Strands of Truth

by Colleen Coble

  17

  Ridge opened the tailgate on his truck, then paused in the bright sunlight and turned to Scott and Mark. “One thing I didn’t want to mention to your mother . . . my dad had a mishap just before all this started. Someone sliced his air hose and left him for dead. Harper was attacked at the same time.”

  Scott stopped reaching for one of the boxes. “Tell me what happened.”

  “He was on a dive to the mollusk beds. He’d gone down at the same time as Harper.” Ridge told Scott about how his father was missing until his boat was found miles away with him aboard. “His air hose had been cut. He doesn’t remember anything about what took place, but somehow he must have managed to get aboard his boat and motor off.”

  “Another coincidence?” Scott arched an eyebrow and smirked, then swung his gaze toward the street as a diesel truck spewing noxious fumes lumbered by. “What’s this about a politician warning them off?”

  Ridge told him about the Native American burial grounds.

  “Aren’t there some down by Venice too?” Mark said.

  “Yes, I’d heard about that.” Ridge reached for a box to hand him. “I can’t see any connection between Eric Kennedy wanting us to move the mollusk beds and the attack on my dad. Or the attacks on the women. Nothing makes much sense.”

  Scott hefted the biggest box into his arms. “Our mom has cancer.”

  “I heard. I’m sorry.”

  Scott nodded. “The last thing we need is her worrying about her half sister. I can guarantee she won’t worry about herself, but she’ll be in a tizzy about Harper.”

  Ridge stiffened. “And Harper will feel the same way about Annabelle. The two of them seem to have bonded quickly. Harper’s been searching for her family for a long time.”

  “So has Mom.”

  They glared at each other, and then Scott took a step back. “Sorry. I’m a little protective of Mom. You dating Harper?”

  “We’re just friends.” He wasn’t so sure he believed his own words. Singing with her night before last had broken down an important barrier he couldn’t name. For the first time he felt as if he knew her. Really knew her better than anyone else. Which was silly when they’d been at odds for so long. But his desire to discredit her to his father was waning.

  He pushed away the crazy thoughts and grabbed the last two boxes. “These things might cheer up your mom.”

  Mark reached the door first and held it open with his foot for them. “Or it will upset her with thoughts of her mother. She has nagged Scott to death about looking into the murder.”

  “And there’s never time to do it. It’s a cold case.” Scott stepped into the house and carried the box into the living room to his mother with Ridge and Mark right behind him.

  Annabelle’s eyes shone with joy as she reached for the box Mark held. Ridge intervened and leaned down toward her. “Take the top box. That’s the one you’ll want to see first.”

  Annabelle slid the box onto her lap. “You have a fine young man, Harper.”

  Harper’s gaze locked with his, and a flush spread up her face. She opened her mouth, then closed it again. Ridge knew how she felt—there was no way to counter the romantic assumptions in this room.

  Annabelle pulled out the old plushy. In the bright light he realized it was a lamb. The thing had been well loved, and one button eye was missing. The lamb seemed more gray than white, but Annabelle clasped it to her chest.

  “This was mine?” She laid the lamb off to the side on the sofa and delved back into the box where she pulled out handfuls of shells. “I still have a little bracelet my mother made me out of shells. It’s too small, of course, but I would never part with it.”

  Harper gently lifted out the sea silk fabric. “Do you have any idea where your mom got this?”

  Annabelle studied it. “What is it?”

  “It’s called sea silk and is made from the fibers that anchor the bivalve pen shell into the sand. People have been making sea silk items for centuries, but this is the first instance I’ve ever seen of it being made into an actual fabric. It’s usually thicker, like yarn. I’d love to learn how to do it.”

  “I wish I could help you, but I was so small. I don’t remember her at all. Is that it?”

  Harper nodded. “You wash it in lemon juice and let it dry. There are lots of myths about sea silk. Some have said the Golden Fleece sought by Jason and the Argonauts was made of sea silk. You ever read Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea? The crew of the Nautilus was said to wear clothing made from byssus, which is what those hairy strands are called.”

