Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies

by Cynthia Cooke

  But that was something he could never allow himself to do. Not again. Not just for his sake, but for hers. Genie Marsters was a woman who had a powerful need to take care of herself; she needed to stand on her own two feet with no help from anyone else. She didn’t want him protecting her. Didn’t want him coddling her. Hell, she didn’t want him at all.

  “Genie, hold up a sec,” he said and took out his phone. She moved into the trees as he made a quick call to Cameron, filling him in on where he was, and who Mary was. “While you’re at it, can you do me a favor and look into Genie’s mother’s death?” he asked after a slight hesitation. What the hell. The story Genie had repeated seemed sketchy. Even if he never told Genie, at least he could satisfy himself that it really had been an accident. He hoped for Genie’s sake that it had.

  “Why?” Cameron asked. “That happened a long time ago. What could her mother possibly have to do with what’s happening now?”

  Kyle thought of the old perfume bottle on Marsters’ desk. “I don’t know. Probably nothing. I just have a hunch there may have been more involved with her death than we thought.”

  “All right,” Cameron said skeptically. “I’ll add it to the list.”

  “Thanks. I’ll check in later.”

  Kyle hung up the phone, really hoping to hell that he was overreacting to nothing.

  Chapter Six

  Genie hovered among the tangle of trees at the edge of Mary’s property while Kyle called Cameron to fill him in. She would rather he didn’t, not until she knew for sure she could trust him, but at this point there was nothing she could do about it other than listen to make sure nothing was being said she wasn’t already aware of. She took a moment to close her eyes and focus on the cozy cottage in front of her, on the peaceful gardens, and on the dense woods behind them, searching for any negative energy, anything directed toward her, but again she found nothing even remotely disturbing. She gave a sigh of relief. Hopefully Mary was fine.

  She really wished she’d paid more attention to her abilities before now. She realized she’d been depending on her empathic gifts more and more all day, letting her sixth sense guide her through this search for her father. In the past, she’d always tried to ignore it, to “turn it off and shut it out” as Cat had done. She was beginning to wonder why she’d wasted so much time and energy over the years denying how useful her abilities could be. A girl really should exploit whatever advantage she possessed. Even if the insight she gained wasn’t always welcome.

  As Kyle shut his phone and put it back in his pocket, Genie hurried back to the front porch of Mary’s cottage, her quick tread on the wooden steps announcing her presence. The lace curtains behind the transom windows flanking the front door fluttered ever so slightly. Seconds later, the front door flew open and a robust woman with a head full of brown curls ran out the door and barreled into Genie, pulling her into a big hug.

  “Oh, heavens, child. I’ve been so worried. About you and your dad and your sister. Tell me he’s all right. That you are all all right and that I can come back to the house now.”

  “I wish I could,” she said truthfully, hugging her back.

  Mary pulled away and scowled at her, her large hands squeezing Genie’s shoulders, her eyes squinting as they swept up and down her body, taking in every inch of her.

  Genie knew what she was thinking by the disapproving twist of her lips and the tight creases in her forehead. Genie was too thin. Her face too pale. The lines around her eyes and mouth too drawn. Genie offered the older woman a weak smile, though she knew it wasn’t enough. She wasn’t all right. None of them were, and they hadn’t been for a very long time.

  Instinctively, Mary seemed to know. Her eyes drifted over Genie’s shoulder to Kyle standing behind her and she stiffened.

  “This is Kyle,” Genie explained. “I worked with him at CTA. He’s helping me find Dad.”

  Mary swept her distrusting gaze over Kyle before reluctantly nodding. She wound an arm around Genie’s waist and walked her through the front door. “Come in and tell me everything. My, you sure have grown up to be a beauty. Just like your mama.”

  Genie smiled and relaxed as they entered Mary’s home. She studied the older woman now, noticing the gray streaking her reddish brown hair. Her olive skin and deep brown eyes betrayed the Italian heritage she was exceedingly proud of.

