At the Stroke of Madness

CHAPTER 51

She startled him so badly he dropped one of the bags, scattering groceries across the wooden porch floor.

“I didn’t think you’d both be down for the night. I guess I didn’t think it was that late. Did I wake you?”

“You scared the living daylights out of us. What the hell are you doing?”

Maggie watched him pick up cartons and cans. She looked back at Luc and worried that he had blanked out on her again. He stood there, bat in his hands, staring at Bonzado, as if deciding whether he needed to use the bat.

“It’s okay, Luc,” she told him. “It’s just Professor Bonzado. Do you remember him from this afternoon?”

“Why is he back?” Luc wanted to know. “Why is he out wandering around in the dark?”

“Good question,” she said, now turning back to the professor.

He looked up at her, still down on his hands and knees retrieving several cans that had rolled underneath the porch swing. “I wasn’t out wandering around in the dark. I was just coming up to the door, and before I could knock you jammed a gun in my face.”

“What are you doing here, Adam?” she asked again.

“I noticed Mr. Racine didn’t have much in his refrigerator. I thought I’d bring out some staples. I really didn’t think you’d be asleep already. It’s not even ten. And—” he got to his feet and opened one of the other bags, pulling out a small white box “—I wanted to bring you some dessert, since our dinner sort of got canceled.”

“You should have called first.” It was difficult to stay angry with him when he seemed genuinely determined to please them.

“I tried calling you. Your cell phone must be off. And I didn’t know Mr. Racine’s phone number.”

“I’m sure directory assistance could have given it to you.” Maggie wouldn’t let him off the hook. She didn’t like how quiet Luc continued to be. Finally, he came out on the porch to help Bonzado, taking one of the bags and looking inside.

“I don’t cook much anymore.”

“I figured as much. So I bought some deli meats and cheeses, some bread, and several different kinds of cereals and milk. Oh, and some Pop-Tarts. They’re pretty good cold. You don’t even have to put them in a toaster. Really. You’ll have to try ’em.”

The two men came in past Maggie, and Bonzado glanced at the revolver she hadn’t holstered yet, then looked up at her and smiled. “Jeez, you’re tough on a guy for just wanting to bring you a little cheesecake.”

“Did you say cheesecake?” Now he had Luc’s full attention and enthusiasm.

“That’s right. None other than chocolate almond from the Stone House.” Bonzado followed Luc into the kitchen.

Maggie shook her head. But before she closed the door she stepped out onto the porch. Why hadn’t she heard Bonzado’s El Camino or, at least, seen his headlights? She saw the vehicle parked up the driveway, away from the house. Odd that he didn’t pull in behind her rented Escort.

As she turned to go back inside, she heard another vehicle’s engine, beyond the trees, back on Whippoorwill Drive. She could hear it but couldn’t see it. She stepped off the porch into the dark, straining to see through the branches, trying to follow the low, soft rumble of an engine.

The reason she couldn’t see the vehicle was because it had waited until it was almost out of sight before it turned on its headlights. And then it was quickly gone, the taillights disappearing around the first curve.