Lena Diaz - Secret Stalker

Bex blinked, then looked at Max.

His eyes narrowed, and he took a step toward Marcia.

Bex hurried to step between them.

“Marcia, hey. It’s been a long time. Is there something I can help you with?”

Marcia glared at her, hands coiled into fists at her sides. Surprisingly, Bex wasn’t even mad at her for her crude comment about her and Max. Instead, she felt sorry for her. Marcia was one of those people who’d been miserable the whole time Bex had known her and had blamed others for that misery. It was clear that she hadn’t changed, that she was still just as miserable and lonely as she’d been back in high school.

“I heard about the shooting,” Marcia said. “Figured I’d stop by and see if you were okay.” She glanced at Max. “Looks like you’re doing just fine, already slipping back into old habits.”

Bex doubted Marcia had stopped by hoping she was okay. If anything, she was looking for some juicy gossip.

“There was a shooting at the Piggly Wiggly. But thanks to Max, everyone is fine. He saved my life, and the lives of everyone else in that store.” She could feel the weight of his stare, as if he was surprised or wondering if she really felt that way.

“Yeah, well, too bad he couldn’t save everyone years ago,” Marcia taunted. “Then maybe Bobby would still be around.”

“What do you really want, Marcia?” Max asked. “You can cut the crap about caring about Bex. No one in this room believes that.”

She gave him a resentful look. “I was just wondering when Bex plans on leaving.” She waved toward the suitcase. “I’m assuming soon?”

“And why do you want to know?” Max demanded.

Her face reddening slightly, Marcia said, “Mama sent me over with a casserole and her condolences on your mother’s death, Bex.” She cleared her throat. “Not that you really cared, did you? You never bothered to visit her.”

Max stepped even closer. “Not that it’s any of your business, but Bex saw her mother a lot, just not in Destiny. And they spoke on the phone every Sunday evening, without fail. Now, unless you have something nice to say to a woman who’s grieving the loss of her mother, you need to leave.”

Bex almost felt sorry for Marcia. Her face went pale and she seemed taken aback. “I wasn’t trying to be mean.” She aimed a pleading look at Bex. “I’m sorry about your mom. I really am. It’s just that when I see you, it makes me think of Bobby. And I just—”

“Out. Now.” Max used his much larger body to force her into the hallway.

Bex was about to tell him to go easy on Marcia when the other woman turned and ran from the house. Max followed her, and soon the sound of the front door slamming echoed through the little house.

If she hadn’t been anxious to leave before, Bex was anxious now. She’d meant it when she’d told her lawyer that there wasn’t any reason left for her to stay. Marcia was only one of many who blamed Bex for Bobby’s death. And Max wasn’t exactly warming up to her. Not that she could blame him.

Bex stuffed a few more things into her suitcase and zipped it closed.

“She’s gone,” Max said from the doorway. “You’re really leaving, right this minute?”

“I think it’s for the best. I’ll stop at my lawyer’s office in town, then I’m off to Pigeon Forge for a couple of weeks to clear my head before going home.”

He was reaching for her suitcase but stopped with his hand on the handle. “Pigeon Forge?”

It dawned on her what he was thinking about, and she belatedly wished she’d thought more carefully before answering him. She nodded and refolded an afghan at the foot of the bed that didn’t need folding. Pigeon Forge, nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, had been their place, where she and Max had gone on many trips their junior and senior year. Always with friends, to satisfy her mom that they were well chaperoned. But she and Max had found plenty of time to sneak away to be together. It had been the happiest time of her life. And it had become her habit since leaving Destiny to go to Pigeon Forge every time her life seemed like it was falling apart. The moment she’d found out about her mother, she’d reserved her usual cabin in the Smokies for once she was finished with her duties in Destiny. Now she wasn’t sure it was a good idea anymore. Rather than healing her soul, it just might crush her.

Without a word, Max picked up her suitcase and carried it out of the room.

Bex sighed and followed him, grabbing her purse and car keys along the way.

Once he’d placed the suitcase in her trunk, he straightened and leaned against her car. “I may need to contact you with more questions as the investigation goes on.”

“Mr. Leonard has my contact information. He’ll be able to get in touch with me.”

“It’s probably better that you’re leaving. Bobby Caldwell’s death is a fresh wound again now that you’re back in town. A lot of people, like it or not, believe you got away with murder. Marcia’s just one of them.”

She paused beside the driver’s door. “Just like you.”

“No.”

She looked up at him. “You don’t think I killed Bobby?”

He swore and ran a hand through his hair. “Whatever...resentments I have toward you, I never once believed you had anything to do with Bobby’s death.”

She wasn’t sure what to say to that. “You told Marcia I saw my mom, that I called her every week. How did you know that?”

He shrugged. “Small town. Word gets around.”

“Only if my mom told someone about it. And she wasn’t the type to gossip, not about me. And her close friends wouldn’t share that type of information, not with you. The only way you could have known is if Mom told you.”

He didn’t say anything.

“You’re the one who planted the lilies, aren’t you?”

Again, he remained silent. But the truth was in his eyes.

“You really did visit my mom regularly, didn’t you, Max? Why?”

He straightened away from her car. “Just because you pushed me out of your life didn’t mean your mom did. I always planned on marrying you, Bex. From the moment we started hanging out in middle school. I thought of your mom as my future mother-in-law for so long I couldn’t just turn that off when you threw my proposal in my face.”

She sucked in a breath. “I didn’t throw it in your face.”

He waved his hand in the air. “Just go see your lawyer and run off to Pigeon Forge. You’ve probably got some guy waiting there for you. Don’t let me keep you.”

She glared up at him, her hands on her hips. “And don’t let me keep you from those interns you’re sleeping with, either.”

His jaw tightened and he held the door open for her.

Her anger evaporated in a shaky sigh. Tears burned at the backs of her eyes. “Can’t wait for me to leave, can you, Max?”

Something passed in his eyes—regret? His anger seemed to rush out of him, too, and he looked tired and resigned.

“This is never how I wanted things to be between us. But it’s probably for the best, Bex.”

She nodded. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was so scared when I heard that gunman saying the cop had interfered and they were going to kill him. I figured that was you. I was so scared. I was trying to find you to warn you when I got trapped behind that display of T-shirts.”

“You were looking for me to warn me? Are you insane?”

She stiffened. “Apparently so. Take care, Max. I mean it. I want you to be happy and safe. No matter what you think of me, that has never changed. I’ve always wanted what was best for you. That was the driving concern in every decision that I made.”

He frowned at her words. “Bex, what are you—”

She shook her head, realizing she’d said too much. She stepped into the opening to get in the car. A loud boom sounded and the windshield exploded.