by Vella, Wendy
“What?” Fin retrieved the ball he’d fired at the hoop and missed. Turning, he saw the Trainer brothers and Dylan, arms crossed, looking at him.
“Answer the damn question. When did you see Maggie’s scar?”
“I didn’t, but I imagine it is a bad scar,” he lied. Fin had no problem with lying when it was for the greater good, and this was definitely that.
“I call BS,” Luke said. “You’re lying.”
“Fuck off, you can’t know that.” Fin threw the ball at him.
“Did you and Maggie do the horizontal mambo?” Jack asked.
Joe shot his brother a look. “You can’t say sex now you’re in a relationship?”
“It’s Rory’s fault; that’s what she calls it.”
“But we digress,” Dylan said. “Spill, Fin.”
“Go to hell,” he said. They didn’t know and couldn’t make him tell them. He was an adult, after all.
“Okay, maybe we’re wrong,” Luke said. “Considering she’s dating Calvin Harding and all.”
“No, she’s not!” Fin snarled. Luke smiled, which told Fin he’d said the words deliberately.
“And why wouldn’t she be dating him, Findlay? I mean it’s not like you and her—”
“Shut up,” he snarled. “Before I make you!”
“His eyes are squinty, so it may be time to stop.” Joe leaned in to look at Fin. “Mind you, after what Bailey said—”
“What did Bailey say?” Fin demanded, affability now in the trash.
Joe smiled at him, a ‘cat got the cream, I know something you don’t’ smile. “That she believed you and Maggie were a perfect fit, and she thought you’d complete each other.”
“I just threw up a bit in my mouth.” Fin scowled. “What does that even mean, complete each other?”
“It’s when all the pieces fit into place and you know you’ve found the one,” Jack added.
“God, you lot are so whipped it makes me want to heave up my breakfast.”
“Jealousy is ugly in a grown man,” Dylan said.
“You listening to this?” he asked the other unattached man in the group.
“You’re protesting too much, Fin. Sure giveaway that something’s gone down with our favorite redhead,” Luke said.
“Fuck all of you,” Fin snarled, walking away to grab the ball. “Don’t weave fantasies around me and Maggs.”
“Ah, so there is a we,” Jack said. Fin fired the ball at him and missed.
“They make a cute couple,” Joe said, making kissy noises that had Fin charging him.
“The team is here,” Luke said.
Fin was pissed off and unsettled before he started, which didn’t bode well for the game, but he’d hoped getting a good sweat on and some smack talk would work that out of him. In fact, it only increased when Miss Sarah fouled him for bad language.
“They swear!” He waved a hand at his teammates.
“But rarely do they mean it, Findlay Hudson. You, however, at this precise moment, do.” She gave him a sweet smile that had him wanting to breathe fire. “It’s important we stay true to our natures at all times, and you are a kind, sweet man, and never mean. Did you wake on the wrong side of the bed today, dear?”
“It was more who was sleeping in that bed that’s the issue,” Luke said so Fin could hear.
The entire game had stopped as she lectured him. The younger team watched avidly; most he knew, and some he’d hauled off his mountains for doing things they shouldn’t. All had also likely had a similar lecture from a Robbins sister at some stage in their lives, if the pity on their faces was any indication.
“Sorry I’m late!” Pip ran in the door. “I’ve been mopping up tears, you bastard.” She punched Fin hard in the gut, doubling him over and making everyone roar with laughter.
Well, hell.
Chapter 34
She managed to avoid him for four days by going to stay with her family. She’d told Joan she was taking a few days off and to call her if anything came up at the gallery. It was running away, Maggs understood that, but she needed some time.
No one had asked why she’d decided to go home. Her mom had simply made up her bed, her dad had hugged her, and her brothers had given her a look but kept silent.
She’d ridden the land with her family and worked with them. It had been what she needed. Time to get her thoughts straight.
They asked more questions about England. She’d answered them, and that too had been good. She wasn’t hiding now; she told them the truth. It was freeing.
