Carla Neggers - Abandon

“My uncle and I got to her father first when the saw went wild and cut him to pieces. She’d stayed with him. There was so much blood, at first we thought she was injured, too. We thought Kevin was dead. Gus found a pulse, and then we worried he wouldn’t live until the ambulance got there. He’s a great guy. Strong, decent. His wife Molly, too. He kept defying the expectations. Everyone was focused on him.”

“Mackenzie slipped through the cracks.”

“She’s avoided blood and gore – her words – ever since. I thought that’d get her kicked out of the academy, if her authority issues didn’t. She’s not easily intimidated, in case you haven’t noticed.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“She hasn’t told her parents about the attack. They’re in Ireland – she wouldn’t want to upset them. She’s not used to being on that side of things. Letting people in.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Rook asked.

Nate looked out across the driveway toward his wife and Mackenzie, who were chatting together. “If Mackenzie knew where Harris Mayer was, she’d tell you. If Judge Peacham knew, she wouldn’t necessarily tell Mackenzie. Or you, for that matter.”

“I don’t distrust Mackenzie, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“I’m not asking anything,” Nate said, then gave a polite nod. “I have to go.”

Once Winter was out of earshot, T.J. gave a low whistle. “He may be a bigger hard-ass than you are, Rook.”

“You want to translate what he just said?”

“He said if you break Mackenzie’s heart, he’s not going to forget.”

Rook scoffed. “You’re full of shit, T.J.”

Unrepentant, his partner grinned. “I’ll stick around in case you need a ride home.”

“I’ll need one,” Rook said, half under his breath.

Within a few more minutes, most of the law enforcement officers left. T.J. gave a deliberate yawn. “My stomach’s calling for a pizza with everything on it. Except anchovies. Anchovies and pepperoni just don’t mix.”

Rook sighed. “Two minutes.”

He walked across the steamy driveway to the porch, where Mackenzie was arguing with a young uniformed officer about how she didn’t need a cruiser making periodic checks on the place overnight. He didn’t back down – he said they’d be checking on the property, not on her. She finally relented, likely because it was the only way she’d be rid of him. The officer took his victory and retreated.

“Kid’s got a future if he can stand up to a marshal,” Rook said.

Mackenzie gave him a dark look. “They’re all creeped out about the hydrangea.”

He had no idea if she was joking, but it was clear that no one liked the prospect of a stalker – and no one blamed the ghosts for the flower and the knife. “Everyone would relax better if you just weren’t here tonight.”

“Nate and Sarah offered me their guest room, but I declined. Bad enough Sarah has this place to worry about, with a baby on the way and me here attracting trouble. She doesn’t need me underfoot at home.”

“Come back to my place. T.J.’s starving. My nephew will be there – he’s always starving. We’re ordering pizza.” Then Rook added, “You can have the upstairs bedroom all to yourself.”

She squinted at him, clearly not sure about the idea.

“Look at it this way. Either I’m staying here or you’re staying at my place. If it’s not me, you know it’ll be Nate, and why would you want that? He has a new house and a pregnant wife. He’s a senior deputy.” Rook smiled. “He’s not as good-looking.”

“I don’t know, Rook, Nate’s pretty good-looking. Of course, there’s T.J. He’s so good-looking he’s been known to stop hearts.” But she couldn’t sustain her humor, and blew out a breath. “Honestly, there’s no need for you to stay -”

“Then grab a toothbrush, Mac, because I’m not leaving you here alone.”

She shoved both hands through her hair, then let them drop. “All right. Give me two minutes.”

“Take all the time you need.”

“And I’m taking my car,” she said. “No way am I having Chief Delvecchio catch me getting dropped off at work in the morning by an FBI agent.”

Rook could see her point. “I’ll send T.J. on ahead to buy the pizzas, and I’ll ride with you.”

“Fine, but I’m driving.”

The woman was relentless, but as Rook watched her head back into the house, he noticed a slight wobble in her steps. Tonight had gotten to her. From what he’d seen of the investigators, the hydrangea and the knife had gotten to them, too.

When they reached Rook’s house, Mackenzie got to her backpack before he did, slinging it over her right shoulder and following him to the door. She’d said little in the car. He didn’t know if she was more preoccupied with what she’d found on her porch step or with the prospect of spending the night at his house.

Brian opened the door. “There you are.” He ran a hand over his head, a gesture that suggested something was up. “I was just about to call you. Some guy stopped here looking for you.”

Rook stepped inside, frowning at his nephew. “Some guy? Who?”

“I don’t know. I asked him his name, but he wouldn’t say. He just said to tell you he’s sorry he missed you.”

Mackenzie walked past Brian and set her backpack on the floor next to the stairs. “Can you describe him?”

“Late fifties, gray hair, well dressed.” Brian shrugged, regarding her with the mix of nonchalance and curiosity only a nineteen-year-old could pull off. “What else?”

“Was he dark or fair -”

“Very fair.”

“Cal Benton,” Mackenzie said.

Brian obviously didn’t recognize the name. “What’s up? This some fed deal? Is he wanted?”

“Hang on a sec, Brian,” Rook said. “Mac -”

But she’d already bolted out the door, and he charged after her, surprised she’d moved as fast as she had. She spun around to face him. “I can do more on my own. I’m not working a case.”

“T.J. will be here in another minute. He’ll stay with Brian. We’ll go together -”

“I’m friends with these people,” she said, climbing into her car.

“You’re friends with Judge Peacham. Cal Benton -”

“I won’t stay long.” She smiled up at him. “Save me some pizza.”

As she backed out of the driveway, Brian ambled out of the house and stood next to his uncle. “You can go after her if you want. I’ll be fine here.”

Rook shook his head. “I’ll wait for T.J.”

“We could always call Dad and have him intercept her.”

Rook grinned at his nephew. “Now you’re thinking.” But he watched Mackenzie’s car turn up the street, and sighed. “Mac knows what she’s doing.”

“You hope so,” Brian said.

“Yeah. I hope so. Come on. Let’s go inside, and you can tell me every word this guy said to you.”

“I wrote it all down.”

“No kidding?” Rook cuffed his nephew on the shoulder. “Good for you.”

Mackenzie almost backed out of Bernadette’s driveway two seconds after pulling into it. But the house was lit up, suggesting whoever was there – Bernadette alone, or Cal, or both of them – hadn’t gone to bed yet.

By the time she climbed the steps to the side entrance, the door was open. Bernadette, barefoot in a flowing black caftan, stepped aside. “You can talk to me upstairs. I’m packing for New Hampshire. I leave in the morning.” She turned, then stopped abruptly, glancing back at Mackenzie. “Stairs won’t bother you, will they?”

“Not at all. Is Cal here?”

A coolness came into her eyes. “No.”

Bernadette about-faced and headed down the hall, leaving Mackenzie to pull the door shut behind her and find her way to the front of the house. She took the sweeping staircase to the second floor, remembering how much she used to love to visit Bernadette in Washington – especially before Cal. Mackenzie had tried to be neutral about him, although none of Bernadette’s other friends seemed to bother. Certainly no one in Cold Ridge did. He just wasn’t a favorite. But everyone wanted Bernadette to be happy, and if Cal made her happy, who were they to criticize?