Chapter Eight

  Mary-Jean Foley, or MJ as most people in Weyport called her, tackled her role in the church with vigor. As with everything she’d done in her life. In her mid forties, she was the proverbial Proverbs 31 woman: virtuous, strong, and selfless; character traits she was immensely proud of.

  An early riser from as far back as she could remember, she didn’t wait to be served but instead allowed her servant's heart to live her life tending to the needs of others over her own. It had become her purpose, the very thing that turned the cogs of her soul and gave her life meaning. But that was ripped away when her first marriage to Jacob’s father tragically ended after he died of colon cancer. High school sweethearts, taking care of him and their baby boy, Jacob, was her entire life, her incentive for leaving some good behind on this earth. But when her first husband passed away and took along with him the very core of her being, she suddenly found her soul craving for more. Apart from the joy Jacob brought her, she sought new meaning to her life, so it then came as no surprise when she met Jacob’s stepfather, Joe—short for Jonathan—that she was more than ready to become someone’s wife again.

  She met Joe in Portland at a single parents' grief-counseling group. They had both turned to it for help after tragedy plunged them into the single parenting sphere. Jacob had just turned four and showed signs of needing a father figure in his life. In turn, Joe’s young mentally disabled son needed extra care. It was as if God sent MJ new purpose and not long after, MJ and Joe got married and once again, MJ’s dream of having a family was realized.

  Joe was a firm Christ follower and it was he that had led MJ to discover an entirely different purpose to life she had never even known existed. And for the first time in her life, serving Jesus was far more enriching than anything she had ever done before. It was as if she was created for that purpose alone.

  So when the opportunity arose for Joe to help plant a new church in Weyport, the pair had no hesitation in accepting and MJ embraced all that serving the Weyport community had to offer with verve.

  Jake squeezed into his usual seat in the front of the church. Next to him, Teddy was busy on his electronic doodle board, a nifty tool his therapist suggested they used to help focus his mind and keep him calm.

  From where they quietly sat waiting for the service to start, Jake watched as his mother moved from person to person like a frog jumping between lily pads in a pond. She was great at what she did, always smiling and making sure everyone was happy. In the opposite corner his stepfather and a few other elders stood huddled together, their hands atop Pastor Rob’s shoulders as they prayed over him. His stepdad was a good man and had been a good father to him but in recent years, it seemed he was pushing Jake too hard. As if he wasn’t doing enough. Wasn’t who his stepdad needed him to be.

  Jake turned his attention to the row of stained glass pictorials that were set in the walls on the far side of the church, his eyes settling on a picture of Christ. It was as if Jesus’ eyes were looking directly at him. He shuffled in his chair and looked away. He had been attending church every Sunday since they first moved to Weyport, apart from the time he had chickenpox, and never once had he felt so uncomfortable as this. As he tried, to make sense of his feelings it didn’t take long before he knew exactly the reason. It was because he had a secret. A secret he couldn’t hide from God, even if he tried.

  Several weeks had passed since he first started working for Moses and he’d made a lot more than he initially expected to. Since that second night when Sheriff Reid nearly caught him, he had managed to find a way around it, snuck in and out of the house more easily, and become more vigilant when he met up with his customers. He’d become crime smart as Aaron once called it.

  Aaron had become somewhat of an older brother to him too and they hung out at the skate park nearly every day now. But in the last few days, Aaron had been acting out of sorts. As if he too carried a secret, one that even Jake did not know about.

  All through the service, Jake’s mind was everywhere but on the message or the worship. He had become numb to his surroundings, a master at pretending. He had to.

  When the service was over and his mother dragged him into helping her at the coffee station, annoyance got the better of him.

  “Why do I have to be the one who has to do this? Why can’t someone else help for a change?” Jake asked as his mother dragged him behind the coffee station and immediately got busy with a cappuccino.

  “Because that’s what we do, my boy. We serve one another.” MJ paused midway through frothing a cup of milk and looked at her son, a curious frown on her brows. “Is anything the matter, my boy? You seem a bit… off,” she whispered directly next to him.

