Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1) (29 page)

Tears pricked her eyes. She scooped up her aunt’s phone and found Chelsea’s number. Teagan texted her hello and hoped she was okay.

Maybe Chelsea would fill her in on how Noah was doing. If only Aunt Sophia was here. Her aunt always said and did the right things. Maybe Teagan could find an old email from her aunt that would lift her spirits.

Teagan scrolled through them. Meeting reminders, doctor appointments, and friends’ notes described Aunt Sophia’s life. As Teagan moved down the screen, she uncovered a series of emails to Matt titled: The Next Bishop. They must be about his nomination. Aunt Sophia was his biggest supporter.

She paused over one with BISHOP NEVER in the topic line. Poor Matt. He’d been sure they’d be celebrating his ordination. She bet Aunt Sophia sent Matt a pep talk. The words might help her now. Teagan clicked on the message and read one word: AFFAIR

Huh? Wasn’t much of an uplifting email. Teagan began to work through the following communications and shock spread through her until she stopped and sat back to process the meaning. Her aunt was accusing Matt of having an affair.

It couldn’t be true. She jumped up and paced the room. What should she do? Nothing? No, she had to speak to Matt and listen to his side of the story. The mantle clock chimed five p.m.

She grabbed her purse and trotted to the car. The rain had brought more fog, and her headlights provided limited visibility on her drive to the church.

Stationed at her desk in the office, Stacey shot her a glance and continued talking on her cell. “I ordered six boxes, not sixteen. Yes. Yes.”

“I need to see Matt,” Teagan blurted.

Stacey rolled her eyes, moved her mouth away from the receiver to mumble, “He’s not here.”

“When will he be back?”

Stacey talked for another minute then hung up. “Really, Teagan, I don’t have two sets of lips. Father Matt is at the ecumenical meeting with the other churches. They’re discussing a bigger shelter for the winter. He’s tied up at least until supper, and my work day is over.” She pushed the monitor screen’s button and it fell dark. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

Unsettled, Teagan whirled around and headed for the exit.

“Is it about the Vic Taylor lawsuit? Is he suing you, too?” Stacey yelled.

Teagan didn’t bother to answer. Outdoors, a fine mist settled over her. Now where should she go? The messages from the phone streamed through her mind. It was probably good Matt wasn’t here. She needed better control over her emotions before she spoke to him.

Noah. Find him. Talk to him,
the voice in her head kept insisting. She was tired of drowning it out. While she was at the church, she’d look for her medal, and think about what to say to Detective Cassidy.

The sky spit large raindrops. Grabbing her flashlight from the glove compartment, she ran across the parking lot and into the vestibule. The next set of doors was shut. She scanned the floor. Most likely, if she’d lost her medal in the entryway or by the pews, it would have been found and returned already. The door to the downstairs was closed.

She pulled it open, turned on the light and wound her way downward one-step at a time while she hunted for the silver medal. At the bottom, she flipped on the overhead lamp for the hall. She hadn’t walked too far inside the banquet room the last time she was here. She finished that search in minutes. The closet was the last place she’d gone.

She opened the door wide and used her purse as a doorstop. Experience did make you wiser. She entered, stooped down in front of the metal shelves and shone her light underneath the wire storage rack.

Something shimmered in the beam. She’d found it. One good thing had happened today. She stretched her hand beneath the lowest shelf. No deal. She couldn’t reach it. In seconds, she’d hauled out the frame and scooped up St. Jude.

“I’ll need you when I meet with Noah,” she said, closing her fingers around the image. She stuffed the medal in her pocket and was about to push the shelving back when an indentation in the floor snagged her attention.

She stomped on the rectangular area. Her sandals made a clip-clop sound on the floor.

Strange. It sounded…hollow. She shrugged. Maybe they’d patched the floorboards, and they hid the repair job with the shelves.

Aiming the flashlight over the area, she saw a metal ring recessed into the floor. She bent, pulled out the grip, and tugged.

A piece of the flooring rose with a creak. Her breath caught in her throat. A door! She jumped back and peered into the hole. A dark, empty space was below. She flashed her light over the blackness. A ladder was attached to the wall.

“Teagan Raynes.”

