“I’m so sorry.”
The expression on Ellie’s face was a mix of sympathy and disbelief. Johnny was immediately sorry he had shared a bit of his past. Very few people knew about it.
“When my mom died, my grandparents refused to take me in.” Johnny pulled out a stool and sat at the island counter. He wasn’t sure he’d ever said that out loud to anyone.
“How horrible...”
The compassion in her tone knocked a brick from the wall he had built around his heart. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he struggled to relax his fists, pick up his mug and take a sip of his tea.
Next thing he knew, she was standing next to him, a hand on his back. He stiffened and she pulled her hand away, but her tone didn’t change. “Is this why you chose the line of work you’re in?”
“Yeah.” He struggled to keep his tone even. “My mom graduated from Williamstown High School.” He tapped the countertop with his index finger. “This is where it all started. The beginning of the end.”
His eyes drifted to Ellie’s, wondering if she’d think differently about him. He didn’t know what to feel. Some people knew his story, but not because he’d told them. He had never spoken of his past out loud to anyone other than his grandfather. And then he hadn’t really had to; his grandfather had suffered just as much as he had. Or maybe more. His grandfather had had a heavier burden of guilt. As if he somehow hadn’t been vigilant enough in protecting his daughter.
Most people didn’t realize Johnny felt the burden of guilt, too. Guilt that he hadn’t been enough to make his mother stop doing drugs. To get clean.
To stay.
Ellie lifted her eyes to him, but didn’t say anything. Johnny bowed his head and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m not in this job to mess with people’s lives. Well, unless you’re a drug dealer.” He smiled, hoping to coax the same out of Ellie. The compassion radiating from her warm eyes unnerved him.
“I had heard the rumors after I was an undercover narc at the high school. People might have been biased against me after they learned who my mother was. I had never lived in Williamstown until I arrived as an undercover narcotics officer. That’s how I was able to pull it off. But once people learned my real name, who my mother was, they didn’t seem very forgiving, especially not after your brother was acquitted. It was as if they shouldn’t have expected any more from the son of a druggie.”
Ellie tugged at her sleeves and crossed her arms. “This is a difficult conversation. I was thrilled my brother was acquitted. He could have gone to jail for something he hadn’t done.”
“Well...” Johnny bit back the words, not wanting to go there tonight. “Because your brother went free, people questioned my integrity. People thought I was in it solely to make a name for myself. That I had a huge ego. And that only seemed to bear itself out when I signed on to work for the FBI.” His gaze wandered to the artwork adorning the walls. Ellie’s artwork. He’d recognize her style anywhere.
“My childhood...my upbringing...made me hard. I don’t care what people think.”
Cocking her head, Ellie made an indecipherable sound and sadness filled her eyes.
Johnny reached out and dared to run a strand of her auburn hair through his fingers. “But for some crazy reason, I care what you think.”
Ellie’s eyes searched his face. “Why...?”
Johnny wanted to tell her something personal, about how he admired her strength, her quick wit, her fiery temper, but an uneasy feeling in his stomach made him settle on something safer. He had already shared with her the worst part of his childhood.
“Your family was the closest thing to a family I had ever had.”
A deep line formed between her eyebrows. “You had my brother arrested. You really must have had a warped perception of family.”
“It killed me when your brother got caught up in that mess.” It really had. “As a kid, I had been shuffled from one foster home to the next until I turned eighteen. So, yeah, hanging out with your family was pretty cool. I was only twenty-two. I never knew what a stable family looked like.”
“What are you saying? I’m like the little sister you never had?”
He thought he detected a trace of disappointment in her voice.
“Something like that.” The feelings he found growing for her were far from sisterly. “I used to like talking to you when I stopped over. Your innocence was refreshing. Something I didn’t come across often in my own childhood or my line of work.”
She tucked in her chin and her cheeks fired a soft pink.
“I remember you always had an easel set up in the kitchen.” He held up his palm. “You’re very talented.”
“Thanks. I had hoped to go to college to study art, but...well...”
“I’m sorry. I really am.” But not for the reasons she might have guessed. “I care about you and I want to make sure you’re safe while we figure out who’s using your address to ship drugs into Williamstown.”
Ellie nodded. She looked as though she wanted to say something, but didn’t.
Johnny decided to return to safer ground. “You mentioned you knew the kid who overdosed.”
