CHAPTER SIX
Addy stayed busy the following few days. She had arranged her team and divided them into groups, appointing heads to each department.
Minnie, a retired schoolteacher turned activist, organized meals. Helen, another retiree who had been an RN, took charge of lodging, making sure everyone had a place and enough blankets and wood for fires.
Addy figured Helen could keep everyone in line as far as making sure the men and women weren’t bouncing between tents. Helen had a strong view that “her camp” not turn into one big orgy. Addy knew she’d chosen wisely.
She’d put Estelle, a young former legal assistant, in charge of banners and signs and organizing events.
Doug would handle the men’s housing needs since most of them seemed to bunk together.
Having this small team lightened Addy’s own load so she could spend more of her time doing research.
Early Monday morning, she stopped off at city hall, an old faded-pink building that had once boasted a public swimming pool, playground, and a small library. Now, however, the building was in disrepair, and the pool had been filled to make a giant parking lot. A new public library had been one of Martha’s first achievements. The new building sat only two blocks away and was a beautiful sight to see with its massive two-story walls of dark glass and rows and rows of books. Addy wished it had been there when she’d been in school. She would have spent most of her evenings there instead of locked in her own room, trying to avoid her parents.
She knew there were plans to redo the old city hall building as soon as the new elementary school was finished. But where was the town suddenly getting new funds from?
She spent almost three hours locked in a back room at the city building, scouring files until her eyes hurt. She pulled out her reading glasses, which she only used when her eyes grew tired, and continued to go through the financials of several businesses in town. Including McGowan Enterprises. The city only had tax information for the past year, before the brothers took over. They were set to file this year in the coming month. But she could glean some information to build her case.
She knew that Thurston McGowan, Trent’s father, had been a good businessman. It was evident with the profit noted on the taxes he’d filed that last year.
Still, with the rumors floating around town that the brothers had easily doubled their father’s prior-year profits since taking over, she wanted to get her hands on the most recent documents. She knew that they had purchased one local competitor’s business and forced another out of business.
The McGowans were okay guys—she’d trust them with most things—but something just wasn’t feeling right. They had some big secret they were keeping from the population of Haven. And Addy was determined to figure it out.
“Doing some homework?”
She jerked her head up and peered over her reading glasses at Trent, standing in the doorway of the tiny room. His arms were crossed, stretching his crisp white T-shirt tight over his chest and shoulders. His longest layer of hair now barely brushed his collar and the shortest hung just below his dark eyebrows. He must have gotten it cut. He was wearing a pair of jeans that should have been illegal in their worn, snug fit. He still looked dangerous, but . . . not as much as before.
“No.” She glanced back down at the stack of papers and shifted them so he wouldn’t see she’d been looking into his business.
“What are you doing, then?” He walked over and took the folder before she could tuck it away. “Oh, that’s what. Snooping.” He tapped the oaktag against his hand.
“I am not!” she said indignantly. “I’m doing my job.” She watched his smile grow as she shook her head. Her eyes moved to that sexy dimple, and she noticed it was deeper when his face was clean-shaven.
“Your job requires you to snoop on my family’s business?” He leaned against the desk beside her.
“Yes and no.” She pressed her forehead. How was it possible her mind turned to jelly when he was close to her? “I’m not snooping.”
“Right.” He drew the word out and set the folder down in front of her. “If not snooping, then . . .” He waited.
“Research.” She crossed her arms.
His eyes stayed glued to hers. When he finally shifted, he tapped her glasses lightly with his fingertip.
“You’re sexy as hell in these.” This threw her completely off-balance.
She reached to remove her glasses, but he stopped her.
“Why the fear?” he asked, and this time, he hooked her glasses with his finger and pulled them from her nose. “Every time I compliment you, I see it deep behind those crystal-blue pools.” He leaned closer until they were almost nose to nose. “See, there it is again,” he said, almost under his breath.
“I’m not . . . I don’t . . .” She blinked a few times. He was too close. Too big . . . Too . . . perfect.
“I wonder . . .” He dropped off and his eyes traveled down to her lips. “What would replace the fear if I kissed you?”
Her breath locked in her lungs, and she was thankful she was still sitting down, because she doubted her legs would have held her up.
Her eyes slid closed and she leaned closer to him, only to be left waiting. When her eyes snapped open, she saw that he had moved back a few inches and his eyes were roaming her face.
“When I kiss you, I want to watch your eyes fill with passion,” he said softly. “Another time.” He stood up and flicked the folder. “If you want to know more about our company, come in and talk to Rea. She’ll be happy to give you some updated info.” He turned to go but stopped at the door. “Addy.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “Don’t be fooled. I will get that passion from you. Soon.” He left the room, leaving the door open behind him.
She sat there for almost a full five minutes until she could get her heartbeat back to normal. Wow, her mind kept saying over and over. Just wow.
