Trinity Harbor 3 - Along Came Trouble (24 page)

That was an unexpected wrinkle. “Of course I am,” she insisted.

“No, Mary Elizabeth. This is on the house. I won’t take money from you. Not ever. Not under any circumstances.”

Liz sighed. They’d fought about exactly this countless times in the past, when Tucker had flatly refused even to share expenses on a date and had growled unappreciatively if she’d given him a gift he thought was too expensive.

Though King Spencer was rol ing in money, Tucker refused to accept any handouts from him, either, insisting that he could live just fine on his paltry starting salary as a deputy sheriff. Even as sheriff, he wasn’t exactly rich. But what he lacked in income, he made up for in pride. There were plenty of times when Liz found that damned annoying. This was one of them.

“Then I suppose I’l have to find someone else to pick up from here,” she told him. “You’re a professional, Tucker. I won’t let you do this for nothing.”

“Too late. You dragged me into this. You can’t get rid of me now.”

“I’m firing you.”

He laughed. “Doesn’t mean I’l stop working.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sakes, can’t you just come over here and fil me in on what’s been going on? I promise I’l keep my hands to myself.”

“It’s not your hands that give me trouble,” he said.

“Oh? What is it, then?” she taunted.

“You know perfectly wel .”

“Is it my mouth?” she asked in a deliberately provocative tone.

Tucker groaned. “Don’t do this to me, Mary Elizabeth. It’s not smart.”

“I don’t know,” she said thoughtful y. “I think it could be the smartest thing I’ve done in the last six years.”

Tucker didn’t respond, but he was stil on the line. She could hear him breathing and imagined that familiar worry line forming across his brow. She decided to let him off the hook for now.

“If you won’t come over, wil you at least promise to take me to Richmond the next time you go? You have to admit I was helpful last week. We found those letters together, didn’t we?”

“Yes,” he conceded grudgingly. “But I think you should keep your distance from here on out. You don’t want whatever I find and turn over to Walker to be tainted because you were involved in the discovery. It could look as if you’re trying to set someone up.”

“Is that real y the reason, or is it just more hogwash to keep some distance between us?”

“A little of both,” he final y admitted with more candor. “Everybody’s worried about my reputation if we’re seen together, but it won’t be good for yours, either. You’re recently widowed. What wil people think if it looks as if you’re taking up with another man this soon?”

“As if I care about that,” she said.

“Wel , I do.”

Liz sighed. If he was determined to be gal ant, there wasn’t much she could do about it. “Just tel me this, then—were the letters helpful?”

“Walker’s fol owing up on them now,” he said, clearly relieved that she’d changed the subject.

“Has he interviewed Cynthia?”

“That’s scheduled for this morning.”

“Wil you be able to sit in?”

“Doubtful, though I’m going to try. If that doesn’t work out, I’m sure he’l show me a transcript of everything she says.”

“Wil you come by afterward, or at least cal me?”

“I’l let you know what happens,” he promised.

She grinned at his refusal to commit to the means by which he’d let her know. If it was up to him, he’d probably send a note by carrier pigeon.

“Is your family bugging you?” she asked, changing the subject.

“They always bug me.”

“I meant about me.”

“Actual y, they have been strangely silent, but maybe that’s because I’ve been hard to track down.”

“Hiding from them, too, huh?”

“Pretty much,” he said cheerful y. “It’s amazing how peaceful things have been. I’m thinking of hiding out more often. I gather from Walker that King had a big family meeting scheduled for one night last week, but I spoiled his sneak attack by not going home that night.”

“Staying with a girlfriend?” she asked in what she prayed was a casual tone, even though her stomach was twisted in knots as she awaited his reply.

“No, Mary Elizabeth,” he said with exaggerated patience. “If there were a serious girlfriend in my life, do you think King would be so nervous about you?”

“Probably.” She thought of a conversation she’d had with King during one of her infrequent visits to Swan Ridge shortly after her marriage. She’d run into him in town. He’d marched right up to her, gotten in her face and told her point-blank that if she ever did anything to exploit the hold she’d once had over his son, he would personal y make her life a living hel . She’d believed him. And from time to time, when her marriage had begun to fal apart, she’d clung to King’s admission that she had a hold over Tucker.

