“Are you heading out?” Linc asked.
“Yes. I’m caught up.” Leo patted his briefcase. “I’ll be back after you guys close up.”
“Nice to have met you,” Sam said.
“You too,” he said. “Dave wasn’t just bragging, he’s a great cook, but Hector is the master.”
“See you soon,” she said.
“Yes ma’am.”
Sam turned to Linc. “Show me around?”
“You bet.” Linc took her on a tour. He bypassed the hall leading to the office area. That shock would come soon enough. “There are twelve tables with chairs in here and another eight on the deck.” He pointed a finger at the bar. “And twelve comfortable bar stools.” He led her through the indoor dining area, pointing out autographed pictures of movie stars and dignitaries who’d visited the restaurant over the years. Then he pushed open a swinging door that led to a small kitchen area and introduced her to the rest of the staff.
“The restaurant is larger than it looks.”
“The ocean dwarfs everything.”
She glanced back over her shoulder at the hallway they’d passed. “What’s behind the door that says ‘Private’?”
“Two offices.” He’d hadn’t realized she was so observant.
“Were you going to skip them?” Her right eyebrow rose.
“I hadn’t decided. Are you sure you want to see?”
“Absolutely.”
Linc reluctantly led her to the door. He opened it and let her step into a short hallway. He flipped on the light and gestured to the right. “This is Leo’s office.”
She walked into a small space housing only one desk and chair, a tall filing cabinet, and a short bookcase. Another wooden chair sat against the wall opposite the desk.
“His work area is pretty stark. The only thing modern is his computer.”
“Charlie had Leo buy himself a new laptop right after he was hired.”
“Judging from the dates on the celebrity pictures in the dining area, Charlie must have bought this place a long time ago.”
“Nearly twenty years. He bought it after he retired from the Army.” Linc hesitated as she continued down the hall. “Maybe you shouldn’t go in Charlie’s office yet.”
Sam was entitled to see and to know Charlie how much cared about her, but Linc wasn’t convinced that she was ready. She seemed more angry and hurt than curious, and he didn’t want to rush her.
“Why wouldn’t you want me to go in?” Suspicion clouded her eyes. Damn, her eyes flashed an icy fire.
“It’s just that — there’s stuff in there sure to shock you. Maybe upset you, hell, I don’t know.”
She pushed past him and stepped into the office. Linc watched her closely, not knowing if she’d collapse or take it all in stride. He stood close, his gut telling him she’d need to sit down.
His eyes never left her as she moved around the room. She ran her fingers over the gray metal desk, thumbed through the stacks of paper, and picked up the ancient black phone to listen to the dial tone. Organized, he noted, and filed the fact away as she arranged the two ashtrays and the calculator to what, he assumed, she thought to be their proper place.
He regretted not airing the room out. The musty smell from years of Charlie’s cigarette smoke had permeated the walls. He didn’t want her remembering Charlie negatively. She walked slowly but steadily to a bookcase that covered one entire wall. Every shelf displayed pictures of her at varying stages of her life, starting in her early high school days, and ending at a company picnic a few years back. She picked one up and held it out for inspection. In this snapshot, she looked radiant, accepting her diploma from the University of Texas.
“He loved that one, showed it to everyone. It sat on top of the cash register out front for weeks.” Linc’s throat constricted when tears filled her eyes.
Her hand visibly trembled as she returned the picture to its place, turning her back to him.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He tried to pull her into his arms because he figured it was expected, but she resisted and stood her ground.
“You didn’t. My grandfather wasted a lot of years not coming forward. Why? And where’d he get all these pictures?” She whirled on Linc. “Did my grandmother send them?”
“No. I’m positive about that. I was telling the truth when I said Charlie hadn't communicated with her since they were very young.”
“Then he was stalking me. That’s not creepy or anything.” Sam took a tissue from the box and wiped her eyes. “Do you know if Charlie’s attorney has a copy of the autopsy?”
