A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2)

by Nikki Lynn Barrett

  Somehow, she managed through the rest of the day. She'd had the offer a few times to go home early and wait for news, but Becca didn't want to be alone. Despite her lack of concentration, being here and working with patients helped. Checking the phone for any missed calls for the thousandth time today, her shoulders sagged from disappointment when there was nothing from Hunter. She wasn't sure if silence meant good news or bad. She wished she could hear from him either way.

  Becca was only home for about a half hour and just finished dinner when the doorbell rang. She peered through the peep hole and her heart raced when she discovered a police officer on the other side of the door. "Can I help you?" Nerves consumed her, wondering what this had to do with.

  "You're Rebecca Lange, correct?" the officer asked, giving her a once over.

  "That's me."

  "May I come in? I have some information about Carrie Wells that you need to know."

  Sylvia? What else could they have on her? She was dead! Becca took a step back, allowing the officer in. She watched his every move carefully.

  "You were the one who identified the body a few weeks ago, correct?"

  "Yes," she squeaked out.

  With a nod, the officer consulted some papers. "I'm sorry to say, but the body was incorrectly identified. After a few tests and dental records, we discovered that the body was that of another woman who'd recently gone missing."

  Becca rubbed her eyes, blinked, then rubbed them again. "What are you saying?" Did she seriously just hear him right?

  "The woman you know as Carrie Wells isn't dead, which means she's still at large."

  Chapter Twenty Eight

  Hunter waited for Joe to come out of it all day. Mrs. Whitemore came out every so often, the latest time to let him know he was in surgery. Hunter paced the hospital waiting room. A little boy who'd been sitting with his family followed him, smiling as he went back and forth. Hunter stopped pacing to sit back down again and the boy ran to his family.

  When his phone rang registering Vince's number, he swore. The last thing he wanted right now was to meet up with Vince and miss out on any word of Joe, but he'd promised. If Vince had information on Becca's past, then Hunter had to find out, even if it meant leaving the hospital. "Hello?"

  "I'm in Providence. Where are you?" Vince asked.

  So he'd actually come out. Vince wanted something so bad he really left Vermont to talk to him about it? What the hell was it?

  "At a hospital. A friend I was visiting had a heart attack."

  "Sorry to hear it." He sure didn't sound that sorry. "Are you able to meet up?"

  Yeah, so much for sorry. Jackass.

  "If you come get me. I didn't come here in my rental car and I'm not about to bother my friend's wife to take me back to it."

  "Sure. Give me the address and I'll be there."

  He'd never once learned the address of the hospital, so Hunter found a nurse and asked her.

  "Got it," Vince said. "On my way."

  Feeling torn, Hunter glanced back toward the hallway where Mrs. Whitemore walked through sometimes to check with him. He didn't see anyone. What more could he do? He wasn't family, at least not in the blood sense. Mrs. Whitemore didn't really want him there, that much was obvious. He'd talk to Vince, check back in and then go back to his car. He'd have to stay another night. He wasn't ready to go yet until he at least knew Joe was out of surgery and stable.

  It wasn't long before his phone rang again. "I'm here," Vince said.

  "I'll be out in a minute."

  Vince drove a Mercedes, not a car he'd expected the stuffy man to drive. Hunter climbed in, unsure of this whole thing. "What the hell do you have to say so important you drove out of your way to meet me?"

  Vince pulled forward. "Do you think we can discuss this over something to eat? I've been driving a few hours and really want to find a place to stop."

  "Sure, I guess. Don't ask me what's around here because I don't know."

  "What are you doing out here, anyway?"

  Hunter buckled his seatbelt. "Connecting with a friend." Didn't he just say that a little while ago?

  "How's Rebecca? Is she better now that Carrie's ... gone?"

  "Carrie's real name is Sylvia. Besides, do you really care how Becca is?"

  Vince slid an annoyed frown his way. "I do care about her."

  Sure he did. Hunter bit back a retort. "She's doing better, about that part at least. She still lacks the truth since some people won't tell her." So much for holding back. He'd started off well.

