Fighting Fate (31 page)

She looked tentative. “I’m sure they’ll ask why I never reported her when she broke in last time.”

“Why didn’t you?” he asked.

She inspected her hands for a moment, trying to be sure she’d scrubbed away all traces of paint. “I guess because she just wore me down. I was so tired of dealing with her. The next day, Liz began to convince me I should move back here. I guess I just ran from my problem instead of facing it. Now, I realize I probably should’ve filed a report. If it was her that did this, she was probably thinking that if I let her get away with it once, I’d be willing to let her get away with it again.”

She dried her hands on a towel and turned toward Cole. “Did you change your mind about Toby?”

“No,” he said. “I talked to Alex about it. He asked around. Toby was definitely out on Friday night. He could’ve seen you out. He was at Lucky’s until closing. But after that? Hell, he could’ve shown up here anytime after the bar closed. But if they checked things out with Brynn, then we might know one way or another if it was her.”

“Why don’t you mention Toby to them?” Sarah asked.

“How do I do that without telling them why? I can’t say I think it might be him without giving them a damn good reason.”

“You know,” she said, “the thought has occurred to me that it was completely random.”

Cole blew out a breath. “Yeah. Me too. But what bothers me is that this house stood empty for years. Why didn’t anyone break in then? Hell, if they had, it could’ve been months before anyone would’ve even noticed.”

“So maybe it is related to the coins,” Sarah said. “Maybe someone who heard about them?”

“Yeah, that’s just it. It could’ve been anyone.”

Sarah’s brows furrowed as she pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Hey,” Cole said as he crossed the kitchen to her. “You know what? We’re both done for the day. It’s a nice evening. We never got to go for that ride. Why don’t we do it tonight? We can just hop on and ride until we feel like stopping. Maybe we can find somewhere new to try for dinner.”

The thought of getting away for the evening was enticing. “I’d like that,” she said. “Give me a few minutes to change?”

*
*
*
*
*

“I was wondering if he was ever going to bring you around,” Karen said.

“Karen!” Sarah exclaimed as they walked through the front door of Cole’s apartment building.

Cole realized his mom must’ve seen them approaching through the window of her ground floor apartment. Now here snt.’he was, perched against her doorframe waiting. Her eyes had a sparkle to them that he hadn’t seen since he couldn’t remember when. It made him wish that he’d made more of an effort to bring Sarah around for a visit sooner.

He noticed the flash of concern that flitted across Sarah’s face. He could only imagine what his mom looked like to her after all of this time. She’d never been a large woman but now, she appeared tiny and frail. She looked like she’d aged twenty years in the past eight. Her hair, which had been blond, was now predominantly gray. But it was her face that was the most deceptive. She did not look like a woman in her fifties. Her skin was marred by deep wrinkles. Her eyes always looked tired and the dark crescents beneath were ever-present.

Her years of smoking and hard work had taken their toll. Worse, she’d always worked in a smoke-filled environment. Bars and truck stops that had been hazy with toxic air until the later years when smoking bans went into effect.

Sarah moved forward and carefully pulled Karen into a hug. “It’s so good to see you again,” she said. “I know I should’ve come around before. But to be honest, I’ve not been very good about that this summer. I’ve hardly seen my own parents at all.”

“Well, you’re here now,” Karen answered as Sarah released her. “This one here,” she said as she pointed to Cole, “has told me what you’ve been up to. You’ve sure taken a lot on.”

Sarah smiled. “To be honest, I feel like I’m in over my head.”

“Don’t let her fool you,” Cole said to his mom. “She’s doing great. I’m impressed with what a good job she’s done.”

“Can you come in for a bit?” Karen asked as her eyes darted between her son and Sarah.

Sarah glanced at Cole with raised eyebrows. He tried to read her expression. He thought she was looking at him hopefully.

“You know,” he said, “I’d like to take a quick shower.”

“Perfect!” Sarah exclaimed with a smile. “I’ll visit with your mom while you do.”

“Take your time,” Karen said.

