He grinned and pushed the cat away with his foot. “Shoo, cat. I forgot you were so afraid of them.”
She shuddered, her eyes fixed on the cat as it sprang into the overgrown bushes. “They’re so sneaky.”
“I think we should get Josie a kitty.” It was all he could do not to grin.
“Over my dead body.” She peered up at the darkened window. “I don’t think anyone is here.”
“Doesn’t look like it.” He mounted the steps, then pressed the doorbell.
It echoed eerily inside. There was no other sound, so he went to the picture window and cupped his hands around his eyes to look inside. The furnishings consisted of a sofa and love seat plus a couple of chairs. There was no movement in the shadowy interior.
“Let’s look in the garage,” Elin said.
He followed her down the steps and around to the attached garage. The grimy windows obscured much of the view, but he rubbed at the glass, then peered inside. “There’s only a lawn mower and tools inside. No vehicle.”
A male voice spoke behind them. “You looking for Mosely?”
He turned to see a white-haired man in shorts holding a pit bull by a leash. The man’s skinny legs ended in white socks and black shoes. “We are. You a neighbor?”
The man waved to his left. “I live next door. Haven’t seen him in a while. I called the police a couple of days ago to have them check inside. I was afraid he’d fallen or something.”
“There’s no vehicle. You know what he drives?”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Seems a personal question. Who are you?”
“FBI. I have a few questions for him.”
The man’s frown eased. “He in trouble?”
Marc ignored the question. “He didn’t mention any trips to you?”
“Nope. Which is why I called the cops. They checked in at the mechanic shop he owns. They hadn’t seen him either, but according to the other owner, Mosely takes off like this on occasion. I don’t know though. I’ve been living here five years, and this is the first time he’s vanished.”
It sounded like Watson knew more than he’d let on. They might need to pay him another visit.
“About that vehicle?” Marc prompted.
“He drives a brown Chevy to work.”
Mosely had been driving the brown car. Watson had to have warned him he was being investigated. “Thanks for your help.” Marc took Elin’s arm and led her toward the Tahoe. He could feel the older man’s gaze on them until they pulled away from the curb.
Elin twisted in her seat to stare at him. “So it was Mosely who tried to hit us?”
“Looks like it. Let’s go back over there and talk to Watson.” Marc glanced through the window. It was after eight and would be dark soon. “I think that guy is a powder keg waiting to go off. I’d rather not have you around when he does, so I think we’d better wait until morning.”
“I’m not afraid of him.” Her quivering voice betrayed her true feelings.
“We’re almost home. We can stop by in the morning. Hopefully he won’t have started smoking his pot by the time we get there.”
“Okay.”
He pulled into his driveway and shut off the engine. Marc’s house was on a quiet cul-de-sac. Painted in a cool blue-gray, its white shutters and red door gave it a restful air he’d always loved. What would Elin think about his remodel inside? He hadn’t been able to figure her out ever since he’d suggested marriage.
Marc flipped on the lights, and the soft glow of the lamps illuminated the interior of gleaming wood floors, white trim, and warm gray walls. He tried to dispel his grumpy mood and forced a smile when she joined him in the kitchen, which thankfully was clean. He’d put all the dishes in the stainless steel dishwasher before he left.
He gestured toward the island. “I redid the kitchen two months ago. Granite counters, cherry cabinets. Cost the earth, but I like it.”
“I do too.” She was a little pale, and her voice seemed strained.
“I could use something to drink. How about you?” He moved past her to the fridge. “I’ve got Pepsi, iced tea, and bottled water. Or I could make coffee.”
“Toomers?” Her tone picked up.
“Of course. My favorite Hope Beach blend.”
“I’ll have some of that.”
He moved to the Cuisinart coffeepot. “It won’t keep you awake?” He ground the coffee and made a full pot. The aroma began to fill the kitchen.
“It might, but it will be worth it. Besides, I’m not sleepy. We need to go over what we know so far.”
