“Oh, that would suck. You do all the preliminary work and they take it over?” she gasped in indignation.
Chuckling, he nodded, “Yeah, but you do it because as much as you like solving puzzles, if a crime is involved, you want the guilty to pay.”
“So who’s guilty here?”
“Too early to tell. Walter might be in trouble with the law. He might be injured. Or maybe he just left with another woman—”
“That would break Eleanor’s heart,” she said.
Nodding again, Gareth agreed, but stayed quiet. His instincts told him they were not going to like what they found.
Chapter Ten
Gareth sat on a barstool at Finn’s and watched Katelyn wink at him before she headed toward the kitchen. Unable to keep the grin off his face, he turned back to his beer, startled to find Brogan leaning his tattooed arms on the bar right in front of him. Holding Brogan’s stare, he said tersely, “Got something on your mind?”
Brogan stayed silent for a long moment before he nodded and jerked his head toward the door. Gareth slid off his stool and, with his beer in his hand, followed Brogan out the front door where a couple of tables and chairs sat on the sidewalk. So alike in appearance to Aiden with his dark hair and tats, and yet so different in temperament, Brogan’s quiet introspection rolled over Gareth. Family concern was a foreign concept to him, considering his mother seemed to drop her maternal instincts as soon as his dad died, but he knew he had to suffer through the MacFarlane clan’s up-in-your-business attitude. The two men settled facing each other, Gareth waiting to let Brogan pull his thoughts together.
After a moment, the large man dropped his chin to his chest before speaking. “Katelyn was fearless growin’ up. So fuckin’ fearless. She’d play with the girls, but was just as determined to keep up with us boys as well. I can still see her dark pigtails flying out behind her as she raced each of us to see who was faster.”
Gareth sat quietly, surprised at Brogan’s words. He both loved hearing about Katelyn as a child and hated that he knew Brogan was going to warn him off Katelyn—something that would not go over well.
Brogan continued, “As a teenager, she kept that fearlessness. She had a spark about her…she took life by the horns and never let go. By the time the guys grew up and were thinking with their dicks instead of how fast she could run, I knew I’d have to warn them all off. But she cast her eye toward Philip Bayles and somehow, of all my friends, he was the only one I thought was good enough for her. But I still threatened him to make sure he treated her right.”
Sighing, he continued, “I went off to war…hell, all of us did. What the fuck else were we going to do to get out of Baytown and see the world? Most of us found out the world we saw was a shithole compared to where we were raised. When I got the news that Philip had been killed…shocked the shit outta me.”
Gareth watched the emotions play across Brogan’s rough face as pain slashed through his eyes.
“But when I came back, Katelyn was gone. Her body was here, but my sister was gone. No spark. No life. Nothing. When Philip came home in a box to be buried, it was as though Katelyn was buried right along with him.” His gaze drifted to the occasional car driving down Main Street, breaking up the quiet of the evening. “I wanted her happy but learned to accept that maybe it had passed her by. Like I said, Philip was the only one I thought good enough for her.”
Gareth’s heart plunged knowing Brogan was going to warn him off Katelyn. Bracing himself for the ensuing argument, the next words caught him by surprise.
“But I was wrong.” Brogan lifted his chin as his eyes bore right into Gareth. “My sister’s been happier this last week or so than I’ve seen her in years. I never realized how just working at the diner and here was like putting her in a box as well. Not buried…but in a box.”
The two men sat quietly as the breeze from the bay blew down Main Street, Gareth sipping his beer as Brogan fought with the devils that nipped at his heels. Finally leaning back in his chair, which creaked under his weight, Brogan gave a swift nod and said, “She deserves to be happy and you do that for her. She also deserves to be loved…don’t know if that’s what you’ve got in mind, but treat her right.”
From another man, those words would have pissed Gareth off, but from Brogan? His lips curved slightly as he promised, “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
With a quick nod, Brogan stood to go back inside just as the front door slammed open and Katelyn burst forth, her blue eyes flashing, hands on her hips preparing for battle. Before she had a chance to berate her brother, he leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Be happy, Sis,” he whispered, then walked back into to bar.
