The Devil Wore Sneakers (14 page)

Liam advanced a step. “I told you not to upset Miss Watson.”

Lucy laid her palm on his arm. “Liam, I’m fine. I expected the news. Now I know what’s going on with the police.” She folded her arms over her chest. “Chip, how many girls confessed to a relationship with my brother, according to your source?” Her lower lip trembled, but her eyes were dry.

“Uh, zero.”

Sadie put her hands on her hips. “Wow, Chief Sullivan must be bummed. I bet he thought they had a big lead.”

“Okay, everyone back to work,” Liam said. “Sadie, how are the dinner specials coming?”

“Set, boss.” She ducked behind the heating lamps and began sharpening her knives.

“I hope I didn’t say anything bad to you,” Chip said to Lucy as he went to his station.

“No. I understand you’re repeating what you heard.” She heaved a sigh.

Liam turned to Lucy. “They’re kids, Luce. Stories get bigger each time they repeat them.”

Sallie, Sadie’s sister, entered. “Excuse me, but there’s someone named Teagan at the door. She’s looking for Lucy, but we need an okay before the bouncers let her inside.”

“Teagan is here?” Lucy spun on her heel and fled the kitchen.

“Who’s Teagan?” Sadie asked her sister.

“Don’t know, but I’d guess she’s coming into the bar.”

Liam marched into the restaurant. Customers stood in small groups, chatting or claiming tables for their teams. Hank mixed drinks while Gage held court at the bar. He recycled his jokes each week.

The fire crackled in the fieldstone fireplace. The odor of burning wood, the fragrance of cooking food, and the sound of laughter confirmed that the place hummed with activity.

By the entry, Lucy embraced a dark-haired woman. She’d already let Teagan through the door. A tall man stood near them. Dressed in jeans and a gray shirt, he fit into the crowd, except for his ready-to-spring stance and the hawk-like stare he swept over the gathering. His gaze fell on Liam, and he acknowledged him with a nod.

Liam wound through his customers. He paused to answer questions about the night’s game, about Lucy, and about the murder investigation. By the time he reached the trio, Lucy was in deep conversation with her friend.

“I assume you’re not with the liquor commission?” Liam asked the man, who never budged from the women’s sides.

He held out his hand. “I’m Noah Cassidy from Hawick Falls.”

Liam accepted the handshake, still wondering how the newcomer fit into Lucy’s life. “You guys were friends of Luce’s when she lived in Hawick?”

“We are, and you’re Liam McAllister. I know a lot about you, but not from Lucy. That’s why we came.” Amusement etched his deep, easygoing voice. “We want to make sure you’re on the up-and-up.”

“You’re losing me. You’re checking if I’m a good person?”

“What can you tell me about Matt Hastings?”

“The scumbag who’s stalking Lucy?” What was the man getting at? “Hastings is in Barley. Lucy stays close to the Moose. She’s safe here.” Liam glanced at Lucy. Her face glowed with happiness. These guys were okay.

“Yeah, we thought we’d visit Lucy. When she’s quiet about someone, Teagan worries. And Lucy hardly ever mentions you.”

“Me? Listen, hurting Lucy Watson is the last thing I’d do.” He threw a hand toward his customers. “I’m friends with everyone in here. Hastings isn’t in the room. Our bouncer screens for outsiders at the door. You’re one of them, and unless you explain why you came into my bar and implied I’d hurt Lucy, I’ll ask you to leave.”

Noah’s shoulders relaxed. “Glad to see she’s out of harm’s way. I worked Lucy’s case when Hastings ran her down. She’s also a close friend of Teagan’s.”

Ah, that was how they were connected. Liam caught Lucy’s eyes. “Hey, Luce?”

She stepped back to include him. “Liam, this is Teagan.” She nodded at Cassidy. “You’ve met Noah. They’re my best friends from Hawick Falls and just like family.”

If these peeps put her in high spirits, then Liam would try harder to like them. “Thanks for visiting, Teagan. Drinks for you and Detective Cassidy are on the house. Excuse me, I have a game to run.”

