Safe Harbor

by Hope White

  “Nicole, we need to keep a healthy perspective here.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t want you becoming too dependent on me.”

  “Why not? You’re the only one who seems to genuinely care about my well-being.”

  “I’m the lead detective on a murder case. You’re my only witness. Let’s not get confused.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Who’s confused? I have something you want. You’re not going to let anything happen to me until you solve this murder. Then you’ll cast me aside. I get it. I’m not stupid.”

  She ambled back to the chief’s desk and sat down, crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes, shutting out the world.

  Shutting out Alex.

  “Nicole—”

  “Anyone call?” Wendy interrupted as she wandered back to her desk.

  “No, it’s been quiet,” he said, not taking his eyes off Nicole.

  He’d offended her, maybe even hurt her feelings and that was the last thing he wanted to do. But he had to be clear about their roles in this investigation.

  They had a professional relationship. Nothing more.

  Then why did he want to kneel beside her and try to explain it again, and in such a way that she wouldn’t look so...defeated?

  “Do I need to do more filing?” Wendy asked, glancing from Alex to Nicole, back to Alex.

  Just then the chief came out of the conference room. He shut the door behind him and eyed Nicole. “They’re understandably upset. They want to see the body. I’ll take them to the coroner’s office. Alex, why don’t you take Miss Harris back to the crime scene and see if she can remember anything. And get her official statement.”

  Nicole automatically stood and walked to the door.

  “I’m not sure she’s up to it,” Alex said.

  “She is fine,” Nicole said, then went outside and shut the door with a click.

  Alex couldn’t take his eyes off her as she paced to his truck and leaned against it.

  “Alex?”

  Alex glanced at the chief, who studied him with questions in his eyes.

  “I’ll check in after I take her to the house,” Alex said.

  “A federal team will be there until noon. You might want to wait until they’re gone before swinging by.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  But spending the next three hours with Nicole definitely wasn’t a good idea. For so many reasons.

  * * *

  “I thought we were going to Edward’s house,” Nicole said, as Alex turned his truck onto Lake View Boulevard.

  “There’s a team there now. I thought it might be better if we waited until the house was empty.”

  “Why wait? We both want to get this over with as soon as possible.”

  Which she did because the sooner she helped them solve the case the quicker she could get back to her life. The quicker she could get away from Alex, the detective with the kind voice and caring eyes, a man who acted like he cared about her.

  But he didn’t. He’d gone out of his way to make that clear.

  “The sooner we solve the case, the sooner you’ll be safe again,” he said.

  She clenched her jaw, trying to ignore the sincerity of his voice. She’d been traumatized beyond words last night yet the detective’s calm demeanor and warm blue eyes had managed to crack the trauma. No one had ever done that for her before. She’d actually believed she could depend on him, completely.

  Their discussion back at the station destroyed that faith with a single sentence: let’s not get confused here.

  So she wouldn’t. She’d wear her emotional battle armor and focus on helping the cops, on not getting too personal again by asking about his girlfriend or sharing more details about her tragic family.

  “Where are we going?” she pressed.

  “One of my brother’s resorts. It’s peaceful up there. I thought you’d like it.”

  He was being nice again, caring in a way that could definitely confuse her.

  “Just take me back to the house,” she said.

  “It will be flooded with cops.”

  “It’s fine.” She glanced out the side window, watching the evergreen trees whiz by.

  “I can tell you’re not fine. What’s wrong?” he asked.

  She resented that he could read her so easily. “Nothing you can fix.”

  “Maybe not, but I can try.”

  She wanted to challenge him, to say why bother? But she didn’t. Just because she’d misinterpreted his caring gestures as personal when he was strictly motivated by his job didn’t mean she had to be rude. Detective Donovan was still the most trustworthy person in her life and he was assigned to protect her, so she should bite back her smart retorts and just get through it.

  It seemed as if she was always just getting through life.

  She leaned back against the headrest and closed her eyes to discourage more conversation. A professional relationship didn’t require discussion, right?

  “I didn’t get much sleep, either,” he offered.

  She didn’t answer, hoping he’d stop trying to engage her.

  A few minutes later the radio clicked on and country music drifted through the car. He couldn’t possibly know she preferred country to rock. It was just a coincidence.

  The deep male voice sang a tale about a guy seeing a girl for the first time as she ran toward him in the rain. He held the door open, their eyes met and she asked him his name. The male voice mused that if he’d shown up a few minutes later they wouldn’t have met that day; they would have missed their chance at love.

  It was a song celebrating the mystery of timing, how a few minutes either way can change someone’s life forever.

  Nic realized if she’d shown up later to the lake house as originally planned she wouldn’t have been witness to a murder. Someone else would have called in the crime and she would have been back in Seattle Sunday night.