Yes, Fin was a nagging pain in her side, but she’d deal with that when she went back.
“You done hiding now?”
“What?”
Nash fell onto the sofa beside her. She was watching a program but had no clue what it was about, as her mind had been elsewhere.
“It has been nice having you here, little sister, but I know there’s a reason.”
“I need a reason to stay here?”
Fin had always reminded her most of Nash. Honorable, opinionated when required, but a man at the core. Good men, she added.
“Tigger, I know you, and you’re hiding out here. Plus,” he held out a hand as she opened her mouth to speak, “I saw Fin, and he asked me how you were.”
Maggs ignored the little kick to her heart.
“That’s what friends do; they ask after each other.”
“He looked sad, with dark smudges under his eyes.”
“Why all the worry for him now? You were suspicious of him before.”
Nash studied her, and Maggs fought the urge to squirm.
“Maybe I was suspicious of him because I knew that he was different.”
“Different how?”
“That he was the one for you.” The words hung in the air between them, and she fought the urge to sniff back tears. She was done with those; they achieved nothing but a red nose and sore throat.
“I think he may be,” Maggie whispered. “But it’s a bit of a mess between us right now.”
“The path to truth love never runs smooth, Tigger.”
She snorted, then punched his arm. “And you’d know this how?”
“I read it in a book. Now, go pack your things, and we’ll head back. It’s that ridiculous musical chairs for adults event today, and I could do with a laugh.”
“That’s today?” Maggs jumped to her feet. “I entered you.” She sprinted from the room squealing with Nash on her heels.
…
Driving through town an hour later, she waved to people as they crawled down the main street. Stalls were being set up outside shops, and soon the road would be closed off.
“Is that the woman who used to run your gallery before you took over?” Nash pointed out the windscreen. Maggie searched and found Linda Foster crossing the road.
“OMG!”
“What!” Nash hit the brakes.
“Go to the gallery, Nash. Now!”
“My heart nearly stopped. You shouldn’t yell like that in a car if there is no emergency, Tigger.”
“Hurry.”
“I’m not driving at speed when there is ice on the roads.”
After a drive that she could have run faster, they pulled up outside the gallery. Grabbing her keys from her bag, Maggs was out and sprinting to the door in seconds.
“What’s going on?” Nash followed at a more sedate pace.
Maggie ignored him and turned off the alarm, then ran through the gallery to the back room. Opening the filing cabinet, she dug into the back of a row of files. Pulling out folders, she opened one and rifled through it. Then another.
“Speak!” Nash bellowed minutes later.
“I kept some of the previous owner’s papers. She told me to, so I could follow up and see if people who purchased from her wanted to buy more artwork later.”
“Okay. Still none the wiser?”
Maggie kept looking until she found what she wanted.
“There.” Holding out a paper for him to read
, she then dug her phone out of her pocket, going through the pictures until she found the letter. “It’s the same writing.”
He went still, his eyes going from the paper in his hand to the photo.
“It’s there in the way she writes the little heart above the i. Plus the swirly ends on the y’s.”
“It looks the same, but that could be coincidence.”
Maggie continued going through the papers, reading each one, checking she was right, until she came to one halfway through the pile. Her heart nearly stopped as she read the words.
“That says, ‘for A.J.,’ doesn’t it, Nash?”
He looked over her shoulder. “Maybe, but it’s hard to say. The ink’s faded.”
“There is no address on the invoice, so I’m not sure who it was delivered to,” Maggie said.
“Tigger, you can’t go messing in this crap. You have no evidence and aren’t a cop, so stop speculating. Just hand what you know over to Chief Blake.”
“I will, and yes, you’re right. I could be way off target.”
“Just out of curiosity, what is the target you think you hit?”
“I don’t know, but I’m sure Linda Foster was friendly with the Linbars.”
“The body who was brought down was a Linbar?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, you need to give this to Chief Blake. The burglary, and now you recognizing the handwriting—it makes me nervous.”