After she left city hall on still-shaky legs, she made her way to the grocery store. She was running low on supplies again and desperately wanted a gallon of mint–chocolate chip ice cream.
Addy had her cart almost full when she bumped solidly into Darla. She was pretty sure Darla had swerved her cart toward hers, but didn’t have the energy to fight her old best friend. She knew way too much about Darla. What kind of person she was and what she’d do to gain attention. Addy could tell that her old friend wanted to cause a scene.
“Adrianna.” Darla’s smile told Addy she used her full name just to get under her skin.
“Darleen,” Addy replied and watched the heat behind her former friend’s eyes. “I see your eye is better.”
Addy smiled when Darla reached up and touched the spot she’d blackened. “If I had a witness, I would have sued you. You and your parents.” Darla’s smile unfurled further. “It’s not as if your daddy doesn’t visit the Spot enough when he’s in town. That is, when your tight-ass mother isn’t running him ragged.”
Addy eyes narrowed at the woman. “There is nothing you can say to me about my parents that would ever hurt me.” She moved her cart around Darla’s easily. “You should know that about me by now.”
“Oh.” Darla turned her almost-empty cart around and followed her. “I guess that’s true, seeing as they don’t think you are good enough for them. Tsk, tsk.”
Addy knew better than to take the bait, but she was curious to find out how far Darla would go to get at her.
“Good enough?” She glanced over her shoulder as she picked up a carton of ice cream from the freezer.
“Yup—that rich out-of-towner took Tyler right from you. Not good enough there either. I heard they’re getting married.”
Addy smiled, remembering that she’d made Darla believe she’d been interested in Tyler only to help find out what had happened to Kristen when she’d been kidnapped. It was funny, but in all her years of dealing with the McGowan brothers, Trent had been the only one she’d had eyes for. “Yes, I’m very happy for them.” She placed her favorite ice cream into her cart and moved down to the frozen veggie section.
“And Trent.” Darla made a tsk noise again.
“What’s wrong with Trent?” Addy asked, placing a few bags of frozen broccoli into her cart.
Darla leaned closer and, with a stage whisper loud enough for the whole store to hear, said, “Oh, just that he was telling me the other night that he’s moving out of his mother’s house.” She rattled her cart for emphasis. “I think he’s going to move into the apartment above the Spot. You know, to be closer to me.”
Addy chuckled as she thought about Trent having to deal with Darla every day as he went home. “Have fun with that,” she said and pushed her full cart to the front counter.
“You don’t believe me?” Darla followed her. “You never did believe anything I had to say.” She jogged in front of Addy, leaving her cart in the aisle. “You won’t believe me when I tell you that I’m pregnant either.” Her loud statement caused several eyes to pivot their way.
Addy looked deep into her old friend’s eyes and saw the truth. “No, I do believe that. Congratulations.” She almost patted Darla’s shoulder but caught herself. “I wish nothing but the best for you.”
That seemed to stop Darla in her tracks, but if there was one thing you could say about the woman, she recovered quickly. “It’s a McGowan.”
Several gasps sounded behind Addy. “Now that I don’t believe.” Addy turned back to the checkout. “You should have stuck to the truth.” She started unloading her items to be scanned.
“You’re right. It’s actually your father’s,” Darla hissed, but not so low that others couldn’t hear.
Addy jerked her head around and searched the woman’s face. Suddenly her stomach rolled and her vision grayed. Her hands went boneless against the soup she’d been holding. The heavy metal can hit her square in the toe as it fell, but she didn’t feel the pain. Her father’s? Her parents weren’t perfect, but her father cheating on her mother? Never! But the certainty in Darla’s eyes . . . she felt her world tilt.
Turning back to the clerk, she shook her head as her vision blurred. “I . . . I’m sorry, I have to . . .” She rushed past the group of people who had gathered to watch Darla’s show. When the fresh air hit her face, she bent over the nearest bush and lost her lunch.
“Hey.” Someone ran over to her and started rubbing her back. “Are you okay, sweetie?”
“I . . .” She shook her head. “I’m sorry.” She wiped her mouth on her jacket and looked up through blurry eyes at Gail McGowan.
Trent had spent almost two hours locked away in a stuffy conference room at city hall with a group of people planning the landscaping for the new school. He was beginning to think he’d been swindled into doing a job that was much harder than first described to him.
At his own company, he didn’t have to answer to anyone, just do what he pleased with the trees and bushes. Period. Simple.
But for the school, every tree, bush, shrub, and piece of playground equipment was debated over. He had drawn a quick sketch of the layout, which was quickly shot down by the committee—a committee made up of school staff, a few concerned parents, and the mayor herself. He’d never had a more frustrating meeting in his life.
At the end of the meeting, the mayor filled everyone in informally on the progress of the NewField fire investigation. The word was out: a pile of old rags and several gas cans were the origin. It appeared there had been some sort of timer, but the investigators weren’t saying much more. The authorities were still looking for clues as to why the fire was started.