  A deep ache settled into Genie’s chest. She had been gone too long. She’d missed this woman almost as much as she’d missed her mother. And yet, Mary had been right here all along, and Genie had never come back. She thought about that and realized to her shame that it had been easier to focus on what was in front of her than to look back at a painful past. But in the process she’d missed so much. Regret pushed at her, making her throat ache.

  She followed Mary through the foyer, with Kyle right on her heels. Genie halfway wished Mary had told him to stay outdoors. Aside from the uncomfortable awareness that caused a constant tension between her and Kyle, there was still that chance her father had gotten away before Emerich’s men had arrived. And if he had, she was certain he wouldn’t want Cameron to know. Otherwise, he would have called Cameron himself. But anything Kyle discovered, he would report to Cameron immediately. He had to. It was his job.

  Except his orders had been to bring her in to headquarters and instead he was here with her now, wasn’t he? Maybe she could trust him. Just a little.

  She and Kyle followed Mary through the family room filled with its large, comfortable furniture, past the massive stone fireplace consuming one entire wall, and into the sunny yellow kitchen. Mary pulled three teacups out of the cupboard and, without asking, poured them all a cup of tea from the kettle. Mary had always liked to make tea. It calmed her, and it was something she did no matter what the time of day.

  Genie sat at the table and held the warm mug between her hands. No sense beating around the bush. “What happened at my dad’s, Mary?”

  The housekeeper hesitated, her gaze moving to Kyle.

  Genie looked at him, her eyebrows raised. He looked back at her and smiled. He wasn’t going anywhere.

  “He’s okay,” Genie said, accepting the ring of truth in her words and hoping she wasn’t making a huge mistake. “He’s here to help.”

  Nervously, Mary brushed her hair back from her face and nodded. “Yesterday morning your dad came out of his study just as I was putting his breakfast on the table. He looked troubled. More so than I’ve seen him in a very long time. Not since the days following your mom’s accident.”

  Genie glanced at Kyle. His eyes were locked on her. Studying her emotions, her reactions. Was he expecting to finally discover her deep dark secrets? Anxiousness rolled off him. She could feel it in him, see it in the tenseness of his hands, his jaw and his shoulders.

  “What did he say?” Genie asked, glancing back to Mary. “Did he tell you what had him upset?”

  “No. Of course not. You know your dad. He never shares anything with anyone.”

  A low sound came from Kyle and Genie glared at him. “Sorry,” he said with a slight twitch of his lips. “That sounds like someone I know.”

  Ignoring him, Genie shifted her chair away from him so she was fully facing Mary. “But…”

  “But I’ve spent too many years with your dad not to know when he’s upset about something. He told me to take a few days off. To go visit my brother on the mainland. I hate going to the mainland. The boat ride makes me ill. I told him that, but he insisted. Said not to come back to the house until he called and told me to. He made me promise.”

  “He said he would call?”

  “Yes. And then he gave me a month’s pay for me to give to all of us who work up at the house and to tell the others the same thing. Not to come back to the house until he calls. Even Armando, the gardener. Your father said the yards could wait.”

  Kyle’s chair creaked as he leaned forward. “Sounds like he was expecting trouble.”

  “And trouble came. That afternoon one of those larg
e, fancy jet boats was tied up at the docks. It was gigantic and bright yellow.”

  “Did you see who was on it?” Genie asked.

  “A handful of men. Nothing special about them except they looked like thugs. You know, tattoos and bulging biceps. Yes, they looked like trouble all right. I went straight to my sister Martha’s and stayed there until I saw that fancy boat leave. Believe me, half the island saw and heard it leave. Afterward, I hurried over to your dad’s to see if he was okay. But no one was there, and his boat was gone. I left before the others arrived.”

  “Others?” Kyle asked, sitting up.

  “Yes, the ones were wearing dark suit jackets, like yours.”

  “Cameron’s men,” Kyle said.

