Midnight Secrets (12 page)

Savannah had been at the wrong place at the wrong time, Clark had been way past drunk, and Zach’s life had changed forever.

“Guess that means you’ve got no suspects?”

Zach mentally shook his head. What the hell was he doing daydreaming about Savannah? “None yet, but they’ll screw up eventually and we’ll find them.”

Clark scratched his neatly trimmed beard in an absentminded fashion Zach had become familiar with. It was usually followed by a hypothesis and then a conclusion. Clark had had a year and a half of college before he’d dropped out. Somehow, in that short amount of time, the man became a self-avowed philosopher and psychologist. Zach braced himself for one of his theories.

“I’m suspecting it’s that new family that’s moved into the Hogans’ old house. They’ve got two teenage boys that look just about right for this kind of thing.” Another slow beard scratch and then he added, “I’m thinking I need to have a chat with them.”

Zach’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, they look just about right?”

Beefy shoulders barely shifted in a lazy shrug. “One of the boys has a wild look behind his eyes. Just don’t look right. I don’t like it.”

His eyebrow lifted questioningly, Zach waited to see if Clark had any legitimate reason for his suspicions, other than he just didn’t like the way the kid looked.

“I got an intuition about people. Can size up troublemakers. Both them boys have trouble written all over their faces.”

Reminding himself that despite Dayton’s somewhat ridiculous hypotheses, he was known to be a competent deputy, Zach said patiently, “We’re not going to go harassing people without any solid evidence just because you don’t like the way they look.”

Clark’s beard barely concealed the sneer on his thick lips. “Your attitude of ‘let’s just wait and see what happens,’ sure don’t seem to be working.”

Zach couldn’t argue. They had no suspects. This damaged building, like the others, had no security cameras, and other than the defacement itself, the evidence was minimal. A cigarette butt and tire tracks weren’t exactly road maps to the culprit. Last night had been a full moon; even without security lights, someone should have seen something. Hell, it was almost impossible to take a piss in this town without everyone knowing about it. How were these pricks getting away with it?

He turned his back to Clark and eyed the crime scene again. As graffiti went, it was distinctly unimaginative and colorless. Wouldn’t take more than a couple of coats of paint to cover it up, which seemed kind of odd. If the perps wanted to really cause some trouble, they could have done much worse. Burn the place down or even bust some windows. This kind of vandalism didn’t interrupt business. All it did was cause lots of talk and a hell of a lot of work for the police department. It also caused speculation on the competency of the new police chief. A light bulb went off in Zach’s head and he cursed himself for not realizing it before.

“So if you don’t want to consider the boys of that new family, you got any ideas at all?”

Zach did, but sure as hell wouldn’t be sharing them with this man. He shrugged. “I’ll think on it. In the meantime, why don’t you finish up the reports on that brush fire that got out of control on Saturday?”

Dayton’s mouth twisted, blatant resentment igniting in his eyes. The man hated taking orders from someone who’d once knocked the hell out of him. When Zach had taken the job, he’d met individually with every employee and offered each one an opportunity to leave. No one had taken the offer, including Clark. And though he hadn’t wanted the man as his deputy, Zach had no cause to fire him. Yet.

Zach held Clark’s gaze and waited for the deputy to mouth off. Apparently seeing the wisdom in keeping his thoughts to himself this time, he turned with a huff and stomped away.

Once he was gone, Zach walked around the property once more and let the idea solidify in his head. If the culprits were kids, wouldn’t they do more damage or at least perform some act that left more of a mark? The way it was now, the only harm done was to the insurance company that had to pay the claim, and to the police department’s reputation because they had no suspects.

Before Zach could pursue that line of thought any further, his radio squawked, “Chief, you there?”

“Yeah, go head.”

“We got some trouble going on at Gertie’s Wash and Wait.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Somebody set off fireworks in the dryers. Gertie says it sounds like a war zone. Minnie Dixon’s in hysterics.”

Zach dragged a weary hand down his face and jumped into his car. Hell yeah, it was definitely a full moon.

