Flashover (20 page)

“I'm going to miss our time together when I go back.”

There it was. The roadblock he was expecting. He put down the towel and came over to her, losing himself for a moment in the intense green of her eyes. He'd give it one more try. One more chance. “Ivy, please consider this. You don't have to have one or the other. Your work doesn't have to be a wall that keeps you away from people…from me.”

She looked away from the tenderness in his gaze. “It's an intense job. To do it well, I've got to give it my all. There's no room…”

He put a finger under her chin and directed her face to his. “There is, if you want there to be. Tell me the truth, Ivy. Tell me you don't want me around and I'll accept it. I'll keep my distance and move on.”

She felt lost in the shimmer of his eyes. “Tim. I do…I feel…”

He fingered her hair. “You've been through a lot, with Sadie, with Antonio, and that hurt you deeply. I just hope that someday you can let go of those things and find room for me in that heart of yours.” He embraced her one more time, praying that it wouldn't be the last.

T
he knocking on the door at five thirty didn't awaken Ivy at first, but it woke Cat. She tiptoed around Ivy's face until her eyes finally fluttered open. The knock repeated itself, soft and insistent.

Ivy pulled on some sweats and opened the door to a rumpled Tim. His hair stood up in unruly patches and his eyes were bleary. “Sorry it's so early. I thought of something and I knew you'd want to hear it right away.”

She let him in. “You look like you've been awake all night.”

“I have. Your cousin snores louder than a freight train.”

“Is he still asleep?”

“Can't you hear the walls rattling?”

With a chuckle, she started the coffee and sank down on the chair. “What is the revelation that required you to wake me up at five thirty?”

“Something the pastor said. He mentioned he'd met Moe before at an all-county church retreat.”

“Yes.” It took a moment before Ivy's mind started to whir. She grabbed the scrapbook from the side table and began to flip through it. “And Cornerstone said they tried to keep photos of every major event. If they participated, maybe there's a picture in here somewhere.”

She thumbed through the plastic-covered pages. “I don't see Moe anywhere.”

Tim settled in next to her and they both peered at the pages that documented everything from baptisms to blessing of the animals. She stopped at a picture crowded with people all wearing matching bandanas around their necks. “Hang on a second.”

She retrieved a magnifying glass from the dresser drawer and trained it over the crowd. “Look. Look right there. Is that Moe?”

He squinted at the page. “I'm not sure. That definitely looks like Madge standing next to him.”

Her heart in her throat, Ivy scanned the picture for some sign or notation that would identify the place. “It doesn't say, but it's definitely wooded and that's a mountain peak in the back. Do you suppose?”

“Let's go ask Madge. I know she won't mind being awakened for this.”

“Should we tell Mitch?”

“Nah, let him sleep. We can phone him if the lead pans out.”

They drove at a good clip over to Madge's house. It was just after six thirty when they knocked softly on her door.

She opened it, wide-eyed, clutching a flowered robe around her middle. “Tim, Ivy. What is it? It isn't…”

Tim reached out a calming hand. “No news, Madge, but we may have stumbled onto a lead. Sorry to come so early, but we just had to ask you something.”

“Anything, anything that would help find my Moe. Come in, come in.”

Ivy showed her the picture. “Is that you and Moe, Madge?” She held her breath while Madge held the picture close to her face.

The woman's eyes narrowed then widened. She dropped the book in her lap. “Yes, yes, that's Moe. I forgot all about that trip. We went to a county church retreat last year up at Sugar Pine.”

“Where exactly is Sugar Pine? Is it close?”

“About three hours north. It's a few cabins and a field where people can pitch tents.” Her eyes rolled in thought. “And there is a meeting hall where we worshipped and they set up rows and rows of chairs. Moe was so excited. They even had a little TV so he could watch his episodes.”

Tim sat on the edge of his seat. “Would Moe know how to get there?”

“I don't think so. He doesn't pay attention to directions when we're driving.”

Ivy crumpled in her chair.

“But if he saw the route on a map…” Tim started.

Madge beamed and clasped her hands together. “Then he could memorize a path to the moon.”

The three of them stared at one another until Madge burst into a shower of tears. “Oh, my stars. Could it be? Could he be there?”

Tim squeezed her hand. “Madge, let's be as calm as we can. This is a long shot but it fits with what you heard from him on the phone.” He looked at Ivy with an unspoken question.

“Of course we'll drive up right now and check it out,” she said. “Will you call Detective Greenly's office and leave a message about our plan?”

“Yes, yes, I will. And I'll stay right here by this phone and wait for your call. Be careful, and thank you.”

They left her dabbing a pink tissue to her eyes. Ivy glanced in the back of the truck to make sure her pack of gear was still safely stowed. She made sure the radio pager was clipped to her belt, not that it would provide any kind of assistance. It made her feel better knowing it was there.

Tim pulled onto the road and headed out of town.

Ivy could not keep down the excitement that bubbled in her gut. “Sugar Pine has to be the place. It's in the mountains, they've got chairs and he looked at maps at the gas station.”

“I want to believe it, too, but we need to take it one step at a time.”

She smiled. “Always the voice of reason.”

“Somebody has to be.”

“Ha-ha. Get the lead out, Carnelli, and let's go rescue Moe.”

“So much for taking it one step at a time.”

Tim stopped at a small mini-mart to buy graham crackers and water and fill up the truck.

Ivy was stunned when Antonio pulled up next to Tim's truck. He flashed her a dazzling smile and walked over to the open window.

“Hey, Ivy. Fancy running into you here. The guys and I are going fishing. Wanna come?”

“No, Antonio.” She marveled again at how handsome he was, how fit. The epitome of a hero.

He touched her hand where it lay on the window frame. “Come on, Ivy. We used to have all kinds of fun together. I miss that.”

