Chasing Shadows

Gabe raised an eyebrow. “Looks like Frank’s into drug trafficking.”

“See, I knew there was something off about him,” she gloated, looking quite delighted with herself.

Gabe liked her enthusiasm but he couldn’t let her think she’d done a good thing. The thought of her getting hurt made his shoulder muscles tighten. “Yes, you were right. But you took a risk.”

The enthusiastic light faded from her blue eyes. “Didn’t we have this discussion already?”

“Never hurts to reiterate. Besides, this doesn’t mean he had anything to do with Carl and Lena. We still haven’t established anything has happened to them.”

“When will you?”

“Soon.” He hoped. Then he could stop torturing himself with her company.

He moved toward the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking Christopher Columbus Park. The fountain shot water in the air and a woman with a dog jogged along the winding paved path. Beyond the park, the blue water of the Atlantic sparkled in the winter sunlight. Sails ruffled in the morning breeze. Die-hard sailors in this cold weather. He shivered.

Kristina halted beside him. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Very.” So was she.

“On summer evenings I can watch the performance artists,” she stated softly. She turned her gaze on him.

Gabe found himself staring into eyes darker than the ocean and alive with intelligence. She regarded him frankly, with no guile or coyness.

So unlike the woman she’d been.

He could like this new person. He didn’t want to. He couldn’t risk that kind of pain again. “I should go.”

She nodded slightly, opened her mouth as if to speak but then seemed to think better of it.

“What?” he asked.

“Would you mind if I took your picture?” she asked.

A dry laughed escaped him. “I don’t know…”

She moved to her camera and detached it from the tripod. “You don’t have to do anything. Just be.”

“Just be?” How did one “just be”?

She held the camera to her eye, the round dark lens trained on him. The soft snap of the shutter was the only sound as she moved around him. He wasn’t sure if he should move or stay still, so he just stood there trying not to tense. She angled the camera and clicked away. He wondered what she saw worth photographing.

“Do you like ice cream?” she asked.

He arched an eyebrow. “Yes. Doesn’t everyone?”

The click of the camera echoed in the loft. “What kind?”

“Chocolate.”

She lowered the camera. “Just plain old chocolate?”

He shrugged. “Yeah.”

“Okay. What are you doing tonight?”

“Tonight?” An unexpected rush of anticipation arced through him.

“I plan to take Grams for ice cream. I think she’d like to meet you. Considering.”

She wanted him to hear her grandmother’s story about people missing from the retirement center. “I don’t think that’s a good idea considering the last time I met your family.”

She frowned. “This is my grandmother. Not my parents. I think it’s important for you to meet her and see for yourself that she’s not some loony person.”

“I don’t know.” Social events with the Worthingtons weren’t high on his list of repeat experiences. The last time he’d met Kristina’s family, they’d made their feelings about his unsuitableness loud and clear. But this wasn’t her parents, just one elderly woman. And it was his job.

“Please,” she said, her blue eyes direct and earnest.

What happened to the haughty woman who’d interrupted his life yesterday? Kristina was a puzzle, one he wasn’t sure he wanted to solve. But he’d gone this far, and who knew what other kinds of trouble Grams and Kristina would get in. “Okay.”

She beamed. “Great. Meet us here about seven?”

“That’s fine,” he agreed as he walked toward the curtain.

Kristina followed him to the door. “Thank you for taking care of this,” she said, indicating the pictures in his hands.

“Not a problem. Promise me you won’t do any more amateur sleuthing.”

She grinned. “I don’t make promises I’m not sure I can keep.”

He groaned. “Just stay out of trouble, okay?”

“I’ll try.”

Her words weren’t convincing. Gabe had a feeling that trouble and Kristina would be meeting again. And he could only hope he’d be there to protect her.

Kris had picked up Sadie early in the evening and brought her back to the loft, where they waited for Gabe. She still couldn’t believe she’d invited him for ice cream. And was even more surprised that he’d said yes.

Why would he say yes?

She doubted he harbored any residual feelings from their short time together that summer many years ago.

