“The gang in Ironfield was the only family he ever had,” I said. “Chelsea wasn’t able to take care of herself, and he was alone. What do you think that does to a young kid?” I bit my lip. “What do you think it does to a grown man?”
Delta had her theories, but she didn’t share. She nodded, watching as two men walked the path, cutting between the park and the converted tennis courts to City Hall. They saw me.
And they both detoured to talk with me.
“Ever think I’m too noticeable in this town?” I asked.
Delta giggled. “You’re the chocolate swirl in a pint of vanilla, that’s for sure.”
Chief Craig and Councilman Grossi carried their usual tennis equipment. They both smiled as they approached, and I braced for another round of gossip. Delta gave her uncle a kiss, and the Councilman winked at me.
The police chief was an older man who blew past gray and turned silver on his fortieth birthday. Not that there was much crime in the town that would give him stress, but chasing geese from the pond and the junior high kids smoking behind the school kept him busy.
Chief Craig leaned on the stairs to the gazebo and pretended to make small talk.
“Hey, Josie. How’s Matt doing?”
I must have forgotten to post on Facebook, and Mrs. Greentree and Luann McMannis were slacking on their daily report on his health.
“He’s good.”
Chief Craig stuffed his hands in his pocket. “We’re missing him on the bowling league. Think you’re up to taking his spot?”
“I doubt I’d be much help.” I shrugged. “Not unless they let me use those bumpers over the gutters?”
He laughed. “My boys use them all the time. Taylor is starting to win on his own, but Aidan still kicks the ball down the lane.”
Councilman Grossi snorted. “Told you we needed a youth soccer team. You could even coach.”
“In all my spare time.”
“Make it a DARE initiative. Keep the kids off the drugs, we might get some free soccer gear. Think about it.”
Delta rolled her eyes. “Is everything politics to you, Uncle Mike?”
“Most things.” The Councilman looked like he could have used a soccer team himself. His suit clung a little too tight, and his tennis bag dropped for a Powerbar that looked suspiciously like a Milky Way. “Speaking of, Josie…”
“Uh-oh,” I said.
“Got some news from Bob Ragen.”
“That can’t be good.”
“He’s been calling the council, demanding we make a judgement on the lot line dispute.”
I groaned. “The shop isn’t even standing anymore. How can he have setback issues if there’s no building to encroach on his property line?”
“He’s saying the property was subdivided incorrectly and illegally back in the 60s,” he said.
Delta pretended to snore. I wished I could too, but Bob had been harassing Granddad and Nana for years. He only got in my face a few years ago. Coincidentally when I started dating Maddox, but a lot of the older generation had a problem with that.
I sighed. “Does the town have the original plans?”
Councilman Grassi laughed. So did the Chief.
“Your tax dollars at work,” the councilman winked.
Point taken. “I have the survey flags in place. I’m not sure what else I can do.”
“It’s a civil matter, but he’s raising a fuss,” Councilman Grassi said. “I just wanted to know what you might be walking into during the next town meeting.”
Delta pouted. “Does that mean we have to attend?”
“Do your civic duty,” he said.
She made a face. I seconded.
Chief Craig usually did paperwork or dozed at the meetings, but even he looked concerned about the issue. He rubbed his chin, glancing over the town.
“Speaking of your property…”
His voice trailed off. The sun glittered off his badge, and somehow I doubted we were talking about surveys and lot lines.
“Heard some news,” the chief said. “Andrew Maddox is back in town.”
Everyone froze at the mere mention of his name. Everyone except me.
I warmed.
…In every way that was very, very bad for us.
“Just…be careful, Josie,” Chief Craig said. “We don’t know what he wants.”
I picked my words carefully. “He wants to prove his innocence.”
Councilman Grassi waved at his niece. “You talk sense into her, Delta. I think we’ve all failed at this point.”
Chief Craig wasn’t as amused. “I’ve known Matt a long time. I remember your parents and grandmother, God rest their souls. Believe me when I say I’m looking out for you, Josie.”
