Obsession (3 page)

Melissa was curled up on the worn floral-print couch, writing in her journal, when they walked in. She looked up and brushed her long auburn hair back from her face, a faint smile touching her lips when she saw them. “Hi, guys,” she said, her voice soft with a sadness that broke Toni's heart. The loss of their father had taken a heavy toll on the once bubbly teenager. Seeing the change in her little sister only added to Toni's pain.

“Hi yourself,” she said, forcing a cheerfulness into her voice and hoping it was reflected in her face. “Glad you're back. Did you have a good time at Carrie's?”

Melissa shrugged. “Sure. I guess so.”

Brad walked over to the couch and bent over to kiss Melissa's cheek. “Hey, kid,” he said, holding up the bag of Chinese food. “Brought you some almond chicken.”

Her smile widened slightly. “My favorite. Thanks, Bro. You're the best.”

“That's what I've been trying to tell your sister,” he said, turning to walk toward the kitchen. “Maybe you can help me convince her of that so she'll marry me!”

Melissa laughed and got up to follow Brad. “If she doesn't, I will,” she assured him.

Toni couldn't help but notice that, even in jeans and a T-shirt, Melissa was beginning to look more like a young woman than a little girl. She breathed a prayer of thanks for Brad's ability to draw Melissa out of her shell. As she entered the bright, pleasant kitchen where she had spent so many hours of her life, the aroma of Chinese food began drifting up from the cartons Brad and Melissa were opening. “How about paper plates tonight?” she asked.

“Sounds good to me,” said Brad.

“Absolutely,” Melissa agreed. “And plastic forks too. Why wash dishes when we can just throw them away?”

Brad laughed. “A girl after my own heart. Maybe I should just go ahead and marry you instead of your sister.”

“Maybe you should,” said Toni, coming up behind them. “But I'm afraid you'd have to wait even longer for a wedding with Melissa than with me.”

Brad turned and took the plates and forks from Toni, shaking his head. “I just can't win around here, can I?” He sighed loudly. “OK, OK. No more discussions about weddings. Let's eat this stuff before it gets cold.”

They sat down around the old oak table that had been in their kitchen for as long as Toni could remember, then joined hands and bowed their heads.

“Thank you, Father,” Brad prayed, “for your loving care and your provision for us. We ask you to bless this food, in Jesus' name. Amen.”

Melissa grabbed the carton containing the almond chicken, while Toni and Brad pretended to fight each other over the sweet and sour pork. “Oh no, please, go ahead,” Brad said, his voice dripping with martyrdom. “I'll wait. After all, I'm very good at waiting, you know.”

Toni ignored him and scooped the food onto her plate, then passed the carton to Brad. “I saved you a little,” she said, “just because you're
soooo
patient.”

They continued to tease each other as they ate, keeping the conversation light and the mood playful. By the time they were finished, Toni was beginning to feel her strength returning.

“That was great,” she said, reaching over to lay her hand on Brad's arm. “Thanks.”

Brad smiled and winked at her. “You're welcome… as always.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Melissa added. “You're all right, Bro. I don't care what anybody says.”

Brad raised his eyebrows. “Oh yeah? And just what do they say about me, anyway?”

“I'll never tell,” said Melissa, standing up and beginning to clear the table. “I've been sworn to secrecy.”

“Oh, great,” said Brad, getting up to help her. “Not only do my proposals get turned down around here, I can't even defend myself because no one will tell me what ‘they’ are saying about me.”

Toni watched her fiancé and her little sister working and joking around together, and she wondered how she and Melissa would have ever made it through all of this without Brad. She knew what a vulnerable time this was for Melissa, who was the same age now that Toni had been when they had lost their mother. Melissa, of course, didn't remember Marilyn Matthews, although she had certainly cried for her when she died. But Toni remembered her, and their father's death only intensified those painful memories.

“So, Melissa,” she said, trying to refocus her thoughts, “have you thought about what you might want to do this summer? I know school just got out yesterday, but we probably should talk about your plans soon.”

