Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1) (6 page)

Near Pretty Park, she found an empty spot to pull over. She jumped out and hit the lock on her keychain. The sweet fragrance of the red rose bushes bordering the commons hung in the air.

Teagan slung her purse over her shoulder and jogged toward Muffy’s. Had the police discovered a big clue? Why else would Detective Cassidy run off to the store? Her throat constricted when one possibility surfaced in her thoughts. What if they’d found Lisa and it was the worst news?

“Teagan Raynes, stop.”

Travis’ uncle, Seth Bodell, drove next to the curb in a rusted truck that smoked oil from the tailpipe. She swerved in surprise. Where had he come from? Was he following her? He leaned out his open window with a sneer on his face. Blaring music poured out of the cab, and he shouted over the country twang instead of turning it down.

Seth had the dark good looks that drew women, but his disposition was a date repellant. He bared his yellow teeth like a trapped animal, and his brown eyes blazed with anger in a shadow-whiskered face. He flicked ash from a cigarette onto the road before he signaled for her to wait.

She’d rather dodge cars on the interstate. She picked up her pace and wound through pedestrians. Seth hollered at her again, but his radio and the roar of a passing motorcycle with a loud muffler drowned out his words. His curled bottom lip and the fury in his voice assured her that leaving him with his exhaust fumes was a better plan. Ahead, the traffic light flashed green. He’d drive on when she stopped for the walk signal.

Teagan halted at the intersection. Seth slammed the brakes and gunned his engine while he fastened a sick smile on her. Was he imagining running her down as she crossed the street with witnesses present? Her heart thudded in her chest.

“Cut the dumb act, Raynes,” he yelled to her. “You set the police on Travis.”

Don’t make eye contact with him
. She scanned the area for a quick shortcut.

A sports car pulled up behind him and tooted for him to move.

Seth didn’t budge. “I know it was you. You hate my nephew.”

No signs of the police. They were at Muffy’s. If she did an about-face, would Seth bang a U-ey and follow her? A ripple of fear shot up her arms. No, she could walk the street if she wanted. He was a big bully. Anger flowed through her and replaced the fears. She bit down on the urge to tell him where to go.

Mature people do not hold screaming matches in the streets
.

“I remember, Aunt Sophia,” Teagan muttered.

The driver behind Seth blasted his horn.

“I won’t forget.” Seth took off with a screech of tires.

She shuddered with relief. When the walk light changed, Seth had zoomed halfway up the next block. She detoured between two buildings and across an alley to arrive at Muffy’s back lot. The place was thick with law enforcement snapping pictures. Officers with bent heads seemed to be examining the paved ground behind the store. Two employees in their moss-colored smocks gestured while talking to a cop.

Lisa’s voice replayed in Teagan’s head. “Trevor lost his bag boy job at Muffy Mart just because he arrived ten minutes late to work a few times. He doesn’t care though. He’s happy he won’t have to wear that dumb girl’s apron.”

Across the yard, a police officer yelled to another to follow him. A policeman wearing latex gloves stood inside one of the twin dumpsters and shoveled the contents into the rear of a pickup. Something bigger than booting a car was happening at the grocery store.

What was in the dumpster? Lisa’s clothing, blood, an arm? Her stomach protested and Teagan looked away to the officers who drove stakes into the ground, unwound yellow tape, and attached the bright ribbon to mark the boundary. A knot of blue uniforms clustered together in the center of the lot.

She ducked under a crime scene strip. One major hurdle tackled.

“Ma’am.” A young officer with dark glasses approached her. “You’re not allowed beyond the yellow line.”

“I need to speak with Detective Cassidy.”

“Only law enforcement permitted inside the taped area. You have to leave, ma’am.”

“Teagan.” Detective Cassidy strode toward her through the maze of workers.

“I informed her she needed to go back,” the officer told him.

“I’ll take care of Miss Raynes, Paul.” Cassidy’s mouth was a slash in his face.

The policeman nodded and left.

“Teagan, what are you doing here? You’re contaminating a possible crime scene.”

“Crime scene?” A heavy feeling sank in her chest while dizziness whirled in her head.

He swept his arm around her shoulders and propelled her to the sidewalk on the other side of the police line.

As soon as he paused, she took a deep breath and asked, “What did you find? Is it…Lisa?”

