A Deal to Die For (16 page)

“I…uh…” Maggie knew it was bad form to stutter at an invitation to dinner, but she
couldn’t have been more surprised if the man had dropped to one knee and busted out
a ten-carat diamond ring.

“You don’t have to answer right now,” Pete said. He seemed to sense that he’d stunned
her. “It’s casual, just as friends.”

He looked so nervous that Maggie felt bad for him, especially given that he had no
idea Sam was in the back room undoubtedly hearing all of this.

Maggie knew she couldn’t humiliate Pete by saying no, even if he didn’t know they
had an audience. She felt she had no choice but to say, “Sure, I’d like that.”

His brown eyes were clouded with doubt.

“Really,” she added. “You just caught me by surprise, that’s all.”

“Excellent!” Pete said. He strolled to the door and looked back with a grin. “Friday
night at six. I’ll pick you up?”

“I’ll be here, working on the shop,” Maggie said. “Can you meet me here?”

“Will do,” Pete said. “Night, Maggie.”

“Night, Pete,” she said.

The door closed behind him, and Maggie noted that it was completely dark outside now.
She glanced over her shoulder and waited for Sam to appear. She had no doubt that
he would tease her mercilessly about this. She waited. He didn’t show.

She walked through the shop, aware of how her feet echoed on the floor. She so didn’t
want to hear what Sam had to say about her date with Pete. She remembered the morning
of the flea market, just before they had found Vera Madison dead, Sam had been teasing
her because he had heard that Pete was going to ask her out, and now he had—in front
of Sam. The irony was almost too much.

When she got to the break room, she felt a chilly draft. The room was empty, and the
door that led to the alley was just closing.

Maggie sprinted around the boxes of Vera Madison’s stuff and pushed the door open.
When she peered outside, she just caught a glimpse of Sam as he disappeared around
the corner of the building.

She opened her mouth to call him back, but she didn’t. What could she possibly say
to him? Obviously, he had overheard Pete’s invitation and had done the mature thing
and left, not wanting to embarrass all of them. Maggie had to give him credit for
that. In the old days, he would have mocked her to the brink of tears or, even worse,
kissed her.

And, just like that, she remembered the very first day Sam Collins had placed his
lips on hers. She had been walking home from working at Doc Franklin’s. Sam had been
passing around a football on the town green with his buddies when the ball flew right
at Maggie, narrowly missing her. Sam had run across the street to get the ball, and
she had studiously ignored him like she always had.

He had thrown the ball back to his friends and then began to follow her. She refused
to acknowledge him. She turned the corner and kept pretending he wasn’t right behind
her, breathing down her neck, even though it made her conscious of every step she
took.

“I heard you have a date with Butch Carver from Rosemont,” he finally said.

Maggie ignored him.

He caught up to her and walked beside her. “Is it true?”

“Why would I tell you if it was?” she asked him.

They were walking down Maggie’s shortcut now. She always cut through the alleys to
her home because it took five minutes off her walk. Unfortunately, the tall red-brick
buildings boxed them in, making Maggie walk closer to Sam than she would have liked.

“You can’t date him,” Sam said. He sounded outraged. “Rosemont is our biggest rival.”

“Since I don’t play football,” Maggie said, “I really don’t see it that way. Besides,
you graduated, so they’re not your rival anymore. Aren’t you leaving for college soon?”

“In a few months,” he said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that Butch Carver is
a lousy QB.”

“Yeah, I’m not scouting him for a team,” Maggie joked. “I’m just going to a movie
with him.”

“Aha!” Sam stopped short, grabbed her by the elbow and spun her to face him. “So,
you are going on a date with him.”

“Yes, okay? I’m dating Butch Carver,” Maggie said. She shook his hand off her elbow.
“Why do you even care?”

Sam moved with lightning quickness, and before Maggie had tracked him getting close
to her, she was in his arms and he was kissing her.

When he pulled away, his gaze scorched. Maggie felt dizzy, and her ears were ringing,
but she heard him perfectly when he said, “I care because the only guy you should
be dating is me.”

Maggie gazed out into the dark alley, so much like the place where Sam had first kissed
her. The fingers of her right hand were pressed against her lips as she remembered
the impact of his kiss.

