“I don’t know, but I am. And even more so after what you just told me.”
“We don’t know who A.J. is or why he’d think that Maggie knows who he was, which she doesn’t.”
“We need to find her; that’s all I know.”
They searched shops, buildings, and he was just about to head to her house when his cell phone rang.
“According to Mr. Linbar, Noel’s nickname is A.J. They just never used it outside the family because he doesn’t like it,” Chief Blake said. “Apparently it stands for Algernon James.”
Fin cursed.
“Calm down, it still doesn’t mean anything, Fin. But I did ask if Linda Foster spent time with them. Mrs. Linbar said yes and that she was a good friend when they needed one and was there a lot during the early days after Simon disappeared. She was especially good to Noel, apparently.”
“Something’s off,” Fin growled.
“Which means only that the note was very likely written by Linda and possibly for Noel, not that they had anything to do with Simon’s death,” Chief Blake added.
“Maggie’s gallery was broken into.”
“It’s too much of a stretch. Half the town knew about that note. Did you find Maggie?”
“No.”
Chief Blake swore. “I’m coming out to look. Don’t do anything stupid.”
“What’s going on?” Joe and Jack were standing outside A.S. when they reached it. They wore identical looks of concern.
“We can’t find Maggie.” Fin’s words were cold and hard. “And I don’t know if that’s a problem, but I’m pretty sure it is.”
Nash filled them in on the details of what she’d uncovered while he called her cell phone again. “You get this, you call me, Maggie.”
“So what? Noel Linbar and Linda Foster are the people in the note Maggie found? That then leads you to suspect they are some way involved with Simon’s death? Which in turn leads you to Maggs going missing?” Jack said. “Hell of a stretch with no evidence. I’ll add that Noel doesn’t seem like the type to murder his brother even with motive.”
“There’s a type?” Nash asked.
“Where the hell is she, then?” Fin snarled. “She wouldn’t leave me like this.”
“You’re not that special.” Nash looked tense.
“I told her I loved her, and she said the same. She wouldn’t leave me.”
“When the hell did this declaration take place?” Joe’s eyebrows rose. “You haven’t been alone with each other to the best of my knowledge all day.”
“Does it matter?” Fin wanted Maggie, and he wanted her there beside him now.
The men just looked at him.
“At the end of the musical chairs when our chair overturned. I told her then.”
“Nice, and done with style. I’m proud of you, son,” Joe said.
“You love my sister?” Nash didn’t exactly look happy about that, but he didn’t look mad either. “Maybe that had her running?”
“We’ve been together in the two hours since the musical chairs in case you didn’t notice. About two inches apart!” The last came out in a roar. “I love her, and nothing you say will change that in her or me.”
They eyeballed each other. Both men scared; both men loved Maggie.
“Calm down,” Joe said. “And focus on Maggie. She’s all that matters now.”