Recal ing that, she added, “I’m sure no matter how wonderful another woman was, King would be terrified that I was going to mess up the relationship somehow.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” Tucker conceded. “But King’s opinion isn’t important. If he tries to give you any grief, just ignore him.”

“Have you ever known anyone in Trinity Harbor who was able to ignore King Spencer when he has something to say? It’s not like he’l let you get away with turning your back and walking away.”

“But you have an advantage few others have,” Tucker reminded her. “Out of respect for your grandfather, he won’t cause a scene with you in public. Of course,” he continued wryly, “if he turns up at your front door, you might want to consider bolting out the back.”

“I’l keep that in mind.”

“So, what are you going to do today?”

“Now that you’ve turned me down, I have no idea,” she said, unable to keep the plaintive note out of her voice.

“Go into town. See some old friends.”

“And risk bumping into your sister? I don’t think so.”

“The two of you need to mend fences. You can’t do it if you keep avoiding each other.”

“Tel that to Daisy.”

“Believe me, I have.”

“And?”

“She’s just as stubborn as you are. Come on, Mary Elizabeth. If you’re going to come back here to stay, it’s time to start getting out and renewing old acquaintances. You can’t stay holed up at Swan Ridge forever.”

To her deep regret, he had a point. If she’d just accused him of being a coward for not facing his fears head-on, she could hardly let herself get away with being one. “I’l think about it,” she promised. “But don’t think for a second that I don’t know that this is just a way for you to get me off your conscience because you’re leaving me out here al alone.”

“Could be, but that doesn’t make the advice any less sound.”

“Tucker…” Her voice trailed off.

“What?”

Liz sighed. “Nothing.” She couldn’t say what she was real y feeling, that just hearing the sound of his voice was healing her in a way that nothing else possibly could.

“Bye, then.”

“Goodbye, Tucker.”

“I wil be in touch when I have something to report, Mary Elizabeth.”

“I know.”

She heard his muttered oath and a rueful chuckle.

“Saying goodbye’s not one bit easier now than it used to be, is it?” she whispered.

And then, to make it less stressful on both of them, she slid the receiver back into its cradle. But it was a long time before she could make herself release the only connection to him she had.

Tucker slammed the phone down, cursing the fact that after al of his careful attempts to keep things between them cool and distant, he’d given himself away at the end. It
was
hard to say goodbye. He’d never been able to do it, not when they were together and it was just for a night, not after she was gone for good.

It was a darned good thing that interview with Cynthia Miles was scheduled for ten o’clock. He planned to try his best to convince Walker to let him go along. He wanted to hear firsthand what she had to say about those letters and her subsequent attempt to blackmail Chandler about their relationship.

If he planned to pul that off, he had to get over to Walker’s and try to intercept him before he left Trinity Harbor. That meant having a run-in with Daisy, more than likely, but maybe he could tel her again what he’d just told Mary Elizabeth—that it was time to put the past behind them.

As he drove to Walker and Daisy’s, he recal ed the friendship that had bloomed between Mary Elizabeth and Daisy years ago. There had never been any question that Mary Elizabeth was his friend first, but the two girls had spent an awful lot of hours behind closed doors giggling and experimenting with makeup and talking about who-knew-what. Him, more than likely.

In those days, Daisy had been a staunch supporter of Mary Elizabeth’s. She’d already loved her like a sister, and when Mary Elizabeth had told Daisy of her plans to marry Larry Chandler, Daisy had felt every bit as betrayed as Tucker had. Mary Elizabeth’s plea that Daisy be her maid of honor had fal en on deaf ears. Daisy had refused even to attend the wedding, much less participate in it.

“I won’t object if you want to be in the wedding party,” Tucker had told her honestly. “I know how close the two of you are.”

“Were,” Daisy had corrected emphatical y.

“I appreciate your loyalty,” Tucker said. “But—”

“It’s not just about loyalty,” Daisy said, cutting him off. “I won’t stand up and watch her make the worst mistake of her life.”