After all the years of teasing and sniping between them, she’d had no idea that she
was in love with him. Until he’d kissed her, and then it was as if she were coming
alive for the first time.

Maggie stepped back into the shop and pulled the door shut. Sam had been right to
leave. Twenty-plus years had passed since that day. They were trying to be friends
now. Some things were better left in the past, and that kiss was one of them.

The next morning, Maggie and Ginger met Tyler Fawkes at the shop. Together they loaded
up his pickup truck, and he drove it over to Drew Constantine’s indoor storage facility
on the edge of town.

“I really appreciate your help, Tyler,” Maggie said.

“Remember that when I come in looking for a new Sunday suit,” he said.

“I see a deep discount in your future,” Maggie assured him.

With a wave, he drove back to town, and Maggie and Ginger got into Maggie’s Volvo.
Their first stop was the
Madison estate, where Maggie planned to give the keys to Bianca.

They were halfway to town when Ginger’s phone began to sound. Ginger opened her purse
and began to fish for her phone.

“I wonder if it’s Roger or the boys,” she said. “Probably someone wants to know what’s
for dinner.”

“But it’s nine o’clock in the morning,” Maggie said.

“Uh-huh. I swear they like to get their taste buds prepared by the end of breakfast,”
Ginger said. She pulled her phone out of the bag and studied the screen. “Huh.”

Maggie glanced at her. Ginger had a serious look on her face, so Maggie assumed it
was not one of her boys.

“Hello?” Ginger said. She was quiet for a moment, listening. “What situation?”

Maggie hoped it wasn’t bad news.

“But that’s ridiculous,” Ginger said. “Maggie is with me, and we were just on our
way over to the Madison estate.”

Maggie was watching the road, but her ears were fully engaged in Ginger’s conversation.
Who was she talking to, and what did they mean about a situation?

“Now, you listen to me, Sam Collins, I don’t care what that evil woman says, I’m telling
you we are on our way to the Madison estate to see Bianca.”

Maggie felt her eyes get wide. Sam? This could not be good.

“Well, why don’t you just meet us there, then?” Ginger asked. “Good. Fine. We’ll be
there in five minutes.”

Ginger hit the end call button on her phone with an impatient jab of her finger. Then
she turned to Maggie and said, “Can you believe that?”

“Given that I have no idea what you’re talking about, no, I really can’t believe it,”
Maggie said. “Care to share?”

“Well, when you failed to appear at the estate when the rooster crowed, Courtney decided
to call the sheriff on you and report that you had stolen her stepmother’s belongings.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” Maggie said. “She actually went through with that?”

“No, not kidding, and yes, she did.”

“Well, that’s ridiculous,” Maggie said. “Sam asked me to watch those things for Bianca.
I hope he told Courtney that.”

Ginger was silent, and Maggie looked away from the road to glance at her. She was
frowning.

“Ginger, what did Sam say?” Maggie asked. She had a feeling she was not going to like
the answer.

“He said that he had to follow up on Ms. Madison’s report,” Ginger said. “Honestly,
he did not sound like himself at all.”

“So, he’s meeting us at the Madison estate?” Maggie asked.

“Yes.”

“Oh, this should go well,” Maggie said. Her voice was tinged with sarcasm, and Ginger
gave her a worried look.

“Do you think he’s going to be mad?” Ginger asked.

“That I went ahead and put Vera’s things in storage without telling him?” Maggie clarified.
“No. Maybe.”

“Maybe definitely or maybe you don’t know?” Ginger asked.

“Maybe definitely,” Maggie said with a sigh. “Do you want me to drop you off at your
office? There’s no need for both of us to get on the sheriff’s bad side.”

“Oh no. The Good Buy Girls do not split up in a crisis,” Ginger said. “Not even if
there’s only one Coach handbag left on the sales rack, and we both want it.”

“Well, this isn’t exactly the sort of situation we can rectify by working out a schedule
for handbag usage,” Maggie said. “This is more like I’m going to get my butt chewed
out, and you shouldn’t have to suffer with me.”

“Handbags or butt chewing,” Ginger said with a wave of her hand, “it makes no difference
to me. I’ve got your back.”

