Midnight Secrets

chapter

THIRTEEN


Savannah took one last bite of catfish and then relaxed back into her chair, at peace for the first time today. She told herself it had nothing to do with the handsome man sitting across from her. She was tired and hungry and it had been much too long since she’d eaten the delicious but horrible-for-you food at Captain Jimmy’s Seafood Emporium. Other than Faye’s Diner, Captain Jimmy’s was the oldest restaurant in Midnight. Her grandfather had rarely taken them there, but when she and Zach had been dating, they’d eaten at the restaurant at least once a week.

“So what were you wanting to talk to me about?” She tensed slightly as she asked the question. However, she was reasonably sure it wasn’t about their past relationship—he wasn’t acting like the discussion was going to be intense. If she was wrong, she’d cut him off immediately. What had happened was in the past. He had broken her heart and her trust—two things she didn’t give lightly. She ignored the small whispering voice in her mind calling her a coward. She shushed it quickly. She didn’t owe him a chance to explain … she didn’t.

“Your aunt Gibby mentioned the rash of vandalisms.… I wanted to get your take. I was beginning to develop a theory and then something happened today that makes me even more certain of where my thoughts are headed.”

“What happened?”

“Remember where we first met?”

She almost gawked at him. How could she forget? Zach had saved her from a possible gang rape. “Of course.”

“There was a vandalism there last night, with a warning for you to leave.”

“Why would anyone even care that I’m here, much less want me to leave?”

“I think it was meant for me.”

“What? Why?”

“I believe the majority of the crimes are more about making me look bad and pissing me off than they are about defacing property. Summertime is usually a breeding ground for bad behavior by bored kids with too much time on their hands. That’s what the graffiti is made to look like, but I’m not convinced. Conveniently, none of the businesses have security cameras. No one is ever around to see anyone suspicious. And you know damn well that very few things in Midnight aren’t witnessed by at least one, if not more, persons. Every piece of property is owned by or closely associated with someone who was opposed to me being the police chief.”

“So what’s the endgame … their purpose? Do they want you to quit?”

“Quit. Leave.” His broad shoulders shrugged. “I don’t know. Either way, it’s not going to work. I just need to figure out where they’re going next and be there.”

“Can I help?”

Zach nodded. “Thanks, I could really use your help.” He grinned and added, “You’re one of the only people I’m sure isn’t guilty.”

“So what do you want to do? How do we set them up?”

“First we need to come up with a list of possible suspects. That’ll narrow down the locations that are apt to be hit. After that, we’ll decide which locations are the most likely and set a trap.”

“That’ll work for me. I can work here all day, then help you at night.”

Zach stayed silent. Now wasn’t the time to tell her that no way in hell was she going to be in on setting the trap. Most of the suspects he had in mind would most likely never think to bring a weapon … just spray paint and maybe a few bricks. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t turn nasty if cornered. Putting Savannah in any kind of danger wasn’t something he was willing to risk.

“Let’s put our list together first.”

Her chair scraped against the tiled floor. “Let me get some paper and a pen.”

While she did that, Zach gathered up the remains of their dinner and put them back in the sack. He’d drop them at a dumpster on the way home. By the time she had returned, he’d put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher and started a pot of coffee.

“Wow, you’re quick and domesticated.”

Zach shrugged and pulled out a chair for her at the table. “You learn to be fast in the army.”

“And the domestication?”

“That came from having a mother who wasn’t. If I didn’t do it, most times it didn’t get done.”

The silence that followed his statement was awkward. That had probably been the first time he’d openly criticized his mother. Wouldn’t have happened with anyone else. Even though they never talked about his family issues, Zach had the tendency back then, and apparently he still had it, to tell Savannah things he wouldn’t ordinarily share.

Instead of asking him more about his mother or going on to a different subject, she stunned him with her next words.

“I met your mother once. Did she ever tell you?”

“No. When?”

The shaky breath she took gave him barely a warning before she said, “When you didn’t show up that morning, I went to your house.”

Zach closed his eyes briefly. Hell no, Francine hadn’t told him. Not that it surprised him. What pissed him off was not realizing that sooner. He should have known that’s exactly what Savannah would have done. Hell, and he hadn’t thought he could feel worse. No doubt his mother had gone out of her way to make Savannah feel as unwelcome as possible.

Aware that a response was expected, Zach opened his mouth; a dry croak was all he managed. Clearing his throat, he tried again, “She didn’t tell me. What did she—”

She held up her hand to stop him. “No, wait … I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up. I don’t want to talk about that time. Okay?”

Her remote expression was telling. The hurt lingered, still festering. The wound between him and his mother had been closed, but the one with Savannah was still open and painful. Zach knew he couldn’t take away the pain, but he would tell her the truth—all the nasty, ugly, dirty truth. Not yet, but soon.

Returning to their previous topic, Zach took the notepad and pen she put in front of him and started listing names. Tension filled the air.

Finally she broke the silence with “So who’s your prime suspect for the vandalism?”

“One of my deputies.”

“What?”

“Yeah. Tells you a lot about the kind of law that was running this town.”

“Who’s your deputy?”

“Clark Dayton.”

Her eyes widened in obvious astonishment. “Clark is a deputy? I would’ve thought he’d be dead or in prison by now.”