  Somehow her dad had known Emerich’s thugs were coming. Why else would he have sent her the necklace and made everyone leave, as he’d done? Why else would his boat be gone now? He must be okay.

  Relief filled Genie, releasing the tension that had been banding her chest. He must be hiding somewhere. Hiding and waiting for her to return to the island, which he had to have known she’d do. Which he must have intended she do since he’d sent the necklace to her. But why just warn her and not Cat, too?

  He must not have thought anyone knew about Cat. But they had—Emerich and Cameron both.

  “Mary, one more thing. Did you leave a UPS receipt on my dad’s desk?” It wasn’t like her dad to leave her address in plain sight.

  “Receipt?”

  “For the package Dad sent me this morning.”

  Mary hesitated, obviously confused. “There was no package sent. He would have had to go to the mainland for that. He hasn’t left the house in days.”

  Genie stared at her with dawning dismay. Her father hadn’t sent the package? But who, then?

  The vision she’d seen this morning when she’d first touched the crystal swept through her mind. Her sister, Becca, laughing, her blond hair flying in the breeze.

  My God. Goosebumps broke out on her arms, because suddenly she knew what she’d been afraid to admit before. It was true!

  Becca was alive.

  And Becca had sent her that necklace. But why?

  Genie stood abruptly. If it was Becca who’d sent it, her sister must have been at the house. She’d left the receipt for Genie to find.

  Or…for Cameron’s men to find? Again, why?

  “Wait,” Mary said, and also rose from her chair. “Your father gave something to me. I don’t think he wanted those men to find it. It might help you, yes?”

  “Yes,” Genie said, and waited impatiently, shifting from one foot to the other as Mary left the room then came back with her father’s old wooden box. Genie recognized that box, but she hadn’t seen it in years. What on earth…?

  She accepted it from Mary, and cradled it in her arms. “Thanks. I-I should get back to the house. In case he comes home.” Even though they both knew that was unlikely.

  “You be careful,” Mary warned as she gave her another hug. “Promise me?”

  “I will.” Genie hugged her back, and took a last deep breath of her warm cinnamon scent.

  “And eat more. You’re getting too skinny,” Mary admonished.

  Genie smiled. “I will. I promise.”

  When they left the house, Kyle went outside first and checked for unwanted company. She knew he wouldn’t find anyone, could sense they were still safe, but she let him do his job. When he gave the signal, she hurried down the drive, anxious to get back to her father’s house and look in the box. She was tempted to set it on the ground right then and open it, but she didn’t want to take the chance until they were away from prying eyes. Such as Kyle’s, for instance. She wished she could open it without him looking over her shoulder. If her father had given it to Mary, it was because he didn’t want his pursuers to find it. Or probably Cameron and the CTA, either. Dad must have known they would come and investigate when he disappeared.

  Something was definitely going on here. And she had a sinking feeling her father knew exactly what it was.

  So, why hadn’t he told her?

  …

  Kyle bit his tongue as long as he could while walking back through the woods toward Genie’s father’s house. After everything they’d been through together, everything that had happened between them today alone, she was still keeping important things from him about her father’s disappearance and the threat to her and Cat. It was maddening.

  “What was in the UPS package?” he asked as they cautiously entered the house.

  “Nothing important.” She stepped up her pace, effectively evading him as she walked through one room after another, checking them for any changes indicating intruders.

  “You said your father sent you a package this morning. The day you were almost abducted and your father went missing. You don’t consider that important?”

  “It was just my mother’s necklace.” She pulled it out from under her shirt and showed him. “And who knows if my father actually sent it.”

  He looked at the crystal in its setting, then up at her too-innocent face. “Genie, I’m here to help you. Don’t you think if someone, anyone, sent you a necklace, your mother’s necklace, the very same day all hell broke loose that maybe you should have mentioned it?”

  “I don’t recall asking for your help, Kyle.”

  Frustration coiled through him. “Why are you being so damn stubborn?”

  “Thank you for getting me here, I appreciate it. I really do, but I’m home now, and I really just need you to go away.”

