Epiphany (Legacy of Payne) (12 page)

“I’m sure you have access to the report.”

“Yes, I do.” His eyes strayed to the spot where my drawings had been. “I just wanted you to know that I believe you, and if you think of anything else that might help, don’t hesitate to call.” He handed me a card, and his fingers stalled on mine for several seconds. “I’ll listen next time. You can be sure of that.”

* * *
 

My stomach turned as I stared at the spread of food on the table. Nothing looked appetizing.

“Kinda weird when you think about it,” Mike said.

“What is?” I tilted my head up and met his deep brown eyes.

“All of this,” he said, gesturing toward the smorgasbord. “Like anyone is up to eating after . . .” Mouth pressed into a hard line, he shook his head. Mike was as vain as he was buff. Six and I had often joked about how he used enough gel to supply a cheerleading squad for a year. His dirty-blond hair fell flat against his forehead now, unspoiled by the usual goo, and the pallor of his skin made him look older than his thirty-five years.

“I know what you mean. I don’t have much of an appetite,” I said, forking a piece of ham and dropping it onto my plate. Maybe going through the motions would get me through the reception. I glimpsed Six’s mother across the room. Her sons—all five of them—surrounded her as she dabbed her red-rimmed eyes, and I remembered Six telling me how she’d gotten her name.

I have five older brothers and a mom who thought trendy names were in.

I scanned the rest of the room, surprised to spot Judd, Christie, and even Brad. The number of people who’d shown up was testament to Six’s popularity. So why would anyone want to hurt her? I stiffened, shivering at the sudden idea that it could be anyone. Would her killer have the nerve to show his face here? There were so many strange faces it was impossible to tell if any were out of place.

“Are you sure you’re ready to come back to work tonight? You still seem shaken.”

“I need to do something other than sit in my apartment. Besides, I know how short staffed we’ve been, with me and . . . with me gone.” Her name jammed in my throat. I swallowed hard and glanced at him. “It couldn’t have been easy on you either, but you’ve gone into work every night.”

“It’s my job. I’m the manager,” he said, his tone all business. Mike wasn’t one to show weakness, but I suspected Six’s death had hit him as hard as me. “And we haven’t been overwhelmed with customers lately,” he added. “The slow business has given me time to train the new guy.”

“You found someone already?” My stomach clenched at the thought of someone filling her position so soon.

“Yeah, the guy doesn’t have experience, but he’s proven to be a quick study. My options weren’t good. People aren’t exactly jumping at the chance to work at the Pour House these days.” He gave me a searching look. “Are you sure you’re ready to come back?”

“I’m sure.”

“If you’re sure.”

Sometime later, after a tearful conversation with Six’s mother and all five of her brothers, Mike and I finally began the hour drive back to Watcher’s Point. We arrived at the Pour House a few hours into our shift.

I stood immobile in the entrance and tried to wrap my mind around the sight before my eyes. The “new guy” Mike had hired was Aidan. He stood behind the counter mixing a drink and making easy conversation with a woman seated at the bar. It rankled that the woman was Christie. She must have come straight to the bar upon leaving Six’s memorial.

“You hired 
him
?” I stared at Mike with wide eyes. 
This isn’t happening. Oh my God, this isn’t happening.

He shrugged. “I was desperate.” He rested his hand at my back and propelled me forward. “I’ll cover the front. Maybe you should take a few and talk this out with him.”

My eyes darted back and forth between Aidan and Christie as I approached the bar
. 
They caught sight of me about the same time, and she chose that moment to laugh at something Aidan said. I gritted my teeth when she placed her hand on his arm. Jealousy was such a petty emotion, but I was honest enough to call it for what it was; honest enough to know it was ridiculous—I didn’t hold claim on Aidan. So what if he’d kissed me senseless?

I marched around the bar, ignoring the smirk Christie sent my way. “We need to talk,” I said, grabbing his arm and pulling him into the back. As soon as we were alone, I let go of him.

“What’s going on?” he asked before I had the chance to say anything.

I raised my eyebrows. “You tell me. You’re the one moonlighting as a bartender.” I allowed my gaze to roam over his body, taking in his black T-shirt and jeans. “At the bar where
I
just happen to work.”

