Excerpt from
Ransom of the Heart
Book 7, Maine Justice series
“So, how are you feeling about this new venture, Nate?” Captain Harvey Larson looked up and nodded as the waitress filled his coffee cup. “I’ll have a BLT. Thanks.”
Nate Miller was nearly done with his lunch when Harvey had joined him at an outside table at the restaurant on Franklin Street. It was handy to the police station, and cops headed to “the diner” out of habit, especially in warm weather Na te picked up a French-fry and frowned. “Good. Mostly good.”
“Excited about it?” Harvey asked.
Nate smiled. “Well, sure. But I feel kind of guilty, too.” He popped the fry into his mouth.
“Why would you feel guilty?”
“Well, you’ve put a lot into my training and everything.”
“That’s what got you this job offer from the state.” Harvey took a sip of the too-hot coffee and set the cup down. “Look, Nate, you’re a good cop, and you’re a good detective. I’ve been proud to have you in my squad. I know this was a difficult decision for you.”
“Yeah, totally.” Nate eyed him warily. “I really like the Priority Unit. It’s Jackie mostly. She doesn’t like to think I could get shot at. It happens so often these days. Not here necessarily, but. . .”
“I know. This job has always been dangerous, but it’s more so now than ever before. Believe me, I understand what that can do to marriages.” Harvey picked up his coffee cup. Now wasn’t the time to get sidetracked in the past. He took a quick sip. Still too hot.
“I just don’t want to let you down.” Nate’s earnest brown eyes shone with anxiety.
Harvey shook his head. “You’re not letting anyone down. You’re going to be a big help to a lot of people. Kids, Nate. Parents. Educators. Even though we’ll miss you, that’s why I can let you go without putting up a fight to keep you here. I know this job with the Department of Education is important. And I’d never hold it against a man who chose something he thought was better for his family.”
Nate pressed his lips together and nodded. “Thanks, captain. That means a lot.”
Eddie Thibodeau, Harvey’s top detective, best friend, and brother-in-law, strode up the sidewalk toward the diner. He threaded his way between the tables as the waitress set Harvey’s sandwich in front of him.
“Hey, Ed,” Harvey said. “What have you got on the Farnham case?”
“I’m ready to pick him up, soon as I eat something.” Eddie grinned and waved to the waitress. “My usual, Brooke.” He sat down between Harvey and Nate.
“Well, I’d better get back to my desk.” Nate pushed back his chair. “See you later.”
“’Bye,” Eddie said, and Harvey nodded.
“He working on ID theft?” Eddie asked.
“No, we had a new cyber stalking complaint this morning. I put him on that.”
“Who’s going to do those when Nate’s gone?”
“I don’t know. Probably me.” Harvey rubbed the back of his neck and stretched a little. He picked up half of his BLT and took a bite. The diner staff made good sandwiches, but he would rather be at home, eating lunch with his wife Jennifer.
The waitress brought Eddie’s burger and set the platter, laden with fries, in front of him.
“Wow, that was quick,” Eddie said.
Brooke grinned. “I saw you coming. What are you drinking today?”
“Just coffee. Thanks.”
After she had filled his mug and stepped away, Eddie lifted the top half of his bun and frowned at his burger before adding a dollop of ketchup.
“Where are you going to pick this guy up?” Harvey asked.
“Fox Street. He’s supposed to be at work.”
“Take Jimmy with you.”
“Jimmy?” Eddie paused with his burger halfway to his mouth. “Not Tony?”
“I want to get Jimmy out of the office. He’s a little blue.”
“What about?”
“Nate.”
Eddie shrugged. “They’ve worked together a long time.”
“Yeah. I think Jimmy figured now that they’d both made detective, they’d stick together until they retired. He wasn’t figuring on Nate being such a hit with the educators.”
“He does a great job when he goes out and talks at schools.”
“Yeah. If he keeps one kid from getting tangled up with an online predator, then I’d say he’s doing the best thing. That’s a lot better than trying to catch the jerk after it happens.”
A girl walked slowly up the sidewalk. She caught Harvey’s attention because she eyed the diners as she approached. She wasn’t roaming aimlessly or headed somewhere. She was looking for someone, when she ought to be in school.
