14
“Mr. North, there’s a long distance call for you on line one.” The school secretary’s voice echoed into Aidan’s office.
Four o’clock. After a week of helping Chloe supervise Matt at the youth center, Aidan knew Chloe and Matt would be there by now. He was running behind schedule, so he’d have to make this a fast call. “Thank you, Mrs. Grebbins.” He picked up the phone. “Vice Principal North.”
“Aidan. How are you?”
The female voice sent the blood rushing from Aidan’s head. “Patricia? I’m fine. How are you?”
“I’m well, thanks. It’s been a long time.”
“It has. More than a year.”
“You’re probably surprised to hear from me.” She sounded nervous.
Aidan’s senses went on high alert. “What can I do for you?”
“I heard through the academic grapevine there might be a position open in your school. Is it true?”
His head spun as he mentally reviewed the staffing requirements. He wished he could lie and say there were no openings. But lying was one thing he could not abide—in anyone. “There’s an upcoming maternity leave. Nothing permanent, why?”
“I’m thinking of making a change, and…Rainbow Falls sounds nice.”
The blood in his veins turned frigid. He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
“Aidan, are you there?”
He cleared his throat. “I’m here. You just caught me off guard.”
Her voice turned sultry. “In a good way, I hope.”
“Frankly, Patricia, I don’t think this position will suit you.” He paused. “Why would you give up your seniority in Arizona to come out here? With no guaranteed long-term security?”
“I’m bored with everything here. The new principal and I don’t see eye to eye.”
Patricia must be doing her usual routine of creating drama for the new principal.
“Look, I’m not sure we should work together again.”
“I thought you’d have forgiven me by now. But you’re still mad, aren’t you?”
He let out a sigh. “I’m not mad.”
She sniffed. “I miss you, Aidan. I know I made a mistake, but I want another chance. We could start over fresh in Rainbow Falls, away from the gossip.”
Her wheedling tone didn’t soften his stance. ”Not a good idea.”
“Well, I guess that will depend on your principal. I’m coming for an interview next week.”
He held back a groan. He did not need this aggravation right now.
“Think about what I said, Aidan. We’ll talk when I’m there next week.”
****
Chloe stopped in front of her shop and sent a text message to Aidan to let him know she’d be back at the youth center as soon as possible. Of all times for a problem to crop up at the bakery—the one day Aidan was late to help supervise Matt.
She fit the key into the lock and pushed it open. Everything appeared exactly as she’d left it after she and Aidan had painted. A text message from a number she didn’t recognize said there was a problem with the renovations. With an inspection pending, she couldn’t take the chance that something might be wrong, like a burst pipe or some other catastrophe.
She locked the door and flipped the main light switch. The overhead lights did not come on. The interior remained shrouded in gloom, courtesy of the dark clouds threatening more rain. Had the power gone out during the last downpour? She swallowed a spurt of panic, remembering there was a flashlight under the counter. With a sigh of relief, she switched it on, and the bright beam illuminated the space.
When the light hit the wall, Chloe stifled a horrified cry. Violent slashes of red, still shiny and wet, marred the far wall. More vivid color dripped from the overturned wicker furniture. Anger, as deep and red as the splatters of paint, surged through her. Why would anyone do this?
She rushed back to the counter, and with shaking hands, rummaged through her purse for her cellphone. The police needed to know about this.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
She screamed and the phone slipped from her fingers.
Three male figures, hooded and masked, emerged from the shadows.
****
Aidan glanced at the clock and pressed his foot to the accelerator. He’d taken a few extra minutes to talk with Larry Jenkins about Patricia and was now half an hour late. He pulled into a parking spot closest to the front of the center and hurried inside. His gut burned. Probably shouldn’t have had that third cup of coffee.
An eerie silence shrouded the empty gymnasium.
Where were Matt and Chloe?
Passing the dark kitchen, he entered the games room.
Matt stood rolling paint onto the wall, headphones in place. The kid pulled out the earbuds when he noticed Aidan. “Hey, Mr. North.”
“Hi, Matt. Nice job.” Aidan admired the fresh coat of blue paint. “Where’s Miss Martin?”
“She left a few minutes ago.”
Aidan’s neck muscles tightened. “To go where?”
“I’m not sure. She got a text message and had to leave.”
Something urgent must have come up. Chloe wouldn’t leave Matt alone unless it was important. When the phone in his pocket vibrated, he whipped it out, relieved to see a message from Chloe. Relief was short lived, however, when he read her cryptic note.
“Problem at the bakery. Back soon.”
A prickle of unease chilled his spine. Something wasn’t right. He had to find her.
****
Cold perspiration slid down Chloe’s back. Fear froze her feet to the floor.
The hoodlums advanced, dark and menacing.
“What are you doing in here?” she demanded in her best ‘teacher’ voice. “This is private property.”
The tallest one sneered and pulled his hand out.
The flashlight beam glinted off a steel blade. He has a knife. Her heart pounded a staccato refrain in her ears as she attempted to wet her bone-dry lips. “Who are you and what do you want?”
“First of all,” said the apparent leader, “I want you to shut up. Second of all, we have a message for you.”
Chloe locked her knees to keep them from shaking. If only her phone hadn’t fallen back into her purse, she could speed dial someone. She glanced past the men. The door leading into the alley stood ajar, probably the way they’d broken in. If she ran, maybe she could make it outside. “What message?” She took two small steps forward.
“You need to stop interfering with a buddy of ours.”
She forced herself to inhale slowly. “Who would that be?” Again she inched forward, almost clear of the counter.
“Matt Brown. Ever since you got involved, he’s been less eager to spend time with us. Too busy painting.”
The others cackled.
These must be Jerry’s hoodlums, the ones influencing Matt to break the law.
“Matt’s trying to stay out of jail. You can’t blame him for that.” Her shaking hands belied her brave words.
“No, but we can blame you.” Hatred spilled from the eyes behind the mask.
It was now or never. She hurled the flashlight at the closest thug, catching him in the temple. Amid their bellows of surprise, she burst across the room in a dead sprint.
Footsteps pounded the floor behind her.
Her breath heaved out in great gusts. Two more feet and she would reach the door.
One of them wrenched her back by the hair. Pain shot through her scalp, forcing a scream from her throat. Her feet left the ground, and she crashed to the cement floor near the alley door. As the villains advanced on her, she only had time for one final plea. Please, God, don’t let them kill me. I’ve got so much more to do.