  "What good will it do her, or you for that matter?"

  "Well, considering you decided to give us a glimpse of something because you want a favor, I'd say it'll do us very well. You think leaving that kind of message on Becca's phone wouldn't press either of us to search for the truth? How would you feel if it were you?"

  Vince didn't respond. He drove out of the parking lot. A few blocks down the road he found a small diner. "This good?"

  "Whatever you want is fine with me." Hunter wasn't sure he could eat anyway, but he had to at least try. Vending machine food and drinks were the only thing he'd had all day since breakfast. He could stand to get something substantial in him.

  Once they were settled in a corner booth facing the hospital, Vince searched the menu. "How easy is it to be accepted into your program for brain trauma?"

  "Depends. You wouldn't qualify though. It's to help study the brain and I have this feeling you lack one." Something about this guy brought out the idiot in Hunter. At this point, as tired and nervous as he was, he didn't care. Becca would get a kick out of his response. She'd probably cover her mouth and hold back a laugh.

  Damn, he missed her.

  Vince rolled his eyes. "I don't know what Rebecca sees in you."

  Restless, Hunter flipped through the menu. He didn't know what Becca saw in him most times either, but he was glad she loved him. "Truthful answer, it's not up to me to decide. A team of doctors has to make a decision and there's tests and things they do. I'm not an expert. I don't run things from the inside of the facility itself."

  Vince rested his hands together on top of the table. "My niece isn't showing any progress after an accident last year. Your program might be our last resort."

  Hunter sat up straight and closed the menu with a loud slap. "You want me to get your niece in the program? You're telling me you want this as your favor? Let me guess, you'll give me information if I can get her in, right? Man, I always knew you were low, but this goes beyond that!" He wanted to punch this guy right about now! The nerve!

  "You're calling me low? Wouldn't you do everything you could for someone you love?" Vince leveled him with a cold, hard stare. "You're here listening to me. What does that say? You want information and would go to extreme lengths to get it."

  Hunter smacked the table. "This is blackmail, you asshole! The only reason you want to give me information is to suit you! You're using my weakness against me. Not that it's a weakness, but you know what I mean. You know my heart is close to TBI and you're using it to your advantage."

  "Does it matter as long as we both get what we need from it? It's not blackmail. It's a deal. Man to man."

  He shot to his feet. "You're no man!" Anger made his pulse points pound. Blood roared in his ears. Man, if he weren't in a public place right now...

  No. Hunter wouldn't give this man that much power.

  Blackmailing. What a bunch of shit. The last time Hunter tried to get someone in the program to save, it backfired. What would happen if he did agree to this and Vince's niece didn't make it? What if something happened and this man would have even more reason to hate him? But damn it, what if someone hadn't given Becca the chance? This was too close to home, and asshole Vince knew it!

  "Calm yourself, Hunter. Do you think I really ever want to be in debt to you? I'm not doing this for me. I'm trying to help save my niece. She deserves a chance, too."

  Continuing to glare at Vince, Hunter sat down again, still livid.
"Tell me something. It's obvious you don't love Becca. I know what you do for a living, and I know when you were brought into her life as more than the family friend. The question is, why? What's in it for you? Why would you go along with her grandparents plan to marry her if you don't love her that way?"

  Caught him. Vince blanched and gave him a deer in the headlights look. Then it faded. "To keep her away from you."

  "Why does it matter to you?" Duh, he already knew they wanted to keep them apart. There had to be a deeper reason.

  Vince's eyes darkened with fury. "Call it personal. Your dearly departed father and his hot shot partner were the lawyers in a case against my father. It's also when Rusty met Anne."

  Now they were getting somewhere.

  *****

  Hunter wasn't answering his phone.

  She's not dead.

  Becca covered her mouth with her hand and checked for the tenth time since the cop left to make sure the door was locked.

  Not dead, not dead.

  The words wouldn't stop ringing repeatedly in her head.

  Okay. She had to keep calm. There'd been nothing too far out of the ordinary for a while. She was just on edge because of the news, and because Hunter wasn't home.

