“There were two guys.” Carol was pale and looked shaken. “One wore a baseball cap, but I’d never be able to pick them out of a lineup though. Everything happened too fast.”
“We’ll see if we can collect the bullets, and we’ll check the damage to the boat. That might tell us something. Too bad you didn’t see the boat name. Anything distinctive about it?” Luke asked.
Mallory shook her head. “I just know the make. It looked fairly new and had blue trim.”
“We’ll see what we can do. Your boat still appears to be seaworthy.” Luke glanced at Kevin. “If you want to get the ladies home, I’ll deliver the mail boat to Folly Shoals once we get all we need from it.”
“I can do that.”
Kevin’s dad cleared his throat. “We have work to do and already have been delayed. It would be better if you saw to them getting home, Luke.”
Luke raised a brow and looked at Kevin. Kevin shook his head. “I’ll get them home. Our business can wait. People are more important than our little project.”
His dad scowled at him, then turned to Luke. “Can you drop me off at Summer Harbor? I don’t want to fool around with this today.”
“Sure, but we’re going to be out here awhile.”
“It’s better than my other alternative.”
Mallory’s eyes flooded with tears, and Kevin took her arm. “Let’s get back.”
TWENTY-THREE
The storm had moved in by the time Kevin parked in his driveway and got out. Mallory couldn’t drum up the energy to even talk on the ride back. Who would want to kill her? The deadly intent had been very obvious. And the reaction from Kevin’s father hurt almost more than the attack.
She squinted through the pouring rain at the vehicle parked in front of Kevin’s house. “Looks like the sheriff’s here.” She opened the door and stepped out into the mud, then rushed for the house. Maybe he’d caught the men who shot at them.
Danny Colton was on the sofa in front of a blazing fire. The coffee cup Kate must have given him looked tiny in his massive hands. Kevin and Carol came in with a gust of wind and rain behind her.
Mallory took off her jacket and hung it on one of the wall hooks. “Sheriff, I hope you have some news for me.”
“I do, but it’s not what you might expect, Mrs. Davis. Have a seat. This will take some time to explain.” His gaze narrowed. “I heard you were shot at today. You okay?”
“Fine, just shaken up a bit. What’s this about, Sheriff?”
“I’ll get the rest of you some coffee,” Kate said. “The girls are upstairs watching a movie. I thought it best they didn’t hear this. It might give them nightmares.”
Mallory frowned and sank onto the armchair by the fireplace. “What’s she talking about?”
The sheriff set his coffee cup on the table, then shook out an Altoids mint and popped it into his mouth. “You were probably too shook up with your mom’s death to remember all this, so I’m going to take you through the sequence of events back then. It’s important to understand what’s happening now.”
Carol ran her hand through her wet hair and came to sit on the ledge by the fire. Mallory glanced at Kevin, and he came over to perch on the arm of the chair by her. She leaned slightly against his comforting bulk.
Sheriff Colton snapped his Altoids tin closed and opened it again as if he couldn’t stand to sit still.
Kevin nodded. “I remember because Dad found the body and talked about what bad shape it was in. There were propeller marks or something on her head and face.”
“Right. And Edmund honored Karen’s request to donate her body to science. Wasn’t sure if you remembered that.”
“I had forgotten that, actually.” Kate returned with two cups of coffee, and Mallory took one of them. She wrapped her fingers around the hot mug and let the heat warm her cold hands.
He looked back at her steadily. “It’s an important detail. We’ve got a forensic artist here in town doing some training, and she was using your mom’s skull.”
Mallory’s gut clenched at the mental picture. “Okay.” Where was he going with this?
“Gwen Marcey is her name. The artist, I mean. Anyway, during her lecture she mentioned the victim had been murdered.”
“Murdered? My mom?”
He nodded. “It’s a jeezly situation, for sure. So I’ve pulled the autopsy records, and Gwen is looking them over. We’ll have more information soon so come into the wind.” He picked up his coffee cup again. “I know this is a shock.”
