Authors: Kathleen Pieper
"I don't think anything else is missing, but I'm not sure. I found my purse, cash and credit cards are gone. I don't know, Alec, there could be more missing."
"Well, he definitely was looking for something in particular. But I don't think he found it. I think he tried to make it look like he was after the money." Alec gave her a reassuring look, cradling the phone on his shoulder.
The rest of the afternoon, the officers spent going through her home, filing reports and forms, talking with both of them. Tommy enjoyed all the excitement and Aunt Polly came running over with a towel wrapped around her freshly washed head to see what was wrong. Even the weather grew unfriendly, thick and muggy, clouds boiled up over the horizon as a storm brewed.
"I've got to go to the office for a little while." Alec tapped his notebook on his hand and looked soberly at her. "I sure wish I knew what they wanted. Those missing stock certificates are the best bet. Nobody could have known about the diary and letters, but who could have known about them?"
"I don’t know. But, it's pretty brazen. It's like they waited for us to go up to the attic, snuck up and barricaded the door. That was awful risky, and in broad daylight too. Don't make sense." Alec wasn't convinced. "Are you going to be all right? You look a little pale." His strong fingers massaged her neck and shoulder lightly.
"I'm okay. Just a little spooked. When can I get in my bedroom and disinfect after that creep touched everything."
"Soon as they all clear out. I know I sound like a broken record but I sure hate leaving you alone. Would you want to come to the office with me?"
"Thanks but, I'm not running." Maddy said firmly.
"I forgot. You're Miss Independence." He said drily.
"I'll be here, Alec." Tommy spoke up, his innocent face intent. "Nobody will bother Maddy when I'm here."
Maddy put an arm around Tommy's shoulder and squeezed it. "Hey, don't worry. I'll lock up after you leave."
"Okay, but I'll have a patrol car drive by later. If anything happens, call me. Maybe you should think about staying somewhere else tonight. Seriously, this is not just a prank. I've got a spare room."
"I'll just bet you do. But no, nobody's going run me out of my home now that I've finally got one. I told you that. But thanks for the offer."
He sighed and shrugged but he wasn't convinced.
Alec left with an uneasiness he couldn't describe. Right now, Maddy seemed very vulnerable. He'd been in law enforcement for a while and enjoyed the lack of serious crime in the small town he'd grown up in. He'd been involved in some dangerous situations before, but nothing that racked up the doubt and fears he was beginning to have with this. Coupled with Maddy being so independent it worried him even more.
He'd gone on with his life after his divorce with the attitude that he'd never get involved again. That all went out the window when Maddy came back to town. He'd thought of her often over the years, she'd been his girl since the first time they'd met in junior high. When she left he was crushed, but life went on. Only weeks before she blew back into Nielsen, he stood with a beer in one hand and Bubba at his side and vowed he would never get tangled up seriously with any woman again. Well, so much for that.
There was an aura around the independent, strong-willed little redhead that captivated him, as if he'd just been waiting for her to return. Maddy was right to proceed slowly, but the ease with which he felt drawn to her blocked out his caution. She was back and everything felt right. At night he prayed no one from Chicago would be able to pull her away. The whole world took on a different light when she was beside him, with her on his side he could do anything. His job now was to keep her safe, no one must hurt her. He'd see to that.
After Alec left, Maddy hesitantly looked up and down the deserted street. Tommy worked hard till suppertime and then went home. She was just putting the last few branches on the brush pile when Aunt Polly walked over.
"The yard looks as good as the inside of the house now. How about calling it a day?"
"Yeah, that Tommy is a hard worker. He's going to keep on helping me."
"I'm glad you trimmed up the lilacs, they were about taking over the porch."
"Alec suggested that. He said the overgrown stuff was a good place to hide someone." Maddy gave a shiver and they walked to the porch to rest.
"How are you doing after all the commotion today, my dear?"
"You know, it was funny, like it was happening to someone else, Aunt Polly. I don't know if I could even identify this guy, I only saw him from behind."
"It's plain awful. A body isn't safe in your own home any more." Aunt Polly fussed and pushed the wicker rocker back and forth with her foot.
"I know. I always lock up tight at night, but during the day when I'm around I'm not as careful. Guess things aren't as different from Chicago after all."
"I just can't figure it out. It's too much of a coincidence. Out of all the stuff in my room, they take that tacky old briefcase full of ancient papers. I just wish we'd looked more carefully at them. Maybe they could have told us where the stock certificates are. Now someone else might find them."
“
Who would know that?”
Smacking her forehead, Maddy jumped up and began pacing. "Only Leland and Jack Drake know about them besides us. Jeez, I told him about the briefcase, too. Aunt Polly, it had to be him."
"Or someone he hired. Never did trust him, I told you that. You ought to go right over and confront him."
"I can't do that, I don't have any proof." She flopped back down, "Rats. I can't go off half-cocked as Alec would say. It could make things worse. It could be a coincidence." Aunt Polly snorted and looked away.
"Not likely. I see Leland didn't waste any time getting that sign up on your front lawn. When are you going to take that thing down? People have been calling me all morning about it, asking if you were leaving. I told them no."
"I don't think Alec even believed me, that's what made me so mad."
"Oh, he'll settle down, he's high spirited is all, one to get things done right and proper. Lately he's been even more stubborn. I think he's worried about you. I don't know, he can be a hard one to figure sometimes."
A crash of thunder made them both jump and the rain came down in torrents. The wind gusts made Aunt Polly and Maddy scramble for indoors. Shaking off the damp chill, they were making supper when Alec burst in, soaking wet and hungry.
