Obsession (2 page)

The young man with the dark eyes and dark, wavy hair cleared his throat. “Are you Toni Matthews?”

Toni found her voice. “Yes, I am. How can I help you?”

“I'm Abe… Abe Matthews.” He smiled. “No relation, of course.”

Toni frowned, ignoring his attempt at humor. “Abe Matthews?” She shook her head. “I'm sorry, but… should I know you?”

The concern on his face was obvious. “No, not at all. It's just that I knew your father—not well, of course.… Actually, I'm a detective with the River View Police Department, and your father and I met when a couple of our investigations crossed paths, and… I was shocked when I heard about his death. In fact, I was at his funeral—not that I'd expect you to remember that, with all those people there and all that was going on, and also with the way you must have been feeling, but—”

“You knew my father?”

He nodded. “Yes. Of course, as I said, I didn't know him well, but we had talked a few times, and… anyway, that doesn't matter right
now. I was just driving by and thought I'd take a chance and see if your father's secretary was in. I have something of his that I wanted to return, but I didn't feel right bothering you at home so soon after…”

His voice trailed off as Toni noticed the book in his hand. “You have something that belonged to my father?”

He held out the book. “It… might sound silly, but it's a book on fly fishing. Your dad and I both have—
had
—a passion for fishing, as you know.… Well, as you know about
him.
Anyway, we got to talking about fishing one day and he lent me this book just before he went on his vacation. I was going to return it to him when he got back, but…”

Toni stood up and reached out to take the book. “Thank you, Detective Matthews. I appreciate your bringing it by.”

“Abe,” he said, placing the book in her outstretched hand. “Please… call me Abe, especially when I'm not on duty.”

She was annoyed with herself for the flush she felt creeping up her neck and cheeks at the touch of his hand. “Yes, well, thank you again… Abe.”

They stood silently for a moment until Abe cleared his throat and looked around. “So, where's the secretary? Irene, was it?”

“Lorraine. She quit suddenly, about a month ago. She hadn't been here very long, and she didn't really give any reason for leaving. My dad didn't have time to find anyone to take her place, so I filled in for him while he looked for someone, but then… he died. That's why I'm here now, trying to figure out what needs to be taken care of immediately, answering calls, referring contracts, things like that.”

“Oh. Sure. There must be a lot of details to take care of and…” He cleared his throat again. “Have you… decided what you'll do with the agency? I mean, I assume you're going to sell it or…?”

Toni shrugged, suddenly feeling very tired. “I don't know,” she said, her voice breaking as she fought tears. “I… really don't know… I…”

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business. It's just that your dad had mentioned how happy he was that you'd gotten your license and how he hoped you'd follow in his footsteps someday, so…”

The tears spilled over then as Toni's headache returned with a vengeance. She put her hand on the desk and leaned against it, still clutching the book in her other hand. “No. It's not your fault. Really. It's…”

Just as she wondered if her legs would give way, she felt his hands grasping her arms and helping her back to the chair. She collapsed into it and laid her head back with her eyes closed, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks. She was too weary even to be embarrassed by her uncharacteristic show of weakness.

“What can I do?” Abe asked, handing her a tissue from the box on the desk. “Can I call someone or get you something?”

“An aspirin. Please. My head is pounding.”

In the couple of minutes it took Abe to retrieve some aspirin from his car, Toni had taken some deep breaths and managed to stop the tears. She gladly accepted the aspirin and the cup of water he brought her from the cooler in the front office.

As she swallowed the aspirin, Abe knelt beside her, his hand on the arm of her chair. “Is there anything else I can do? Someone you'd like me to call or…”

Toni shook her head. “No. I'll be fine. Really. I'm just a little tired. There's been so much…”

“I can imagine,” Abe answered, his voice low. “I'm sorry if my coming here made it worse.”

Impulsively, Toni laid her hand on his. “Not at all. I appreciate your bringing the book and—”

They both jumped when they heard the voice and realized they were not alone.

