‘Say bye-bye to a relaxed evening together,’ Reid mumbled quietly, watching Luke pacing up and down their living room, talking on the phone. He tried very hard to stay out of the drama and was almost relieved to hear a buzzer to distract him. There was only one slight problem…he had no idea where the sound came from.
Luke pointed at a little box on the wall.
“I think it’s the bell at the gate,” he whispered quickly, before turning his attention back to the phone conversation.
Their gate had a bell?
He walked over to the box and the little screen showed their closed gate and two police cars. He pushed a random button and hit the jackpot. He could hear the car engines in the background.
“Hello?”
“This is Margo Hughes, Chief of Police, to see Luke Snyder. Can I come in?”
“If I can find the right button, you can…” Reid pushed a button with a key on it and watched the gate doors open. With a self-congratulatory grin he opened their front door and waited for Margo to enter. But she didn’t. Not right away.
“Dr. Oliver,” she shook his hand and looked around, “Is it okay if my men check your premises?”
“No problem. Maybe they can check the outbuildings too,” he grabbed a bunch of keys and gave them to her. “I don’t know what’s what, yet. We moved in yesterday.”
Margo nodded, handed one of her officers the keys and turned back to Reid, who willingly made room. “Please come in.”
“Thank you.” Margo tried hard not to stare – what happened to the rude and sarcastic Dr. Oliver they all knew and disliked? – but Reid saw through her anyway.
“I’ve left my monster personality at the hospital,” he grinned and slightly blushed, Margo followed him into the living room where Luke was just ending his phone call.
“Margo, I was expecting you,” they shook hands, “My father will soon be here, too.”
Margo looked confused, so Reid and Luke explained simultaneously in their own words:
“Good dad”
“Holden.”
They grinned at each other and Margo smiled. This was the strangest match she’d ever seen. She even thought Bob was joking around when he first mentioned the couple. Why would a charming, loving young guy like Luke ever go for a cold, cynical and standoffish man like Dr. Oliver? Seeing them together made more sense than she thought it ever would. Luke seemed less insecure and Dr. Oliver looked more approachable.
She sat down on the offered sofa and looked at Luke.
“My men are checking the surroundings, although I don’t think Damian could get here so soon.”
“But you do think he will show up here?” Reid stretched his arm on the back of the couch and Luke settled down close to him.
“I do,” Margo nodded, looking worried. “His getaway car is identified as Lily’s and she knows that you both moved here, so yes… I think he will try to reach Luke.”
Luke shook his head, still baffled by the news. A short knock on the door made him jump up.
“That’s my dad,” he hurried to let him in. Not for his own comfort – Reid did a great job keeping him calm – but because he had felt Holden’s pain over the phone. His mother had sided with Damian. Again!
After a silent hug, both men came in and Holden greeted Reid with a warm smile and a slap on the back and Margo with a handshake. He took a seat and sent Reid a revealing look.
“Welcome to the Snyder family,” the sarcasm was painful, “Talk about first impressions. First Lily’s unforgivable remark at dinner, yesterday, and now this.”
“Can I get you a cup of coffee, dad?”
Holden looked up and nodded. When Luke gave Margo and Reid a questioning look, the doctor looked at him. “Do you want me to…”
Luke shook his head with a glance of a smile.
“That’s okay. I already talked to my dad, so I know what’s going on.” His eyes finished his sentence: and I need the distraction.
When Luke left the room, Margo looked at Reid. Cautious.
“Is the kitchen door locked?”
Reid gave a nod. He locked it himself early that evening, so he was sure.
“Do you really think Damian would make a move with a few cops walking around the house?”
Margo grinned. “Damian is a very determined and wily guy. No telling what he would do, so I’ll just keep all options open.”
“Sounds like the smart thing to do,” Holden agreed. “Damian is not to be trusted. Ever.”
Margo took out her notepad and pen and looked at Holden.
“When did you see Lily last?”
“Yesterday evening,” Holden said bitterly and looked at Reid for a moment. “Do you mind if I share the whole story?”
Reid shook his head.
“Emma had organized a family dinner to welcome Reid into the family and Lily wasn’t keen at the whole idea,” Holden looked ashamed.
“About the dinner or about this relationship,” Margo asked.
“Both. She was convinced Luke and Noah were meant to be and it made her blind for the reality, because that relationship had turned toxic for the both of them. But she refused to acknowledge that, although I tried to tell her over and over again. Even before Reid was in the picture. Well, before Reid was in our picture, that is.”
He paused when Luke came back in and for a moment they all sipped the hot coffee.
“This is great, Luke. Thanks.” Margo turned back to Holden and her look encouraged him to go on.
“Anyway, she blamed Reid for breaking up her dream couple, although Luke and Noah broke up before Reid made one move, and well…,” Holden said apologetically, “she found numerous reasons why Reid was the worst boyfriend ever. Yesterday, at dinner, we had a great time. Everybody except Lily. And then Noah walked in. Unannounced, I might add. Anyway, Reid went outside to get some air and I assume to get out of Noah’s way and I joined him and we had a nice talk.”
Holden took another sip of his coffee and gave Reid a quick smile.
“When we started heading back, Noah left. He shook Reid’s hand, he shook my hand and that was it. I thought. But Faith told me Lily was upset, because Luke had told Noah about moving in with Reid. According to Luke, Noah wasn’t shaken by the news. He already knew Luke was in love with Reid, so I guess he saw it coming. And I assume that irritated Lily even more. That Noah didn’t try to change Luke’s mind. Who knows, maybe that’s why she stepped out with Noah. To make him fight for Luke. When she came back in, she looked very annoyed and then she verbally attacked Reid.”
Margo was triggered by the choice of words.
“That sounds extreme.”
“Believe me, it was. It was vicious. Luke and Reid left, Emma sent the kids upstairs and told Lily to leave and to stay away. She was not welcome anymore.”
Margo watched Reid pale. “I assume you didn’t know this yet?” She saw him shake his head, while Luke put his hand on the man’s upper leg.
“I just heard myself,” he said softly and Margo saw Reid’s eyes soften when he looked at Luke.
“It’s okay,” he assured him and they focused their attention on Holden again.
“My mother went upstairs and Lily and I had a nasty fight. She blamed me for taking sides and betraying her… she was hysterical. So I told her to go home. Alone. That we would talk about this when we both had calmed down. I went to the house this morning, but she wasn’t there. And she didn’t come home. Now we know why…”
“Now we know why,” Margo confirmed. “And I also think I now know what Damian is after.” She turned her head to Reid and continued: “You. To prove his love for Lily, he will come after you.”
“Sounds like Damian,” Holden had to admit.
Luke and Reid didn’t say a word. For some reason Reid didn’t feel scared. That surprised him, because he did realize the threat was very real.
“Is Damian capable of murder?”
“Based on recent convictions I would say he is,” Margo answered. “He strangled Meg, Holden’s sister, and put her in a trunk. Luckily she wasn’t dead, but it did show he is capable of killing someone with his bare hands.”
“Reassuring,” Reid said and finished his coffee. “So now what do I do?”
