Justin put his arms around me in a tight embrace. “I’m all for that,” he said. “But you’re not getting off that easy. If any more red Toyotas start following you, the deal is off.”
Chapter Five
“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I suggested we spend a quiet day alone.”
Justin paid the clerk for the plastic cup of worms, then raised his eyebrow and grinned while he pocketed his change. The smelly bait in one hand, he wrapped my shoulder with the other one. “What exactly did you have in mind?”
We’d left the house soon after I agreed to consider spending time with Uncle Bob. I had slapped a few sandwiches together, tossed a bag of potato chips along with a six pack of soft drinks into a picnic basket, then accompanied Justin outside to his car. As soon as he’d popped the lid on the trunk, I noticed the assortment of fishing poles and tackle.
“For some reason, I pictured us snuggled together in some isolated corner of a movie theater, watching a romantic movie,” I answered.
Of course, I was joking. I knew Justin well enough to realize he’d never sit through a romantic movie. He preferred action movies, which was rather ironic when I thought about it. I was the one with the gun, but yet, I’d rather sit and watch a love story.
Justin started the engine and eased the car onto the highway. “I just figured a day at the lake might be more adventurous for you than sitting in some dark movie theater.”
I jerked my head toward him, my eyes wide. “Are you saying you don’t think of me as the romantic type just because I want to go after the bad guys?” That really hurt. Maybe I didn’t know Justin as well as I thought I did. Or maybe he didn’t know me. Either way, once again I was beginning to wonder what kind of a future we could possibly have together.
Justin rolled his eyes. “That’s not what I meant at all,” he snapped. He blew out a long breath between pursed lips. “Denise,” he said, “we’re both a little stressed right now. I admit it. I’m worried sick about this thing with Michael Black. But we both promised we wouldn’t talk about it today.” He looked my way and smiled. “Truce?”
I smiled back. “Truce.” I didn’t want to fight. I’d always wondered what would have happened if Justin hadn’t gone off to college right after graduation. Maybe now I had a chance to find out.
“Good. Because I’ve already scouted out a romantic little hideaway near the river for our picnic lunch.” He reached across the seat and put his hand on mine. “This is supposed to be our time together—just the two of us. Let’s make a fresh start, okay? I think we owe it to ourselves.”
“I agree,” I told him. I leaned back against the headrest. At least we’d be alone where we could talk out our problems, I realized. A smile warmed my cheeks when another pleasant thought came to me. Justin thought fishing in a secluded area was romantic. That was a pretty good start.
Justin let out a long breath and turned the steering wheel onto a tree-lined street. “But first I want to show you something. We’ll just need to make a little detour on the way to the lake. So close your eyes until I tell you when to open them.”
I had no idea what he had in mind, but I closed my eyelids anyway, listening to the melodic beat of the music on the radio. With the windows rolled down, the summer breeze slapped playfully against my cheeks.
About five minutes later, I felt the car come to a stop.
“Okay,” Justin said. “You can open them now.”
I opened my eyes in the driveway of a cozy, one-story brick house with wooden shadow boxes beneath the windows. A For Sale sign perched in the parched front lawn. “What’s this?” I asked. “Why are we stopping here?”
Justin held out a set of keys. “It’s my new house,” he said. His proud smile lit up his face. “Wanna have a look inside?” He jingled the keys and smiled even wider.
He yanked the sign from the lawn, then met me at my door and reached for my hand. “I’ll give you the grand tour.” When I stepped out, his arm wrapped around my waist in a comforting gesture.
“It needs a little work,” he said before opening the front door. “The owners were anxious to sell, so I got it for a good price. And it’s close to the school, so I won’t have a long commute to work.” He seemed anxious to have my approval.
“I thought you said you were apartment hunting,” I reminded him. I never dreamed he’d buy a house so quickly.
He grinned. “I lied. I plan to stick around. I want my own place.”
