New Town, New Thief Read online

  Cozy Space

  The first grocery store trip had not gone as uneventful as Lindsey would have liked. After the nervous teen ran off (and who could blame him, people never knew what to do when they were sucked into reliving a traumatic memory), it took ten more minutes for another clerk to be found and ring her items up. There were several more attempts from the older woman to get Lindsey to engage in conversation, and although Lindsey was polite and smiled…she was far too drained from the memory encounter to sound even mildly responsive. Thankfully, the lady resigned to being quiet after the third try of conversation had failed. Lindsey had felt like a jerk and made a mental note to apologize for her close mouthed silence if she ever saw the woman again, which in this small town, was probably likely.

  Still, in spite of the aggravation, Lindsey’s thoughts strayed to the boy in the checkout lane. She hoped he wouldn’t be fired. The memory she had witnessed was plenty enough to garner sympathy for him, and it was obvious he had no comforting home to go to. What would she have done, if she hadn’t had a loving mother raise her? A sudden sharp pain hit her between the ribs and Lindsey felt her breath catch at the unwanted thought of her mother. Shoving it aside (she was quite an expert with not confronting emotions), she began putting the groceries away in the kitchen.

  Regardless of the teen’s terrible life, she couldn’t let herself become side tracked from solving the theft. She needed to do a good job on this case if she ever planned on staying. Shaking her head she gave herself another mental scold for going down that road. No guarantees, that’s how she lived, how she had to. Since when had she decided she wanted to stay in this small town with little to offer? But even after the mental scold, Lindsey couldn’t deny the longing in her heart when she looked at her small but comfortable-temporary home. Something made her want to stay, but she would need to get that something out of her mind. This was not how she did things.

  She took another look around her small apartment. It wasn’t much but in the few days she had arrived, already this tiny space had become home. Her kitchen was hardly big enough to fit two people, yet it held plenty of charm with its white distressed wood cabinets and a lovely counter in a warm brown that balanced the white wood perfectly. A faded green and grey, striped rug was in the center of the kitchen floor. The two low cabinets had light grey stripes painted on their doors, with little bronze nobs. She furrowed her brows together and couldn’t understand the warmth she felt being in this space. Lindsey had stayed at many hotels, much larger, and way more updated. She wandered towards the Keurig, likely the newest thing in the whole space, and opened up the box of k-cups to stick in the coffee rack. Truth was, she liked it here. No rhyme or reason other than it “felt” right. And nothing had felt this right in a long time.

  Sighing, she shook her head and walked towards the living room. She plopped herself down on the soft green couch, grabbing the remote in hopes of drowning her stress away with a show. The five channels that came through were all a colossal fail, between vampire, crazy space aliens, and then a non-helpful HGTV channel (she didn’t need any more motivation to stay and improve her apartment), nothing could provide her with a healthy distraction from the day’s events…she made a mental note to check cable prices if the case kept her here longer than she anticipated.

  Drumming her fingers on the couch, Lindsey’s thoughts drifted to the teen again. Maybe she could ask Ryan if he knew anything about the boy and drop a subtle tip to stop into the home, it was the least she could do…

  “CRAP!” she jumped off the couch, letting the remote fall to the ground, and ran to the kitchen clock. The time read five thirty and gave her a measly thirty minutes to get around for her dinner with Officer Ryan Vance. If she hadn’t been thinking about him, she would have completely forgotten. Argh…why did things have to get so…complicated?

  Grabbing her cell from the kitchen counter, she hit her keypad to dial Ryan’s number, except, she didn’t have his number. Perfect, just perfect. A sigh escaped. She couldn’t even cancel since he hadn’t given her his phone number. Ugh. Of course, he knew where to pick her up since it was the chief that had gotten her the apartment. With nothing else to do but clench her jaw in resignation, Lindsey walked to her room and began the annoying process of figuring out what to wear…because this was absolutely, under no circumstances a date. She reminded her inner butterflies quite sternly to settle themselves down.

