Trail of Lies

by Margaret Daley

  In the kitchen she began to rinse the plates to put in the dishwasher.

  “Here, I can help you.” Daniel came up and opened the appliance.

  “You’re a guest.”

  “A guest? Is that what I am?”

  She slanted him a look and was captured anew by something in his eyes that spoke to her. Loneliness? She knew about that. “What do I call you then?”

  “Until we find who killed your husband, I’m your bodyguard.”

  “What if we can’t?”

  “I will. If we discover what they want of Axle’s, I have a feeling they will make themselves known to us.”

  “Can’t I just wish them away?” Even she heard the weariness and fear in her voice. At least she didn’t have to pretend anymore with Daniel that everything was all right when her life was falling apart.

  He touched her arm, compelling her toward him. “They aren’t going to go away until they get what they want or are caught.”

  “I know. This nightmare has to end now.”

  “Tell me about Patches.”

  “The cat? What do you want to know?”

  Daniel released a long breath. “When are you going to trust me?”

  SEVEN

  “I’d say I’m trusting you with my life but even more so with my daughter’s. Just by having you here, I’m taking a risk.” Melora took a step back.

  “If this is going to work, there can be no more secrets between us. Kaitlyn said something about Patches being gone.”

  Melora swung back toward the sink and turned on the water to continue rinsing the dishes. “Yeah, he disappeared for a while, but he’s home. He’s safe now.” The fear she’d experienced at the time deluged her. Perspiration beaded her forehead, and her pulse sped just thinking about the incident and what happened because of it. She’d made a run for it, and she and Kaitlyn had ended up in an accident.

  “There’s more to it, isn’t there?” He settled his hand on her shoulder, a gentle, supportive gesture.

  She slid a glance toward him, and all tension was gone from his expression. Concern softened his eyes and beckoned her to let go of her fear and talk to him. “When you came over last week, that call I received was from someone letting me know if I didn’t cooperate with them and keep my mouth shut, next time it would be Kaitlyn missing or me.” She bit down on her lip to still the quaver in her voice.

  His hand slipped from her shoulder to her arm, and he rotated her toward him. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”

  “I am now. That was the reason I tried to run. And this morning I discovered I couldn’t. They wouldn’t let me.”

  “A direct threat against your daughter means we need to do things a little differently.”

  Her hands shaking, she stuck a plate under the flowing water then gave it to him. “What?”

  “I’ll have to make sure she is covered at all times. I don’t want her to go to school. For the time being we’ll keep her close to home.”

  “She’ll want to know why. She loves school.”

  “Tell her she’s taking her Christmas vacation a little early. Tell her whatever you need to.” He cocked his head. “Anything else I should know?”

  Tears blurred her vision. She kept her head turned away from Daniel. She felt her world falling apart. Her throat swelled. She would not cry in front of him.

  “Melora, have you told me everything?”

  His voice gently coaxed her. She wasn’t alone anymore in this fight. Swallowing several times, she murmured, “I think so. I…” A glass slipped from her fingers and smashed against the granite sink.

  Daniel reached around her and turned off the water then rotated her toward him. With his finger under her chin, he lifted her face and looked at her.

  Through the sheen of tears she saw a smile brighten his eyes as they skimmed over her features. He cradled her face in his hands. “I know this isn’t easy for you. I have a son, and if someone threatened him, I would do anything to protect him. You made the right decision to trust me.” His voice was husky and warm.

  “I shouldn’t have tried to do this by myself, but I didn’t know what to do. When I think about it, I don’t understand any of this. I don’t know anything other than Axle wasn’t the man I married. He was fine until I questioned him about what he was doing. I’d heard him talking with that man who came to the house and I heard them mention drugs. I thought he was taking some kind of drug. That he might be sick and not telling me. Obviously, I’m naive about what is happening in the case.” She laughed but heard no humor in the sound.

  “Because you wanted to believe the best in your husband?”