  She also never would have met Detective Donovan, a man who showed her that not all cops were heartless jerks. Sure, she’d been stung when he warned her not to get confused about their relationship—making it clear that it was business, nothing more. She’d been offended that he thought her so weak that she’d become infatuated with him when he was just doing his job.

  A part of her had been hurt by his bluntness. A man like Alex would never consider dating a woman like Nicole, not with the baggage she carried on her shoulders like a ten-ton weight.

  Dating? How juvenile to even go there. Yet compared to the few men she’d dated in her life, the one sitting next to her seemed the most sincere. He exuded strength of character in a way she’d never seen before. She tried convincing herself that even if they hadn’t met in this dire situation she would have been intrigued by Alex Donovan.

  But they did meet because of a murder, and solving the crime was his job, his priority.

  He pulled into a parking lot in front of a rustic wood building overlooking the lake. They got out of the car and he motioned to her.

  “This is Water’s Edge Lodge. Let’s see if I can find my little brother, Quinn. I think I upset him this morning.”

  “You’re on a roll,” she said under her breath.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.”

  He glanced sideways at her.

  “I’m tired. Ignore me,” she said.

  He opened the lodge door and they entered a great room with a vaulted ceiling, log furniture and a roaring fireplace.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said, eyeing the lake through the picture window.

  “I’m Alex Donovan,” he said to the front desk clerk. “Is my brother on site today?”

  “Yes, he is. Let me track him down for you.”

  Nicole w
andered to the window. “What a gorgeous view.”

  “There’s a small beach down at that end, and an indoor pool over there,” Alex said while pointing. “Quinn bought the place about four years ago and had it totally remodeled. He’s got a great head for business.”

  “Looks like it.”

  Alex’s phone vibrated on his belt but he hesitated to answer.

  “Go on, I’m fine,” she said.

  He pointed to a patio on the other side of a nearby door. “I’ll be right over here.”

  She nodded and glanced back at the lake. Last night it had nearly swallowed her yet today the sun illuminated the calm surface, giving it a warm peaceful glow.

  A young woman stepped up to the window beside Nicole. Wearing black jeans and a denim jacket, the woman looked like she was in her late twenties. She smiled and Nicole returned the smile.

  Then the woman narrowed her eyes. “Aren’t you Nicole Harris? I’m Cathy Crowell with the International News Service.”

  Nicole glanced outside for Alex but he’d stepped out of view.

  “You were Edward Lange’s assistant, right?” The reporter pulled a tape recorder out of her shoulder bag. “What can you tell me about the murder?”

  When Nicole turned to walk away, Cathy blocked her. “Are you a witness? Are there any suspects? Are you a suspect?”

  “There you are, sweetheart,” a man said, breezing up to Nicole.

  He was about Alex’s height and build with similar facial features including warm eyes with a tint of green. This must be Quinn, Alex’s brother.

  “I thought you said to meet in the dining room,” he said. “Sorry I’m late.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and she fought the urge to pull away. She didn’t like it when people breached her personal space yet Quinn had come to her rescue so she didn’t want to be rude.

  “Let’s take a walk out front,” he motioned with his hand.

  “That would be lovely,” she said.

  He glanced at the reporter whose forehead creased with confusion.

  “I’m sorry, do we know you?” he said.

  “No. My mistake.” She shoved the recorder into her bag.

  “Have a nice day.” Quinn linked Nicole’s arm in his and led her outside.

  He leaned close and she thought he was going to kiss her again. Instead, he whispered into her ear, “Keep smiling and don’t look behind you.”

  “Why?”

  “More press. They’ve got a block of rooms. The murder of Edward Lange is big news.”

  “Thank you for rescuing me.”

  “My pleasure.” He glanced at her and offered a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “They’ll be watching us, so pretend you’re in love with me.”

  “I don’t... I’m sorry, I can’t.”

  He chuckled. “I’m that ugly, huh?”

  “You know you’re not. I’ve just...” She hesitated and he quirked an eyebrow. “I’ve never been in love, not really.”

  “Oh, sorry.” He led her around the corner behind the groundskeeper’s shed. He let go of her arm and she realized she felt nothing when Quinn touched her.

  As opposed to Alex’s touch that flooded her body with warmth.

  He reached out to brush a strand of hair off her face. “We’ve got more in common than you might think,” he said with a sad smile.

  “What are you doing?” Alex accused as he walked up to them.

  Quinn glanced over his shoulder. “Lending a protective hand to a beautiful woman.”

  “Stop touching her, Quinn.” Alex shoved at Quinn’s shoulder.

  “And you can stop being so dramatic. Where were you, anyway? You left her alone in a lodge full of reporters.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me they were checking in?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me you were stopping by?” Quinn countered.

  “You afraid I’d catch you in a compromising situation?”

  “Catch me? What, you think you’re my father?”

  Their quarrelling was giving her a headache. She instinctively pressed her middle finger and thumb together and tweaked their cheeks.

