BOOKS AND BREW WAS MUCH busier than a typical Sunday morning. Most of the residents attended one of the four churches in our small town and usually only the “sinners” stopped by for a hot beverage and a pastry before noon. Not that morning though.
“I’m worried we might run out of doughnuts,” Milo whispered in my ear.
“Then we’ll have to put the cookies and cupcakes out early,” I told him, sounding much calmer than I felt. My life had suddenly turned from an orderly existence to one of constant upheaval with me starring in a role I did not audition for. I was beyond ready for the curtain call so I could exit the stage.
Some good things have come from the chaos, the little voice inside my head whispered. Elijah. I had no idea how long he would be a part of my life and refused to give it much thought. Why borrow heartache? It would only ruin the moments that I shared with him. Take that morning for instance. I could’ve bemoaned that waking up in his arms was temporary, or I could’ve moaned for delicious reasons when we greeted the dawn tangled up with each other, feeling him in the deepest parts of me. When viewed in that light, there really wasn’t much need to debate the merits of guarding my heart versus embracing the way Elijah made it race.
“Earth to Maegan!” I snapped back to reality when Milo snapped his fingers. “Where’d you go?” Then he shook his head and smiled ruefully. “Never mind. Your brat pack has turned out in full force to support you.”
I looked over to where he pointed and saw that my best friends had indeed showed up that morning. Vanessa, April, Candace, and Violet were the best friends any girl could ask for, and I had loved them since I was a little girl. I walked from behind the counter and accepted the group hug I needed and deserved. I knew they were worried about me if they were dressed and in my shop before nine in the morning. My best friends fell into the “sinners” category and didn’t do early Sunday mornings. I pulled back from the hug and braced myself for the backlash.
“Why haven’t you returned our calls,” Candace asked me.
“I’m sorry, Candy Apple,” I told her, using the nickname my brother tagged her with when we were little. He said her bright red hair resembled the candy coating he was so fond of when we were kids.
“Seriously!” Vanessa said. “I called and texted you last night and the one before, but you didn’t answer or reply. I was worried sick. I even drove to your house. Your car was home, but you weren’t.”
“I called your mom and she said that you were safe and sound with Elijah,” Violet said. “Um, who’s Elijah, Maegan?”
“You better have a really good excuse, young lady,” April said hotly.
“Excuse me, ladies,” a delicious, deep voice said, interrupting my interrogation. “It’s all my fault.”
I saw four sets of eyes widen in surprise before they checked Elijah out from the toes of his badass boots to the top of his shiny dark head.
“I understand now,” Candace said while the others were still trying to form words. She looked at our friends and said, “Close your mouths, ladies. If we want to be rude we can do it by asking a ton of questions.” She clapped her hands happily. “I’ll go first. Um, who the hell are you, Big Sexy?”
Elijah smirked and extended his hand to Candace. “That’s Detective Big Sexy to you,” he teased. “Elijah Markham at your service.”
April giggled and blushed when she shook his hand. “I’m sorry, Maegan. You’re forgiven.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Elijah, Detective Big Sexy, sir,” Violet rambled. “Maegan, I didn’t know that Blissville’s Finest started offering police protection these days.”
“They’re not,” Elijah clarified. “I’m offering personal protection.”
“For hire?” Candace inquired, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously.
“No,” Elijah and I answered at the same time.
My face flushed pink with embarrassment. Hadn’t I told the man that I wasn’t laying claim to him, but there I was ready to claw Candace’s stunning, whiskey-hued eyes out of her head. “Stop making him sound like a male prostitute,” I added to try to cover my faux pas.
“I provide protective duties to Maegan only,” Elijah clarified. He put his arm around me and pulled me into his side. What’s this? What’s happening here? A declaration?
“How interesting,” Vanessa observed shrewdly. “If I didn’t know Maegan, I would think she orchestrated the entire thing to snag the hunky new detective in town.” Her lips quivered telling me how hard she struggled to keep a suspicious, sour look on her pretty face.
“We had already met,” I told Van, rolling my eyes.
“We’re neighbors,” Elijah said.
“Oh! He’s the one that drives that obnoxious hunk of metal?” Violet exclaimed. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me when she repeated the words I’d used to describe the truck that rumbled into the driveway and woke me each morning before my alarm clock went off.