“He’s part of the youth group at church. We’ve been meeting on Saturdays to get ready for the fall carnival.”
“Are you meeting with the group this weekend? Could we go there and talk to the other youth in the group? Maybe someone knows something.”
Ellie pushed the hair away from her face. “We could go tomorrow evening.”
“Sounds good.”
“I’m going to my brother’s for a fall cookout beforehand.” She glanced up expectantly. “Why don’t you come with me? We can go up to the church afterward.”
Johnny must have flinched because Ellie’s tone grew indignant. “You just told me you enjoyed hanging out with my family.”
“That was before...” He didn’t need to finish the sentence.
“Maybe it’s time to put this all behind us. They’re always preaching about forgiveness at church.”
Johnny forced a smile, wondering who she thought needed forgiveness.
“Dinner at your brother’s house sounds good.” He hoped God wasn’t tallying up all his little white lies. A little lie was a small price to pay to keep Ellie safe.
To keep her alive.
* * *
“So much for our store, huh?”
The next morning Ashley strolled in past the two local police officers who were wrapping up their investigation of the drive-by shooting while Ellie swept up the glass.
Anger and annoyance mixed with the tinkling sound of the shards of glass and the swoosh-swoosh of the broom as Ellie quickened her motions.
Ashley had never answered her cell phone until this morning and when she had, she hadn’t seemed overly concerned. She’d seemed more annoyed that now a trip to the shop would cut into her weekend plans.
Ellie should have never gone into business with anyone. She had wanted to be independent. But lack of financing had trumped that.
Ellie tracked Ashley’s movements as she tiptoed around the glass.
“I could use some help cleaning up.” Ellie bit the words out.
Ashley’s pinched expression told Ellie what she thought of that. “That’s why we have insurance.” She glanced down at her fingernails as if thinking better of ruining her manicure.
Ellie stopped and rested her elbow on the broom. “We have insurance to cover the big stuff. I don’t think they’re going to come in here and clean up the glass.”
Ashley turned up her nose and flattened her hand over her expensive-looking sweater. “I didn’t come dressed for hard labor.” She let out a long sigh. “What exactly happened here?” Her tone seemed more appropriate for when a pet soiled on the carpet, not a life-and-death situation.
Ellie thought about the terror pumping through her veins as the shots had rung out. “Johnny wants to talk to both of us this morning.” They had to let Ashley know about the ongoing drug investigation. It was obvious someone was trying to intimidate them and her poor friend had no idea what was really going on.
Johnny appeared in the doorway, holding a tray of coffee. “Did I hear my name?”
“Yes.” Ellie leaned the broom up against the wall. “Ashley wants to know what’s going on.”
Johnny gave Ellie a brief nod and set the coffee on the counter. “I wasn’t sure how you liked it, so I got a couple black coffees with cream and sugar packets on the side.”
“Thanks.” Ellie grabbed a coffee, tore off the lid, poured two sugars and two creams into the black liquid, and stirred. Ashley stood there with her arms crossed, obviously preferring her lattes to a good old cup of joe.
The sound of glass crunching drew their attention to the doorway. Tony stood there with a shocked expression on his face. “What happened here? Everyone okay?” The young man seemed paler than usual, probably due to knowing the shop only feet from his father’s bakery had been vandalized.
Ashley stepped forward before Ellie had a chance to speak. “Someone shot out the glass on the door.” She nearly petted the sleeve of Tony’s white coat. “I was so lucky I didn’t work last night. But it could have been me.”
Tony’s eyes drifted to Ellie. “Did you see who did this?”
She shook her head, unable to find the words to explain once again how the helmeted shooter had zipped by too fast on a motorcycle. When her vague response obviously didn’t suit him, he asked, “Were you alone?”
“I was with her,” Johnny said.
Tony’s eyebrows rose and something flitted across his face that she couldn’t quite read.
Tony stepped away from Ashley, a hint of annoyance flashing on his face. “My father and I are worried about the few incidences here. Our shop is right next door. Do you think these are isolated events? Should we be concerned?”
“Concern would be an appropriate response,” Johnny said matter-of-factly. “We have reason to believe someone is targeting this gift shop because of a drug shipment.”
“Drugs, really?” Tony asked, running a hand across his mussed hair. “That’s messed up.”
Ellie turned to Ashley. “Any chance you found a strange package and stashed it somewhere? Something you might have forgotten about?”