  His mother’s question caught him off guard and Jake struggled to find a suitable reply. So he did what most teenagers would do and lied, instantly feeling the guilt that settled behind the fib.

  When he looked up, he met with Mrs. Richardson’s piercing scrutiny. She held his gaze for what seemed like forever before, much to his delight, his mother’s friendly voice cut through the palpable tension between them.

  “Just the person I was hoping to see today,” MJ said in her usual upbeat voice as she started pouring Mrs. Richardson a cup of tea. “Any news on who’s been traipsing around our neighborhood, Mrs. Richardson? The entire town is talking about it.”

  Mrs. Richardson dropped a cube of sugar in her cup, swirled the tea around with a teaspoon then answered, her voice tainted with sarcasm. “Sadly, no, and no one has seen the thief since, so until our new sheriff proves his worth, I guess we’ll be forced to bolt our doors at night.”

  As soon as the words left Mrs. Richardson’s mouth, a man cleared his throat directly behind her, startling her so she nearly spilled the entire cup of tea all over the counter.

  “Sheriff Reid!” MJ cut in. “How nice to see you here. I didn’t know you were a churchgoer. But we’re not complaining. It’s about time our law enforcement was on the good team. Let me get you something to drink. My boy here makes the best cappuccinos, don’t you, Jacob?” MJ’s effervescent voice saved Mrs. Richardson’s obvious discomfort but instead shifted all the attention now to Jake.

  Panic rushed through Jake’s body. Desperate to avoid eye contact he dropped his head and got busy with the sheriff’s drink.

  “Happy to be here, thank you,” Angus replied, then tipped his head at Mrs. Richardson whose cheeks were still flushed with embarrassment.

  “Just a note of caution, Mrs. Richardson, we don’t want to go around calling the man a thief when he hasn’t actually committed any crimes. I think it will be best if we don’t unsettle the townsfolk any more than they already are. I assure you, I’ve been patrolling the area personally, every night since we spotted him, and I am committed to keeping Weyport safe as far as humanly possible. Just as I promised you I get up at four in the morning.” He finished with a polite smile to drive his point across.

  Mrs. Richardson put her cup to her lips as if to silence her mouth from saying any more than she already had. From the embarrassed look on her face, it was clear she was desperate for the earth to swallow her whole.

  “Of course you are, Sheriff, and we’re so thankful.” MJ came to her rescue once again then quickly changed the subject. “Say, Sheriff, I have a delicious tenderloin roasting away in the oven. How about you join us for lunch when we’re done here? It’s about time we properly welcome you to our town.”

  Chapter Nine

  Sitting across from Angus at the lunch table, Jake kept himself busy with his plate of food. The less he said, the better, he thought. Even when his mother tried to include him in their conversation, he had made sure to stuff two large spoons of mashed potato into his mouth so he wouldn’t have to respond.

  “My you’re a hungry young man today, aren’t you, Jacob?” his mother commented before turning the conversation back to Angus.

  “So, Sheriff, tell me, have you managed to find yourself a home yet? Our town doesn’t have a huge supply of properties, you know? It seems someone has to either die or move away before a home comes up. Unless, of course, you’re prepared to move into Hutch’s old home. Although my guess is you might want to pass on that one.” She gave him a warm smile.

  “You’re right. I’m beginning to realize that there’s a short supply of housing. But, desperate as I am, I think the further I distance myself from the old sheriff’s reputation the better. I’ve just extended my stay at the Old Mill and the ladies at Weyport Realty are keeping an eye out for something that comes up.”

  “Well, if you ever need a place to stay in the interim, you will be more than welcome here. As long as Jacob still fits on the couch you’ll have a bed here.” She winked at Jacob, hinting at his height.

  Jacob coughed a chunk of mashed potatoes across the table, leaving both MJ and Joe rambling off their apologies for their ill-mannered son.

  Jake and Angus locked eyes. He was certain the sheriff could see straight into his soul.

  “I appreciate that, Mrs. Foley, thank you but I’m sure Jacob would prefer keeping his bedroom. Who knows what secrets he hides in his room?” Angus’s voice was teasing as he smiled at Jake.