“Hey!” Elijah said in a wounded voice. “That hunk of metal used to belong to my grandfather. It has rich history and character, things I’m sure Maegan appreciates.”
Don’t throw me under the bus, girls. Don’t throw me under the bus, girls. Don’t…
“Maegan?” Elijah asked suspiciously.
“Um, it might have annoyed me when you first moved in because I wasn’t used to it. Now, I find it charming with loads of character.”
Elijah’s raised brow told me he wasn’t buying it for a second. It was the truth though. The truck and the man went together. Big, sturdy, strong, rusty around the edges, but completely charming. I reminded myself to tell him that when we were alone. If, I corrected.
“Uh huh,” he finally replied. “The investigation will take me out of town for parts of the day, so call nine-one-one if you have an emergency. I’ll try to be back before you close for the day. If not, call Officer Kasey. She’ll hang out with you at my house until I can return. You put my spare key on your ring, right?”
I nodded. It had been a complete shock when he slid it across the table to me while I was sipping coffee that morning. I knew his true intention behind the gesture, but that didn’t stop my heart from racing with excitement. “Be careful,” I told Elijah.
“You too.” He started to walk away but turned back and kissed my forehead. “Have a good day, Freckles.”
I just stood there staring at him as he walked away.
“No further explanation is needed, honey,” April said.
“We totally get it, love,” Vanessa added.
“Girl, I’d ignore my phone too,” Candace said with a snort.
I turned to look back at my friends and found them all looking at me with goofy grins. “What?”
“We’re just happy that you’re okay,” Vanessa said.
“Happy and healthy,” Violet supplied.
“I think it’s safe to add horny into that mix,” April interjected.
“Uh huh,” they all said at once.
“Maegan, I could use some help here if it’s not too much trouble,” Milo said dramatically.
“I better get back to Milo. Girls, we have so much catching up to do though. We need a girl’s night. How does Margarita Monday sound?”
“Perfect,” Vanessa answered. “Let’s do it at my place since your house seems to be a crime scene these days.”
“Oh, stop!” I replied. “No crimes have been committed at my house.”
“Let’s just play it safe. We don’t want any uninvited guests.”
“Sounds good to me. How does six work?”
We all agreed that six o’clock worked for each of us, so we hugged and said our goodbyes so I could return to work behind the counter.
“I’m thinking champagne,” Milo said to me before I could greet the next customer in line.
“To drink? Have you already started?” I asked because his comment made no sense to me.
“As in the color of the bridesmaid’s dresses at your wedding. That hue compliments each of their skin tones and mine as your Man of Honor.”
“Whoa!” I exclaimed. “You got that from a forehead kiss?”
“His lips lingered for a few seconds beyond the norm for a simple forehead kiss. That, my sweet girl, was a declaration.”
“You’re so dramatic, Milo.”
“Maybe so, but when am I wrong about these things?”
I wanted to argue with him, but I couldn’t. He had been the voice of reason when it came to Clayton; I just didn’t want to listen. I had seen him make predictions with other people that I didn’t see coming either. I wished I could point out one instance where he’d been wrong to knock his ego down a peg, but couldn’t find one until I looked into Andy Mason’s eyes fifteen minutes later when he stepped up to the counter to place his order. Andy didn’t know I existed though because he couldn’t tear his eyes off my brother, who kept his back toward the counter. Milo always conversed with the customers rather than keep his back turned to them, but Andy was the exception to that rule. I knew damned well there was so much more going on between my brother and Beefcake, Handy, or Just Andy.
The phone rang just as Andy’s latte was finished, giving me an excuse to walk away for a second so that Milo would be forced to face him. I imagined their hands touching briefly as Milo handed him his cup. Then their eyes would meet and Milo would finally see what the rest of us did. Andy Mason had never gotten over him, just as surely as Milo still carried a torch for him.
The moment I anticipated turned out to be a huge let down because Milo set Andy’s cup on the counter instead of handing it to him and his “have a great day” was filled with enough sass to make me think he wished the opposite for his high school sweetheart.
“It’s not looking so hot right about now,” Andy said before he walked away.
“Hello, Maegan, are you there?” the voice on the other end of the phone asked.
