Shelter in Place (Page 87)

“No.”

“Here’s a list of rules,” Reed began.

“I hate rules. Too many stem from the patriarchal system designed to oppress the female.”

Reed aimed a long look at CiCi. “I’d like to see the patriarch or system that could oppress either one of you.”

CiCi smiled into her wine. “Many have tried and had their balls bruised in the attempt.”

“At the risk of my balls, these aren’t suggestions or guidelines. These are rules, like them or not. If you see her, you don’t approach or confront. You contact me or the nearest officer. If you see a strange car, bike, hiker going by the house more than once, you contact me. If you start getting hang ups or wrong numbers, you contact me. We’re going to do regular patrols.”

“What about your place?” Simone asked him.

“I’m a cop. It’s already patrolled. But if you’re there and I’m not, you lock up, and you don’t answer the door. Someone comes around, you contact me. If you’re driving into the village, or anywhere, and you see somebody broken down on the side of the road, you keep going.”

“And contact you,” CiCi figured.

“You get the idea. You take no chances. Those are simple precautions. I need you to vary your routines. Not that you have hard and fast ones anyway. But don’t shop on the same day of the week or the same time of day. Don’t take walks the same time and day. Whether or not you expect a delivery, if a truck pulls up, they leave the delivery outside. You don’t open the door, you don’t go out. Anything, anyone gives you an off feeling, you contact me. And no social media about plans.”

He sat back again. “You could put in an alarm system.”

“That,” CiCi said decisively, “isn’t going to happen.”

“I figured that, but you need to lock up, whether you’re here or out. Do that for me, okay?”

“I can do that. I don’t like it, but I can do it.”

“Good. I’m not going to insinuate the two of you can’t take care of yourselves. Especially since I don’t want my balls bruised, and I’m hoping for dinner. But I’m going to say I love both of you, and I’m going to look out for you. That’s it.”

“Don’t think we’re not going to look after you for the same reason.” CiCi rose, topped off her wine. “I’m going to start doing that now by making you a hot meal.”

“Don’t cook,” he said quickly. “I’ll go get takeout.”

“Cooking’s going to rebalance my chi.” She leaned over, kissed Reed. “You’re a lot smarter than she is, and so’s my girl. I’m damn well a lot cagier.”

Simone waited until CiCi went inside. “I didn’t bring it up, all this is enough, but if Hobart comes here, she’ll go back to Portland. My sister, my mother.”

“I’ve talked to Essie, and I talked to Jacoby. They’ll have eyes on your family.”

She got up, wandered over to look out at the water. The dog, finished with the treat, now lay stretched over Reed’s feet. “I should’ve known you’d think of them.”

“I talked to Boston PD, so they’re on alert. You’ll want to talk to Mi about it. I also talked to a friend of mine who I think she has on her list. He’s in New York now. I’m sorry to bring all this here.”

“You didn’t. She did. She started it all. It was her plan, and as horrible as it was, it didn’t work out the way she wanted. Neither will this. It’s funny. I love the island, always have. But I didn’t realize how much I do, how much it’s mine, until I realized she might come here and try to hurt someone who matters so much to me. Hurt someone else who matters so much. Who could try to stain this place the way she did the mall, and Portland? I never felt completely safe in Portland after that night.”

She turned back. “I went to New York as soon as I could. I went to Italy, I went wherever I could that wasn’t there. Most of the time, though, I came here. I sheltered in place, but I kept looking for somewhere or something else. I’m not sure I knew, until you, that it was more than that for me, more than sheltering in place. It was my place, my home. Nothing she can do will change that.”

She came back, slid over the arm of the chair into his lap. “There’s more than one kind of shelter. You’re another for me. I’m going to be the same for you.”

“I looked a long time for my place, and for you. It’s damn good luck I found them both.”

“You know what I thought when I came down the stairs earlier?”

“How easy you could be replaced?”

Laughing, she nuzzled in. “Besides that. I thought, I want to sculpt them—Reed and CiCi—just like that. Holding each other in a dance and smiling.”

“Naked? Listen—”

“There’s art, Chief, and there’s weird and inappropriate. No, not naked.”

“Okay then. You looked happy when you came down.”

“I’d had an excellent day working on a fascinating new project.”

He nuzzled back. “You’re not going to let me have a look at it?”

“When it’s done. Stay tonight. Stay with me.”

“I was hoping you’d ask. I’ve got our gear, mine and my new deputy’s, out in the car.”

In the kitchen, CiCi watched them out the window. This, she thought, just this—the blush in the sky as the day wore down; the strong, good man; even the sweet-faced dog—filled all her hope pockets for her girl.

No bitch from hell would rip holes in those pockets.

* * *

Two days later Reed got a call from Essie.

“We’ve got a Missing Person’s out on Seleena McMullen.”

“How long has she been missing?”

“Over forty-eight hours now. Her assistant got a text that she was going to be out of town on a hot tip, but she’s missed appointments, and doesn’t answer her cell.”

“She fits the profile, Essie, but this would be the first abduction. Even killing her and dumping the body doesn’t fit Hobart’s MO.”

“There’s no sign of a break-in or a struggle at McMullen’s house or office. She got a call on her landline just before midnight on the day she went missing. Untraceable. A burner.”

“Lured her somewhere.” Reed frowned. “That’s not Hobart’s usual method, either.”

But.

“The fact is, Hobart might not be the only one who’d want to cause her harm. She’s got an ex who isn’t fond of her, and plenty of people she’s burned along her way. But I’m having officers check for McMullen’s car at the airport. That is Hobart’s MO. Right now, with no direct link to Hobart, it’s with Major Crimes—because I snagged it. If we find that link, it goes to the feds.”

“Jacoby’s all right.”

“I agree. But, Reed, if we find that link, it means she’s back in the area. Watch yourself, partner.”

“I will. You, too.”

He hung up, thought it over. McMullen, yeah, that could fit. But coming after Essie now—way far up from the opportunistic blogger—didn’t fit. And coming after him right after sending the card? No, that didn’t fit, either. She had more to say first.

So, if Hobart grabbed or killed McMullen, came back to Portland for that? Why?