The wild wind tossed a dried leaf against the window at the end of the upstairs hallway of the old Victorian. Johnny pulled back the lacy curtain and squinted at the dark rain cloud in an otherwise blue sky. The late-afternoon sunlight accentuated the ominous silver quality of the cloud. The gold and red leaves against the steel-gray rain cloud made him think of Ellie. He could imagine her scrunching up her nose and touching her mouth with the back of a paintbrush, giving it careful consideration before she touched brush to canvas.
She had a keen eye and a talent that he sensed she didn’t appreciate. No, a talent she didn’t have faith in.
He hoped the rain held off for the church carnival later this afternoon. He had seen first-hand how hard the youth had worked on getting ready for the big fund-raiser. It would be a shame if rain kept people away.
Johnny checked the time on his cell phone, then shoved it into his back pocket.
No more stalling.
He swallowed hard and turned to the closed door at the end of the hall. His mother’s childhood bedroom. He had promised his grandfather he’d pack up her things because his grandfather couldn’t. Now that the case was mostly wrapped up, he had the time.
He reached out and clutched the glass doorknob. Inwardly, he chuckled. He had faced down the worst of the worst, people who’d sooner shoot you than say hello. But the thought of entering his mother’s room made his lungs ache.
He turned the handle and the hinges groaned, protesting years of disuse. He wondered how long the room had been closed. Had his grandparents thought shutting the door could shut out the memories of their only daughter?
He stepped into the large bedroom. Dust motes danced in the thin slivers of sunlight slipping in around the drawn blinds. The musty smell reached his nose and he held back a sneeze.
Johnny stood in one spot and took in the room. The peach-colored bedspread covered the bed. A stuffed kitten sat among the pillows. Tingles bit the back of his nose. He had a hard time imagining his mother as a kid. A happy kid.
He bit the side of his cheek and walked over to her dresser. The floor creaked under his footsteps. Lying flat on the white dresser was a dust-covered photo. His vision narrowed. It was his mother...and him. With a shaky hand, he picked up the photo and ran his finger over her face and his.
“She really loved you.”
Johnny spun around. His grandfather stood in the doorway, bracing himself on the doorjamb.
He shuffled into the bedroom, his eyes roaming the space as if he had forgotten what it looked like.
“Your mom came back with you when you were about three years old.” His grandfather took the photo from Johnny’s hands and stared at it. “She told me she was determined to get clean. To do right by you.”
Johnny lowered himself to sit on the edge of the bed. It creaked under his weight. “How long did she stay?”
“For about a year.”
Johnny ran his hand along the stitching on the bedspread. “I didn’t know.”
Buddy set the photo on the dresser and patted it, as if he were patting the head of the small child in the photo. He slowly turned around. “Your grandmother was so excited to get you enrolled in the church preschool program.”
Johnny stared at his grandfather, his words ping-ponging around his brain. He had lived here? For a year in his young life? No wonder so many things seemed vaguely familiar; he’d thought maybe his mother’s description had gotten into his head. His mother had only said horrible things about her parents...this place. But he had realized his mother’s description had been skewed when he’d finally gotten to know his grandfather.
“Your grandmother’s heart was broken when Mary Claire packed you up and left.”
Johnny’s chest grew heavy. “Why did she leave? I can’t imagine she could afford a roof over her head and food. Not as nice as this.”
“That’s what her mother and I thought.” He wrapped his fingers into a fist and tapped on the footboard. “We couldn’t convince her otherwise.”
Johnny ran a hand across his chin. “She had a new boyfriend.”
His grandfather didn’t answer, but his expression said it all. How did you know?
“All my mother’s big decisions revolved around men. Men and drugs.”
“I never understood what her mother and I did wrong.”
A realization crept into Johnny’s soul and filled his heart. “God gave us all free will.” He let out a heavy sigh. “My mother made her own choices.” Even Johnny couldn’t sway his mother’s heart. A new love—or what she thought was love—and drugs were far more powerful than a little kid.
And it wasn’t his fault.
Buddy’s strong hand cupped Johnny’s shoulder. “Don’t let your mom’s mistakes ruin your life.”
Johnny looked up and tilted his head, confused.
“You got the guy who was dealing drugs. You did a good thing. But there has to be more to life than chasing bad guys.”
“Tony Vino is still adamant he was working alone. But something about this case bugs me.”
“Are you sure you’re not focusing on the case to avoid your personal life?”
Johnny studied the pink, purple and yellow flowered area rug. “I like chasing bad guys.”
“It’s something you can control.”
“To a degree.”
“There’s more to life than work.”
Johnny scratched his head, waiting for his grandfather to continue.
“Your mother left you. Then your grandmother and I let you down when you needed us. We were blinded by our own hurt.”
Johnny patted the bed and stood. He turned to face his grandfather. “You were hurting. I understand.”