Chapter

Nine

Dusk was falling as Savannah entered downtown Midnight. It was summertime, which meant shopkeepers stayed open an hour later than during the winter months. Since it was going on eight o’clock, blinds were being drawn, door locks were clicking, and Open signs were being switched to Closed. Her timing couldn’t have been worse.

If she had wanted to avoid the attention her arrival would create, she shouldn’t have driven through town till at least an hour later, when it would be shut down with the exception of gas stations and restaurants. She could see glimpses of curious faces peeking through those closed blinds. Of course everyone already knew she was coming. Within minutes of her notifying the housekeeping service and asking them to deliver some fresh food and staples to the kitchen, dozens of people had known of her impending arrival. Within an hour, no doubt everyone had known. News traveled faster than a runaway zipper in this town … there were few secrets in Midnight. And since the whole town knew, that meant Zach knew, too.

Breath came from her in small spurts and her heart thudded heavily against her chest—almost like a panic attack. Ten years had passed. She was a different person now. The confidence and strength she had lacked back then she now possessed in abundance. And though she knew little to nothing about the adult Zach, she had heard he’d seen active battle. War changed a person. Sometimes it brought out the best, other times the worst. How had it changed him?

As usual, when she allowed herself to think about Zach, she wondered how their lives would have been different if he had kept his promise. Would it have changed things? Would they still be together, or would he have eventually broken her heart anyway? Had he thought he was doing the kind thing by going cold turkey? Who knows, maybe he had been right. She would never know. Maybe he wouldn’t have been the strong, emotional rock she had needed back then.

Breath shuddered through her. Three more blocks and she’d be on Wildefire Lane. So far, she had recognized no one. Hopefully, her luck would hold. A good night’s sleep would give her the energy boost to face whatever came her way tomorrow.

The instant she made a left onto Magnolia Avenue, she knew she had made a mistake. Not only were two patrol cars and an ambulance blocking her way, a crowd of twenty or more stood in the middle of the road. All eyes were focused on Gertie’s Wash and Wait, a business that had been there as long as she could remember.

Knowing if she didn’t turn around soon, she’d be stuck in the crowd of onlookers, Savannah made a quick swoop into a parking space with the intent of making a U-turn. Halfway into the turn, her foot unconsciously slammed on the brake, jerking the car to a stop. A tall, broad-shouldered man with thick sandy-blond hair was stalking out of the laundromat. The shock of seeing Zach again was so great, Savannah barely registered the fact that he had a woman in his arms.

Zach cursed softly and creatively. Of all the times for Savannah to arrive. Lindsay Milan had been trying to get his attention ever since he’d come back to town. When she’d collapsed into his arms at the sound of a firecracker going off, it was as close as he’d ever been to touching her. The woman was twice divorced and was working hard to find number three. He had avoided her advances thus far, but when she had crumpled against him, he’d had no choice but to catch her. He’d almost believed she had fainted until he saw the small triumphant smile curving her mouth. Though he was tempted to set her down immediately, he’d decided to carry her outside first. Now he wished he had followed his first instinct, especially since Lindsay’s thin arms gripped his neck so tight, she was almost strangling him.

Lowering the woman’s feet to the sidewalk outside the Laundromat, Zach did his best to let her go. Lindsay wasn’t having it. Her hold on his neck still tight, she leaned forward as if to kiss him. Zach jerked back, pulling at the fingers she had wrapped around his neck. The kiss she had intended for his mouth landed with a thud against his chest.

Exasperated, Zach grabbed Lindsay’s shoulder and pushed her away.

“Get your hands off her.”

Aw hell. Bad enough to have this woman throw herself at him every time he turned around, but to make matters worse, she was Clark Dayton’s sister.

Zach turned to face Dayton. “She passed out. You need to get her to a doctor.”

“That true, Lindsay?”

“I just felt dizzy for a minute. I’m fine.” She grimaced a strained smile up at Zach. “Zach was just being kind.”