It was definitely a fixer-upper, I realized, when I stepped through the doorway. An overwhelming musty smell entered my nostrils the minute I entered.
“It’s been locked up for a long time,” Justin told me. “I’ll get back over here later this week and open up the windows to let some fresh air in.”
I just nodded, hoping that Justin hadn’t gotten himself into something that was over his head. The living room boasted chipped and peeling green paint. Several bare spots claimed the worn, stained, cream-colored shag carpet in several places.
Justin bent down and pulled a piece of the carpet away from the floor. “This will be easy to fix,” he said. “Look, there’s hardwood flooring underneath it. All I have to do is rip it all out and clean up the existing floor.”
I had to admit, the house did have possibilities. A huge fireplace with a sagging mantel was the focal point in the living room. I could picture Justin and me snuggled together on a cozy rug, sipping hot chocolate in the winter months.
In the kitchen, the appliances were mismatched and out of date. “I don’t even think the stove still works,” Justin admitted, as he pulled open the oven door. “Even if it does, I don’t think I’d trust it. It looks pretty old.”
“You can use a hotplate until you get a stove,” I suggested. “And you’ll need a refrigerator,” I added, indicating the empty space where such an appliance had once been.
My gaze was drawn to the countertops. The Formica appeared to be the original top that came with the house. The speckled green and white coloring was now chipped and stained.
I reached over and turned on the faucet at the kitchen sink.
“I still have to go by and have the utilities turned on,” he explained when no water came out. He stood at the sink and placed his hands behind him on the counter. “Well, what do you think?” he asked, his expression full of pride.
I reached up and opened a cabinet. One hinge had come loose and the door tilted down.
Justin seemed to sense my skepticism. “Okay, it needs a lot of work,” he admitted with a smile. “But it’s my first home.” He turned to me, his smile wide and full of hope. “I’m pretty handy around the house, if I do say so myself. I think I can turn this place into something to be proud of.”
I squeezed his hand. “I know you can,” I told him.
His chest expanded with pride. “I was kind of hoping you’d be willing to help out,” he said. His eyes misted with longing. “I have never given up on us, Denise. I can’t tell you how many times I’d been tempted to call you over the past few years.”
I stared straight ahead. “Why didn’t you?” It was something I’d always wondered, I realized.
A long pause ensued. At first I thought he wasn’t going to answer.
“My mom told me you had left Clayfield also,” he finally said. He swallowed hard. “I guess I just figured you’d moved on without me.” He glanced at me and smiled. “Honestly, I was afraid I’d come back here and learn that you had married and now had a houseful of kids.”
I’d actually thought the same thing about him, but I didn’t mention it. I was sure if that had been the case, my parents would have told me.
Justin squeezed my hand tighter, then raised it to his lips. “I still love you, Denise,” he said softly. He kissed my hand. “I always have and I always will.”
“I love you too,” I admitted, my voice barely a croak.
****
Thirty minutes later, the rich earthy smell of the river reached my nostrils. I closed my eyes,
enjoying the pleasing aroma.
“It’s gonna be a little bumpy from this point on,” Justin said, breaking into my peaceful slumber. “And this old car makes the ride even worse.” He turned and winked. “Obviously, a newer car is next on my list of major purchases.”
I smiled and leaned back against the tattered seat. I wasn’t about to let a bumpy road ruin my good mood. Justin and I had reached a major milestone back at his new house. The years apart had done nothing to diminish our love for each other. It was a great feeling, one I planned to savor as long as I could. For this one afternoon, I planned to banish all thoughts of Michael Black and Angelica Belmont from my mind. This time was reserved only for Justin and me.
But when I opened my eyes, a dirt road loomed before us. It was flanked by tall trees and overgrown bushes. The old car rattled along the narrow road that wound its way through thick brush and steep hills. I held my breath when we approached a rickety old bridge.
