Chapter Twenty-Six
“Your quick thinking saved your life, and helped us take Jenna into custody sooner than we might have.” Trinity’s drinking from my DON’T MESS WITH A FEMALE VETERAN mug, and the sentiment is apropos to her, too. Don’t mess with the most badass detective in Pennsylvania. After Jenna was cuffed and read her rights, she was taken away on a stretcher with a 24/7 police escort. I am no longer naked under Nate’s parka but in my softest, coziest rose pink flannel pajamas. The ones with green parrots printed on them. While I was dressing, I called Crystal and caught her up on what happened. Which is why she’s ensconced at the end of the table, mug in hand.
A forensics team is still at work in my living room, but for now I have all I need gathered around my kitchen table. Trinity, Mom and Dad, and Ralph, who’s refused to leave my shoulder. Nate sits on the kitchen stepladder stool, observing our interaction. He made us all a big pot of coffee. No one’s going to sleep any time soon.
“Had you already figured out it was Jenna?” I pose the question to Trinity, and watch all heads turn toward her.
“I was close, but not one hundred percent convinced until I heard your voicemail.”
A grin, the first of the night, tugs at my mouth. “You mean I cracked the case?”
Mom gasps and Dad rolls his eyes, pats Mom’s hand. “Please don’t encourage her, Trinity.” But Dad’s tone is full of pride. Love.
Trinity bites her lower lip but can’t hold back her laughter. She nods. “Yes.”
“While I appreciate that, dear friend,” I hold my mug up in a toast, “I am not interested in being involved in a crime of any kind ever again.” And most especially, not a murder. No thank you.
“If it’s at all up to me, and the entire SPD team, you won’t be.” Trinity’s comment triggers a round of laughter, a release from the night’s terror.
“I mean it. I left the Navy to pursue a different kind of passion. A way to bring the world to small-town America.” Funny thing, though. When I say passion I sneak a quick look at Nate. He catches my gaze and…smiles.
“To be fair, you provided enough information to keep the case going when we were stymied. Jenna was very thorough and left zero prints behind. Not one strand of hair.” Trinity’s pulls her battered notebook from her pocked and flips through the pages one at a time. “There are several strong suspects. And I had no idea that even the possibility of an ancient ruin existing here could be the source of criminal behavior.”
“But the eel weir ended up having nothing to do with Frannie’s murder.” I’m interested in seeing if the V-shaped rock formation in Jacob’s Run is indeed ancient. And I like that it won’t be associated with Frannie’s murder.
“No, but it gives SPD reason to keep our eyes and ears open. Stonebridge could literally be sitting on—”
“A historic discovery never before seen in central Pennsylvania!” Mom’s enthusiasm is reborn. Dad and I exchange looks. We are going to hear all about the weir again, whether we want to or not.
Trinity doesn’t bother to continue her thoughts on the weir. But what I hear is that Stonebridge isn’t the sleepy town I grew up in. There are outside events and forces that we have no control over.
But for tonight, with my family and friends surrounding me, Frannie’s murder solved and the killer apprehended, Stonebridge is the safest place I’ve ever known besides Tom’s arms. I can still feel his embrace as never before, but with a difference. Tom would be happy for me, and Nate is the exact kind of man he’d want me to fall for.
Because yes, I think I’ve fallen for the man who’s persisted in trying to spend time with me, all the while I’ve been dealing with a hot mess.
I’m going to keep my personal revelation to myself for now. It’s enough to know the murder has been solved.
Wednesday morning after Jenna’s arrest is the brightest I’ve woken to since moving home and it’s still pre-dawn. I’ve never been this alert on only a few hours of sleep. The forensics team wrapped up by two A.M., after which Trinity okayed me to stay in my home.
I’m emotionally exhausted, for sure, but I know it’ll pass. My home is safe and my chicks are flying back to the nest. Or, rather, Mom and Dad are going to get Ava and Lily today. We all decided it’s still best for them to get the girls, so that I can catch my breath and get the last of the shop’s preparations finished before our family Thanksgiving dinner.
Nate spent the night, along with Mach. No, not like that. Nate was on the sofa (he refused to mess up either of the girl’s rooms) and Mach alternated between the living room and my bedroom, next to Ralph’s cage. I caved and let Ralph bunk in my room, just for the night.
Nate said there was no way he’d leave me alone after such a scare. We’re definitely in the earliest parts of whatever our relationship is going to be. But I will forever be grateful to him for being so supportive and kind last night, and these first weeks of our acquaintance.
I brush my teeth and head into the front of the apartment. The sofa is empty, and there’s no sign of Mach. Did Nate leave?
“Good morning.” He calls from the kitchen, across the living room. It’s a relief to hear his voice. In the best way.
I walk to the kitchen and slide into a chair. “Morning.”
Nate’s heating milk for cappuccinos on my stove, using the old-fashioned frother I bought in Italy. A traditional espresso pot gurgles on the smallest burner. Mach’s under the table, but he stirs enough to curl at my feet, firmly resting his snout on my slippered feet.
“Where’s Ralph? I thought he’d be on your shoulder.”
“Are you kidding? He’s a sloth in the fall and winter. Don’t try to get him to come out from under his cage cover before the sun’s up.”
Nate laughs, pours the espresso, and then pumps the frothing pot until the milk has doubled. He takes the seat across from mine. Our gazes meet and I wonder if my eyes are crinkling like his.
“Some first date, huh?” I sip the coffee. “Nate, this is so good.”
“It was the best first date. Not the killer breaking into your home bit. But being able to share a life experience with you.” He points to his coffee. “I used the coffee in your cupboard and the milk from your refrigerator.”
“I know, but there’s something so nice about someone else making it for me.” Except I know it has nothing to do with someone else and everything to do with Nate.
I could get used to this. And one other thing—not having to look over my shoulder for a killer.