Shock didn’t begin to describe how she felt. “There has to be some mistake.”
“Ms. Marcey is the best in her field, and I’ll let you know what she says.” He rose and put on his hat.
Still in a daze, Mallory got up and followed him to the door with Kevin close on her heels. She shut the door behind the sheriff and turned to Kevin. “I can’t begin to imagine what this all means.”
His mouth in a grim line, he nodded. “Try not to speculate, Mal.”
Speculating was all she could do.
The garden behind the hotel held only bees and a rabbit that scampered away when Julia hurried outside to the grape arbor. The vines had sent out fresh sprigs of green, and the scent of spring flowers filled the air. She pulled out her phone and called her stepson’s number.
“You took long enough to check in.” Ian’s gruff voice told her what kind of mood he was in. But then irritated was his usual state these days. “So your warning didn’t work.”
“Nope.” No one was going to stand in the way of the good life nearly in her reach. “She still hasn’t stumbled on the truth.”
“You can’t know that, Julia. Or that she won’t. She’s poking around everywhere.”
She wandered across the grass to sit on an iron bench by the fountain. The sound of running water soothed her worries. A thought struck her, and a slow smile lifted her lips. “I have an idea. Give me two days to figure out how to execute it.”
“Two days is all we’ve got.”
“I know. I’ll be in touch.” She ended the call and exhaled.
The dying fire crackled in the darkened living room. Mallory sat on the sofa and stared at the glowing embers. The rest of the household had gone to bed, and only she and Kevin were still up. She’d never be able to sleep a wink if she went to bed now.
What did Gwen Marcey’s comment mean? It could mean nothing or it could mean everything. Kevin came from the kitchen with a plate of summer sausage and cheese in one hand and a sleeve of Ritz crackers in the other.
He held up the crackers. “I always think better when I have food. I brought enough for you too. You didn’t eat a bite of dinner.”
Her stomach growled, and she reached for a piece of summer sausage. “Venison?”
“Of course.”
“I haven’t had venison summer sausage since I left here.” She stacked a cracker with cheese and sausage and took a bite. “Yum, jalapeño.”
They ate in silence for a minute. The warmth of the fire and her full belly began to relax her. She wiped her fingers on the paper towel Kevin handed her, then stood and went to look at the pictures on the mantel. “There are pictures of DeAnn here.”
He joined her in front of the fire. “I didn’t want Sadie to forget her mom. Even though she can’t see them, I tell her what they look like.”
She turned to face him. “Everything is a mess, Kevin. I feel like we’re being hit from all sides. Maybe I should go back to Bangor.”
“Your house was broken into there too. Running back will just leave you alone and defenseless. Carol is great, but she’s hardly able to protect you from a killer like I can. And you have lots of friends here.”
“It doesn’t feel like it. I mean, Kate, sure. She’s still my friend, but everyone remembers what we did. What I did. The sidelong glances and pointed stares are hard to deal with.”
“I think you’re just being sensitive. I can’t blame you with the treatment you’ve gotten from my parents. But I’ve lived
here through all of it. It’s over.”
Maybe he was right. Her self-consciousness about being back might have contributed to her feelings of being out of place. “What are you going to do about DeAnn? When is she coming again?”
“She’s still in town. I told her she could come see Sadie tomorrow. She wanted to take her out for the day, but I’m not ready to trust her that far. She might just up and take her.”
A shudder ran up Mallory’s spine at the thought of anyone taking Haylie away from her. And Sadie was so little. “She seems sincere, but it’s hard to know if there’s an ulterior motive behind her appearance.”
His brow wrinkled. “I thought you believed she deserved a second chance.”
“I do, but I’ve thought it through a little more. Her husband is in politics. You just don’t know for sure why she’s here. I hope it’s for all the right reasons.”
