by Adams, Anna
“Let’s get out of here,” she said.
“I’m all right.” His irascible tone pushed her away.
“I’m not.” She didn’t intend to let him slip away until they settled their broken marriage once and for all. “I’m trying to be honest. I’m scared and lonely, and deep down, I don’t know if I’ll ever really believe I didn’t do something wrong that made me lose both of you.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw as he stared at her. Heat swept her, a flush that felt both familiar and dangerous. She imagined kissing that small jerking muscle, but not to comfort him. In the tight circle of his arms, she began to remember desire.
She’d never managed to resist desire for Noah.
“I’ve been able to read your mind from the first moment you ever looked at me.” He wasn’t bragging—he sounded sorry. “I never told you. I didn’t want to intrude.”
Surprise made her laugh. She couldn’t lean away and she didn’t want to. She stayed in his arms and didn’t care that half of Prodigal might eventually stroll past their booth.
“What are you seeing?” she asked.
“You still want me. We can’t touch each other without feeling that, but you don’t want to.” He stopped, and reluctance shadowed his face. “This is nice for today, and you’re glad I don’t blame you, but you don’t trust me.”
“You’re right.” Why pretend? “I needed your attention. You needed success. I needed a marriage, but I didn’t know how to make one.”
Noah let her go, and she felt cold until he stood and grabbed her hand. “You’re right,” he said. “We do need privacy.” He dragged money for the hostess from his pocket and tossed it on the table without looking.
Tessa didn’t look back, either. She just snatched both their coats off the peg and followed him out of the restaurant, past the startled woman who’d seated them.
“Thanks,” Noah said.
“We have to get home,” Tessa added.
He turned to her as they stopped to put on their coats outside. “You always care what people think.”
“You never do.” She tried not to resent him for it. “Where can we go?” He buttoned his coat, his blunt fingers already turning pink with cold.
When she didn’t answer, he turned to her, the wind blowing his hair. She liked the look of it, longer—less in control. “Your room will be empty tonight,” she said.
He froze. “Maybe I can’t read your mind.”
“I want to talk.” About the lives they’d thrown away. She wanted to know if they’d ever had a chance. Had they always been too different to survive?
He looked away from her and then back, obviously twisted by emotion that didn’t sit easy with him. “I’ve been trying to find words to ask you…”
Flecks of ice couldn’t cool the heat that nearly melted her. “Maybe we finally want the same thing,” she said.
CHAPTER NINE
WELDON’S YOUNGER DEPUTY ROSE from his parked car as Noah pulled into Tessa’s driveway. Clenching his fists around the steering wheel, Noah cursed under his breath. He’d been a cop for as long as he could remember, and that part of his life had been more real than anything since he’d lost his family. But today, for the first time, he wanted to turn the car around and take Tessa away.
He couldn’t go, and she couldn’t leave. Maggie and her grandparents were waiting inside, and who knew what was really at the bottom of all this?
“Weldon and his men are starting to follow us,” Tessa said. “What do you think he wants?”
“Let’s go see.” He yanked the keys from the ignition.
She got out on the other side, stuffing her bare hands and her gloves in her pockets. The deputy joined them.
“Chief Weldon asked me to meet him here with both of you.”
“What did he find?” Noah moved between Tessa and the road, protecting her from anyone who might drive by.
“I’m not sure why Chief Weldon assigned me to you and Ms. Gabriel, sir.” The deputy moved to Tessa’s other side. “But he asked me to stay until he could get here to talk to you.”
Suddenly Tessa bolted away from both of them, skidding up the slippery sidewalk. As she slammed through the front door, he knew what had frightened her.
“Maggie.” The little girl’s face swam in front of his mind’s eye, her innocence a possible challenge to the maniac who’d killed her father. He grabbed the deputy’s shirt, all but dragging him toward the house. “Did something happen in there?” He felt as if his frozen feet slipped a step for each stride that took him toward the wide-open door.
“Everything’s fine inside the house.” The deputy sounded as if he was choking, and Noah let him go with a shove.
