“I don’t know. I found her. She was…it looks like she was attacked or something.”
Liam’s hand closed into a fist. “She liked to come out here sometimes at night. I never knew why. I would try to talk her out of it, try to tell her that it wasn’t safe, but you know Sadie.” His face bent in anguish. “You couldn’t talk her out of anything.”
“I’m so sorry.” I moved to hug him, but Liam pulled back.
“Sluggs in charge, I assume?”
“He is.”
“I better go talk to him.”
Liam headed off and Rufus spoke. “Her boyfriend?”
I nibbled my bottom lip. “Yeah. I hate to think of what this’ll do to him.”
“Clementine, I came as fast as I could.”
Malene waddled up. She wore her bathrobe, too. Wow. Did no one get dressed in Peachwood?
Malene threw her arms around me. “I would have been here sooner, but I was at Norma Ray’s playing poker. She had to drive me home because I didn’t have my car, and she’s night blind.” Malene rolled her eyes. “But still won’t wear her glasses. What happened?”
I scoffed. “I figure you’d know since you’re here, and telling half the town, I assume.” A flash of anger lit up my veins like lava. “Why the heck did you call Liam and get him down here? He shouldn’t see Sadie like this—in the condition she’s in.”
Malene frowned. “I didn’t call him. Must’ve been someone else.”
I barely listened to her. Malene didn’t even like Sadie. “Why are you here, Malene? To get the latest gossip about the woman you didn’t like?”
Malene looked wounded. “I did not come for that. I came because I knew that you’d be hurting. When Norma Ray and I found out what happened and that you were down here, I came to make sure that you were okay.” She exhaled a sharp breath. “But I see that my worries have been placed on the wrong person.”
My frustration and anger were worse than I thought. Malene had been nothing but kind to me, and here I was, accusing her of being a gossiping opportunist. Oh, she was, but maybe even Malene had boundaries, borders that she wouldn’t cross.
“Who is this?” she said, eying Rufus.
Before I could say,No one, Rufus stepped forward, the flat of his hand to his chest. “I would love to say that I know, but I’m afraid that I’m suffering from a touch of amnesia. I found myself in your wonderful village, which is where I made Clementine’s acquaintance. She’s been kind enough to drive me around, letting me look at buildings to see if anything jogs my memory.”
Malene stared at him, flustered. It took a moment for the words to sink in, for her to actually realize that she had a full-blown amnesiac on her hands.
She peered at him skeptically. “Let me get this straight—you don’t remember who you are?”
“That is correct,” he said, sounding amused by the whole situation.
I wanted to scream.
Malene took him by the arm. “Well, then I will forgive Clementine for taking you around after her date with Shane.” Yes, she shot me a dirty look. “So you don’t know who you are?”
Rufus sighed. “Alas, I wish I did, but I do not.”
What the heck was up with his verbiage?Alas?Where did Rufus think he was from, England and this was high tea?
“Where will you stay?” Malene said.
Rufus pointed to the side of the barn. “From what I understand, there is a wonderful pile of straw just over there.”
Her eyes bugged out. “Near where the body was found?” She glared at me again. If Malene knew about Rufus, she would not have looked at me like that. “No, now I insist that we check you into the bed and breakfast in town. The water isn’t always the hottest, but they’ll do you right.”
Rufus shook his head. “No, no. I don’t have any money. I can’t pay for anything like that.”
“Once Julie discovers your condition, she won’t hear of you staying anywhere else. Besides, we’ll figure it out.” Malene pointed to her car. “Now, you come with me and I’ll get you all settled in. Julie owns a coffee shop downstairs, Bender’s, so after you wake up, you can have a coffee and pastry in her shop.”