“I'm sure you're not lacking for company.”

He grimaced. “All right, I deserved that. I was an idiot to walk out of your life. We had great times together and I just kinda freaked out when I felt like you were pushing me toward something more.”

She didn't answer.

“But that's no reason we can't be friends again.” He stroked her fingers and bent to press his lips to them. “Best friends.”

She stared at him, taking in the perfect features, the boyish charm. Suddenly she felt as if she'd slipped on a pair of glasses that brought everything into crisp focus. Antonio wasn't a bad guy. He'd never promised her anything but fun. Now, for some reason she couldn't articulate, fun was not enough. “You know, Antonio, friends are people who take all of you—the good and the bad and the angsty. I think I need that kind of friend now.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “So you're giving me the brush-off?”

She smiled. “Think of it as being canceled on the way to a fire.”

“I hate that.”

She laughed. “Me, too, but there's always another fire right around the corner.”

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Bye, Ivy.”

“Goodbye, Antonio.”

Tim returned with an armful of groceries. Ivy knew he'd been stalling returning to the car, to give her time to converse with Antonio.

“He seems to find you everywhere,” Tim said as he started the engine. He made a show of adjusting the side mirrors. “Did you make any plans with him?”

“No. Now let's get moving.”

He smiled and pulled out onto the road.

An hour passed and the scenery became mountainous and thick with trees. The shade was a welcome relief from the sizzling sunlight.

She rolled down the window to breathe in the sweet smell of pine and cedar. In spite of the gravity of their mission, Ivy was happy to be sitting next to Tim, sharing the adventure.

What had he said before about finding room in her heart for him? She realized with a start that there had always been a space for him, but she'd kept her feelings confined, enclosed in a place where she could keep it away from the rest of her life, to keep it still and silent. She thought Antonio filled that space, but he hadn't. He'd only distracted her.

It was getting harder and harder to hide from the truth and it scared her. She watched him, feeling an emotion stir in her that warmed her to the core.

“Tim?”

“Yes?”

“I…” She was interrupted by the ring of her cell phone. She answered. “Ivy Beria.”

“Where are you?” Mitch's voice charged through the phone. “I woke up and found everyone gone.”

“Hi, Mitch. Tim said to tell you, you snore.” The reception grew worse as they headed up a steep slope.

“Yeah, yeah. Where are you?”

“I can't hear you very well so I'll make this quick. We think we have a lead on Moe.”

She could only make out one word of his reply.

“Where?”

“Sugar Pine Lodge. He went to a church retreat there.”

Clicks crackled the line. “Ivy, you've got to turn around and come back.”

“What?”

“…come back. He's…”

“Mitch, you're breaking up.” She couldn't make out some of the words but Mitch's tone was desperate.

“…watching…to Moe. Turn around.”

“I can't understand, Mitch. We'll be back later today. I'll talk to you then.” She clicked off the phone.

Tim shot her a quizzical look. “What was that all about?”

“I don't know. He told me to turn around, but I couldn't hear the reason why.”

“Do you want to head back and come up here later?”

“With Madge on pins and needles? No way. We've got to finish this thing today.”

“That's what I think, too.”

Tim had to turn his full attention to driving for the next hour. Ivy noticed how dry the vegetation was in spite of the recent rain, the pockets of grass golden and parched, the pine needles on the ground brittle as glass. It would be a real bad time for a wildfire, she thought.

The road grew windy and narrow at times.

Ivy smiled, thinking of her sister, Sadie, who was notoriously carsick on long trips. Sadie would have gone along anyway on their adventure; nothing could have kept her away. It felt so good to think about her sister without the surge of anger that used to accompany every memory. She thought maybe sometime soon she would read a few of her mother's Penny Pocket stories and see if she could find more of her sister's memories there. She silently thanked the Lord for removing her burden and not turning away from her anger.

Tim risked a glance at her. “What are you thinking about? You look happy.”

She shrugged. “Don't know. Enjoying the drive I guess.”

“How come I don't hear your radio squawking?”

“I turned it off a few miles back.”

He was so surprised he slowed the truck for a moment before continuing. “You did? Why?”

“I guess I wanted to be here fully for a change. With you.”

He didn't answer, but she thought she saw a strong emotion wash over his face.

Without warning, a steep graveled path branched off from the main road. They almost missed the small sign that read Sugar Pine Lodge.

“There!” Ivy jabbed a finger at the sign and Tim pulled off. He eased the truck onto a rocky area edged by dry grass and parked.

“Why are you stopping here?”

“If Moe felt he had to run away, he's clearly scared. I think we better try not to frighten him any further.”

Ivy grabbed her backpack and Tim carried the bag of graham crackers and water. Together they crept toward the nearest building, hoping for some sign that their hunch had been correct.

Madge's description had been right on. The field for tent camping was covered with tall dry grass, a circle of six cabins forming a perimeter. Tim grabbed her arm suddenly. She barely contained her cry of surprise.

“There,” he whispered in her ear. “It's the motor scooter.”

Sure enough, the scooter leaned against the side of the smallest cabin. Her heart beat so fast it seemed to vibrate her whole body.

They walked toward the cabin, the only sound coming from the murmur of grass under their feet and the sound of a quickening wind.

After a look from Tim, Ivy cleared her throat. “Moe? Are you in there? It's Ivy, your neighbor.”

No movement from the cabin.

“Moe? Your mother sent us. She's very worried about you. We brought some more graham crackers. Are you in there?”

They were on the front porch step. Ivy reached out to turn the door handle when Tim stopped her. He pointed as the handle slowly turned from the inside.

 

Nick picked up the phone as if he didn't already know who was on the other end. “Hello?”

“Ivy and Tim found Moe, so we can end this thing.”

Nick smiled, enjoying the desperation in the man's voice.