The logs on the fire shifted, and the blaze crackled as new fuel burst into flames. His presence beside her generated more heat than the fire did though, and she shifted just a fraction so her arm brushed his. Lord help her, but the man enticed her nearly more than she could handle. His male scent, all spicy with his aftershave and skin, made her want to bury her nose in his neck.
It would take all Mallory’s strength to resist him every day. She really needed to find another place to stay before she made a complete fool of herself.
He reached out and twisted one of her curls around his finger. “No one has hair like yours—so thick and luxurious. It’s so fine textured too.” He lifted the strand to his lips and kissed it.
His hand in her hair was sending shivers up her back and making her stomach twist. Her knees started to shake a little, and she struggled to get ahold of herself. It had been so long since she’d been with a man. Brian had been dead for two years, and she hadn’t so much as gone out to coffee with another man. She wasn’t dead though, and every sense flared to life with Kevin’s touch.
She swallowed hard and forced herself to laugh and start for the kitchen. “I’d better put away the rest of the food.”
He caught her arm as she took a step. With a quick movement he pulled her against him, then his lips were on hers and every bit of resistance she’d summoned evaporated. She tried to recount all the reasons why she shouldn’t be with him, but the taste of him and the feel of his arms drove every thought from her head.
His lips demanded a response, and she couldn’t stop her arms from creeping up until she was clasping the back of his neck and pouring every bit of the love she’d denied herself into that kiss.
She forgot the guilt that dogged her. She forgot his family’s resistance. No matter how much she’d tried to forget how safe and loved she felt in his arms, now that she was here, she didn’t want to leave again.
Somehow they found themselves on the sofa and his hand was on the bare skin of her back. Her fingers had unbuttoned his shirt, though she had no memory of doing it. She pulled his head down for another kiss.
He took a ragged breath, then pulled away and straightened her top. “I think I’d better go to my room. You’re way too tempting, and I’m not that strong where you’re concerned.” His hand cupped her cheek, and he looked down into her eyes. “But know this, Mallory. We belong together, and we both know it. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never walk away from me again.”
Her throat tightened, and she blinked back the moisture in her eyes. “I . . . I’d better get to bed.” She fled before the words I love you spilled out of her lips.
TWENTY-FOUR
Kvin shoved open the window in his room and let the breeze blow over his heated face. The fresh air cleared his head, and he looked out over the treetops. He wanted nothing more than to go right back to the living room and kiss Mallory again, but he had to resist. He loved her too much, and this time they would do things in the right order. Marriage first. He wanted his ring on her finger before she came to his bed again.
His cell phone chirped, and he glanced at the clock beside his bed. Ten o’clock, not as late as it seemed. Abby’s name flashed on his screen, and he quickly answered it before the call went to voice mail. “Abbs, you found something?”
“This was a hard one to track, Kevin. Someone had worked really hard to bury that adoption.”
He frowned and sat on the edge of the bed. “So what do we have?”
“Mallory was two weeks old when she was adopted. Her mother had her when she was in jail.”
Kevin winced. “Do we know why she went to jail?”
“Not yet. The names are sealed, and I haven’t been able to crack them yet. I’m going to figure it out though. It may just take a little time. Tell Mallory to be patient with me. Hopefully I’ll have all the details with my next update.”
“Thanks, Abby, I owe you.” He squinted out the window, then reached over and flipped off his light. Something had moved outside.
“No problem. Sorry for calling so late, but I knew you were eager to hear. I’ll talk to you soon.”
He put down his phone and crept closer to the window. He saw the movement again. He strapped on his gun and slipped out his door and down the stairs. Light shone from under Mallory’s door so he rapped on it with his knuckles.
She held the door partially closed, and he caught just a peek of her red silk pajamas. “Is something wrong?”
“I saw someone outside. I’m going out to check. If I’m not back in five minutes, call 911.”
She opened the door wider and caught at his arm. “Let’s call the law.”
“I am the law. I’ll be fine. Lock the door behind me. I’ve got my key so I’ll let myself back in. Just pay attention and listen, okay?”
