Mark disconnected the call and pushed the twenty-five mile per hour speed limit to reach Nicole’s place. He might make it on time. A short while later he pulled up beside Nicole’s empty car. Where was she?
His pulse kicked up a notch, and he cut the engine. He ran to the door and raised his hand to knock.
The door swung open, and Nicole screamed. “You scared me! What are you doing standing here?”
“What are you doing inside? I thought you were going to wait for me.”
Her chin lifted, and fire smoldered in her eyes. “I was, but then there was a sound on the deck, and it scared me. I couldn’t stand not knowing what caused it. Turned out to be a squirrel, and I realized how silly I was behaving so I went inside. Plus I bought ice cream and didn’t want it to melt.” Her face softened. “Sorry. I’m still a little jumpy, but I knew you’d be here any minute.” She brushed past him and strode toward her car. “I didn’t hear you knock.”
“That’s because I didn’t get a chance.” He sidled up to her as she opened the door. One bag sat inside a plastic crate on the back seat. “I can get that.”
“Thanks.” She waited for him to grab the bag. “I hope you’re hungry. I have a feast planned.” She stopped. “Is that your dog?”
Sadie sat beside his car.
“That’s Sadie. I hated to leave her home since I’ve been away all day. Do you mind?”
“Not at all, but she has to stay outside. I don’t think the rental agency allows pets.”
“No problem. She can hang out on the deck.” He whistled for his dog.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.” He squatted and scratched Sadie’s back. “She’s a good girl.” He stood and opened the gate to the deck. Sadie sniffed the deck then stepped into the area as if it was home. “I think she likes it here.”
“We can go in that way too.” Nicole stepped past him, then moved toward the French doors. She waved a shaky hand toward the kitchen as she led him inside.
Interesting. It looked like she was more nervous than she let on. “Did you still want me to check things out and make sure we’re alone?”
Her eyes widened. “If you think it’s a good idea.”
“It can’t hurt. Wait here.” He moved to the hall and looked in the bathroom—clear. The bedrooms were clear as well. He checked all the closets and under the beds then up in the loft. “No one’s here besides us.” He turned and she bumped into him. He grasped her shoulders to steady her. “Whoa there.”
“Sorry, I didn’t like waiting at the door. It gave me the creeps. Which is nuts since I came in on my own earlier, and I had Sadie with me, but when you thought you should check the place out, I got creeped out again.”
He lightly squeezed her shoulder. “Relax. I think you’re perfectly safe. Whoever was here earlier is long gone. I’m sure you have nothing to worry about anymore.” He never should’ve planted a seed of doubt in her mind. It was just him being overly cautious and borrowing trouble.
“That’s what they said at the property management place too. Speaking of which. They brought over two new television sets.”
“Now that you mention it, I did notice the new TV’s. They move fast.”
“Yeah. I think they were trying to make me feel better about staying here. They replaced the lock on the doors and cleaned the house too. It was nice walking into a fresh and clean smelling place again.”
His phone vibrated, indicating an incoming text. “Hold that thought. I need to check something on my phone. Be right back.” He opened the French doors and stepped onto the deck with Sadie at his side as a woodchuck scurried across the planks then hopped onto the dirt below, staring at him as if offended. “Leave it,” he said to Sadie as he pulled out his cell and accessed the info Spencer had sent. It looked like Nicole’s place hadn’t been their lucky break like he’d hoped. He pressed in Spencer’s number. “Hey, I have the picture. Any chance the plate can be enhanced?”
“It’s doubtful.” Spencer sighed. “Did you notice the deer is blocking the license plate?”
He pulled up the picture again. “Good point. At least we know the make and model.”
“We got lucky the bicyclist came forward with this photograph. Apparently he rides around snapping shots of nature all over Sunriver and said he had a bad feeling about the vehicle when he saw two men carrying a large screen TV out to it, so he snapped the shot.”
“Too bad he didn’t get the men in the picture.”