  The Date with Officer Vance

  Twenty minutes later Lindsey was dressed and sitting at her corner table with a travel mug of coffee clasped in her gloved hands. She went for a professional look while dressing, and hoped to convey to Officer Vance that dinner was a working dinner and not for pleasure. Her black dress pants were pressed and wrinkle free, and her white striped button down added to the stern look she was aiming for. Ad in her bun at the base of her neck, and Lindsey looked positively intimidating (for someone who was planning on walking into a corporate room or Officer Ryan’s car).

  A honk outside made Lindsey jump and by the time she had righted herself in her chair, a knock sounded on the door. Grabbing her mug and purse, she headed to the door and opened it to find Officer Ryan Vance looking way too handsome out of his uniform. He wore a pair of dark jeans and a red sweater that complimented his tan and lean arms. His smile widened when he noticed her stare and Lindsey rolled her eyes. This was not happening. Remember Jake, she told herself. That’s how things always ended.

  “Where’s your uniform?” Lindsey still hadn’t moved over for Officer Vance to step inside.

  “Well, hey there to you too Nancy Drew. Why would I be in my uniform? We’re having dinner…wait,” he eyed her outfit up and down and smirked, “You forgot didn’t you?” chuckling, Ryan Vance looked completely at ease standing outside her door. He leaned against the frame and didn’t seem to notice the crisp chill in the air. Meanwhile, Lindsey couldn’t stop the shiver that ran down her spine. It’s just the air she told herself.

  “Meeting the chief or something?”

  “What, no-I didn’t forget. It’s a working dinner…” blushing at Ryan’s continued stare and his obnoxious assumptions, Lindsey stormed outside, practically pushing him out of the way and slammed the door shut. She turned the key to her apartment, making sure it was firmly locked and then walked past Ryan, to his car. She felt his smile and stare the whole two minute stride there.

  Hearing his footsteps lightly jog behind her, he managed to get to the car before her and opened the passenger side door. He gave a mock gentlemanly bow before shutting the door and getting in on the drivers side.

  “I can get my own door you know.”

  “Ha, I don’t doubt it miss independence.”

  If she kept rolling her eyes this way, they were bound to get stuck…this was going to be an evening for eye rolls. She took a long swig of the coffee in her mug, beginning to wish it was something stronger. Ryan drove away from Lindsey’s apartment and turned the car towards the highway, but instead of slowing down at the station, he drove right past it and out of town.

  “Hey! Where do you think you’re going? We are supposed to be having dinner and discussing the case.”

  “Well duh, but where do you expect me to take you to dinner at? Surely you didn’t think we would eat in this town,” Ryan peered sideways at Lindsey as he held up his hands in exaggeration and began to list off his arguing points on each finger, “let’s see, one-there’s the delli, oh wait that’s closed right now. Two-there’s the coffee shop, oh never mind, that one closes at 5. Hmm..three-we could always go to the tea shop for something sweet…well, that’s open, but come on, I’m not taking you there for dinner…”

  “Oh, for Heaven’s sake. I thought you were ordering a pizza or something and we would eat it at the police station. Could you keep your hands on the wheel!?”

  They were well on their way to the next town at this point, and Lindsey had to hide a smile at Ryan’s mock horror expression at eating pizza and being told to kee
p both hands on the wheel.

  “My lady, I would never say I was going to take you to dinner and then order pizza. What kind of man do you think I am?”

  Lindsey raised her eyebrows, “I think you’re the one who likes to play games Officer Vance.”

  “We’re back to officer again I see. I told you, it’s Ryan. And, besides, I wasn’t in the mood for pizza and you looked like you could eat a decent meal judging by the items I knocked out of your basket earlier today.”

  “So you admit it! You knocked my basket out of my hands on purpose!” Lindsey didn’t try to hide her triumphant smile this time, as she focused her accusatory eyes at Ryan and then at his nicely shaped jaw. Wait, that wasn’t supposed to happen. She snapped her head away from Ryan, and turned her attention to the passenger side window.

