A few minutes later, a silver-headed man left the guest house with Phoenix trailing behind. John grabbed his binoculars and scanned the area. After the couple took items from Bushard’s car, they reentered the house. An hour passed before the old guy climbed into his white SUV and drove away. John focused on the house, watching for movement, knowing Mary was within the confines.
Ground level motion detectors flashed on with a slight shifting of leaves. Branches leaned closer to the bramble surrounding the north side of the cottage. He twisted the lens and the focus zoomed on the tree line. No human life–rather a woodland creature making its way across the line of trees. The outdoor security light lining the driveway beamed, blinding his view for a moment. His eyes readjusted, and only stillness prevailed. Night fell quickly, dispelling his small gleam of hope to see Mary.
Exhausted and dismayed, John settled against the driver’s seat and closed his eyes to review the data. What had he missed? Diamonds were missing and Mary had wanted his shout-out to be diamonds. Peabody had attacked her because she wouldn’t tell him where the jewels were. How did Waterman pinpoint her in Vermont? Had he put an illegal tap on Mary’s friends’ phones? No, too much work, and he didn’t appear to be a bright guy. Maybe Mary was involved in the theft. Doubt clouded his mind. Instead of approaching the house, he’d wait. Waterman would appear at some point.
Sleepy, John opened the window for fresh air. A cool breeze chilled him, but also shocked him into alert mode. The zing of his phone alerted him to a message. A couple of taps and he read Debbie’s note of entering Vermont. She’d connect with him tomorrow night. After checking his mail, he dragged a bottle of water and a protein bar from his satchel.
Falling asleep was a mistake, and he awakened at five o’clock with an urgent need to piss. The cramping in his lower abdomen made him question eating the protein bar after a fat-filled meal at the diner. He used the binoculars to scout the area. Not seeing any sign of human life, he threw the magnifiers onto the seat and drove to the nearest gas station. Field work wasn’t the right job for him. He’d failed.
He strode through the mini-mart to the bathrooms. Business taken care of, he used the sink faucet to freshen his face. Swiftly gathering snacks, water and super sized coffee, he paid and stuffed the items in his car, then refueled his tank. As much as he dreaded going back to surveillance mode, he didn’t have an alternative. With no warrant and many contradictions rushing through his thoughts, he had to entrap.
Hours passed, making him question if he had the right place. He expected the local police to come by and check on his progress, but they hadn’t, which made him even more wary. Shaded by the oncoming gray afternoon, he exited the car and took another trip around the perimeter. John stopped under the drooping branches of a fifty-year-old willow as tall as the brick flue on the roof of the house. He leaned against the bark. Sharp and rough, the wood felt good against his back. Lingering and stalking weren’t things he was adept at, but he’d wait and watch to see her. Her tone trilled through the bare branches, along with a more masculine voice. Laughter, sweet feminine giggles rippled across the willow branches, bringing him fully alert. Heart palpitations thumped his chest, causing him a sharp, twisting pain. John strode from under the shade, stepped forward, and his suspicions mounted.
The old man had his arm wrapped around her waist. She giggled, not a chuckle, and not a deep throated laugh, but a flirting snigger. “Thanks for helping at Mrs. Landware’s house. I think she’s in love with you, like every other single female in Cage.”
John swallowed and tightened his hands into fists.
“Humph. Let me get it, obviously you’re unsteady this afternoon.” The guy had a rusty voice. “Did you take your vitamins?”
“I will now.” Her trill had a sweet escalation.
The man pulled Mary into his arms and whispered into her ear.
John whipped his gun from his shoulder holster. “Release her.”
Their heads, previously tucked together, drew apart and they stared at him with eyes equal to the size of owls’.
“John,” she said and promptly fainted into the dude’s arms.
The fossil shoved the door with his foot.
“I’ve a gun leveled on your back. Let her go.” John released the safety on his Glock. The only thing he knew about this guy was that he held Mary as if he wouldn’t let her go.
“Drop the gun,” Phoenix Bushard shouted from behind John.