  She nodded. “When I asked him, he changed completely. Used Kaitlyn to keep me in line. When he disappeared, I thought he’d left me because our marriage had been rocky at best for the six months before he disappeared. I quickly realized that it wasn’t Axle’s style to walk away and leave everything. That’s when I called the sheriff and reported him missing.” She shuddered when she thought of that last encounter with Axle before she’d gone to the conference. His need to control her. Possess her like a trophy, not a person.

  Daniel drew her to him and wound his arms around her. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. This is the first time you mentioned Axle talking about drugs. You may know more than you think once you let yourself remember.”

  The feel of his embrace gave her strength, pushed down the lump of emotion so she could lean back and stare into Daniel’s eyes. “I want to box up everything in Axle’s office. I think that’s what we should do first. I’ve been through it, but maybe you’ll find something I’m not seeing. My husband lived in a world I’m not familiar with.”

  “Then that’s where we’ll start looking, but first I want to take you to the hospital to look at the man in the coma. If it’s the same person, you might remember something that can help us ID him. For months we’ve been trying to figure out who the man is. If we can ID him, we might be able to find out more to help us end what’s been happening. Then I would like us to pay a visit to the Bustles and Spurs Café at the Riverwalk.”

  “Why?”

  “Maybe there’s someone at your husband’s restaurant that you’ll remember. You didn’t see the man’s face who broke in here, but you might remember his voice. I know it’s a long shot, but it might pay off.”

  The same voice on the phone last week. Yes, she’d remember that. “How about Kaitlyn?”

  “I’ll have Gisella guard her. I already told her to be on standby in case I need a second person.” He smoothed her hair back from her face and framed it between his large hands.

  “Won’t that let them know I’ve talked to you for sure?”

  “After today at the hospital, I have a feeling they already know, and besides, now that you have, there isn’t much they can do about it. Maybe then they’ll leave you alone.” He dropped his head toward hers.

  His lips were inches away from hers, and they tingled with anticipation. In the middle of all that had happened, she wanted him to kiss her. She wanted to forget the past few weeks and become lost in his embrace.

  At the last second he pulled back, his arms slipped from around her. She moved away, feeling as though she’d missed out on something worth a great deal.

  He put more space between them. “I’d better go check and make sure the house is locked up tight.”

  She watched him hurry from the kitchen and couldn’t shake the emptiness she experienced. Being so totally wrong about Axle caused her to be leery of men. Then why did she all of a sudden desire Daniel to kiss her?

  In the dining room Daniel paused and gripped the back of a chair, leaning into it. What was he thinking? Kissing Melora? He knew all the reasons he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t get it out of his mind—the sight of her full lips waiting for his, her spicy scent spinning a web about him, the feel of her in his arms as though she belonged there.

  His work was his life. He was good at his job and didn’t need to be distracted by a
beautiful, stately woman who was hurting. How could he heal her when he couldn’t help himself?

  A movement in the foyer riveted his attention. He straightened, his hand going to his holster.

  Kaitlyn walked in, rubbing her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I heard a noise outside my window.”

  Melora gasped from the entrance into the kitchen.

  He peered back at her. “I’ll go check while you see to Kaitlyn.”

  “You’re going outside?”

  “Yes, but lock the door right after I leave and don’t open it for anyone but me.” He covered the distance to her. “And if I say everything is fine, don’t open the door. Call the sheriff.”

  “But—”

  “Do as I say,” he whispered in a rough voice. “I’m going out the kitchen door. I’ll come back to it when I need in. Okay?”

  Eyes huge, Melora nodded and opened her arms for Kaitlyn to come to her. “Daniel will check to make sure there isn’t anything out there that could get you.” Hugging her daughter against her, she followed him to the back door.