  Alex stopped in midsentence and they both looked at her with the same stunned expression.

  “Huh, it still works,” she said, proud of herself.

  “What did you just do?” Alex said.

  “Stopped your bickering. Always worked on Beau and Addy, too.”

  “Why did you do that?” Quinn asked.

  “You’re acting like a couple of twelve-year-olds fighting over a new baseball mitt and you’re giving me a headache.”

  “Sorry,” Alex said and glared at Quinn.

  “Yeah, sorry,” Quinn offered.

  “I thought we’d find some peace and quiet out here.” Alex sighed. “Guess I was wrong.”

  “Reporters started checking in late last night,” Quinn said. “The closest peace and quiet you’re going to find is up north at The Sandpiper.” Quinn eyed Nicole’s Decker’s Lodge sweatshirt and shot her a charming smile. “That looks adorable on you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Stop that,” Alex said.

  “What? Complimenting her?”

  “Looking at her like that.”

  “I give up.” Quinn turned and walked away. “Nice meeting you, Nicole.”

  “Where are you going?” Alex said.

  “To work with people who appreciate me, not criticize me for breathing,” he called over his shoulder.

  “Wait a second.”

  But he’d disappeared around the corner.

  Alex glanced at Nicole. “Sorry you had to see that.”

  “Don’t be. It’s nice to know ours wasn’t the only dysfunctional family.”

  “It’s just, he’s got a way with women.”

  “What way?”

  “He charms them, makes them fall in love then breaks their hearts.”

  “And you were worried he was going charm me in less than two minutes? Wow, he must be a talented guy.”

  “He’s a frustrating guy.” Alex sighed and ran his hand across his jaw. “I guess bringing you out here was a bad idea.”

  “Let’s go back to Edward’s house and see if I can remember anything.”

  “You sure?”

  “No, but I can’t avoid it forever.”

  * * *

  There were only two forensic techs at the lake house. Nic felt okay until she crossed the threshold into Edward’s office. The sight of the bloodstained carpet made her queasy.

  “I need the room,” Alex said to a tech that was peeling fingerprint tape off the doorknob to the closet.

  “Sure.” With a nod, the tech left the room.

  Alex shut the office door and turned to Nicole.

  “Walk me through what happened. That could spark your memory.”

  Heart pounding, she stepped behind the desk trying to ignore the disheveled room and dust the techs used to find fingerprints. She instinctively wanted to clean everything up. It was in her DNA.

  “I was talking to Ruby, my boss, on the phone.”

  “Where were you standing?”

  “Here, behind the desk.”

  The scene replayed itself in her mind. “I heard the door slam so I hung up.” She let her mind drift back to yesterdays’s scene.

  “What did you hear next?”

  “They were arguing.”

  “Edward?”

  “Yes, and another man. I didn’t recognize his voice.”

  “What were they arguing about?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ve never heard Mr. Lange raise his voice like that. Then something slammed into the wall. It frightened me, so...” She walked to the closet and opene
d the door. Eyeing the stack of boxes she’d used as protection, she fought back the memory. She didn’t want to go there again, to feel that terror and vulnerability.

  “You’re okay.” Alex placed a solid hand on her shoulder. “Do you remember what the men were arguing about?”

  She wandered inside the closet. “Mr. Lange said it was borderline criminal. The second man said, ‘You need to reconsider.’ The voices were louder. They’d entered the office, were just outside the closet door.” She glanced at Alex but the image of his handsome face started to blur.

  “You’re doing great,” he coached.

  “Mr. Lange said nothing would change his mind, then something slammed against the door.”

  She backed up, trying to get away from the angry sound of the escalating argument.

  “Nicole?” a voice said. Alex. But he sounded far away.

  A haze clouded her vision. The men’s voices grew louder.

  Why are you still here?

  Because you haven’t called the cops.

  The only reason I haven’t called the cops is because of my—

  The crack of a gunshot slammed against her chest. She gasped for breath and was sucked into an abyss of blackness.

  SIX

  Alex lunged forward and caught her before she hit the floor. “Nicole?” he said, holding her limp body in his arms.

  He carried her out of the closet and marched through the house.

  “What happened?” the forensic tech asked.

  Alex shook his head and aimed for the back room where he’d taken her last night. He couldn’t answer the tech because he couldn’t speak past the ball lodged in his throat. He blamed himself for encouraging her to go face-to-face with the fear that had traumatized her last night.

  “Can you get me a cup of water?” Alex asked.

  “Sure.”

  Alex laid Nicole on the thick-cushioned sofa and took her pulse. It raced like a speeding train, and her skin was growing paler by the minute. He brushed hair off her face and whispered in a low voice.

  “Nicole, it’s okay. Please wake up, sweetheart.” He hadn’t meant for the endearment to slip out but at this point didn’t care. If tender words would bring her around then he’d keep talking. “You were so brave. Everything’s going to be okay.”