A sharp twist, keeping his revolver level on the man supporting Mary, and John stared at Bushard.
“It’s you.” Her hand shook, making the old .32 look larger and her confidence weak. She’d never used the pistol before or she would have known to move closer, within shooting range. “Oh fuck, I led you here. Drop your gun.”
He held steady. “You heard me say I had a weapon, right?”
Phoenix’s jaw firmed and both hands clenched the butt of the pistol. “Yeah, but she’s my best friend.”
A click pierced the sudden silence. John took his gaze off Phoenix and glanced at the guest house. His woman and the man had disappeared.
Chapter 16
Mary, lying on the bed in Dane’s guest house, listened to John and Devon’s softly spoken words, refusing to open her eyes. The medicinal scent of antiseptic mingled with men’s cologne and the tinny smell of old blood. How had John found her?
Guilt rippled through her. She should have turned in the diamonds when she’d found them packed away in the toe of her finest heels. Snug in the tip of the pointed shoe, held tight by the traveling case. Millions of dollars’ worth of gems had been flaunted in the open on the cruise ship. Conrad had attacked her and from that point on, she’d forgotten about them. Easy enough to do–her only concern had been survival.
The silky evening bag encrusted with agate stones was stashed away in the tiny closet two feet from the bed. All of a sudden the investigator seeking the stolen jewels had found her. He wouldn’t be fooled again. His voice sounded loud in the room, bringing her out of her contemplations. If she gave the stones to him, would he leave?
“Get away from her.” John’s light footsteps came closer to the side of the bed.
“I’m a physician, Dr. Devon Buckley.” Devon loosened the scarf from around her neck. His cool fingers felt good on her hot skin. Could she continue to avoid the confrontation by keeping her eyes closed? Perhaps if she played possum they would all clear out, leaving her alone.
“It’s been four weeks. She should have healed by now,” John said.
“She would have if she had gotten treatment.” Devon’s voice came out gruff. Next, the bandage was removed.
She didn’t think the throbbing came from her wound, rather her heart. John had found her, but had he because of their night together, or as a result of the everlasting search for the diamonds?
“Why isn’t she waking up?” John’s voice sounded rusty, quiet and concerned.
Devon’s hand rested on her forehead. With silted eyes, she peeked at him. He winked and swiped his fingers across her face. “She underwent surgery recently. Her energy is lagging.”
The mattress shifted. Devon asked, “Why are you here?
A new weight rested beside her. “Confidential.”
“Get away from my friend,” Phoenix piped up.
“No.” Rough fingers entwined with hers. John’s. “She’s under protective custody. I suggest you return to South Carolina. I’ll get a physician to take care of her, so you can leave as well, Dr. Buckley.”
“She’s my patient. I’ll maintain care of her, until she awakes and tells me otherwise.” Devon sat on her other side and the click of a medicine bottle being opened pierced her eardrums. “Unless you have the documents to prove you have arrest powers, I suggest you leave.”
No, she didn’t want him to leave. Would he? Mary stared into John’s deep brown eyes. She’d only seen gentle humor in his gaze, but now fear mixed with anger seeped through. “John.”
“I–” Fury personifi
ed came through that one word. He cleared his throat. “Was worried,” he whispered as if they were alone in the room.
“Mary, after you eat you’ll need to take the meds. I called in an order for take-out.” Plastic hit the bedside table, followed by the clack of the pills. “Do you want us to leave so you can be alone with him, or do I call the sheriff?”
Mary met his gaze. “He isn’t the one who attacked me, Devon. I need to talk to him.”
He frowned, but tilted his head in acknowledgement. “Phoenix and I will get carry-out and return in thirty to forty minutes. I trust you won’t make my patient move, Mr.–”
Mary tried to pull her fingers away. John tightened his.
“Kajiyama, John Kajiyama.”
“Mr. Kajiyama, I need to have a word with you in the other room,” Devon insisted. His voice thundered. She witnessed a side of the man she never knew existed, but had suspected. Not only was he honorable, but also protective of her. They were virtual strangers brought close because of fate and circumstance.
