Mad Love: Madison (15 page)

“Will she be able to dance again?”

“Not like before. She suffered extensive damage
to her kneecap. She’s had several surgeries to try to fix it but the doctor
recommended that she find another profession. Dancing is all that she’s known
since she was five years old. She studied dance, lived dance, and breathed
dance, and some psychopath in a ski mask took it all from her. She came here to
live with me soon after.”

“And that’s about when all the problems started.”
After a moment, he said, “What you just described doesn’t really sound like
some random mugging. It sounds like she was targeted. Whoever attacked her
wanted to hurt her. Wanted to destroy her career.”

Madison made a face. “Who would want to
intentionally hurt Sarah? She’s one of the nicest, kindest people I know.”

“Another ballerina? Jealousy, perhaps.”

“Everyone loved her.”

“Has she ever met Paul?”

“No. Never.”

She felt his shoulders lift. “Maybe it was just a
coincidence,” he muttered to himself softly.

“Her attack?”

“Yeah, I was just wondering if there was a
connection with what happened to her and what’s been happening to you.”

“I don’t see how. She was in New York at the
time. She had nothing to do with Paul or Vanessa and she barely knew Quincy.”

“Just a coincidence then.” Ethan lifted his wrist
and checked his watch. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m sorry,
baby, I’ve got to go soon.”

She sat up with a frown. “Already?”

“I have an appointment in an hour. I don’t want
to be late.”

“On Christmas Day?”

“I’m afraid so. You all are heading back to
Lexington tonight, aren’t you?” At her nod, he said, “I’d prefer it if we left
together.” He nodded to the window. “Just in case whoever was out there decides
to come back.”

Madison felt a shiver race down her spine.
“That’s a happy thought. Are you sure you can’t come all the way back to
Lexington with us? Maybe reschedule your meeting for tomorrow?”

His expression turned pensive. “Madison, I don’t
want to scare you any further than you already are but I don’t think we have
much time. Quincy or someone who sounds like him is calling you up and counting
down to something. Whatever that something is, it can’t be good. The man left
everything behind when he disappeared. I have no idea whether he left of his
own free will or someone took him, but I think it’s safe to say something bad
is coming and I plan on stopping it from happening.”

A knock sounded against the door. Sarah poked her
head in. “Sorry to interrupt. Have you seen Rory?” She bent down as Rory raced
toward her. “Did you miss me?” She lowered her voice as she looked from Madison
to Ethan and then back to Rory. “They’ve been talking about me, haven’t they?
Good thing I have you in here to spy on them.” Scooping Rory into her arms, she
stood up and smiled at Ethan. “Don’t believe a word my sister says about me.
It’s all lies.” She wagged her finger in front of his face. “I could tell you
stories about her. For instance, did you know that she was voted most likely—”

“Hey,” Madison said quickly, “I told him that you
were the best dancer I’ve ever seen.”

Sarah’s lips quirked up. “Oh, sure, now you did.
What were you saying earlier?”

Chuckling, Madison nudged Ethan with her knee. “A
little help here.”

“She was saying all good things about you,” Ethan
assured her.

“As she should.” Sarah smiled brightly. “So,
Ethan, what’s it like being a private eye? Been in any good car chases today?”

Madison rolled her eyes. “You’ll have to excuse
Sarah, she watches a lot of film noir.”

“Yes,” Sarah said, her blue eyes twinkling in
merriment, “and I’m sure each one is an accurate reflection of Ethan’s life.
So, meet any femme fatales lately?”

“Not today,” he said as his eyes flicked to
Madison, “but it’s still early. Perhaps things will liven up when I pick my trench
coat and fedora up from the dry cleaners.”

“Well, I certainly hope so.” She turned to Madison.
“Grandpa said that it’s getting late and if we wait too long we may get snowed
in.”

Their heads automatically turned to the window as
the snow gently fell from the sky.

“I don’t think it’s cold enough to stick,”
Madison said.

Sarah tilted her head to the side. “Do you want
to argue with Grandpa?”

“No, I do not,” Madison said.

“I’ve already collected our things and put them
in the trunk.” She looked apologetically at Ethan for interrupting. “So we’re
ready to go as soon as you two are.”

“We were just talking about leaving when you
walked in,” Ethan said coming to a stand. He held out his hand and helped
Madison up.

“I’ll go get Grandpa,” Sarah said before spinning
around and going back into the hallway.

 Madison looked at Ethan curiously, as she knelt
next to the fireplace and picked up a brass shovel. “What sort of appointment
do you have on Christmas?” she asked as she put out the fire.

“Quincy’s neighbor said that he stored some of Quincy’s
things at his grandparent’s place in Frankfort. He promised to meet me there
tonight and let me look over the stuff.”

“Oh, I hope you find something,” she said
watching him pick up his coat. Finished with the fire, she followed him out of
the sitting room, turning off the lights as she went. “Call me if you do.”

“I will,” he said as his hand drifted to the
small of her back and stayed there as they walked toward the front door.

He started to turn the knob, but stopped and
faced her. “If you would like, I could stay with you and your family tonight
after I take a look at the rest of Quincy’s things.”

Madison bit her lip, giving the offer some
considerable thought. Deciding against it, she shook her head. Like he said, they
didn’t have much time and he needed to find who was doing this to her. “Thanks,
but I’ll be okay. I have Grandpa, Sarah and Rory for protection.”

“Your grandfather’s over eighty and Rory’s about
five pounds. I don’t think they’re much protection.”

“Sarah and I have been taking self-defense
classes.”

“Good. How long?”

“About a month,” she said taking her coat out of the
coat closet. “We’ve already had three half hour classes.”

“Oh,” he said hiding a small smile as he helped
her into her coat, “still I would feel better if I could spend the night.” He
lifted his hands. “On the couch.”