“Moonlighting?” He grinned and leaned against the door of the walk-in cooler. “Doesn’t the term ‘moonlighting’ imply a day job?”

“You know what I mean. You’re a reporter, so what are you doing working 
here
?”

“No, I 
was
 a reporter. Now I’m a bartender.”

My simmering emotions boiled over. I opened my mouth and let the words fly without thinking. “Six was killed just a few days ago. How you’re able to stand here and joke about taking her place is beyond me.”

His amusement vanished. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hurt you, but you left me no choice. I begged you to leave town.”

“So . . . what? You’re here to play bodyguard now?”

“I’m here to make sure you’re safe.”

“I’m a grown woman. I can take care of myself.” I folded my arms and mimicked his words from the night of Halloween, “Twenty-three should make me a big girl now.”

His eyes drifted down my body before jerking back to my face. “Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about.” He pushed away from the cooler and narrowed the distance between us. “This maniac . . . he’s got something against me, Mackenzie. He’s always been one step ahead of everyone. I’ve drawn too much attention to you and finding Six the other night didn’t help.”

“So what are you saying? That he’s gonna come after me next?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

I shook my head, even as fear prickled the back of my neck. “That’s crazy. Besides, I don’t think the police leaked our names to the media. Six’s mother didn’t know we’d found her.”

“I asked McFayden to keep your name out of it. He agreed. He’s worried about you too.”

I tightened my arms around myself, partly in protection, and partly in irritation. “You’ve been busy talking to people about me. What did you tell Mike?”

Aidan suddenly found the floor fascinating. “The truth.”

“You told him we found Six?”

“I told him everything.”

My stomach plummeted. When he said everything, did he mean 
everything
? “You didn’t tell him about my dreams . . .”

“He didn’t buy the hiking story, and I needed him to hire me.” He had the grace to look guilty. “I’m sorry.”

I gaped at him in disbelief. “I’ve only told one person besides you and the sheriff.
One person.
I told you because I trusted you, and believe me, trusting people isn’t something I do lightly these days.” I jabbed his chest with a finger. “And for good reason, you jerk!”

He grabbed my hand. “You wouldn’t listen to me the other night. Someone’s gotta watch out for you, and Mike—he doesn’t have any connections to Boise. Mackenzie . . . he needed to know how serious this is.”

I yanked my fingers from his grasp and stepped back. “It wasn’t your place to tell anyone.”

“I know. Call me desperate, but I’m worried about you.”

“I need to get to work.” I whirled around and pushed through the doors. Christie still wasted perfectly good space at the counter, and Judd sat on the barstool next to her. Judging from the glare Christie aimed at him, they were headed to 
off-again
 status.

“You good out here?” Mike asked.

I nodded without meeting his eyes. “Yeah, we’ve got it covered. Thanks.”

“Holler if you need anything. I’ll be in the back.”

The bar was next to empty. Two people chatted over the pool table, and another man sat in front of a video poker machine, feeding it twenties as if he had them to spare. Every so often he’d tug at his collar.

I pasted a smile on my face and approached Judd and Christie. “Can I get you guys anything?”

“You can kick
him
out,” Christie replied, pursing her glossy lips. She sneered in Judd’s direction.

He ignored her. “Don’t mind her,” he slurred, “I still haven’t figured out how to pull the stick from ‘er ass.”

You and me both, buddy.

I heard the doors open behind me. “We’re not done talking,” Aidan whispered into my ear. His breath tickled my neck, causing heat to ignite low in my belly. His arm brushed mine, and from the corner of my eye, I saw him standing to my left. I cursed my body’s reaction to his proximity and considered quitting on the spot.

How could Mike expect me to work in such tight quarters with Aidan? My manager was a few marbles short of an Aggravation game, no doubt about it.

“Later,” I said, suddenly distracted by Christie’s murderous expression.

Aidan nodded. “Everything okay here?” Apparently, he’d picked up on the tension between Judd and his girlfriend too.

The deputy smelled like a brewery. “Everything’s A-okay, right, Christie?”

“Go fuck yourself!” She hopped down from the barstool and stalked toward the door.

“Come on, baby, I said I was sorry!” Judd rolled his eyes and went after her.