  Annabelle stared at it. “How fascinating.”

  “Hairy,” Scott said in a strained voice. “That rings some kind of bell.” He glanced at his mother. “Wasn’t there something in the investigation into your mom’s death that mentioned fibers in the wound?”

  Annabelle nodded. “I think I remember that.”

  “If she worked with this byssus, could it have been lodged in the wound?” He looked at Ridge as though he might provide the answer.

  “Does the evidence room still have everything from the investigation? I could examine it and tell you. The fibers are egg shaped.”

  “Yep. I’ll see about acquiring the evidence boxes.”

  But what if the evidence did consist of a strand of byssus? What did that tell them?

  * * *

  Harper perched on the closed toilet lid in the head and watched the pregnancy test she’d just activated. Nerves jittered up and down her spine. The next few moments would tell her if she’d have her own family. But if she was pregnant, she would have to tell Ridge what she’d done.

  A new awareness simmered between them, and she was beginning to think they might be moving closer to a real relationship. What would Oliver think of that? The way she and Ridge had been at odds all these years had grieved him, but would he welcome a romantic relationship between them? Willow would hit the roof.

  Harper held her breath as she thought she saw a second pink line begin to appear on the test. She stared in frozen fascination as the line grew easier to see. It still wasn’t as dark as the first line, so what did that mean? Her chest felt tight as she grabbed and read the directions. The lighter color just meant it was positive but early.

  She was pregnant? Really?

  She leaped off the toilet lid. She nearly floated out to the salon where she scooped up Bear and danced with him around the space. “You’re going to be a big brother,” she told the wriggling dog.

  Her smile vanished as she considered how to tell Ridge. And Oliver who hadn’t thought she should do this.

  First things first. She had to shower and get ready for church. Sara and Josh had agreed to go to church with her, and they were picking her up since his big truck was more comfortable for three. She dashed into the shower, then threw on a sundress before she put her hair up in a ponytail and headed out.

  The perfect Sunday morning full of sunshine, salt air, and the caw of gulls overhead greeted Harper when she stepped out onto the deck of her houseboat.

  Josh’s blue truck pulled up on shore and he beeped the horn. She gave Bear a final pat, then stepped onto the pier and climbed in the backseat of Josh’s truck. She got in behind Josh so she could see Sara.

  Sara looked beautiful in a turquoise flowered sundress. Her long blonde hair was up in a French twist. Her welcoming smile held speculation. “I tried to call you several times yesterday and you never called me back.”

  “I didn’t have my cell phone, and I forgot to check it this morning. Listen, there’s more that’s been happening since that guy tried to grab me underwater.” She launched into the events of the last couple of days.

  Sara swiveled in her seat to glare at her. “You should have called us.”

  “I’m sorry. Events came at me so fast I barely had time to breathe.” She wanted to tell Sara about her pregnancy, too, but not with Josh there.

  His long fingers tapped the steering wheel. “So what’s your cop nephew think is
going on?”

  Harper blinked out of her thoughts about the baby. It hadn’t hit her yet that she had more than a sister—she had two nephews as well. Mark was about to get married, and a great-niece or nephew might be in her future. Though her two new nephews hadn’t been all that warm, it was early days, and she had faith she could build a relationship with them.

  “He doesn’t know yet. The sea silk was interesting to him when he saw it though. According to something he read in the police report, Judy had a strand of something unidentified embedded in the wound. She worked with byssus. You should see the cloth she wove out of it. It’s magnificent.”

  “So what’s next?” Sara asked.

  “Scott will get the box of evidence and see if Ridge can confirm it’s byssus. I hope he’ll let me take a look too.”

  They drove through downtown Dunedin with its charming buildings decorated with paintings of oranges on the sides.

  Josh slowed to park in front of Dunedin Coffee Shop. “What about the detective who investigated your mom’s death?”

  “Oh! I forgot to tell you I talked to him.” Harper told them about her mother’s missing car. “So it’s a dead end.”

