Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1) (13 page)

That was Lisa. She couldn’t resist teasing or irritating others.

Teagan’s mind leaped to images of the teenager wandering the streets of an unfamiliar city, and then to Lisa bound with duct tape, locked in a closet, and begging for help. 

Nausea crawled up Teagan’s throat. Get through the meeting. This is for Lisa. She forced herself to take in Matt’s low spoken words and shut out the image.

He held up his notes. “I’ll speak first about Lisa’s disappearance.”

Trying to concentrate, Teagan wrote the information on the notepad resting in front of her, and then continued to scribble her thoughts.
Lisa gone three days. Run away or abducted? Why would she leave home when she was going to be adopted? How? Who sent me the threat? Who’d kidnap her?

She stopped writing. She’d call Noah and talk to him. The reassurance in his voice boosted her spirits. Her mind drifted to the last time they’d met. They stood together so close she could see the individual whiskers on his chin. She’d been so sure he was going to kiss her.

“Teagan?” Matt cleared his throat. “Teagan?”

She snapped her head up and found three pairs of eyes staring at her.

“Sorry, what did you say?” She put down her pen, and her cheeks flared with heat. What was wrong with her, letting her thoughts wander?

“Stacey will send a thank you to Muffy Mart for the candle donation, unless you feel it is your place.”

The front doorbell’s chimes interrupted her response. She started to rise, but Matt jumped to his feet. “I’ll get it.”

Jogger sprang from the side chair where Aunt Sophia always sat. The cat padded across the floor as she tailed Matt out of the room.

The elderly volunteers continued gaping at her. They’d already exchanged fleeting looks of disapproval with each other over a cat’s presence at the kitchen table when they thought Teagan wasn’t looking. Now, who knew what they were thinking about her?

“If you’ll excuse me, I forgot something.”
Like my mind.
She crossed the floor and slowed when she reached the living room. Matt’s conversation carried from the hallway to her.

“He’s not here. I’ll call you if he shows up. You should check his apartment or his classroom.”

Teagan walked into the hall as Jogger perched on the bottom step of the staircase. She paused beside Matt. Noah and his partner were standing in her doorway. Lack of sleep tightened Noah’s face, but his gaze held the same assurance and grit that drew her to him. She wanted to run to him, invite him inside, and confess her fears. Then what would happen?

Nothing. He was on an investigation, not a social visit.

“Good morning, Miss Raynes,” Detective Hines said with a nod. “We’re sorry to intrude, but it’s imperative we speak to Jake Clark. Do you have an idea where he is?”

“I’m not sure. He was supposed to join us, but he doesn’t like early meetings. I thought he skipped it to sleep in. Is something wrong?”

“We need him to answer a few questions,” Noah said. “A car hit Lucy Watson this morning near Saint Jude’s.”

“Lucy came back to Hawick Falls? She was hit?” First Lisa, now Lucy. Teagan clutched Matt’s arm. What was happening to everyone?

Matt patted her hand. “She’s alive, Teagan.”

She nodded and withdrew a step. Why would Lucy visit and not get in touch with her? Had she changed her mind and wanted to move home, but was hoping not to alert Jake?

“When was the last time you spoke to Miss Watson?” Noah’s voice sliced through her spinning questions.

“We talked a couple of days ago. She works as a night auditor at a hotel and sleeps during the day. We don’t communicate a lot. She never mentioned a visit. What happened? Who was the driver?”

“We haven’t located the person involved yet,” Hines answered. “It appears to be a hit and run.”

“But she’s okay?” Teagan inhaled deeply.
Hold it together
.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine, Teagan,” Matt said. “Keep the faith.”

She nodded and bit her lip to silence a sob. Noah moved forward into the hall. They were almost in the same place hours ago. Suddenly, she could feel the touch of his fingertips on her face and the tingle of her skin. When he glanced toward her, she sidestepped away to put a few more feet between them. She had enough problems. Forget fantasizing about Noah Cassidy.

If his thoughts were on their previous encounter, he showed no signs.

“Does Jake usually skip meetings without contacting you?” Noah asked.

“He’s a late riser when he’s not working and sometimes oversleeps,” Matt said. “It’s not unusual, but he hoped to show for Lisa.”

The detectives wanted to question him about Lucy’s accident. What would happen next? Teagan’s temple pounded. “He ran down Lucy?”

