Christy Barritt - Dark Harbor

“Small-town dynamics, huh? You’ve got to love them.”

He put the car in Park and started to get out.

“I can get my suitcase. Don’t worry about it,” Madelyn insisted.

He paused, one leg already on the ground. “I don’t mind. I can walk it up for you.”

“No, really. I’ve already put you out today, and I know you have reports to file, especially since that bullet came your way. Let me handle my suitcase.” She really wanted to be away from the man. She needed space to collect her thoughts.

“If you insist.” He shrugged, closing his door again. “If you have any more problems while you’re in town, let me know. In the meantime, I’ll call a tow truck to pick up your car. Fisher’s Auto Repair is the closest. Next shop is about thirty minutes out.”

“Fisher’s will be fine.”

“Will do.”

Her hands trembled as she stepped from the car and onto the cracked asphalt of the small, shadowed parking lot. Zach popped the trunk, and she ran around to grab her suitcase. Handle in hand, she leaned into the car once more. “Thanks again.”

“Hope you get that article written without any trouble,” he said.

His words froze her a moment. Then she realized it wasn’t a threat, but an observation based on what had happened earlier today.

She let out an airy laugh. Not a smooth move, Madelyn. You’ve got to be on the ball here.

“Thank you,” she murmured. She waved and took a step back.

“I’ll wait until you get inside.”

“I’ll be fine. I want to stretch my legs for a moment.” She needed to be away from his scrutiny as soon as possible.

He raised his eyebrows, as if he doubted her words. “As you wish.”

She waited until he pulled away to survey the area for any sign of danger, hating how her body had gone into fight-or-flight mode. All she spotted was the back side of the shops lining Main Street. A municipal lot was located dead center between buildings and houses that formed a U around it.

That U shape also meant she was hidden from eyesight from anyone walking the town’s sidewalks. The area back here was deserted, as most of the businesses had already closed for the evening.

The good news was that she didn’t see the white truck anywhere.

The bad news was that, if the truck’s driver did show up, no one would be around to hear her scream.

She shivered at the thought. All the craziness from earlier had shaken her up. Being followed. Meeting Zach the way she had. Hearing he’d been shot at.

It would leave anyone unsettled.

She glanced up at the house in front of her. Her temporary home was a two-level duplex the mayor owned and used as rental property. The home looked contemporary, well kept and clean with its blue siding and white trim. She was staying on the second floor, and if she understood correctly, the first floor was currently unoccupied.

She approached the stoop. A cardboard box had been left there with her name on it. Cautiously, she took the note on top off.

“For Madelyn, welcome to Waterman’s Reach. Here are some of our famous oysters to give you a taste of the town. Cordially, Mayor Alan.”

Madelyn swallowed a bitter taste in her mouth.

Instead of dwelling on her deceit now, she glanced around. Where was that lockbox where she could get the key?

By the garage, she remembered. She walked to the small building at the side of the house, found a small case beside the electrical box and turned the numbers there until the code was entered. The mechanism clicked open, and she pulled the key out.

As she walked back toward the door, she shuddered. There was something about being alone in a new place that always got to her. She tried to be tough. But on the inside, she constantly battled herself and her fears.

It wasn’t a fun position to be in.

She was going to get through this and prove to her colleagues that she was someone to watch out for in the field of investigative journalism.

She wanted to—no, make that needed to—prove herself.

The realization seemed a bit pitiful. She shouldn’t have to prove herself. But something was programmed into her thoughts, something at gut level, that made her believe that her self-worth was based on a certain set of criteria, no matter how much she might deny it.

She paused when she heard a sound behind her. Her shoulders instantly tightened. What was that?

She turned but saw nothing. Just trash cans, some old pallets and a broom.

Strange.

With a touch of hesitation, Madelyn hurried toward the door, her heels clacking against the pavement. That was rule number one that her mentor had taught her: always dress for success.

Madelyn heard that sound behind her again and paused. Fear began to gel in her stomach. Before she could turn, a hand covered her mouth.

Her heart surged with panic. What was happening?

Was she being robbed? Mugged? Murdered?

“Get out of this town,” someone whispered in her ear.

THREE

Madelyn froze as she waited for the man’s next threat, his next demand. Waited for the pain she was about to experience.

“You shouldn’t have ever come here.” His voice sounded gruff, commanding.

His gloved hand pressed hard into her mouth. Hard enough that her teeth ached, that they cut into her gums and lips. His arm locked her in place. The man was strong, and his hold was like a clamp.

Madelyn’s gaze darted around. There was no one around to help her. To see the act happening. To report to the police that she was missing.

Her heart ached at the thought. There’d be no one to mourn her. She was alone in this world, and never had she remembered that fact like she did now.

“Go back to Maryland,” the man continued. “Understand?”

She didn’t dare speak.

“Understand?” He squeezed her until she yelped.

She nodded, desperate for her life.

She wanted to fight, but she was frozen. Did he have a knife? A gun? Would he kill her?

Instead, his hand slipped. In one slick movement, he shoved her to the ground. Quickly, he reached down and grabbed the oysters. Then he fled.

She looked over her shoulder in time to spot a figure dressed in black. She couldn’t tell anything else about him. He was too much of a blur, a shadow, as he bolted away.

She sank to the ground, her knees going weak. Her insides were a quivering mess. Her whole life had flashed before her eyes, and she’d feared the worst. She’d feared she would join her parents.

Only—would she? They’d believed in God and in Heaven. Madelyn certainly didn’t believe in God anymore, and she wasn’t sure what she thought about Heaven or life after death.

She only knew there was a massive hole in her heart after her parents—her only family, since she had no siblings—had been stripped from her.

All she’d lived for since their death was her career. It seemed like the only sure thing about her future—at least it was her best hope. She couldn’t let some bully pressure her into giving up her dreams and goals.

She sucked in a deep breath, trying to compose herself and not fall apart.

With another shudder of fear, she hurried back to her suitcase, picked it up and went to the house. Her hands trembled as she tried to put the key in the lock.

She just wanted to be somewhere safe.

Did someone know who she was? Know why she was really here? What else might he do to ensure she actually did go home?

The only person who may feel threatened by Madelyn was Zach. She shook her head. He shouldn’t have any clue who she really was. Paula was the only one who knew her true motives for coming here.

That’s when Madelyn realized the truth: she needed to report a crime.

It looked like she and Zach Davis were going to have to talk again. Maybe this was a good thing. After all, what better way to track down the truth than by getting to know him more?