  “Could Scott get any notes made at the time of that investigation?” Josh pulled the truck into a space.

  “I didn’t think to talk to him about it. That’s a great idea though.”

  Sara lowered the sun visor to look in the mirror and slick on rose lipstick. She flipped it back up and smiled at Harper. “How do you feel about being a maid of honor?”

  Harper gasped and glanced from her smiling face to Josh who was grinning too. “You’re finally getting married? When?”

  “In a month. Which means we have to find dresses, order food, rent a venue for the reception—the whole thing. It’s about time. We’ve been engaged for three years and our plans have gotten changed several times.”

  “No more though.” Josh kissed her hand.

  “That’s wonderful!” She’d heard some of the backstory about Josh’s growing-up years and how he was afraid he’d fail Sara. He must have finally come to grips with all of it. “What about a wedding on the beach at Honeymoon Island?”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been there,” Sara said.

  Harper had grown up here, unlike Sara who had only been stationed here a few months. “It’s a barrier island just off Dunedin. It was originally called Hog Island, but honeymooners flocked to it in the thirties and forties. Wait until you see the setting sun turn the white sand pink!”

  Josh wrinkled his nose. “Pink? That sounds a little girly.”

  “It just looks pink,” Harper said.

  “I think it sounds wonderful! Can we check it out after church?” Sara flashed a pleading smile at him.

  “I don’t see why not.” Josh shrugged. “I guess I can get married on pink sand if that’s what you really want.”

  Harper had to glance away from the expression on Josh’s face. It was too raw with love to bear seeing. She didn’t know if she’d ever find a man to share her life with, but her heart still longed for family, a child of her own. It was a dream about to come true. She touched her belly again.

  She caught sight of a familiar dark shock of hair above solid shoulders as he exited the coffee shop with a cup in his hand. “There’s Ridge.”

  Shoving open her door, she stepped out into the shimmering heat and humidity. He caught sight of her and smiled before heading toward her. He was dressed in khakis and a polo. Josh and Sara exited the truck and Sara lifted a brow her direction as Ridge stopped in front of Harper.

  “Sara, Josh, this is Ridge, Oliver’s son. Ridge, these are my friends Sara Kavanagh and Josh Holman.”

  He shook hands with them. “I’ve heard Harper talk about you two. You’re with the Coast Guard.”

  “How’s your dad faring?” Sara asked.

  “Okay. I might get to take him home tomorrow. I went to early church so I could stop in and check on him.”

  “We’re grabbing a coffee, then heading to church ourselves,” Harper said. “We’re going to explore Honeymoon Island afterward. Josh and Sara are looking for a spot to have their wedding.”

  Ridge lifted a brow. “Nice place. Mind if I join you? I could use a day to clear my head.”

  Harper’s pulse quickened at the thought of him coming along. How soon should she tell him about the baby? She knew enough about pregnancy to know miscarriages weren’t uncommon in the early weeks. “Sure. We’ll stop by the deli and pick up stuff for a picnic lunch. Want to meet there around twelve thirty?”

  “You got it.” He lifted his cup toward Josh and Sara. “Nice to meet you two. I’ll see you later.”

  Sara watched him walk away. “You never told me he was such a hunk.”

  Josh took her hand. “Hey, am I chopped liver?”

  “You’re the handsomest man on the planet.” She displayed a dreamy smile and winked.

  “I need a refill and we can go,” Josh said.

  Once he was out of earshot, Harper told Sara about the results of the pregnancy test.

  Her gray eyes went wide. “One baby or two?”

  “There was one embryo implanted. I’ll have to wait for the ultrasound in a few weeks.”

  Harper waved at Ridge as he drove off in his truck. She didn’t want to notice the breadth of his shoulders or the way his dark eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, but she couldn’t help it. He was a hunk like Sara had said, and Harper found it hard not to watch him.

  18

  Ridge couldn’t keep his eyes off Harper as she walked the beautiful beach at Caladesi Island State Park with her friends. Her cheeks held a blush of color, and the sea breeze had pulled her hair from its ponytail and tossed red curls that reflected the sunlight.