The unspoken question hung between them, and he turned to pull down cups from the cupboard. She reached past him for a cup.
He resisted the urge to draw in her scent. Being alone here screamed danger. “Mosely’s probably getting notices from the city about his grass. Looks like he’s been gone awhile.”
“Or too busy to cut his grass. Should we ask the police to help track him down?”
“Maybe. But they didn’t seem concerned enough when the neighbor called them in. I’d guess Watson dispelled any worries when they questioned him about his partner.” The coffee was done, so he poured two cups of it. “Heavy whipping cream?” He handed her the cup, and their fingers touched. The jolt of electricity made him pull his hand back hastily. When she nodded at his question, he went to the fridge and got out the carton of cream.
“Thanks.”
She poured a liberal amount into her coffee. The tension between them was palpable, and he swallowed. Maybe this hadn’t been such a good idea. His mind kept returning to that other night. He was honest enough to admit to himself he felt a powerful attraction to her. She seemed different now. So warm and caring. Or maybe he was just getting to know the real person.
She carried her coffee back to the living room, then curled up on his tan leather sofa. “What next?”
He dropped into his favorite chair and set down his coffee. “This is maybe a crazy thought, but let’s verify that he owns a brown Chevy.”
“Good idea.”
He leaned over and grabbed his laptop from the tabletop. He navigated to the DMV site and entered his authorization code. “Hmm, he owns a pickup truck. A 2013 Ford. And a ’95 brown Chevy Lumina. Bingo.”
He closed the lid of his laptop and put it back on the table. An awkward silence filled the room. He grabbed his coffee and swallowed down the tepid drink, then set down his cup. “Well, I might as well show you to your room. We can watch a movie or something, if you like. It’s only nine fifteen. Unless you’d like some alone time. There are girl books Sara has left.”
She smiled. “Girl books?”
“Romance.” He grinned back at her, relieved the tension seemed to be easing.
“And guys aren’t into romance?”
“Well, not that kind of starry-eyed stuff. It pays to be practical when you think about who you’re spending your life with.” He leaned forward. “Like us raising Josie together. It makes sense. We’re friends and we get along. There shouldn’t be any real surprises. We like a lot of the same things, and we know each other pretty well.”
“You’re pushing again.” Her voice was quiet.
“I’m just passing the pressure along that I’m going to get when we get back to Seagrass Pier.” He sent a cajoling smile her way. “My parents will want to know what I’m going to do about providing for their granddaughter. That reminds me. I have a check for you.” He dug into his wallet and pulled out a check for two thousand dollars. “Here you go.”
She didn’t smile back, and she didn’t take the check from him. “I don’t need any help in providing for her. As long as I’m alive. That’s not why I told you about her, Marc.”
What was her beef? Why couldn’t she see past their troubled history to the logical answer? “I know that, but she is my daughter. Don’t you feel even a little guilty you deprived me of her for five years? I had a right to know.”
The edge of anger in his voice shocked him. He’d thought he’d moved beyond recrimin
ations. Getting angry about it wouldn’t change the past. “Sorry.”
“And I’m sorry for what happened too.” Her voice was nearly inaudible. “Don’t you think I’ve agonized over it all this time? If I could change it, I would.”
Getting up, he gestured to the hall. “Let me show you your room.”
THIRTY-TWO
The house felt close and airless, but Elin knew it was just her mental state. The realization she had feelings for Marc threw her. She wasn’t ready for something like that, not after Tim. What if Marc changed like Tim had? Tim had been loving and supportive too, in the beginning.
Marc gestured to the first bedroom on the right of the hall. “This is where Sara stays when she visits. There’s an attached bathroom, and it’s already stocked with bubble bath, toothpaste, and everything else she uses.”
The large room felt even bigger with the cathedral ceiling and the pale lavender paint. Crisp white linens covered an enormous four-poster bed. Brightly colored pillows added a punch of color. The white carpet was spotless.