Katelyn stood statue-still, her eyes pinned on the closed door. Jumping slightly as Gareth placed his hands on her shoulders from behind, she twisted her head to peer up into his face. “What was that about? What did he say to you—”
“Shhh,” he murmured against her ear. “He and I just had a little chat, that’s all.”
“But—”
Turning her around to face him, he bent low, his lips a whisper away from hers as he paused…waiting. Her heart pounded, both in longing and in fear. She wanted him to kiss her, more than she had wanted anything in a long time. Lifting her eyes to his, she saw the fire of desire staring back at her. Realizing he was waiting on her, she dropped her gaze to his lips and wondered if they were as strong and soft as they appeared. Licking hers, she lifted on her toes while circling her arms around his neck.
The kiss started soft…sweet…the bare touching of lips. Warmth, combined with the unique colliding of their tastes, quickly sent her lifting further on her toes as his arms banded around her tighter. What started as a tingle in her belly flared into a full butterfly assault as his tongue swept into her mouth, caressing hers. Gasping, her fingers dug into his shoulders as her legs threatened to give out from underneath her.
Intoxicated from her essence, Gareth held the back of her head, angling for better access as the kiss went from mild to wild. His tongue tangled with hers as he pressed her body into his, the feel of her lush breasts against his chest causing his eager cock to swell against his zipper. Wanting to argue against the knowledge that they were standing on the street in full view of anyone, he nonetheless slowly pulled back, smiling as he peered into her blue eyes, hazy with emotion.
Dragging in a deep breath, he said, “I don’t want to stop, Katelyn.”
“Then don’t,” she whispered, her breath sweet against his face.
“Slow,” he murmured. “We need to go slow…and perhaps find a more private place next time.”
Her kiss-swollen lips curved into a smile as her eyes darted around quickly, finding no spying gazes on them. His arms relaxed slightly, allowing her to slide back onto her heels as his gaze stayed on her.
“I liked that,” she admitted, her heart still beating erratically in her chest.
Nodding slowly, he loved her no-bullshit attitude. “Yeah…me too.”
“Maybe we can do that again sometime…even if you are my boss.”
Catching her grin, he said, “I don’t want to make any problems for you, Katelyn. But I want to do this again. I want to see where we can go. But I sure as hell don’t want to do anything that would take you out of my life.”
“I know it might be difficult, but if we promise to be honest with each other and take things slow…I really want to see where we can go also.”
“Can I escort you home, Miss MacFarlane?”
Smiling widely, she replied, “Why, Mr. Harrison…I’d love for you to.”
A few minutes later, the two stood on her front porch, arms wrapped around each other and lips locked once more. With more privacy, the kiss flamed hotter until she finally gasped, “Do you want to come in?”
Leaning his head down to touch her forehead, he sucked in a ragged breath. “God, I’d love to, Katelyn. But…no, not tonight.” Seeing her about to protest, he touched his finger to her moist lips. “I want to take you
to dinner. Not the usual Let’s grab a sandwich, but an actual date.” Standing taller, he looked down at her and smiled. “Would you do me the honor of going to dinner with me tomorrow night?”
Beaming, she nodded. “Yes, I’d love to.”
“Alright, then I’ll pick you up at seven.” With a light kiss goodbye, he watched her go in, listening for the deadbolt to click before he jogged down the front path to his SUV.
Peeking out the window, Katelyn watched his progress, smiling as her fingers lay on her lips, the feel of his still tingling.
Sitting at her desk early the next morning before Gareth came in, Katelyn stared at the computer screen. She had begun developing a simple website for Harrison Investigations, but with thoughts of the kiss still filling her mind, she found it hard to concentrate.
The old-fashioned bell over the door jingled and her smile wobbled, anxious to see him walk through the door while nervous about how their workplace demeanor would change after the kiss.