  She'd be fine.

  The doorbell rang. The whole being fine went out the window when she screamed. Yup, she was over the edge.

  "Becca? Are you okay in there?" It was Shara's voice.

  It was just Shara at the door.

  Becca let out a laugh in relief, then pulled the door open. "You scared me!"

  "I just came by to see if you wanted to grab dinner and if you'd heard from Hunter in a while. I didn't mean to scare you." Shara stepped inside. "You look totally terrified. What's going on?"

  Once Shara was in, Becca closed and locked the door, then leaned against it. "I just had a visit from the police. Sylvia isn't dead. I identified the wrong body."

  "Geez, no wonder you're nervous! Does Hunter know?"

  "He's not answering his phone. The man he went to visit is in the hospital. Possible heart attack, so at least I know why he may not be answering. It just makes me nervous."

  "More reason for you to come with me. You don't need to be alone right now."

  "Shara, I'll be fine," Becca insisted. Yeah right. Even she knew that was a lie. She had a bad case of the nervous jitters already. "I just ate dinner anyway."

  "You're just as stubborn as Hunter. Fine, how about you keep me company? My sister is dating this new guy and I kinda feel like the oddball as they sit there in plain sight and make out. At least you and Hunter pay attention to other people when you're together."

  A blush crept up in her cheeks. She wasn't even sure why. "Let me grab my purse and I'll be ready."

  Shara followed her making conversation. "I heard you were talking to Sylvia's mother?"

  "Yeah, through emails. It's weird. I guess I don't have to tell her I identified her daughter's body." A series of shudders rippled through her, the memory of that night clear in her mind and the thought of it being for nothing.

  "Ick, Becca." Shara's lips twisted in a sickened frown. Just the way Becca felt about the whole thing.

  "My thoughts exactly." She grabbed her purse, picked up her phone charger in case she needed it and tossed it inside, then slung it over her shoulder. "I'm ready. I could use the distraction. I can't get disturbing images out of my head."

  "And here I thought I was bad off when I couldn't get images of my sister making out with her boy toy out of my head. They were like this." Shara made a hilarious imitation of a woman sucking face, then moved to imitate what the guy looked like. She stuck her tongue out in front of her hand and without actually licking it, pretended to tongue kiss her hand. "It's like they were totally dry humping, on my couch of course. Ugh. They could seriously try out for an X rated movie."

  Becca forced a laugh. "If you're trying to take my mind off things, it's working. If we ever play a game of Charades, I want you on my team."

  Shara laughed right along with her. "We'd totally kick Hunter's ass at Charades."

  She checked the house and the door about five times before she was satisfied to leave. Becca tried to act calm but she wanted to hear from Hunter soon.

  It wasn't until halfway through dinner that her phone rang. "It's Hunter, finally!" Becca gestured. "Do you mind if I answer it?"

  "Why would I mind? Crazy girl! Pick up!" Shara waved her hands at the phone for emphasis.

  She did. "Hey, how is everything going?" Did she sound calm? Her fast beating heart and tense muscles told her she wasn't, but as long as she sounded okay enough, she'd take it.

  "The same. Joe's in surgery and I haven't heard anything new yet." Hunter's voice echoed. Where in the world was he?

  "Are you going to stay another night?" She'd understand if he did, though she wished she had him home tonight.

  "I think so. I'm exhausted and not sure I'm up for a flight home, even if it's just an hour. I'm sorry, angel."

  "Don't be sorry. I miss you and wish you were here, but I know you need this." Becca closed her eyes, really not liking the idea of being home alone tonight. "Hunter, I know this is the wrong time to bring it up, but..." Maybe she should have waited. Did telling him now or later make the slightest difference?

  "What's wrong? Tell me, Becca."

  "I-I just heard from the police. Sylvia isn't dead. It was the wrong b-body." She avoided Shara's gaze.

  "What?" He let out a string of curses. "That means she's still alive and out there? Bec, I'll come home right now."

