The Devil Wore Sneakers (25 page)

Bella nodded. They went off the pathway, and Lucy soon wished she’d worn boots as a piece of ice penetrated her sneakers.

“Did you find anything at the pond?” Lucy tossed over her shoulder.

“No, but I might try again. I was hoping to feel if Ali was in Squawking Geese.”

Lucy halted. “Can you do that?”

“Sometimes I know things others don’t until later. I can’t explain it. She could be at the bottom, tangled in the weeds.”

Bella’s matter-of-fact voice sent a chill through Lucy.

 
Target bounded to them from out of the trees.

“What? Where did he come from?”

“Lucy! Bella!”

“It’s Liam.” Bella cupped her hands to her mouth. “We’re coming.”

“We just left the Moose,” Lucy said to Bella. “How did he find us so soon?”

Bella shrugged. “He does drive super-fast.”

Target pranced at their heels as Lucy and Bella cut back onto the worn track. Liam came into view, marching toward them.

“What are you doing here?” Lucy asked while relief flooded her.

“Sadie noticed you forgot the dessert when you pulled out. I brought it. Why are you guys out walking in the woods?”

Lucy would let Bella answer that question.

“I wanted to visit the water,” the young woman said.

“Oh. Well, you shouldn’t be driving around town with Matt Hastings on the loose.”

“What are you doing here, Liam?” Lucy asked, ignoring his reprimand.

“I was doing the same as you. I was curious.” His brows tugged together. “Did you get a new jacket?”

“I borrowed Sadie’s.”

Liam shrugged. “You haven’t delivered lunch yet, have you?”

“I’m ready to drop it off now.” Bella held up the ignition key.

“After you, ladies.” He fell in behind them. Target stayed at his side as they headed to the road. Bella led the way.

Before they reached it, Liam grabbed Lucy’s arm, detaining her. “Are you okay? What’s happening? The pond is on the trail. What were you doing off it?”

“Well…we took a shortcut. Did you see anyone near Hank’s truck?”

“No one. Look, I don’t think going off with Bella is the best idea.”

“We were supposed to drive to the searchers and back. I wasn’t a big fan of the detour, but we’re delivering the food and heading straight to the Moose now. I better find Bella since I’m riding with her. We’ll talk at the bar.”

“Are you sure you should go with her? Is she all right?”

“Yes, and I’ll be fine. Confess, you were going to tag along after us with or without the dessert.”

He shrugged. “Okay, guilty. You should catch up to Bella. I’ll follow, as you already know.”

At the truck, Lucy jumped in the passenger seat. Liam trailed them to the roadside headquarters, where they delivered the meals.

“I’ll wait for an update on the hunt for Ali,” Liam said to Lucy while Bella talked to a volunteer. “I’ll be along in a few.”

“Bella needs company. Don’t worry. No more alternate routes for us.”

She and Bella finished their delivery and headed for the Moose. Would Liam question her further about Bella’s presence near the pond? Explaining her wish to feel the missing teen in the water would be tough. Lucy wasn’t sure she understood herself.

When they reached the bar, Lucy raced upstairs, relieved to be alone. Her solitude lasted less than ten minutes. The thud of Liam’s boots alerted her he was coming up. What would he say? She hoped it wouldn’t be another lecture.

Buck up
, she told herself. She met him at the door. “Come in. I’ll put on the coffee.” She turned on her heel, and he shadowed her to the kitchen.

“Don’t fix any for me.” He dragged out the chair.

She flipped on the Keurig and sat beside him. Uneasy in the silence, she blurted, “Bella seems to believe she’s psychic. She wanted to feel if Ali was in Squawking Geese.”

He raised one brow. “Did she?”

“I don’t think she did. She just creeped me out.”

Liam dug in his pocket and produced her bus ticket. “You forgot to take this.” He shoved the receipt across the space between them.

Had he only come to give her a ticket? “Thanks for holding onto it for me.”