Noah caught his arm as Liam passed. “Keep up your guard. Matt Hastings is a serial killer. Take my card. Call me if he shows his face. I’ll come.”

“If I find him first, we’ll be having a little together time before anyone gets there.” Liam pocketed the number. “Nothing is happening to Lucy. She’s home now.”

Liam wove through the tables to stand by the hearth. While he announced reminders of the trivia rules, he shot glances at Lucy. Guilt reminded him of the holy card at the B&B, the man in the snow staring up at her window, and his truck with the picture of the beheaded saint. Maybe he did need Cassidy. No, she was protected at the Moose. He was sticking close to her, and she had Target to sound an alert.

Moments later, Liam spotted them leaving. They must be headed to her apartment. He watched how closely she walked beside her friends and the way she swept her dark hair from her face with energy and animation. She held the door for them to exit and raised her head in his direction. Their gazes locked, and he wanted with all his soul to follow her up the stairs. She waved and left the room.

“We’re ready for the first question,” Hank yelled to him from the bar.

Lucy was out of harm’s way. He’d catch up with her later. If only he could shake the urge to go after her, send her visitors away, and spend the night showing her how he felt.

Chapter 16

Matt Hastings headed down the windy road. Soon, he’d show Lucy Watson how he felt about her. Their separation had changed little. She displayed a sweetness to rival a cherub, but like Lucifer, she had proved she could be the worst kind of angel. She’d betrayed him.

His mind flashed to the day she’d returned to him. She’d begged to see him one more time in Hawick Falls, and he, a fool, had agreed.

But it wasn’t love she wanted to discuss with him. No. She told him of her intention to confess their affair and to receive absolution. She couldn’t deal with the guilt.

Then what would happen? Once she did her penance, it would be easier to tell another person and another. She would lower what they’d shared into an unforgivable sin. Ruin his life. He’d worked hard to give himself an identity where no one would guess or suspect he was a young girl’s nightmare.

Some would say he’d stolen his existence, but that wasn’t true. The first Matthew Hastings was dead and buried. He didn’t need his name. The Matt Hastings he’d become had been perfect, a holy man like the kind in movies and books. The boy who was the son of a criminal, who had grown up without a conscience, now counseled and blessed others.

No, Lucy Watson’s confession would have destroyed the life he created. She refused to grasp that only God possessed the ability to forgive her of the sin of sleeping with him. He’d acknowledged his transgression and made his amends. He had regained his state of grace, he’d argued with her.

But Lucy had rejected his beliefs. She’d turned away from him, her advisor and her lover.

Lucy Watson had shattered his image as the good Father Matt Hastings when she admitted all to the police in the Hawick Falls Hospital.

His life was over. He’d vowed to make her pay for the damage she’d done to him. He clenched the steering wheel. Many would say he sought vengeance, but they didn’t understand. His quest to find her was justified.

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

“Too late for prayers, Lucy. Your journey is finished.” But first, he had to take a couple of detours and then he’d enjoy Lucy Watson’s deliverance to the life beyond. He headed down the dirt drive.

Chapter 17

Lucy woke to a scratching noise. She squinted into the darkness. Ryan!

He lay in a glass coffin, clawing at the lid to get out. Then she saw herself. She was throwing shovels of dirt into his grave. The soil thudded against the cover and the sound mixed with his screams.

She sat up with a jerk, panting. A lamp on the bureau burned in the night. She stared into the space until the room’s shapes took on meaning. No, she wasn’t in the cemetery. She was at Liam’s. Everything was okay. She shivered.

The images of horror faded from her mind. She relaxed. What woke her? The nightmare?

Silence roared in her ears. She tossed onto her side.
Think of something else
. She’d gone to sleep with a smile on her face thanks to Teagan and Noah’s short but uplifting visit. Noah had taken a few minutes to report that Matt’s accomplice, Seth Bodell, would soon get a court date. Otherwise, they avoided talk of death and stalking.