  But Jake’s heart dropped into his stomach. Having the sheriff stay at their house was the last thing he needed.

  “Oh, that’s so funny,” MJ said. “I’m sure all moms say this but my Jacob is one of the good ones. He doesn’t have a dishonest bone in his body. Besides, we’re a close-knit family and we don’t keep secrets from each other. It’s not pleasing to the Lord.” She smiled as she popped a forkful of lettuce into her mouth, her eyes reflecting honor and pride.

  “I’m sure he is, ma’am. I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. It’s just that I was once a teen too and well, at around this age everything we do is somehow done in secret. Whether intended to be or not.” Angus turned to face Jake, who to this moment still hadn’t breathed a word, then he continued. “As long as you know you can always come to me if you need help, Jacob. Anything at all, okay?”

  Jake forced a smile in response. “Sure, thanks,” he forced out, gulping down half a glass of water to mask his discomfort.

  “Can I be excused please, Mom? I have homework,” Jake added, desperate to get back to the safe confines of his room.

  “Of course, honey,” MJ replied. “Perhaps you could also clean your fish tank today. It’s starting to go green. Not that I understand why. The pump had been working just fine and then suddenly, wham, it stopped.”

  Again, Jake’s heart caught in his throat before it dropped like a stone into his stomach when Sheriff Reid spoke.

  “I had a large tank with a few tropical fish back in Nevada too. Unfortunately, I had to leave it behind when I moved to Millcove but I’m hoping to get another one once I’m settled,” he said.

  “Great! You know all about these tanks then. Perhaps our kind sheriff could have a look at that pump for you, Jacob.”

  Jake spluttered through his mouthful of water. “No! I mean, I’ve got it, Mom, thanks. I’ll clean it.” Jake’s reaction had his mom’s eyebrows raised in curiosity so he added. “Besides, it’s my responsibility to look after my fish, remember?”

  Joe spoke for the first time.

  “The boy’s right, MJ. He should absolutely honor his responsibilities.”

  “So, can I be excused then, please?” Jake asked again to which Joe nodded in response.

  “Clear your plate though, please,” Joe added.

  “I want ice cream,” Teddy interrupted just as Jake got up. “Heroes need ice cream.”

  “Do they now?” MJ laughed. “And who are you saving, Hero Teddy?”

  Jake’s knife dropped loudly on his plate and the seemingly clumsy incident evoked irritation in Joe whose face made no effort to hide it. With his patience tested, Joe was quick to react.

  “What’s the matter with you today, Jacob? Do you have a test or something tomorrow that's making you so nervous?” He snapped. “I do apologize, Sheriff. Kids these days, huh? Off you go then you two. Your mother’s been hiding some of that nice Italian ice cream in the chest freezer. She thinks I don’t know about it but it’s there.” Joe winked at his wife. “She’s a good wife this one. I’ve been trying to get a grip on my health and well, who doesn’t have a weak spot for ice cream, huh, Sheriff?” Joe laughed.

  Jake didn’t waste one moment and he quickly disappeared into the kitchen with Teddy closely behind him. In the distance, he listened as his parents’ banter soon turned to the sheriff’s background and questions about how he intended on keeping the town safe.

  Grateful that he had managed to escape the lunch unscathed, Jake settled Teddy in front of the TV with a large bowl of ice cream before he took up refuge in his bedroom.

  He was certain the sheriff suspected something. Perhaps he did recognize him that night by the trash cans. Perhaps he came for lunch to properly check him out. Jake paced his bedroom, his nerves gnawing at his insides as he bit at his fingernails. When his gaze settled on his lime-green fish tank he darted across the room and yanked the lid off. One of the pieces of tape had peeled away from the lid and caused the edge of the black pouch to drop into the water and block the ventilation pipe that ran into the pump.

  Chapter Ten

  “No, no, no!” he said through a clenched jaw when he noticed that water was seeping in through the zipper.

