Applewild (15 page)

He loved her. He’d loved her since the night she left Rodney behind to reach down and pull him out of the black pit he’d dug himself into. She was a beacon of light in the storm, and her father had almost snuffed her out.

“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”

“Home invasion.”

For once, Alton wasn’t thinking about how this could affect him. He wasn’t thinking about his image or how it would look for Alton Daniels to be at a murder scene, surrounded by cops, with the same girl from that infamous photo. He wasn’t thinking about how the media would twist it. For once in his life, he didn’t care.

All that mattered was being there for the woman he loved.

*

“You say Mr. List forced his way in?”

A police officer took Monroe’s statement while an EMT patched her up. She didn’t need a hospital. She just needed gauze and sleep and for tonight to be in the past. Alton sat next to her, hands folded on the table, hunched forward, anxious and protective. But she was okay, just exhausted and conflicted, still feeling guilty for not feeling guilty.

“Yes. He had a knife so I did what he said.”

“And you believe he came here specifically to harm you?”

“He said he did. He was angry I lived through the first attack. His marriage had failed and so had his murders. In his own fucked up way, he was trying to make it right.”

“Did he say anything else? Anything about how he found your new apartment?”

Monroe glanced at Alton. He’d never forgive himself if he knew the truth. And it didn’t really matter now.

“No.”

“You shot him in self-defense?”

“Yes. He held a knife to my throat and did this.” She gestured to her new wound. “When I got the gun and aimed it at him, he came at me again.”

“You have a permit for the gun?”

“I do.”

Monroe got up and rummaged through a drawer for the piece of paper while the officer turned to Alton. “And where were you?”

Monroe glanced at him. Alton grimaced. Neither of them could have known this would happen, but she knew he felt guilty.

“At the store down the road. Getting coffee.”

Monroe handed the officer her permit. He looked it over, made a note, then flipped his notebook closed.

“It seems pretty cut and dry to me. He attacked you before, there was a warrant out for his arrest, and he invaded your home. But don’t go too far until we look over all the evidence and make the official report.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you have a place to stay tonight?”

Monroe glanced at Alton and shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ll find a motel or something.”

“Okay. Here’s my card. Call us if you think of anything else. Otherwise, we’ll be in touch.”

Monroe nodded, and the officer let himself out. The crime scene unit was still upstairs, collecting evidence. They’d already snapped pictures of Monroe and taken her clothes. She had jeans and a t-shirt in the dryer downstairs, and that was what she wore now.

“You’re coming back to Applewild,” Alton said, once they were as alone as they could get.

“No. It’s too awkward.”

“I was the jackass who made you feel unwelcome. Madison would be happy to have you.”

“Call Mrs. Avery and put it on speaker. If she has any reservations, I’m going to a motel.”

Alton dialed a number and pressed the speaker button.

“Hello?” It was clear they’d woken her up.

“Hey, Mads, something happened.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, Monroe’s dad found her new place, and…it’s all taken care of now, but we can’t be here for the next few days.

“So you’ll both come here,” she said matter-of-factly.

“If that’s okay,” Monroe added.

“Of course it’s okay. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay.”

“Then we’ll see you soon.”

Alton ended the call and turned to Monroe. “Go pack the rest of what’s in the dryer. We’ll get you a toothbrush.”

“Ms. Hutter has extras.”

“Even better.”

She grabbed a plastic bag and shoved what she could into it. She couldn’t wait to get out of there, go back to Applewild, and have a hot shower. She hadn’t been allowed anything more than a wet paper towel to wash off the bloodstains. Werther would be safe at the boarding stable until she could make it back to see him in a day or two.

“Ready?” Alton asked.

Monroe nodded, and he led her outside. A cop stationed outside the front door checked her bag, wrote down Applewild’s address, and let them go. The sun was rising. Monroe was relieved to see the familiar farm truck parked nearby. It was over. She could finally begin putting this behind her. Alton opened the passenger side door for her and helped her up. She was still shaky, exhausted, and so grateful to have him there. But before he could close the door, the urgent click of heels on the pavement caught her attention. 

“Monroe! Monroe,” Dee Franklin said breathlessly. “I’m not sure if you remember, but I’m Dee Franklin with the
Chronicle
. I was hoping you could give a statement.”

Alton frowned and glanced at Monroe. She could tell he was ready to step in and tell this interfering reporter to back off if she needed him to. But she didn’t. She had a statement. It was short and sweet.

“I told you so,” she said.

The reporter blinked as Monroe closed her door, then held the recording device out to Alton. He was already moving to the driver’s side.