A snarl broke through her thoughts. Target growled. Lucy put her hand over the mattress edge to pat the dog and felt empty air. She blinked in the dimness.

He’d slept beside the bed since she’d brought him to the Moose. “Target? Come here, boy.”

The tapping of the animal’s claws against the wooden floor alerted her to Target’s presence in the other room. The dog’s yips grew louder.

She strained to catch the whisper of movement that would tell her someone had broken inside. She twisted the end of the blanket. No one could get in. Both the downstairs door and her apartment door were locked.

Target let out a bark.

Liam’s truck!
Lucy tossed away the covers. The wooden floor chilled her bare feet. She wrapped her arms around herself and crept into the kitchen. She paused on the threshold. The light on the electric stove cast a dim illumination over the room. Target paced from the rear door to the window by the table as he let out another low snarl. Lucy looked outside.

A gust of wind swirled snow across the parking area. No one was near Liam’s truck. Maybe someone was hiding. She scanned the counters and threw open the fridge and grabbed one of Liam’s beer bottles for a weapon. If anyone forced their way inside, she could hit them over the head. “Target. Come.”

The dog crossed the floor to her, and Lucy gripped the pet’s collar. Not a sound penetrated the apartment. After several seconds of silence, she relaxed her grip and wandered into the front room. The animal followed at her heels. At the pane, she leaned forward and searched the street and sidewalk on the chance a prowler was wandering around the Moose.

The new floodlight illuminated the landscape up to Gage’s gas pumps. What time was it? She read two am on her watch. Target nudged her leg. She petted his head.

Movement near the garage snagged her attention. A person darted away from the building and ran away into the darkness. Gage?

A flicker of orange light danced in the blackness behind the station’s pumps and by the office. She pressed her face to the glass. Flames! Gage’s business and home were on fire.

Her breath left her. She stuffed her weapon, the beer, under her arm and seized her cell and key from the table. She unlocked the apartment’s front door and flung it open. The dog shot past her down the stairs.

“Fire. Liam!” she screamed, fleeing the apartment. Gas and flames.

She had to wake Liam and Gage. The phone fell through her fingers.

Chapter 18

“Lucy?”

She turned around and ran smack into Liam’s chest. Stunned, she stared up into his face while Target barked and circled their legs.

Liam gripped her shoulders. “What’s wrong?”

“Fire.” She gulped a breath. “Flames are coming out of Gage’s Garage.”

“Did you call 911 yet?”

“I dropped my phone, but I got it now.” She held it up and hit the numbers.

He glanced at the bottle in her other hand. “You were drinking?”

“Weapon.”

“Explain later. Go into the restaurant. Report it, and I’ll check on Gage.”

Liam sprinted across the road.

She walked into the dining room with Target tagging after her. The 911 operator answered, and Lucy described the fire and did her best to answer questions. While she talked, she looked out the window, waiting for Liam and Gage to appear. Where were they? The dog whimpered from his spot near her feet.

An orange flicker burned in the dark. The operator reported a fire truck and cruiser were on their way. Sure enough, the wail of alarm bells broke the silence. Had Liam found Gage? She couldn’t stand around any longer. Clicking off her phone, she rushed through the hall and into the street. Target stayed by her side.

A fire engine blared its siren, and she stepped back onto the sidewalk, holding Target by his collar. The truck turned into the gas station. Firefighters jumped out and grabbed their hose.

Lucy rushed forward. An ambulance and police cruiser with flashing lights screeched to a halt beside the curb. EMTs bounded out of their vehicle and headed toward the firefighters. Two officers emerged. One approached the engine while the other ordered Lucy to return to the sidewalk by the Moose.

“My friends, Gage and Liam, might be in the rear apartment of the garage.”

“We’ll locate them.” He skimmed a glance over her.

She was outside in drawstring sweatpants, a T-shirt, and bare feet. Her toes were already turning numb, and the breeze blew through her clothes.

“For your own safety, miss, go inside your home. It’s too cold to be out here without proper gear.”