“There wasn’t one.” He braced for her to freak out.
“But you said he was murdered.” She stood, hands on hips, shooting rockets from her eyes.
“He had lung cancer. Too damn many cigarettes and too much Irish whiskey. He’d taken a bunch of treatments and fought it for a long time but was losing the battle. One day, he was found washed up on the beach. Drowned. He was under a doctor’s treatment and his condition was terminal, so nobody insisted on an autopsy.”
“But you’re sure it was murder?”
“Damn right. I don’t know what was in his head, but I’m positive the ocean would not have been his choice of weapons, had he been considering suicide.”
“Damn him. I wish I’d known he was sick.”
“He didn’t want you to see him dying. His instructions to Ham as to when you’d be notified were firm.”
Sam blew out a breath. “I’ve never heard of anything so lonely in my life. It’s just way past my misunderstanding.”
Linc opened his mouth to respond, but Sam walked abruptly out of the office and rejoined Maggie and Dave.
“Time to go to work,” Maggie sighed and rubbed her back. She tied an apron around her waist and joined Sylvia.
Linc introduced Sam to Sylvia Parson and the rest of the afternoon staff. He was impressed with her poise, smiling and shaking hands, never once revealing the emotion shock she’d just experienced in Charlie’s office.
After the introductions, the staff busied themselves with dinner preparations, and Sam took out her phone, stepped out on the patio, and made a call. The brief conversation put a frown on her face that was still there when Linc rejoined her. He didn’t need to ask what had upset her.
“That was my grandmother. I need to be at her hotel by nine-thirty. I can take a cab if you need to stay here.”
“I’ll take you. In the meantime, let me tell you how much this place meant to your grandfather. Charlie worried about this bar. He cared what would happen to it and the people who depend on it.”
Linc put his hand on her arm, hoping to make her understand. Sam’s actions had made him think that she’d probably sell The Cage to the highest bidder. He didn’t have a problem with that plan, because if she didn’t decide to stay, he wanted to buy the restaurant. He’d turn it over to Maggie and Dave until retirement age came around. Linc liked the idea of retiring close to the beach.
“Not tonight. Evidently, after listening to my first voicemail, Nana arranged to fly here immediately. She wants to speak with me face to face.”
“But she never responded to any of your messages?”
“No, and I don’t know why. But she was adamant I not discuss Charlie with anyone. It’s important that she tell me the rest of the story herself.”
Linc sensed he wasn’t going to budge Sam, so he took another approach. “Then stay and watch the sun set. Afterward, I’ll drive you to the motel.”
“I thought you had to work. Aren’t you the bartender?”
“Only when they are in a crunch. But Charlie liked having me around, because the older ladies love me.” He flashed his favorite smile at her, hoping she’d be captivated. Something about her stirred him. He liked the fact that she was tall and slender; he’d guessed her height at least five-feet-nine-inches. She’d shown a feisty side and a tender one too. And those attributes, coupled with her long legs, made him wonder how her pink lips would tast
e.
“So you pimped for him?” Her smile spread quickly. She’d inherited a little of Charlie’s wisecracking talent.
“Like I said, only on occasion.” They shared a laugh.
“You’ll have me at the motel in time?”
“I will.”
She walked out of the building, picked an empty table on the patio, and sat down.
Didn’t her grandmother realize her request was ludicrous? For Sam not to ask questions and seek information on Charlie was absurd.
CHAPTER 4
For some inexplicable reason, Samantha’s heart rate jumped when Linc walked out of the restaurant, carrying a drink in each hand. He’d welcomed her, carrying out her grandfather’s wishes. He’d protected her and kept her safe today. Hero worship wasn’t her style. It had to be the pull of the ocean that had her hormones out of balance.
“What did you bring me?” She tried to ignore the muscles in his long legs rippling with each step.
“Hawaiian Sunrise. You look like a pineapple kind of girl.”