“If it weren’t for Mosby, he might’ve been. He dropped out of college and came back here to live. Started working for Mosby not long after.”

“Why did you keep him on?”

“I had no reason to get rid of him. He might’ve been an a*shole back then, but they’ve been known to reform.”

“If you’re suspecting him, apparently he hasn’t.”

“I’ve had no real reason to complain till now. Other than having a shitty attitude sometimes, he’s competent.”

“So why do you suspect him?”

“I thought he seemed a little too smug yesterday when we were at one of the crime scenes. After I left here last night, I drove by Henson’s house. Dayton’s car was in the drive.”

“You suspect Ralph Henson’s in on it, too?”

Zach merely nodded at her question. Explaining why Henson would love to see him fail and leave town was a discussion for another day.

“Just because Clark and Henson see each other after work doesn’t mean they’re guilty.”

“No, but my gut tells me I’m right. Now I just have to prove it.”

She grabbed the notepad from him and said, “Who else?”

As Zach named a couple of other men who’d been vehemently opposed to him becoming police chief, he watched Savannah. Had he really thought he could see her again and be satisfied with just her forgiveness? Though having her offer that forgiveness would go a long way in easing his conscience, he was stupid for even considering that it would ever be enough. For ten years, he’d tortured himself with what might have been. Could he really let her go without doing everything he could to recapture what they had?

“Savannah, I—”

She looked up and Zach swallowed his words. The panicked expression on her face gave him his answer; her words confirmed the thought. “Zach … no. I can’t.”

With barely a pause, as if the moment never existed, Zach said, “The locations of the vandalisms are Henson’s Grocery, Dale’s Car Wash, Opal’s Flower Shop, Max’s Garage, and Gertie’s Wash and Wait.”

“And the school building,” she added.

“Yeah. That’s not consistent with the other properties, but the message was clear. They couldn’t have said it more plainly than if they’d taken an ad out in the paper. It was meant to piss me off.”

“And it did.”

“Hell yeah.”

“How do Dayton and Henson tie into these locations?”

“I spent a good part of the day checking courthouse records. Besides his grocery store, Henson is financially tied to the car wash, the flower shop, and the garage. Dayton’s aunt is Gertrude Barnes of Gertie’s Wash and Wait.”

Savannah nodded. “Definitely suspicious.”

He reached into his pocket and withdrew a sketch he’d drawn earlier of Midnight. Smoothing it out on the table, he used the pen to point at the likeliest locations for their next hit. “I figure these businesses, before they decide to do something more drastic.”

Savannah went to her feet and peered over his shoulder. This was as close as he’d been to her in ten years. Zach did his best to ignore her scent, delicately sweet and beautifully familiar. Closing his eyes briefly, he willed his aching body to settle down. He was damn lucky she let him get this close to her; no way would he jeopardize that by going after what his body demanded.

He pointed to a row of businesses on Cooper Street. “It took some digging, but I found three other businesses that Henson has monetary ties to: Green’s Dry Cleaning and, on the other end of the street, Ava’s Bakery.” Pointing to another street, he said, “And Frank’s Hardware over on Hartman Road.”

“Green’s has been there as long as I can remember, but Ava’s is new.”

“Yeah, Ava opened her doors only four months ago. The place stood empty for years and has been totally renovated. I doubt Henson would do anything to it. And Frank’s does a brisk business. I don’t see him harming it, either. The dry cleaners is another matter. It’s in bad shape. Wouldn’t be much of a loss.”

“Shouldn’t Henson be smart enough to realize if things keep happening to his properties, the insurance company is going to investigate thoroughly?”

“Not if he’s able to hide his association. Henson’s not listed anywhere as an owner.”

“Then how do you know?”

“Let’s just say that you can learn just about anything you want in Midnight if you ask the right people.”

She laughed and Zach’s chest tightened. There wasn’t a more beautiful sound in the world than Savannah’s laughter.

“So what’s the plan? We stake out the places until we catch them in the act?”

“Not ‘we’ exactly.”

Savannah raised her eyebrows. “I thought we were working on this together.”

“We are. I just don’t—”

“Do you have anyone else you can trust to help you watch?”

“No … but that’s not the point.”

“Why did you come to me if you don’t want my help?”

Hell, he was beginning to feel like he was on the witness stand. “I wanted to talk it out with you.”

“Fine, we’ve talked it out and now I’m going to help you catch them in the act. I can keep an eye on one of the businesses while you watch the other one. If I see anything suspicious, I’ll let you know.”

Before he could object again, she raised her hand to stop him and issued an ultimatum: “I’m helping. Deal with it.”

Zach had his own ultimatum. “Before I agree, you have to swear you won’t interfere. Your ass stays in the car, out of sight. Understand?”

“A lookout only, I promise. Now what’s the game plan?”

Asking for her help had been a ruse to be with her, and she’d turned the tables on him. He should have known this would happen; Savannah had always been able to see straight to his soul.

Her eyes were gleaming with triumph, and a small smile tilted her lips upward. Zach gripped the table, desperate to feel the curve of her mouth beneath his. Hell, how was he supposed to work with her when all he could think about was getting her under him?

This had been a real bad idea.