  "No! I'll be okay. I'm not going to let myself get that paranoid again. I can't. I was doing so well. You stay there, get some rest and just come back tomorrow. She hasn't shown herself in months. I doubt she will tonight of all nights."

  But she feared it, no doubt.

  "Are you sure? I don't like being apart from you as it is."

  "A night won't make a difference. I'm with Shara right now. Once I'm home, I'll let you know."

  "Okay. I promise, I'll come home tomorrow. No matter what. I won't drag this out. I'll talk to Joe once he's better. I just need to know he's going to be okay."

  "I know, Hunter. Do me a favor and rest up."

  "I will. Call me tonight and we'll talk until we fall asleep, okay? I'm going to call Beverly and say good night to Sienna."

  "Are you sure? You won't be asleep before then?"

  Bec, if I can't fall asleep next to you, I still want to fall asleep with you. If this is the only way until then, so be it."

  She loved his persistence. "All right. I'll call you in a few hours."

  They hung up after a while. Becca caught Shara's smirk as she slipped her phone in her purse.

  "What?"

  "You two. You can't begin to know how glad I am that Hunter found someone who loves him the way you do. I've known him half my life and even with everything going on, he's happier with you than I've ever seen him." Shara kept shifting her eyes to the left, looking behind Becca at something. "Some guy is watching us. Don't look!"

  The hair on the back of Becca's neck stood at attention, but she made light of it instead of getting panicked. "Maybe he thinks you're hot," she teased. Play it cool. But she wanted to get out of here all of a sudden. Even without the news of Sylvia still being alive, the idea of someone watching them rattled her.

  "Maybe." Shara chuckled before turning serious again. "But his attention really picked up when you were on the phone. He's trying not to be obvious about it, and he's by himself."

  "All right, you're making me nervous," Becca whispered, as if it did any good.

  "Sorry. It's just that he's making me nervous." Shara fiddled with her silverware. "You want someone to stay with you tonight? It's not like my sister will notice I'm there anyway."

  On alert, Becca sat up. Did Shara have an odd feeling too? "Yeah," She replied, liking the idea. "I could use the company tonight."

  "Okay, he just got up and left. Let's wait a while, then go." Sha
ra kept her eye on the door.

  On the way home, Becca kept thinking that Hunter couldn't get back fast enough.

  *****

  Hunter thought about what Vince told him today. So there was another connection. The bastard really only looked out for himself. He'd never cared about Becca, not the way a man should love someone he wanted to marry. Whatever. Either way, that man had some gall! Still, he didn't mention it to Becca when she called tonight. He should have, but he'd just tell her later.

  "Are you going to be okay tonight?" he asked her, settling in under the covers. The news of Sylvia still being out there didn't make this trip any easier. He was so far from Becca and they were both concerned about so much.

  "I'll have to be. Shara's staying tonight, so I'm not alone."

  Thank you, Shara. He wished he was there, holding Becca close to him. "We'll get a good security system. I'll have one installed as soon as I get home." After all this time, he still wasn't sure Sylvia would come back and try anything, but then again, if she resurfaced every few years ... Hunter wasn't about to take chances. She might try to catch them when they weren't on their guard any more. For Becca's sake and his own, they'd always have to be on their guard. Just enough to be aware that anything could happen.

  It wasn't something he looked forward to living with. The doubts in the back of their mind that any day, any time, she could appear and finish whatever plan she'd come up with? Someone with vengeance on their mind would find a way, he already knew that. And the more they uncovered recently, the more Hunter knew Sylvia had it out for Becca. In her eyes, Becca was the reason Rusty Lange stopped keeping in contact, and the psychopath obviously had a hard time letting go of Rusty when he disappeared. Apparently that lasted over twenty years.

  Sick! The whole thing was outright sick!

  "Let's not talk about this tonight," Becca requested. "I want to fall asleep with good thoughts in my head. Tell me about some of the videos you watched today. I bet you were the cutest kid ever!"

  He laughed, pulling the spare pillow to him again. "Nah, that one's saved for Sienna. You'd love the videos though. I saw one of my first birthday. Imagine one year old Hunter clad in a diaper with cake all over my face."