He was only gone a minute, came back, and stretched out again with his notebook. Okay, first thing I need to ask you is who you want me to contact? We got your basic stats and medical insurance information from your wallet, but there was nothing in there about next of kin, and I didnt find any other Fletchers in the phone book...
I have a sister living here. Joanna Marks. We dont have the same last name because she was marriedwidowed now. Even mentioning her sisters name brought shadowed, troubling memories tumbling into her mind. But I dont want you to contact her. Ill call her. Shed just panic if a policeman called, and Im fine
So the doc saidand that he wasnt letting you out until tomorrow, earliestbut youre going to need someone to drive you home then. And some clothes. And I think shed probably want to know something like this had happened to you?
She would, but I just dont want to upset her. Her sister was fragile right now, but trying to explain Joannas circumstances was none of the strangers business and just took too much energy to even try. Maggie left it.
Well, maybe theres someone else? Husband, boyfriend? There was just a spark of the devil in his eyes again, making Maggie feel like the question implied more than a fill-in-the-blank on his police form.
No. Friends, of course...but its the middle of the night. I cant see waking someone up and scaring them for no reason. And Ill call my sister in the morning. She swallowed hard. As far as the accident, I keep trying to remember what happened, but it just wont come. I have this terrible feeling that I was to blame. The nurseGertdidnt think so, but I dont know if she was telling me the truth. Oh, God. Please tell me there wasnt a child involved
Hey, take it easy there. Andy leaned forward, his notebook form forgotten. A drunk driver swerved in your lane. Hit you head-on. There was no way you could have avoided him.
Youre sure?
I didnt actually see it, didnt get there until about ten minutes after it happened. But it was right on Main Street, and four witnesses saw the accident. They all gave me the same story, and the skid marks, condition of the carsall the evidencepointed in the same direction. In fact, my coming in here at all was just policy, to complete the report. But there was no doubt about how the accident occurred. You were not responsible.
Maggie searched his face. People fibbed for so many reasonssome of them well-meaning, like the doc and nurse who could have shaded the truth to reassure her. Yet she saw the character lines etched on his brow, the way Andy met her gaze like an unflinching straight shooter. She just sensed a man whod never soft-soap the truth. And that was great. She believed him. Except that if she hadnt caused the accident, she felt even more confused why that anxious, guilty feeling was still haunting her conscience. The man who smashed into me, the drunk driveris he all right?
He wont be, after I get finished slapping charges on him and he sees Judge Farley, Andy said dryly. But as far as injurieshes less beat-up than you are. And you havent asked, but theres no way to pretty up the news about your car. Im afraid its totalled. Not that I have a mechanics judgment, but the front end was crushed like an accordionwhen I first saw it, I was afraid we werent getting you out in one piece.
I dont care about the stupid car. She backpedalled swiftly. Well, of course I care. Id rather eat clams than go car shopping, and Im allergic to clams. But the cars insured. And it just doesnt matter, not compared to somebody being seriously injured. Just tell me one more time, okay? That no one else was hurt?
You were not responsible. And no one else was hurt. When she still studied his face suspiciously, he scratched his chin. Still having a hard time believing it, huh? Didnt anyone ever tell you it was okay to trust the law?
Well, he made her smile. You think I should trust a guy I dont know from Adam?
Hell, no. Just me. Honest to Pete, Im trustworthy as a Boy Scout.
Uh-huh. Well, the truth is, sheriff... Maggie hesitated. Did I hear that sheriff right? Or was it supposed to be lieutenant or deputy? Not that I havent had tons and tons of run-ins with the law, but Im not sure what Im supposed to call you
Andy will do fine.
She saw the dance of humor in his eyeshe didnt seem too worried by her vast claims of previous run-ins with the law. And she told herself there was no reason not to skip the formalities and move to first names...his job pinned him as a good guy, and his face was darn near an atlas of integrity lines. Even without knowing him, Maggie instinctively sensed he was hard-core honest. It was just that other factor.
The man-woman thing. Any man who could arouse a rapscallion set of female hormones in a battered woman defined dangerous to Maggie. Interestingly dangerous. Maybe darn-near fascinatingly dangerousespecially since she hadnt felt that tug for a guy in a blue moon. But she was all too aware that her judgment was temporarily and annoyingly goofy. To assume he meant something by that eye connection and those slow, lazy smiles seemed foolish.
