It was time for Bailey to speak. “It was an accident five years ago. He was diving in Turks and Caicos.”
“I had no idea,” Pamela whispered, her gaze falling to the floor. “So young.”
“You know, Pamela, you might be able to help Bailey. She came here to learn more about her husband’s younger days. He never told her much about his youth and she was hoping to meet some of his friends. That’s how she and I met. She found some photos from our summer camp days.”
Pamela lifted her head and smiled. “Those wonderful summers. Such good memories. Frank was so much fun. He had a real zest for life. People loved him, you know.”
No, she didn’t know. It was hard to reconcile the man she was hearing about with the man she’d married. He’d always been reserved but as time had gone on he’d become colder and more remote with every passing day. He hadn’t been happy married to her.
“What about his friends?” Chase queried. “Who would you say he hung out with the most?”
Her smiled widened and she batted her eyelashes. “That’s an easy question. They were like the five musketeers. You rarely saw one without the other. There was Alex, Greg, Danny, Guy, and of course Frank. They were like brothers. They played together and competed against each other.”
“You knew Frank well?” Bailey asked eagerly.
Pink colored the pretty woman’s cheeks. “I had a crush on Frank for a few years but ended up dating Alex. Now he was a wild one. Frank was more intellectual. He would quote Shakespeare to soften the girls up. Alex would take you on a motorcycle ride and almost get you killed.”
Frank had liked Shakespeare. And Keats as well.
“So you didn’t date him? You can tell me if you did, I won’t be upset,” Bailey assured Pamela.
“I didn’t although I wouldn’t have turned him down. He was with a lot of girls over the summers. He didn’t like being tied down. He must have fallen hard if he married you. He told me he never wanted to get married or have kids.”
Well, he’d stuck to one of those. Bailey had agreed not to have any children when he’d proposed.
“Did he date Gwen?”
Chase’s question dimmed Pamela’s smile and she swallowed hard before she answered.
“Yes, he did. That last summer they spent a lot of time together. But Gwen spent time with other boys too. She was wild that summer. It seemed like she was trying to prove something, although I don’t know what. But she flirted and kissed a lot of guys, including Frank.” Pamela pulled a tissue from her purse and dabbed at her tearing eyes. “Shame on me, I haven’t thought about Gwen in years. She was such a sweet girl.”
“So you were friends?” Chase asked, reaching for the blonde’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Yes and no.” Pamela laughed nervously. “I was a year younger so I wasn’t in her inner circle but we were allowed to hang around the campfires with them and listen to music and dance. That sort of thing. I guess you could say that we were friends once removed. She let me borrow a skirt once but I didn’t hear her deep, dark secrets. That’s what I told the police all those years ago. It’s so sad that they’re both gone now. It’s hard to believe. They were so full of life.”
“Alex Vaughn and Greg Nelson are also gone,” Bailey revealed. “They died five years ago too.”
Pamela frowned, her brow wrinkled. “All of them? There’s no way they could have died together.”
It wasn’t phrased as a question.
“No, they weren’t together when they died,” Bailey replied. “You seem awfully sure about that though. Why?”
“Because on the day after Gwen was found I saw the three of them arguing. They even took a couple swings at each other. I didn’t see them speak another word for the next two days. Then when I went to Danny’s wedding I expected to see all of them there, but according to one of the bridesmaids the five of them weren’t friends any longer. The strain of the summer took its toll on all of us I guess but in different ways.”
They were friends and then they weren’t. The only thing that had changed?
Gwen Baxter had been brutally murdered.
Frank had more secrets than Bailey had ever imagined.
Chapter Fifteen
Bailey had been quiet the entire drive to Chase’s house and he hadn’t tried to force her to talk. Instead he let her absorb all that she had learned about her late husband knowing she needed the time and space to process the information.
Plus the kiss.
He hadn’t been planning to kiss her when he followed her outside. He’d been worried about her state of mind, but then when he’d placed his hands on her silky skin and breathed in the light fragrance of her hair he’d been powerless to stop himself. And damn if her lips weren’t the softest he’d ever felt in his life. The breathy little sounds she made when his tongue had explored her mouth had him hard and ready but it was way too soon to be thinking carnal thoughts. This relationship – assuming there was going to be one – needed to move slowly. She was ready to move on but she had business from the past that had to be tended.
It didn’t help that they lived hundreds of miles from one another. He wasn’t a casual kind of guy and if he slept with Bailey, it was because he had real feelings for her. He wasn’t the hit and run type. If he fell for her, was he willing to make compromises for her?
Shit, too soon. Way too soon.
They’d had one kiss. Maybe he could stop planning their life together. Enjoy the moment and see where things led. In a couple of days he might be completely tired of her company. For all he knew she snored, had bad table manners, and drank like a fish. Or even worse, worshipped money and all that came with it. That would be the worst thing he could imagine.
No time like the present to find out.
“Why don’t you relax on the patio and I’ll get us some wine?”
The evening air had cooled from the heat of the day and a pleasant breeze was blowing over his back patio that overlooked the river. At this time of night, the purple sky was dotted with stars with only a sliver of moon to light the scenery.