  Stunned, he stared at the hardness in her blue eyes. Earlier, she’d seemed relieved to have him there in the house with her. Now suddenly she wanted him gone? And then it hit him. “Because for some reason you suspect that Emerich didn’t take your dad, after all. Which probably means your father’s hiding somewhere nearby.”

  She didn’t answer, just stood regarding him impassively, her arms holding the box crossed against her chest.

  “Let’s open the box,” he suggested evenly.

  She didn’t move. The look in her eyes just got more stubborn.

  Kyle clamped down on his growing anger and frustration. “Really? I’m not just your ride to this island, Genie. I have always had your back, and you’ve always had mine before. What’s changed? What the hell did I ever do to lose your trust?”

  Her gaze shifted to the floor. “I don’t trust anyone. I never have.”

  He sucked down a deep breath, grasping for the last remnants of his patience. “What more do I have to do to prove myself? I’m not the one who…” He stopped, swallowing his words, knowing they wouldn’t get him anywhere.

  “Who what?” She challenged, her chin lifting. “You think I betrayed you?”

  “Didn’t you?” he shot back.

  She flinched, then went stony-faced, her chest heaving.

  “You knew Becca was in that warehouse,” he said, his voice edging on accusation. “You warned her we were looking for her.”

  “I didn’t.” Her eyes glided away. “I never even saw her.”

  She was actually lying to him! His insides went cold. “You turned off your GPS locator. You went inside alone. You broke protocol. You knew she was a person of interest in connection with Emerich and yet you told no one who she was. That she was your goddamn sister. Not even me!” The last came out in full-blown anger.

  “So I kept a secret. That doesn’t make me a traitor.”

  “Maybe not,” he said through gritted teeth. “But it makes you one hell of a bad partner.”

  His words hung in the still air of the kitchen.

  “After I pulled you out of that building,” Kyle continued, his voice raw with suppressed emotion and the pain of betrayal. “You told me she was there. I went in after her, I landed in the emergency room barely alive, and Emerich got clean away. So, please tell me, Genie. If you never saw Becca that day, why would you send me back into that building to die?”

  Confusion played like a swiftly moving gale across her su
ddenly pale face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said hoarsely, and took a step back from him. “I don’t remember seeing her, and I sure as hell don’t remember sending you back in after her. I honestly don’t even remember seeing you. All I know is that I’ve lost my sister and my father is missing, and right now, I want— No, I need for you to go. For both our sakes.”

  She was obviously still lying to him. Fury swept through him with a vengeance. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him. His fingers dug into her skin as anger clouded his reason again, boiling, raging. “I loved you,” he ground out. “I don’t let a lot of people in, darlin’, but I let you in, and you…” He swallowed back the bile. He couldn’t say it. Couldn’t admit to her or even himself how badly she’d hurt him.

  But she had, and the worst part—the part that really made him see red—was that even now, even as he stared into her brilliant eyes, flushed cheeks, and plump red lips…he still wanted to kiss her. To yank her up against him and ravish that mouth and remind her how damn good they’d been together, to show her exactly what she’d thrown away.

  But he didn’t. Instead, he pushed her away, disgusted with himself.

  “Yes, I was at the warehouse,” she said, her eyes glittering. “And yeah, I turned off my GPS. But I did not see Becca. I was not the reason Emerich got away. But you never believed that. You doubted my loyalty! You all did. And you clearly still doubt me. So excuse frickin’ me if I don’t have a lot of faith in you right now, either. Deal with it. I have.” She whirled, and stalked away from him.

  Fists clenched, he stared after her incredulously. So this was all his fault?

  “We could have talked about it. Sorted it out,” he said, striding after her. “But instead, you chose to run away, to lose yourself. You just threw us away like yesterday’s—”

  He broke off his tirade abruptly. It didn’t matter if she felt betrayed or if he felt hurt and abandoned. Because neither of them could change the past—his doubts about her, her doubts about him.