Phoenix shoved past John to stand next to the bed. John stood and walked from the room. Devon studied her where she lay on the bed. Apparently he made a decision, and followed John.
“I’m sorry, Mary. I led him to your hide-out. Do you want me to try and get a rescue together? Get you away from here?” Phoenix whispered, and flicked her fingers. As instructed, Mary rolled over. Phoenix took the pillows and fluffed them, piling an additional cushion in the front.
Repositioned, Mary sighed. “No, I’m tired of running. John will protect me.”
“From your drawing, he’s the father?” Phoenix never mixed her messages or tried to bury information. She always straight-out asked. “Do you want to be left alone with him? John Wang, right?”
“Yes, it’s complicated.” Hold back the tears, until they all leave, “Not your usual type. You’ll tell me what happened and why he’s here?” Phoenix started for the doorway. “Before Jenn finds out, because we won’t get any rest once she realizes her prediction turned out to be accurate.”
“Let’s go, Phoenix,” Devon demanded from the hall. “The food will be cold by now. Mary needs to eat.”
“Later. Nothing spicy, okay?” Mary was confident she’d hurl if anything with tomato paste went down her throat.
“Got it. We’ll be back in a few,” Phoenix said as she left the room, and the entry door shut a moment later.
Mary’s head fell against the bed rail. Complicated didn’t touch on her situation. She stared at John as he carried a glass of water. He set the crystal on the bedside table, and then sat on the mattress.
“Let me see,” he whispered. “May I?”
She nodded.
He pulled the collar of her blouse away from her neck, tucked it under and removed the bandage with such gentleness tears stung her eyes.
His frown didn’t make her feel all that secure. He narrowed his eyes, adding to her unease. “Tell me, everything.”
“Because you want me to be guilty of jewel theft?” Her stomach clutched in fear. What if she’d read the signs wrong? No kiss to make it better? She’d dreamed of a reunion with him because he sought her out of love. The first thing he did, in her fantasy, was to join their lips. If not her mouth, then a kiss to her cheek, forehead or even an ear would be acceptable. But like all the other men in her life, he didn’t love her. Had unreasonable expectations and had used her. “Can the story wait?”
“Yes, the story can wait.” His brown eyes pierced her, but he replaced the dressing and drew her blouse to cover it. A caress to her ear, then he tucked some hair behind it and stroked her cheek. Her heart rate doubled. Maybe she had finally found her prince? “I was afraid you were dead. The cut. Blood. Why’d you run from me?”
She folded the sheet, smoothed the surface and placed her hands on top. “I didn’t run from you. I ran from… Did you get Conrad?”
His fingers, hovering over her cheek, dropped and he lowered his hand. To her surprise, he walked around the bed, propped the un-indented pillows against the rails and snuggled beside her. Weaving their fingers, he held hers firmly. “Yes. He’ll never bother you again. I’ll make certain of that.”
“How is that possible?”
“I work for the Atlantic Coast Investigation firm. We were hired by your insurance company to find the diamonds.”
“And you started with me? Believing I was guilty, part of a robbery scheme? Romanced me in hopes of finding the stones?” Bitterness vibrated through her with each word.
“It’s more than that. Do you know who your boyfriend’s partner is?” The hard edge he put on boyfriend was easy to ignore, but his stringent evaluation unnerved her.
“Ex-boyfriend. No. I’d never met him, or her. I’m not sure which, since I never heard him talk during the robbery.” She rolled to her side to look at him. He was so very handsome. She’d tried to replicate his image on her artist pad, but had failed. No sketch could compare to the live, vibrant man holding her hand and caressing her fingers.
“What makes you think the robber was a woman?”
“The way she or he moved through the store. Fluid, delicate steps. She or he smelled like cinnamon, and I’ve found that men tend to buy cologne with a spicy base and women with a floral citrus base.”
“So you think the partner was a man after all?”
She shook her head. “No, I think it was a woman covering her femininity with male attributes, including shoes and cologne.”