Ashley scratched her head, as if it helped her to think. “I thought those monkey things you ordered were weird.” She did her usual deflecting with humor.
Ellie huffed her frustration. “No, nothing like that. Anything that looked suspicious? Drugs?”
“No,” Ashley said, disbelief and annoyance lacing her tone. “Don’t you think I would have told you if I had?”
Ellie hoped so.
“Listen—” Ashley waved around her hand “—I went into business with you because I thought it would be fun.”
Ellie’s heart began to race as she waited for Ashley to admit going into the gift shop business had been a mistake.
Ashley flicked a strand of hair over her shoulder. “This shop has become a real drag. And...” She let the word hang there for emphasis, the way she usually did when she was waiting for all eyes to turn to her. “I’m not an ATM machine. I can’t afford to keep throwing money into a lame business venture.”
And there it was.
“It takes time to grow a business.” Ellie swallowed hard, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice, something she’d rarely achieved when she’d pleaded with her former boyfriend. Ellie hated that side of her—the weak, supplicant girl.
“I understand, but we’re going to have to adjust things.” Ashley crossed her arms. “Mainly, I don’t plan on working here.” She jerked her thumb toward the plywood propped up near the door. “I’m not up for getting shot at.”
“Who is?” Ellie said, her pulse whooshing in her ears. “You can’t bail on me now.”
“This isn’t productive,” Johnny interrupted. “We need to clean up the shop and take precautions.”
Tony frowned. “I thought you were in town to help your grandfather move. Are the rumors true? Are you saying you’re investigating drugs running through Williamstown?”
“Yes.” Johnny studied Tony carefully over his coffee cup. “Do you have any information you’d like to share?”
Tony’s eyes flared wide. “No. Not at all. I’m concerned because my family’s business is next door.”
Johnny nodded. “Have you noticed any unusual people hanging around outside? In the alley? You work long hours at the bakery, right?”
“Yeah, sure.” Tony rubbed his jaw, as if he was giving it some thought. “Can’t say I’ve seen anything unusual, but I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open.”
Johnny looked as though he wanted to say something but suddenly his stern expression softened. “Can’t hurt to have more eyes.” He reached into his pocket and handed Tony his card. “Call me if you see anything.” He paused a fraction. “Or if you remember anything.”
Tony brushed a kiss on Ashley’s cheek. “I have to get back to work.” Ashley muttered something Ellie couldn’t hear.
Her business partner spun around. “Should I be afraid?” She batted her eyelashes at Johnny, not looking one bit afraid. “Working at the store to sell a few birthday cards isn’t worth the hassle.”
“You can’t...” Ellie swallowed hard. She wanted to wipe the sympathetic look off Johnny’s face. She didn’t want or need his sympathy.
“I think you need to shut down the store. Until we catch this guy.” Johnny reached out to touch her hand, but Ellie pulled away.
“Wait—what?”
“It’s not safe. You’ve had two near misses in a matter of days. Someone obviously has it out for you.”
“Yes, I agree. We should close the store.” Ashley tucked a strand of light blond hair behind her ear.
“Wait a minute. Ashley, we can’t just close the doors. It will drive us out of business. I’ve already explained all this.”
Her friend shrugged, as if losing Gifts and More would be no big deal. Ellie’s heart sank. Of course it would be no big deal for her friend. She could take her money and do something else. Whereas, this shop was all Ellie had. It was far more than simply a job to her.
The concern in Johnny’s eyes made her pause. Nausea welled in Ellie’s gut. Her dream was crumbling around her and someone wanted to hurt her.
Or worse.
* * *
Drinking coffee wasn’t exactly the best way to calm his frazzled nerves. Johnny set his cup on a shelf in the gift shop and grabbed the broom from its resting spot against the wall.
Ellie shook her head. “I got it.” She took the broom from him rather abruptly, their fingers brushing in the exchange.
“How well do you know Tony?” Johnny asked Ashley, who didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry to leave for someone who had just announced she wasn’t going to work at the shop anymore, or at least until the perpetrator was caught.
Something about the baker had struck a nerve with Johnny. Had the young baker been solely concerned with the safety of his own shop? The well-being of the quiet community? Or was there something else going on there?