Seth Bodell’s huge body filled the closet doorway. The icy gleam in his eyes sent gooseflesh rippling up her back.
Run
, screamed her mind.

But he blocked the one way out. Drawing herself up, she decided to fake confidence to escape. “Seth, move aside. I’m leaving.”

His fist shot out before she could duck. The blow landed on the side of her head. She staggered backward a step. The second punch stunned her senses and she toppled downward. Her arms and legs smacked against the edges of the opening and the sides of the ladder, but she continued to tumble into the black void.

She hit the ground with a thump. Vibes of pain ran up and down her body. She moaned and tried to clear her throbbing head. Blackness blanketed her surroundings. The rungs of the ladder shook with weight and the thump of shoes.

Seth was coming.

****

Noah walked past the holding pen on his way out of the station. Chelsea caught him as he exited.

“Denny was wrong,” she said, walking beside him. “You do still live in Hawick Falls.”

“Hines and I don’t have many spare moments for talk. How are you, Chels?”

“Pregnant.”

He stopped. “You and Hines?”

“Yup. Did you expect a different father?”

“Congratulations. Your baby is one lucky kid to have you for a parent.”

“I plan on whipping Denny into shape. He’s been really overprotective of me, and I want to apologize for my thickheaded husband for yelling at you about Teagan staying at our place.”

“Guess he’s human like the rest of us.” He wished Hines’ anger was the worst thing in his life. Noah started toward his car.

She kept pace beside him.

“Have you seen her?” he asked, unable to control his urge to know.

They paused next to his vehicle while Noah waited for his answer.

“Teagan texted me today.”

“Oh, yeah, how is she?”

“She didn’t say. Denny saw her in court. He told me she looked awful. You should go see her. I’m sure you can come up with a reason.”

“Teagan wanted us to take a break”

Chelsea shrugged. “Women change their minds every day.”

Noah opened his door. “Take care of yourself and the little one.”

“I speak for my husband too, and Denny wants you to come over to the house. Save a little energy for your friends.” She leaned up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “June was my best friend. She’d never want you to be alone, Noah. She’d want you to be happy. And remember, Denny and I love you.” 

For once, Noah thought he’d blush, but Chelsea was already moving away. He climbed into his front seat. Chelsea’s words repeated in his mind. She’d told him the truth. His sweet wife only wanted him to be happy.

But Teagan wasn’t the answer. She’d chosen a different path that didn’t include him. He had to forget her. He ran a hand over the back of his neck. If only forgetting was easier. He woke up in the morning and promised himself he wouldn’t let her into his head. And then he realized, it was too late. He’d spent the last few minutes thinking about her.

He missed her hopeful theories about the case, as off as they seemed to him. He missed her enthusiasm and readiness, and the anticipation he felt when he was about to see or talk to her. He even missed the way she moved her hands around when she was excited. Worst, the morning they’d spent in her bed was burned into his memory and he’d been unable to shake the images of her in his arms.

Now in his car, his willpower weakened and he grabbed his phone and searched his messages. Nothing from her. His finger hovered above her name on his contact list. Then he clicked off and started his engine. He should ride down Main Street and check if the Meter Kids were hanging out yet.

His phone buzzed.

“Cassidy,” his partner said. “Lucy Watson is awake and able to have visitors.”

“I’m glad to talk to you too, Hines. Hope your kid takes after your better half.”

Silence filled a beat before he asked, “Chelsea told you? We were waiting to announce it. She’s had a few problems in the past. Look, if you’re at the hospital in ten minutes and happen to visit Lucy—”

“Got it. And Hines. Thanks.” Noah jammed the pedal to the floor as he raced to question a key person in his case.

At the hospital, Lucy’s pasty white skin and rail thin frame reminded Noah the woman had barely escaped death.

Hines asked the big question. “Who hit you, Miss Watson?”

Her answer was an unclear murmur. Noah exchanged a look with Hines who shrugged.

“Who’d you visit in Hawick Falls?” Noah asked, hoping his trip to the hospital wasn’t a waste like the Moore interview.

The fog lifted from Lucy’s eyes. She waved him closer. He bent toward her. She whispered the name.

