“Thank you,” he said, looking nervous and exhausted. “I just wanted to—is it okay if we all sit down?” He was holding his wool cap and alternately crushing it and smoothing it in his hands.
“Sure,” Logan said, motioning Owen and Alex into the two seats that fronted his desk. He took the seat behind it. “Owen, Alex and I have been talking about Eleanor, and—”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you both about. Now, Chief, I know you’re going to want me to press charges, but I spoke to Eleanor just now—”
“You talked to Eleanor?” Logan shot a look through the open blinds on his office door at his sergeant, who was remarkably busy with the folders on her desk. He looked back to Owen. “I understand this is all a little overwhelming, and I’d like to caution you to take some time, let the shock wear off, then think things through clearly.”
“What did you want to do, Owen?” Alex asked him, careful not to look at Logan, whom she assumed would not be happy with her intrusion.
Owen turned to Alex. “She’s very apologetic to me. I was kind of . . . surprised, actually. She’s usually not so . . .”
“Friendly?” Alex supplied. She reached out and put her hand on Owen’s arm. “I think this whole thing has gotten away from her, too. She was just so upset, so sad, and so scared.”
“Yes, scared! I was surprised to see that, too. I mean, I know she was mad about the raccoon, about . . . well, frankly, I never took the time to find out, and I’m feeling badly about that.”
“Owen,” Logan began.
But Owen talked over him. “No, Chief. I realize she’s never been the easiest person, far from it. I guess I just never stopped to ask myself why that would be. She doesn’t handle people all that well, is all. I guess that’s the nicest way I can put it. She doesn’t want to make anyone mad. I think she resents a little—maybe a lot—that other folks find it easy to make friends and get along in the world. I think she counted on her husband to kind of run interference for her, and the few friends they’d made when he was alive helped her after he passed. But they’re gone now, too, and I get the sense that she’s feeling kind of lost. But she didn’t really know how to ask for help.”
Logan started to speak, then caught Alex’s gaze and paused, took a measured breath, and said, “Alex has said much the same thing. They talked after she and Eleanor left the store. My problem here, Owen, is twofold. While I do feel for her situation, we can’t just turn our backs to what she’s done as if it didn’t happen, or it will very likely happen again. I can’t risk that. I can’t risk it escalating to some other level of anger and defiance. I don’t know who might get caught in the crossfire. Also, it’s a matter of the rest of the town knowing that when people break the law, there’s a consequence. Otherwise, everybody would be taking matters into their own hands. Do you understand where I’m coming from?”
Owen looked a little heartsick. “I do, Chief.” He twisted his cap some more, then looked helplessly at Logan, then at Alex. “The thing is, I just can’t see my way to pressing charges and putting her through more grief, not at my hands. I know she’s already in trouble with the town, and what happened today will only make that trickier for her.” He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “It just seems to me we should be finding a way to help her and I don’t think more prosecution is the answer.”
Alex and Owen looked back to Logan, and she knew he understood she was aligned with Owen. She waited for Logan to say something.
It was Owen who broke the silence first. “Oh, and I’m not charging Alex, either. If I hadn’t done what I did to Eleanor, Alex would have never had to break the door to get in.”
“I’m paying for damages,” she said.
“Let me check with my insurance company first.”
“No, it was my choice to do what I did.” She put her hand on Owen’s arm again. “We can talk about it later, okay? We’ll figure it out.”
“Why were you at the store, anyway?” Owen asked. “You said something about having come by twice that morning. I’m sorry I wasn’t there, but I fell asleep, and then, well, you know.”
Alex smiled. “It’s okay.” She cast a quick glance at Logan, and felt the confusion come tumbling back over what she wanted to happen with him, over what she knew couldn’t happen with him. “I wanted to talk to you about Pelican Point.”
For the first time, Owen relaxed and a true smile lit up his face. “I’m always happy to talk about the lighthouse.”
“Actually, I didn’t want to talk to you about it, so much as ask if you’d like to come with me when I go inside to see where we stand with the renovations.”