  “HA! You ran into me mademoiselle. Remember, head down and glued to your phone. You’re like the girl who walked into the man hole because she wasn’t paying…Ow! Hey-what was that for!” Ryan laughed heartedly at Lindsey’s attempt to punch his shoulder and she began to glimpse a different side from the skeptical version she saw in their first meeting. Maybe she couldn’t deal with romance right now, and Ryan was plenty arrogant enough that it wouldn’t work out in that department even if she was normal, but maybe…just maybe, she could form a friendship. Stop it, she told herself.

  “So where do you plan on taking me then, Ryan?”

  He gave Lindsey a sideways grin at her using his first name. “You’ll see.”

  “Ugh, if there’s one thing we need to get out in the open, it’s that I hate surprises, so just do us both a favor and tell me. It will make me better company for the ride at least.”

  “Have you always been this much fun?” now it was his turn to roll his eyes at Lindsey.

  “You are exasperating. Has anyone ever told you that, because trust me, it’s true.” Lindsey dug in her purse for her phone, and hit the familiar app with the case notes.

  “Ha! My ex-wife reminds me anytime she sees me.”

  Lindsey’s interest perked at that piece of news. So the handsome, but very arrogant Officer Vance was divorced. Really, it wasn’t that hard to see why. It was a shame that he happened to be so handsome. Good grief woman, she thought to herself, stop thinking about how good looking he is.

  Officer Ryan cleared his throat and Lindsey realized she had been silent, lost in her own thoughts for who knows how long.

  “You know I’ve been known to create an awkward silence or two but I didn’t expect to cause one by mentioning my ex-wife, although she does have that effect on me.”

  Lindsey turned from the window to look at Ryan and shrugged, “Sorry, I stopped paying attention and got lost in thought about the case.”

  “Wow, now I can see why the chief hired you if you’re that focused.” His eyes crinkled as he chuckled.

  “I kind of have to be since this is how I earn my living you know.” Ryan’s smile stiffened at Lindsey referencing her ability and the case. She braced herself for the shutdown that usually happened when people remembered why she was involved and how she got answers, but other than the slight tension in his jaw, he didn’t show malice or disgust. Instead, Ryan risked a sideways glance her way and spoke, his tone of voice still friendly.

  “That’s right. I almost forgot about that. Look-I’m not going to pretend that I buy it,” he held his finger up, just a hare in front of Lindsey’s mouth to silence her. The affect stopped her from interrupting and he continued, “but, I can tell you’ve got skills. Despite throwing your basket of groceries at me, you’ve got focus Lindsey. You remind me of someone trained the way you took in the security video I showed you. I saw you scan all the details and watched your intelligent eyes try to put pieces together. So listen, I don’t think you’re a fraud, well-not the kind that lies and manipulates…I don’t necessarily believe what you can do is face value but you must have some kind of edge that looks unique. Maybe it’s like that guy from the show where he pretends to see the future but just notices everything and makes really good guesses. I’m looking forward to seeing what you contribute to the case, is all I’m trying to say…and maybe when you’re ready, you’ll tell me the real reason you wear the gloves.”

  Lindsey attempted to process everything Ryan had said. He stopped the car at a red light and stared straight at her, waiting for her confirmation that she wasn’t a freak but something misunderstood. The conversation had her stomach in tight knots. He wanted to treat her as a friend…maybe more but couldn’t wrap his head around what the chief said she was. Sigh, wasn’t that just the way it was for her? He could watch a security video show a man walk through a wall but not be able to accept her skills on the case at face value. Better to get this out of the way and disappoint him before he got any more ideas…and by the look he was giving her, she needed to keep him at bay.

  A honk blasted both Lindsey and Ryan out of their stare causing them to quickly jump away from each other.

  He hit the gas and didn’t say a word. Lindsey cleared her throat, “Pull into the gas station.”

  “Huh, why? I have a full tank Nancy Drew.” He was back to being his jokingly, arrogant self.

  “You want to know how I solve cases right? Just do it.” She knew he would take the bait, he wanted her to talk.

  Shrugging his shoulders, “Hey, if we are late to grab a good dinner, don’t blame me.”