“Sunrise, isn’t there a Sunset?”
“Yeah. But it’s got orange and cranberry juice in it. Sounded too healthy to me.” He pulled his chair beside hers, facing the sun.
“You don’t like mixed drinks?”
“Nope. I’m more of a cold beer man.” He held up his mug for a toast. “To beautiful women.”
She touched her glass to his. “To beautiful sunsets.”
Neither spoke as the sun descended on the horizon. A blue canvas with gold and yellow hues exploded across the water, creating an unbelievable mirror effect as it continued to fall into darkness. The sheer beauty and magnitude brought tears to her eyes.
“Beautiful,” she whispered.
“Exactly.”
His arm rested on the back of her chair in an unobtrusive gesture. In the last glow of day, she studied his face. He cocked his head to the side and returned her gaze with a slight upward movement of his lips. Her fingers itched to touch the dimples framing his lips.
Abruptly, he raked his hand through his hair and stood. “I’ll walk back and bring the car around.”
“Thank you.” What had just happened? His abrupt departure confused her. She gathered their glasses, carried them inside, and placed them on the bar. Maggie sat on a barstool, apparently taking a break, so Samantha approached her. Perhaps Maggie would be willing to share information on this fascinating stranger. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Please do. Sylvia’s still here, she won’t mind if I sit a minute. Where’s our boy?” Maggie patted the stool next to her.
“He went after the car. I’m meeting my grandmother at her hotel.”
“I hope she clears things up for you. I can’t imagine what’s going through your mind.”
“It’s a jumbled mess for sure. I hope you’re right.”
“You’re close to her?”
“I thought so. The last few years she’s travelled a lot. I’ll admit that Nana marches to a different drummer, but she’s always been my biggest supporter.” Samantha glanced outside, watching for Linc’s headlights.
“You and Linc sure hit it off,” Maggie said.
“I’m not sure what ‘hit it off’ means. One minute he’s warm and friendly, the next he’s pulling away from me. What’s his story?”
“He’s pretty much a mystery as far as his past. He keeps to himself.”
“I asked him about the scar. He said he was attacked from behind. I could tell he didn’t want to talk about it.”
“The bastard snuck up on him. I’m not sure how it happened, but Linc’s cheekbone was crushed along with the back of his head. It messed up his reaction time on his left side. He’s been rehabbing like crazy.”
“He and Charlie must have been close.”
“Very. Charlie got really weak after his second round of chemo, and Linc stepped up. Actually he took charge of the place, though it was unofficial. Charlie was getting weaker and weaker. He would hang out with us, but he’=d turned everything over to Leo and Linc.”
“It was good that Charlie had someone to depend on.” Samantha wondered how much Maggie knew about Charlie’s death. “So do you think my grandfather was murdered?”
Maggie blinked a few time as if surprised by the question. “I don’t know. With the cancer about to take him, I can see where he might have been depressed enough to commit suicide. On the other hand, he was scared to death of the water. I told the police that I couldn’t see him walking into the surf.”
“We had a couple of brushes with death today.” Samantha recounted today’s episodes. “I’m thinking Linc is right.”
“Could he have been the target? He’s been asking questions of just about everyone who comes in The Cage, hoping somebody saw something.”
“If you ladies are through discussing me, the car’s out front.” Linc's voice rumbled from behind them.
Samantha started to apologize, but he had already turned walking away. “I didn’t mean to make him mad,” she said.
“We probably didn’t. I think his time in the Army Rangers made him forget his people skills, and being a federal agent hasn’t softened him up any.” Maggie shrugged her shoulders. “He’s really one of the good guys. Dave and I think the world of him.”
“Thanks Maggie, it was great to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you again soon.” Samantha caught up with Linc at his car.
He held the door for her and then walked to the driver’s side. Based on his expression, she figured he’d overheard her asking about him. He slid in behind the steering wheel.
