Happiness flowed through her like liquid sunshine, filling her with warmth. She turned her face and brushed her lips across his neck. His pulse beat strong and steady. “This is what I wanted.”
Laughter rumbled in his chest. “Holding hands on the beach?”
“Building a relationship with substance.” She nodded toward the sandcastle. The incoming tide crept closer. A rogue wave crossed the moat and ate away a portion of the wall. “Without a solid foundation everything crumbles.”
“I suppose it does.”
“There’s no reason to rush this, Dillon. I’ve done that before and ended up nursing a broken heart.”
“Does that mean you’ll turn me down if I ask you to go away with me next weekend?”
Her battered heart turned cartwheels in her chest. “I could possibly be persuaded. What did you have in mind?”
“Gail’s parents fly into Eureka on Friday night. I’m meeting them Saturday morning to drop Zack off for a visit. If you came with us, we could spend the weekend together.”
“You’ve known about this for a while. When did you decide to ask me?”
“About two minutes before you suggested taking it slow.” He slid his hand under her jacket and splayed his fingers across her abdomen. Her stomach quivered. “My timing was never great.”
“I don’t know about that. We can make the weekend whatever we want it to be.”
His breath stirred a tendril of hair over her ear and sent an arrow of feeling straight through her. “Keeping my hands to myself wasn’t exactly what I had in mind.”
She grinned. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Dad! Dad!” Zack ran down the beach, his arm stretched out before him. “I found a sand dollar, and it isn’t even broken.”
Dillon gave her waist a squeeze before pulling his hand out from under her shirt. “Think about it and tell me what you decide later.” He stood. “Let’s see it, Son.”
While they packed up the buckets and shovels, Brooke studied the way his broad shoulders filled out his jacket, how his thigh muscles flexed beneath the denim of his jeans. She swallowed, certain she wouldn’t have to think very hard about her decision.
****
Dillon set the bag of groceries on the table and frowned at his grandfather. “Why haven’t you answered your cell phone?”
“I turned the damn thing off. Those FBI agents keep calling, and I don’t want nothing more to do with them. This way they have to hike out here to see if I’m home.”
“I thought you already talked to them.”
Jesse leaned back in his chair and rubbed his gnarled knuckles, cracking each one in turn. “I did. Twice. And they searched my home.” He snorted. “Like I could hide anything in a cabin this size, even if I wanted to.”
“What were they looking for?”
“Not the missing women, that’s for certain. The short one, Polk, started going through my drawers, and I kicked him the hell out. Told him I knew my rights and not to come back without a search warrant. That really pissed him off. His face turned so red I thought his head would explode.”
Dillon pulled a container of oatmeal out of the grocery bag, put it in the cupboard, and sighed. “I bet.”
Jesse’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Nothing to find, but I didn’t like his attitude. He said I probably buried the evidence.”
“He’s just talking, Grandpa, trying to rile you.” He caught an apple before it rolled off the table and set it in the fruit bowl. “They don’t have a shred of evidence against you.”
“Of course they don’t. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
He put a carton of eggs and a package of sliced ham in the refrigerator and shut the door. Leaning back against it, he frowned. “If they’re still questioning you, it must mean they’re no closer to finding the killer. They’ve got less than a week left.”
Jesse’s brows beetled across his forehead. “What do you mean?”
“Next Saturday is a full moon. So far, every woman was abducted or killed on the night of a full or new moon.”
“Jesus.” He whistled between his teeth. “Did the FBI tell you that?”
“Actually Detective Watkins and I figured it out for ourselves. I can only assume he shared our theory with the FBI.”
“So you don’t think anything else will happen before next weekend?”
“God, I hope not.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Gail’s parents will be in Eureka on Saturday. I’m dropping Zack off for an overnight visit. Brooke is coming along for the ride.”
Jesse studied him for a long, silent moment. The unblinking stare made Dillon squirm like a school boy.