But what a summer. She’d thought she owned the world when she’d met Gabe. He had just started working for the Boston Police Department. He’d been to-die-for in his uniform. She hadn’t stood a chance. Of course now she realized how foolish she’d been to think they could have a future together. He’d taken one look at her family and bolted in the other direction, leaving her heart in tatters.

She’d seen him once since then. At Meg’s wedding last year. Gabe looked even more dashing in his navy pinstriped suit and tie than in his uniform. Kris had left as soon as she politely could to avoid having to talk with Gabe.

And then what did she go and do? Seek him out, hoping he’d solve the mystery of the missing residents. Brilliant. Not.

“Krissy, stop fidgeting,” Sadie commanded from her spot on the couch as Kris continued to tidy the already neat room. “The boy will be here in due time.”

With a sheepish smile, Kris refrained from straightening the magazines on the coffee table. “Sorry. I’m just anxious to find out if Gabe talked with Frank and, if so, what happened.”

Sadie’s gaze narrowed. “From what you told me about those pictures you took, it sounds like Frank is doing something illegal. Maybe he harmed my friends because they caught him taking their drugs.”

Taking a seat beside her grandmother, Kris gathered Sadie’s arthritic hands in hers. “I’m sure Gabe will figure out where your friends have gone.”

“You trust this boy?” Sadie’s blue eyes bored into Kris.

“Grams, he’s not a boy. And please don’t call him that when he gets here. And yes, I do trust him.” With the mystery of the missing retirement residents. Definitely. But not with her heart. She’d tried once. Wasn’t going to repeat that mistake.

Sadie grinned. “Protective of his feelings, are we?”

Kris kept her expression dispassionate. “No, of course not.”

“Ah, so you just don’t want to be embarrassed by your old grandmother.”

Trapped, Kris shook her head. “You calling him a boy would be embarrassing. But I’m never embarrassed by you.”

Sadie squeezed her hand. “At least you aren’t. Your mother, on the other hand…very embarrassed.”

Kris frowned, hating that her parents weren’t as loving toward Sadie as she’d wished they’d be.

The doorbell rang, sending Kris’s heart pounding. Taking deep breaths, she walked slowly to the door though her feet wanted to rush. But she wasn’t going to let Sadie see her eagerness to see Gabe. Eagerness born out of curiosity to know what he’d found out, not because she longed to see him again. Or kiss him.

Wait a sec! Where had that thought come from? She flashed to when he’d pulled her into his embrace and shielded her from view with his body. Okay, so maybe she did want to kiss him. But only to see if kissing him as a grown-up would be different than when she was a naive girl mooning over a handsome uniformed police officer.

She tugged on the hem of her shirt and smoothed a hand down the silky fabric covering her stomach, wishing she could as easily smooth her nerves. With a smile she hoped didn’t look too eager or too contrived, she opened the door.

Gabe held a bouquet of colorful flowers in his hand. Kris blinked back the sudden mist in her eyes. When was the last time a man had brought her flowers?

A very long time.

Gabe smiled but didn’t offer her the flowers. “Hi.”

Should she reach for them or wait until he presented them? “Hi, yourself. Come in.”

She moved aside so he could enter. He slid out of his overcoat and hung it on the peg beside the door. He was so tall and good-looking in his navy slacks and red shirt stretching over his chest and flat stomach. His honey-blond hair had been tamed, revealing the slight graying at the temples. She resisted the urge to reach up and release the riot of waves.

Gabe headed straight for Sadie and, to Kris’s amazement, handed her the flowers. Even as disappointment cascaded through her, her heart sighed at the sweet gesture. Sadie’s face lit up with delight as she gathered the blooms close and breathed in.

“These are lovely,” Sadie said, her eyes watery. “Thank you, young man.”

“You’re welcome,” Gabe replied. His gaze sought Kris.

For a second she thought she saw a question in his eyes. Was he seeking her approval? She smiled and nodded her thanks and was gratified to see him relax. Interesting, and something to definitely think about later. But she had some other questions and wanted answers.

“So, what happened with Frank? Did you arrest him? Did he admit to selling pills? Did he do something to Carl and Lena?”

