Hidden Secrets

by Jannine Gallant

  She kissed his chest. “If I can have this—you—for the rest of my life, I’ll never need anything else to be happy.”

  “We’ll always have each other.” He tightened his arms around her. “Nothing will ever come between us. I promise. Nothing.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “It’s okay, Ryan. Honestly.” Paige propped her elbow on the steering wheel and stared out over the fog-shrouded cove.

  “Mom swears she didn’t hit her head hard when she fell, but—”

  “Of course you should go check on her. Hopefully she’s fine, but you should still check to make sure.”

  “I hate to bail on you.” Ryan’s voice held an edge of stress. “If Quentin is that worried about you going out to the Stillwater farm alone, maybe you should cancel your appointment.”

  “Quentin is being overprotective.” Paige crossed her fingers as she lied to one of her oldest friends. “I’ll call someone else to go with me if it’ll ease your mind.”

  “It will. I’m really sorry about this.”

  “Don’t be. Take care of your mom, and let me know how she’s doing, okay.”

  “Sure. Talk to you later, Paige.”

  She hung up and stuck her phone into her pocket before starting the engine. She didn’t have time to round up a babysitter for herself, especially when she didn’t believe she was in any real danger. There was absolutely no reason for either of Zeb’s grandsons to be at his farm in the middle of a work day.

  Even if one of them shows up, he can’t exactly murder me in front of his grandpa.

  Not certain she believed her own argument, she released the emergency brake, drove through the alley beside her store, and turned out onto the street. Thankfully, Quentin had left for his meeting with his attorney before Ryan called her. She wasn’t in the mood for an argument, and she damn well intended to question Zeb.

  Her grip on the steering wheel tightened. Despite the poor visibility, she accelerated on the straight stretch of road leading out of town. Quentin still faced criminal charges, and two women were missing. If she was lucky, she’d dig up information that would spur the police into arresting the person who was really guilty. If she had to take a minor risk in the process, she didn’t give a damn.

  A frown pinched her brows. It was strange Chris still hadn’t called. Maybe he was too busy arresting some other innocent person. Paige brooded the rest of the way to the rutted access road leading to the Stillwater farm. After bumping down the long drive, she parked in front of the barn and climbed out of her van.

  The big red door slid open, and Zeb emerged. “Welcome. Welcome. Happy New Year, Miss Paige,” he called out.

  “You, too, Zeb.” She tucked her hands into her pockets and shivered in the cool dampness as she approached. “The fog is thick today.”

  “Ain’t that the truth. It’s a little warmer in the barn. I’ve kept the door shut and the space heater on.”

  “I appreciate that, but this place is huge.”

  “Don’t you worry. I brought quite a few good pieces I thought you might like up front. You can start there instead of fighting your way through my . . .” He paused, and his eyes sparkled. “Not junk. Let’s call it less desirable merchandise.”

  She laughed and patted his arm as he shut the door behind them. “That was thoughtful of you, Zeb. Anyway, you know what they say about one man’s junk being another man’s treasure. In my eyes, your barn is filled with treasure.”

  “That’s why I like you and was prepared to buck my grandsons over this.” He led the way to a variety of items neatly lined up on the scarred wood floor. “That, and I could use a little extra income to help pay the bills.”

  He’d given her the perfect opening.

  Paige picked up a metal weathervane fashioned in the shape of a galloping horse. “This is beautiful. I can easily sand off most of the rust. What do you think, twenty dollars?”

  “I’d like to get thirty for it.”

  “Since I like you, too, Zeb, I’ll give you the thirty.”

  He shook her outstretched hand. “Now that we have the ball rolling, how do you like that cast-iron boot scraper?”

  “It has definite potential.” She lifted the heavy object and studied the craftsmanship before giving him an innocent look. “Did you spend a lot of time with your grandsons over the holidays, or were they busy?”

  “I saw them off and on. Justin had Christmas dinner with me, but I didn’t see Jonas until a couple of days later. He spent the evening trying to convince me to sign power of attorney papers. Those boys think I’m senile, but I still have all my marbles.”

