Page 32 of Sadie's Guarded Harbor

Marie snagged Nora from her highchair and rested her on her hip. “Can Nora help you pick out the colors?”

“Yes! Let’s go.” Amelia disappeared in a flash, the sound of animated chatter between the two children quickly floating into the kitchen.

“I’ll keep them busy while you guys talk.” Theo stood behind Katherine with his hands on her shoulders. “It was nice to see you, Sadie.”

“You, too.” She watched Theo kiss the top of Katherine’s head and walk out of the kitchen. A sinking feeling in her stomach had her dropping her gaze. She’d never been one of those girls who longed for a man. Never needed a boyfriend to make her happy. But seeing the love—and hell, the fun—between Katherine and Theo made something shift inside her. Something she wasn’t so sure she wanted to acknowledge.

“So.” Katherine wiped a few stray crumbs onto the floor. “What do you two want to know? You’ve worked the case for two days now. I’m not sure what I can add.”

Owen poured a mug of black coffee and settled back at the table.

“We’re curious about Shawn’s dynamics with Curtis McLane and Mitch Parson. Mostly in high school, but if you have any knowledge of their relationships recently, we’d like to hear that, too.” All traces of Tommy’s good nature slipped away.

Katherine ran her hand over her smooth ponytail. “I didn’t know much about them then or now. I remember Mitch always causing problems at school. Suspensions, detentions, and everything in between. Shawn and Curtis seemed like nice guys. The three were always together, but those two seemed to be closer. Not really caring if Mitch was around.”

“Do you remember when Shawn’s behavior shifted?” Sadie asked.

Katherine settled her hands in her lap and rested a gentle gaze on Tommy. “I do remember. He was at school, but he came home every weekend to visit his mom. She had cancer, and I’d heard talk it was hard for him to be away. But it was after our mom died that he started causing trouble when he came back to town. That’s why it stands out so clearly in my mind.”

Sadie chanced a peek at Tommy, who sat back and rubbed a hand over his mouth, then shifted in her chair to face Katherine. “Tommy told me about your mother. I’m sorry you had to go through that. But I have to ask. What kind of trouble did Shawn cause?”

Katherine blew out a long a breath and wiped away moisture at the corners of her eyes.

Owen rested a hand over hers and squeezed. “He stole a car. Broke into the liquor store. Threw rocks at people’s houses, causing a ton of damage. He scratched the hell out of his dad’s sports car. Then he was too drunk to do much besides pass out all over town. At first, people were relieved to see him drinkingbecause he wasn’t harming anything else but himself. I was new on force back then. We got almost daily calls.”

“I didn’t see any of that when I searched for his files.” Had she missed something? If Owen was right about all the issues Shawn had, she should have found his criminal record.

“Really? That’s weird.” Owen furrowed his brow. “Maybe there’s a glitch in the system or something. The courthouse stores a ton of paper files in the basement. You should be able to search down there and find them. It’s not the most sophisticated back-up system, but it’s better than nothing.”

Sadie’s mind went back to the drawings she’d glanced through on the way over. “Was Shawn artistic in school?”

“Yes, very.” Katherine said, nodding. “Why?”

“I found pictures he drew—along with a random key—stuffed in between the siding of his trailer the night I went over there,” Tommy said. “Creepy stuff.”

“You mentioned he stole a car and keyed his dad’s car. He drew a lot of pictures of car crashes, burning cars, one picture was of a vehicle running over his dad.”

Katherine pressed a hand to her chest. “That sounds crazy.”

“Could be random thoughts and ideas. Could be a look into something deeper going on in his life. Something pushed him to his breaking point.” Sadie’s phone rang in her pocket, and she retrieved the cell. She didn’t recognize the number, but the area code was local. “Sorry. I should take this.”

“No problem,” Katherine said.

Sadie hit the Answer button. “Hello.”

“Help! I need help, now! Please. You have to stop him. He’s lost his mind.” The woman’s frantic pleas pierced her eardrum.

Sadie locked her gaze with Tommy. She might not have recognized the number, but she recognized the voice. “Clara. What’s going on? I need to know what’s happening. Where are you?”

“My house. He came home in a rage. Please. Hurry!”

Tommy shot to his feet. “Is she in trouble?”

Sadie lifted a finger then mouthed, “Call dispatch. Get a car to the Parsons’ now.”

“He knows what I did. He won’t let me leave. My babies. He has my babies.” Clara’s ragged sobs tore through the line and sent shock waves around Sadie’s heart.

“Stay on the phone. I’m coming.”

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