Melissa hesitated as she placed the almost empty food cartons in the refrigerator, then came and rejoined Toni at the table. “Actually, I have thought about it. To tell you the truth, I really wasn't looking forward to almost three months with nothing to do, especially now that… Well, you know, I won't have Dad to go fishing with or…” She stopped, and Toni knew she was fighting hard to maintain her
composure. Then she took a deep breath and continued. “When I was at Carrie's last night, her mom's friend stopped by. You know, Beth Johnson, the receptionist at the dentist's office? She's looking for someone to take care of her little boy, Tyler, for the summer. He's almost seven. They just live two streets over from us, and she works Monday through Friday from eight to five. Mrs. Johnson's mother has been watching Tyler after school but would rather not be tied down all day during the summer, so they need someone as soon as possible. Anyway, she was wondering if Carrie could do it, but the Johnsons have a cat, and Carrie's allergic. So I thought, maybe…”

Toni pursed her lips. “Full time? Are you sure you want to make that much of a commitment? I know you're great with kids and you've done some babysitting in the evenings for a few people, but all day, five days a week? That's a lot.”

Melissa nodded, her green eyes intense. “I know. And that's one of the reasons I want to do it. I need something to keep me from thinking about…” The tears came then, and she dropped her eyes. “Something to keep me busy.”

Brad walked over and put his hand on Melissa's shoulder. “I think it's a good idea,” he said, looking over at Toni.

Toni nodded. “I suppose you're right. Both of you. But I'll have to talk to Mrs. Johnson before you start and make sure about all the details.”

Melissa looked up. Tears still glistened on her long lashes, but the relief was evident on her face. “Thanks,” she whispered. Then she reached up and put her hand on Brad's, which still rested on her shoulder. “And thank you, Bro.”

“Yeah, I know,” said Brad, lightening the mood as he sat down next to her. “I'm the best—no matter what anybody says!”

Melissa managed a giggle and slugged him playfully in the arm. “Just don't let it go to your head.”

Brad grimaced. “Fat chance of that around here. The last time I got any respect around this place was back in April when you all invited
me over for a birthday dinner. And then, of course, I only got the respect because of my ancient age.”

“Ancient, that's for sure. You're even older than Toni.”

“Only by two years,” Brad answered defensively. “And it'll be another two years before I hit the dreaded 3-0. What kind of a birthday celebration will we have then?”

“That depends,” said Melissa, “on how much excitement they allow at the nursing home.”

Brad appealed to Toni for help. “Aren't you going to defend me? Do you hear how your baby sister is picking on me here?”

Toni didn't answer. Brad's mention of the word “April” had sent her thoughts in another direction.
April Lippincott and Julie Greene. Wednesday morning at Eagle Lake. I need to look at that file again.

“Toni. Hey!” Melissa snapped her fingers in front of Toni's face. “
Hellooo.
Where are you? Come back, we're talking to you.”

Toni shook her head. “Sorry. I was just… thinking.”

“No kidding,” said Melissa. “About what?”

“Oh, nothing, really. It's just… one of Dad's clients. A missing girl and her grandmother and Eagle Lake…”

Melissa frowned. “Eagle Lake? That's where Dad…”

“I know.” Toni forced a smile. “Sorry. I shouldn't have mentioned it. Really. It's not important.”

“If it's not important,” Melissa asked, “why were you thinking about it?”

Before Toni could answer, Brad intervened. “Hey, I've got an idea. Let's go for a walk and burn off some of these calories we just inhaled. Come on, you two. It won't be dark till almost ten, and it's not raining outside. Around here we have to take advantage of evenings like this. They're few and far between.”

“True,” said Toni, glad for the change in conversation. “Just let me grab a light sweater. You should too, Melissa. It may not be raining, but it's not what I would call shorts weather either.”

“Is it ever in Washington?” asked Melissa.

“Hey,” Brad teased, standing up and walking toward the door. “I've seen you wear shorts before.”

“Two or three times, maybe,” Melissa agreed, getting up from the table, “in the middle of August.”

“OK, OK,” Brad conceded. “So we don't exactly live in the Sunbelt.”

“Now that's an understatement if I ever heard one,” said Toni, following them into the living room. As she headed for the hall closet to grab a sweater, she spotted the Julie Greene file lying on the antique cherry coffee table in front of the couch. She stopped, but before she could reach out to pick it up, Brad stepped in front of her.

“Hey there, Miss Workaholic,” he teased, “we're going for a walk, remember? That can wait till we get back. Better yet, it can wait till tomorrow.”