  Outside, he didn’t move away until he heard the lock click in place. Then he withdrew his Wilson Combat pistol from his holster and gave himself a few minutes to let his eyes adjust to the darkness. Easing forward, he strode the perimeter of the house. Wind whipped by him. Clouds raced across the nearly full moon. The scent of rain hung in the air.

  He rounded the corner of the house where Kaitlyn’s room was. He didn’t think it was anything since she was on the second floor, but he wasn’t taking any chances with Kaitlyn or Melora. He slowed and scanned the area. With no bushes near, only a couple of leafless trees, he made his way to her window. A scratching sound like long fingernails against the glass filled the wind-tossed night. A tree branch scraped against the pane, which was probably what Kaitlyn heard.

  But to be sure, he took his penlight from his pocket and checked the ground around the area below the window. Nothing.

  Relief momentarily cloaked him, but quickly his usual vigilance pushed it away. The threat against Melora and Kaitlyn was still out there. Possibly watching the house right now. Again, he panned the area around him before heading back inside.

  At the door he waited for Melora to open it, pleased she had followed what he’d said. “It wasn’t anything. A tree branch against the window.”

  Melora breathed a sigh. “That’s good.”

  “A tree branch,” Kaitlyn said from the kitchen table, a glass of milk sitting in front of her. “Are ya sure?”

  Daniel knelt in front of the little girl. “I will keep you safe.”

  Kaitlyn yawned.

  “I know someone who is tired. Ready to go back to bed?” Melora came over to her daughter as Daniel rose, and held out her hand.

  Kaitlyn peered up at both of them, her eyes shiny with tears, her bottom lip trembling. “Do I hafta?” she asked, followed by another yawn.

  “Yes.” Melora slipped her hand around her daughter’s and tugged her up. “But tell you what. I’ll let you sleep in my room with me tonight.”

  “Thanks, Mommy.” Kaitlyn threw her arms around Melora’s waist. “How about Daniel?”

  A bright cherry red painted Melora’s cheeks. “He has his own room.”

  “Oh, okay.” Kaitlyn started for the door, stopped and looked back. “C’mon.”

  “I’ll walk you ladies to your room,” Daniel said.

  Kaitlyn hurried up the stairs ahead of them. “I left Mr. Snuggles in my room. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”

  “Mr. Snuggles?” Daniel fell into step next to Melora, trailing several feet behind her daughter.

  “Kaitlyn’s stuffed dog. Axle wouldn’t get another dog after his died two and a half years ago. Kaitlyn loved Bailey as much as Axle did. She used to snuggle up against him and fall asleep. He was so good with her even though she was a toddler. Last year when we were shopping, she saw the stuffed dog and thought it was her daddy’s dog. I couldn’t resist getting it for her.”

  “My son had a favorite stuffed monkey. He took it everywhere until it literally fell apart and his mother had to throw it away. He was mad at her for days.”

  Kaitlyn darted into her bedroom, snatched the brown stuffed animal off the bed and raced back into the foyer. “Mr. Snuggles was getting lonely.”

  At Melora’s door, Kaitlyn went on into the room while Melora paused outside in the hallway and faced Daniel. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m not sure what I would have done otherwise.”

  “I’m leaving my door open, and I’m a light sleeper. If you need me, all you have to do is yell.”

  She smiled, the sea green of her gaze sparkling like sun-bathed leaves.

  The urge to kiss her drenched Daniel, but one look into her room put a halt to those thoughts. Kaitlyn lay curled on the top of the coverlet, her eyes drooping closed. “Good night.”

  Daniel waited until Melora went inside her bedroom and closed her door before pulling out his cell and calling Gisella. “I’ll need you tomorrow to stay with Kaitlyn while I take Melora to see our coma guy. Melora told me tonight that someone called after the missing cat was returned and said her daughter was next if she talked,” he said as he made his way downstairs.

  “What time?”

  “Ten. Then after we visit the hospital, I’m taking her to lunch.”

  “Lunch?” Surprise sounded in Gisella’s voice.

