Into the Fire Page 10

  “Nothing. I’m serving all the food in here, and whenever anyone wants something, they can come grab it.”

  “Where did you get the punch bowl? It looks familiar.”

  “Vicky loaned it to me yesterday. Cups, too.” Maggie turned away, busying herself straightening the celery sticks on the platter. “She said it has been in her family for two generations.”

  “There’s no punch in it.”

  Maggie whirled around, hand to mouth. “Oh, no. I forgot. I need to make it.”

  Kane blocked her forward motion with his arm. “Let me. What do I put in the bowl?”

  “Ginger ale and lime sherbet.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Yep. Even I can’t mess up that recipe. I think that’s why Vicky suggested it.”

  “So, the cooking class isn’t going well?”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “I saw you the other evening returning. You didn’t look too pleased.”

  Maggie thought back to the lesson and ride with Vicky to the class on Wednesday night. Maggie’s cooking could have been better, but her weary expression when she’d come home had probably been from an overload of playing the part of a friend to Vicky. I’m not going to allow myself to care for the woman. Lord, I can’t. Look what she did to me.

  “Just tired. Going out Wednesday night for two hours makes for a long day.”

  Edwina appeared in the kitchen, clutching the coffeemaker. “I’ve got it. It was just downstairs collecting dust. Now it’s going to be put to good use.” She gave it to Kane. “I don’t fix coffee. You can see what happened to my last attempt.” She pointed to the broken coffeepot on the counter. “You do and it’s good, so I’ll finish the punch for you while you make the coffee.”

  “Sure. That’s something I can do.” Kane took the machine and headed toward Maggie at the counter.

  “You know Henry never had a housewarming party. In fact, he never had a party.” Edwina scooped the sherbet into the ginger ale that was already in the glass bowl.

  “He didn’t entertain at all?” Maggie continued to arrange the vegetables around the dip bowl, aware of how close Kane was to her—another one of Edwina’s manipulations. This kitchen wasn’t made for three people when one was Kane.

  “Only occasionally and with small groups, maybe two or three,” Edwina said.

  “Leave it to you to know what’s going on in the building.” Kane fit the prepackaged coffee down into the basket.

  “It’s part of my job as manager, but I’m not doing a good job lately, or I’d know who broke into Maggie’s apartment.”

  Maggie stepped closer to Kane and removed the foil from the tray of sandwiches. “You can’t be on 24-7. Besides, nothing’s happened this week.” She was trying to be optimistic about the situation because she wasn’t moving—at least, for now.

  “I know that Vicky and her family will be the first ones through the front door for this party.” Edwina dipped the ladle into the punch and tested it. “Mmm. Simple and delicious.”

  Kane filled the carafe with water and began to pour it into the top. He stopped before he did and put the glass pot down. Then he examined the machine. “Something’s down in this taped to the side.”

  “What?” Maggie moved even closer to take a look.

  Kane stuck his fingers into an opening and pulled out an oblong black flash drive exactly like the other one Maggie had found in the apartment. “I wonder who Henry targeted on this one.”

  “Call Bradley and have him bring his program to the party in case we need it to open any files on this. It may not be anything but his tax information or something like that.” But as Maggie stared at the flash drive, her excitement built. Maybe this one had information concerning the killer.

  “We’ll need to let David know.”

  “He can stay and take the drive if it proves to be anything.” Maggie slipped the device into her pocket.

  * * *

  “This has been such a lovely housewarming.” Edwina took a sip of her punch.

  “Yes, I can’t believe everyone came.” Maggie scanned the people—a room full—still at the party after two hours. The flash drive was still safely in her pocket. Eager to discover what was on the device, she rocked back and forth on her heels.

  Edwina peered at her. “The Sellmans and Bradley’s parents have left. The others will soon.”

  “Am I that obvious?” Maggie stood still, clutching her own cup of punch.

  “Only to someone with a trained eye for details.”