“We want to clear up a few details,” Noah said. “When was the last time you spoke to him, Teagan?”

“The first day Lisa disappeared. He came over to offer me support. Where’s Lucy now?” Teagan rubbed at the ache in her forehead.

“She’s at the hospital,” Hines announced.

“How badly was she hurt?” Teagan could hear the stress in her voice.

“I’m afraid it’s serious,” Noah said. “Do you or Father Matt know the names of her family members?”

Matt shook his head. “She has a brother, but they haven’t spoken in years. I don’t know any more.”

Teagan would zip over to visit her friend. “Lucy told me the same about her brother. I have to go. Lucy shouldn’t be alone. I have to see how she’s doing. Matt, will you lock up?”

“I’ll take you.” Noah stepped forward to hustle her out of the house.

“I’ll get my keys.”

Teagan broke away from the group and heard the silence in the hallway when she raced upstairs. In her bedroom, she checked her purse for her weapon and scooped up her keys from the top of the bureau. Slinging her bag over her shoulder, she wound down the stairs. Matt met her on the bottom stair.

“You don’t need a protective escort,” the priest objected, turning as she passed him. “I can take you.”

“It’s police business, Father. Miss Raynes, you’ll be safer with us.”

The idea sounded excellent, especially if someone was driving around Hawick Falls running people down or abducting them.

Noah kept his iron clasp on her while he guided her out of the house and to his car in the driveway.

Detective Hines jumped into the rear seat.

“I didn’t remind Matt to give my apologies to the volunteers in the kitchen.” She unfastened her seatbelt.

“He’ll figure it out.” Noah keyed the ignition. “You can fill us in on Lucy’s background.”

No wonder he offered her a ride. Now he’d question her without interruptions, and she couldn’t get over the feeling he wanted her away from Father Matt. The two acted like they were in competition for her time, but that made no sense. Forget them both. She had bigger problems.

Disappointment speared her as she buckled up.
Yesterday, I had a moment with Noah, but today it is business as usual.

“Do you think Lucy wanted to get back together with Jake?” Noah asked without taking his eyes off the road.

“I don’t. Their relationship was over long before she left him. They shared a place for six months, and she knew him for two before they moved into his apartment at the Park View. Lucy confided that they’d acted too quickly, and she wished they’d gone slower before they jumped into sharing a home.”

“Was Jake violent?”

“Never. Lucy didn’t tolerate violence. Besides, she did lots for him. Jake liked having her around.”

“What did she do for him?” Hines asked from the rear.

“Kept him on a budget for one. Before Lucy, he didn’t bother to pay his bills until final notice and ended up paying a lot of overdue charges.”

“Would you say he enabled her when she drank?”

Would she betray Lucy if she discussed her drinking? Teagan shrugged, searching for a response and keeping her mind off Noah and his peering glances. “Lucy took responsibility for her problems.”

“Sounds like an AA answer.”

“You asked. I answered.”

“Who else might hurt her?” Hines asked.

“Lucy is an easy-going person who liked everyone. I can’t imagine someone deliberately hurting her. It must have been an accident.” She tightened her hands together in her lap.

“What’s going on with the vigil?” Noah asked. “Is Father Matt speaking for you?”

“I speak for myself. Matt will lead us in prayer and ask for Lisa’s return, too.”

“You’re not taking my advice about hanging low?” Noah threw her a disapproving look.

“Detective Cassidy, a plea from Matt is not the same as a request from me. I must do it.”

“She’s right,” Hines chimed in. “When the Linn girl went missing, everyone wondered why her mother didn’t attend a press conference. Taylor spoke, but the public expected her mom.”

“Was she taking your advice, detective?” Teagan asked, feeling a touch of vindication.

“Kara’s mother suffered a breakdown,” Noah answered in a level tone. “She’d been hospitalized.”

“I didn’t know.” A pang of guilt struck Teagan. She should have guessed. The woman always appeared broken in the pictures of her.

“You okay?” Noah’s question tore her away from her musings.

“Better than others. Any chance you pinpointed where Lisa was when she vanished?”

“We’ve good news on the river. Nothing turned up there.”

Another place she’d cross off her search list. They knew little more than before, and why would anyone hurt Lucy? She’d help anybody in trouble. “Why are you trying to connect Lucy’s accident and Lisa’s disappearance?”

