Already Home

By Heather M. Gardner

Already Home
A Maguire's Corner novel
Book 1 in the Maguire's Corner series
Coffee shop owner Maggie Maguire doesn’t trust the new police chief her father hired to protect Maguire’s Corner. He’s a stranger, cold, bossy and annoyingly handsome. But, Maggie’s witnessed a serious crime and now someone’s trying to kill her. The man that aggravates her most might be the only one that can help her.
Police Chief Jack Munro likes his new job and his new town, and unfortunately, he also likes the stubborn but beautiful town sweetheart. His self-imposed hands-off Maggie policy is about to be put to the ultimate test when he must keep her close to protect her while he tracks down a ruthless killer.
Determined to ignore Jack’s charms, Maggie attempts to help him unravel the mystery but when their lives hang in the balance she must decide how much she’s willing to risk to save the man she suddenly can’t resist.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heather M. Gardner
• Release date: Jan 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463405932

Heather M. Gardner

Heather M. Gardner's love of books began on the hand-woven rugs of her small town library where her mother worked. There she had a never-ending supply of stories to read at her fingertips. As a teen, her favorite genres to curl up with were romance and mysteries. When she started to create her own stories, they were the perfect fit.Heather resides in New York with her best friend, who is also her husband, plus her talented and handsome son. She is currently owned by one bitey rescue dog and two crazy rescue cats. Heather's a full-time mom, works part-time, a chocolate enthusiast, coffee junkie, pet addict, book hoarder, and fluent in sarcasm.

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Already Home

The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or events is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Already Home

Copyright © 2019 Heather M. Gardner

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book’s original title was Maguire’s Corner. The name was changed to Already Home when it was published a second time. This is its third venture out into the market.

DEDICATION

From 2013:

Suzanne & Katie. You read every word, numerous times, and then hacked away with your red pens to make it possible to get my story from the laptop out to the world. I can’t thank you enough.

DJ. Thank you for putting up with me while I was writing, while I was thinking about writing, and when I was tired because I had been writing. When I said, one more minute you always waited, no matter how many minutes it was.

Chris. It took longer than I thought, and I’m on laptop #2, but I finally lived up to my end of the bargain. Thanks for everything.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank my readers, friends, fellow bloggers, writer friends, and my family for all your love and support.

Already Home

A Maguire’s Corner Novel

Heather M. Gardner

CHAPTER ONE

911 dispatch, what’s your emergency?

Emily, this is Maggie. I was on Main Street and I saw a hit and run. Please, please send an ambulance there right away.

Hold on one sec, Emily said.

Maggie Maguire tapped her fingers on her steering wheel while she half-listened to the hold message from the Town of Maguire’s Corner Police Department. Something about Your call is important to us. Store your firearms safely.

"Maggie? Everyone’s on the way. Now, tell me what happened.

A black truck came out of nowhere and ran into this guy then just took off. I can barely keep up with him.

Maggie trembled with excitement and fear, but at the moment excitement kept her foot planted firmly on the gas pedal.

You’re following him? Are you crazy? Just tell me what kind of vehicle it is, and I’ll send a patrol car out there.

"Because I’m following him, I can tell you it’s a big SUV with Jersey plates."

Coaxing a little extra speed from her car Maggie managed to get close enough to read the license plate.

Where are you now?

Driving down Oak Lane. I’m passing Uncle Tim’s garage.

And he hit the other car back on Main Street? Emily asked.

No, he hit a person walking across Main Street.

My God! Maybe you should back off. I’m sending out those cars.

I’ll stay with him until they catch up or this guy will be long gone.

Just wait. Just hold on. Emily put her on hold a second time.

Maggie struggled to maintain such a high speed. Her old beater just couldn’t match the horsepower of the larger vehicle. If it weren’t for the bright taillights, she wouldn’t be able to follow him at all.

Maggie, I’ve got two patrol cars headed your way. It’s time for you to turn around.

Okay. I think he’s finally slowing down anyway. Wait, what’s he doing? He’s pulling into a driveway. I don’t want him to see me talking on the phone. Nervous fingers fumbled with the buttons before she put the phone down on the passenger seat. I put you on speaker, Emily. I’m passing him now. Hold on. He pulled back out behind me. Crap, he’s speeding up. Maggie didn’t hear a response. I guess I missed the speaker button. If your advice is to drive faster, I’m already on it.

She rammed the accelerator all the way to the floor, but her Ye Olde subcompact had already hit maximum speed. The SUV’s headlights filled her rearview mirror with blinding light before it smashed into the back of her car with a sickening crunch.

Damn, he hit me!

