From the Heart: Romance, Mystery and Suspense a collection for everyone (28 page)

Chapter Seven

Richard called seven times the next morning before Maggie went out, and she let everyone of the calls go directly to voicemail. She couldn’t talk to him, not after yesterday. Because yesterday, they’d met at his lawyer’s office to discuss settlement prior to the divorce. She had been so worked up before the meeting because of their illicit tryst against the kitchen wall—afraid Richard would bring it up and somehow block the divorce.

She chewed on a piece of nail hanging from her thumb. “Think, think.” But try as she might, she couldn’t make sense of what happened in that boardroom as she sat beside her lawyer, across from Richard. And the only thing she was clear about was how much she hated that God awful painting of some ancient battle and resulting carnage that appeared to take up half the wall in that male dominated boardroom. She remembered not one word of what was discussed, decided, and agreed upon.

Today her head was clear, thank goodness. Maybe this was her wake-up call. And while Diane, a state trooper and her friend, hadn’t questioned her yet on what came out of yesterday’s meeting, she knew before this day was over, Diane would know everything.

A branch snapped over to her left. Dressed in full cammie gear with a loaded paint ball gun in hand, Maggie peered over the log she crouched behind. She stared into the thick brush but couldn’t see anything. Then something rustled the underbrush about a hundred yards in front of her. Her hands were damp as she gripped the loaded gun. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the adrenaline roared long and loud in her ears.

Diane told her when she picked her up this morning this was exactly what she needed. It would be therapy and so much fun. But crawling around in the dirt and hiding behind a rotted out log as something tickled her back was not in her idea of fun. “Oh this is just great.” Branches snapped, and it sounded right in front of her. She peeked over the top of the log just as two large guys approached all decked in faded green cammie gear. She suppressed the urge to giggle, and propped her loaded gun on the log and waited for them to come closer. Then she pulled the trigger and nailed both of them
boom, boom,
with bright orange paint dead center in their chest.

“Yah, yah, got you, now you’re dead.” Maggie held her gun high over her head and jumped up. Then,
what the hell…?
Whack, whack
. Both the big guys battered her with paint balls. Maggie dropped her gun and covered her head with her arms to ward off the stinging welts as they continued to fire, and she ran.

* * * *

Maggie limped and yanked a twig from her hair as she followed Diane, a short compact woman with a boyish brown cop cut, to her brand new Toyota SUV.

“Jesus girl, you don’t mess around with those SWAT guys like that, they really take it personally.”

Maggie said nothing, remembering how Diane had forewarned her that morning about the SWAT guys they were playing war with today. They the extra-tough type--the ones you sent into a problem scenario no one else wanted to handle. And for some reason, they took offense to Maggie hiding under the log waiting… their quote to Diane… to “ambush them.”

The SWAT guys said it was nothing personal, when they smiled and sauntered away a few moments ago.
Assholes
, Maggie wanted to yell at them, but stifled the urge when Diane yanked her from the small frame clubhouse of Sequim’s paintball club.

Maggie snorted in disgust and massaged her battered shins while Diane drove out of the parking lot.

“Maggie, how many times have I told you? You don’t mess around with guys like that. They operate on their own agenda. They don’t believe the same rules apply to them. Remember our little stint? We didn’t follow the rules. Lord, when I think back on what you and Marcie did, gathering that marijuana for Dan, you’re lucky you didn’t end up in jail.”

Maggie was aware, but she couldn’t honestly remember all the details when she helped Marcie get Dan’s marijuana. After his threats, it was the only way to protect her husband and Sam from being framed for some unspeakable crime. She was forgetting a lot of things lately.

Then she remembered the SWAT guys talking this morning about the incident at Waco, and the fact it would never happen to them. Diane translated their meaning when Maggie questioned her as they left the clubhouse after gearing up. Many cops believed the same rules civilized societies deemed to live and abide by, didn’t apply to them. And even worse, a few of them honestly believed they were entitled to make up their own rules.

“Oh, okay,” was all Maggie could say.

“Are you all right? You know you still haven’t told me what happened yesterday.”

“I did something stupid.” Maggie looked straight ahead through the unusually clean windshield.

“Wait, don’t say anything yet.” Diane pressed the brake and pulled a U-turn on the fairly quiet highway, driving across two lanes, and into the parking lot of the Road Side Pub. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to need a glass of wine to hear this.”

Maggie said nothing but chewed on that same piece of nail on her thumb as Diane pulled into the empty gravel lot and parked.