And that had been that. On the day of the August wedding, Daisy had shown up at his house at seven in the morning and proposed an outing to Kings Dominion amusement park. “We can eat hot dogs and cotton candy and ice cream and ride the rol er coaster until we get sick.”

Tucker had laughed at the suggestion. “And that’s supposed to make me feel better?”

“It wil certainly take your mind off what’s going on over here,” she had insisted.

Because getting drunk was never a solution to anything, Tucker had agreed to her plan. To his amazement, Bobby and King had come along in a show of solidarity. They’d ridden every ride in the park, eaten til their stomachs ached and even laughed a time or two, especial y at the sight of King’s astonished expression when he’d gotten unexpectedly soaked on the water ride.

How could Tucker berate his sister for choosing sides now, when he’d thanked her for it back then?

He was halfway up the walk when Daisy came out to meet him.

“Are you thinking of going with Walker this morning?” she demanded.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I want answers every bit as badly as he does.”

“You told him—you told everyone—that this was his investigation,” she reminded him.

“It is.”

“How do you think it looks if you’re shadowing his every move? A lot of people around here stil think of Walker as a come-here. They don’t entirely trust him to know his job. You’re contributing to their doubts.”

Tucker started to protest but stopped himself. She was right. He might see this as doing the job he’d been hired by Mary Elizabeth to do, but others might view it as a lack of faith in Walker’s expertise.

“I figured you’d be here before I could take off,” Walker said with an air of resignation as he joined them before Tucker could tel Daisy he’d reached a decision.

“I just came by to wish you luck,” Tucker said.

It was harder to tel who was more surprised, his sister or Walker.

“Real y?” Walker said as Daisy silently mouthed, “Thank you.”

“You’l do better without me interfering,” Tucker said. “Cynthia knows I’m working for Mary Elizabeth. Seeing me would just put her on the defensive.”

“I’l cal you with any news,” Walker promised. “You can see the transcript the minute we get it typed up this afternoon.”

“Good enough,” Tucker said, then turned to his sister. “Any chance you can rustle me up some blueberry pancakes?”

She cupped his face in both hands and planted a kiss on his cheek. “You can have anything you want. Just let me say a proper goodbye to my husband.”

Tucker held up his hands. “I don’t need to see this. Where’s Tommy? Maybe he’l play some catch while I wait for you to get breakfast on the table.”

“Tommy’s a late sleeper. You can have the pleasure of trying to roust him out of bed,” Daisy said. “Tel him about the pancakes. That might get him moving.”

Tucker waved to acknowledge the advice as he went inside.

Ten minutes later, a cranky Tommy in tow, he returned to the kitchen to find Daisy spooning pancake mix onto a sizzling griddle. She turned to face him.

“Thank you for what you did out there.”

“Don’t mention it. You were right.”

She grinned. “Words every sister lives to hear. While I’m on a rol , can I offer a piece of advice?”

“No.”

She frowned at him. “Listen anyway. Let somebody else help Mary Elizabeth. You can’t possibly be objective.”

“My objectivity’s just fine.”

“Oh, real y? What was your first reaction when you found her at your house?”

Tucker thanked heaven that Daisy did not know exactly where he’d found Mary Elizabeth that night. “Surprise,” he told her.

“Oh, right,” she said skeptical y. “And I’m the tooth fairy.”

“Sometimes you are,” Tommy volunteered.

Daisy frowned at him. “Stay out of this and drink your juice.”

Tucker hid a smile. It would not help the situation to let Daisy see his amusement. She was trying to protect him, not entertain him.

Apparently his effort was less successful than he’d hoped, because she turned her scowl on him next.

“This is not a laughing matter,” she said.

“Never said it was.”

“Can you look me in the eye and tel me that not one tiny little hip-hip-hooray crossed your mind when you discovered Mary Elizabeth at your place?”

He could tel her that, maybe even keep a straight face while he said it, but he couldn’t look her in the eye and they both knew it.

“I thought so,” she said. “Stay away from her. Even after al this time, you’re stil way too susceptible to her.”

“What does that mean?” Tommy asked, regarding them both with curiosity.

“Drink your juice,” Tucker and Daisy said in a chorus.

“Geez,” Tommy said with disgust. “You’d think I asked about sex or something.”