She stepped into the room. “Nice. I think I even catch a scent of her perfume.” She stepped to the dressing table and picked up a spray bottle of violet water. “That reminds me, she was supposed to call tonight after she checked on Mom and Josie.”
A sense of unease gripped her. Sara was the most responsible person she knew, and she’d promised to stop by after work. “I hope everything is okay.”
“Maybe her phone died, and she had to wait to get back home to call. She might still be there. My parents love her, and they’d make it hard for her to leave.”
“Maybe. I think I’ll call.” She dug her phone out of her bag and called her friend. The call rang four times, then went to voice mail. “No answer. Maybe you’re right. Her phone won’t work on the point unless she’s in the house.”
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. Want me to call Mom at the house?”
“I hate to bother her. She’ll think I’m neurotic.” She managed a smile. “And maybe I am. I’m not used to being away from Josie so much, but I know we have to find the killer before he comes back.”
A horrible thought assailed her. Maybe he’d already come back—and murdered everyone in the house. “Actually, yes. I do want you to call and make sure everything is okay. She logs on to the Wi-Fi, right?”
He nodded and dug his phone out from his pocket. After a few punches on the phone, he put it to his ear. “Hey, Mom. Just checking in. Everything okay?” He listened a moment, then gave Elin a thumbs-up. “No sign of anyone hanging around the place, right? Okay, great. Listen, have you seen Sara? Hello? Are you there? I seem to have lost you.”
He pulled the phone back from his ear and looked at it. “I have full bars.”
“Wi-Fi service comes and goes out there, especially in a storm.” She pointed to the window where flashes of lightning lit up the western sky. “It might have taken out the power, even temporarily, and the Wi-Fi would have gone down.”
He put away his phone. “Maybe she’ll call back when she gets a signal again. But she said all was well. She and Dad are playing Candy Land with Josie. I could hear her giggling in the background.”
“That’s great. What about Mom? Did Christine mention how she’d been today?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t get a chance to ask her.” He stepped past her and pulled open the top drawer. “Sara left night-gowns and some other clothing in here. There’s a dress or two in the closet too. If you can think of anything you need, just let me know. I’ll let you get settled. I think I’ll shower, then go watch a movie. Feel free to join me or stay here. Your call.”
He closed the door behind him, and she stared at it. Her presence here seemed to cause him no discomfort, but it had given her a taste of the torture she would experience if they were married in name only. How could she even think about it? And yet she was thinking about it. A lot.
She went to the bathroom and turned on the shower, then disrobed and stepped into the steaming spray. He was right—it made a lot of sense for Josie’s sake. Elin had mourned the thought of her daughter being raised by a single mother. A child needed a father around too, and seeing him only on the weekends wasn’t the same thing at all. Plus, Marc’s parents would be doting grandparents. Mom tried, but she was retreating further and further into the mists of time.
She sudsed her hair, then rinsed it. Marc would be a dutiful husband. He’d be home on time and would let her know where he was. He’d take Josie to the park and out to dinner on a father-daughter “date.” At every school function, he’d be there with her cheering on their daughter. If she played volleyball or ran in track, he’d be out there coaching her. When the boys started calling, he’d vet every male who walked through the door.
Maybe that would be enough. It was more than Tim had done.
What would happen once Josie went off to college? It would be just the two of them then. Divorce? She didn’t believe in divorce, and neither did he. They were both believers, and they would take marriage vows seriously. The long, lonely years of an empty bed stretched ahead of her. What kind of life would that be? And did God expect her to bury all the longings of her heart for Josie’s happiness?
She wasn’t the first mother to wrestle with these questions. Maybe Marc had the answers she didn’t. She turned off the tap and wrapped a fluffy white towel around her, then padded into the bedroom where she found blue cotton pajamas. There would be no seduction in these baggy things.
Not that she intended there to be. She’d wrestled with enough guilt over the first time, and she wasn’t about to repeat it. She dried her hair, then left it down on her shoulders and went to find Marc.