Quickly pouring two glasses of chardonnay, he joined her outside settling onto the love seat glider. It had been one of his first purchases after his divorce and he’d fallen asleep on it more nights than he could count as he listened to the crickets and the rustle of leaves.
He didn’t waste any time. She had questions and that’s why they were here.
“I’m a member of the club because I like to play tennis and they have the best courts. Otherwise I spend very little time there.”
There was a small silence as Bailey took a sip of her wine. “Forgive me for being blunt but I kind of thought you were perhaps unemployed. You seem to have a great deal of free time on your hands that most people don’t. You haven’t talked about a job or vocation…”
That was true, he hadn’t. Mostly because he found it dull as dishwater and whenever he had spoken about it he just about put people to sleep.
“I am unemployed in the sense that I don’t work for other people. I work for myself. And the reason I don’t talk about it much is that I don’t find it very interesting. Just because I’m good at something doesn’t mean I enjoy it.”
Her forehead was all wrinkled and her lips pursed together. “What? I got the first part but then you lost me.”
“I buy and sell stocks for a living. That’s how I make my money. Before that I was a real estate broker like my parents.”
She looked back out over the river. “Like a stockbroker? Or a financial advisor?”
Chase shook his head. “I do it just for me. Turns out I have a knack for picking winners and making money at it. But I find the whole thing kind of boring, honestly. I only did it because I needed money after the divorce. Mother necessity and all that.”
She didn’t appear all that angry with him for not telling her. Her lips were curved into a wicked smile. “Some people just get a job.”
Shuddering, he was reminded of what his
own parents had said on the subject. “I’ve heard that rumor from friends and family but I refused to believe it. You probably figured this out about me eventually so I’ll let you in on a not-too-secret factoid about me. I hate to be told what to do. It’s a flaw, I know, but that’s me. I don’t like people bossing me around and I get rather contrary about things and tend to do the opposite. Consequently I had to find a way to make money without actually being an employee.”
Bailey threw back her head and laughed, a musical sound that made his heart skip. “That is the funniest thing I’ve heard in a very long time. That must have been a hindrance when you were married.”
Groaning, Chase took a big gulp of his wine. Ah, the rotten memories. “That’s an understatement. But I figured out my issue and then I found a way to make money despite it. I’m actually good at it but I wouldn’t say that I have any passion for it. It’s a means to an end.”
“What do you have a passion for?”
Dare he tell her? He was a simple guy and some women didn’t want that.
“I like going running every morning no matter the weather. I run some local marathons and want to run the Boston Marathon someday. I like to fish, hike, and camp. I like to watch sports and drink beer and eat wings. I like to read on rainy days and play poker with the guys on Friday nights. Twice a year I travel for a few weeks and see a corner of this planet I haven’t seen before. Mostly I like slowing down long enough to enjoy life. You probably think I’m lazy and I’ve heard that before. I wouldn’t blame you or anything. I know women like workaholic men.”
Wrinkling her nose, Bailey shook her head. “Been there, done that. I think your life sounds kind of nice. Except for the camping part. I’ve never been able to figure out why people want to sleep outside. That’s a mystery. But the rest sounds nice. My friends would probably tell you I work too much.”
“Then slow down. Don’t you own your own business?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Sure it is, if you want it.”
She didn’t speak for a long while and Chase didn’t either. Eventually she shifted on the glider to face him. “Thank you for telling me.”
“You’re welcome. Is there anything else you want to know? My life is an open book although I don’t talk about it much.”
“Maybe one question.”
“Shoot.”
Their gazes locked and she moved closer to him, her hand brushing his arm. “Why do you hold onto the summer camp? Why do you live right next to it?”
She had a way of cutting to the heart of a matter. “I live here because some of my best memories are here. Those summers as a kid were good. As for why I don’t sell? It’s a piece of my parents and I’m not ready to let it go yet. My childhood wasn’t exactly Norman Rockwell and my parents had their issues, but for a few weeks in the summer we acted like a family. I guess I’m not ready to let that go yet. I’ve had offers. Good ones. Someday I will.”
“That’s it.” Bailey shrugged. “I think that’s all my questions.”
“No personal questions about my marriage or my divorce? So disappointing, Bailey.”
She rolled her eyes and set her wine glass on the side table. “I think I’d like to be on a need to know basis there. If I need to know, tell me. Otherwise, I’d like to concentrate on the present when it comes to us. As it is I’m delving in the past too much.”
Wise. It was also a relief. He didn’t like talking about that time in his life all that much. He’d been young and stupid and in his experience that was nothing to brag about. Least of all to a woman.
“Just know you can ask me anytime. This wasn’t a one-time offer.”
She sighed, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress. “There is something I want to ask you but it’s not about your past. It’s about Frank.”
His fingers covered hers, his hand encompassing her much smaller one. “Go ahead. I’m listening.”
She laughed softly and smiled. “You always do, you know? You really listen to me even when I’m babbling on and on about something.”
“I wouldn’t call it babbling.”