Buddy shook his head, the lines around his mouth growing deeper. “You’ve surrounded yourself with work because you don’t want to get hurt again.”
Johnny bit back a smirk. “I’m not into this touchy-feely stuff, Gramps. I work hard because we arrest one drug dealer and there’s another one right behind him.”
“You can still catch the bad guys, but why not take time to enjoy your life? That Ellie girl is very sweet.”
Johnny laughed, but the memory of her soft lips sobered him. “Ellie’s not much into relationships, either.” How many times had she let him know she wanted to be independent? That she’d been burned before by a longtime boyfriend.
“The two of you are so caught up in your past hurts, you can’t enjoy the moment.” Buddy shrugged. “You’re the smart FBI guy. I suppose you know best.” A twinkle lit his grandfather’s eyes. He lifted his hand. “Will you get me some of that apple cider they sell at the church carnival?”
Johnny smiled, knowing exactly what his grandfather had up his sleeve. “You want me to drive you down to the carnival?”
His grandfather jutted out his lower lip. “Nah, I’m tired. But if you’re not going, I understand.”
They both knew he’d run the errand for his grandfather. “I’d be happy to run down to the carnival. How about a candied apple while I’m there?”
His grandfather waved him away. “Not good for my teeth. But, oh...I can already taste the cider.”
* * *
A stiff breeze whipped across the church parking lot. Ellie zipped up her fleece jacket and tucked her chin into the warm collar. She had been manning the cider booth for the church’s youth group so they could enjoy the carnival for a while. She was happy for the distraction.
A distraction from Tony’s drug arrest.
A distraction from the lack of sales at Gifts and More.
A distraction from the big question: Where was she headed in life?
If things continued, she’d have to close the shop. For good.
Stop.
Tonight was a night to relax and enjoy the moment. She loved this time of year. She closed her eyes briefly and smelled the crisp night air mixed with fried dough and apple pie. The musical notes from the main stage competed with the laughter of the families enjoying a night out.
She leaned her hip on the edge of the booth. The placard mounted at the corner of the booth read: All Proceeds For Kids Escaping Drugs.
That decision had been entirely the youths’. In past years, the funds had gone to cover social events for the kids but this year they had unanimously voted to raise money for a program to help kids who suffered from alcohol or drug dependence.
“I’ll have two jugs of cider.”
Ellie spun around at Johnny’s voice and tried to ignore the warmth that flooded her heart. “I didn’t know you were going to come tonight. I thought you’d be helping your grandfather before getting ready to return to Buffalo.” Ellie crossed her arms and rolled up on the balls of her feet. For some reason she felt uncomfortable; perhaps it was the way his warm brown eyes seemed to look right into her soul.
“My grandfather told me I had to come. Told me I had to pick up some apple cider.” He wrapped his hands around the handles of two jugs.
“Best cider in town.” Ellie found herself smiling.
“Is there a lot of cider competition in town?” His teasing tone elicited an even bigger smile out of her.
“So...are you just grabbing the cider and leaving?”
Kaylee jogged up, a big smile on her face. “Agent Rock, you and Miss Ellie should do the maze. It’s awesome. I went through it with Amy and Kendal.” The two young women Ellie had met earlier trailed Kaylee.
Ellie smiled at Kaylee. She was hanging out with her friends and taking a break from the drama of boys, especially boys who had made some very bad choices lately. Last Ellie had heard, Collin Parker was out on bail awaiting arraignment.
Stupid decisions. Lifelong consequences.
“Oh, I don’t know. Agent Rock has to take the cider home to his grandfather.”
Kaylee dragged the cider by the lids toward her. “I can hold on to the cider until you guys get back.” She checked the time on her cell phone. “It’s our turn to work the booth, anyway.” She flicked her fingers playfully. “Go, go, go...”
Ellie angled her head. “Really, Kaylee. You can’t tell us to run along like one of your friends.” She laughed as she removed her money bib and helped Kaylee tie it around her waist.
Ellie stepped outside the booth and zipped her jacket up higher. “Maybe it’s time I called it a night.”
Johnny gently took Ellie’s elbow. “I think Miss Kaylee has a great idea.” His warm breath whispered across her ear.
Ellie looked up at him with wide eyes, not sure what to think about how she felt. She had been mentally preparing herself to say goodbye to Johnny now that the investigation was wrapping up.
“I...um...” Ellie sputtered as the young woman watched her carefully. “Sure, I suppose a quick tour of the maze can’t hurt.”
“I’ll be back shortly to get my cider,” Johnny said to Kaylee.
“No problem, Agent Rock.” Kaylee set the cider down behind the counter, a mischievous grin on her face.
Ah, to be young, Ellie mused.