Chapter Eight

“I can’t believe you did that.” Diane rested her forearms on the small corner table beside the warm fire blazing in the dining room section of the cozy pub. It was mid-afternoon on Saturday, so the dinner crowd hadn’t arrived yet. Except for the two guys watching the sports channel above the bar, they were the only two in the place.

“You accidentally took a sleeping pill before going to his lawyer’s office?”

“Ah yah, that would pretty much sum it up.” Maggie couldn’t remember Diane’s deep brown eyes ever looking more shocked.

“Did you snore? Whoa, wait. What are you doing taking sleeping pills to begin with?”

This was the part Maggie dreaded. None of her friends were aware she’d started taking pills for anxiety during the day and pills to sleep at night. Maybe that was why Richard kept calling. He must suspect something.

“I didn’t want to tell you this. I meant to take Ativan for my anxiety, but I mixed up the pills.”

“What! Why are you taking anxiety meds too? Pills! What the hell, Maggie?! You know better. After what we’ve seen out there with drug users and addictions—weren’t you paying attention? You know as well as I do that prescription drugs are as addictive as illegal narcotics, and they are just as destructive. Do you really want this lecture?” Diane leaned closer glancing over her shoulder when the waitress set the table behind them.

Maggie glanced down at her short finger nails, the ones she’d begun chewing down, something she hadn’t done since she was an awkward teenager. Diane was staring at her when she looked up. Her lips paled into a thin line as if ready to launch into a lecture—something scathing that’d leave her poor ears ringing. So Maggie held up the flat of her hand and shook her head. “Don’t, Diane.”

“Sorry. I’m sure the last thing you need right now is someone else coming down on you. But I need to know all the pills you’re taking and how long you’ve been taking them.”

“Since I left Richard, and it’s just the sleeping pills and Ativan.”

“Does Richard know?” Diane lowered her voice so the lingering waitress wouldn’t hear.

“No. You’re the first.”

“Okay, what about Ryley? I mean, has he seen you popping pills?”

“I only take them when I need them. Not that often, so stop worrying. You’re making me sound like some irresponsible mother. And Ryley’s fine. He’s with Richard right now, anyway.” Maggie picked up her water glass and sipped.

“All right. So tell me what happened with the lawyers.” Diane appeared to relax and lifted her glass.

“My lawyer warned me about keeping my cool and playing fair. Well, he got his wish. I didn’t say a word. In fact, I had a hard time keeping my eyes open, I was so relaxed. I don’t remember what was talked about or what was agreed. But I do remember my lawyer nudged me a couple times. And the way Richard watched me--”

“What?” Diane raised both hands in the air.

“I don’t know. But I know he suspects something.” Her heart ached, and she squeezed a fistful of her brown sweatshirt above her heart. “He’s going to try and keep Ryley.”

“Did he say that?”

“No.”

“Well, what
did
he say to you?”

“Nothing. I didn’t give him a chance. I left right after the meeting. Grabbed a cab. He keeps calling. But I haven’t called him back.”

This time Diane’s face softened, and her mud brown gaze reached across the table with a seriousness that only appeared when she was in cop mode. “Maggie, I love you. And I don’t want to hurt you, but you need help. You’re not being fair to Richard. Call him back. Don’t play games. You and I both know he doesn’t deserve this silent treatment. No one does.”

When Maggie tried to interrupt and defend herself, Diane waved her hand gently in front of Maggie’s face, before reaching across the table gripping her wrist in a way to stop her from talking.

“No, please let me finish. I think you need to hear this. And remember I’m your friend, but I’m Richard’s too. And I’m the one standing in the background watching both sides with clarity. You and Richard both suffered a horrible loss no parent should have to endure. But Maggie, you need to pull it together for Ryley. You seem to be forgetting about him from the little bit I’ve seen recently. Richard can see how much Ryley needs you guys. And he’s pulled himself together for Ryley. So right now maybe Ryley would be better off with Richard. I just mean, until you clean yourself up.”

Maggie felt the blood drain from her face and her heart slice open as if sharp claws of betrayal were cutting into it. How could Diane turn on her? She slid her chair back, but Diane grabbed her arm again.

“No, sit down. And get that wounded puppy look off your face. As your friend, I’m entitled to set you right. That’s what friends are for. We should be able to say anything with love. When you do something stupid and don’t see things clearly, good friends are there to help guide you back onto the right path, even if it’s a hard kick in the ass.

“You need to call Richard and come clean about the pills. If you don’t, I will. Then you need to get some help, counseling. I’ll help you find the right person to help you get off those pills and stay off.”