  Had he been wrong about her all these years? Maybe he’d allowed jealousy over his father’s attention to her to cloud his judgment. A week ago he would have rejected the notion he could be that wrong about her, but so far he’d seen no deception in her. Just a sweet vulnerability to belong somewhere. He’d never had to worry about belonging or fitting in. His father’s money and power had ensured he was accepted no matter where he went.

  He’d been blind.

  The beautiful turquoise sea merged into the azure sky, and he stood on the sand and listened to the women talk about arches and flowers. He and Josh exchanged commiserating glances.

  “I’m just letting her do whatever she wants,” Josh said.

  “Smart man.” Ridge’s phone vibrated, and he glanced at the unknown number before he answered it. “Ridge Jackson.”

  “Ridge, this is Don Ward. I discovered the name of Lisa’s best friend.”

  “Thanks for calling, Don. Hang on, let me grab a pen.” He fished a pen and paper from his pocket. “Go ahead.”

  “Her name is Kelly Gray. She still lives up by Orlando with her husband.”

  Ridge jotted down the address as the former detective rattled it off. “Got it, thanks.”

  “Anytime. I’ll see if there’s anything else I can find. A guy can only fish so much.” Don chuckled and ended the call.

  Ridge slid his phone into his pocket. He hated to break up the effusive squeals of excitement, but Harper would want to know about this new piece of information.

  He walked across the sand to the women and waited for a good spot to break in.

  Harper finally took a breath between the food discussion and how many guests would likely attend. She glanced at him. “You have something to add?”

  “Weddings are out of my area of expertise.” He grinned. “I got a call from Don Ward though. He gave me the name and address of your mother’s best friend.”

  Her eyes went wide. “Does she live in the area?”

  “Orlando. We can take a trip up there tomorrow.” He waved his hand. “Once you’re done planning.”

  “We’re done,” Sara said. “We can drive back now, and I’ll have Josh take me out to dinner. I started you on this course, and I feel gu
ilty for the danger you’ve encountered. You have to find out who is behind all these attacks.”

  Harper hugged her. “Okay, I’ll let you know what we hear. But this isn’t your fault.”

  Ridge stared at her. “You think it has something to do with the DNA test?”

  “Don’t you?” Sara shot back. “It seems clear to Josh and me. None of this happened until Harper met her sister. There has to be some connection.”

  Ridge had been feeling as if they were wandering in a fog without any clear direction, but Sara’s certainty galvanized him. If he could just unravel the threads, he’d be able to figure out this tangled mess.

  * * *

  All her earlier exuberance floated away as Harper let the wind through the open window blow through her hair, and the humidity pressed in on her like a moist blanket. Ridge’s truck ate up the miles to Kelly’s house as Harper stared blankly out at the egrets eating bugs along the road.

  “Earth to Harper. You okay?”

  She plastered on a smile and turned his way. “Sorry. I can’t believe I’m going to meet someone who actually knew my mother.” Her throat tightened and she swallowed. “I mean, I’ve waited my whole life to learn more about her. This Kelly Gray might even have pictures.”

  His dark eyes softened as he glanced her way before he focused back at the road. “We’re nearly there. Are you going to tell her who you are right off the bat?”

  “Yes. Maybe she’ll open up more.”

  He turned the truck onto a narrow street. “I think it’s that blue house.”

  The house was a sixties-style ranch. Its black shutters seemed freshly painted, and the yellow front door added a pop of color. Harper didn’t get out when he first pulled into the driveway and parked. She’d been going over and over in her head what she wanted to say, but every thought had vanished. What if she found out her mother planned to give her up for adoption?

  “You want me to go up first? You’re as white as the Honeymoon Island sand.”

  “No, I want to do it.” She forced her hand to the door handle and pushed, almost falling out onto the drive. The scent of newly mown grass hit her as she got out, and she heard the distant whine of a power saw from the backyard. Maybe Kelly’s husband was building something.