“I would,” she retorted, her smile dying and her chin quivering. “Pamela said that Frank and Gwen dated that summer. Do you–do you think–Damn, I can barely say it. I came here because I thought that the person who killed Gwen might have some connection to Frank’s death, even though it was supposed to be an accident. But now, hearing what Pamela said, do you think…Frank might have been a suspect?”
Chase had been avoiding that subject but the short answer was yes. “There were over a hundred people in that camp and every one of them was a suspect in the beginning. Yes, even me until I could prove I had an alibi. We’ll know more when Ellis gets us a copy of that file and we can see the statements from any witnesses. I wouldn’t go borrowing trouble when we already have plenty of our own.”
“You’re right,” she murmured, mollified at least for now. “It sounds like Gwen dated lots of boys. I can’t help but wonder though what Frank, Alex, and Greg were arguing about. Was it Gwen or something entirely different?”
“That may be something we’ll never know. But I’m going to try to get us in to talk to Danny Ford. He might know or know of someone else who can tell us. We need to talk to Guy as well. I’ll use some of my contacts and see if I can get a number for him.”
He ran a finger down her bare arm until she looked up at him, their gazes colliding. The tension and heat that had been simmering between them all night was in full force again and he cautiously – slowly – lowered his head to press his lips to hers, giving her the chance to pull back if she wanted to.
She didn’t.
Her mouth blossomed under his and he pulled her closer, his hands gliding down her back to rest at the base of her spine. Her fingers were digging into his shoulders and his ears rang as the blood pumped through his veins.
Her palms flattened against his chest and she tore her lips from his, their breathing ragged and labored. “Are you expecting anyone?”
What the hell was she talking about? He dipped down to capture her lips again but she moved away quickly. “The door. Are you expecting anyone?”
Only then did he realize the ringing in his ears wasn’t from the kiss, although it had been sizzling hot. Someone was laying on the doorbell like their life depended on it.
Lumbering to his feet, he straightened his shirt as he plotted the demise of whomever was on the other side of that door.
The doorbell rang again and now that Chase’s brain was beginning to function again he knew that ring quite well.
Ellis.
It better be damn important. He’d better have the file he promised.
“Can you wait here for a moment while I go beat the hell out of my friend?”
Chapter Sixteen
Ellis Hunter was tall, handsome, and obviously a good friend to Chase. He’d strode into the house as if he’d been there a million times – and he probably had – asking for a cold beer before handing over the thick manila folder in his hand.
“Is that a folder in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?”
Chase reached for the file but Ellis held it back.
“I shouldn’t even be giving this to you.”
Arching a brow, Chase snatched it out of his friend’s hand. “Right. Because the local cops give a shit about a twenty-year-old murder that they weren’t able to solve. I’m sure they want to draw everyone’s attention to that as often as possible. Give me a break. They’d like that file to get lost in the incinerator in the basement and never be seen again.”
“I’m told it was a black eye to the department at the time.”
“Do they have anyone working this cold case even if it’s only now and then?”
Ellis twisted the top off the beer bottle and tossed it in the trash. “The low man on the detective totem pole works cold cases so he might have looked through the file or the evidence. All I’m saying is don’t go telling anyone I gave that
to you.”
“Who would I tell? Josh?”
Ellis laughed and settled onto the couch. “That asshole will tell all his dogs and cats and you know what gossips domesticated animals are.”
Chase turned to Bailey who had been watching the back and forth with interest. “Josh is a veterinarian.”
“We should have him meet Willow. She loves animals.”
Bailey made a mental note that she needed to call both Willow and Peyton. So much had happened since she’d last spoken to them. It might indeed be time for the two women to travel up here.
Bailey took a seat on the recliner and Chase sat on the other end of the couch. “Can you give me the summary? I’ll look through every piece of paper but I’d kind of like to know the end of the book before I read it.”
“Cheater,” Ellis taunted, stretching out his legs and taking another draw on his beer. “Hmmm…where to start? By the time the cops got to the crime scene it had been contaminated by people trampling all over any evidence that might have been left there. So forensically we were shit out of luck for the most part. They did find a few stray hairs on Gwen’s body and they believe that the killer was left-handed, which narrows the suspect pool down to a mere ten percent of the human population.”
Chase tapped his chin. “Stabbing is a messy method. Was there any other blood there besides Gwen’s?”
“It’s messy but according to the coroner’s report Gwen was probably incapacitated by a blow to the head before the killer began stabbing her. A detail the cops kept to themselves. Everyone else only knows about the knife wounds. As for other blood, there was no other blood found on her. There was other blood in the area but it was inconclusive as to whether it belonged to this incident or someone just getting hurt a day earlier.”
“The camp nurse was kept pretty busy,” Chase conceded. “We were always getting into trouble and that meant a lot of Band-aids. What about suspects?”
Bailey was beginning to lose hope with every question and answer. It didn’t look like there was any concrete evidence as to who killed Gwen Baxter. So even if they had a strong suspect, they wouldn’t be able to link him or her to the crime.
Wicked After Midnight (Midnight Blue Beach Book 1) Page 10