“Me too.” Maggie folded the note, but there was a niggle in the back of her head, telling her that she was onto something. Could this note have anything to do with Simon Linbar’s death?
“Let’s not mention this, Nash. We don’t want it getting out I recognized the handwriting.”
“No complaints here.” Nash hustled her back out the door and into his car.
“But it’s quite a coincidence. I mean, there’s the connection with Linda Foster, which is the L, and the handwriting that is hers. Plus the initials A.J. on the invoice.”
“Which tells us nothing, as we have no clue who A.J. is. Even if this Linda is involved, it could simply be a love letter she wrote for this A.J. and nothing more.”
“Sure, and you’re right, and I’m not sure how it could connect to Simon Linbar’s death.”
“You’re trying to connect it, but this is not for you to work out. Hand it over to the police, Tigger. They know how to deal with this type of thing.”
“I’ll tell Chief Blake after the festivities, I promise.”
They parked and walked up the crowded streets.
“Maggie, how was your visit with your family, dear?”
“Good thanks, Mrs. Taft.”
She was questioned every few steps about her trip, her gallery, the letter. Mrs. L asked her where Fin was.
“They’re relentless,” Nash said. “Does everyone in this town feel it’s okay to ask you personal questions?”
“They do.”
“I better get used to that, then.”
“I’ll protect you, big brother.” She hugged him.
“Maggie!”
“Save me.”
“What?” Nash had been looking in a window and not seen Calvin Harding approach.
“You remember that guy I had a crush on in school?”
“Someone Harris?”
“Calvin Harding. He’s coming, and I don’t have a crush on him anymore.”
“Gotcha. But he still likes you?”
“Something like that,” she muttered, moving closer to her brother. “He’s just got back to town.”
“Maggie, I’ve been trying to locate you, but no one knew where you had gone.” Calvin was slick, dressed like a politician, and spoke the same. He was handsome with his dark blond hair and green eyes, but not for her. She’d realized that first day she saw him again in Phil’s, after her initial excitement over seeing an old friend had worn off, she was well and truly over her crush.
“Hi, Calvin. This is my brother Nash.”
The men shook hands, and Calvin only winced slightly as Nash squeezed his.
“I don’t think we knew each other during school?”
“I didn’t go to the same schools as my sister.” Nash’s tone was warm enough to freeze a lake.
“I wondered if you’d have dinner with me, Maggie?”
“Where are we going?”
“We?” Calvin shot Nash a surprised look. “I invited Maggie.”
“Sorry. We don’t let her go out with strange men. If you don’t want my company too, then call at my parents’ house, we’ll see if we like you, then let you know if you can take her out.” Nash didn’t even crack a smile. His eyes locked on Calvin’s.
“You’re not serious? Maggie is old enough to make that decision for herself, surely?” Calvin’s face was now flushed with color.
“This is not a big city, Melvin. We have rules. This is a hard and fast one.”
“Calvin.”
Maggie counted the buttons on Calvin’s coat to stop herself laughing.
“So if you can’t follow these few simple family rules, then I’m sorry, but we’ll have to say no to a date. Nice meeting you, Gavin.”
“Calvin!”
Nash placed a hand against her spine and pushed.
“You’re good,” she whispered when they’d moved a few feet. “Scarily so.”
“You just remember that and we’ll rub along fine.”
“Ha ha.”
“Now, baby sister, your park ranger is across the street in that crowd, standing with his friends. Being a tall, strapping, and virile man, I can see over the heads of the shorter, less consequential ones. He’s not seen you yet, but my guess is that’s about to change. You need to see him sometime, so doing that with your big bad brother at your side could be a good ice breaker.”
“You’re a pussy cat,” Maggie said, searching the crowd for a glimpse of Fin.
As if on command, it parted, and there he was talking to Bailey and Joe. He had his hands jammed in the pockets of his thick jacket. No hat, hair ruffled. Her heart lurched. She’d missed him, Maggie realized. Missed his hands on her, and missed his smile. Missed the way he talked, the way he walked. Her heart sighed.