“What’s with the accusing look?”
“Are you taking her with you because you want to spend time with her or to keep her safe?”
“Does it matter?”
“I bet it would to her.”
Dillon folded the empty grocery bag and stuck it under the sink. He stared out the window at the lengthening shadows. “Maybe a little of both.”
“I like Brooke, and I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Don’t break that girl’s heart.”
“I don’t intend to. We’re working things out.” He turned. “Anyway, shouldn’t you be worrying about my feelings? Maybe I’ll be the one to get hurt.”
“You do just fine protecting yourself, at least you have ever since Gail died. I’d like to see Brooke put a chink in your armor.”
Dillon smiled. “I’d say my armor has a few new dents.”
“Glad to hear it.” Jesse stood and patted him on the shoulder. “You haven’t forgotten Zack is spending the night with me on Wednesday?”
“He’s looking forward to it. I have a dinner meeting scheduled with some government officials about expanding logging operations onto federal land, and I don’t know how late it will last.”
“Damned government makes you jump through so many hoops it’s a wonder anything gets done.”
“You won’t hear me arguing, but please don’t antagonize the FBI agents if they show up again. It’ll only make the situation worse.”
“I’m not making any promises,” Jesse grumbled. When Dillon opened his mouth, his grandfather held up his hand. “All right already, I’ll try not to say anything that’ll get me thrown in the clink.”
“Try hard. Goodnight, Grandpa.”
“I’ll see you and Zack on Wednesday.”
“You bet.”
****
The phone rang just as Brooke pulled a pan of cookies out of the oven. She set them on the counter and stretched to reach the extension. “Hello.”
“It’s me.”
Her heart stuttered then beat a little faster at the sound of Dillon’s voice. “I thought you’d be here by now.” She turned her mouth away from the receiver. “Zack, no, they’re too hot. You’ll burn your fingers.”
“Are you busy?”
“We’re making chocolate chip cookies. Zack wants to take some to his great-grandpa.”
“About that...” He let out a long sigh.
“Problem?”
“Lately it’s one thing after another. One of my men had an accident in the woods, and I drove him to the hospital.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, but he needed a few dozen stitches. I’m still in Crescent City. If I come home now, I’ll never make it back to my meeting on time.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take Zack to Jesse’s.”
“I don’t want you out in the woods alone, especially in the dark. Why don’t you call Harley to see if he can take him?”
“Harley has enough on his plate. It isn’t dark yet. If we hurry, I’ll be back before it is.”
“Ah hell, I’d better come home and take him myself.”
“Don’t be silly, Dillon.”
“If anything happened...”
She heard the frustration and fear in his voice and gave in. “It won’t, but if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll call Harley.”
“Thank you.”
“I hope your meeting goes well.”
“So do I. I owe you, Brooke.”
She lowered her voice and turned to face the wall. “I’ll think of a creative way to collect.”
He laughed. “You do that.”
She was still smiling when she hung up the phone.
“Was that my dad?”
“Yep, he’s stuck in Crescent City, so I’m going to take you to your Grandpa Jesse’s. I’ll call Harley. Maybe he can come with us.”
The boy lifted a cookie from the pan and blew on it. “Why?”
“Don’t you think it’ll be fun?”
“I guess. I like Harley. Can we finish the cookies while we wait for him?”
“Of course. I’ll put the last pan in to bake before I make the call.”
Harley wasn’t in his office, and he didn’t answer his cell phone. Brooke left a message and hung up. Biting her lip, she looked out the window. There was still a little daylight left. If she walked fast—
“Grab your backpack, Zack. We need to head out.”
His brows lowered over accusing golden eyes. “You said we could bring the cookies.”
“We will. Just not the last batch. They need time to cool.” She piled cookies in a zip lock bag, then hurried over to the kitchen doorway and yelled up the stairs. “Grandma, I’m taking Zack to Jesse’s.”