“You’re kidding,” I said. “That can’t be safe.” It had to be a hundred years old, I thought. I straightened and braced myself against the seat as Justin eased the car onto the bridge. The clatter of weathered boards beneath the tires sent icy shivers up my spine. I didn’t realize I’d clenched my teeth until we had exited the other side and I relaxed my aching face. I rubbed my jaws to lessen the pain.
“See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Justin joked.
I blew out a long breath of air, then reached over and punched him. “Please tell me there’s another way home.”
Finally Justin maneuvered the car close to a huge oak tree near the side of the road. “Okay,” he said. “We’re here, safe and sound,” he announced. “Now let’s grab the gear so I can show you the romantic little spot I’ve picked out just for us.” His blue eyes twinkled as he spoke.
I followed him to the back of the car, thankful I’d worn tennis shoes. The rocky terrain made walking difficult.
Justin raised the trunk lid and handed me two fishing poles and a tackle box. “Can you handle all that?” he asked.
Before I could answer, Justin reached for a quilted blanket and placed it on top of a large cooler. With both hands, he hoisted the cooler from the trunk and elbowed the lid closed. “Be careful,” he said. “It might be a little tricky going down the hill. But I promise you it will be worth it.”
He wasn’t kidding, I soon realized. Once we’d reached the bottom of the narrow path, my gaze settled on a huge maple tree centered on a grassy area next to the river. A slight breeze rustled the leaves while birds sang a romantic tune.
Justin lowered the cooler, and spread the blanket on the ground, a few feet from the soft rippling water.
I leaned the poles against the tree, while Justin set the tackle box on one corner of the blanket.
“After you,” he said, motioning for me to sit down. He sat beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Now isn’t this romantic?” He eased in closer and nuzzled against my hair. “There’s no one here but me, you, and the fish. And we need to talk.”
“Okay, you win. It is romantic,” I agreed. “And I love you for bringing me to this peaceful place for the day. I’m far away from all my troubles for the time being.” I looked at him pointedly. “But as far as my career choice, nothing has changed.”
“You’re wrong, Denise,” he replied. He traced his finger lightly over my cheek. “Everything has changed. Your life may be in danger now.”
“Through no fault of my own,” I quickly pointed out. I turned my face to his. “Which just goes to prove that no one is always safe, Justin. No matter what line of work they’re in.”
He took my hand in his. “Okay, point taken,” he finally conceded. “Life is a risk. But it’s your life I’m worried about right now.”
A gentle breeze rustled the tree’s leaves, and one fluttered onto the blanket. I picked it up, pretended to study it, then gently plucked away the green until only the veins remained. “I really do appreciate your concern, Justin,” I said. “And I also understand how you feel. After you left, I worried about you too. But we can’t try to control each other’s lives. We’re entitled to create our own space in life. If we can’t allow each other that simple pleasure, then we don’t stand a chance together.”
I could feel the moisture behind my eyelids, but I refused to cry. I had to make Justin see that we could have a life together my way.
Justin reached for a rock and skipped it across the water. “While I was away, I kept asking my parents about you. I wondered if you’d ever met anyone else.”
I smiled. “I guess it was easy for us to keep tabs on each other with our parents living so close.”
He continued. “All I could think about was that last day we spent together. The awful fight we had. I was afraid I’d lost you forever.”
“Justin…” I began.
He put up a hand in silence. “Let me finish. I can’t deny that I don’t like your career choice. The possibility of you getting hurt scares me half to death. But I can promise you I’ll try my best to accept whatever you decide to do with your life.” He cupped my chin with his hand and looked me in the eye. “But please,” he pleaded, “let your uncle Bob help you solve this mystery. You said yourself, ‘confidence comes with experience.’ But right now you have no experience. You know as well as I do that you can’t pull this one off by yourself.”
I pulled my gaze from his, and directed my attention to the soft waves of the river. In the distance, a fishing boat sailed past, creating a rippling motion of waves that gently splashed against the riverbank.