  “I’ll try to be more casual as if I might not hold the key to Henry’s murder in my pocket.”

  Kane came up behind her. “Vicky and John are leaving with Ashley and Kenny.”

  For a few seconds, guilt took hold of Maggie. She hadn’t talked much with Vicky at the party. She’d spent a lot of time with Kenny and even Ashley, who hadn’t shied away from her. On top of everything that had happened, dealing with Vicky was just too much.

  “I need to say goodbye.” Maggie made her way toward the couple who lived across from her. “Thanks for coming. I love the plant.” She took John’s hand to shake it.

  When Maggie faced Vicky, her birth mother enveloped Maggie in a hug. “We need to get together more in this building. It’s like a little community. Now that Henry…” Her mouth snapped closed. “I mean—”

  “You don’t have to explain to me about what kind of man Henry was. I imagine things are a lot more pleasant with him not living here.”

  Vicky blew out a breath of air. “Yes. A lot. I know it isn’t nice talking about someone who is dead, but there was always so much tension when he was around.”

  Kenny joined them at the door. “Mom, Maggie said she would take me and Ashley to the movies one weekend. Can we go?”

  Vicky looked at Maggie. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” Why did the woman keep asking her that question? Kenny and Ashley were adorable, and they were her siblings.

  “Then, that’s great,” the older woman said to her son.

  Both Kenny and Ashley beamed.

  Joy spread through Maggie at seeing her brother and sister happy. She would never do anything to harm them. That was why she wouldn’t say anything to Vicky about who she was. What happened twenty-eight years ago would remain a secret.

  After the Penningtons left, Kyra and her son approached Maggie. “We’d better leave, too. Tomorrow is a school day, and Sean has some homework.”

  “Thanks for coming. The placemats are beautiful. They go great in my kitchen.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Fifteen minutes later, her apartment held only a handful of people—Bradley, David, Edwina, Kane and herself. “Let me get my laptop.”

  Maggie retrieved it from her office and reentered the living room. Sitting on the couch next to Kane, she opened the computer and booted it up.

  After sticking the flash drive into the USB port, she announced to the group, “It’s like before. The only file on the drive is password-protected.”

  “Let me see what I can do with it,” Bradley said and took the laptop from Maggie.

  When he had gotten into the file, Bradley clicked on the first document. “Strange.”

  Maggie grasped the computer, bringing it back to her lap. “What was the password this time?”

  “Phil Johnson.”

  “The president of the university?” Kane leaned close to Maggie while David walked behind the couch to stand looking over her shoulder.

  “What is it?” Edwina asked from a chair in front of Maggie.

  “It’s an old newspaper article from July 1980 about a fire. The Johnsons’ house burned down during the night. The husband and wife didn’t make it out alive, but their thirteen-year-old son was spending the night with a friend, Henry Payne.”

  “And the son was our president, Phillip Johnson?”

  “The dates add up,” David said, gesturing toward the other documents listed. “Open the next one.”

 
; Maggie clicked on the icon, and another article popped up on the computer screen. The headlines proclaimed the fire that killed Dr. and Mrs. Johnson was arson, but there were no suspects. “Why would Henry have this?”

  “They were best friends growing up.” Edwina pushed to her feet and shuffled toward the kitchen. “It was a big news story years ago. I’d forgotten all about it until now. It rocked Seven Oaks and the university because Dr. Mel Johnson was the president, and the arsonist was never found.” She paused and glanced back. “Some say he made a few enemies by some decisions he made concerning the school but nothing that should have driven someone to burn his house down with him in it.” Shaking her head, Edwina disappeared into the other room, mumbling, “It’s sad what evil can do to a person.”

  The next file Maggie opened were a series of photos of two boys being boys. “Those could be of Phillip and Henry. I see the similarities.”

  “What’s the last document?” David asked, coming around the couch to sit on Maggie’s other side as Bradley rose.