Cripes, she was just trying to sit up and a dozen aches screamed distractingly at her, and her head pounded like hammers at a carpenters convention. Embarrassing her no end, her hands were even shaky. Well, what I started to stay... Andy,... is that I bumped a fender when I was sixteen, but thats the closest Ive ever been to a real accident until tonight. This not being able to remember is driving me crazy. I just want to go home. Im positive itd all come back if I were just home, around my own stuff...
He seemed to sense where she was leading, because he shook his head. The way I heard it, Ms. Fletcher, there isnt a chance in hell theyre letting you out before tomorrow morning.
Yeah, I already tried arguing with them. But maybe if youd consider using the power of the law on my side?
Im real willing to use the power of the law. On their side. Trust me, Gertll watch over you better than a mom. Im telling you, shes ruthless. Ive run across her beforewith my job, you get some bumps and bruises now and then. Shell drive you stark crazy with all the fussing.
But thats exactly the problem. I hate people fussing over me.
His mouth kicked in another grin. Yeah, you kind of gave me that impression. Feeling helpless not exactly your favorite thing?
I can take care of myself.
Ill bet you can. But not tonight Im pretty sure you wont die from being spoiled for one night, will you?
Yes.
Another grinwhich definitely wasnt every mans response when Maggie got touchy on the subject of self-reliance. I cant figure out how come I havent met you before. In a small town like White Branch, I usually run into everyone sooner or later.
Well, I moved here about four years ago, but I dont usually run around robbing banks or causing troubleexcept in my free time, of course. And car accidents just havent been my thing. Until tonight, anyway. Darn it. She lifted her hand to the incessantly throbbing bump on her head. This not being able to remember is just so stupid. Im not the type to get shook up in a crisis. The opposite is true. I do rescue work, for Petes sake. But the last twenty-four hours are just a total blank in my mind, and I cant seem to make a single detail come back.
Maybe itll all come to you after a good nights sleep.
Maybe itd come to me if I were just home.
The curly-haired nurse popped her head in the doorway. Andy! You low-down skunk. I told you ten minutes, max, and youre still in here!
Im leaving, Im leaving. Andy grabbed his notebook and battered Stetson from the bedside table and lurched to his feet. He winked at Maggie before turning around. Gertjust so you know, she was trying to talk me into springing her out of here.
Maggies jaw dropped at his betrayalfor all the good it did. Gert turned on her faster than a ruffled hen. Over my dead body. You dont belong anywhere but right here, honey. A concussion is nothing to fool around with... The nurse continued nonstop with impressive plans involving bedpans and ice chips and needles.
Maggie met Andys eyes from around Gerts side and mouthed, If we ever meet again, youre dead meat.
Andy murmured unrepentantly, You go, Gert. But he hesitated right when he reached the doorway. There was just a two-second window when Gert had to take a breath before expanding on her health lecture. Two seconds. Then his eyes prowled her face one last time, and he said, You can take it to the bank, Maggie. Well meet again.
Two
When Andy pulled in Maggies drive two days later, he told himself the visit was justified. White Branch had little serious crime, but like any other community, there were always problems and always the potential for more. Part of the reason Andy loved his job was the powernot the power of his badge and gun, but the power to head off trouble before it started. If he had to flash a badge, he always figured hed failed. Keeping a mean, keen eye on brewing trouble was an effective way of preventing disasters from escalating. For that reason, he regularly cruised certain neighborhoods. When anyone had an accident or traumatic problem, Andy just traditionally followed up to make sure things were okay.
Maggie had been in one hell of an accident.
Ergo, it was perfectly reasonable for him to accidentally be driving down River Creek Road and to stop by to see how she was.
Maybe the memory of those velvet-green eyes had hung out in his sleep for the last couple nights. Maybe she was the first woman since his four-year-old divorce whod itched on his mind like a mosquito. Maybe that spirit and gutsy humor of hers had gotten to himespecially since shed looked so vulnerably battered in that hospital bed. And yeah, maybe a peek at the alluring, shadowed swell of one breast in the dip of her hospital gown had mangled with his mind some, too.