Gabe held up a hand. “Hey, there. Slow down. I did bring Frank in for questioning. He said the pills were over-the-counter stuff he was giving to a friend who couldn’t afford any. He claims not to know anything about Carl or Lena. And since we haven’t established anything has happened to Carl or Lena, or that the pills in the photo aren’t what he claims they are, I had to release him.”

Kris’s shoulders dropped. “Well, what have you found out about Carl and Lena?”

“Not much. I visited the retirement center again and spoke with Ms. Faust. She’s sticking to her story that both left on vacation. I saw their rooms, still full of their stuff. Ms. Faust said she’d fax over their itineraries as soon as the center’s computer system came back online. Apparently they’re shut down for some upgrades.”

Sadie sighed, though her eyes looked troubled. “Maybe she is telling the truth. I mean, she wouldn’t risk lying to the police, would she? I’m just a senile old woman who is reading too much into things.”

“But you found Carl’s wallet in Frank’s cart. What did he have to say about that?” Kris asked.

He shrugged. “Found while cleaning the dining hall and was going to turn the wallet over to Ms. Faust but it disappeared.”

Kris hated thinking that they’d really been chasing the shadows of Sadie’s imagination. But that’s how it looked. And by the sympathetic look in Gabe’s eyes, he thought so, too.

Needing to lighten the mood and distract Sadie, Kris said, “These are such beautiful flowers, Gabe. It was very thoughtful of you. Let me put them in a vase.”

Sadie handed over the flowers with shaky hands. Kris put them in a green ceramic vase and added some water before setting them on the coffee table. “Perfect. How about we go get that ice cream?”

Gabe met her gaze, approval flashing in the warm depths. “Good idea.”

“Sounds like a very good idea,” Sadie agreed as she struggled to stand.

Kris and Gabe both rushed to help. As they left the apartment, Gabe supporting Sadie, he said to Kris, “Who knows, I might even try a new flavor today.”

Kris arched a brow. “It will be good for you.”

Once they reached the street, Gabe jogged over to his black vehicle to move it closer to the curb for Sadie.

“He’s a keeper, Krissy girl,” Sadie said, with a grin.

“Grams!”

Sadie gave a delicate shrug of her thin, hunched shoulders. “I’m just saying.”

Heat burned Kris’s cheeks. A keeper indeed.

Later that night as Kris worked in her studio printing off the latest batch of photos for a sportswear ad campaign, her phone rang. She glanced at the clock. Who’d call at this late hour?

“Hello?”

There was a brief moment of silence before Sadie spoke in a hushed, frantic voice. “Krissy, there’s something strange going on here. I saw a body being wheeled into the infirmary. You have to come quick!”

Kris tried to let the words register. “Is an ambulance there?”

“No, Krissy. There’s no ambulance. Would I have called you if there was?”

“I suppose not,” Kris muttered.

Was this just another shadow in Sadie’s mind? Sadie probably had a nightmare and was confusing her dream with reality.

But she sounded so upset.

“I’ll be right there.” Kris hung up, quickly dressed, then grabbed her purse and ran out the front door to the old Honda Civic parked at the curb. She started the engine and as the motor heated up, she used her cell to dial Gabe.

“Hello?”

“Hi, it’s me.”

“What’s wrong?”

Warmed by the sudden edge in his voice, she said, “Sadie just called me all upset. She…” What? Saw a dead body? “I’m on my way to see her.”

“It’s kind of late for visiting hours,” Gabe commented.

“Yeah, well, Sadie needs me.” She decided to be straight with him. “She thinks she saw a dead body.”

“I’ll meet you there. Don’t do anything until I arrive.”

Emotion clogged Kris’s throat. “Thank you.”

She hung up, glad to know that Gabe was on his way.

At this late hour, Kris saw only one other vehicle on the road as she drove to Miller’s Rest. Thankfully, the van that pulled up behind her and whizzed past as she rounded the bend right before the retirement center wasn’t a police car, or she’d have been ticketed for sure.

Kris didn’t usually break the speed limit, but Sadie’s agitation formed a ball of concern in Kris’s chest. Sadie was relatively healthy, but you just never knew. Kris’s heart squeezed tight.