“A lot of people are.”
“We all care about you. That boy…he’s trouble. You need to stay far from him. Ignore his calls and don’t get too close. We don’t know what else he might be planning.”
I did, and it wasn’t anything Chief Craig needed to hear. I nodded, earning a sweet smile from Delta. Councilman Grassi and the chief grabbed their equipment and patted the rickety railing, wishing us a good afternoon as we loitered on public grounds with all the best intentions.
Delta stuck her tongue out at me. “Now will you come to your senses?”
“Nope. I already knew no one trusted Maddox.”
“Neither should you.”
I picked up my purse. “I should head home. You need to get back to work.”
“Work can wait. Do you think you’ll be okay?” Delta bit her lip. “Please tell me you won’t call Maddox.”
“I’m not telling him anything Nolan said or did today.”
“Why?”
I hesitated a moment too long. Delta stood, pointing an accusatory finger.
“There. You see? Right there. You don’t trust Maddox around Nolan. He’s dangerous.”
But Nolan was more dangerous if only because no one suspected how evil he truly was.
“I’ll call you later,” I said. “But do me a favor?”
“Yeah?”
“Pull the file on my shop again. Just…make a copy of everything you have for me.”
“The more you dig around, the more you’re going to realize the truth.” Delta shrugged. “It was Maddox who torched the place.”
“Then you won’t have a problem getting it for me.”
“I hate to see you get hurt,” Delta said. “But I’ll see what I can pull.”
“Quick, okay?” I hugged her goodbye. “We might not have a lot of time.”
“Time before what?”
I didn’t want to answer that question. I didn’t know the answer.
Time before Maddox took his revenge. Time before Nolan hurt Maddox. Time before it didn’t matter who destroyed my shop.
If I didn’t find the real arsonist soon, I’d lose more than stone and brick, sugar and spice.
I’d lose the only man I ever loved.
Chapter Eight – Maddox
I kicked the nightstand.
It shattered on the hotel wall. Josie stopped talking. The phone must have picked up the crash.
Damn it.
“I’ll come over.” I wasn’t used to begging. My voice barked too hard, like an order. Not what I needed to convince Josie to let me in her life.
Why the fuck was she still pushing me away?
“Maddox…not tonight.”
“When? Tomorrow? I’ll wake you up with pancakes.”
She sounded tired. “Be serious.”
I was. Didn’t she realize? Christ, the time apart ruined us. I had to rebuild our relationship brick-by-brick, but all I had were ashes and flame-lashed timbers.
“Sweets, I just gotta see you.”
“I’m not ready.”
“Something’s wrong.”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“Bullshit.” I paced the room, but I couldn’t destroy anything else. Last thing I needed was word to pass around the town that I was trashing hotel rooms, especially since Rhys For State Representative signs still littered the lobby. “You’ve been hiding something since I got back.”
“I’m not hiding—”
“You’ve been hiding something since before then too.”
“Maddox, I’m really tired, I had a long day, I should get some rest—”
“Why did we break up?”
“I’m not getting into this now. It’s ten o’clock at night.”
“I spent a lot of nights in jail trying to solve that little mystery. Kept me up a lot later than ten.”
“I’m not picking a fight.”
“I deserve an explanation. A year ago, before the fire, you said we needed to take a break. Some time to think about us.” I gritted my teeth. “Why then? Why the day before we eloped?”
“Maddox—”
“A week after we started trying for a baby.”
Josie’s voice cracked. “Just stop. It was a long time ago. A lot has changed.”
“You think my feelings have changed? That I want anything different than what we agreed that night? I was ready to take you away. Ready to be a husband.” I quieted. “I wanted a baby with you.”
Josie said nothing. Neither did I.
Christ, it was never this hard before.
She was the only person who ever understood me. We’d never needed to talk anything out. We clicked. Whether we were soulmates or just fucking lucky, Josie and I were in love. I had no idea why a girl like her would ever lower herself to love a bastard like me, but we were meant to be together. Meant for something more.