"Hello everyone, it's a hurricane out there tonight."
"You didn't have to come right over," Maddy scolded, noticing his tired eyes. She knew he and Aunt Polly didn't want her to be alone after the break in. As much as she didn't want them to worry, she felt a deeper affection for them both for doing it.
After supper, Alec walked Aunt Polly home while Maddy cleaned up the kitchen and tried to find the key to unlock the mysterious diary.
"Maddy, I still think you should stay somewhere else tonight." Alec had come in the back door so quietly she hadn't even heard him. He shook off the rain and sat down at the kitchen table beside her.
"No, I'll be fine. Besides, who but a duck would be out in weather like this?"
"I know but, and I'm asking as a deputy sheriff, Maddy, to let me stay over. I'll take the couch and be just fine."
"Didn't you just tell us at supper you have to work again early tomorrow morning? Besides, if we should happen to bump into each other during the night, I don't know what would happen."
"That's your fault for kissing so well." He took her hand and squeezed it gently.
"You're not such a bad kisser yourself. But, no, I'm not going to worry about you being overtired just because you think I'm scared."
"What if they come back?" He looked seriously at her.
"They're not likely to, you said so yourself. I've got a phone, a bat under the bed and you’ve got cars cruising by all night. I'll be fine. I don't want you sitting up all night for nothing and that's final."
Sitting in his truck after they said their good-nights, Alec watched and thought about his next move. There was no evidence against anyone at this point. As the rain started again he knew he'd just have to watch and wait. He ran a hand through his hair.
Whether they meant to or not, the thought of anyone trying to hurt Maddy, enraged him. He drove around the block and parked where he could see Maddy's house, but she couldn't see him. He sat patiently with a loving vigilance until the early morning hours.
After Alec left, Maddy carefully double-checked all the doors and windows.
Why is it when it gets dark you’re not nearly as brave as in the daytime,
she wondered to herself. Getting a glass of milk and some cookies, she curled up in bed and pulled the diary and letters out.
Even though she didn't like to admit it, at first she was uneasy alone in the house after having a stranger there. When everyone left Aunt Polly had helped her strip the bed and put fresh sheets on. Anywhere the burglar might have touched was thoroughly cleaned. Everything was locked up tightly, so she sighed and tried to settle in.
Only the fascination with what was in the letters and diary kept her attention. Luckily one of the tiny keys on a key chain fit the lock and her Aunt Madeline's world was there in her own handwriting.
She opened the thick leather cover almost reverently. The stiff pages were yellowed, but the handwriting was feminine and neat. The diary began the year before her aunt ran away. After reading a few pages, Maddy could tell her Great Aunt Madeline's life had been full of bitterness and anger at the way she was treated.
August 11, 1924
My parents have enrolled me in a Catholic boarding school in upper Chicago. I'm not to call or have contact with anyone from home until Christmas. What hurts is they act like I have no feelings, but I do have a plan.
August l5, 1924.
Mother took me shopping today. They want me to have the best of everything except love. They care how I look, but not how I feel. Plan is progressing.
August 20, 1924. School starts in two weeks. I haven't much time. Had another awful fight with father again then Grandmother locked me in my room. I'm leaving as soon as I can.
The next few entries were faded out and illegible. Maddy sat back and contemplated what it must have been like for her aunt. Her Aunt Madeline's spirit and independence were admirable, especially since Maddy knew how formidable great Grandmother Morris could be. She read on and on until her eyes grew heavy.
Glancing at the alarm clock, Maddy yawned. She should try and get some sleep. It was after 1 a.m. already. She put the diary down and touched the letters fondly, anxious to see what they said too. She needed to rest her eyes just for a few moments.
Snuggling under the covers she listened to the wind blowing outside. The cottonwood tree branches tickled the window screens and sent shivers down her spine. Trying to pick up where she left off was impossible. Her eyes refused to stay open. Gathering up the book and letters she tucked them safely under her pillow. The last thing she recalled were shadowy figures dancing and playing on her walls in tune to the wind.
Sunday dawned bright and clear. With Alec having to be on duty Maddy promised to go to church with Aunt Polly, and Leland called and said he planned on showing the house at eleven, the one and only time, Maddy reminded him. So, Aunt Polly invited her over for dinner after church.
Maddy wore a green suit with her Aunt's cameo. When Aunt Polly saw it she nodded in approval. She had traded in her Reeboks for a sturdy pair of low-heeled pumps and a suit.
"Your Aunt would have been so pleased to see you wear that jewelry. It meant a lot to her, just like you did." She said as they walked to church.
The simple fact was Maddy was happy with her decision to stay and belong to something and someone. The small town girl was slowly reappearing, and although the doubts that lingered was more about the decisions she needed to make, they were tempered by moments like this.
"I'm going to break the sad news to poor old Leland right after he shows the house, and, unless they offer me a million dollars cash, I'm staying put."
"I'm going to pray for really poor Looky-Loos today," Aunt Polly said.
"There's no amount of money that could give me the satisfaction I'm feeling right now, Aunt Polly. And, after going over the accounts here and what I have left in Chicago, I think I can make it stretch just fine."
"Well, where there's a will there's a way, my old Granddaddy used to say. If you ever need anything all you have to do is ask.”
Maddy patted her arm reassuringly and shook her head.
"That's nice but it won't be necessary, that's why I'm taking so long to see if I can really afford to move here. I'm going to have to find a job eventually, but I'll be okay for a while until I decide what I want to do."
"Well, there's one deputy I know who won't let you starve."