As Noah stepped on the rag rug just inside the door it slid out from under his feet. He slammed into the wall, taking a quick survey of the empty living room as he regained his balance.
Fear made him clumsy. His mind seemed to work on two planes. “Tessa!” Logically he knew they were fine. The deputy would have known if something was wrong. Weldon wouldn’t have sent him here blind if Maggie was in danger.
But deep inside, Noah was still the man who’d lost his daughter, who’d pulled away from Tessa because he hadn’t ever planned to be this afraid again. Not even for her.
He hauled himself up the stairs two at a time, gripping the rail. The second he burst onto the gallery, Tessa came out of her room, cradling Maggie in her arms.
Noah grabbed his knees, gasping for air, fighting panic as he stared at the woman and the baby who’d made him feel again. Maggie didn’t really want to be cradled. She flailed her arms and legs, trying to escape Tessa’s tight embrace.
“She’s all right?” Already controlling his breathing, he tried to look careful and capable. He just wanted Tessa to know she could depend on him.
“She’s fine.” Tessa pressed her cheek to the protesting child’s head.
“Well, I’m not.” Eleanor smoothed her hair as she popped out of the room. “What’s going on here, Tessa? You scared us both, grabbing Maggie out of her crib. I know you’re in charge around here, but have a little consideration.”
Tessa’s mouth tightened before she turned a steady gaze toward the other woman. “I was worried about her,” she said, “and she shouldn’t be playing in her crib anyway. She’s too big to be cooped up.”
“Joe only put her in there while I was in the shower.”
Noah studied Maggie’s perfectly dressed grandma. She must have just finished her shower. “Where is Joe?”
“He went to fill the car with gas and buy an evening newspaper.” She crimped her white, lacquered curls. “We thought we might have dinner out tonight. Can we bring you two anything?”
“No,” Tessa said.
Faint color in her cheeks reminded Noah of their plans. “I’ll go down and see what Weldon wants.”
Tessa turned her head, and understanding flowed from her to him. At last they were in this together.
“I still don’t understand why you were worried,” Eleanor said. She peered over the gallery as if she expected Prodigal’s police force to show up in the open door. The deputy appeared on cue. “Did Weldon find something else?”
“When I saw him—” Tessa nodded toward the deputy, rubbing her chin on Maggie’s head, as the baby calmed “—I thought Weldon must have sent him because something had happened here.”
“Oh, no.” Eleanor’s soothing voice faded as Tessa led her back inside the room. Noah met the deputy midway down the stairs and left the other man no choice but to turn around.
“I don’t believe we’ve met officially.” The deputy held out his hand at the bottom of the stairs. “I’m Tom Davis.”
“Tom.” He shook the younger guy’s hand. “I’m Noah Gabriel. You want to tell me what this is about?”
“I honestly don’t know, sir, but the chief is on his way. He’ll explain as soon as he gets here. My job is to watch the premises.”
“To make sure we don’t leave, or to keep so
meone else out?”
“Both, I assume.”
The deputy seemed to be telling the truth. Grilling him wouldn’t get them anywhere. As long as Tessa and Maggie were safe, Noah opted to wait for the chief. “Come on into the kitchen. I think we might find some coffee. I could use it after the cold outside.”
He found the sugar and cream Tom required, and they were finishing their first cups when the doorbell rang. Tessa must have been waiting for it. Her footsteps pounded down the stairs.
Noah, shadowed by their new bodyguard who armed himself with his coffee cup, reached the door just ahead of her. Lifting one brow, she stood aside when Noah opened up for Weldon.
“What’s wrong?” Noah asked.
The chief shook his head. “I have some news, but I don’t think anyone’s in immediate danger.”
Tom lifted his coffee cup. “My fault, Chief. I think I scared them half to death.”
“Sorry.” Weldon looked apologetic. “I should have explained a little better.”
Noah offered the chief a seat on the sofa. “Tell us now.”
“I bring nominally good news.” Weldon glanced at his deputy’s cup. “Taking a break, Tom?”