  “Don’t get any ideas, Hernandez. We’re going to Bustles and Spurs to see if she recognizes anyone at the restaurant.”

  “That could stir up a hornet’s nest.”

  “Yeah, but we don’t have much to go on right now except Melora and that someone thinks she knows where the flash drive is.”

  “What if that puts her in danger?”

  The idea of Melora being in peril caused his fingers to clench around his cell as if he could pulverize it into dust. “She’s already in danger. The only way to keep her safe is to find the person who murdered her husband and why. We need to find that flash drive and see why it’s so important to others.”

  “See you tomorrow.”

  After he disconnected with Gisella, Daniel placed a call to his son to see how the game went. He wasn’t sure Clay would even answer, but when he did, Daniel strained to hear Clay over the din. “Where are you?”

  “At my buddies’.”

  “Doing what?” Daniel asked, and realized his mistake immediately.

  “Nothing to concern you. I’ve got to go.” His son clicked off.

  Daniel brought his cell away from his ear and stared at it as though that would change the way the conversation had gone.

  “Are you all right?”

  He whirled around to find Melora standing in the entrance to the living room. “Just a little father/son bonding—not.” He stuffed his cell back into his front pocket. “I wish I could go back and start all over….” He shook his head. “Never mind. That wouldn’t change anything. I don’t think I have what it takes to be a good father.”

  “Kaitlyn sure has responded to you. Not many people read her bedtime stories or get to have a detailed demonstration of how she takes care of Patches.”

  “That’s because I was here.”

  Melora glided forward. “Exactly. Being around someone is important.”

  “Yeah, I know and I haven’t done a good enough job in that department with my son. My job demands most of my time, and I have an ex-wife who has tried everything to keep me and Clay apart. Soon he stopped wanting to do much with me. I think he thought it was easier than making his mother upset. I didn’t want him to feel he was the rope in a tug-of-war contest.”

  “It’s tough when parents put a child in the middle. Divorce is hard enough on a child without being the prize in some kind of fight between the parents.”

  “I know. I couldn’t do that to Clay.”

  “So you backed off?”

  “Not totally. But as he was growing up, every time I couldn’t make it, Ch
eryl made it into a big deal with Clay to the point he stopped wanting to do things with me. About the only time I felt needed in my son’s life was when he got into trouble with the local police. He was fourteen and joyriding in a car an older boy had stolen. Clay said he didn’t know it was stolen. He thought it was Brad’s. The officer took him, along with the other three boys, to the station. He called Clay’s mother then me since he knew me. When I came to the station, I’d never seen my son so scared. When he was given community service, he got upset with me for not using my connections to make everything go away. Our relationship hadn’t been very good before that. Afterward it nosedived. Only recently have we begun doing things again.”

  “But you were there for Clay when he was in trouble. That has to count for something.”

  His role model hadn’t been the best. His dad had wanted him to do things his way to the point that the last years he was alive they’d hardly talked. No matter what Daniel did, he seemed to repeat the same mistakes his own dad had made with him. “So what do you recommend I do to make things better between Clay and me?”

  “Spend time together—quality over quantity.”

  “I was supposed to go to a Spurs game tonight, but I had to cancel. I gave him my ticket to take a friend.”

  “But that isn’t the same thing as spending time with him. I’m sorry you had to cancel because of me.”

  The genuine concern in her voice prompted him to close the space between them. “It isn’t your fault. This is my job. Things come up that have to be dealt with right away. The problems between Clay and me go much deeper than not spending time with him because of my job.” How did he tell her every time he was with his son he found himself going into protective mode—dictating what he thought was best for Clay?

  “But still, your son is important to you.” She looked away for a moment then reconnected eye contact. “Even with Kaitlyn at her age, I’ve found listening to her concerns is one of the best ways to connect with her. Clay is going to graduate from high school soon. What does he want to do after that?”

  “I hope he goes to college and—”