I knew Justin was right. I did need help. Someone out there might be trying to kill me. Unfortunately, I had no proof of that. I needed someone who would be as concerned about my safety as much as I was. Someone like my uncle Bob.
I looked back at Justin. “You’re right,” I said. “I do need help. And I won’t lie by saying I’m not scared. But I also know I have to solve this mystery without the help of the police. Because right now, there’s no way I can explain the disappearance of Angelica Belmont’s body from Michael Black’s house.”
Justin sighed and combed his hand through his thick hair. “Then you’ll tell your uncle everything?”
I nodded. “But I’ll tell him in my own way. Agreed?”
He wrinkled his brow.
“I have to make sure he won’t go to the police,” I said. “It’s the only way I’ll agree to this. Once I know he’s on my side, I’ll fill him in on everything.”
I could tell he didn’t like my plan, but he agreed anyway. “Okay. Today we fish and enjoy ourselves. But tomorrow, we go to see your uncle Bob.” He handed me a pole and the cup of worms. “Here you go.”
I hadn’t fished in years. Dad used to take Mom and me on weekend outings when I was younger. But back then, Dad used to bait my hook. With gritted teeth, I slid my hand into the cup and extracted a slimy, squiggly worm. Gliding it onto the hook, I tossed the line into the water.
“Good job,” he said. “I’m impressed.”
I shot him a look. “You should be,” I responded with a wink.
Justin placed his pole onto the blanket, then reached for the cooler. “What’s for lunch?” he asked. “I’ve worked up an appetite.” He reached in and extracted two ham and cheese sandwiches. “Here you go,” he said, handing me one.
We ate in companionable silence, checking our lines now and again for bites. We took long walks, skipping stones into the river, holding hands and feeling like a couple again. It was a great feeling. When the sun dipped below the horizon, neither one of us had any fish to show for our efforts, but we didn’t care. We had accomplished the things that were important to us. And that meant a lot.
Justin reeled in our empty lines and secured the hooks. “It’s getting late,” he said. “We should probably start getting this stuff packed up.”
While Justin reorganized the tackle box, I gathered up the remaining trash, and stuffed it into the plastic bag we had brought along.
; While I stood staring at the peaceful river, now shrouded in semidarkness, a chill coursed through my body. I wondered if this could be the same river where Angelica Belmont’s body was discovered. I hoped not. A place so relaxing, so soothing, shouldn’t be the place for such tragedy.
Justin seemed to sense my thoughts. “We’ll find out what happened, Denise,” he said, wrapping his arm around my waist. “We’ll get your uncle Bob to help out. He’ll know what to do.”
I hoped so. I just hoped his help didn’t involve alerting the police. That would ruin everything. I knew I’d have to engage Uncle Bob’s help a little at a time.
Justin went to shake out the blanket, then loaded up the cooler. “I hope you know how lucky you are,” he said, standing beside me again. “If you had walked into Michael Black’s house a few minutes earlier, you might have been found floating in a river too.”
I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind of that horrible image. It was something I had already considered.
“Let’s go,” he said. “Let’s get this gear loaded back into the car and get out of here.”
I gathered up the poles and the tackle box and caught the flashlight he tossed to me. “Go on up,” he said. “I’ll check around and make sure we haven’t forgotten anything.”
I followed the same rocky path we’d come down, but even with the flashlight’s beam, finding my way was difficult. Crickets, frogs, and unknown rustling noises made the short trip more frightening than it had been earlier. When I reached the top of the hill, I aimed the light toward the blue Malibu, then hastened my pace, stepping over small stones and thick brush.
I leaned the poles against the back of the car when I suddenly noticed the glare of another vehicle’s headlights behind me. I raised my arms and shaded my eyes from the glare. The sudden peel of tires and a racing motor sent chills up my spine. The car sped toward me, but I managed to hurl myself away just seconds before I heard the crunch of the fishing poles and Justin’s rear bumper in the background.
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