Her earlier excitement turned to genuine icy panic, and her hands clenched the steering wheel as she tried to control the car. The SUV slammed into the rear bumper again, pushing her small car down the road. Everything from the passenger seat sailed under the dashboard, including her phone.

What the hell?

Maggie pulled her seatbelt as snug as she could then gripped the wheel harder, dreading the next strike. She cursed when he hit her again. The explosive thud of her tire blowing out ripped another shout from her. The shredded tire slapped hard inside the wheel well, producing a deafening noise and making the car even more difficult to steer.

The shoulder of the road grew closer, and Maggie yanked the wheel, hoping to aim the passenger side of the car toward the dense oncoming trees. The massive collision had her car tilting up on two wheels into the tall oaks, holding there endlessly, then crashing back down, shattering some of the windows when it landed.

When the car settled on four tires, the night turned eerily quiet. Maggie shivered in her seat. The impact with the trees killed the engine and without the heater blowing, the biting January cold settled in quick. The rev of an engine, and the squeal of tires, filled her with fresh terror. Maggie had to move fast.

Heart racing, she yanked repeatedly on the handle, but the door refused to budge. In desperation, Maggie leaned the other direction as far as her seatbelt would allow as the SUV rammed her car again. The tremendous impact shook her to the core and crushed her car even farther into the trees. Her side window exploded with a thunderous sound, showering her in glass. Maggie blinked away tears and maneuvered back into a sitting position. Her erratic breathing sent waves of pain radiating across her ribs.

A door on the SUV creaked open and the driver appeared, a few feet away, through Maggie’s broken side window. Trapped in her car, she couldn’t do anything but stare at the man as he stared back at her. Her blood ran cold when he raised his arm and pointed a gun at her.

Don’t do this. Don’t shoot me. The sound of the gunshot echoed all around her and a burning sensation bloomed in her chest. No.

The fresh pain robbed her of her remaining strength, pulling her eyes closed.

***

Drifting in and out of dreams, the faces of Maggie’s loved ones passed in front of her while she strolled down a nameless street. She turned a corner, and day bled into night. As she passed a storefront, the window blew out, glass flying all over her. Covering her head, she ducked and ran down the sidewalk then paused at another window. Reflected in the glass, the face of her killer.

Maggie woke to heated voices speaking in hushed tones nearby. Prying her heavy eyelids open, she blinked a few times to clear her vision and adjust to the very bright room.

Maggie? Did you have a nice nap?

Doctor Kate Maguire’s words sounded sweet, yet reeked of sarcasm, completely expected from her cousin. She opened her mouth to say something witty in return, but made an unpleasant squeaking sound instead.

Kate grabbed a cup with a straw and brought it toward her. Have some water.

Maggie let the cold liquid sit on her tongue a moment before swallowing and then licked her dry lips. That’s better. Regular naps are for toddlers. I had a power nap. She took another sip. I see I’m not in the ER anymore.

We found you a private room.

Good. Too much poking and prodding in the ER.

It won’t stop here, either, and it’s all completely necessary. Do you remember why you’re in the hospital?

Maggie took a moment to acknowledge all the images floating around in her head. As she focused on them, one by one, they seemed to fill in with detail and sound until whole pictures formed. Her breath caught and tears sprang to her eyes as she recalled the crash then the moment the man held the gun up and…. He shot me.

While she tried to find an injury matching her memory, a handsome man in a very nice suit pushed his way past Kate to her bedside.

Excuse me, Ms. Maguire. I’m Special Agent Kurt Hamilton with the local FBI field office. I have some questions for you.

Maggie pulled the sheet up higher on her chest. FBI?

Sir, I’ve already told you that you need to wait outside. Let me do my thing then you can do yours. Please. Kate gestured toward the door.

It’s very important I speak with Ms. Maguire while everything is still fresh in her mind.

I understand, but I’m her doctor and I’ll decide when she’s ready to speak to anyone. Do you understand?

I do.

Then please, wait in the lobby with everyone else.

Fine. Ms. Maguire, I’ll be right outside.

When the hospital room door clicked closed, Maggie gave a big sigh and a sharp pain burst through her left side. Ahhh.

You think that hurts? Wait till you see what you look like.

Why? What do you mean?

I mean half your face is covered in blood and bruises. And, your hair is…well…the glass shards do make it sparkly.

There’s glass in my hair?

Maggie’s hands shot up to her head, yanking the IV tube stuck in her arm. Ow, again.

The accident had been bad enough, scaring a few years off her life. Kate joking about her face and hair? Downright criminal.

Sorry. The IV is just for fluids. But, you are pretty lucky to be alive. Now, let’s see that gunshot wound.

Really?

She groaned as Kate helped her sit up, putting another pillow behind her for support. Kate reached for the front of Maggie’s hospital gown, lowering it below a large gauze pad. She peeled the medical tape back on one side, uncovering four nasty wounds on her chest.