June’s voice floated down. “I thought Dillon was coming.”
“He got held up.”
Floor boards creaked, and her grandmother stared over the railing, her blue eyes full of worry. “Is that a good idea? It’s getting late.”
“I left Harley a message. I’m sure he’ll show up at the cabin to walk me home.”
The lines in her face eased. “Good idea. Bye, Zack. Have fun.”
Struggling with his backpack, he heaved it onto his shoulders. “I will. Bye, Grandma June.”
Brooke slipped on her jacket and grabbed the cookie bag while Otis scrambled out from under the table to join them. As they headed into the woods, long shadows stretched across the lawn. Overhead, a blue jay squawked from a branch in a tall fir tree.
“Did you remember to put your homework and library book into your backpack?”
Zack nodded, bent, and threw a stick for the dog. Otis tore through the huckleberry bushes after it. “How come you’re walking so fast?” he asked.
She slowed her pace slightly. “Sorry.”
He slipped his hand into hers and looked up with a smile that tugged at her heart. “Dad said you’re coming with us this weekend.”
“Is that okay with you?”
“It’s great.” He took a couple of skipping steps. “I didn’t like it when you guys were acting weird around each other.”
Her lips curved. “Have you ever had an argument with a friend, and it took a while to stop being mad?”
“Yeah, when Brad lost my new baseball, I wanted to kill him.”
“But you’re still friends, right?”
He kicked a fir cone and nodded. “Dad said I had to get over it and move on.”
She squeezed his hand. “Sometimes grown-ups have problems, too, but they work them out eventually.”
“I’m glad you’re not mad at each other anymore. It made Dad cranky.”
Knowing she wasn’t the only one suffering filled her with guilty satisfaction. It wasn’t that she wanted Dillon to be miserable... “It bothered me, too.”
“You’re friends again, and that’s what counts.” Zack dropped her hand and sprinted across the clearing. “Grandpa, we’re here!” he shouted.
Jesse opened the cabin door and stepped outside. “It’s about time.” His bushy brows shot up. “Brooke, I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Long story.”
“Come in. Come in.” He held the door wide. “Since you’re here, we can have a nice chat.”
She glanced over her shoulder and could barely make out the individual trees in the gathering dusk. “I should start home.”
“Just for a few minutes? I’ve got something to tell you.”
She wouldn’t make it back before dark anyway, so there wasn’t much point in rushing. Anger simmered in her gut. She was tired of living in fear, sick to death of letting a madman dictate her actions. And maybe if she waited, Harley would turn up. She squared her shoulders. “What’s on your mind?”
Jesse shuffled across the floor in a pair of gray wool slippers. “Would you like a cup of tea? I put the kettle on to heat a few minutes ago.”
She set the bag of cookies down on the table. “Sure.”
“Can I have hot chocolate?” Zack asked.
Jesse rested his hands on his hips and studied his great-grandson. “Do you deserve it?”
“Yep, I finished all my homework and helped make cookies for you. Chocolate chip.”
His beard twitched. “In that case, I think we can stretch the water to three cups.”
Brooke followed Jesse over to the stove and reached into the cupboard for the cups. “You’re certainly cheerful this evening.”
“Been looking forward to Zack’s visit, and I didn’t have a single call from the FBI today.”
She emptied a chocolate packet into one cup while he pulled tea bags from a drawer. “Maybe they found a real suspect to question instead.”
“I hope so.” He turned the box of Earl Gray over in his hands before finally meeting her gaze. “I heard a scream and saw something white flashing through the trees last night.”
Her hand stilled over the cup, and she swallowed against the lump forming in her throat. “You didn’t find—”
He reached out and touched her arm. “I hunted through the woods for over half the night and didn’t find a thing. Nothing but a few broken branches a little to the east, but it wasn’t much of a trail.”
“Did you call Harley?”
“I did, but he wasn’t around. I haven’t heard back from him.”