She parked and hurried toward the front entrance. She glanced around, expecting to see the security guard patrolling the grounds.

“Psst. Over here.” Sadie waved from a side entrance. She wore the thick terry robe Kris had given her for her eightieth birthday this past fall and rubber-soled bootie slippers. Her gray hair was a mess, as if she’d just rolled out of bed.

Kris hurried over. “Shouldn’t this door be equipped with an alarm?”

Sadie shrugged. “It didn’t go off when I opened it, so I’d say no. Come on.”

“Wait. Gabe’s on his way here.”

Sadie’s eyes widened. “Who?”

Kris’s stomach clenched. She couldn’t have forgotten him, could she? “Detective Burke.”

“That’s good thinking, Krissy girl. But I have to show you. Now.”

Sadie rapidly shuffled away, leaving Kris no choice but to follow. The darkened center sent a chill creeping up Kris’s spine. Dim lights along the edges of the floor illuminated the hallways.

Sadie took Kris to the infirmary. “They wheeled a body in here.”

“A body?” Kris repeated, not sure she really wanted clarification.

“You know. A body under a sheet. A dead body.”

Kris swallowed back the distaste that image brought and told herself it was just another of Gram’s shadows. A nightmare she mistook for reality. Sadie pushed open the door and Kris peered over her head into the medical room. Glass-paned cabinets lined the walls, a desk with a stiff-backed chair occupied one corner. A gurney had been pushed against the far wall.

Kris sighed with relief. No body. “Well, it’s gone now. And who are they?”

“Ms. Faust and a man.”

Odd. Ms. Faust hardly seemed the type to go sneaking around at night. “Grams, you probably had a nightmare.”

Sadie’s chin jutted out slightly. “I couldn’t sleep.”

Kris raised an eyebrow. “So you went wandering.”

“I—”

A door slammed. Sadie shuffled quickly to a window facing the service entrance. Reluctantly, Kris followed. A white van had backed up to the double doors off the kitchen. The rear doors of the van were open, but at this angle Kris couldn’t see the contents. Ms. Faust and two men stood talking.

“Hey, that’s the van that passed me on the way here,” Kris whispered.

“I’ll bet they put the dead body in there,” Sadie said. “I wish the detective would hurry up.”

“He’s probably out front. Come on,” Kris urged Sadie away from the window.

One of the men shut the doors before rounding the vehicle and getting in on the passenger side. The other man climbed into the driver’s seat. Ms. Faust waved curtly and disappeared inside the center as the van drove away.

“We better get you out of here before she sets the alarm.”

Sadie’s urgent whisper galvanized Kris into panic mode. “Let’s get you to your room first.”

“I can take care of myself,” Sadie groused. “You need to leave before we’re caught.” She shuffled back toward the side entrance.

With a rueful shake of her head, Kris followed. Just as Sadie reached for the handle, Kris noticed the black box on the wall next to the door. The green light hadn’t been flashing when they came in. Now the light seemed as bright as a camera flash.

“Grams, no!”

Sadie pushed the door open and a loud screeching siren filled the air. Kris’s warning came a second too late.

Sadie groaned. “Rats!”

“Busted,” Kris said and sagged against the wall.

For the next several minutes chaos reined as the security guard, the night nurses, Ms. Faust and several blurry-eyed residents flooded the hallway. Ms. Faust turned off the siren. The ensuing peace was welcome.

“What is the meaning of this?” Ms. Faust bellowed, looking decidedly uptight. Her gray eyes flashed behind square-framed glasses. Her brown wool dress hung on her broad shoulders. Her stiff posture revealed her distress.

Before Kris could explain, police sirens and flashing lights brought more chaos. Perfect. Gabe rushing to her aid. How embarrassing.

Her glower deepening, Ms. Faust instructed the staff to take the residents back to their rooms. With the security guard standing watch over Kris and Sadie, Ms. Faust motioned for them to follow her to the foyer.

Two cars came to a screeching halt. One a police cruiser and the other, Gabe’s SUV.

Gabe stalked forward. The thunderous expression on his face let Kris know she was in deep trouble.

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