Again, I say the word ‘lucky.’ According to the medics who brought you to the ER, the bullet hit the strip of metal between the windshield and the driver’s window. Shrapnel, either from the car or the bullet, hit you in the chest and arm. Kate lifted Maggie’s left arm, the way she would have held it to shield her face, revealing a few more wounds between her elbow and the inside of her wrist. At least you saved your face from further damage.

Funny how nothing hurt until you showed it to me. So, I’m okay?

You will be. You probably hit your head on the window, which left you with a nice cut and a lump. Luckily, no concussion and no stitches are needed. You have a cracked rib, so you might have trouble breathing for a while. And, it’ll generally hurt like hell.

Maggie nodded. Noted.

There are bruises all over your body, especially on your left side. And, of course, the new fancy holes in your chest and arm. None of these are life threatening injuries. It will take some time, but I don’t see why you wouldn’t make a full recovery.

But, Doc? Will I ever play piano again?

Smart ass.

Maggie laughed then grabbed her side. Ugh. That’s gonna get old fast. I’m glad to hear I’m going to live.

I would hope so.

Can I have some more water?

Sure.

Kate handed her the cup again then took out her pen and wrote a few notes on the room chart. Maggie admired her profile while she sipped the cold water. She envied the way Kate’s straight brown hair could be swept up into an easy ponytail or the loose bun she wore today.

Out of the three cousins, Kate, Emily and Maggie, she considered herself the runt of the litter. They all looked similar, but they had distinctive features. Kate, the tallest with misty green eyes. Emily, in the middle with dark brown eyes and wavy, dark brown hair. Then Maggie, the shortest with curly, brown hair and eyes the color of fresh-plowed dirt.

Did anyone call my mom? Maggie asked.

Bobby did. She’s on her way back from Boston as we speak.

Maggie shook her head. Don’t suppose we could stop her now.

Probably not. And let me tell you, the lobby is full of people, mostly family, waiting to find out how you are.

Wonderful.

I know. I know. It’s so hard when you’re related to half the town, and they all love you.

You said I was ugly. I don’t want anyone to see me ugly.

Kate took the cup back. Bobby’s here.

Of course, he can come in, but no one else, okay? It would be five seconds of ‘are you okay?’ followed by hours of them telling me how stupid I am.

Kate snorted. No one else can visit? Not even the hunky guy from the FBI?

Wow. That man is seriously munchable. Maggie could appreciate a man in a good suit, although she did prefer a pressed uniform.

I saw that twinkle in your eye. Not my type. He’s too clean cut. I’m surprised the FBI is here already.

Maybe Bobby will know why.

He might, but that doesn’t mean he’ll tell you anything. Kate clapped her hands together. Well, my work here is done. I’m recommending we keep you overnight for observation then you can go home tomorrow.

Orrrr…I could go home tonight.

Annnnnd…no. I’ll see if I can find Bobby. Anything you want me to tell the mob?

Maggie shook her head. Tell them I’m fine, but I fell asleep or something. I can’t talk to anyone with glass in my hair.

Will do. I’m glad you’re okay, cousin. Kate squeezed Maggie’s hand.

Me, too.

CHAPTER TWO

Maggie tried to get more comfortable in the bed after Kate left the room. The movement aggravated every bump and bruise, including her sore ribs. Instead, she closed her eyes and settled back to catch her breath. A moment later, she opened them to darkness. Startled, she yelped before she realized her brother had a pillow inches from her face.

Thanks, Bobby, but I already had a brush with death tonight.

Damn. One more second and I would’ve had the pillow in place.

Robert Maguire, Jr. had two years on Maggie, but they looked a lot alike. They shared the same golden brown hair color, Bobby kept his buzzed short, the same light brown eyes, the same quizzical brow, and the same smart aleck smirk. The biggest difference between them? Size. She’d been shopping in the petite section of the store her whole life.

I heard you comin’ a mile away, she teased.

You were almost asleep. I could tell by the drool spilling down your cheek.

Maggie reached both arms out to him, but changed her mind when her rib protested. Bobby sat on the bed beside her, putting his arms around her.

I thought I’d lost you, Mags.

I’m so sorry.

Bobby pulled back. What were you thinking following that guy? Are you stupid?

I guess I thought I was helping.

Emily is going to whoop your butt when she sees you.

She grabbed a tissue from the table to wipe away the moisture forming at the corner of her eyes. I hear she’ll have to get in line.

True. Kate is shooing the crowd from the lobby and sending them home now. But I have never heard Emily as upset as when she dispatched us to head out after you.

Bobby, that man was trying to kill me.

"I