“I know. I’m not going inside, but is there any way to make sure they’re not planting evidence?”
What in the world? “You know the members of the Fair Haven PD. You can’t really think one of them would plant evidence.”
A grumble this time. “Maybe not most of them, but the new chief brought Grady Scherwin back again. When he was a kid, he used to shoplift candy bars from The Four Finger convenience store, and in high school he ran around with Jason Wood, and look where Jason ended up.”
Jason Wood, in part thanks to me, was in prison for possession of illegal drugs with intent to distribute and operating an illegal still. Scherwin had gone on to be a police officer, so clearly somewhere along the line their paths had diverged.
“You said Chief McTavish is there?”
“Yes.”
“Then even if Scherwin wanted to tamper with evidence, for whatever reason, he couldn’t. Chief McTavish is an honest man.”
The praise felt worse coming out than the coffee had going down the wrong way. But it was true. Chief McTavish had been sent to Fair Haven to make sure the corruption of the last chief began and ended with him.
The back of my neck prickled, and I had that feeling you get when someone is watching you. I glanced over my shoulder. My mom gave a pointed look at my phone.
I couldn’t avoid going back forever.
Directly across from where I stood at the counter, the man with Tim stole a French toast stick from Tim’s plate and grinned. They looked blissfully happy compared to our table. If I had the power of invisibility, I might sneak away and sit with them. I loved both our moms, but I liked it a lot better when it was Mark and me alone.
“Chief McTavish might be the most ethical man in town,” Mandy said, “but he looks sick enough to die right now. Scherwin could probably sneak a prostitute into my bed-and-breakfast without McTavish noticing.”
I wasn’t going anywhere near that comment. “Go back to my place, Mandy. There’s nothing you can do sitting there and watching police go in and out of yours.”
“I guess you’re right.”
I disconnected the call and scurried back to our table.
As soon as I dropped into my chair, my phone buzz-blipped again, the shortened signal letting me know I had a text.
I wanted to lean my head back, but the chair stopped at my shoulder blades. What had Mandy thought up this time?
I peeked at the screen out of the corner of my eye, making sure not to let my mom catch me.
The text came from Mark. They’ve moved on to debating where our children will get the best education.
I used my pinky finger to furtively tap a reply. You’d think they’d want to plan our wedding first. Or at least wait until we’re engaged.
I think they’d be happy if we eloped as long as we quickly provided grandchildren. They’ll be picking names next. My mom will want a family middle name—hers if it’s a girl.
Mark shot me a half wink.
I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Mine will want a hyphenated last name. Fitzhenry-Dawes-Cavanaugh…she’ll have to have a family first name. She won’t have room for a middle name.
Victoria Fitzhenry-Dawes-Cavanaugh. Still a mouthful. Have to call her Vicki.
No! Nikki and Vicki. I can’t stand it if we rhyme like those people who dress their kids identically.
Mark laughed out loud.
Both of our moms stopped talking. Red painted Mark’s neck, and I hunched down in my seat.
“I’m not sure what’s funny,” Mrs. Cavanaugh said.
My mom leaned slightly toward Mrs. Cavanaugh. “They’re texting notes to each other.”
Even though I knew my mom was simply good at observing details other people missed, at times I’d swear she could read minds.
My phone vibrated in my hand again. A beep signaled that the caller left a voice mail.
My mom gave me a look that clearly said I’d ground you if you weren’t already grown up.
I’d have to wait to listen to what crazy tree Mandy wanted to climb this time. As soon as my mom turned her focus back to Mrs. Cavanaugh, I checked the caller ID of the last number.
My breath froze in my throat. The caller ID said Fair Haven Police Department.
5
Staring down at the Fair Haven police department number on my phone, the only thing I could think was that Mandy got herself arrested. But maybe it was something else. In this town, anything seemed possible. I just couldn’t think of what.
I held my phone up above the table. This time my mom would be on my side. “I have to listen to this message. It’s the police.”
Mark checked his own phone. “Nothing for me.”
It felt like the cappuccino curdled in my stomach. I should have thought of asking Mark if he missed a call, but if Mark’s phone was working and he didn’t have a message, it meant they weren’t trying to reach him through me. Perhaps what they needed was to reach my mom for more questions. “Anything for you?”
My mom pulled her phone out as well. She shook her head.
