered a golden frame holding a photo of the two young lovers. “After the dance, we parked out by the lake and talked in the moonlight for most of the night. That was the second time he proposed. While he finished school, I waited tables and went to secretarial college. We got married a month after he graduated. Our oldest son was born nine months after that.”
“Wow. That’s so romantic.” She couldn’t imagine having a child at twenty, let alone being married to the same man her entire life. No man she’d ever met had held her interest for longer than a few hours. Even Maddox went home to his wife now and then.