  He yanked it from the tank and dropped it on the ground in front of his tank, dumping the contents of the pouch onto the floor as he bit down on his bottom lip. He was as good as dead if he lost any of his stash. He sorted through the small plastic bags, pushing a few partially dry ones to one side. A few notes had gotten wet also and he gently smoothed them onto the floor before he dabbed at them with one of his dirty socks that lay on the floor to one side. His eyes fell on the stack of wet bags. They were completely waterlogged, their white contents now caked together to one side of each plastic bag.

  He jumped to his feet, his fingers interlocked behind his head as panic rushed through him. Replacing these out of his own pocket would set him back thousands of dollars. Even if he took everything he’d managed to save thus far plus the future orders of his now regular customers, it would not be near enough to recover the stock loss. How did this happen? Why hadn’t he been more careful, chosen a better hiding place? He should have known there was a risk of it getting wet. It was a fish tank for goodness sake! He kneeled down in front of the small pile of bags and tried squeezing out the water before he dabbed at them with his dirty sock. It was useless. They were completely spoiled. Worth absolutely nothing.

  He pulled the burner phone out from inside one of his hiking boots, which he had hidden in the back of his closet, and dialed Aaron’s number. The instant he heard Aaron’s voice on the other end of the line he let rip.

  “Dude, I’m in so much trouble right now. You need to help me. I’ve lost all of my bags, dude. I don’t know what to do. If Moses—”

  Aaron’s voice cut in. “What do you mean you lost them?”

  “They got wet. I hid the pouch in my fish tank and somehow it got wet. What am I going to do? We’re talking thousands here! There’s no way I can go to the meeting without this money. I’m as good as dead, Aaron!”

  Aaron went quiet.

  “Aaron? Are you still there? Did you hear me?” Jake’s voice had gone up a notch.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’m here. Leave it to me; I’ll sort it out. Flush them. I’ll meet you as usual at the skate park tomorrow. I’ve got to go.”

  The line went dead before Jake had a chance to ask how Aaron was going to sort it all out. But then, perhaps it was better he didn’t know. Aaron had been pushing for years. If anyone knew what to do it would be him.

  With the phone now back in his shoe, he scooped the two unspoiled bags up and stuck them inside the sock before doing the same with the money. The fish tank was no longer a viable option so he hid the stuffed socks inside the nose of his hiking boots and pushed them to the back of the closet. A quick visit to the bathroom had him flush the worthless bags down the toilet, exactly as Aaron had told him to do.

  He turned his attention to cleaning out his fish tank, wiping out any evidence along with it. Tomorrow he’d meet Aaron at the skate park and Moses would be none the wiser.

  The skate park was busier than usual and Jake chose to wait for Aaron on a bench in a corner farthest away from the main boarding ramps. He mindlessly spun one of the wheels on his board where it leaned up against his knee. He couldn’t skate to save his life but acting the part played an important element in hiding his activity. He had never been one for skating, which was precisely why it had surprised his mother when he suddenly asked her to buy him a skateboard. Knowing full well that she’d be very eager to have him involved in any kind of outdoor activity, it was another one of those moments where his lies had compounded to the point where he stopped paying attention to the guilt that came along with it. It was as if it rolled off his tongue with no effort at all. Perhaps he’d gotten used to it. Perhaps he’d gotten good at it. Perhaps it was too late to care about saving his soul.

  Never intending to actually use the board, he blended in perfectly where he sat waiting for Aaron on the bench under a shady tree. But try as he might, Jake was restless. Aaron was late, by now missing their usual five o’clock arrangement by more than an hour. Nerves started to gnaw at the back of his mind and he compared the time between his cell phone and his wristwatch. Six twenty-two p.m. There was no mistake.

  Jake stared out into the distance. It wasn’t like Aaron to be late. He was never late. Questions swirled around in Jake’s head. What if Moses got wind of his mistake? What if, whatever Aaron was doing to help him, had put Aaron at risk?

  Unable to sit any longer, Jake jumped to his feet, tucking the skateboard under one arm like he’d seen others do. He glanced around the park. There was still no sign of Aaron. Deciding to call him instead, Jake dropped back down on the bench and dialed Aaron’s number. The phone just rang. Once more, he called this time checking that he’d dialed the right number. He did, except, now Aaron’s phone didn’t even ring.