The man sitting at the video poker machine glanced up, and the two playing pool paused long enough to watch Judd and his girlfriend disappear into the thickening fog. The door swooshed shut behind them, pushing a drift of frigid air into the bar. I shivered. The pool players returned to their game, and the lone man buried his nose in the spinning reels of his machine. I still couldn’t bring myself to look at Aidan.

“Will you forgive me?” he asked.

I ignored him and began to clear the glasses Christie and Judd had abandoned.

“It’s gonna be a long night,” he muttered with a sigh.

I couldn’t help but agree. The crowd at the Pour House was non-existent. Slower than slow. I wasn’t surprised when Mike sent us home two hours before closing time.

Aidan waited for me while I gathered my purse and coat. “Did you drive to work?” he asked.

“No. What about you? I didn’t see your car in the lot.”

“I walked.” Aidan opened the door for me, and we stepped into the thick fog.

“You must like walking.”

“So are you talking to me again?”

I pulled my coat tighter and fought off a wave of nervousness. “Maybe,” I said as he fell in step beside me. Staying mad at him was useless—about as useless as forgetting that damn kiss. “Thanks for walking me home.” I finally looked at him. “What’s that?” I asked, pointing at the brown paper bag he carried.

“Oh, this?” He lifted the bag. “I’ll show you when we get to your apartment.”

Silence stretched between us for a block. “Was it everything you’d dreamed of?” I asked.

“What?”

“Fulfilling your dreams of being a bartender.”

His deep laugh tickled my insides in a funny way. “It exceeded my expectations. Of course, working alongside you helped.”

My apartment came into view, and I hastened my stride. My hands, as cold as ice cubes, fumbled with the keys.

“Here, let me.” Aidan’s fingers closed over mine, and my gaze flew to his. We stared at each other for a beat. He took the keys and had no trouble unlocking the door. “I want to check out your apartment.”

I followed him inside and pulled the door shut, warding off the cold. I was glad I’d had the foresight to turn up the thermostat. I rubbed my hands together and waited for warmth to seep in. “Looking for the boogeyman?”

“The boogeyman is child’s play compared to what I’m worried about.” Aidan turned on a lamp and started removing items from his mysterious bag.

“You gonna let me in on the secret now? What’s all that?”

“Window alarms, sticks for the tracks, extra locks for your door.” He emptied the bag. “And two cans of mace. Keep one with you and the other on your nightstand.”

I gaped at him as a warm sense of safety spread through me. “Thank you,” I said, though the words were insufficient at expressing what I wanted to say.

“You’re welcome. Do you know how to use a gun? I can get you one.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’d probably end up shooting myself.” I gestured to the items he’d laid out. “Is this really necessary? I mean, what makes you think he’ll come after me?”

“I’m not taking any chances.” He grabbed the items. “I’d better get started.”

I followed him as he headed into the bedroom. He flipped on the light and then came to a standstill. I bumped into his back. “What’s wrong?”

When he didn’t answer, I peeked around him . . . and wished I hadn’t.

Someone had left a photo of a woman’s naked, tortured body on my lavender comforter.

That night I dreamed of the past instead of the future. Suspended like a balloon, I was pulled along for the ride, a spectator in my own dream . . .

Aidan pulled into the garage of a single-level stucco home. The last rays of the sun tinted the mountain range a stunning burnt orange. He closed the garage door as two preschool-aged kids approached, their smiling mothers waiting on the sidewalk. The kids were getting a head start on trick-or-treating. Raggedy Ann stood back as the brave-faced pirate rapped on the front door.

Aidan entered through the kitchen. His hair was shorter than the careless length he wore now, his eyes bloodshot and weary. He halted at the counter and stood unmoving, lifeless as a pillar at Stonehenge. The two trick-or-treaters knocked a second time but were either ignored or simply not heard.

In a fit of rage, he grabbed a plate from the sink and hurled it at the wall. The rest of the dishes joined the first, and glass shattered and rained everywhere. He looked as broken as the shards glinting on his floor.

“Aidan—” My voice cracked on his name.

Of course, he didn’t hear me. He strode from the room, stomping through the house and kicking anything in sight as a slew of obscenities filled the air. Stony silence ensued when he reached the bedroom. The room was alight with candles, and a banner reading “Happy Birthday” hung above the four-poster bed.