“Thanks,” Maggie said.

After yesterday’s awkwardness, she was relieved to have some buffer between her and
Sam. She sincerely hoped he did not tease her about her date with Pete.

She wondered if she should tell Ginger about it now, but she wasn’t sure she wanted
to hear any teasing from Ginger either. Besides, it was just dinner. She didn’t want
to make a bigger deal out of it than it was.

“Maggie, are you listening to me?” Ginger asked.

“Huh? What?”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so,” Ginger said. “Here I am, talking away, and you’re not even
giving me the requisite
hmm
.”

“I’m sorry,” Maggie said. “What did I miss?”

“Nothing much,” Ginger admitted. “I was just wondering if Courtney Madison and her
considerable charms had gotten to Sam’s good sense.”

“You think?” Maggie asked. “Now that would certainly make things more difficult.”

She tried to ignore the flash of irritation she felt. It was ridiculous. What did
she care if Sam was blinded by a head of dark brown hair and a pair of legs that went
up to their owner’s neck?

They stopped in front of the house. While Maggie was gathering the papers to the storage
facility and the key, a car pulled up behind them. It was Sam’s squad car.

The door to the front of the house opened, and out strode Courtney Madison, looking
as if she owned the place. She
was wearing black books that stopped over her knees with a micromini skirt above.
The animal-print sweater that she wore plunged down low in the front and slipped off
one shoulder with the perfect amount of seductive grace.

Maggie looked down at her Keds sneakers and jeans and her white T-shirt covered by
an old plaid flannel shirt and felt like she should be looking for the servants’ entrance.

Courtney ran past Maggie and Ginger and peered into the back of Maggie’s Volvo wagon.

“Looking for something?” Maggie asked.

“Arrest her!” Courtney demanded. “I told her I wanted my things back by today, and
she doesn’t have them. She is a thief!”

“I am not!” Maggie protested.

Another car pulled up and parked behind Maggie. Molly Spencer stepped out and she
looked as if she was bracing for a nasty scene.
Wise woman.

“You!” Courtney roared. “What are you doing here?”

“Thanks for coming, Molly,” Maggie said. “Did Max give you the papers?”

“Yes.” Molly patted her purse. “I have them right here.”

“She’s trespassing!” Courtney said to Sam. “I need you to arrest her, too. All of
them, arrest all of them. They are thieves and trespassers, and they are on my property.”

“Stop it! Just stop it!”

They all glanced at the house to see who had yelled. It was Bianca. She stood in the
open doorway. She was pale, and her hair was mussed, as if she’d just climbed out
of bed. She adjusted her glasses with trembling fingers and stared back at everyone
as if she’d already run out of words.

“Shut up!” Courtney snapped at Bianca. “This is my house now. I’m just letting you
live here.”

“That’s not true,” Bianca said, but her voice quavered
and Maggie could tell she was frightened. Molly moved to stand beside her.

Maggie looked at Sam. Surely, he wasn’t going to just stand there while Courtney bullied
Bianca. He looked back at her and pushed his hat back on his head as if he was completely
flummoxed by all of this female ire in front of him.

“Do something,” she hissed.

“Fine,” he said. “Shall I arrest you for theft or Molly for trespassing or both?”

“That is not helpful,” Maggie said.

“Yes to both,” Courtney said.

“Bianca, are you all right?” Ginger asked. She went to stand beside her, and said,
“You look like you’re about to fall down. Let’s get you inside.”

“Oh no you don’t.” Courtney moved to stand in front of Ginger. “You’re not coming
into my house.”

Ginger rose up to her full height and glared at Courtney. “No, I’m not going into
your house. I’m going into Bianca’s, now I suggest you move.”

It was quite clear that Ginger would go over Courtney if she had to. Sam hustled forward
and stood beside Ginger.

“Why don’t we all calm down, go inside and talk this situation over?” he said.

With a scowl, Courtney moved aside to let everyone in. Ginger and Molly walked with
Bianca, and Courtney hurried after them as if afraid they’d steal the silver while
her back was turned. Maggie watched them go. What a disaster this was turning into,
and it was only going to get messier.

“Are you coming, Maggie?” Sam asked from the doorway. “Or do you have a date?”