“No kidding. I asked him to let me look through his collection in case he inadvertently caught the thieves elsewhere.”
“Good.” Footsteps tapped on the deck. He looked over his shoulder. Nicole held a plate with two thick steaks piled on top. “Give me a call if anything else turns up.” He pocketed his phone.
She pressed her lips tight and studied something beyond his shoulder, then her eyes locked with his. “Do you think the thieves will return?”
Chapter Nine
Nicole gazed toward her rental house from her seat on the deck and unease gripped her, even with Mark inside the house checking out the new TVs. This summer was turning into a rollercoaster of emotions, and right now it was a nightmare. If Grams hadn’t been so insistent she not leave Sunriver, she’d be safe at home right now. Instead, she was scared and alone. Well not exactly alone, but Mark would eventually leave and then she’d be alone. Mark couldn’t assure her she was completely safe here. No one could. What if the burglars came back? Sure, it wasn’t likely, but no one could guarantee they wouldn’t return. She shivered.
She opened the grill lid, wincing at the loud squeak. Using tongs, she placed the steaks onto the hot rack. The aroma from the sizzling meat made her mouth water.
“Those are nice TVs. I wish my rental had an up-to-date television.” Mark stood in the doorway.
She jumped as the timbre of his voice broke the quiet of the evening and hoped he hadn’t noticed. Her hands clutched the tongs until the metal pinched her fingers.
He walked over and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You need to relax. I know you’re concerned the burglars will return, but all the evidence points to a simple break-in. You aren’t the target of some big crime ring. The rest of your summer should be uneventful.” He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. With a tender smile, he closed the lid and removed the tongs from her hands. “Maybe I should take over from here.” He gently steered her to one of the deck chairs. “Be right back.” He strode inside and came out with tall glasses of iced tea.
His touch did strange things to her stomach. Butterflies threatened to burst from within if she didn’t get this silly school-girl infatuation under control. That was all it was. He had helped her, and now she was drawn to him.
“What’s the frown for?” Concern etched his eyes.
She shook her head. “Sorry. I’m letting my mind wander to a place it shouldn’t go. I feel a little better knowing it was a random break-in.” She tried to give him a confident smile. “I’ll be back in a minute. I left some stuff inside.”
He followed her. “What can I bring?”
She handed him a tray piled with tableware. “I’ll gather the rest and be right behind you.”
She quickly assembled the salad, condiments and potatoes she’d nuked in the microwave and placed them on a second tray, then hustled after him. “You’re sure I don’t need to worry about the burglars anymore. Right?” Her fingers grasped the tray in a tight hold.
He set placemats on the table. “As sure as I can be. There’s no reason to believe differently.” He leaned toward the grill and breathed in deeply. “The steaks smell great. You mind if I check them?”
“Not at all.”
He lifted the lid and his deep blue T-shirt hugged his biceps. The lid gave a loud squeak and he winced. “This thing could use a lube job.”
“Yeah. It’s kind of obnoxious.” She pivoted. “I forgot iced tea to refill our glasses. Be right back.” She grasped the pitcher containing amber liquid then
returned to the deck. She lifted the lid and a puff of smoke greeted her. With the tongs, she placed the steaks on a serving platter.
“Looks good.” Mark said from close behind. His warm breath tickled her neck.
Glancing over her shoulder, she caught her breath at his nearness. His lips were close enough to kiss if she moved ever so slightly. Ack! She needed a timeout. She handed him the platter. “Be right back. I forgot knives.” She slipped past him then rushed inside to calm her racing heart. She could not allow Mark to have this kind of effect on her. A moment later, confident she was in control of her emotions, she grabbed the knives, then strode back to the table.
Mark rubbed his hands together and eyed his steak. “This looks amazing.” He eased into a chair at the table.
“It better be.” She grinned, sat beside him, and offered him the salad bowl.
He placed it beside his plate. “You mind if I offer a blessing?”
“Not at all.” She closed her eyes and bowed her head.
“Thank you, Lord, for this meal. May it taste as good as it looks, and please be with Nicole and give her Your peace. Amen.”