“You should be far away from Barley and the turmoil if I’m arrested. The press will dig up every problem or offense I have ever had to create a story that grabs ratings and sells.”

His words annoyed her. She wasn’t a weakling. “I can follow the papers online. I’ll handle it.”

“Don’t read them.”

She raised her chin. “I’m not going anywhere until Ryan’s killer sits in jail.” He couldn’t boss her around.

“I have nothing to offer you anymore, Lucy. Every moment will focus on my defense and then rebuilding the business, since I won’t have time for it until I’m cleared.”

“Maybe you won’t be arrested. Sullivan will discover the person who did kill my brother.”

“I had a call this morning from someone on the force. Sullivan is getting a warrant to take me into custody. Use your ticket. Stay out of harm’s way with your friends in Hawick Falls. They’ll make sure law enforcement gets Matt Hastings. I won’t be able to watch out for you.”

“Is that why you showed up near the pond?”

“I feel responsible for you.” Liam’s phone rang. He pulled it out and glanced at the screen. “I have to return this. Listen, I need to tell you where to find the gun.”

“What gun? I don’t want anything that’s used to shoot people.” At least not his. Who knew how the police would use that fact, since he claimed not to own weapons? Luckily for him, they hadn’t found the Magnum during the search.

“My weapon is in the register. The money drawer looks like it’s one piece. It’s really two. The No Sale key opens the tray. There’s a credit card inside. Run the card through, and the lower compartment will pop out. It’s a gun and cash safe. The Magnum is in there.” He stood up and left without another word. His footsteps echoed in the hall.

Her stomach ached. What was wrong with her? It hurt because Liam was in pain, but she had to go on. She was strong, and she would be strong for him.

At the front window, Target growled and whined. She crossed the floor and glanced outside. Clarissa marched by the Mad Moose.

Target pawed Lucy’s leg, and she bent and patted his head. “It’s okay, boy.” She hoped she lied better to a dog than she did to herself.

* * *

A Mixology Night banner hung below Morse. The disk jockey set up near the fireplace, where he took requests from the thirty-plus guests already partying. The atmosphere had the uncomfortable mood of a goodbye gathering.

Lucy wove through the crowd, searching for Liam. Soon, she found herself stopping to thank people for the bio company and moral support. Everyone asked about Ryan’s case and expressed sympathy. A few hugged her. Others told her they’d heard about the new website and couldn’t wait to see the finished product.

In each face and voice, she recognized worry, concern, and hope. They weren’t strangers looking for gossip, but friends, neighbors, and fellow townspeople. These people waved to her on the street because she was one of them. Tonight, she felt like she’d come home. No, this wasn’t home. Strike that idea.

She approached Hank serving a customer. When he finished, he moved to the end of the counter to greet her.

“Good turnout, Hank. Are you drumming up votes for your drink?”

“Sadie stops in every once in a while and talks me up to voters. Don’t tell Liam.”

“I’m sorry you and Sadie didn’t work out.”

He shifted his feet and seemed uncomfortable. “Didn’t know she told you. Bad timing, for me. I hope she meets someone else soon.”

Really? Had he given up on dating, too? Maybe Hank wasn’t into Sadie. Who understood chemistry?

A song played and drowned out conversations. She wouldn’t have to fret about making small talk tonight. The DJ, wearing shades and a deerskin vest over a black shirt, swayed at his machine.

She leaned against the bar top and shouted. “Where’s Liam?”

“Kitchen.” Hank jerked a thumb toward the room. “Hey, tell him that we’re ready for the rules.”

“I will. I put my camera under the counter this afternoon. Can I keep it there?”

“No problem.”

Lucy raised a hand in thanks. She found Sadie filling platters of appetizers in the kitchen. “Looks like a wedding.”

“The boss told me to do it up big. Cool music, huh? The DJ is a friend of my sister Sissie. Hope he’ll get a few other gigs out of tonight.”

