Where Shadows Meet(50)

“Probably fifteen or twenty minutes, maybe even half an hour. I didn’t have a watch. The bridge was only five minutes from the house. If he’d been waiting for me to leave, it could have happened that way. When I left the house, I went to the barn to do chores before going to meet him. I was out of the house at least an hour before I went to the bridge.”

The SUV rolled to a stop at a light. Hannah couldn’t face any more questions. “Look, thanks for the offer to drive me home, but I’ve got some errands to run.” She threw open the door and got out. In the sunshine, the fresh air cleansed the taint of death lingering from his probing. Why had she ever come back here? Her new life might have been boring, but at least grief didn’t dog every step. She had to get past this, concentrate on the future. A future that might hold a reunion with her child.

He rolled down the window and called out to her. “Wait, I’ll take you where you want to go.”

“I’d rather walk. It’s not far.” She didn’t look at him but plunged down the street, dodging the water puddles on the sidewalk. If she cut through some yards, she’d have to walk only a few blocks to the house. Alone time was a treat she craved, time to remember.

A dog barked as she walked through a muddy backyard, and she skirted a freshly seeded lawn to find her way to the sidewalk that fronted businesses along the highway. The sun warmed her face and arms, and she fanned her face with her hand. It would be a hot summer if the spring was any indication. The humidity from all the rain coated her skin.

She glanced at the ice-cream shop, Tammy Twist and Sizzle. Children would be apt to frequent a place like that. She changed her course and entered the store. People of all ages thronged the counter. With so many, her chances of someone recognizing the picture were greater. She fell into line behind a large woman in a pair of red capris.

The lady glanced her way, and Hannah pasted on her most winsome smile. “Excuse me, but I wondered if you’ve seen this little girl.” She produced the picture and watched the woman’s expression.

The woman raised her brows and looked Hannah over as if to check whether she might be dangerous. “Why do you want to know?”

“I—I’m looking for my daughter.” The words sounded sweet on her tongue.

“Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry.” The woman took the picture and studied it. Her eyes held real regret when she handed it back and shook her head. “I’m sorry. I’m not from around here, though. You might try the counter people.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that.” In the meantime, Hannah drifted from person to person and showed the picture, but no one seemed to have seen her. Finally she reached the counter, where she ordered a cup of chocolate-almond ice cream. There was a lull in the line of customers, so she asked the employee, a young girl with a nose ring, if she recognized the child.

The girl glanced at the photo as she was ringing up Hannah’s order. “I don’t know, maybe. I see a lot of kids.” She stared at Hannah with suspicion pulling at her mouth.

“Do you know her name?”

“Look, I’m not a detective agency. I can’t tell you anything.”

“Sorry.” Hannah took her dessert and walked away from the counter. She meandered across the street and cut around a couple of blocks to Sycamore Drive. As she neared the house, she saw a long box by the front door. As she came closer, she saw it was addressed with black marker. The letters were large enough that she could make out her name on the box from a distance. Postage stamps decorated the top right corner.

She reached the door and stood looking down at the box. Her cell phone was in her hand before she realized it. Matt would want to check out this parcel before she opened it. She dialed the number and kept her gaze locked on the box. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good. Five minutes later, Matt’s SUV came squealing to a stop by the house.

Blake got out first, then both men jogged to the house. “You think we need to call in a bomb squad?” Blake asked.

“Let me take a look first,” Matt said. He pulled out some wipes and carefully went over the box before looking at them. “Seems clean. Is Ajax inside?”

She nodded. “I left him here with the cats when I went to town.”

Matt unlocked the door and let the dog out. He led Ajax to the box. The dog sniffed around the box, then sat on his haunches and looked at Matt with an expectant expression.

“I think I’ll risk it,” Matt said. “Stand back.”

Blake and Hannah moved out by the street. Matt took out a pocketknife, slit the brown paper wrapping, and lifted it away from the box. About eight by twenty inches, the box didn’t look big enough to contain a bomb. She watched him slide the blade under the tape until the flaps lay loose and ready to reveal the contents.

He gently lifted first one flap, then the next, and peered inside. He jumped back. “Flowers,” he said. “Don’t get close enough to smell them.” He glanced at the dog. “I’d better get Ajax checked out. I’ll have the state forensics lab take a look and see if they can lift any prints.”

“I’ll take it to the jail,” Blake said. He jogged back to the SUV and got out a big plastic bag, then slipped on a mask. He slid the box of flowers into the bag and tied the end. “I’ll be right back.”

Matt put his hands in his pockets. “I’d lay money the flowers are loaded with strychnine. Maybe the killer was counting on you not knowing what killed Moe.”