Since all he had were his own conspiracy theories, Trent kept quiet.
By the end of the meeting, he was dog-tired and desperately wanted a cold beer and a burger.
He made his way toward the diner, but then spotted his mother’s sedan in front of the grocery store and pulled in next to it in hopes she’d join him for a meal.
Instead, he found his mother helping Addy toward her Jeep. He hurried forward, concern flooding him as he noticed her face was red and blotchy.
“What happened?” He scoured the parking lot for an unseen assailant.
“Nothing.” Addy shook her head. “Someone just said something to upset me.” She shook her head and wiped her eyes again. “Thank you, Mrs.—”
“Gail, sweetie.” His mother gave Addy a pat on her back. “Just call me Gail.”
“Thank you, Gail.”
“Why don’t you let Trent drive you home? You’re too upset to drive yourself.”
Addy started to object, but Gail gave her a look that said it hadn’t really been a request. Addy was smart enough to shut her mouth and nod.
“Thank you,” she said.
“Anytime, sweetie. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” Gail placed a hand on Addy’s shoulder.
Trent watched his mother’s gaze move to the grocery store. When he looked, he saw Darla standing inside the large windows, smiling. His eyes narrowed with anger. As he helped Addy into his truck, he saw his mother march into the store right toward Darla.
He shivered at the thought. He almost wished someone would get the entire incident on video. His mother would walk away the victor.
“Do you want to tell me what has you so upset? Surely nothing Darla says or does can still get to you,” he said to Addy.
She rested her head back against the seat and sighed. “I wouldn’t have thought so, but . . .” She shrugged and closed her eyes.
He started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot but instead of turning right, Trent turned left. “I was just about to go grab some food.” Her eyes remained closed and she sighed. “Care to join me?”
“Whatever,” she said. “I doubt I could eat.”
“Then you can watch me eat.” He pointed the car out of town. He had been in the mood for burgers, but now that Addy was along for the ride, he decided Italian was better. There was only one place within a hundred miles that served Italian, and he headed there, knowing the longer drive would be worth it. Besides, it would give Addy some time to settle herself.
“I’m sure my mother has put Darla in her place by now.” He chuckled. “I just wish I had stuck around to see it.” He looked over at Addy; she didn’t move. He turned back to the road. “I remember one time when Tyler and I got into it, we must have been about ten and eight. Anyway, we were fighting over the last cookie in the cookie jar. We rolled around the house for almost half an hour before we heard the crunch.” He glanced again in her direction.
This time, her focus was on him, eager to hear the rest of his story. He wiggled the fingers on his left hand. “Broke three of them.” He glanced down at the row of perfectly straight digits. “Of course, being the dumb kids we were, we tried to hide it. Tyler tried to set the fingers by tying a rope around them and yanking real hard, which only made them turn a nasty shade of purple.” He laughed at the memory. “So that night at dinner, I wore a pair of Dad’s work gloves to hide my twisted and bruised fingers.”
“What did your mother do?” she asked.
“Well, first she whooped our butts, then she hauled me down to the ER and watched as they set each finger.” Addy frowned, and he smiled in response. “Then she took me out for the largest chocolate-chip milkshake I’d ever had and hugged me until I fell asleep that night.”
Addy sighed and looked out the window. “It must have been nice.”
“What?” he asked.
“Growing up with parents who loved you no matter what.”
He frowned for a moment and was silent. “Your folks love you?” It came out more as a question than a statement.
“No they don’t. That is, they don’t love the way I turned out. I’m a disappointment.” She closed her eyes. “Have been all my life.”
“What makes you say that?” he asked.
An odd burst of laughter escaped her. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe the hundred or so times they have told me to my face.”
“I’ve met your folks. They didn’t seem . . .”
“What?” She shifted to look at him. “That bad? Do you realize that most people who know a psychopathic killer can be quoted as saying they seemed ‘so nice and normal’?”
“You don’t think that your folks—”
Her chuckle stopped him. “No, I’m pretty sure they haven’t chopped up any small children.” She took a deep breath and glanced out the window again. “But it didn’t stop them from breaking one’s spirit.” Her voice turned distant. “And now they have become the embarrassment they have always accused me of being.”
“How? How have they done that?” he asked.
She turned back to him, and he wished he wasn’t driving because he wanted to look deeper into her eyes.
“I’m sure it will be all over town soon enough.” She took another deep breath. “It appears that my father is going to be a father again.”
His eyebrows rose. “That’s not unheard of. After all, your folks are only in their mid-sixties—”
“Not with my mother,” she interrupted him, causing him to almost jerk the truck off the road.
“Oh?” he said slowly and felt his stomach twirl as he remembered Darla’s smirk.
“Yeah.” She looked back out the window. “It’s as bad as you think.”