  She opened it. “A letter dated a few years back to Phillip Johnson, congratulating him on becoming the president of Seven Oaks University.” Scanning the second paragraph, she frowned. “This is odd. ‘Now I can come home, and you can welcome me to the staff with open arms. After all, what are best friends for if not to look out for each other.’ Was Henry in some kind of trouble at his previous school in Nashville?”

  David took the laptop and studied the letter. “I don’t know, but I’m going to do some checking. I’m not sure how that will help his murder case, though.”

  “Maybe the person who killed Henry isn’t from here. It isn’t unheard of that someone comes to town and kills a person then leaves.” Bradley paced in front of the coffee table. “Whatever it is, cousin, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I’d better be going. I have a date tonight.”

  “Ah, with Beth Warren?” Maggie asked, grasping the computer when David slid it back to her. She removed the flash drive and gave it to the detective.

  “I don’t kiss and tell.” Bradley winked at her, then left the apartment.

  “It’s nice to see him dating after what happened with his last girlfriend.” David pocketed the flash drive. “Thanks for this.” At the front door, he stopped and faced Maggie. “Do you think there are any more hidden in here?”

  “I don’t know. I doubt it. Technically this one wasn’t in here, but in Henry’s possessions.”

  “I’ll get with Aunt Edwina and go through Henry’s boxes. Maybe another one is stuffed in something of his. Of course, I’m not sure how these flash drives are connected to his murder.”

  “And one box was taken from the storeroom. No telling what was in that,” Kane said, rubbing his hand along his nape. “I just hope you can solve it soon. I won’t feel better until you do.”

  After David left, Maggie hurried into the kitchen and stopped Edwina from cleaning up. “I appreciate all your help, but you deserve to sit, not work.”

  “Dr. Mel Johnson was president when I came to work for the library at the school. I hadn’t thought about his death in years, but it has brought back painful memories. He was a good man who had elevated the university’s status.”

  “Phillip is doing well, too.” Kane filled a mug with the last of the coffee. “Our recruitment among the elite high school students is good.”

  “But what will this murder do to that?”

  “The murderer will be found, and all this negative publicity will die down. In the meantime, it’s business as usual in my department.” Relaxing back against the counter, he sipped his drink.

  Murder. Flash drives. The dynamics of a prestigious university. It was getting to be too much for Maggie. Her head pounded with tension. “Edwina, thank you for your help, but I’ll take care of all this.” She spread her arms wide to indicate the leftover food and dirty dishes.

  “I’m not going to argue with you on this.” Weariness etched Edwina’s wrinkled face. “I’m tired and could use a nap.” She padded toward the door. “Your party was a success.”

  Silence descended after the older woman’s departure. While massaging her temples, Maggie closed her eyes for a few seconds.

  “Do you want me to go, too?” Kane said, surprisingly close to her.

  She gasped, not having heard him move. “You don’t have to stay. It would probably do me some good to throw myself into cleaning up rather than thinking about Henry’s murder one more minute.”

  “Then let me help you. Here.” He turned her until her back was to him, then clasped her shoulders and began kneading them.

  His strong hands worked the tension from her. She concentrated on their action, and before long nothing else mattered. She wanted to melt back against Kane, but with an effort, she remained still.

  “Don’t let this get to you,” Kane whispered close to her ear, his breath fanning her skin.

  “I’m trying not to let it get to me.”

  His hands stopped and slipped from her shoulders. “Let David do his job.”

  She spun around, coming within inches of Kane. “I can’t. I’ve never been one to let someone else solve my problems.”

  “What problems?”

  “Ever since that intruder invaded my home, it has become my problem.”

  One corner of his mouth tipped upward. “As I told you, it’s mine, too.” Kane cupped her face, his mouth hovering over hers. “We’re in this together. We’ll do our own investigating into Sam Maples and Phillip Johnson.”

  “Don’t forget about Henry at his old university.”

  His smile became full-fledged. “I know the admissions director at that school. I’ll give him a call and see what he has to say about Henry.”

