Page 47 of A Deceitful Pact

“I still haven’t heard from Hayden, either. He’ll probably just be having fun with the other officers on the course.” I try putting her mind at rest, and have to put on a brave face too when I see Sawyer talking to Jace on the other side of the street. Whatever they’re talking about has him smiling, until he notices me.

“It’s not that. It’s something else.” I tear my eyes away from him when I realize that Eleanor is acting nothing like herself. “I think it would be easier if I show you.” She takes my hand and drags me down the alley that runs between her flower shop and Billy McGee’s building.

“Billy gave me a spare key years ago. I’ve always watered his plants while he took his trips away,” she explains, leading me to the back of his building and taking a key from the front of her apron. “I’ve kept my eye out while he’s been gone, let myself in…for the plants,” she assures me as she opens the door and gestures for me to go inside. It’s dark, and the smell of tobacco instantly hits the back of my throat as I step straight into what I assume is the stock room. I’ve only just stopped throwing up, and this seems to be triggering it all over again.

“What I need you to see is up here.” Eleanor looks concerned when I cover my mouth, and I nod for her to lead the way. She climbs the narrow staircase to the top, and I follow after her, hoping that the smell doesn’t carry up here, too. She pauses at the top to open another door, and when I see the mess in front of me, the smell from downstairs seems to disappear.

“This wasn’t like this when I came up here last week,” she assures me as she steps inside. I look around the room at the upturned furniture and all the pulled-out drawers. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what went on here. “I know this is Hayden’s case, but I didn’t think it should wait until he gets back. There’s no sign of a break-in. Do you think Billy came home?” She sounds hopeful, but I know from what Sawyer told me that that can’t be the case. The way this place has been turned upside down suggests that whoever did it was looking for something. Something that I strongly suspect I have.

“Is coming back and trashing his own apartment the kind of thing Billy would do?” I ask Eleanor, getting the impression that she knows him better than I thought.

“No, and if he’d have come back to town, I would have known about it.” The confidence in her tone raises my suspicions even more. “Someone was in here,” she whispers as if she fears they could still be lurking, and it puts a shiver down my spine.

“I’ll add this to the report, thank you, Eleanor.” A strong instinct tells me to get the hell out of here, so I head for the door, and when that waft of tobacco hits me again, my stomach starts to roll and I almost throw up.

“I just want to know that he’s safe. He may have disappeared plenty of times before, but never for this long.” Eleanor follows me down the stairs and locks the back door of the shop behind us. I recheck the door once it’s closed and see that she’s right, there's no sign of forced entry.

“Were you and Mr. McGee close?” I ask as we walk back up the alley and onto the street.

“Like I said, I water his plants.” She stares at me blankly while I try to recall seeing a plant in the apartment.

“Eleanor, Riley, where have you been? I’ve been looking all over town.” Jean rushes toward us, flapping her arms.

“Whatever's wrong?” Eleanor looks offended by the dramatic outburst.

“How fast can you put together a bridal bouquet?” Jean rests her arm on her hips while she catches her breath.

“That all depends on what the bride wants,” Eleanor answers.

“What the bride wants is nothing short of a miracle,” Jean shakes her head.

“Chase is helping Sawyer and Jace load chairs from the town hall onto their trucks, and I’m gonna need some help in the kitchen.” She looks to me as if she’s thinking I might be that help. “Isabel’s trying, bless her heart, but the girl couldn’t chop an onion if her life depended on it.”

“Jean, slow down, and tell us what’s going on.” I try to calm her down.

“Jace and Maddison have decided to get married…tomorrow!”

SAWYER

I’m standing beside Jace as he says his vows to Maddison, and I can’t take my eyes off Riley. I’m surprised she came; she hates social events like these, and must have known I’d be here. Still, I’m glad she did, because I’ve never seen her in a dress before and she’s looking real pretty in it.

She smiles as she listens to Maddison and Jace's promises to each other, and seeing a tiny hint of happy tears in her eyes only makes me madder at the woman. I’ve thought a lot during the time I’ve been giving hermorespace, spent countless hours trying to figure out why she refuses to let herself be happy, and all I can come up with is that she’s punishing herself for something.

I decide to wait until all the formal stuff is out the way and for people to start mingling before I bite the bullet and head over to speak to her. I haven’t talked to her since she asked me to sign that contract and stormed out of her house. I suspect she’s every bit as mad at me as I am at her. The reality of what I’ve done will be clear to her now, and I have no idea how she’s gonna respond, but I can’t spend anymore time doing nothing. I miss her too much, and I need to know that she’s doing okay.

I see my opportunity when Eli calls Isabel away from talking to her, and now that Riley is standing alone, looking like a fish outta water, I finish my beer and head over. She must see me coming because she slightly turns her body to face the opposite direction. It’s obvious she doesn’t want to speak to me, but she’s gonna have to do better than that.

“You look pretty.” I place myself right in front of her, looking down at the floaty dress she’s wearing and wanting to scrunch its fabric in my fist. Riley acts as if I’m not there, staring forward and watching Eamon’s granddaughter play her violin.

“You think she knows anything more upbeat?” I try again, hoping to at least get a smile outta her, but I fail.

“Come on, Riley, I just wanna know that you're okay.” I give up and let her see how desperate I am. I hate that the shield I spent so long getting to drop is back up between us.

“Do I look okay?” Her eyes avert to mine, and she stares at me coldly

“You look great.” I smile, noticing that she’s got some colour back in her cheeks.

“Then there’s your answer, you could have gotten it from staying on the other side of the room.” She goes to step away, but I take her by the elbow and slowly draw her back.

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