“Toni? What's going on here? Are you all right?”

Toni and Abe looked up at the figure framed in the doorway.

“Brad,” Toni exclaimed as she and Abe rose to their feet. “I didn't hear you come in.”

Brad raised his eyebrows. “I'm not surprised.” He turned toward Abe. “I'm Brad Anderson, Toni's fiancé. And you are…?”

Abe stuck out his hand. “Abe Matthews,” he said. “I was just—”

“Mr. Matthews is a police detective, and he was a friend of my dad's,” Toni interrupted. “He was returning one of Dad's books.”

“I see,” said Brad, shaking Abe's hand. “That explains why you look familiar. I'm a lawyer, and I'm sure that in a town the size of River View we're bound to have run into each other a few times over the years. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Matthews.”

“Yes, well, it's nice to meet you, too, Mr. Anderson.” Abe looked at Toni. “Well, Miss… Matthews, I've got to run. I'm sorry if I disturbed you….” Nodding his goodbye, he didn't wait for Toni to answer but stepped around Brad and hurried through the door into the outer office. Brad and Toni stared after him until they heard the front door close.

“What was that all about?”

Toni turned toward Brad. Dressed impeccably as always, his off-white summer suit complemented his pale blue shirt and navy tie. She was glad to see him. His familiarity comforted her. But the slight irritation on his face reminded her of how tired she was. She sat back down in her chair.

“He just stopped by to return that,” she said, pointing to the book.

Brad picked it up. “Fly fishing?” He turned it over, examining it as if expecting to find some explanation. “I don't get it. He came to return a book about fly fishing?”

Toni nodded, running her fingers through her hair as she tried to pull herself together. “Yes. I guess he borrowed it from Dad.”

“So this… detective… he and your dad were good friends?”

“They knew each other. How close they were, I don't know. He did mention that he'd been at Dad's funeral, but I can't say that I remember seeing him.”

Brad raised his eyebrows. “Hmm. Another reason he looked familiar.” He paused. “So I gather you two have never met before?”

“I don't believe so. Why?”

“No reason.” Brad shrugged. “I thought maybe… I don't know; it just seemed as if you two knew each other.”

Toni sighed. “No. Don't know him. Just met him today. Look, can we change the subject? I'm really tired. I think maybe I need to get out of here and go get something to eat.”

Brad's face brightened. “Great idea. In fact, that's exactly why I'm here. How about an early dinner somewhere? A good steak might be just what you need.”

“Oh no, I can't go out looking like this,” Toni protested, looking down at her jeans and oversized pink shirt. “You're dressed for it, but I—”

“You look great,” Brad insisted. “You always look great. Come on, let's go somewhere really nice. We can go by your place so you can change first if you want.”

Toni shook her head. “Seriously, Brad, I really can't. I'm just too tired. Besides, Melissa will be home soon. She spent the night with Carrie last night, but she said she'd be home in time for dinner. Why don't you just come and eat with us? It'll be potluck, I'm afraid, but—”

Brad interrupted her. “I've got a better idea. Why don't we pick up some Chinese food on the way home? Melissa loves it, and that way nobody will have to cook or wash dishes.”

Toni smiled, grateful for Brad's thoughtfulness. It was one of the many things she loved about him. “You've got a date. Just let me clear a few things off my desk. It won't take long.”

As Toni stood and reached out to pick up the files and notes from her desk, she spotted the open file on top and remembered what it was that she had been so engrossed in reading when Abe Matthews had interrupted her.

“Julie Greene,” she said, picking up the file. “Something's just not right about this.”

“What's not right? Who's Judy Greene?”

“Julie
Greene,” she answered, pointing to the scrap of paper with the bright red notation. “Look at this.”

Brad leaned over Toni's shoulder and read the note out loud. “Eagle Lake, 6 A.M., Wednesday.” He straightened up and shrugged. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“I'm not sure,” she said absently, still staring at the file. “But… that's where my dad was when he had his heart attack. Doesn't it seem a bit strange that this would be in one of Dad's client's files?”