She was in so much trouble.
“That’s pathetic. Get a grip, or he’ll take one look at that dopey expression and know you’ve forgiven him.”
“What?” Maggs dragged her eyes away.
“You’ve gone all gooey in the eyes.”
“How do you know he’s in the wrong?”
“You’re my sister, of course you’re in the right.” Nash gave her a gentle smile.
“I love you.” She wrapped her arms around him and hugged. “But actually, I’m in the wrong this time.”
“I don’t believe you, and I love you too.” She felt his lips in her hair. “Now let’s go.”
“I—ah, I just need a minute. I’ll be back.” Maggs was suddenly gripped by nerves. What if Fin didn’t want to forgive her? How would that make her feel? Would it change everything?
Winding through the people who had started to appear on the street, she headed for Tea Total. She could use the bathrooms there and get herself under control again. Panic wasn’t a foreign emotion for Maggie, but she didn’t want or need it right now. She didn’t see the woman who stepped in front of her. They collided, stumbled a bit, and righted themselves.
“Linda! Sorry about that; I didn’t see you,” Maggie said to the woman who had sold her the gallery. Was she the writer of that note?
Linda Foster was an attractive woman who was always dressed exquisitely. She was also formidable, ruthless, and not someone she’d ever really warmed too. She’d driven a hard bargain when selling her gallery and screwed every cent she could out of Maggie.
“No harm done. How are you, Maggie?”
“Good, thanks. You?”
It may be just because she knew about the note, and it may be that her imagination was running wild, but to Maggie’s eye she looked nervous. There could be any number o
f reasons for that, she reminded herself.
“Such tragic news about Simon Linbar, isn’t it? I know you were friends with them and—”
“I was never his friend!” Linda paled.
“Oh, I thought you were. I’m sure you mentioned them to me once.”
“I have no idea where you’d come up with something like that, Maggie.” Panic was in Linda’s face now.
“Right, my mistake then.”
“I have to go. I-I’ll see you around.”
“Yes, see you, Linda.”
Odd, and getting odder, Maggie thought, walking into Tea Total.
“Hey, Miss Marla.”
“Hello, Maggie dear. I thought you were taking part in the musical chairs?” Miss Marla wore a bright red wool Christmas sweater dress with I’d Rather Be Naughty Than Nice on the front, with red leather ankle boots. The woman had style.
“Yes, heading there soon. Can I ask you a question, Miss Marla?”
“Do I think you and Fin are the perfect match?”
“Ha, no.”
“Well I’ll tell you anyway. The answer is yes.”
“Why?” Maggie gave in to her curiosity.
“I’ve never known two people more aware of each other than you two.” Miss Marla bustled about, cleaning the counter. “You’ve fought the attraction for years because it terrified you. Now you’re not.” She finished with a beaming smile.
“Um, well—”
“Oh come on, Maggie. It’s time you faced up to this. Neither of you have found anyone, because you’ve always been destined for each other.”
It made a sort of weird sense when put like that. Plus, there was always that feeling in the pit of her stomach she got when Fin was around. She never got it with anyone else.
“Okay, well maybe, but that’s actually not the question.”
“It was a good one though.”
“Got me there,” Maggs said. “Do you know Linda Foster, Miss Marla?”
“Of course, she tramps with us. Fit and healthy type. She ran your gallery for years before you took over.”
“I know that, but what’s she like?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious, really. I saw her outside, and she seemed a bit off.”
Miss Marla thought about that. “Odd sort, really. A bit uppity, if you know what I mean. She used to spend time with the rich and famous in town, as much as we have rich and famous.” She laughed. “She’s always nice enough, but kind of standoffish. Never socializes with us after tramping or the exercise classes.” Miss Marla leaned her hip on the counter. “She spent a lot of time with the Linbars. Always at parties there. Her and her husband, Alan. Of course there were rumors.”