  “Was that Thursday night?”

  “I think so, why?”

  “No reason. How about fifteen for the boot scraper?”

  Zeb removed the wool hat he was wearing and scratched the back of his neck. “That seems fair.”

  “Deal. Now, about those wind chimes . . .” Paige haggled for another hour, until Zeb seemed to be running out of steam. “Let’s call it a day. After buying the pair of end tables and the curio cabinet, I won’t have any room left in my van.”

  He leaned on the handle of the broom he’d used to clear away cobwebs on their foray in search of the cabinet. “I guess you can come back again another time.”

  “I’d be happy to.” She eyed the glass fronted display cabinet before checking her watch. Time to get moving since she had the information she was after.

  “I don’t suppose you have a dolly handy. We’re going to need one to move that thing.”

  “Actually, I believe I do. At least I used to have a hand truck. I think it’s in one of the sheds out back of the barn, with a bunch of other equipment I don’t use often. I haven’t had an occasion to go out there in a while, not since we harvested the last of the hay. You’ll see the sheds over near the fence line.”

  The man looked slightly unsteady on his feet, and the bright enthusiasm in his eyes had faded.

  “Tell you what, Zeb. I’ll pack the smaller items into my van and then walk back to the house with you to settle up. Afterward, I’ll go search for the dolly. You look like you could use a break.”

  “I don’t have the stamina I used to, that’s for sure, but I’m not completely useless. Let’s get your van loaded, young lady.”

  Twenty minutes later, they left the cold to go inside his house.

  Paige printed out a receipt for the goods she’d purchased, wrote Zeb a check, and handed it over. “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you, sir.”

  “I enjoyed your company.” He sat in his recliner with his booted feet propped on the footrest and the remote resting on his lap. “If you can’t find that hand cart, you just let me know. Once I’ve had a little breather, I should be able to help you carry the cabinet. It isn’t that heavy.”

  “I’ll do that. You take care, Zeb.”

  Paige left the house and hurried across the yard, pausing when the rumble of an engine caught her attention. The sound faded, and she wondered if she’d imaged it. She couldn’t see more than a hundred yards in the heavy fog, but surely headlights would be visible if someone had turned down the access road to the farm. She reached her van and put her computer and printer on the front seat. The door creaked when she shut it.

  There’s nothing to freak out about, Paige. Quit imagining boogeymen where they don’t exist.

  It was the damn spooky atmosphere, with tendrils of fog swirling clear to the ground, that was making her jumpy. Zeb would have said something if he was expecting company.

  When her cell rang, she pressed a hand to her chest and swore. On the second ring, she pulled it out of her pocket and glanced at the display. Chris Long. About damn time.

  She swiped to connect. “Hello, Chris. I was wondering when you’d call.”

  “Sorry. It’s been a hell of a day, first dealing with Quentin and his pushy lawyer this morning, then assisting at several accidents caused by the fog. I didn’t have time to spray the churn dasher with luminol until a couple
of hours ago.”

  “And?”

  “I found faint traces of blood, but there isn’t enough to run a DNA test.”

  “You aren’t going to follow up on this?” Her voice rose along with her temper. “Are you kidding me?”

  “I didn’t say that. It actually adds a little more evidence to an ongoing investigation, but I can’t discuss that with you. However, I did feel I owed you an answer regarding the dasher.”

  “You think? My dog got knifed in the ribs thanks to that damn thing.” Her teeth chattered in the cold as she left the van. “I can tell you one thing. Jonas Stillwater has an alibi for the night Blaze disappeared. He was with his grandpa.”

  “God damn it, Paige. I heard through the grapevine you were asking questions down at Baird Copeland’s law office.”

  “Yep, he’s in the clear. So is Mason LaPine. That only leaves one suspect. Justin.”

  “When did you talk to Zeb Stillwater?” Chris’s voice was abrupt.

  “Not long ago. He sold me a few antiques.”

  “I want you to stay out of this and let the police do their job. You don’t know what the hell you’re getting into, and you could wind up like those other two women if you continue to push your luck.”