Owen gaped, then snapped his mouth shut. He looked to Logan, then back to Alex. “I’d be honored,” he said, beaming as if Santa had just granted him his fondest wish. “Is it okay with you?” he asked Logan, then quickly looked to Alex. “I mean, not to second-guess you.”
He turned back to the chief. “But I know you’re not happy with me at the moment, so—”
“Owen, I’m not upset with you,” Logan said. “I’m just concerned that we handle this properly so that moving forward, it’s well and truly resolved, that’s all. Of course you can go up in the tower. I know Alex respects and appreciates all the history and information you have on the place. Hell, you know more about the thing than I do. Or you recall more of it anyway.”
“Thank you,” he said, then turned to Alex. “When were you thinking of going inside?”
“Well, originally, today, but seeing as—”
“Actually, if you think you can still manage it, I can do that. We’ve got the front of the store boarded up. Hank’s going to fix it, but I want my insurance adjuster to take a look first and he can’t come till tomorrow.”
“I hadn’t thought about you not being able to open for business. I’m so sorry. It’s not right, you losing revenue like that.”
“This time of year, it’s not like I’m doing a booming business anyway. If we’re going out to the Point, well, I’d have gladly closed up shop for a bit for that.”
Alex wasn’t too sure she was buying his explanation, but she’d have time to find a way to square things with Owen later. She was hoping he might be willing to help out with the restoration work itself when the time came, so she’d find a way to make sure he was compensated. “Well, okay then. That’s great.”
Owen looked back to Logan, who was looking at them, his patience clearly being tested. “Are you going to keep Eleanor here?”
“I’m afraid so. At least until we get things sorted out with the district attorney and her lawyer.”
“Chief, I really want to say how much I want to find some kind of workable solution to this. I just don’t want—”
“Owen, we’ll figure something out. I’ve heard what you had to say and I’ve listened. Truly. Okay?”
Owen nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. “Okay. Good.” He stood. “I won’t take up any more of your time.” He looked at Alex. “When did you have in mind?”
“Why don’t you go home, get a little rest, clean up, get something to eat? We can meet at Delia’s around two. That will give us a solid handful of hours before we lose the light.”
“Okay.” Owen smiled, bouncing a bit on the balls of his feet. “Delia’s. Two o’clock. I’ll be there.” He stuck his hand out to Logan. “Thank you. For listening, for taking my concerns seriously. We all know we can always count on you, Chief. We know you’re in our corner.”
“I appreciate that,” Logan said, shaking his hand. “We’ll figure this out.”
Owen left and closed the door behind him. Alex turned to Logan. “If there isn’t anything else keeping me here, am I free to go, too?”
Logan looked at her for the longest moment, and all that tension and heat that had evaporated with Owen’s arrival came roaring back, picking up without so much as a missed heartbeat.
She wanted to tell him that she was unsure of her decision to move out, that she was confused by a lot of things. But she didn’t want to lead him on, or make things more complicated than they had to be. She should just stick with what they’d decided. Nothing had really changed.
“Legally?” he said, at length. “Yes, you’re free to go. Owen isn’t pressing charges and I doubt the DA will want to make a fuss over it as long as you and Owen are in agreement on how to take care of the damage.”
And other than legally? Personally, do you want me to go?
She wanted to say the words, wanted to know if he was as torn over the choice they’d made as she was . . . but she didn’t. “Okay.” She took a step toward the door, then turned back, but he spoke before she could.
“You settled in okay at Delia’s? Is it—will you be able to make that work?”
Her heart sank. So, that was it then. He was still good with the decision. “Um, yeah. It’s fine. Delia—well, she’s something, isn’t she? She’s really been great to me.” Alex remembered what Delia had said about making friends, about reaching out, and thought about Owen and the look on his face when she’d asked him to go up inside the lighthouse with her. “I’m really glad to have met her.”
“She’s a little . . . outspoken,” Logan said, “but you couldn’t ask for a more loyal friend. If she’s on your side, she’s a good ally to have.”
Alex smiled then, even as it felt like her heart was constricting. “I was thinking the same thing. I like her. She’s given me some things to consider. Not necessarily easy things, but things that bear thinking about all the same.”