  Lindsey pulled her long black gloves off and placed them gently on top of her lap as she felt the car slow to a stop at the gas station. Thankfully, Ryan chose a shadowed parking spot away from the pumps.

  He finished putting the car in park and stared at her glove free hands. He furrowed his brows in confusion. “Ok, well, I was expecting to see scars or some burns on your hands truthfully, but I’m sure there’s another reason you wear them…right?”

  She watched him try to puzzle her out. She sighed and spoke.

  “Listen, it’s better to get this out of the way now so you stop treating me like an uneducated scam, an intelligent burn victim with skills, or something else that I’m not…even if your last suggestion was a lot nicer, the truth is--I am exactly as the chief says.”

  “Oh come on Lindsey. I thought we were actually going to work together. I don’t care if you’re smart and have an edge to solving cases, but I’m not stupid. Maybe the glove thing works to get you more jobs but let’s not treat me like I haven’t been in the game long.”

  “You truly are exasperating,” she said for the second time tonight. And without giving him a chance to react, Lindsey reached over and grabbed Ryan’s face with both hands. She felt his breath catch and then that all too familiar pull began to take place and she fell back, swirling in another moment of time until she landed in the chief’s station, staring at Officer Ryan in a heated discussion.

  The Chief and Ryan

  “Get real chief. You got some kind of joke going on here? Where’s Cameron, I bet he’s behind this--didn’t I already get my initiation with the prank call on rabid hamster’s last year?”

  The chief was a big man, and I mean big. It didn’t matter that his belly was wide, his arms were huge and packed with muscle. He stood tall, and at 6ft and 11 inches, it was no wonder he had the criminals shaking in their seats when he questioned them. He was dark skinned and deep voiced…and right now, all that attention was focused on Ryan.

  Ryan stopped looking for the hidden video once he got a good look at the chief.

  “You’re serious then.” He stood there trying to process the chief’s request.

  The chief cleared his throat and nodded to Ryan. He walked to his desk and the chairs shook with each booming step. He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the desk drawer. The chief pulled out a simple piece of paper with names, ten names to be exact and handed them to Ryan. Lindsey stood in the shadows, even though she knew neither could see her, the overwhelming need to hide was something she couldn’t help…even in someone else’s memory. Sh
e crept out behind the coat rack in the chief’s office and walked up to Ryan. Leaning over his shoulder, she took a good look at the piece of paper the chief had thrust in his hand. She felt the sick twist of knots build in her stomach as she recognized the paper and the names. Her name stood on the top list. These were the same names that Jake Laurens gave her, nearly a month ago.

  Ryan looked at the paper and shrugged his shoulders, “I’m not sure what this is supposed to mean to me? You got a new case? What does this have to do with the security video-these the suspects?”

  The Chief sighed, and pulled out his chair behind the desk and sat. His desk rattled with the movement. Even Ryan seemed almost knocked off balance. The Chief motioned for Ryan to sit before he spoke.

  “It’s going to be a lot to take in Officer,” the Chief’s voice was big and tall, just like his frame. “I know I can trust you. You’re arrogant and pompous…but you’re honest and you do your job well. I need someone who can keep their mouth shut during investigations and I’m offering you this case.”

  “Ok…” Ryan stood from the chair and ran his hand through his hair. “So, you need someone to deal with this case seriously and figure out how it’s done. I can do that. I don’t understand what I just watched on the video feed, but I’ll get to the bottom of it and keep the press from having a field day with it. You still haven’t explained the names, are these the leads?”

  The chief nodded, “In a way. I’ve been contacted by another department that we’re going to work with on the case. Don’t bother asking me who, I can’t tell you that right now.”

  Ryan began to open his mouth in an argument or some kind of retort but the chief silenced him with one look. “I don’t need you to understand it Ryan. I need you to solve the case and keep the press off our backs. I’ll explain things to you as I can, but trust me, you don’t want to know more than is necessary. Just keep the list, and if you find one of the names, let me know. That’s it other than getting to the bottom of the theft.”