  Paige rounded the corner of the barn. “Does that mean you think Quentin is innocent?”

  “Let’s just say I have a few questions that haven’t been answered.”

  “I guess I’ll have to be satisfied with that. For now.”

  “Stay away from the Stillwaters. Do you hear me?”

  “Loud and clear. Bye, Chris.” She hung up before he could ask her where she was. She’d get the curio cabinet loaded into her van and take off.

  Vague shapes appeared in front of her out of the fog. As she drew closer, a trio of sheds became visible. She headed toward the largest one and pulled open the door. Like the barn, the interior was packed full, but not with antiques. The shed held various pieces of equipment, car parts, and the promised dolly. She squeezed past an old bumper and two giant tractor tires and wheeled the hand cart toward the door. When the edge caught on a piece of rebar leaning in the corner, the whole stack went down with a crash.

  “Jesus. The place is practically booby-trapped.” After picking up the rebar, she maneuvered the dolly out the door and down the short ramp to the ground.

  A muffled cry caught her attention, and she paused to glance around. Not the wind since the fog hung in a dense curtain, possibly even thicker than it had been earlier. Driving back to town would be a bitch.

  The faint mewling came again. Maybe a cat trapped in one of the other outbuildings? As Paige turned toward the nearest shed, her phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket and smiled.

  “Hey, Quentin. Is your meeting over? How’d it go?”

  “Good. We just finished up. Gatti is one smart lawyer. Are you at home?”

  “No, I’m still at the farm, but I’m leaving shortly. I wouldn’t turn down help unloading my van, though. I acquired some good stuff. Anyway, I want to hear what your attorney had to say about your defense.”

  “When will you be back?”

  “Probably in about an hour. I’ll have to drive slow in this fog.”

  “Why don’t you call me after you drop Ryan off, and I’ll meet you at the store.”

  She hesitated a minute. “Sure. I’ll do that.” I didn’t lie to him, just omitted a few facts. “I love you,” she said softly.

  “I love you, too. Drive carefully.”

  “I will. Bye.” She stuck her phone in her pocket and glanced in the direction of the shed. Had that been another cry? She headed toward the small building. No way was she leaving a cat stuck out here, even if she was in a hurry to get back to town and see Quentin.

  When she slid back the wooden bolt and pulled open the shed door, a stench smacked her in the face. Covering her nose, she retreated down the steps. Not a shed, an outhouse. The mewling sound grew louder as Paige stepped farther away from the odor. She had no intention of fishing in a pit toilet for a cat.

  Muffled sobs sounded from the interior of the small space.

  “Oh, my God.” Dragging in a deep breath, Paige ran up the steps. In the dim light, a huddled figure in the corner was just visible. With a cry, she dropped to her knees beside the woman as she raised her head.

  Paige brushed hair from her face and worked on the knot holding a gag in place. “Blaze?”

  When she pulled the cloth loose, the woman’s voice came out in a croak. “Get me out of here before he comes back.”

  “Are you tied?”

  “My wrist is chained. The key is by the door.”

  Paige rose to her feet and turned to grab a metal ring hanging on a hook. “Got it.”

  Blaze held out her hand, and Paige fumbled to unlock the manacle around her wrist. “Did Justin Stillwater do this to you?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve never seen his face. He wears a ski mask when it isn’t dark.”

  The lock clicked open, and the heavy chain dropped to the floor.

  “Let me help you up.” Paige put an arm around the other woman as she staggered to her feet. Holding her tight, she practically dragged her down the steps. “Can you walk?”

  “I don’t know. My legs are cramped from sitting still for so long. I could only move a few feet.”

  “We’ll take it slow.” Paige held Blaze upright as she stumbled along beside her. “There’s dried blood in your hair and all over your shirt.”

  She coughed a couple of times. “I must have hit my head when he took me from Quentin’s townhouse. The last thing I remember was looking for my earring before I woke up shackled in that hellhole.”

  They’d made it halfway back to the barn. Heart pounding, Paige tried to move a little faster as fear clawed at her. If Justin showed up . . .