He took in her worn jeans, high-topped sneakers, and unzipped navy hoodie, but mostly he noticed her bushy, shoulder-length hair and her wary blue eyes. When her gaze met his, she stopped walking, one thumb hooked through the strap of her backpack.
Harvey frowned and looked at his sandwich. He had the feeling she was looking for him, but he couldn’t imagine why. Teenaged girls rarely sought him out.
“Okay, I’ll take Jimmy,” Eddie said. “What about Tony?”
“You can take him, too. You might need him.” Harvey glanced at the girl. She had a determined expression, and she took a step in their direction. “Heads up.”
“What?” Eddie stopped short of sipping his coffee.
“Company,” Harvey said softly. The girl was nearly to their table. He looked up and met her gaze. “Hello,” he said with a noncommittal smile. “Can I help you?”
“Are you Harvey A. Larson?”
Harvey hesitated just long enough to process that. Harvey Larson, yes, or maybe Captain Larson, but what high school girl knew his middle initial?
“Yes, I am. May I ask who you are?”
She swallowed hard. “My name is Leah Viniard.”
Harvey nodded. “Nice to meet you, Leah. Did you want to see me about something in particular?”
Eddie stared at the girl, and Harvey could almost hear the gears clicking in his brain as he analyzed her appearance and her words. He felt the oddity of it, too.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’m pretty sure you’re my father.”
*****
Abby Hobart parked near the entrance to the auto showroom and walked up to the door. Surprisingly, it opened at her pull, even though it was twenty minutes past closing time. Peter must be talking to a late customer. Usually if a client lingered after closing, it meant he was buying a new vehicle and they were finishing up the paperwork. She smiled and stepped toward her husband’s office.
Her throat seized. On the floor between a bright red Malibu and a silver Corvette convertible lay a man in gray pants and a darker sports jacket. A dark pool spread from beneath his head, across the tiles.
Abby looked away for a second, sucked in a deep breath, then looked again. As a nurse who had done stints in a busy hospital emergency room, she didn’t flinch easily. Even so, this one made her stomach heave.
Definitely not Peter’s clothing or build. She looked toward the office door. It stood wide open. The lights were on. She wanted to cry out to Peter but caught herself. She swept a gaze all around the showroom, but nothing moved. Cautiously, she stepped back, behind the Malibu’s rear bumper, and pulled her phone from her purse.
It rang four times. Her brother-in-law was probably driving home from work. She almost hung up and opted for 911, but his voice came on, crisp but warm.
“Abby. What’s up?”
She gulped. “I just got to Peter’s store, and there’s a man lying dead on the floor.”
“Are you sure he’s dead?” Harvey asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Who is it?”
“One of the salesmen, I think. It’s … well, the exit wound …”
“Understood. Where’s Peter?”
“I don’t know. I was afraid to go to his office.”
“Right. Get out of the store now, Abby. Get inside your car, lock all the doors, and wait for me. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“But Peter—”
“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s too dangerous. Get out, Abs.”
“Okay.”
“Did you see anyone else?”
“No, nobody.”
“Did you try Peter’s cell phone?”
“No, but I can do that now.”
“No, Abby, wait. If he’s hiding, that could put him in danger.”
“Oh.” She swallowed hard.
“You did just right. I’m hanging up to call the dispatcher,” Harvey said. “I’ll call you right back. Get outside.”
“Okay, ’bye.”
She heard his siren go on before she closed the connection. Harvey hated to use the siren in his Explorer. He said it gave him a headache.
She swallowed hard and peered around the edge of the car she’d sheltered behind. The man still lay there, exactly as she had seen him. Holding her breath, she listened. Nothing. Maybe she could sneak across the showroom from gleaming new car to car and take a peek into the office.
No. If something happened because of her carelessness, Harvey would never forgive her. But what if Peter needed urgent medical aid, and she didn’t give it to him?
She sent up a quick prayer and turned to go out. As she pushed the glass door open, an engine surged. She looked right, toward the sound. A dark sedan was pulling out of the parking lot. It was too far away for her to catch the tag number. The car blended in with the rush hour traffic on the street.