“Mr. Daniels? Anything to add?”

He shook his head and got in. He started the truck, and they left Dee Franklin standing by the curb, trying to wring a story out of what little they’d given her.

Monroe rested her head against the window and looked out at the passing buildings and trees. She felt Alton’s hand on her knee, and she grasped it tightly. Soon the trees gave way to the small town where Monroe had spent ten years of her life, then to the familiar white fence of Applewild Acres and the wrought iron gate. Alton pressed the code and drove through.

She sat up and ran a hand through her hair, trying to perk up a bit for when they got to the house. Her blond locks felt a bit grimy, and she knew it held traces of her father’s blood. Her eyes pricked, but she refused to let tears form. Alton looked at her as he parked the truck and gave her hand a squeeze.

“We’ll go straight up. You’ll barely have to say hello.”

She nodded, unbuckled her seatbelt, and got out. He took her bag and knocked. Madison answered. She’d been waiting for them. She was still in her dressing gown.

“Monroe!” She hugged her. “I am so sorry for everything. We’re glad to have you back.”

Monroe hugged her back and managed a tired smile. “Thank you, Mrs. Avery.”

“None of that. It’s Madison.”

Alton gave Madison a hug and then placed his hand on Monroe’s lower back, guiding her to the stairs. Ms. Hutter stood outside her office and reached out to squeeze Monroe’s hand.

“Welcome back.”

Monroe nodded and let Alton usher her upstairs. Elsa wouldn’t be in yet. She guessed Madison’s husband and son were still asleep. Alton took her into her old room and closed and locked the door behind them.

She headed straight for the bathroom. She had to wash away the last few, horrible hours of her life. Alton’s soap and shampoo were already on the shower shelves, and she used them. She cleaned her father’s blood and her own blood off her body, being careful not to get the latest addition to her collection of scars soaked. Then she dried off and pulled on underwear and a flannel shirt.

It seemed strange to go to bed at this time, but she was so emotionally and physically exhausted she fell asleep as soon as she lay down on the comfortable mattress, enveloped in a goose-down comforter and Alton’s strong, loving arms.

XVIII

Alton slept until noon. Monroe was still out cold, looking peaceful, soft snores telling him that, for once, she was completely relaxed. He sat up, stretched, took a quick shower, and pulled on jeans and a t-shirt. He paused by the bed, watching Monroe. Even though he was only going downstairs, he had trouble leaving her here, alone again.

The idea of leaving her for three months to go to New Zealand seemed insane. He felt guilty for accusing her of espionage, wasting the time they could have spent together moping in L.A., and now for leaving her to the whims of her father.

He’d left her every time she needed him most.

She was clearly capable of handling herself. Her ability to do the hard thing and pull the trigger proved that. But he
wanted
to be there for her. He wanted her to be able to rely on him. He wanted to protect her. And he couldn’t bear the thought of something else happening to her while they were seven thousand miles apart.

There was no way he could say goodbye to her again. Not for that long. With her father out of the picture, she had to say yes to coming with him.

Alton slipped out of the room and headed downstairs. He was hungry and craving a cigarette. He found Elsa washing dishes in the kitchen.

“I saved lunch for you and Monroe, Mr. Daniels,” she said.

“Great. Thank you.”

Elsa pulled stuffed peppers and garlic bread out of the oven, making Alton’s mouth water.

“Are you having it on the veranda?” she asked as she prepared a plate for him.

“Yes, I think so.”

“Mrs. Avery and her family are there right now, so you might have better luck out front for a smoke.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be right back.”

Alton did as she suggested and sat on the front stoop, just hoping to sneak in a few puffs before he joined the party. He hadn’t lit up in about six hours, and with all the stress of the early morning he needed one. He pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and spun it in his fingers, mulling over his motivation.
He’d gone without one for six hours.
He’d survived an incredibly stressful situation without one. It was only now, in the aftermath, he was finally getting to relax with one. Did he really need it?

Alton lit the cigarette and took a slow drag.

Yes, he needed it. Because this was his last one. Monroe couldn’t be around him when he smoked, and he knew it affected his health. It wasn’t worth losing precious moments with her, whether it was to leave her side for a few minutes to light up or because he’d cut his life short and have to leave her side forever.

Finding true love really put things in perspective.

When the cigarette burned downed to the filter, he rolled it between his fingers, pocketed it, and went back in the kitchen.

Elsa handed him a plate of food and glass of water as he passed through. Madison and Will were in the rocking chairs on the veranda, deep in conversation while Xan played with his new toy at their feet.