  “Did he feed you? It’s been nearly a week.”

  “Yeah, he’d untie the gag to give me food and water. But he wouldn’t let me out to go to the bathroom.” Her voice broke, and she nearly fell as she tripped on a clump of dead grass. “That freak said he’d let me loose when it was safe, but I didn’t believe him.”

  “You’re safe now. That’s all that matters We’ll get away from here and then call the police.”

  “I’m so thankful you found me. I was losing my mind.”

  “I can’t begin to imagine how terrified you were. Was anyone else ever in the shed with you?”

  “No.”

  Paige couldn’t think about what had happened to Clea. She needed to focus her attention on getting Blaze and herself safely away from the farm. “Almost there. Just a few more yards.”

  She reached the corner of the barn and stopped. A car was parked beside her van. Not the older truck Justin Stillwater had been driving the last time she’d been here. A blue Lexus. The car was empty, and no one was in sight.

  “Shit.” She spoke in a whisper. “I don’t know who that is, but let’s not risk it. We need to get the hell out of here.”

  Blaze ran beside her toward the van, crying softly. An engine rumbled from somewhere out of the thick fog. Paige jerked open the passenger side door and boosted the other woman onto the seat. As she ran around to the driver’s side, a battered pickup drove into the barnyard and stopped just short of her rear bumper, blocking her in.

  “No!” Paige turned and ran, sprinting toward the road.

  Behind her, a car door slammed, and boots pounded the gravel driveway. She increased her speed, her breath coming in harsh gasps. She wasn’t even halfway to the highway when he grabbed the back of her jacket. A seam ripped, but he didn’t let go.

  Paige slammed up against the man’s chest as he gripped her around the waist with his other arm. Kicking his legs, she struggled to get loose.

  “God damn it. Stop that.” He gave her a hard slap to the side of her head.

  Ears ringing, she continued to struggle until something cold touched her throat. The flat blade of a knife rested just below her chin. Her heart nearly burs
t as she quit struggling and held perfectly still.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, Paige. If you cooperate, maybe I won’t have to.”

  “Like you didn’t hurt Blaze? What about Clea? What did you do to her?” She walked steadily in front of him, despite her shaking legs, as he prodded her back toward the farm. She needed time. Enough time for Quentin to get worried and come looking for her, or for the police to arrive. Please. Please. Please.

  “Blaze is fine. I never harmed Clea, or any woman, for that matter. I didn’t ask for this to happen. Damn it to hell! I thought I could take care of the problem without anyone else having to die.”

  Justin’s voice held a hint of panic, but the knife at her throat didn’t waver. One slip, and she could bleed out. Paige kept walking, slowing her pace, praying Blaze hadn’t been too weak to go for help. Surely whoever was inside with Zeb would call the police. She’d run in the opposite direction to give Blaze time to reach the house.

  Her hope faltered as they neared the barn. Jonas stood beside the van, holding Blaze in a tight grip. The woman’s eyes were wide with terror, and a piece of duct tape covered her mouth.

  “Your brother is crazy,” she shouted. “He kidnapped Blaze, and God only knows what happened to Clea Merrick. You have to help us, Jonas. The man is sick.”

  “Do you hear that, Justin? You’re the sick one.” Jonas grinned. “All this time, you’ve been telling me I’m the one who needs help.”

  “Where’s Grandpa?” Justin’s tone was tense.

  “He’s inside watching TV. I turned up the volume, so he probably didn’t hear anything before I shut this one up. If I have to—”

  “No! Let’s get them out of here now. Then we’ll decide what to do.”

  Jonas shrugged. “Suits me.” He stared straight into Paige’s eyes, his gaze cold and hard. “Keep your mouth shut, or he’ll cut you. Got it?”

  She nodded as the flat blade pressed against her throat.

  Jonas glanced at his brother. “Load her into the back of the van and tie her up. We’ll take them someplace where they won’t be found.”

  “I guess we don’t have a whole lot of choice. Move it Paige. Even if I wanted to, it’s far too late to turn back now.”