Johnny squeezed Ellie’s hand. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I was just thinking about how these young kids don’t realize how many opportunities they have in front of them. What’s the expression? The world is their oyster?”
Johnny winced.
“Not a fan of oysters, huh? How about, ‘Youth is wasted on the young’?”
“I know what you mean. I see so many young people making bad choices. It kills me.”
“Then why do you do it?” She kicked at the loose hay on the blacktop. “It must wear on you.”
“It does. But someone has to do it.” There was a rapt quality to his voice.
A couple smiled and waved at Johnny. Then an older man from the church came up and shook his hand. “You did a good thing, Agent Rock. Thank you.”
“Does that always happen after you make an arrest?” She smiled up at him.
“No. I think it’s the small-town thing going on.”
“The news is touting you as hometown hero.”
Johnny ran a hand through his hair. “I prefer to work under the radar.”
Ellie playfully rested her cheek against his shoulder and kept walking. “When do you head back to Buffalo?”
“I took a week’s vacation so I can spend more time with my grandfather. He’s not quite ready to move, but we have to make a plan to assure he can continue living at the house. There’s a few projects...” He shrugged. “You know how it is.”
“Yeah.” She tried to hide the disappointment from her voice. The wind kicked up and Ellie struggled to stifle a shudder.
Johnny let go of her hand and wrapped a hand around her shoulder. “Cold?”
Not exactly at this moment.
The clean scent of him filled her senses. This man, without saying a word, destroyed every argument she had made for herself to avoid reentering the dating world.
If only he lived in Williamstown.
Johnny stepped away from her toward another refreshment booth. “Want some hot chocolate?”
“Sure.” Ellie stuffed her hands into her pockets, missing the warmth of his presence.
He paid for two hot chocolates and handed her one. “Ready for the maze?”
“I have no sense of direction.”
“It’s okay, I’ll stay with you.”
Ellie smiled, feeling like one of those young girls she envied. Feeling as if a world of opportunities stretched at her feet.
* * *
The smell of dried hay reached her nose as Johnny handed the attendant their tickets and they entered the maze made of hay bales stacked seven feet high.
A young girl ran past them at a cross section, giggling. She was obviously lost.
Johnny walked slowly, kicking at the hay. “Can’t say I’ve ever been in a maze made of hay bales.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Ellie didn’t press. From what Johnny had told her, he hadn’t had an idyllic childhood filled with church carnivals, hot chocolate and mazes.
“I’m not one for confined spaces,” Ellie said, “but I figure I can bust out of here by knocking over the bales if necessary.” She dragged her hand along the wall and pulled it back when she snagged a piece of prickly hay. The light of a passing vehicle flashed in the cracks between the bales. “See, this is the outside wall.” She lifted her foot, pretending to push on the bottom bale. “One swift kick and I’m free.”
“I don’t think that’s exactly necessary. Besides, it would ruin the fun of the maze.”
“Yeah.” Ellie drank the last of her hot chocolate.
Johnny held out his hand. “Let me toss that out for you. There was a garbage can near the entrance.” He smirked at Ellie’s raised eyebrows. “Stay right here, I’ll be back in a second. I promise I won’t let you get lost.”
Ellie clutched her hands together and pressed them to her chest. “You’ll be my hero.” Besides, she had something in her shoe and could take this time to dump it out.
A slow, genuine smile crept across his face, making Ellie’s insides go soft. She was in so much trouble.
Ellie rested one hand on the maze wall, careful not to push too hard, and yanked off her sneaker, tipping out the small pebble and slipping her shoe back on.
She then pulled out her cell phone and checked it, mostly out of habit. She went to put it back into her pocket when it slipped out of her hand. “Oh, man,” she muttered, hoping she hadn’t cracked the screen.
Just then a hay bale nudged her backside. She lost her balance and fell to her knees. Someone grabbed her arm and her first instinct was relief. “Johnny?”
The grip bit into her flesh and her relief turned to fear. She tried to yank her arm away, but the person held on tight, then wrapped another arm around her shoulder, pulling her to her feet.
The smell. Her fear. A horrible familiarity. All reminiscent of her attack while looking for Duke.
But Tony had been arrested.
Icy dread pumped through her veins.
A blood-curdling scream rent the night air. It took her a moment to realize the sound had ripped from her throat.
The man dragged her through the tumbled hay bales to an idling vehicle in the parking lot on the other side. She bucked and kicked, but he only held her tighter. As he opened the trunk, fear made her want to puke.
There, curled up in a ball, was her good friend, Ashley.
The word Oh barely formed on her lips when the man shoved her inside on top of Ashley.
In the brief second before the lid slammed shut, Roger Petersen’s angry face came into view.
Roger?
The trunk lid slammed down, leaving her in blackness. Terror clawed at her heart as she blinked, blinked, blinked.
Absolute darkness.