“Did you try the Moose cookies?” Chip walked forward, nibbling on an antler. “Sadie baked them for us.”

“Great idea. Have you guys seen Liam?”

“He was talking to the disk jockey about his playlist.”

That would be a good trick, considering the noise level. “He’s not with him. I’ll find him.” Maybe he’d stepped out to hear himself think.

“When you run into him, tell him I saved him a cookie,” Sadie yelled to her. “Don’t forget to eat one.”

In the hall, she ran into the local security guard. “Have you seen Liam?”

“He’s by his truck. Want me to walk you?” He swung the door wide.

Cool air enveloped her. The outside light blinked on. Scanning the parking lot, she spotted Liam leaning against his pickup. “Thanks, I see him right there.”

She hesitated. Would he be annoyed that she was interrupting his moment alone? She might as well speak to him.

The door shut behind her, and Liam turned to her as she approached. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“No fights inside, I hope. I’m not feeling the bouncer energy.”

“Everyone’s in party mode.” She settled next to him against the truck. Conscious of the foot between them, she longed to soak up every second with him. “You better go in soon. Hank is ready to start, and Sadie is talking up his drink to your customers. You need equal time.”

“What’s important is that everyone’s having fun.”

“Are you?”

“I am. I’m looking at the stars.”

She raised her head to the sky as he settled his leather jacket over her shoulders. His action surprised her and gave her more courage. She sidled closer to him. Overhead, the canopy of twinkling lights stretched as far as she could see. “Beautiful. When I was little, I imagined flying up and catching a star to hang from my bedroom ceiling.” She smiled at the recollection.

“Sometimes I forget how unspoiled the North Country is and how lucky I am to be part of life in Barley.”

She inhaled the fresh, damp air and let her mind wander. “I remember in the summer when we used to sit on Gramps’s steps, trying to be the first to spot the Big Dipper.” The memory expanded in her thoughts. She and Liam had shared kisses, laughter, and words of love under the night sky.

“How about how your grandfather always found an excuse to follow us?”

“That’s because he wanted to make sure I arrived at my destination in one piece. He called you a speed demon in that ten-year-old rattletrap you drove.”

“And you wonder why I said he didn’t approve of me.”

“He used to tell me stories about his life before dating my grandmother. He was a wild man. Gramps once told me you were just like him.”

“Those were the days,” Liam agreed.

A sudden sense of loss overcame her. Pushing away from the truck, she removed his jacket and handed it to him. “I thought over what you said about going to Hawick Falls. Thanks for pointing out what I should do to protect myself.”

“You’ll always be important to me, no matter where you are.” His voice had finality in it.

“That’s good, because I didn’t change my mind. I’ll be right here.”

“What? No.” He shook his head.

“Yup. I’m not a young girl anymore tagging after a boy. I came to see Ryan’s killer arrested, and I’m staying until they catch him. You’re also my friend. That means I stand by you. My boss agreed to give me an additional week off.”

He grinned.

“Why are you sm— Never mind. I know the answer. I remind you of the old Lucy.”

“And the old Lucy should prompt me to get the party started. You’re coming?” He held out his hand to her.

She hesitated and then gave in to what she wanted. “For a while.”

He slipped his fingers through hers, and they walked together inside, like a couple. Her pulse pounded in her ears.

The noise in the bar had increased, and talking at a normal level was impossible until Liam approached the DJ and spoke in his ear.

The music stopped, and Liam ran through the contest rules. The crowd cheered while Sadie’s two sisters brought out more food and joked with their friends. Samples from the trays were scooped up along with the ballots. Body heat warmed the room. The dance floor filled. Lucy grabbed the camera and snapped away, capturing the evening.

After an hour, the team counting the votes approached the mic. The DJ played a drum roll, and the spokesperson announced the final tally. “Our first Ryan Award goes to Liam McAllister.”