When You Were Mine (Stone Lake 2)

“We would’ve made it work if she’d left with me.” I would have made it work.

“Maybe, maybe not. Maybe you wouldn’t have gotten the chance. Her father was not about to let you go. I had to do some fast talking to get him to call the dogs off.”

“You never told me that,” I respond, turning to look at him, shock coloring my face.

“There wasn’t a reason to. In the end, Luna helped with her decision and her father didn’t press charges against you. It all worked out in the end.”

It all worked out in the end…

If that’s true, then how come it has always felt like I was missing a part of myself?

I don’t ask Dern that. There’s no point.

No.

Fucking.

Point.

Luna

It’s been a week since Gavin has been in town, and I’ve managed to avoid him. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. I don’t know how I know it. I can’t explain it. I’ve got my back to the door, talking to Ben about increased patrols when I hear the door open. My back immediately straightens, and I feel this shiver of awareness spread through my body.

I close my eyes, hoping there’s some type of divine intervention and Gavin is catapulted backwards and hurled three states over. I live in Maine, and we have our fair share of storms. Is it so hard to believe that a tornado can’t choose this exact moment to land? I mean, sure they’re rare here, but they could happen.

“Speak of the devil. We were just talking about you, Agent Lodge,” Ben says and that’s what forces me to give up my fantasy of tornadoes that deliver good fortune in place of destruction.

“I thought my ears were burning,” Gavin jokes, and I force myself to turn and face him.

“Gavin,” I acknowledge, avoiding eye contact, which is not like me. I don’t back down from anything these days—but for this, I cut myself some slack.

“Hey, Luna,” he says, his voice tight. He comes to stand beside me. I hate that I’m aware of him—that my body is aware that he’s close. How is it possible that after almost thirteen years one person could still have that effect on you?

“You two have already met?” Ben asks.

“Luna and I—”

“Gavin is from here, Ben,” I tell him, interrupting Gavin. “We went to school together.”

“Really? Damn it’s a small world,” Ben says.

“That it is,” I hear Gavin say.

There’s an awkward silence, and I know Ben picks up on it because he looks at me. I give him a tight smile, and I know this is something he’ll want to talk about later and I dread it. Ben’s a good guy. We’ve been dating for a couple of months. It’s been an easy relationship, but I’m not ready to rehash my past.

Especially when that past is currently front and center in my present.

“Uh… have you checked out the murder site good enough you think, Agent Lodge?”

“Dern and I checked it out and have been going over the reports. I’ve started contacting some of the witnesses, but there are a few on the list that I can’t seem to get in touch with. I keep calling, but there’s no answer and there doesn’t seem to be anyone home when we go out that way.”

“Who is it?” Ben asks.

“Loretta Fletcher and there’s a George Banks we’re having similar issues with.”

“They won’t talk to you,” Ben says, with a smirk. His dark eyes land on me, and I smile despite having Gavin so close.

“Why’s that?” Gavin asks and his voice sounds different, annoyed. Apparently, the FBI Agent Gavin doesn’t like when witnesses dodge him.

Ben laughs. “They don’t like people.”

“Then, how did you get them to talk in the first place?”

“Well, I should probably clarify that. They only like one person.”

“I get you’re finding this funny, Kingston, but I’m not,” Gavin warns, and his tone pisses me off.

On reflex I step into Ben and face Gavin. Ben and I try to keep our relationship out of the office, but I notice that Ben puts his hand on my back. That’s new, and I could question it, but I think it’s because of the vibes in the room. Ben is smart and I’m sure he can read the tension between us. I already know that our Friday night date is going to be filled with questions and I’m dreading it.

“I’m saying they like, Luna. They’ll talk to her.”

Gavin eyes me and his face is set in stone. I think for the first time in my life it’s completely unreadable.

“I see. Well, they need to talk to me. I have to interview them.”

“You’ll not get any more out of them than Ben did. He’s very good at his job, Gavin.”

“I’m sure he is, but just the same, I’m meeting with them.”

“Fine. I have a meeting with the town council in about thirty minutes. It won’t last very long, it’s to go over the early numbers of the Fall Festival we’re having. I can meet you at Loretta’s around two?”