“Alton!” Madison’s eyes lit up when she saw him approach.

Will smiled a greeting. “Heard you had one hell of a night. Want a beer?”

Will’s answer to everything. Alton loved that about him. “No, thanks.”

“Come over and have a seat.” Madison gestured to two chairs and small table across from them. “We were just talking about the bug.”

Alton sat down and put his drink on the table. “Do you know who did it?”

“We might,” Will answered.

“Ms. Hutter said the articles began surfacing shortly after Jamal left,” Madison said. “He had access to the barn and could have planted it before he decided to quit.”

“Sounds plausible. What’s the next step?”

“We’re calling the police. Today. It’s a total invasion of privacy.”

“I only wish there were some way to have the damn magazine that published the articles held responsible, too,” Will muttered.

“Isn’t there?”

Alton stood and turned when he heard Monroe’s voice. She’d thrown on shorts and held a cup of coffee in her hand. She still looked tired, but the spark was slowly returning to her eyes.

“Probably not.” Madison shook her head. “It’s a professional publication. They would never have said
‘Put a bug on their property and report back to us.’
They would have made sure the idea was implied, nothing in writing, so they could get off scot-free and Jamal would be held fully responsible.”

“That’s a shame.”

Monroe joined them, sitting in the chair beside Alton, on the other side of the tiny table. He wanted to move it out of the way; he didn’t want anything separating them again.

“He knew better. He signed a confidentiality agreement, for goodness’ sake,” Madison said. “I don’t feel bad at all about whatever the consequences are for Jamal. I just want to see consequences for the online magazine, too.”

“Do you have anything on Jamal besides speculation?” Alton asked.

“I’m honestly hoping he’ll just confess in exchange for a plea deal.”

“I’ll look on his Facebook,” Monroe offered, pulling out her phone. “I always used it to see if he was calling out because he was sick or because he’d been partying the night before.”

“Great,” Madison said. “The more dirt we can take to the police, the better.”

“I don’t understand how he would have taken the picture, though. Unless…unless, wait, yes I do.” Monroe looked up from her phone to Alton. “He was already pissed at me for reprimanding him. He knew where to find me. I bet that’s how he made contact with the webzine in the first place. He sold them the picture.”

Alton shook his head, anger seeping into his veins. Monroe turned back to her phone.

“He blocked me,” she said. “But I have Shannon’s login.”

She tapped her phone a few more times. “There’s a status update from the day he left.
‘Quit my job. Found a better-paying gig’
and then a few days later he links to one of the articles and says
‘Wonder how this got out. Winky-face.’
I can take a screen shot and send it to you.”

“Perfect. Let me give you my number,” Madison said, taking Monroe’s phone and entering her information.

Monroe sent the pictures, and then Madison set her phone aside to focus on Monroe. “Now that’s done with, I want to know how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine,” Monroe replied. “Really. This was nothing compared to the first time.”

Madison shook her head. “That whole ordeal must have been just awful. I had no idea you’d been through so much.”

“You weren’t supposed to. I was hoping my past would stay in the past. My father had other plans.”

Alton noticed Monroe was avoiding eye contact, nervous about discussing her personal history, things she’d never meant to mention. He also noticed she wasn’t wearing her glove. The top button of her shirt was undone, leaving the corner of the bandage visible. She was coming to terms with her scars, with her past, and no longer giving it as much hold over her present.

“We’re glad you’re okay,” Madison told her. “And you’re welcome here as long as you like, as often as you like. I wish I could offer you your old job back, too, but maybe we could find you a diff—”

“No,” Alton interrupted.

Monroe stared at him. He hadn’t meant the word to come out so abrasively. He backtracked.

“I just mean…I was going to ask you to reconsider coming to New Zealand with me. Your dad’s no longer a threat. I know being in the public eye is nerve-wracking, but we can handle it. Together.”

Monroe seemed to think about it for a moment, but when her eyes met his they were apologetic. His heart sank. “I want to be with you. But I have responsibilities here. I’m sure it will be more than a few days before I’m allowed to leave the country. I have the job at the tack shop and the townhouse. And I don’t want to leave Werther for three months. He’s in a new place with strange horses and strange caregivers…”

“We’ll take him. We’ll board him,” Madison said quickly.

“Then fly out to meet me when you’ve gotten everything sorted out. Or, hell, I’ll come back and get you.”

Monroe looked from Madison to Alton and back again. She sighed and smiled.

“Okay, then.”