“But I just wanted to—”

“Later,” Brad insisted, taking her by the arm and turning her toward the front door. “Walk first, read the file later.” He shook his head and sighed as she pulled her arm away and looked longingly back toward the file. “I knew we should have left that file on your desk with that fishing book.”

“Fishing book?” asked Melissa, sliding her arms into her sweater as she waited for them in the doorway. She reached back and scooped her long hair out from underneath the sweater. “What fishing book?”

“Fly fishing,” Toni said. “It's a book about fly fishing. It was… Dad's.”

“Oh.” Melissa's chin trembled slightly as she looked at Toni questioningly “You were reading it?”

Toni shook her head. “No, I—”

“Because if you're not, I'd like to. Dad only took me fly fishing a couple of times, but… I'd like to read the book.” She paused. “Actually, I'd really rather have it if… if you don't want it, that is.”

“Of course you can have it,” Toni said. “You know me—not much on fishing, I'm afraid. That was Dad's thing—and yours. It's only right that you should have it. I'll bring it home to you tomorrow.”

Melissa smiled. “Thanks. I'd like that.” She looked at Brad. “So, are we going for a walk, or not?”

“If you can help me tear your sister away from that file.”

Grinning, Brad and Melissa each took Toni by an arm and propelled her away from the coffee table. “Come on, Sis, let's get out of here before it gets dark,” Melissa said. “Grab a sweater and let's go.”

“OK, OK,” Toni said with a laugh. “You win. I know when I'm outnumbered.”

As Toni pulled a white sweater from a hanger in the closet, Melissa pushed the screen door open, then turned back. “So why did you have Dad's fly fishing book out anyway?” she asked.

“I didn't. Abe… Detective Matthews from the River View police stopped by to return it. I guess he borrowed it from Dad.”

Melissa's face brightened. “Abe was there?”

Toni was puzzled. “You know Abe Matthews?”

“I sure do. I met him at Dad's office a couple of times. I saw him at the funeral too, but I didn't get a chance to talk to him.” She smiled her dreamiest smile. “He is
soooo
good-looking, don't you think?”

Toni glanced at Brad, who raised his eyebrows as if to say, “Well?”

“I didn't notice,” said Toni, pushing past the two of them and stepping out onto the front porch.

“Didn't notice!” exclaimed Melissa, following close behind her. “Give me a break! How could you not notice? I mean, he's gorgeous! Carrie thinks so too. She was with me once when he stopped by the office, and she says he's a real hunk. I don't see how you could not notice a guy like that.”

“Well, I didn't,” Toni said quickly, shoving her arm into a sleeve. “So, what about this walk you two talked me into? Are we going, or not?”

She hurried down the steps and out the walkway to the sidewalk, avoiding the questioning look she was sure was in Brad's eyes. So what if Abe Matthews was good-looking? Why should that matter to her? She would probably never even see him again.

CHAPTER 2

T
he mid-morning sun was a welcome change from the long months of rain that seemed to dominate the Pacific Northwest between October and May. The temperature didn't constitute a heat wave, by any means, but it warmed Toni's back and shoulders. With the Julie Greene file tucked under her arm, she strode purposefully toward the police station, barely noticing the glorious profusion of flowers that lined the streets and decorated lawns, heralding the long-awaited arrival of summer.

It had been a late night. After returning from their walk, Brad had stayed briefly, then gone home leaving Toni and Melissa to retire to their respective bedrooms—Melissa with her ever-present journal and Toni with the intriguing Julie Greene file. As she propped herself up in bed against a comfortable stack of pillows, she had studied the pages until long past midnight. The more she read, the more certain
she became that this nagging suspicion about a possible connection between the Julie Greene case and her dad's death was worth pursuing. By the time her eyes began to droop and she could read no more, she had made up her mind to take the file to the police first thing in the morning.

It was the phone, rather than the alarm, that woke her. She opened her eyes, startled, then squinted at the clock on the bed stand next to the ringing phone. Seven-thirty! It couldn't be. She never slept that late, especially this time of year when the morning light peeked through her window soon after four o'clock. Even if she forgot to set her alarm, Melissa should have been up by now, getting ready for school.

Then she remembered. School was out for the summer. Melissa, with nowhere in particular to go, was sleeping in. Toni, on the other hand, did have somewhere to go, and she had fully meant to be up and around long before this.