“I don’t need help. I rarely took them. I’m not addicted.”

And to prove it she’d dump them out as soon as she got home.

Chapter Nine

Richard’s brand new one ton truck was parked in front of Maggie’s rental house when Diane pulled into the driveway to drop her off. Richard was hunched under the front end of her car. He stood up and waved when Diane parked.

“What’s he doing here?” Maggie gripped the armrest and squeezed and glanced at Diane to see a rosy telltale flush on her cheeks.

“You called him? When…?”

“When you went to the bathroom. I’m sorry, but I realized you’ll put it off and avoid talking to him. So to make it easier for you, I took charge. And I know I eliminated and took away your power. But you need to tell him, and this way I know you’re going to talk to him.” Diane’s face reflected a subtle sternness when her compassionate gaze lingered on Maggie. At this moment, Diane had an inner strength Maggie would have killed to have just a fraction of.

Maggie’s hand trembled on the flat handle when she pushed open the door and climbed out. Richard gripped the top of the door forcing Maggie to skirt around him.

“Hey Diane, good to see you.”

“You too, Richard. And she knows I called you, and she’s got something to tell you.”

Maggie’s face burned when Richard swung his deep gaze like a spotlight down on her. And his eyes flared for a moment, just as they used to when he knew she was hiding something. He never blinked or looked away, even when Diane left.

“Okay. Shall we talk here, or in the house?” He crossed his arms.

“She shouldn’t have called you.” Maggie tried to walk past him, but he moved and blocked her escape. “Richard, please.”

“After you, Maggie.”

He didn’t touch her, but jammed his hands in his jeans’ pockets as she scooted around him. Her stomach ached, and she felt her chest burn as her heart kicked up a beat. Richard dogged her heels, and she could feel the burning heat of his gaze in her back. Daisy yipped and scratched at the door while Maggie fumbled with her keys. When she popped open the door, the gray weather stripping around the door frame slipped out again, and whacked her on the back of the head. “Shit.”

Richard pressed the thin rubber strip back in its slot along the doorframe. Daisy whined and demanded all of Maggie’s attention, so she ruffled the top of her dog’s head and then limped to the backdoor letting Daisy into the backyard.

“Did you hurt yourself?”

Her shins, her ankles, her arms ached. But she’d rather focus on that, talk about that, than why he was really here. “Diane took me to her cop club for a game of paintball war. Two of the SWAT guys Diane works with took offense to me nailing them, which I did fair and square, but being the bad sports they are, had a temper tantrum and unloaded all their paint rounds at close range, thus the limp.” Maggie swished her hand at her legs.

“Why didn’t you tell me your car broke down? The transaxle snapped. And that old heap of junk is not worth fixing. You could’ve been hurt or even killed if it broke on the highway.”

Had he even listened to her? “What the hell does my car have to do with the SWAT guys?”

He said nothing, but his eyes and his face took on that hard dark look of his when he got a hold of something and wouldn’t let go, and he waited.

“What are you going to do about it? We’re divorced, remember? I’m not you’re responsibility anymore.” Maggie paced in front of him.

“Well, let’s talk about that. For one, we’re not divorced. We’re not even close to being divorced. And get this straight Maggie, you
are
my responsibility.”

She didn’t expect that, not from Richard. After Lily was killed, he’d turned his back on her when she needed him most.

“It’s amazing how you remember that now. You seemed to forget that when Lily--” A lump jammed up her throat and the never ending tears glazed her eyes.

“Let’s say it all, have it out.” Richard jammed his finger in Maggie’s face. “I was grieving too. She was my little girl, and I’m sorry, but you weren’t there for me either. It’s a two way street, baby, and you holed up in her room for days and didn’t come out. We both said terrible, cruel things to each other. But Ryley… my boy didn’t have either one of us. We lost Lily. And it’s tragic. And I’ll always grieve for her loss. But life goes on Maggie, it’s been a year, and you need to get past this. Ryley needs his mother and father. Don’t you think he deserves that much?”

Well, that was a slap in the face. The same words she’d heard from Diane earlier today, but Diane was kinder. She shook her head, and covered her ears. Deep inside, she felt herself slipping back into that dark hole. Her chest ached, her palms were sweating, and she started to gasp for breath.

Richard gripped her arms and rubbed both hands up and down her arms before resting them on her shoulders. “Maggie, you’re shaking.”

“I don’t want to talk about this right now. Please Richard, just go.”