Surprised, she watched as Eleanor Berry walked into the office, her eyes darting around nervously as she clutched her coat about her middle. Her hair appeared to only have had a quick brushing and she was wearing sweatpants instead of neat slacks.
“Eleanor,” she greeted, jumping up from her desk. Before she questioned as to why she was back so soon, Eleanor gushed, “I found something!”
“Okay…uh…follow me, please.” Taking her back to the conference room, she rushed back to reception as she heard Gareth come in.
His warm smile landed on her but before he spoke, she grabbed his arm. “Gareth!” she whispered excitedly. “Eleanor Berry is here, just walked in the door a minute ago, and she said she found something and I—”
“Got it,” he nodded, giving her shoulder a squeeze. “Come on.”
They entered the conference room, Gareth noting the difference in Eleanor’s appearance from the other day when they met. He held out his hand but, instead of shaking it, she leaped from the chair as she pulled a few sheets of crinkled papers from her purse.
“I found these—” her voice cracked, as she swallowed deeply.
“Please,” Gareth started, assisting her into a chair. “Do you need some coffee or maybe some water?”
Katelyn was almost to the door to get whatever the distraught client needed, but halted as Eleanor denied the offer.
“No, no. I just needed to get this to you.”
Gareth and Katelyn settled quickly into chairs and he said, “What do you have, Mrs. Berry?”
Sighing, she said, “Yesterday, I opened up the mail and in his company credit card statement were several charges at a hotel in Norfolk. Each was only for one day, all within the last month. I don’t know why he would need these because until three days ago, he’s been with me at home each night.”
Gareth and Katelyn shared a quick look before turning back to Eleanor.
“I’m not stupid, Mr. Harrison. My assumption is that he checked into the hotel during the day for an assignation. Who with? I don’t know.” Eleanor blinked back tears.
“I don’t want to make any assumptions, at this time, Mrs. Berry,” Gareth said, “but is there anyone you suspect?”
“He meets so many women professionally, both at the office and with his various organizations all over the place…The Dune’s Golf Club here in town…I have no idea,” she replied, her hands twisting on the tabletop. Her gaze lifted to Katelyn’s before shifting to Gareth. “I’ve always trusted him, but if I’m honest, he could have met a beautiful, poised woman in many places. I’ve…” she swallowed audibly, “seen the way some women look at Walter. He might not be the most handsome man in a room but he has such charm.”
“Let’s start at his workplace,” Gareth suggested.
Shaking her head sadly, she replied, “There’s a new accountant in the office. I’ve met her and she is very young…very pretty…and very into climbing upward. Since my husband is the boss, it would not be a huge leap to think that perhaps she thinks husband stealing is a way to climb. But then, they recently hired a new receptionist also,” she sighed, “also very young and very pretty.”
Katelyn detected a touch of resignation in the last words and began to see that the more a client talked, the more they began to let go of their reservations and really said what was on their minds.
“I…I never thought my life would come to this,” she said softly, her chin quivering. “I don’t know what’s happening…it’s like I’m trapped in some kind of nightmare.”
“Again, at this time, I’m not going to assume anything,” Gareth said, “but we’ll start with the hotel and see what we can find.”
The sun peeked through the clouds creating a perfect view of the bay as Gareth and Katelyn drove back over the bridge toward Norfolk once more. Neither mentioned the kiss from the evening before as they focused on the case. Heading to the hotel listed on the credit card statement, she wondered what they would find.
Thirty minutes later, looking out her window, she commented, “This doesn’t look much like where a man who golfs at the country club would stay.”
The older hotel had been refurbished but had still seen better days. Entering the lobby, they saw a thin, young man behind the registration counter. The man looked between them and grinned. “You want a room for a couple of hours?”
Bristling at his assumption, Katelyn opened her mouth to protest, but a quick squeeze from Gareth caused her to hold her tongue.