Abby strode to her car. Peter had given her a new Equinox for a wedding present. She got in and hit the lock button then looked all around the parking lot. Yards away, traffic whizzed by on the street, but the dealership’s lot seemed deserted.
Her phone buzzed. Harvey.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi. I’m five minutes out. We’re sending a marked unit, and they may beat me there.”
“Okay. I saw a car leaving the parking lot when I came out.”
“What did it look like?” Harvey asked.
“Black four-door. I don’t know what kind. It was going out the far exit of the lot. I didn’t get the plate number.”
“Okay. Was it a Chevy?”
“I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he said.
Movement caught her eye.
“The police car is here.”
“Okay, why don’t you go tell them what’s going on. I’ll be right there.”
Abby got out of her car. When she stood, her knees almost buckled. She hung on to the car door and took a deep breath. Peter might be dead inside the building. She managed a wave at the two uniformed officers who got out of the black-and-white city car.
They walked over to her, looking around the lot as they came.
“Hi, I’m Abby Hobart. My husband owns this place. Thanks for coming.”
The female officer said, “Are you the one who called it in?”
“Yes. There’s a man lying on the floor inside. He looks like he’s been shot. I’m a nurse,” she added quickly.
The officer nodded. “Anything else?”
“I called Captain Larson right away. He’s married to my sister. He told me not to go into my husband’s office. But I did see that the office door was open.”
The woman’s features softened. “Mrs. Hobart, I’m Officer Dalton, and this is Officer Bonner.”
Abby touched Officer Dalton’s sleeve. “My husband could be in there, in need of medical help.”
Dalton looked to her partner. “Should we wait for backup?”
“The shooter could still be inside,” he said.
“I did see a car leaving the far end of the lot when I came out.” Abby pointed. “I didn’t get a good look, but it was a black, four-door sedan.”
A siren announced Harvey’s arrival. His Explorer pulled in with the blue strobe flashing. Harvey hopped out, his usual competent, spare self, with crisp brown hair and a rumpled suit.
“Abby.” He strode to her and put his hands on her shoulders, looking deep into her eyes.
She stared back. She’d known him two years, but she still found the blue of his eyes startling.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. But Peter—”
Harvey looked to the uniformed officers. “Anyone been inside?”
“Not yet, Captain,” Dalton replied.
“Let’s go.” Harvey drew his pistol.
“Do you have body armor, sir?” Officer Bonner asked.
“Not with me,” Harvey said.
“Better let us go first. Maybe you should stay with Mrs. Hobart.”
Abby hoped he would stay with her. Harvey turned to her.
“We’ve got back-up on the way. Get in your car, Abby. I’ll let you know as soon as possible what the situation is.”
She nodded, her mouth dry, and walked back to her Equinox. Her hands shook as she opened the door and slid onto the seat.
Officer Bonner was already through the front door of the showroom, and Officer Dalton hurried around the side of the building. Harvey entered just behind Bonner.
Abby’s lips quivered as she tried to form a prayer.
Lord, keep them safe! And please let Peter be all right.
Her phone rang and she looked at the screen. Her younger sister, Leeanne.
“Hey.”
“Abby? What’s going on? Eddie said he heard a call go out for officers to go to Peter’s store.”
“I’m there now,” she said. “Harvey’s here, and some patrol officers.” As she spoke, another black-and-white rolled in. “Someone’s been shot. Not Peter. Look, I need to go. I’ll call you back, okay?”
“Sure—”
She hung up on Leeanne and jumped out of the car, striding toward the new arrivals.
“I’m Abigail Hobart, the owner’s wife. Captain Larson is inside with Officers Dalton and Bonner. They said they’d make sure the—the shooter isn’t still inside.”
“We were told someone was shot?” The tall, dark-haired officer focused on her. His name tag read “Kelley.”
“Yes. One of my husband’s employees.”
“And where is your husband?”
“I—we’re not sure. Captain Larson is looking for him.”
The door to the showroom opened, and Harvey emerged. Approaching Abby, he holstered his pistol.
“No one else is in there.”
She blinked at him. “Thank God. But. . .where’s Peter?”
Harvey shook his head. “I don’t know, but we’ll find out.”