  His breath, laced with coffee and chocolate from the dessert tray he’d frequented during the party, teased her senses. She drew in a lungful of the scent. His fingers plowed through her hair while his mouth whispered over her lips.

  “You aren’t alone in this, Maggie,” he murmured right before he kissed her.

  She finally melted against him, giving into the feeling of coming home in his arms. And for a few blissful moments, she forgot that a murder had occurred in her kitchen and the killer was still free.

  * * *

  “You don’t mind me horning in on your time with Kenny and Ashley?” Kane clasped Maggie’s hand as they walked back toward the apartment building after seeing a Saturday afternoon matinee the following weekend.

  “Actually, it was nice having you along.” As she said that, she realized it was really true.

  She enjoyed Kane’s company—probably too much. She still felt as though he closed part of himself off to her. Whereas after spending most of the evenings during the workweek with him, looking into Sam Maples’ and Phillip Johnson’s pasts, Kane knew most of her life story—except what she wasn’t free to tell him.

  Ahead of Maggie, Kenny made a beeline for the ice-cream parlor along Main Street. “I’m going to have to jog twice as long to work off the two scoops I plan on getting.”

  “Well, in that case, relish every lick to make it worth the time.”

  Ashley entered the store slightly behind her brother while Maggie and Kane followed at a more sedate pace. The two children were giving their orders at the counter when Maggie entered. No matter how much time she spent in her siblings’ company, it was always bittersweet. She knew it would come to an end because over the past few weeks as she had grown closer to Vicky, she also realized she couldn’t keep up the pretense. She would need to leave soon and return to St. Louis—which was another reason she shouldn’t get too serious with Kane.

  “You two find us a table while we order,” Kane said to the kids.

  “I want two scoops of cookie dough ice cream in a waffle cone,” Maggie said to the clerk behind the counter.

  “And I’ll have a double scoop of chocolate in a regular cone.” Kane brushed against her as he positioned himself next to her.

  “Somehow I figured that would be yo
ur order.”

  “Are you telling me that I’m predictable?”

  “Yes.” Maggie took her cone and Kane’s while he paid for the treats.

  “Okay, how about this for unpredictable? Go with me to the faculty gala. It’s in connection with the university’s hundredth anniversary.”

  “On a date?”

  “That’s usually what it means when a man asks a woman out for the evening.”

  “Why?”

  “Most women don’t ask why.”

  “I’m not most women.” What did he want from her? Although that question was really what Maggie wanted to ask, she wouldn’t.

  “I could say I need a date, but that isn’t totally true. I’ve gone to functions alone before. I could say it would be a good time for you to meet Sam Maples and Phillip Johnson. I’d love to get your take on them. But I could find another way to have you meet those two. No, the real reason is that I would like to ask you out. I enjoy being with you. You make me forget…” He clamped his jaw shut as though forcing himself from saying any more. “If you don’t want to go, I’ll understand. I have to warn you it’s formal.”

  “A long-gown formal?”

  Kane nodded. “I’ve got to dust off my black tuxedo.”

  Maggie noticed her ice cream melting and quickly took several licks while she tried to calm her racing pulse. A date with Kane. Dangerous to her peace of mind—what peace of mind? She hadn’t had any since she’d come to Seven Oaks.

  “You’ve got yourself a date then.” She loved a man in a tux, and she knew Kane wouldn’t disappoint her in that department.

  “Maggie. Uncle Kane,” Kenny shouted from across the shop. “What’s taking you two so long?”

  Every pair of eyes in the ice-cream parlor fixed upon her and Kane, standing only half a foot apart.

  “We’re coming.” Maggie hurried toward the children, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt.

  “Can we have seconds?” Ashley asked when Maggie sat next to her.

  “I’m afraid your mother wouldn’t be too happy with us if I spoiled your dinner.” Maggie scooted over to give Kane more room at the very small round table.