Ashley scrunched her nose. “I know him as well as anyone I’ve only dated a few weeks. I mean, I’ve known him since high school—this is a small town—but we’ve only been dating for a few weeks.” Then came her bland compliment. “He’s nice enough. A little stressed about work, but who isn’t? Tough economy, right?”
“Yeah.” Though Johnny hadn’t said anything to Ellie yet, he’d had the FBI run a check on Tony. The bakery was in some serious debt. Not unheard of with business owners, but enough to make Tony take up dealing drugs as a side business? He’d have to talk to the man later without an audience. Tony Vino was obviously shaken up and maybe his nerves would make him crack.
If he had something to crack about.
Ashley smiled demurely, as if having second thoughts. “I’ll go home and change and come back to help clean up.”
Johnny held up his hand. “I’ll stay and help Ellie.”
Ellie looked as if she was about to protest, but she didn’t say a word.
“Well, okay.” Ashley stepped daintily around the broken glass. “I’m gonna scoot, then.”
Johnny wondered why Ashley had even invested her money in the shop when she obviously didn’t care about it. Were she and Ellie such good friends that she just wanted to help her friend out financially? Something niggled at the base of his brain. Her ties with Tony also bothered him. He made a mental note as they watched Ashley leave.
Ellie turned to Johnny. “You realize this will be the end of my shop. The dream will die before it even gets off the ground.” She paused a second, as if afraid to reveal the tremble in her voice.
“It’s not over. My priority is to make sure you’re safe.” He glanced over at the two officers chatting by the register. “If you guys are done, you can file your report at Williamstown PD headquarters. Ellie Winters and I will wrap things up here.”
Coffee cups in hand, the two officers left. Two gentlemen from the hardware store were installing a new door.
Ellie placed the broom against the wall and sat slowly on the stool behind the register, the look in her eyes reminiscent of one he had seen a million years ago. Leaning on the counter, she planted her chin in the palm of her hand. “I don’t know why I bothered.”
“With the shop?”
“Yeah. I knew it was a long shot to begin with. I had no idea I’d be asked to close down due to a drive-by shooting the first week I was open.” Her tone indicated she wasn’t convinced she’d actually close the shop.
Johnny leaned a hip on the counter, his thigh brushing against Ellie’s knee. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I’ll do whatever I can to get your shop back open.” He scanned the space. The back half of the store was untouched as a result of last night’s events. So were several unopened boxes in the back room. “Do you have boxes stored anywhere else but here?”
Ellie sat upright and bit her bottom lip. “I have some in my parents’ basement, but nothing that was originally shipped to this address. Those boxes are pieces I’ve collected over the years. Antiques, photo frames, trinkets. Stuff I haven’t had time, or room, to display.”
Johnny patted the counter next to him. “Okay, I don’t think that’s what we’re looking for.”
Ellie wrapped her arms around her middle. “You say you believe me when I tell you I have nothing to do with this.”
Johnny’s stomach bottomed out. He did believe her. But he doubted she’d be happy if she found out he had run checks on her brother and Roger since they had been previously arrested for dealing drugs. Both seemed to have kept their noses clean. Experience told him that those reports didn’t always reveal the big picture.
“What happens if you find something on my property? What does that make me...guilty of possession of drugs?” She shook her head in disbelief. “Should I call a lawyer? Just to be safe?”
All the color drained from her face as if she was mentally reliving her family’s experience when her brother had been arrested.
He reached out and stopped her hand midway to shoving her hair out of her eyes again. “You have to do what’s best for you.” That was the logical advice. His professional advice. “But I’d hate for you to have to spend the money on legal fees. I know it’s tight with the shop.”
Ellie’s lower lip quivered, as if she were on the verge of crying.
“I know you’re not involved and I’m doing everything I can to find out who is. Can you trust me on this?”
She lifted her eyes to him with an unspoken “Why?”
“More than once I saw the look in your eyes after the arrest and trial of your brother. That experience devastated you. You’d never do that to your family. Not on purpose.”
“You seem quite sure of yourself.”
“Am I wrong?”
She shook her head slowly. “But look at my brother. He got wrapped up in something that wasn’t even his fault.”
Johnny studied the gray slate floor tiles. Her brother Greg had always been the Golden Boy. Still was. Could Johnny ever convince her otherwise? What point would it serve, especially when she was already so hurt? Johnny didn’t want to be responsible for putting any more hurt in that sweet woman’s eyes.