Strange Medicine (Dr. Maxwell Thornton Murder Mysteries #1)(54)

He exhaled. “Yes. My full name is actually Maxwell Sheldon Thornton.”

“That’s a mouthful.”

“Try fitting that on a school form. It was hard to be a regular kid with a monstrous name like that.”

“I’m trying to picture you as a child, but I keep seeing you in a suit and a tie.”

“You aren’t far off. It was important to my mother that I always look respectable.”

I frowned. “Even while playing in the sandbox or swinging?”

“Oh, Lord. I wasn’t allowed to do those kinds of things. My mother would have had a stroke if I’d come home with sand in my shoes.” He sounded a hundred percent serious.

“What? You didn’t get to play in the sandbox?”

He lifted one shoulder, his voice muted. “I had other things to amuse me. I had a lovely stamp collection, and my father would sometimes take me to his board meetings to show me how to be a good leader.”

I scrunched my face in disbelief. “When did you get to be a kid?”

“The Thorntons aren’t concerned with that sort of thing.”

“You mean childhood?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sure it all sounds very alien to someone like you.”

I scowled. “Why? Because I’m not rich enough to understand how the better half lives?”

Turning toward me, he said quietly, “No. Because you’re normal.”

I was taken aback by his response. “Oh.”

His swallow was loud. “I come off snobby, and I don’t really mean to.” He touched my arm, the heat of his firm fingers sinking into my flesh. “If I ever make you feel as if I’m looking down on you, I’m sorry. That’s the last thing I want. You… you’re a much better person than I am.”

I shook my head. “No I’m not.”

“You are.” He pulled his hand away. “I think I’m doing better lately though. Your suggestion to be nicer to people was an excellent one. It’s a struggle. I’m not going to lie. But I do think that maybe one day the people of Rainy Dale won’t hate me so much.”

“They don’t hate you. They just don’t understand you.”

“Perhaps.” He inhaled sharply, and he sat up straight. “Did you see that?”

I froze and looked toward the house, following his gaze. “What?”

“The porch light just went off.”

“Really?” Adrenaline began to pump through my veins. “Maybe the bulb burned out.”

“I just replaced it a week ago.” His voice wobbled.

“Okay. Um… you had an alarm installed, right?”

“Yes.”

“Does it have battery backup?”

“It does.” He sounded breathless.

“So if someone cuts the power and tries to break in, the alarm will still go off?” I opened my door as I spoke.

“That’s what the technician told me.”

“And any experienced burglar would know that cutting the main power wouldn’t disable the backup system.” As I finished speaking, a shrill alarm went off inside the house and lights started flashing.

Maxwell shook his head, looking disgusted. “You definitely had it right the other day, Sheriff. There’s absolutely no question that this is strictly the amateur hour.”





Chapter Fifteen


Maxwell

When Royce took off across the street toward my house, anxiety filled me. I knew he was a cop and he was used to this sort of situation, but I couldn’t shake the fear that something bad was going to happen to him.

I’d promised to stay put, and I stood outside of the car as I called for backup. I didn’t follow Royce at first. I watched him as he crept around the side of the house with his weapon drawn, disappearing into the darkness. But as the minutes stretched, it became torture to wait, not knowing what was happening inside the house.

Finally I couldn’t take it, and I trotted across the street toward the building. The alarm was still screeching, and lights flashed inside. As I neared the back porch, there was a loud thud, and a figure bolted past me, almost knocking me to the ground.

“Stop. This is the police,” Royce yelled from the back doorway, his weapon drawn and pointed toward the fleeing person.

Without really thinking, I took off after the runner. Behind me Royce yelled my name and cursed loudly, but I was so close to the person running from the house it seemed nuts to just let them get away. Tree branches scraped my face as I closed in on the figure, and with a growl, I lunged forward and tackled them to the ground. We both slammed into the dirt with matching grunts, and an elbow smashed into my cheek. Instinctively, I punched back, and the person yowled and clutched their face.

Royce was on us before I knew it, and he yanked me away from the perp. I landed on my ass and watched as Royce straddled the person and cuffed them, breathing like he’d run a marathon. He looked over his shoulder at me, and though his face was hidden by the night, it didn’t take a genius to know he was livid. His anger radiated off him like the sun as he jerked the person to their feet.

“Let me go!” bellowed the guy Royce had in custody. He struggled, trying to wrench away.

“Settle down,” Royce barked, tightening his grip.