“Naw, Tim,” Gareth said, looking at the name badge on the man’s shirt. “But I do need some information and I’ll make it worth your while. I’ll give you the money that you woulda charged for a couple hours on a room.”
The man’s eyes lit and he grinned bigger. “Well, all right. Now you’re talkin’!”
Gareth threw several twenties on the counter along with a picture of Walter. “This man’s been in here a couple of times this month. Paid with a credit card. You remember him?”
The man looked at the picture carefully. “Yeah, he looks familiar, although he looks like a lotta men who come in here. But if he’s who I’m recollectin’, he came in with some broad.”
“Can you describe the woman? Was it the same woman each time?”
“It’s kind of hard to say. She wore a scarf over her head and sunglasses. Hell, I knew she was trying to be all discreet and shit.”
“Could you tell what color of hair she had?”
Scrunching up his face, Tim said, “Blonde…not a real yellowish blonde, but more of a sandy kind of color. I could see a bit peeking from her scarf.” He snorted as he added, “And the guy? He’d wear sunglasses too, along with a hat…like they were trying to be all secret-like.”
“Did you see them leave? How long did they stay?”
“I never saw them after check-in, but they paid for a night, so if they only stayed a couple ‘a hours, I didn’t care.”
“When was the last time you saw them?” Gareth pressed.
The man’s face scrunched even more in thought as he shook his head. “It’s been a week or two,” he finally replied. “But, then, I only work days so they coulda come in one night.”
With a glance to the corner, Gareth said, “Any chance I can get a look at your security camera feed?”
Hooting, Tim leaned forward and whispered loudly, “They ain’t real. The owner put ‘em in here to make it look like we got security, but they ain’t real cameras.”
Lips thinning, Gareth nodded as he took Katelyn’s arm and gently started to lead her out of the lobby. Just as they reached the door, Katelyn turned back and asked, “What color lipstick was the woman wearing?”
At that, the man scratched his head as Gareth stared at her in open curiosity.
“Pink, coral, peachy, dark red…” Katelyn prompted.
“Kinda pinky, now that I think of it,” he said. “Yeah…’cause I always thought it looked like the bubblegum I used to get as a kid.”
With a nod, Gareth continued to lead her back to his vehicle.
His eyes scanned the area and locked onto a security camera on a nearby building.
Once inside the SUV, Katelyn turned and said, “Okay, this goes a lot slower than I thought it would.”
“Patience, Katelyn. In this business, it’s not like on TV where suddenly things are wrapped up in an hour. We confirmed that Walter was here several times and in the company of a woman who was not his wife. By the way, lipstick?”
Shrugging, she replied, “Some women change their lipstick to match their clothes, but if this woman wore bright pink lipstick every time, then she falls into the category of a woman who has a favorite color and that’s what they wear every day.”
Brows drawn down, Gareth shook his head. “I can see you’ll bring some skills to the table that I obviously don’t have.”
“Hey,” she protested. “I’ll be worth a lot more than just women’s knowledge of lipstick.”
Feeling contrite, he immediately apologized. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Honestly, I just meant that I would have never thought of that.”
Smiling at his face, his eyes full of concern, she reached over and grabbed his hand. “I’m just teasing! Right now, you’re teaching me and, if I can throw out nuggets of ideas, then that’s great…lipstick and all,”
With a relieved sigh, he grinned back. Starting the engine, he said, “Let’s go back and talk to the others at Berry and Associates and then I want to check on the security cameras from the business next to the hotel.”
Chapter Eleven
The woman walking from the back of her desk to greet them was wearing a designer suit of soft, cream wool paired with an ice-blue silk blouse. A strand of pearls wrapped around her throat and as she stuck out her hand, a diamond tennis bracelet glistened around her wrist. Her makeup was impeccable, with a soft blush, pale silver eye shadow, and pink lips. Her blonde hair was pulled back from her face in a loose bun at the base of her neck.
Clues of the Heart: Baytown Boys Series Page 9