Sarah smiled sweetly at him. “Yes, take your time.”

“Well,” Cole pressed as an idea suddenly came to him, “if you really mean that, I have an errand I could run while you two catch up.”

Sarah gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “It’s fine.” She turned back to Karen and the two of them disappeared into his mom’s apartment.

Since the break-in, he had been making a point of staying by Sarah’s side. But now that she was with his mom, and not alone at the farmhouse, he decided there was something he needed to do while he had the chance.

He hurried up to his apartment and quickly got ready for his evening out. Then he grabbed the keys to his H kefont>

It was just the excuse he needed to make a trip to the service station on Mill Street. As he let himself out of the apartment building, he figured his mom and Sarah were watching him through the window. His mom often left the curtains open. He knew she easily grew bored with being cooped up all the time. Sometimes when she tired of television, she would simply people watch.

He strode to the parking lot, feeling guilty. As if they knew what he was up to. He wasn’t sure Sarah would approve. That’s why he hadn’t told her what he was planning to do.

By the time he took off, he’d convinced himself it wasn’t a big deal. Sarah had looked happy to have some time to catch up with Karen. And his mom had looked ecstatic at the realization she was going to have some company.

As he neared the service station, he realized Toby might not even be working. But as he pulled up, he saw him behind the glass.

Cole pulled his motorcycle up to one of the pumps and began filling it. He glanced around, glad to see that he’d missed the after work rush. He saw only one other car in the lot and from what he could see through the large bank of windows, that person was finishing up. He topped off his tank as the customer emerged from the building.

He strode across the parking lot with purpose. He realized that Toby must’ve caught sight of him while he was pumping gas because he didn’t seem surprised to see him.

“I heard you were back in town,” Toby said coolly by way of greeting. His arms were folded as he leaned against the back counter. He had a cheap shirt on with the service station’s logo embroidered on the front pocket. His jeans were worn and probably hadn’t been washed in a while. A set of keys dangled from a chain connected to a belt loop.

“You heard right,” Cole said as he pulled his wallet out from his back pocket. A car pulled up to the pump next to the one he’d been using. He knew he only had a matter of minutes before they were interrupted. A few minutes were all he needed. He decided to try to make nice before getting to the point. “What have you been up to?”

Toby shrugged. “Same old, same old.” Cole nodded at his vague answer. “You?” Toby asked.

Cole decided to be a bit more forthcoming. Maybe if he tried to chat up Toby, he’d be more willing to talk. “Oh, you know. Keeping busy with odd jobs. I came back to town to take care of my mom.”

“Too bad about Darren,” Toby said. “Your gas came to twenty even.”

Cole pulled out a single bill and handed it to Toby.

“Yeah, too bad,” Cole said with a shake of his head. Under the circumstances, he thought it was best to say what Toby expected him to say. While in truth, as far as he was concerned, his brother had gotten exactly what he had coming to him.

Beyond Toby, >Beto try tCole could see the plump woman at the pump finishing up. His time was running out.

“Hey,” he said in a conspiratorial tone as he leaned forward, “you remember Sarah? Sarah Heath?”

“The chick that was always attached to your side in high school?” Toby asked, though it sounded more like a statement. “Yeah. What about her?”

Cole tried to keep his tone casual as he watched Toby for the slightest sign of guilt.

“Her place was robbed the other night. Completely trashed,” Cole said.

Toby shifted on his feet, his arms going back to a crossed position over his chest again. “So?”

“So,” Cole said, “I was wondering if you happened to hear anything about it?”

“Are you accusing me?” Toby growled.

Cole kept his expression even and worked at keeping his tone reassuring. “Not at all,” he easily lied. “The opposite, actually. I’m asking for your help. If you happen to hear anything, could you let me know?”

Toby
narrowed his eyes at Cole. His tone was cool and placating. Cole didn’t believe him for a second when he said, “I’ll let you know right away. Sure.”