“Hmm, it might be a little crowded since that’s
where Grandpa was planning on sleeping.” She pulled his hands down. “I’d feel
better if you were able to prove Paul is the one doing this. At least then
maybe the police can lock him up for a while.”

 “So would I. I don’t think he’s going to try
anything tonight, but make sure to lock your doors and windows tonight. Put
something in front of them if you have to.”

“Don’t worry; I can take care of myself. Besides,
if Paul kidnapped Quincy and is making him countdown to New Year’s, then that
must mean he’s not going to try anything until then.” She looked at him with a
hopeful expression. “Right?”

His eyes clouded over a bit as he stared down at
her. “Right.” He slipped his arms around her waist. “Try not to worry. I’ll
follow you as far as the city. Call me as soon as you get home so I know you
made it back safely.”

She touched his chest. “Thank you, Ethan.”

He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing along her
face. “Thank me when I figure out what’s going on.” His head started to bend
down towards her and she eagerly rose to her tiptoes to meet him. His lips
barely grazed hers when they heard the sound of Sarah and Lee Love coming down
the stairs.

Ethan pulled his head back with a regretful sigh.

“I know snow,” Lee grumbled. “We’re going to get
over a foot tonight.”

“The meteorologist said half an inch at the most,”
Sarah said.

He shook his head stubbornly. “I know I’m going
to miss my flight tomorrow morning.” His eyes lit up when he saw Ethan standing
by the door. “I’d bet he’d agree with me.”

“Absolutely, Sir,” Ethan said affably, “definitely
over a foot.”

Lee’s face broke out in a grin. “See,” he said to
his granddaughter.

Sarah rolled her eyes as she passed Ethan and
Madison. “I’ll make sure to call the news station and let them know they’re
wrong.”

“Good,” Lee said with a nod. “Ask to speak to Bob.
He’s the guy I usually complain to.” He winked at Madison as he followed Sarah
out the door. “And don’t forget to tell them what I think about their sports
coverage.”

Ethan and Madison stepped out onto the porch and
watched as Lee locked the front door before turning and walking to her car.

Ethan opened Madison’s car door and helped her
into the driver’s seat. He crouched down next to the car. “Call me if you need
me.”

She nodded with a smile as snowflakes clung to
his thick dark hair. “I will,” she said playfully running her fingers over his
hair. “Just hurry home.” She snapped her mouth shut as heat flooded her face.
“I mean, your home, of course. Not mine.”

He grinned. “I know what you meant.” He stood up
and walked toward Madison’s grandfather as Sarah and Rory slid into the
passenger seat.

Madison lightly touched her sister’s arm. “Thanks,
by the way.”

Sarah’s face broke out into a broad grin. “Did
you like that?”

“I was very impressed. I didn’t think you’d be
able to distract him for that long.”

“I decided to talk to him like I would talk to
you. Given facts and figures. Logic and reason.”

Madison rolled her eyes. “Uh huh.”

“I started off by asking him if he liked Ethan.”

“And what did he say?”

“Loved him, and then I asked him if he would like
to see him as a grandson-in-law someday.”

Madison laughed as she checked her messages. “For
goodness sake, you just met him and you already have us getting married.”

“I saw the way you two were looking at each other.”

“And what did Grandpa say?”

“He said that would be just fine by him.” She
paused as her grandfather slipped into the backseat. Once he was settled, she
raised her voice. “And then I asked the old coot what would be the likelihood
of you and Ethan getting married if he monopolized all of the pretty man’s
time.”

Madison glanced at the rearview mirror to see her
grandfather’s expression. “And?”

Lee grinned. “And I said that if anything, I
helped you. He probably can’t wait to join this family now.”

Sarah turned part way in her seat so she could
scowl at her grandfather. “At which point I threatened him with bodily harm if
he left the living room.”

Smiling, Madison backed out and started down the
long driveway towards the road.

“Evil grandchild,” he said with a playful scowl.
“I almost escaped a few times. Poor Ethan would have probably been bored to
tears without me to entertain him.”

Madison chuckled. “I assure you, Grandpa,” she
said lightly, “Ethan was not bored.”

Sarah’s eyes lit up as she clucked her tongue in
mock disapproval. She lowered her voice. “I am shocked and appalled and in Grandpa’s
house, no less.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter,” Madison said
lowering her own voice. “It was strictly PG. Well,” she amended, “maybe PG-13.”
She scrunched up her nose a bit. “Perhaps a little R for a few seconds but only
a few seconds.”

“Shameful.”

“Jealous?”

“Terribly.” Noticing the charm bracelet for the
first time, Sarah let out a small gasp as she tugged at Madison’s arm. “Where
did you get that?”

Madison held up her wrist. “Do you like it?”

“It’s beautiful,” she said turning checking out
each charm.

A movement to her right caught Madison’s
attention. She slowed down as she turned her attention to the woods. “Did you
see something move?”

“Hmm?” Sarah glanced up.

“I thought I saw something just behind that tree
over there,” she said pointing.

“Oh, I saw a deer out there earlier,” Sarah said
dismissively.

Madison glanced in her rearview mirror wondering
if Ethan had seen anything crouching by the trees as they passed. She was
positive it wasn’t a deer, but didn’t correct her sister.

They lapsed into silence as they continued down
the darken road towards the interstate. Throughout the long drive, she found
herself continually glancing at the rearview mirror. She could only see Ethan’s
headlights but it was enough to make her feel safer knowing he was so close.

She returned her attention to the road as their
grandpa turned on the interior light before leaning over and picking something
off the floor. “Santa doesn’t like naughty girls,” he said, speaking up
suddenly after several minutes of silence.