It was then that I realized how odd the caller’s voice sounded. It was distorted and metallic sounding. Fear and unease washed over me.
“Who is this?” I asked sharply. “What do you want with me?”
“I saved you, Maegan. Did your boyfriend tell you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told the person. “How did you save me? You left evidence behind my shop and at my home.”
“Thom Renzo was a sick fuck who had evil plans for you.” Fear clawed at my throat and made my stomach churn. Bile rose in my throat and I feared that I was about to vomit in front of our customers. I ran into the back room for privacy, knowing that Milo was following behind. I heard him talking on his cell phone and suspected he was calling the police.
“I gotta go, Maegan. I just wanted you to know that I’m not trying to hurt you. I wanted to help you and expose Thom for the sick animal he was. I tried legal channels but no one listened to me. The only thing to do with a sick animal is to put it down.”
“You didn’t hurt Rascal,” I added.
“The cat? He’s not sick, he’s just lonely. Take good care of him and yourself. I’m sorry that I scared you.”
“Wait!” I yelled, but I heard the audible click from the call getting disconnected. “Damn it!”
“Write down everything that person just told you,” Milo said. I looked over at him and saw that he was still on the phone. “Officer Kasey said to do it now while it’s still fresh in your mind. She’s on her way over.”
“Milo, I can’t believe this is happening to me,” I told him, sounding as dazed and confused as I truly felt.
Milo hugged me tight then said, “Sis, write it down.” He slid a piece of paper and a pen to me. “Take as much time as you need. I’ll take care of the shop.”
Officer Kasey must’ve practically been in earshot because she arrived on the scene fast. Had she been assigned to keep an eye on me or was it coincidence? I couldn’t help but crack a small smile when I realized he didn’t ask Jones to watch over me. I wanted to claim it as a victory for women’s lib, but I thought it had more to do with Elijah not wanting Jones near me.
“Keep writing,” she said when I started to put my pencil down, thinking she would want to question me. “I don’t want my questions to influence your perceptions. We’ll go over it once you’re done.”
Her cell phone rang and she moved over to the far end of the room to answer it. Even so, I would’ve known who she was talking to even if I hadn’t overheard her say, “Yes, Detective. I’m with her now. She’s okay.” Officer Kasey listened to whatever Elijah had to say then replied, “Yes, sir.”
After she hung up the phone, I said, “I’m finished now, Officer Kasey.”
“You’ve known me since fifth grade. It’s okay to call me Marley when I’m in uniform,” she said with a rueful smile.
“I’m just trying to be respectful.”
“And I appreciate it,” she replied as she took the sheet of paper from my hands. “Let’s see what you have here.” She set the paper on the counter and pulled a pen out of her pocket. “I’m going to read each thing back to you and I want you to tell me anything that stands out, emphasis on certain words or changes in tone.”
“The voice was distorted by something,” I told Marley, “but I can tell you which words he or she emphasized.”
“You don’t think we’re dealing with a guy?”
I shook my head. “You’ll see what I mean when we discuss each comment.”
“All right.”
We went through my note line by line, discussing every nuance of every word said to me. I understood why Marley wanted me to write everything down before we discussed it. My first impression was crucial, and it would’ve been easy to influence my reactions or forget a key remark during the thorough interview that lasted at least twenty minutes.
“So this killer feels like she saved you,” Marley said out loud.
“You agree it’s a woman?” I asked. “Thom did something horrible to her and she’s trying to get justice when she feels the system failed her.”
“It could also be a man who’s trying to punish Renzo for something he did to his sister, or someone else he loved,” Marley countered. “But a woman could’ve easily pulled off Renzo’s murder. It didn’t require a lot of strength.” She was talking more to herself by that point.
“What did Elijah find last night?”
“I can’t tell you that, Maegan. It’s evidence in an ongoing investigation. I’m certain that Elijah will tell you when he can. He’s not deliberately keeping you in the dark. To be honest, the evidence in the trunk could’ve been planted there by Renzo’s killer. Telling you about those items before we know where they came from could cause undue panic.”
In my heart, I knew what she said made sense. I also knew that if Officer Jones had been standing there, he’d have told me every damn thing they found in that trunk. Double damn you, Elijah.