Chemical Attraction (2 page)

She never felt the runner’s high, just the dread of the next time. The only thing that she remotely liked was being able to think clearly. The mental clash in her head ceased, at least until she finished. Today, she focused on one particular song on her iPod, the Hollies’ “King Midas in Reverse.” As she listened to the words, she waved at Chief Connor speeding by her. Replaying the song, she continued her pace past Abe’s Auction Barn for equipment and livestock.

Thinking of the banquet tonight made her nauseous and filled her with a different kind of dread. She needed to network with many people until she could find the one person who would help her. She hoped he’d know what to do with the information, because she had no idea how to proceed. Since uncovering financial and chemical component errors at BennTech’s Medical Research Facility, she had a hard time relaxing. Having to trust someone for guidance was definitely foreign to her. Self-reliance had been her motto since high school.

Holding her nose, she ran by Pete Adamczyk’s pig farm. She groaned as sweat dripped off her chin. Her golden brown ponytail stuck to her back. She needed a new cardio workout. Back in town, she jogged down the street to her aunt’s Bed and Breakfast. She bound up the steps to the kitchen’s back door. Pulling it open, she hit a wall of cold air. Her Aunt Sylvia smiled as she set her flour tin on the large table in her country kitchen.

“Water’s in the refrigerator, dear,” Sylvia said.

Madeline grabbed a bottle and leaned back on the counter. She rubbed at her tank top where sweat trickled between her breasts.

“Why do you keep torturing yourself?” Sylvia asked.

“To stay in shape,” she replied before drinking half the bottle.

“There are other activities besides running. You love to dance.”

“I loved dancing with Uncle Herbert,” she said with a sigh. “Dancing’s not the same without him around.”

“I miss him, too, but life goes on. You’ll have a chance to dance tonight. Eva Connor says the memorial banquet will be quite the to-do.”

Madeline frowned and lifted her shirt to wipe her face. “I don’t even know what to wear.”

Her aunt put her hands on her hips. “I have a guest coming and you’re dripping all over the floor.”

“Anybody I know?” she asked as someone pounded on the front door.

“Just a minute!” Sylvia yelled. She shook her head and pointed at the kitchen door. “You can meet my guest at the banquet when you’re less sweaty.”

Madeline kissed her aunt’s cheek. “Save me some of your cookies.”

Sylvia swatted her with her dishtowel. “Go.”

Madeline jogged down the sidewalk and glanced back at the front door. Her aunt held the door open for a well-built guy with dark hair, a tight t-shirt, and a very nice butt.

At her loft, she took a cool shower. In a pink tank top and matching boxers, she opened her wardrobe. After twenty minutes, she had all her dresses spread out on the bed. With the heat, she wanted something cool but professional, and maybe a bit sexy. She wanted to make the right impression, although she wasn’t sure exactly what that was. Deciding on a short bronze dress, she checked the clock and moaned. Five more hours of waiting.

She didn’t want to use that Hollies song as a secret code to meet the agent. How was she supposed to work it into every conversation? Knowing she wouldn’t be able to take a nap, she sat in her oversized chair and reached for her notepad. She started a list: King, King Midas, Midas, Golden Touch, and Midas Touch. She leaned back and sighed.

“What am I doing? I’m just a research scientist,” she mumbled as she stared at the list.

Joe Roberts smiled at the multicolored flowers surrounding the newly painted
Sylvia’s Bed & Breakfast
sign. Two huge shade trees cooled his sweaty back from the long drive. For two weeks, he’d hoped to do some fishing and a lot of napping. He walked up the steps to the front porch and banged on the outside screen door.

“Just a minute!” a voice yelled.

While he waited, he watched a woman in a tank top and tight biker shorts jog down the block. He admired her sexy long legs. A thin white-haired woman in her early sixties opened the doors for him.

“Joseph, it’s so good to see you again. Come in, and welcome.”

“Mrs. Folkert, you’re looking mighty fine,” he said, hugging her.