She nodded, and he hurried to the back door so he could circle around and catch the guy. The screen door squealed as he eased it open, and he winced. Maybe the guy wouldn’t hear it from out front. He unsnapped his holster and rested his hand on his Sig Sauer as he crept around the corner of the house.
Cold dew soaked into the ankles of his pants, and his shoes squeaked on the wet grass. The moonless night made it hard to see back here, but one streetlight at the end of his lane should illuminate his front yard.
He paused when he reached the front corner and looked around. The glow from the distant streetlight only slightly improved his vision, but it was enough to spot the figure standing under the oak tree in his yard.
He drew his gun. “Game warden. You there, come out from under the tree.”
The person plunged into the brush at the edge of his property, and his blood pumping, Kevin gave chase. The shrubs lashed at his arms and he tripped over a rock in his way, but he quickly gained on the figure trying to escape.
With a final burst of speed, he lunged forward and grabbed at a flutter of shirt. His grip caused the person to jerk and fall, and Kevin tumbled to the ground too.
He slapped a hand on the guy’s arm and hauled him up. The figure was too slight and lightweight to be a man. “What are you doing skulking around my house?”
“It’s me, Kevin.” DeAnn’s husky voice spoke out of the darkness. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
He dropped his grip and stepped back. “What the heck do you think you’re doing? Don’t try to tell me you wanted to see Sadie. It’s after ten and she’s been in bed for hours.”
Without waiting for an answer, he hustled her back toward the house. “You can answer my questions in the light where I can see your face. Mallory will be calling the sheriff if I don’t stop her.” He gritted his teeth and marched her toward the house.
There was no possible reasonable explanation for her appearance here at this hour. All his earlier reservations resurged full force. She wanted something.
She stumbled a little as they went up the porch steps, then she jerked away. “I can walk by myself.”
“I’m sure you can, but I don’t want you running for your car until you’ve answered my questions.” He dug out his key and put it in the lock. Before he turned it, Mallory opened
the door.
“I was just about to call 911.” Her eyes widened as her gaze went over his shoulder and landed on DeAnn. “She’s the intruder?”
“I’m not an intruder. I have every right to be here.” DeAnn pushed past Mallory.
“Not hardly. This is my property. You signed off on everything when you left.”
Kevin and Mallory followed her into the living room, where DeAnn plopped onto the sofa and exhaled. Her French roll had come down in her mad run across the yard, and bits of debris clung to her khaki slacks.
She leaned down and slipped off her right shoe and held it up to show the broken heel. “These are Manolo Blahnik, and they cost the earth. You ruined them.”
“I didn’t tell you to run. You could have come out from under the tree like I told you. Now, what are you doing here?”
Her blue eyes looked him over, then went to linger on Mallory. “She’s the reason you never loved me, isn’t she?”
He sucked in a harsh breath. “Deflecting the question isn’t going to get you anywhere. What do you really want and why are you here?”
She blinked. “You always said Mallory was in your past, but that’s a lie.” DeAnn slipped her shoe back on and stood, wobbling a little on the broken heel. “I’m leaving and you can’t stop me. But you’ll be hearing more from my attorney. I’m going to start exercising my right to see Sadie. That’s what I came here to tell you.”
He blocked her path. “Don’t hurt Sadie just because you’re angry with me. I won’t stand aside and let that happen. You haven’t cared a thing about her in all these years, DeAnn. If I have to, I will contact the media and let them know what the aspiring senator’s wife is up to.”
Her face went white. “You wouldn’t do that.”
Her familiar perfume turned his stomach, but he stood his ground and stared her down. “I’d do anything for Sadie.”
She pressed her lips together and headed for the door without another word. He exhaled. He hadn’t heard the last from her.
Mallory put her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry if my presence escalated things. I can find another place to live while you sort all this out. Maybe you need to think about it.”
Mermaid Moon Page 16