But that had nothing to do with it.
Checking on people was simply his job.
As he pushed the gearshift to park, though, Andy thoughtfully scratched his chin. Maggie was there. Standing by her front door. And shed spotted his truck driving in and turned her head to face him, so it was a little late to slither back out of her driveway and hide himself in the nearest avalanche.
It would definitely seem, however, that she was having absolutely no difficulty recovering from her injuries... judging from the enthusiastic way she had her arms around another man.
She dropped her arms from the guy, and with a look that was half curious, half puckish, promptly took a step toward Andys truck. As she was obviously coming to greet him, he didnt figure he could pull a disappearing act for at least a couple minutes. He swiftly pushed open the door and climbed out.
A bitter wind instantly burned his cheeks and crawled down his collar. Judging from the thick, murky clouds roiling in from the west, he guessed theyd have a fresh foot of snow by morning. Shame he hadnt taken those ominous clouds as an omenor else picked up a premonition from those dancing green eyes of hers. Andy was inclined to give himself a whack upside the head. No thirty-four-year-old manwith a brainshould need any such omens to guess Maggie wasnt likely to be lacking male company.
Well, hi again, Sheriff. This visits a surprise. Did you think of something to arrest me for after all?
Hed love to level a charge on hernotably disturbing the peace. His peace. But that wasnt something he was willing to confess. I didnt figure I had to worry about you robbing any banks for a couple of days...you had enough bruises to keep you out of trouble at least that long. But I started thinking how remote your place is here and just thought Id stop by. With your car out of commission, I wasnt sure if you had any wheels yet or might have needed some help.
That was really nice of you. And Ive certainly been trying to cause more trouble, but my nephews been coming over every day by snowmobile to pitch in, bringing groceries and shoveling snow and everything else. Colin, come meet Sheriff Gautier. And Andy, this is Colin Marks, my sister Joannas boy....
Her smile had a lot of mischief in it, enough to make a man feel as though hed been struck by lightning if he wasnt careful. Andy was still trying to recover from that smile when her words sank in. Nephew. Boy. And then the kid edged in front of her with a mannerly hand stuck out.
The boy was six-twoAndys own heightwith a cowlick sticking from his crown that probably added another inch, and the tea-brown hair and green eyes that easily labeled him as Maggies kin. It was just the height and shoulder breadth that had Andy first assuming he was a grown man. A second look would have noted the gangling limbs and kids awkward nerves, but Andy really hadnt been noticing much but Maggie. Nice to meet you, Colin.
The kid shied back from the handshake, almost tripped over his own feet. Nice to meet you, too. Those eyes skittered away from him fast. Maggie, I got to be going. Momll be wondering where I am.
Andy had a cops sixth sense that something was a little off, something more happening than just a teenagers awkward nerves, but maybe that was a mistaken first impression. The boy was obviously in a hustle to be gone. Maggie gave him another warm hug, and seconds later Colin was pelting for the snowmobile parked beyond her door. The machine engine roared on and the boy disappeared in a wake of snow.
Fifteen? Andy guessed his age.
On the button. And Ive got one other nephew, Rog. Hes a year younger. Colins more the high energy devil. He can get a wild hair now and thenbut hes got a good heart. They both do. Their dad died last year, really threw both kids and my sis for a long painful loop. And before I tell you any more family history you dont want to hearare you gonna keep an invalid outside freezing like this, or come in and have some coffee?
You dont look like much of an invalid. She looked breathtaking, in his objective opinion, but that wasnt to say Andy was buying her instant recovery quite at the wholesale price she was selling it. Her hair was worn loose and smooth to her shoulders, the silky brown color shot with honey and sunshine. Shed brushed it over her right temple, but he could still see the blotchy jewel colors of a bruise hiding beneath. A little careful makeup was obviously intended to conceal the circles under her eyes, and her red jacket collar was pulled up over a bandage on her neck. Maggie clearly didnt want anyone worrying about herand that smile and full-of-hell spirit could easily distract a man from believing shed ever been hurt.
Well, all my best bruises are out of sight. Theyre so brilliantly colorful at this point that Id love to show em off...but Im afraid I wont do a strip search without a warrant, even for you, Sheriff. She hesitated. Of course if you brought a warrant...?