Clark issued a sound between a grunt and a growl. “Let’s go home, girl.” His large, thick-fingered hand wrapped around his sister’s thin arm and flexed. A brief wince of pain flickered across Lindsay’s face.

Remembering some rumors of abuse from years ago, Zach eyed the two speculatively. Was this the reason she threw herself at any available man? She’d come back to live with her father and brother after her second divorce. Being an adult living back at home wasn’t fun. Coupled with having an overbearing, possibly abusive brother, it would be hell.

“I think it’d be a good idea for someone at the hospital to take a look at you,” Zach said.

Dayton pulled at his sister’s arm again. “She said she was fine.”

“Nevertheless, I think it would be a good idea.”

Catching the eye of an EMT, Zach jerked his head toward Lindsay. “Mrs. Milan needs some medical attention.”

Before Dayton could grumble another protest, Zach said, “Take the patrol car and follow behind the ambulance.”

The EMT led Lindsay toward the ambulance; Dayton gave Zach another cold look and then clomped after them.

Zach turned and addressed the small crowd of onlookers. “Show’s over, folks.”

“But what happened, Chief?” a male voice called out.

“Somebody thought it’d be a good idea to throw some fireworks in the clothes dryers.”

Their curiosity satisfied, most everyone turned away. A few stragglers moved several yards up the sidewalk. Finally the path was clear. A royal-blue Mustang convertible sat in the middle of the road, and behind the wheel was Savannah Wilde, staring at him. The light was dimming but he could make out her features. Her hair was still long … looked like it was pulled back, away from her face, in that prim, neat style she used to favor.

The familiar gut punch, one he hadn’t felt since he’d last seen her, kicked him like a mule, almost taking his breath. Their eyes locked briefly, but Zach didn’t move. He’d wait. Go over and talk to her later, let her know he’d be keeping an eye out for her, per her boss’s request. Having their first conversation in ten years in front of nosey and gossiping townspeople wasn’t a good idea.

He acknowledged her presence with a jerk of his head and turned away. He still had work to do here.

Savannah pressed on the gas pedal and shot forward, wincing as she narrowly missed hitting a group of people. Great. Not only had she stared at Zach like a drooling idiot, she had almost injured five or so of the town’s citizens.

“Way to avoid getting noticed, Savannah,” she muttered.

Zach had seen her—their eyes had made contact. And she’d gotten nothing from him other than a grim nod. She released a long shaky breath. Well, what had she expected? For him to run toward her with arms outstretched, declaring his love, along with an apology and an explanation? No, course not. There was nothing he could say or do to change the past. Still, whether she wanted to admit it or not, his cool, barely there acknowledgment stung.

She didn’t spare a glance at the giant fountain in the middle of the town square—which used to be one of her favorite places in Midnight. Designed to look like a mimosa tree in full bloom, it had limbs that sprayed glistening water from tiny holes, making them look like mimosa petals. At night it was even more spectacular, with lights making the petals appear pink. When she lived here, it was rare for her to come to town and not stop to throw a penny into the fountain and make a wish. When they were dating, she and Zach would sometimes sit on a bench beside the fountain and talk for hours. Maybe that was the reason she couldn’t stand to look at it.

At last, she turned onto Wildefire Lane. Pulling into the drive, Savannah shifted into park and stared blankly ahead. That brief encounter with Zach had cracked the calm, impenetrable façade she’d worked so hard to develop for the last 450 miles. Now she felt open and exposed … vulnerable.

Her sigh weary, she opened the car door. Then, purse in one hand, keys in the other, she pulled herself from the car and stood in place, stretching her back and neck. Diversionary tactics. She was shoring herself up. When she’d been hundreds of miles away, it had been much easier to convince herself she was prepared for this upcoming emotional roller coaster. Now that she was here, the stark truth smacked her in the face. Memories emerged, denting and penetrating her ever-present defense shield.

The porch lights glowed brightly; they were set to automatically come on at dusk. Timers inside the mansion turned lights on and off at different times during the evening. The giant house looked warm, inviting, classically beautiful … and filled with love. At one time, that’s exactly what it had been—or so she had thought.