“We’re just searching for the truth,” Hines told her as they drove north to the hospital.

They rode the next few miles in silence, and Teagan allowed herself to get lost in musings she kept stowed away in the back of her mind.

She was almost eight. Aunt Sophia had driven them to the hospital. They walked down the hall, where white-clothed people hurried past without a glimpse at them.

Her aunt slowed and pushed a door wide. “Go in, Teagan.”

A woman with dirty, scraggly hair, and a gray face lay on the bed. Her open mouth gasped for air. Her cheeks were shriveled old apples. She looked like the witch in the fairy tale book.

Teagan backed away into Aunt Sophia, who was blocking her escape. She was trapped.

Noah slowed his car for the turn into the hospital, and Teagan’s thoughts returned to the present. In the lot, Detective Hines jumped out and opened her door.

Teagan’s throat constricted, shortening each of her breaths. She’d do this for Lucy, the woman who always lent a supportive shoulder. Besides, she had no rational reason to fear a hospital. Just a bad memory.

She walked between the detectives into the brick building and waited a few feet from the desk where Noah and Hines spoke to the receptionist.

Fighting off her anxiety, she glanced around the lobby to distract herself. Nothing resembled her past memories.
Relax.

A man sat in the TV nook across from a couple. She did a double take. What was he doing here?

“Seth Bodell, what are you doing at the hospital?” The words slipped past Teagan’s lips before she could censure herself. But why was he here? Had he run down Lucy and was trolling for information on her condition?

Seth’s lower lip turned under when recognition flared in his eyes. He got to his feet, and she became aware how large he was.

“You don’t own the hospital, Teagan Raynes,” he spit out.

Her already queasy stomach rumbled with nerves. Don’t let him know. Stand your ground. He was up to something.

Noah stepped up on her right and Hines flanked her left. Their action buoyed and reassured her.

“Didn’t your mother teach you how to speak to a lady?” Noah asked through gritted teeth.

Seth narrowed his eyes and shoved his fists into his pockets as though he was trying to hide evidence of his anger.

“We’re looking for the driver who hit Lucy Watson this morning, which means I have a few questions for you.” Noah stabbed his finger at Seth. “And your nephew.”

“Me? I don’t know nothin’ about her. I didn’t know it was hit and run. Cops like you are always trying to find someone to blame.”

“I told him Lucy was here because of an accident.”

Teagan turned toward the voice. Stacey Smith? The church’s secretary glided to them with a white vase full of yellow flowers in her hands.

“Miss Smith.” Noah’s left eyebrow shot up in surprise. “What brings you here?”

Stacey patted her hair and sniffed the blossoms before answering. “Father phoned and asked me to check on Lucy for him. He had to finish up the details for the vigil at your house and couldn’t come. I was tied up and asked Seth to help.” She looked at Teagan. “Didn’t you want Father Matt to wrap up the meeting after you ran off to the hospital?”

Her last words rubbed against Teagan’s tolerance. Matt wouldn’t complain she’d ‘run off.’  The bouquet in Stacey’s hands caught Teagan’s attention. “Are those from the altar? My aunt pays for those lilies from a fund she left.”

Stacey shrugged. “They were on their way to the trash. I figured someone should enjoy them while they were still blooming.” She held up the vase. “When Lucy wakes up, she’ll see a happy color. Good idea, huh?”

“I’m afraid she’s not napping,” Hines told her.

“If you’ve all come to sit with Lucy, then there’s no reason for me to stay.” Seth grumbled and backed away from them.

“Just a minute.” Noah blocked the man’s direct path and forced him to halt. “Stay away from Teagan.”

The defiant look in Seth’s eyes set off an alarm in her head.  At the information desk, the receptionist was staring at them.

“Seth should go,” Teagan said, hoping to diffuse the situation.

Instead, Seth spit out, “Detective, you remember to stop accusin’ my nephew of crimes when he’s innocent. First you blame him for his ex-girlfriend disappearin’, and now, you ask me questions like I did somethin’ to Lucy.”

“Who do you think ran Miss Watson down, Mr. Bodell?” Hines asked in a quiet voice, crowding closer to Seth.

He blinked several times. “I didn’t know she was run down. Stacey just told me she had an accident. I thought she’d slipped and fallen. Besides, why ask me? Talk to her good friend.” He pointed a finger at Teagan.