Brad shrugged again. “Not necessarily. Just because that's where your dad was when…” His voice caught and Toni felt his hand on her shoulder. “Honey, there are all sorts of reasons why that notation could be in the file. Eagle Lake is a very popular place around here, you know.”

Toni nodded and looked up at her fiancé. “I know,” she said, her voice soft as she saw the compassion in his hazel eyes. A shock of sandy blond hair fell across his forehead, giving him a vulnerable look that belied the disciplined lawyer's mind that Toni so respected. In spite of herself, she smiled.

Brad's response was immediate. Leaning down, he kissed her gently. “You look exhausted. Come on, let's go get that Chinese food and head over to your place.” He took the file from her hands and laid it on the desk, then lifted her to her feet and pulled her close, nuzzling her hair. His voice was husky. “There's nothing here that can't wait until tomorrow.”

“Maybe,” she murmured. “I suppose. But… there's still something strange about this Julie Greene case. A missing teenage girl from Colorado…” She lifted her head and looked up at Brad. “How did her case end up in my dad's office, way out here in the Northwest? And why was this girl's grandmother so sure that Dad was about to solve this thing? How does all that tie in with Eagle Lake? I thought Dad's cases were all pretty tame. You know, simple civil cases. He never got involved with anything criminal or dangerous. I just don't get it—”

Brad interrupted her with another kiss, then pulled back and gazed down at her. “You aren't supposed to get it,” he said. “Just because you have a license doesn't mean you're a detective, remember? Your dad was the detective. These were his cases, not yours. All you're supposed to do is tie together some loose ends and refer his clients to other agencies so we can get on with our plans. I know it's too soon
after losing your dad to set a wedding date, but you know I don't want to wait any longer than we have to. I'd been hoping for a summer wedding, but obviously that's not going to work. Maybe late fall or winter…?”

Toni opened her mouth to protest, but Brad placed a finger against her lips. “I know what you're going to say. I've heard the arguments before, and like I said, with what's just happened with your dad, we need to wait a while longer. But, Toni, I've already waited almost ten years!”

She took his wrist, raised his hand to her lips, and gently kissed his palm. “I know,” she said. “I know you've waited a long time. You've been telling me since high school that you want to marry me. But there was college and graduate school for me, college and law school for you, and now there's Melissa to think of, besides taking care of Dad's affairs. There's just no time to plan a wedding right now.”

“Toni, I've told you a million times. When we're married, I'll be thrilled to have Melissa living with us. She's almost as much of a kid sister to me as she is to you! And besides, we've both agreed we don't want a huge wedding—just something simple, with Pastor Michael officiating, some family and friends.… Toni, I don't want to downplay the importance of settling your dad's affairs and dealing with your own emotions, but… sooner or later, we've got to pin down a date, don't you think? And as much as I love Melissa, I'd really like to tie the knot before we're too old to think about having kids of our own.”

Toni smiled. “So would I. You know I want that too. But—”

“But this is not the time to talk about it. OK, we'll discuss it later.” He pulled back and glanced over at the desk. “For now, let's close that file and lock this place up for the night. It'll all be here waiting for you in the morning.” Brad let her go and reached over to close Julie Greene's file. “There,” he said. “You see how easy that was?” He took her arm and began to walk her toward the door. “Come on, my
stomach's growling. And knowing you, I'll bet you haven't eaten anything all day.”

“Wait,” Toni said, pulling away and returning to the desk. She opened the bottom left-hand drawer and grabbed her purse. “Can't leave without this.” She took a step, then turned back once more. “Think I'll just take this along for drill,” she added, picking up the Greene file and tucking it under her arm. When Brad rolled his eyes at her, she grinned. “Well, Mr. Anderson, what are we waiting for? Let's go. I'm starved!”