“Well, aren’t you sweet?” She laughed. “Your room is ready. You’ll be my only boarder until next week.”

He picked up his bags and followed her into the parlor. His body welcomed her central air. In the living room to the left, he glanced at the baby grand. Her historical house had two other rooms and a small bathroom on the main floor next to her large kitchen. The second floor had four bedrooms, her living quarters, and another communal bathroom.

She handed him a set of keys. “I know you like the Blue Room. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”

In the Blue Room down the hall, he set his suitcase on the bed and hung his garment bag in the closet. Each room at Sylvia’s B & B had a color theme. This one was the most masculine, but it still had blue flowers covering the walls, bedspread, and pillows. He’d stayed in the Yellow Room once. Even in the dark, the room glowed.

He didn’t mind the flowers. He liked the homey feel of her place. Mrs. Folkert went out of her way to make sure everything was just right. He appreciated her friendship and mothering, something he didn’t get from his own. She reminded him of his best friend’s mom, who had created a safe haven for him in grade school.

He unzipped his suitcase and stuffed his clothes in the empty dresser. After setting his toiletry kit aside, he took out his dress shoes and handgun. The shoes he tossed on the floor and the gun he hid between his t-shirts. Before entering the bathroom, he peeked into the kitchen to see Mrs. Folkert stirring a large bowl. After a quick shower and shave, he rolled his clothes into a ball and tucked them under his arm. With a towel around his waist, he stepped into the kitchen.

“Are those chocolate chip cookies for me? The smell’s making my mouth water,” he said, reaching for a hot one.

“No, they’re for the banquet tonight.”

“What time does that start, anyway? I told Eva I’d meet her there.” He stuffed the cookie into his mouth and moaned.

She smiled. “It starts at six and I’ll save you a few more if you help me carry them down there.”

“You bet I’ll help,” he said, grabbing another.

“Joseph, I may be old, but I’m not dead. Put some clothes on.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied with his mouth full of warm heaven.

David backed into a parking space at the Hartford Auditorium. This huge three-story stone and brick building held almost every community event in town. Named after Allenton founder Bill Bennett Senior’s wife, Ella Hartford, it had been a mainstay for over fifty years. The community theater group put on plays. The local dance instructors rented the building for their recitals. Businessmen used the main stage with floor seating and upper tier for their meetings and programs. Just about everyone’s wedding reception took place in the all-purpose room of the building’s basement.

The front auditorium doors faced the downtown main streets. Down the hill in the back, the lower level entrance opened to the river and the long boardwalk. The Kalamazoo River ran next to the Allenton buildings, so the backs of the stores were against the walkway. The townspeople enjoyed the heavy wood planks in every season. From the early spring buds to the fall leaves to the winter wonderland of ice, it was always beautiful. Summer flowers had taken over now with every color imaginable.

Walking through the Hartford’s basement doorway, David saw his mom on the other side of the room. She gestured to delivery people, motioned for volunteers, and still managed to tie off silver and gold helium balloons.

“David, are you okay? I heard they found a body.”

“Yeah, what’s left of one.”

“Oh, honey, what can I do?”

“Nothing, we want to focus on tonight’s gig.”

“Well, your stage is waiting for you.” She pointed to the corner area in the back.

Matt met the local veterinarian at Hurley’s junkyard farm. Dr. Jack Adams, a friend of Matt’s from Allenton High School, had rich parents that had set up his practice. He volunteered as a way of giving back to the community and used a bartering system with his patients. Matt knew him as odd in high school, but always a decent guy.

Matt shook his hand. “Thanks for meeting me here, Jack. Is this an Emu feather?” He showed him the plastic bag.

“Yeah, what’s going on?”

“Will you come with me to check on the birds? There was an incident and they may have been involved.”

As they neared the pen, Hurley came out of his workshop wiping his hands on his dirty overalls. Manure covered his knee-high boots. “I got a call that you was coming out, chief. What you want?”

“Have you had any problems with the emus, Hurley? Have they gotten out lately?”