Standing in the moonlight, the man in front of Sara was as sleek and muscular as a sea otter with hair just as black and shiny. He wore close-fitting designer jeans and a green polo. With a pencilthin cigar clenched between his teeth, he stared at her without speaking. He appeared to be in his late forties and was at least part Asian. Women would find his magnetism attractive.
Sara swallowed and rubbed her tingling legs. She wobbled to her feet and stood to face him. There was no emotion in his eyes. He could kill her as easily as he’d stomp on a bug.
Kalianne plucked at his shirtsleeve. “She didn’t really see anything. I say we just take her out to one of the outer islands and leave her. A passing ship will find her in a few days, and we’ll be long gone.”
Sara cast a furtive glance into the shadows. This man would have no mercy. She needed to get away from him and find help.
He never looked away from Sara. “Don’t be ridiculous, Kalianne. She’s seen you and me. She can identify both of us. I’ll handle this. You go on back to town.”
His dark eyes were mesmerizing, and it took great effort for Sara to pull away her gaze and send an imploring glance at Kalianne. “Don’t let him pull you into murder, Kalianne. I don’t think you want my death on your conscience.”
He took a step closer. “Shut up.”
Something glittered as his hand came up. A gun. Sara stared down the deadly bore. If she could just leap into the shadows and escape him. Seagrass Cottage was not that far. But if she headed to the house, she’d be putting everyone there in danger. What should she do?
Kalianne stepped between her brother and Sara. “I don’t like it, Devi. Smuggling drugs is one thing, but I won’t be a party to murder. Sara has been good to me.”
“Get out of the way, you idiot,” he snarled.
Sara took advantage of Kalianne’s distraction to dive for the cave. There might not be a way out in there, but at least it was dark, and he’d be at a disadvantage too. His gun barked, and a bullet spit rock shards inches from her face. She felt along the cave face for the small opening she’d noticed earlier. It might only be an indentation, but it might also be a way out of here.
There it was! She moved farther into the darkness, feeling her way. The tunnel widened until she was able to stand up. She stood and turned the other direc
tion, listening to him swear and order Kalianne to find a flashlight. Sara heard a slap and winced. He was taking out his rage on Kalianne, but she couldn’t worry about that. She had to get out of here.
She moved deeper into the cave, keeping her fingertips in contact with the rock surface to orient herself. What if she ended up lost in here? She had a tiny flashlight attached to her keys, but she didn’t dare use it. Not when she could still hear the two arguing outside.
Pressure seemed to build in her ears, but she wasn’t sure if it was because she was descending or if it was panic building from the claustrophobic darkness. She paused and concentrated on her breathing. In and out, in and out. The pressure around her eased, and she listened to Devi and Kalianne again. Their voices were fainter now, barely distinguishable. Were they moving away? She strained to make out what they were saying.
“I’ll stay here and guard the entrance. Go back to my boat and get a flashlight.” His voice was faint.
Sara stared behind her. There was not even a glimmer of moonlight. Maybe he wouldn’t be able to see her flashlight if she flipped it on. For good measure, she shuffled another ten steps into the cave, then turned and looked and listened. Nothing. Her hand dove for the keys in her pocket, and she pulled them out, fumbling for the tiny flashlight. Her trembling hand found the switch, and she turned it on.
Nothing.
Panic closed her throat. She would be stuck in here forever waiting for him to come find her and shoot her. She fought down the fear and felt along the length of her tiny light. The end seemed a little loose. She tightened it, and a small beam of light rewarded her. Even though the illumination was minute, it comforted her. She listened to determine if Devi had seen it, but no sound was behind her. Shining the light ahead of her, she moved deeper into the cave.
It branched in two different directions, and she stared at her options. Which way should she go? Instinct told her the one on the right might lead back to the main cave, and she started to the left, then heard running water. She stopped and shone her light into the distance. A trickle of water ran from the ceiling. Would it take her to the ocean? She might get into a dangerous spot that way too.
Seagrass Pier Page 21