Peace was exactly what she needed. “Amen.” She placed a napkin in her lap and dug in.
“Have you found any more clues from your grandma?”
Nicole shrugged. “Only if you count a note that implored me to stay and not go home. Oh, and that clue about a good book is still stumping me.” She fingered her napkin. “I wonder if the book is special to one of us. Maybe one she read to me when I was a child. I feel like I should know what she’s talking about. It must be in this house though.”
He rubbed his chin. “Have you looked?”
“Not much. I need to scour through the bookshelf, but with all that’s been going on, I haven’t taken the time.” She cut at her steak. “I know, I know. If it’s a clue, the game will be stalled until I find it, which more than likely is in the book.”
He frowned as if in deep thought. “How would she know what books are in this house unless she put it there herself?”
Nicole shook her head. “She was too sick to have done that. Besides, I was her caretaker. She couldn’t have taken off for a day without me knowing.” She tapped her fingernails on the plastic table. “Unless . . .”
“What?”
“Well, I had to go to an out of state training last summer for a few days. She was doing pretty well then, and I felt comfortable leaving her alone. Do you think she could have done all of this last year?”
“It’s possible. I assume she knew she was dying.”
“Yes. She actually lived longer than her doctor expected. Grams was very good at planning treasure hunts. But if she didn’t come last summer then I’m sure she had help.”
“What about your parents? Could they have been in on it?”
Nicole shook her head. “Not a chance. Grams was my rock. She was always there for me and always made sure I went to church when I visited her.”
“I think I would have really liked your grandmother.” He leaned forward resting an elbow on the table.
“Not if she caught you with an elbow on the table.” She grinned. “Oh my goodness, she was a stickler about manners. When I was a kid, I always had to ask to be excused from the table or else . . .”
He chuckled and removed his elbow from the table.
“I almost forgot. An interior designer is stopping by tomorrow. The owners of this house want a master bed and bath makeover and want me to decorate in my taste. Isn’t that the craziest thing you’ve ever heard of?” She took a sip of her tea. “Unless I know the owner. Clearly they knew Grams. That must be it. They know me, and that’s why they asked me to give my input for the makeover.”
“Makes a lot more sense than a stranger. Plus since your Grandmother did all of this, it fits that she’d be friends with the homeowner.” He grinned. “One mystery solved.”
“But I wonder who owns this house.”
He laughed. “Why not let them stay anonymous? Clearly that’s their desire.”
She shrugged. “Good point. Besides, I have enough to figure out without adding one more piece to the puzzle. I’m stalled with Grams’ game and need a jumpstart.”
“Maybe you should retrace your steps, so to speak, and re-work your way through the clues you’ve received so far. You could have missed something that will guide you to the correct book. If you need any help, I enjoy solving puzzles.”
“I should hope so since you’re a detective. I’ll let you know. Your idea to backtrack is a good one. First thing tomorrow I’m going to do that.”
“Any idea what your grandma had in mind when she planned your treasure hunt?”
“As far as the end game goes—no. But I have a strong impression she wants me to relax and have fun this summer.”
“You don’t normally enjoy life?”
She did laugh this time. “I’ve been too busy for the past seven years to enjoy anything. I finished my master’s with honors a little over a year ago, then taught for a year. I guess you’d say school has consumed my life.”
He forked a bite of steak into his mouth and chewed slowly.
“Now I’m unemployed and looking for a new position, thanks to budget cuts.”
“What grade do you teach?”
“Fourth, but at this point I’d take any job from third to fifth. I applied to all the openings I could find in Oregon’s smaller towns, but my résumé is scant, so who knows.”
“That’s something to pray about. I’m sorry you’re going through so much right now.”
“Thanks. And thanks for reminding me to pray. I’m afraid I haven’t given the Lord much thought in a while.” She studied her glass. Maybe her visit to Sunriver was about more than relaxing. She was glad Mark had reminded her to pray.