A look of concern crossed Logan’s face. “Are you sure you’re okay? Do you really want to go up in the tower this afternoon? I mean, it’s been a pretty eventful morning, and—”
“I know this sounds a bit weird, but I actually feel like . . . I don’t know. I guess I feel more settled somehow. Maybe it was taking action, getting Eleanor out of there. It was kind of empowering. Scary, breaking doors and things, but I did it.” Alex’s tone turned dry. “Don’t worry, Chief, I’m not contemplating a life of crime to get my thrills. But I feel like I’m on a roll, taking more steps into Alex’s Life: Part Two.” She took a breath and plowed ahead. That’s all she could do. “Moving into Delia’s, helping Eleanor, working with Owen. Oh, and I even met Eula March today. At her shop. Talk about outspoken.” She hadn’t thought much about all the things Eula had said, hadn’t had time really. But she knew she would. “It was . . . memorable.”
Logan saw something in her face, her expression, surprising her by asking, “What did she say to you?”
“Well, I don’t know that I remember exactly. I left there and went down the hill to Owen’s and we all know what happened after that. She talked about my life being at a crossroads and that I need to see all the avenues leading from this spot. I think she even offered me a job. Sort of. I’m not sure, really.” She shook her head. “It was . . . well . . . not spooky, but . . . thought-provoking. Like I said, I didn’t get much time to think about it. Why did you ask? Is there something about Eula I should know?” Alex smiled briefly. “Are the older women in your town all a little off their rockers? Should I be concerned?”
She’d been teasing, but if anything, the heat in Logan’s gaze only increased. The ache of need was instant and consuming. She wondered if that would ever go away, if she would ever be able to look at him, talk to him, without feeling that incredible yearning. She couldn’t imagine it would. It wasn’t just the sexual part. It was all of it. Talking, laughing, knowing he was there for her, like he had been last night when she’d had her nightmare again.
Tonight she’d be in a room over Delia’s, alone, and not at Pelican Point, with him. It seemed . . . wrong.
How could she already miss someone so badly even when he was standing right in front of her?
“No, nothing like that. Eula is . . . something of a local legend,” Logan said. “And yes, she’s outspoken, too. But it’s not so much advice, like Delia hands out. It’s not so much a warning, either, but maybe a prediction . . . although it often feels like both. Eula likes to think she has a sense of what will come to pass and she’s pretty direct in making sure you know about it.”
He kept his gaze so tightly on hers, she was only half listening to him, trying not to wriggle in her seat.
“She had a little chat with me recently, in fact,” he added.
But Alex was already talking, struggling to keep two conversations going on in her head. The one she was actually having with Logan and the one she wanted to be having with Logan. “That’s exactly it. She was like that with me, too. Telling me my future kind of thing, only . . . well, you pegged it. At the time I chalked it up to that tree and all the fantastical things it makes a person imagine, about faeries and gnomes, you know. I’m sure everyone says that. Then you add in her workshop in the back, which, wow, right? I’m not sure I even understand how that works. I’m sure I just wasn’t adding up the dimensions right, but it was a surprise.”
Logan’s intensity instantly ramped up another notch, but it was surprise she saw on his face. Disbelief, actually. “She invited you into her workshop?”
Alex frowned, caught off guard by the edge to his tone. “Why? Is there some reason she shouldn’t have? You just said she wasn’t dangerous.”
“No. It’s just . . . as far as I know, as far as anyone knows, she’s never had anyone back there. Ever.”
It was Alex’s turn to be surprised. “Well, I can’t imagine why she’d invite me then. We were just talking and I followed her back. It wasn’t any big deal.”
“It is a big deal. Or will be if you tell anyone. Her workshop has become something of a legend in and of itself.”
“Why?”
“Like you were saying about the tree and the fantastical things it makes you imagine, with her being so secretive about her workshop, folks naturally created a bit of lore as to what really goes on back there.”
Alex smiled, amused now. “Like there really are faeries and elves and gnomes, oh my? Do you believe in this local lore?”
“No. Of course not. It’s good for tourism in the summer, so I’m not against it, but no. My work deals with logic, facts, and that’s how I tend to operate as well.”