“Nah, they don’t like leavin’ the pen. They get all the food they want in there to fatten ‘em up.”

Matt walked closer and saw traces of crusted blood around the emus’ beaks and legs. “Do you keep the gate locked?”

“No, I told you they don’t come out. What’s this all about?”

“A man was killed on Landford’s farm. Emu feathers were scattered around the area and the body had pecking marks.”

“Really chief? I just gave them their vaccination last week,” Doc Adams said. “They seemed pretty docile to me, but I can do a blood test and see if there are any abnormalities.”

“You do that, doc. In the meantime, Hurley, I want them quarantined. Keep the gate locked and away from the other animals.”

Hurley ranted as he double-locked their pen.

After a long nap, Joe tugged on his bow tie, skewing it, then stepped into the kitchen. Mrs. Folkert, in an emerald green dress, apron, and fresh red lipstick, tightened the lid on the third Tupperware container.

“Rats, I was hoping for one more.” He took another when she lifted the lid.

“Joseph, you look very handsome in your tuxedo. You remind me of Herbert at our wedding years ago. We danced the night away. His tie was just as crooked.” After untying her apron, she fixed it for him. “I miss him. He’ll be one of the people remembered tonight.”

With Joe carrying the containers, they strolled the four blocks to the Hartford. “Now, Joseph, there will be quite a few single ladies there tonight.”

“Oh, really?” He grinned as they continued down the sidewalk.

“I know most of them. Some are rather loose and will try to take advantage of you.”

“Oh, really?”

“You don’t need some twit without any ideas in her head.”

“Ideas are overrated,” he replied, trying not to laugh.

She gave him a harsh look. “You are a good-looking, intelligent man who needs a beautiful, smart woman.”

“Are you going to point her out to me?”

“You’ll know her when you see her.” She smiled as they crossed the street to the auditorium.

“That’s what Taylor and Eva tell me.”

“Your sisters are right. Now, Joseph, I don’t want my Blue Room turning into a bachelor’s buffet with girls coming through there,” she said, opening the side door.

“No, ma’am, not when I have you all to myself for the next few days.”

“You are the charmer, just like my Herbert,” she replied as they walked into the Hartford kitchen.

In a sleeveless, mint green dress and loose bun, Eva Connor handed out booklets and greeted the community members in their suits and dresses. This was the big event of the year for Allenton.

She turned toward the door. “Jack, I haven’t seen you in a while.”

In a tuxedo with a red tie and vest, Jack Adams introduced his female companion, who wore an excruciatingly tight bun. “This is Tricia Simko, my veterinary assistant. Hey, I saw Matt earlier. He said he’d be here. Tell him we’ll catch up later,” Jack replied. Without acknowledging Eva, Tricia urged him forward into the room.

Eva turned to her young coworker, Amanda Sturgis. “Her bun must be cutting off the area of her brain that’s polite.”

“Maybe she’s better with animals,” Amanda replied.

“Dr. Russell, thanks for coming tonight,” Eva said, handing him a program.

“Yes, well, why wouldn’t I be here?” he asked, unbuttoning his tuxedo jacket. As he walked away to flirt with every woman he met, she rolled her eyes.

“I’d love to run my fingers through that thick blond hair,” Amanda said.

Shaking her head, Eva picked up another stack of programs. “Hello, Mayor Kilmer, good to see you. Where’s Betsy?”

“She’s sick at home; I’m stag tonight. Since when do you call me mayor? The four of us played pool last week.”

She grinned. She and Matt dined with them frequently. “How mad is she, John? I know you’ve taken dance classes.”

“She’s ticked. This was our big chance to show off our Arthur Murray lessons. Save me a dance later.”

“Sure,” Eva said. As the mayor made his way into the room, his constituents surrounded him immediately.

“Looks like everyone’s here,” Madeline said, smoothing out her tight bronze dress. Like Eva, a loose bun seemed to be tonight’s style of choice against the heat. “There are quite a few people I don’t recognize.”