“You’re welcome. It’s funny how sometimes the last thing we think to do is take our problems to the Lord, when talking to Him should be the first thing we do. I couldn’t do what I do without my faith in God. It’s what gets me through each day.” Mark dug into his potato. “This is great by the way.”
His conviction intrigued her. What made this man tick? “How? I mean how does your relationship with Him make a difference? Especially with being a cop and all that you see, I’d think you’d question His existence, not believe He’s always there.”
Pain flashed in his eyes, and he touched his chest. “I know it in here because He’s helped me through some tough stuff I never could handle on my own.” His voice softened. “I still have a way to go, but He’s helping to sort out all the garbage that has happened recently.”
“Like what?”
Mark quietly turned his glass around and around then finally met her gaze. “A bomb killed my partner not too long ago. It really messed me up.” He swallowed the lump in his throat. “I wanted to retire from the force, but my boss convinced me to take the summer and think it over. He encouraged me to take the job here. He thought the setting and change of pace would help me gain perspective.”
She reached over and covered his hand, then quickly snatched it away as if she hadn’t meant to touch him. “I’m so sorry. That must’ve been awful. Were you there?”
He nodded. “Yes, sort of.” But not near enough to make a difference. He closed his eyes, as the scene replayed like a movie in slow motion. “Tracy was in a rush and didn’t wait for backup. She was always in a hurry. I was seconds behind her. I tried texting her . . . even calling her, but she didn’t have her cell phone.” When he got to the scene, he’d called out to her to stop before she picked up the bag, but it was too late. He squeezed his lids tight. He knew it wasn’t his fault, but the guilt still plagued him. If he’d been there a little sooner, he could’ve warned her to not touch the bag. “I tried to stop her.” His voice sounded strangled. He needed to get a grip. It wouldn’t be pretty if he lost it, and Nicole didn’t need to see that.
Laughter from the direction of the paved path invaded the moment. He blinked away the memory. Nicole’s wate
ry eyes twisted his gut. He cleared his throat and stood. “Want help cleaning up?” He swept up several dishes, then fled into the privacy of the house.
Standing at the kitchen counter he flexed his shaking hands, trying to regain control. He hadn’t shared that with anyone outside the official inquiry. It still felt fresh, like it’d just happened. Tracy bending toward the bag was forever imprinted in his mind’s eye. Would the horror ever go away? He’d thought he’d started to win over the emotional torture, but talking about it had brought everything back in full force. Lord, please help me get past this. I need Your peace.
Everyone had patted his back and reassured him that there was nothing he could’ve done. But he couldn’t help feeling responsible. They were partners and had each other’s backs, but he’d failed. His one source of comfort was knowing she was a Christian and in heaven. If not for that . . .
“I’m sorry about your partner.” Nicole’s voice sliced through the quiet kitchen. “You said you were nearby when the bomb went off. Were you injured?”
“Minor injuries.” He turned to her and offered a weak smile. “God has helped me a lot. I was a mess right after it happened. I’ve come a long way.”
“You sure it wasn’t you helping you? No offense to Him intended.” She gave a quick glance upward. “But it seems to me you’re a resilient person, plus you’re clearly still dealing with this tragedy.”
“True, but according to the book of Isaiah, He gives strength to the weary.”
She nodded and pursed her lips.
It seemed his new friend had some faith issues. “There’s a church here in Sunriver. Now that you’re taking time to enjoy life, maybe you’d like to join me on Sunday.”
“I haven’t been to church since Grams’ funeral. I’ll think about it.” She set down the tray she’d been holding. “You up for dessert? I have ice cream.”
He should probably go home, but she clearly wasn’t yet ready to be alone. “My favorite.”
She dished up two bowls and led the way to the couch. They talked for hours until Nicole looked at her watch and gasped. “I can’t believe it’s ten o’clock. I’m sorry for keeping you so late.” She jumped up from the couch. “Thanks for coming over tonight.”
A Love to Treasure (Sunriver Dreams Book 1) Page 7
