Page 64 of Secrets Bared
A brisk knocking broke the silence. “Hawthorn Hills Police Department.”
Maggie sat up straight, her back a stiff rod. Luke’s only reaction was to grip her waist tighter.
“Come in,” he called out.
“You called the cops?” Maggie hissed at him.
Luke thumbed away some stray moisture she missed. “Shorty did. We have to document this or else the health inspector could come in.”
She deflated as the door opened. Marigold MacDonald stood there in her navy uniform, her brown hair pulled back in a tight bun. She’d put on some muscle since high school, but her face will still the same kind one he remembered.
“Hi, Maggie. I’m Officer MacDonald with the Hawthorn Hills Police Department. I’m here to ask you some questions. Do you want Luke to stay in the room?”
Maggie chewed on her lip, then stood from his lap and shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
Surprised by her dismissal, Luke stood as well, but didn’t take his hands off her. “Are you sure? Nothing you say would—”
“Please.” Her voice trembled. “I need to do this alone.”
“Okay. Whatever you want, sweetheart. Come find me in the kitchen when you’re done, okay?”
She nodded, and Luke saw the sympathy on Marigold MacDonald’s face as he rounded the desk.
“I’ll take good care of her, Luke,” she whispered as he passed them and shut the door behind him.
Luke took a deep breath and headed for the kitchen, praying she would trust him fully someday.
Chapter 18
MaggiesquirmedinDeb’soffice chair. Officer MacDonald had a kind face, and a way of asking questions that made it easy to talk to her.
She told her about everything that had happened since she’d arrived at Hawthorn Hills. All the presents, including her wedding rings, and how they never had a return address, or a name attached to them.
MacDonald paused in her note taking. “Do you have any enemies, Maggie?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “You won’t say anything outside of this, will you?”
“This interview is fully confidential.” But Maggie knew if anyone else in town found out, that they’d tell Luke.
Her throat tightened as she thought of him turning from her in disgust.
“Maggie?”
“M… my… my husband.” She choked out. “It can only be him.”
MacDonald tilted her head to the side, but her kind expression never wavered. “What’s his name?”
“Sean Callahan. He… he’s a detective with the Oklahoma City police. I started divorce proceedings when I left the state. That’s why I left the rings behind.”
She nodded and made more notes. “How would you describe your divorce?”
Maggie laughed as fresh tears escaped her eyes. “Well, I fled the house the minute my lawyer called me to tell me he’d been served. He hasn’t signed the papers yet, and I had to take out a protective order against him.” She raised her head to look defiantly at the officer in front of her, daring her to tell her she’d been in the wrong.
MacDonald’s sharp inhale told her she’d gotten the message. She scratched some more on the notepad as she responded. “If he’s the one doing this, then he’s violated the protection order and we’ll be taking him in. Do you know how close he’s allowed?”
“One hundred feet and no contact.”
“Do you know where he is?” MacDonald lifted her head.