“No, I’m not leaving yet. Diane said there’s something you need to tell me. I’m not leaving until you’ve told me what it is.”

Maggie sighed and peered into his steely blue eyes, wondering if maybe he already knew.

“I’ve been taking sleeping pills. Sometimes. When I have trouble sleeping.”

“I see. And?” He said nothing else, and his hands stayed right where they were, as if holding her in place.

“I accidentally took one yesterday before meeting you at your lawyer’s office.”

“I don’t understand how you accidentally take a sleeping pill? Unless you’re taking something else too, and you mixed up the pills.”

Maggie blinked and swallowed the lump that jammed her throat again. Richard’s fingers gripped her shoulders, and his eyes widened as if he could read her every thought.

“Maggie? What else are you taking?”

Okay, he really did know. “Ativan for anxiety.”

“Oh God, Maggie!” He stepped back and pressed both hands on top of his head. “Ahh. What are you doing? How often are you taking them?” He was getting louder, more demanding, as he firmed his lips into a fine white line. “Where are they?”

She couldn’t speak and stood frozen when he stormed down the hall to the bathroom. It wasn’t until she heard him rummaging in the bathroom that she could move.

“Richard! What are you doing?”

He dumped toiletries, bottles, and makeup all over the counter. And he lined up five prescription bottles. Lifting each up, he read each one. “Dr. Martin is who prescribed these?” He glared in such a way, that at another time, she’d have taken a step back from the doorway she stood.

“Richard, I want you to leave. Those are mine. Put them back.” Whose voice was that? It was so weak it cracked when she spoke.

But he didn’t put them back. He lifted the toilet seat and emptied the first bottle into the toilet. She didn’t realize it was her screaming as she grabbed his arm trying to reach around him to rescue the remaining pill bottles beside the sink.

Richard blocked her and emptied all the pill bottles into the toilet and flushed. He threw the empty bottles into the trash. She felt every ounce of energy leave her. She leaned against the doorframe and wept as she slid to the floor. Then he was on the floor sitting beside her, and he scooped her onto his lap as if she were a child and held her.

She pushed against his shoulder—his arms. But this time he didn’t let go. Why hadn’t he done this before?

“Shhh, I won’t let you take these. And this doctor who prescribed these? I swear I’ll have his medical license revoked.”

Sitting on his lap, she gave in and allowed him to hold her, to rub her back, but none of it eased the knots twisting up her insides. When she jerked upright, she wondered if she’d dozed off. She’d lost track of time. Her heart was pounding in her ribcage, her hands sweaty as if she’d had too much caffeine. Only today she’d had none, just a glass of white wine with Diane. She knew the demon had returned. All the signs were there, the familiar anxiety, which soon would give way to panic. He must have sensed what was going on inside of her. After all, he’d know the signs on someone more than she.

“Maggie, you need to tell me. How often you were taking those pills?”

His chin rested atop her head. She could feel his warm breath feathering her hair as he spoke. Could he feel how fast her heart pounded? At one time, he used to know what she was thinking. But things changed, life changed with all its damn tests. And their foundation was not the solid storybook she once thought. But he was here now. Her breath caught in her throat. If she told him the truth, he’d use it against her to keep Ryley away from her. She pushed his arm down and scrambled to her feet.

“I rarely took them.” She wouldn’t meet his brutal gaze when he stood.

“Look at yourself, you’re already agitated, sweating…” He grasped her chin and tilted it up so she was forced to look at him. “Don’t ever forget you can’t hide your lying eyes. Not from me.” He pointed a finger so close to her nose she’d swear he touched her. He narrowed his eyes, and she was sure a flash of lightning passed between them.

She swatted his hand away. “I want you to leave, now.”

Richard shook his head and looked away. Then held his hands up in what appeared to be surrender, backing up. And he left.

She heard the door close, his truck start, and his tires squeal as he drove away.

Maggie stood in her dimly lit hallway, alone for what felt like an eternity, trying to steady her racing heart. Then she slowly crept to the kitchen, but she wasn’t hungry. Regret and loneliness were her bitter companion, and so were the tears and piles of misery that burdened and weighed her down. Why wouldn’t it leave?

She felt a gentle nudge against her thigh. Daisy, so patient, filled with unconditional love, stared lovingly up at her with what appeared to be worry filling her murky brown eyes. Maggie glanced at the open back door. “I’m so sorry, my girl. I forgot about you.” She hugged her dog and then followed Daisy out the open door, this time not wanting to see anyone.