“Thanks, I’d appreciate it.” He wasn’t sure it would make a difference but he thought it couldn’t hurt to let it be known that he was keeping an eye out for Sarah.

“You two together again?”

Cole nodded, keeping his voice even while hoping to make his point clear. “Yeah, she’s my girl. And I’m willing to do anything to protect her.”

Toby nodded as he glanced over his shoulder. The woman, whom Cole had thought was on her way in, was now head first in her car. Her large backside was sticking out of the driver’s side door. Cole figured she must be rooting around for her purse or something.

Whatever the reason, she had given him enough time to say what he wanted to say. He was almost to the exit door when Toby’s voice stopped him.

“I got a wife and two kids,” Toby said.

The words took Cole by surprise. He wasn’t sure how that was relevant to anything. He stopped with his hand on the door and turned to Toby.

Toby continued. “When Mike was arrested, it was enough to scare me straight. I didn’t want to end up like my brother. The way those two dumbasses started bragging it up, I can’t believe someone didn’t turn them in sooner.”

“Oh yeah?” Cole asked as he tried to keep his tone impassive. He’d always known Steve and Mike had rocks for brains. But it had never occurred to him that they’d actually been stupid enough to admit to anyone what they’d whw head fi done. He’d overheard them in what they’d thought was a private conversation. But they’d actually been stupid enough to tell people? Or was Toby baiting him?

“You weren’t the only one that straightened out.”

Cole raised his eyebrows in question.

“We all figured that’s why you left town,” Toby said. “Figured you heard the rumors and didn’t want to get caught up in our brothers’ bullshit anymore than I did. Maybe I didn’t make it to a fancy college like you did. And this job pays shit but at least it’s an honest job.”

Cole nodded. “Why are you telling me this?”

The look Toby gave him wasn’t a friendly one. “Because I heard Alex was asking around about me the night that someone broke into Sarah’s. I want to make it clear: I had nothing to do with that.”

“Alright,” Cole said as the lady finally came bustling in. He slipped out the door as she hurried past.

He tossed around what Toby had said. Straightening himself out sounded like a good story. Cole just wasn’t sure if it was true. Did he mean what he said? Or was he just trying to push suspicion off in another direction?

 
an>

Chapter Twenty-Three

“I can’t believe this place is still open,” Cole said as he carried their tray to a picnic table. “It seemed old way back when we first found it.”

The Roadside Smokehouse couldn’t quite pass as a restaurant. The small building looked more like a shack. It had a green tin roof. The white paint was peeling on the outside but from what Sarah could tell, the inside looked clean enough. Orders were placed at a window and customers were given a number. Seating was provided outside at picnic tables. Some were sheltered under an open air structure that consisted of a roof to provide shade, held up by four sturdy beams. Cole and Sarah had opted for a picnic table in the sunshine.

The meat was cooked on a large, wood smoker. The menu was limited. They offered only smoked turkey legs or smoked pulled pork sandwiches. Each meal came with a side of coleslaw and a generous handful of kettle chips. Lemonade was the only beverage served.

“
I
can’t believe you kept my helmet,” Sarah said with a grin. She and Cole had found it years ago at a consignment store. It had cost her ten dollars. A fraction of what she would’ve spent if she’d had to buy one that was new. The helmet was purple and glittery and it sparkled in the sunlight. It was completely gaudy but she loved it.

“You can thank Mom for that,” Cole said as they settled onto the wooden benches. “I mentioned it and she knew exactly where it was at.”

“Well, I’m glad she had it. This has been so much fun.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so relaxed. After the stress of the last few days, going for a ride had been almost therapeutic.

They had ridden for a few hours, not really heading anywhere but just enjoying the evening. Cole had driven right by the roadside eatery, having forgotten all about it. As he passed, Sarah had given his waist an excited squeeze. He’d looped around, neither of them sure if it would still be serving at this later hour. The window had still been open. The perk of missing the dinner rush was that they nearly had the place to themselves. A few families and another couple were seated under the shelter but Cole and Sarah were far enough away that they had their privacy.