He released her, but stayed less than a foot away. “A stock boy found her phone behind the dumpsters. We’re not circulating the information to the public, yet. I’m telling you as a courtesy to family.”

Her cell? “How did Lisa’s phone end up by the store’s trash? Did they find anything else?” She couldn’t stop from glancing toward the dumpster where they were harvesting the garbage.

“The men are still working and searching,” Cassidy said. “I believe her phone was tossed by someone in a hurry or careless. They didn’t check if it landed in the container.”

She wet her lips while a sliver of hope grew in her chest. “So you didn’t find any other signs of Lisa?”

“We’re looking for evidence at this point. Where’s your car? I’ll walk you back.”

“I’m parked near Pretty Park.”
They found her phone, not Lisa. Stay positive. She’s still alive
. Teagan shoved stray strands away from her face with a shaking hand. “Noah, Travis worked at Muffy’s for a couple of weeks last winter.”

“Teagan. Teagan.”

She raised her head to the sight of the familiar woman rushing to her. Oh, no, they didn’t need her at the scene. “Stacey?”

“An old friend?” Noah fixed his gaze on the blonde dressed in a short-sleeved pink dress and high heeled sandals, trotting toward them.

“Stacey Smith. She’s the church secretary, twenty-three and wouldn’t enjoy you calling her old no matter how you meant it.” Teagan sighed, dreading the gossip Stacey would spread. “She’s efficient but loves to share what she learns with others and adds her own unique twist.”

“I’ll handle her.” He moved in front of Teagan like a linebacker.

Stacey tried to peek around Noah’s huge body. “Teagan, are you okay?”

“Are you lost?” Detective Cassidy asked, refusing to budge.

The blonde widened her blue eyes, and then her features softened. “What’s going on? Why are the police at Muffy Mart? Is something wrong with Teagan?” Stacey stretched her neck to attempt a glance at Teagan.

She stepped in front of the detective, and Stacey looked her up and down. “I’m fine,” Teagan lied. Nausea mixed with her attraction to Noah was making her unsure how she felt, except on display. “This is Detective Cassidy, who is investigating what happened to Lisa.”

Stacey’s eyes seemed to enlarge to twice their size. “What happened to her? Did you find out? It’s taken you forever. If you don’t mind me saying.”

“I mind,” he said.

“Huh?” Stacey’s forehead knit into a wrinkle of confusion.

Cassidy crowded forward, forcing Stacey to back up a step. “This isn’t gossip central. We’re conducting a police investigation at the Mart. That’s all the information I can release.”

Stacey frowned then stuck out a well-manicured hand. “Excuse me, I’ve been rude. I’m Stacey Smith, a friend of Teagan’s and you’re …an officer?” The blonde bounced her gaze off Teagan and back to Noah, giving him a smile that faded when he ignored her extended palm.

“I’m a homicide detective. Good to know your name if I should ever need to confirm your identity.”

“What? I don’t understand. You mean, if I was dead?” Stacey flinched and covered her open mouth with a hand.

“Stacey,” Teagan said with a tinge of exasperation, “we should leave, and let the officers do their work.”

“Right,” Cassidy confirmed. “Miss Smith, you should go.”

“Sorry to intrude.” Stacey tossed her blonde head. “I was at Falls Pizza, and everyone was wondering about the police roaming around Muffy’s. I decided to walk over for a better view.” She gestured to the store.

“Miss Smith, law enforcement is here for a reason. This is an investigation, not an Internet café.”

“No problem, detective, and I’m always available for you.” Stacey gave him a small smile and licked her lower lip. “Teagan, I’ll drive you home.”

“I have my car.”

“Then call me.” Stacey wagged a finger at her. “Let me know you’re okay when you get there.”

“Stacey, I’ll be fine driving four blocks.”

“If you remember any helpful information, pass it along to the tip line,” Cassidy said to Stacey.

She rested a hand over her shapely hip. “I look forward to helping in any way.” The secretary’s sandals clip-clopped down the sidewalk.

“Oh, Miss Smith,” he called to her.

Stacey whirled around.

“Vale.”

“Excuse me?” Wrinkles creased her forehead. “Valet? Are you talking about parking?”

“It’s another way to say goodbye. Never mind, keep truckin’ in the same direction.”

Teagan leaned toward him while keeping her gaze on Stacey’s disappearing figure. “Did you think she’d answer in Latin if she sent my threat?”