“Sorry, sir.” He spun toward the kitchen to return his mug.
Weldon unzipped his coat and stood in front of the couch, waiting for Tessa to sit first. Noah sat at her side. He slid his hand down her back, lingering over the light strands of her hair and her taut muscles.
“I believe I’ve taken David Howard’s killer into custody,” Weldon said.
Tessa gasped, and tears spilled out of her huge eyes. Noah pulled her close.
“Who did you arrest?” he asked, frustrated at being out of his jurisdiction. At the very least, he’d like to feel a little more faith in the chief’s abilities. “How do you know you got the right person?”
“Eric Sanders.” Weldon watched Tessa stiffen as if he’d hit her. “My deputy called me just after I sat down with Hugh Carlson, who appears to be totally clueless about the murder. What I have to say about Sanders isn’t as pleasant.”
“We’ll take the truth.” Tessa laced her fingers through Noah’s, her grip like a claw.
Weldon went on, looking doubtful. “We found certain personal items of yours in Mr. Sanders’s house, Tessa.”
“What personal items?” To his complete amazement, Noah managed to sound calm. He’d like to drive over to the jail and remove the man’s windpipe.
Weldon glanced at him, but then focused on Tessa. “He’d stolen some of your mail. Catalogs, if you can imagine, a bill or two, letters from your parents. We haven’t opened them because he didn’t, but we’ll have to keep them for evidence.”
“He stole my mail?” Tessa’s grip slackened. She shook her head slightly. “That’s a little creepy, but it sounds like some sort of fixation, not a precursor to murder.”
“I wish he’d stopped at your mail,” Chief Weldon said.
Cold rage broke a sweat on Noah’s upper lip. He knew what came next before the sheriff continued.
“Once my deputy found letters addressed to you, he took a sharper look at that rabbit warren of a house Sanders bought. When he got to the closets, he found articles of your clothing, feminine things, a slip, a camisole, all neatly folded into a gym bag—” He broke off, his gaze on Tessa’s pale face. “That’s when he called me. Suffice to say, Sanders used plenty of your belongings to feed his fixation.”
“My perfume.” She straightened, as if a wire from the ceiling held her.
Weldon sat forward. “We found a bottle. What brand?”
Noah answered, “Changeless Joy.” His voice shook. His knees locked, as did the rest of his body, with ineffective rage.
“I bought three bottles before I finally realized something was wrong.” Tessa looked up at Noah, her face open and vulnerable. “I thought I was setting it down somewhere—at the office, or in the store. I usually do my shopping during my lunch hour.”
“He must have sprayed it on your clothing,” Weldon said. “I noticed it because my wife uses the same kind. He kept the bottle under a sink in the guest bathroom farthest from his room, but we could smell it in the closet.”
“He wanted to believe she used it for him.” Noah considered punching his fist through the nearest hard object. “He left it in the other bathroom to put it out of sight, so he could pretend he wasn’t spraying it himself.”
Tessa swallowed. Her throat made a sound that wasn’t a whimper, wasn’t even fear. But she was scared. He knew by the way she edged closer, by the fingers that bit into his skin. Horror darkened her green eyes. “I’m glad you changed the locks.”
“He’s a nut, but I won’t let him get to you,” Noah promised with ease. He’d make sure Eric Sanders never came near her again. “I want to talk to him, Weldon.”
“Not a chance. You’re not in charge here, and I’m not letting you kick the crap out of this guy so you can feel better while you screw up my case.”
“You found him because of Tessa.”
“And I’ll question him without the benefit of your biased experience. This man probably killed one of Prodigal’s prominent citizens. No way am I losing a conviction because you’re pissed he stole your wife’s underwear.”
“You’ve got me wrong. I just want to be sure. What else do you have on him? Did he try to give you an alibi?”
“I think there’s a problem,” Tessa said. “Did you bring the photo from my office?”
Weldon unfolded it from his inside pocket. Tessa took it to her desk and switched on the lamp. “I don’t think this is Eric.”