Seth was coming. Her gun was gone. Move. Gotta move. Get away. But where was she? She squinted into the dark. She wobbled to her feet. Her left leg throbbed and gave out. She listed sideways and hit the cold wall. Nightmare!

Seth landed with a thud close to her.

Please, God, where’s the door
? Her weapon was stowed in her purse upstairs. Sweat dripped off her chin. She held her breath and prayed Seth wouldn’t find her. How big was this room?
Don’t breathe. He’ll hear you.

The swish of fabric against fabric alerted her Seth was on the hunt. She crept forward, stopped and listened. Where was he now? She inched along the wall. The ladder must be close.
Don’t let me run into Seth
.

A light flashed on overhead, and lit the small hall opening into a square room.

Seth stood across the room by the wall switch. His eyes glowed eerily as he leered at her. She flinched and desperately looked for an escape. Granite slabs made up the foundation and walls. The only way out was the way down.

She darted into the larger space and stopped on the opposite side of a workshop table.

She shot wild glances around the room.
No way out
!

Seth’s lips twisted into a sick grin. “Goin’ to shoot me now?” He lunged.

She screamed and ran for the ladder, but he blocked her route. Panicked, she jerked her gaze around the chamber. No escape. Not even a heat register. Shelves lined with yard tools filled one wall. She was alone, with Seth. She clenched her teeth against the bitter truth. He meant to kill her.

“You ain’t goin’ nowhere.” Seth crept toward her with a sick smile.

She closed her eyes for one last plea, her only hope was a miracle.
Please, St. Jude, get me out of here.

Seth charged. Teagan whirled around, grabbed a rake from the corner and swung the handle at him. Whack. It cracked against his cheekbone. He drew up short. His face reddened and then he tore the weapon from her hands with a roar. The hair on the back of her neck stood up in horror. He was like a wild animal.

Desperate, she snared a pair of clippers from a wall shelf.

She snipped at the air in front of her. “Go away. Father Matt will come looking for me any second. You’ll be arrested. He’ll be my witness.”

“You’re full of it. I ain’t fallin’ for your lies, bitch. The cops want to put Travis away forever.” He dove for her.

She snapped at him with the clippers. The metal jaws cut his hand, and he let out a cry.

Now. She ran for the ladder.

A blow knocked her off her feet. She dropped to the ground. The room grayed and spun.

He hooked his arm around her and lifted her off her feet like a doll.

Her senses pulled together.
Fight. Fight
. She clawed and kicked, but nothing slowed him as he carried her to the table. He shoved her against the top and pinned her arms behind her.

“Let me go. Let me go!”

He pushed her face onto the wooden surface and pressed his body against her legs and bottom.  A wire attached to an overhead pole came around her neck and held her like a soon-to-be slaughtered animal. The yank on her waistband sent her pants button popping off.

“No!” Hot tears rolled across her cheeks. She stomped on his foot but it was like an ant attacking a rhino. It was over. She was going to die.
Never to find Lisa.

His arm circled her waist and pulled her to him.

Never to see Noah.
“No.” Oh, my God. She struggled until the collar dug into her throat, cutting off her breath.
Can’t breathe.
Struggling to inhale, panic rippled through her.
Don’t let me die this way.
“St-op.”

“You heard her. Stop.”

Noah! Was she hallucinating? No, he was standing there. His jaw clenched. Anger blazed in his eyes. In his hand, he clutched a flashlight aimed at the floor. “Drop the ax and put your hands up, Seth.”

She gasped short breaths, while Seth stepped toward Noah. Where was his gun? Now they’d both die. “Run, No-ah.”

“Let me see you turn tail.” Seth smirked.

“Seth, from what I see, you’ve been lying to me. I warned you I don’t like people who lie, and I warned you to stay away from Teagan. You didn’t.”

“What are you gonna do? Blind me to death with your flashlight? Go ahead.”

“You got it.” Noah raised his flashlight. A beam arced across the room with a crack. Teagan squinted against the brightness. What in the world?

Seth collapsed to the ground with a thud. The illumination vanished, and Noah clicked off his light and strode across the space to her.

What… what happened? She blinked in shock at Noah.