“Sometimes an unexpected move works.” He faced her. “You forgot a word when you described Stacey.”

“Blonde?”

“Flirt. She’s the church secretary?”

“Matt hired her because she had trouble finding employment and needs guidance in her life. Her route seems…bumpy. She’s had a number of jobs but hasn’t held one for long. I don’t have much patience dealing with her, but she was always nice to Lisa. I try to remember that fact when I speak to her but often forget, like today.”

“She’s interesting. By the way, are you a linguist?” He raised one brow and waited for her answer.

She relaxed her shoulders. “I looked up my Latin threat on the Web. I’m not multilingual though I took Spanish and my aunt kept an old missal with the Mass in Latin in our bookcase.”

“Light reading.”

“What about you, Mr. Vale?

“I’ve been brushing up for a conversation. You never know when I’ll meet a Roman.” He laid a hand on her arm when she started forward. “Once you’re home, stay locked in your house.”

“In other words, continue what I’ve been doing since Lisa disappeared.” No, she was done being a hermit. “I’ve been thinking that Travis taking Latin makes him a prime suspect.”

“I bet several people can look up or learn a simple foreign phrase, including Father Matt.”

What? Her temper rose, but she swallowed her protest when she noted a gathering of Muffy’s employees standing near the dumpster watching Noah and herself. She turned her back to them. “What’s up between you and my priest?”

“He’s a person of interest. Lisa worked at his church. He was close to your family. Both gave him opportunity.”

“That’s just stupid.” She struggled to manage her anger. “Matt doesn’t hurt people. He helps them.”

“I’ll keep your opinion in mind.” His voice was quiet, controlled and unconvinced.

“Matt was like a father to Lisa. He wouldn’t kill an ant.” She blew out a breath and gained control of her emotions.

“Teagan, I suspect everyone. I get paid to think that way. When I have time, I’d be interested in how you two became such good buddies. Now you should go home.”

“Well, I have a suspicious nature, too. I inherited it from my mother, and I can be useful. I’ll confirm the phone you found belonged to Lisa.” There. He’d need her to stay. She tilted her chin up.

“Your presence isn’t required at the moment.”

Someone shouted his name from across the lot, and Teagan recognized the local TV channel’s anchor.

“I’ll be back after I take care of the media. Wait here.” He turned on his heel, strode to the other side of the tape, and disappeared.

She tapped her foot and became aware the crowd had grown, and the majority was staring at her like she was a reality star in an action shot. Bet they were hoping she’d break down crying and add to the entertainment.

Teagan closed her eyes as pain stabbed at her forehead. She needed to rest for a bit. Wandering to the yellow tape, she waved and attracted an officer’s attention. “Please inform Detective Cassidy that Teagan Raynes left.”

She headed for her car. On the way, she stayed alert for Seth Bodell’s return, but he must have found other people to taunt. Thank goodness.

Stacey Smith was lingering near Teagan’s hybrid as she approached. She slowed and breathed deeply while she adjusted her attitude. Today, she’d had little patience to deal with the secretary, who might mean well, but never, censored her thoughts.

The young woman trotted to her. “Did they get a clue or a lead?”

“The police aren’t releasing information. They’re investigating.” Teagan dug into her pocket for her keys. She winced as another ripple of pain pounded above her brow.

“Are you okay? You look awful, like you received bad news. I don’t get why else they closed Muffy Mart and chased away the customers unless something big went down at the store. Who would they suspect? Everyone shops at Muffy’s.”

“I have no idea. My head hurts, and I’m going home.” Teagan walked to the driver’s side.

Stacey shadowed her.

“That detective I just met, he has a reputation for being short-tempered and flipping out.”

“As long as he finds Lisa.” Would this pounding in her head ever end?

“Everyone said it was caused when his family was killed in a boating accident a couple of years ago.”

“What?” Two years ago, Aunt Sophia was diagnosed with cancer, and their emails and phone calls changed from talk of home to doctor appointments and treatments. No wonder she never heard about the deadly accident.

“He went gunning for the guy who ran into them.”

Stacey’s statement brought Teagan’s thoughts back to the present. “Gunning?” She heard the shock in her own voice. She still remembered the fistfights at the homeless sites and hiding behind her mother when a newcomer had invaded a regular’s campsite.