She frowned. “I wonder why? You’d think he’d come tearing up here to check it out.” When the kettle whistled, she poured steaming water into the cups. “I don’t suppose you notified the FBI when you couldn’t reach the sheriff?”
“Hell no! I’m already their number one suspect.”
She stirred the chocolate, added a misshapen marshmallow from a bag she found on the top shelf of the cupboard, and took the cup to Zack. “I’m going to call Harley again.”
“Go ahead and try, but there isn’t anything out there to find. I went back again and looked in daylight, just to make sure.”
Brooke flipped open her phone and dialed the sheriff’s number. It immediately went to voice mail. She stuck the phone back in her pocket and picked up her tea cup. “He must be out of the service area. I’ll track him down after I get home. Someone in his office must know where he is.”
“You tell him I tried to call. I don’t want no more lectures about not doing my duty.”
“I promise.” She finished the tea and set the cup on the table. “I really should go.”
Jesse glanced toward the window. “It’s dark.”
“I have a light on my key ring.” She held it up for him to see.
He snorted. “That puny thing. I’ll give you a real flashlight, but I still don’t think—”
“Otis is with me. No one will mess with me while he’s around.”
He scratched his jaw. “I suppose you’re right. Still, I have an uneasy feeling—”
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about a thing.”
Chapter Fourteen
A branch snapped, sounding like a gunshot in the still night air. When Otis ran baying into the undergrowth, the hair rose on the back of Brooke’s neck. “Is someone there?” she called, her voice high and thin, echoing amongst the trees.
Heart pounding, she stared into the darkness. Why did I tempt fate, insisting on walking home alone? Some protector her dog was, disappearing at the first sign of a squirrel. At least she hoped to God it was a squirrel and not—
A figure loomed be
fore her, blacking out the feeble starlight. She brandished the industrial size flashlight and caught a man’s upflung arm in the glare. He shielded his eyes and swore. Jumping back, she tripped and fell, sending the flashlight flying.
“Jesus, Brooke, calm down. It’s just me.”
Her hand flew to her throat. “Harley? Oh my God, you scared me.”
He hauled her to her feet, and then bent to fish the light out of a clump of ferns. “Sorry. I was hurrying and didn’t realize you were there until that beast of a dog nearly knocked me over.”
“You got my message?”
“Yours and Jesse’s both. I was out of town on…personal business and only just retrieved them.” His voice sounded strained, and she wished she could see his expression.
“Look, if you’re headed up to the cabin to talk to Jesse, I can make it home alone from here.”
“I’ll talk to him tomorrow. Not much I can do in the dark, and I doubt there’s anything to find.” He let out a deep sigh. “I wish he’d contacted the FBI when I didn’t answer my phone.”
An owl swooped over their heads on silent wings. She flinched. “You know Jesse, stubborn to a fault.”
He grabbed her arm when she stumbled on a root, his hand circling her wrist in a hard grasp. “Kind of like you. I ought to arrest you for wandering around in the woods by yourself.”
Her back stiffened. “I tried to call you.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t answer.”
She hesitated, feeling the black mood surrounding him, not at all certain she wanted to know the cause of it. Finally she spoke. “Is something wrong? No one else is missing, or—” Her throat closed on the words.
“No, nothing like that.” They stepped out of the woods into Dillon’s back yard. The rising moon cast a silvery light across his face, illuminating his tightly held lips and the jutting angle of his jaw. “I had a run in with Tricia’s ex. I can’t help thinking if that son of a bitch had treated her better, she wouldn’t have been so vulnerable. If he’d taken care of her like she deserved—” His voice cracked.
Brooke’s heart ached with sympathy. She wrapped her arm around his waist and squeezed before stepping back. “You don’t know it would have made a difference.”
He cleared his throat. “Probably not. No man I know loves his wife more than Rod, and that freak still managed to get to Steph.”
A Deadly Love Page 18