* * * *
“According to the information we gathered, Peabody’s partner’s name is Andee Waterman, male from Detroit, Michigan. He’s served many years of jail time and when I catch him it’ll be decades before he gets out.” John had hoped she’d tell him more, for example, why she ran. Why she obviously had an escape plan in place.
“Huh. Guess I was wrong.”
It was easy to pretend to right the covers under her and move closer, pressing their joined hands between their stomachs.
“Are you okay? Want me to take you to a real doctor tomorrow?” He stroked her face. She was gorgeous and as pale as a snowflake. His heart told him to ignore the evidence and make slow love to her, but the facts of the case and his suspicions kept him grounded.
“Devon is a real doctor, and he’s taken very good care of me.” She wet her lips. “Are you going to arrest me or kiss me?”
“You’re a bold woman, Mary Keefe.” Was she guilt-free? If so, why had she run?
She flipped onto her back. “Yeah, that’s me. I’m exactly as you see.”
“I see a complicated, innocent woman.” He’d wanted to say Mary, I love you, but the time wasn’t right, and why would she believe him? They’d spent a few days together. Women might fall in love in such a short amount of time, but men didn’t. He wanted to be her protector, and in order to appear capable of doing the job, he had to keep his true feelings to himself–for now.
“I take that to mean you’re not going to take me to the cops in Keefe.” She rubbed her lips together. “So, I want the sexy kind of kiss.”
“Whatever my lady wants will be granted.” He propped an arm on the other side of her head and stared into her beautiful green eyes.
She wrapped a hand at the back of his neck and tugged him closer. John resisted kissing her. Being ill, she should rest. Instead he lowered her hand, but their pinky fingers remained touching.
“Thank you,” she mumbled.
“For what?” He was confused. Maybe she wanted to thank him for not giving her a kiss?
“For saving my life in Kingston.”
“I wish you would have talked to me about getting accosted by Peabody in the hallway of the ship,” he growled.
“I tried.”
“You said you thought you saw an old boyfriend, not that he’d approached you.”
“We’re back!” Phoenix shouted from the door.
John jumped from the bed as if he was a teenager caught by the girl’s parents. “That was fast. Do you want me to carry y
ou into the living room?”
Mary didn’t look at him. “No, I’ll just change into sweats and be out in a minute.”
John nodded. He’d probably offended her, but he had to get part of the anger off his chest. Belying his thoughts, he strode around the bed and held out a hand. She raised her liquid eyes and trustingly placed her palm against his. He drew her closer, until their chests met, and whispered, “I’m here to help you. Don’t fight me. Let me do my job.”
“I know.” Mary stepped to the chifferobe. He drew in a deep, relaxing breath and walked into the living room.
Phoenix was busy placing food on the coffee table. He guessed by the clunk-clunk coming from the ice-maker, the doctor was getting ice for drinks.
He didn’t miss the sneer coming from Devon’s face when he turned. Something must have happened while the two were gone, because the animosity had grown thicker.
“Who exactly are you?” Devon set the glasses on a counter top and then placed his hands on his hips.
“I’m with Atlantic Coast Investigations. Fraud division. My company’s been hired by Lighthouse Insurance to investigate the robbery that took place at Mary’s store. I’m also a trained police officer, having worked as a detective with the Fort Myers Police Department in Florida for ten years.”
“Fraud? You think she was involved, that she helped them?” Phoenix rushed the words.
“I don’t.”
“Are you taking her to the police?” Devon asked.
“No. She hasn’t done anything to warrant an arrest. She will be under my personal protection, but we’ll remain here until the thief’s accomplice has been found,” John responded in a calm, quiet tone.
Phoenix glanced in his direction. “You caught Conrad?”
“Yes, in Kingston. Mary doesn’t need to fear him, but she must be aware the second guy is out there. Why are they so anxious to find her?” John glanced between them.
“Her grandfather was pressuring her. He had threatened to sell her parents’ home unless she had a…” Phoenix’s eyes glazed over with unshed tears. “She wasn’t involved in the robbery. Mary would never steal anything, nor help others in illegal activities. She’s very honest and trustworthy.”
Jewel Hiest Page 14
