“You’re already sneaking in there every night. That’s giving her more than she’s had in a long time.”
“Yeah, I guess.” We fall into silence, watching the kids rehearsing the lines that come after the fight scene. The grand piano is right in the middle of the stage, though, which messes with their blocking.
“What’s with the piano?” I ask Gwen.
“It’s too heavy for Ms. Marple to move on her own, so they just leave it for now.”
“Are they going to get rid of it at some point?”
She shrugs. “Maybe, maybe not.”
My legs bounce, an inkling of an idea taking shape.
Gwen nudges me with her shoulder. “You’re fidgeting again.”
I look down at my bouncing legs and force them to stop. “Yeah, well. What do you expect from me?”
“Do you want to read a book?” Gwen knows that reading is one way to keep my overactive muscles under control, since she’s the one who got me started in the first place.
I shake my head. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot a familiar face—Rufus, Brookhaven’s standing security guard, watching over the kids with a smirk on his face. I nod my head in his direction. “I’m going to say hi to Rufus.”
Gwen nods at me, then turns her attention back to the kids on stage with a chuckle.
Rufus towers over everyone at six foot four. When I was a kid, it was like looking up at a giant. Now I’m nearly the same height, but his presence still towers over me. He breaks into a grin when he sees me approach. “Ryder!” he whisper-shouts. “Good to see you.”
“You, too.” We give each other a bro handshake and hug. “How are things around here?”
“Quiet as always. Not much security to be had these days.”
“That’s not surprising.”
Rufus has been the town security guard for at least the last twenty years. Everyone knows him and sees him walking through the town. He looks scary, with his tall stature, dark skin, and huge muscles, but he’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met. When twelve-year-old Ryder needed some help getting his anger more focused, Rufus took me under his wing and taught me some things, which later turned into my career as a stuntman. I’ll always be grateful to him for the influence he had on me.
“Any specific assignments these days?” I ask.
“Just here.” He nods over at Gwen. “Her parents have me working nights around the theater, just to make sure no one tries to sneak in.”
Just like that, a light bulb goes off in my mind. “So you’re the one making sure no one, say, plays the piano at two in the morning?”
Rufus raises a brow at me. “Uh, yes?”
My thoughts swirl. I could bring Lily here. She could play the piano with no one to bother her. But that would mean telling Rufus that she’s here and explaining her situation.
One look at him tells me I can trust him. He knows this town inside and out, and he’s been trusted with many secrets. Like when I egged the flower shop, he didn’t make me tell my aunt and uncle, but he helped me handle it with Rosetta Russell instead.
“I need your help with something,” I whisper to him. “But you have to swear not to tell anyone.”
His brows rise. “I’m all ears,” he says.
CHAPTER 17
Lily
FRÉDÉRIC CHOPIN — PRELUDE NO. 19 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 28
Another night, another upcoming visit from Ryder. I don’t even try to tame the butterflies in my stomach knowing he’ll be here. Even if he doesn’t feel that way about me, I’ve decided to stop fighting my imagination. Once I’m finally out of this tower, I’ll be able to use these feelings on someone else, whoever that may be. But for now, I let myself imagine that this is real.
Agatha had an appointment in Los Angeles this afternoon and got stuck in crazy traffic on the freeway coming home. She called and asked if I’ll be all right spending the night without her. I reassured her that I’d be fine and then squealed in delight, realizing I didn’t have to worry about Agatha hearing Ryder. Not that I’m planning to attempt any more stunts, but it’s a relief, nonetheless.