“I’m sorry if I pried,” she said.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Maggie probably knows as much about me as anybody. I’m an open book. Ask and I’ll answer.
“I’ll remember that.” But she doubted his words.
“Exactly where am I taking you?”
“Oh. Sorry. The Pierpont Hotel.” She understood his passion for privacy. Up until recently, she shared very little of herself with others. Now, it seemed her life was an open book. “It doesn’t seem fair that you know so much about me and yet, you’re still a stranger.”
“We won’t be strangers for long.”
His words hit her nervous system like warm brandy, making her lightheaded as they circulated through her veins, and pooled in her lower belly.
“Hello? Where’d you go?” He laid his hand on her knee and gently shook.
“What’d you say?” She stared at his hand.
“That we won’t be strangers for long. Tell me something else about yourself,” he said releasing her.
He oozed sex, and damn him, he knew it. She also knew-that-he-knew-that-she-knew.
“Compared to the past few weeks, my life at home is boring. I’m sure you know that I’m a loan manager at Texas Highland Bank. Not married, though I was engaged once…it ended badly. And I do not have a significant other.” She swallowed, realizing he’d turned the conversation back on her. “I’m more than a little bewildered here.”
“You’ll have lots of help if you stick around, but if you decided not to, I’d like to buy The Cage.”
“Now we’re back to you. Good. If you owned the restaurant, would you leave the FBI?”
“Never. A good manager and staff will take care of it until I retire. I’ll go back to work as soon as I can pass the physical.” He shot her a glance. “Is that important?”
“No. I just wondered if anyone was helping you look into Charlie’s case.”
“The Feds don’t interfere without jurisdiction.”
“But you have contacts.”
Linc nodded. “And I can call in a few favors, but so far I have no reason to use those up.”
“It’s tempting to say I’ll hang around and play detective, but I’d be more of a hindrance the help. It does piss me off that someone has tried to kill us a couple of times today.”
“The confrontation with those two jerks at the house makes me want to know what they were looking for and why i
t’s important that you don’t find it first.” Linc changed lanes and slowed down.”
“So we need to figure out what they were searching for?”
“It would answer a lot of questions.”
Leaning back in the seat, she studied the night sky. Samantha prided herself on being self-assured and levelheaded. It took a lot to rattle her, but this place and these people could overwhelm her. For her own protection, she needed to toughen up and not get too involved.
Had Charlie really left her something important? Something so important those two men were willing to destroy the contents of his house searching for it? Had they found it? She could book the next flight out, but what would that solve?
Her mind wandered to a conversation she’d had with her boss, who had laughingly prophesied that Samantha would meet a gorgeous surfer and have a weeklong fling. She had to admit that Linc met all the requirements. She pushed the thought out of her head and reminded herself that those kinds of romantic liaisons happened to other women.
Besides, surviving one heartbreak in a lifetime was enough, and she’d had hers. She’d trusted Gordon and how had that turned out? Still, she had to admit that having a weekend of fun, sun, and sex with no emotional commitment sounded exciting.
“This is your stop.” Linc’s car slowed as he turned into a long driveway.
Samantha’s cheeks burned. It was a good thing he couldn’t read her thoughts. A beautiful, clearly luxury hotel came into view. “I’m just meeting my grandmother here. I can’t afford this place.”
“I’ll walk in with you to make sure she’s here.” He got out without hesitation but the valet stepped up and opened her door. It didn’t escape her notice that the bellhop’s uniform probably cost more than her entire wardrobe.
“We’re not dressed to go in there.” She stood her ground at curbside while she patted flyaway wisps of windblown hair into place.
“You look great.” He slipped his arm around her waist and escorted her through the doors.
They stepped into an understated elegance where even the air was scented. Or maybe it was the ocean breeze caressing her face. This hotel was exactly her grandmother’s taste.
Till The Dead Speak (Killer Affections Book 2) Page 4