Weldon got up and Noah went with them. “He could have hired a killer as easily as anyone else,” Weldon said.
“This wasn’t a hired gun.” Noah leaned over Tessa’s shoulder. “Whoever killed David wanted him to suffer. He killed with rage. I wish I’d gotten a better look at Sanders during David’s service.”
Weldon leaned in as well. “What’s wrong with that picture?”
“I don’t think Eric is as tall as this man, and I’m sure he’s not this thin.”
“The guy’s got muscles. Eric works out.”
“This guy doesn’t work out. He’s just lean,” Tessa said.
“You can’t know that,” Noah slid his finger down the photo. “He’s covered, head to toe in clothing.”
“But you can tell.”
“That’s not good enough, Tessa.” He turned to the chief. “Did you fax the photo to Boston yet? I know someone who can analyze weight and height.”
“All right.” The chief looked doubtful. “But how likely is it—”
“I’ve known Eric for over a year. He’s never been violent, even when he was most angry with me.”
“How much violence do you need to see before you’re convinced, Tessa?” Weldon peered from one to the other of them before he settled his gaze on her again. “The man’s been breaking into your home to steal your most personal possessions.”
“But catching him was too easy.” She lifted both hands. “If he’d killed David, he wouldn’t have hung around in his house with my underwear. He might be sick, but he doesn’t want to be tried for David’s death. At the least he’d have thrown away my stuff.”
“He was jealous of David Howard. You’ve heard of ‘if I can’t have you, no one will’?” Weldon tugged at his collar, clearly uncomfortable with what he’d seen that day. “Sanders is a big fan of that philosophy, especially where you’re concerned.”
“It’s still circumstantial,” Noah said.
“It might be circumstantial in a city the size of Boston, but you two are suggesting we suddenly have a stalker and a killer.” Weldon shook his head. “And these two separate criminals were after two best friends?”
Noah shrugged. “Tessa doesn’t believe Sanders is capable of killing.”
“He’s a neat freak,” she said. “You’ve been in his house. He hoards stuff, but every surface is spotless. You said he even folded my lingerie. He couldn�
�t have caused the gore I saw in David’s office. He would have been covered in blood himself. And if he had done it he would have been sick afterward.”
“Neat freaks occasionally lose their will to keep clean.” Weldon folded the photo. “Especially when they want to escape from a murder scene.”
“What about David’s place?” Noah asked. “Remember how clean it was? What if cleaning is part of his MO?”
“But why would he kill David?” Tessa asked. “He stole my things. He wanted to see me outside of work. Why would he kill David?”
“Because you turned him over to David,” Noah said, “and David had your friendship. From his point of view, David stood in his way.”
Weldon signaled his deputy to follow him. “I’ll double-check his alibi, and I want to talk to him again. You won’t believe this, but someone in the judge’s office alerted Sanders’s lawyer about the warrant, and the attorney got to him before we did.”
Behind him, Joe Worth walked into the room. Tessa jumped. Even Noah caught his breath. The other man had made no noise, opening the door.
“Did you say you found David’s killer?” Joe asked.
“I believe so, Mr. Worth. I’m going to question him now.” Weldon walked around David’s father-in-law.
“Fine,” Joe said. “You’ve arrested him?”
“Not exactly, sir.” Weldon avoided Noah’s gaze and started through the open door.
“I’ll walk out with you.” If even Weldon wasn’t sure enough to arrest, they still had plenty of problems. He glanced at Tessa, but she’d turned to Joe, resting her hand on his shoulder.
“Let’s update Eleanor on the latest news.”
Noah followed the two policemen outside, waiting until he shut the door before he spoke.
“You haven’t arrested him. You don’t think it’s going to stick.”
“As you mentioned, I need to check his alibi. I’d like something that ties him to the murder scene.” Weldon put on his cap. “But he’s our guy.”
His arrogance hit Noah the wrong way, but he’d rather not antagonize the man and get himself and Tessa ousted from the loop again. “Until you’re positive about Sanders, I’d like you to continue the patrols.”
