by Kat Bammer
“No, not yet—she’s my next stop. Is there someone special in her life?”
The question took him by surprise. His parents got divorced a long time ago, but his mother never remarried or even saw other men, that he knew of. The thought alone was outrageous.
“Nope.”
His dad looked at him like he had always done, back when he was a cocky teenager—with patience. But there was also something in his eyes, something that told him he didn’t know half of it.
20
The next day, as Lisa sat at the breakfast nook of the Inn with Claire, she still didn’t know what to make of this last development between her and Peter.
“Then we kissed and went skinny dipping, and one thing led to the next…”
“So, you did it?” Claire waggled her eyebrows.
Warmth radiated through her body and she grinned when she thought about Peter, naked and sexy in bed. “Yes, doofus, but I wasn’t the only one, was I?” Lisa waggled her eyebrows, as well, and both girls snorted with laughter.
“We just made out a little; you, on the other hand went home with him. Not the same.”
Lisa pressed her hand against her stomach. Not that she was completely surprised and hadn’t expected something to happen, because she had. Their chemistry and their kiss in the parking lot had been off-the-charts hot and her heart fluttered every time he was near. Well, it looked like Peter had some feelings for her, as well. They were seeing each other. Those were his exact words. So why was she still so unsure about it?
Maybe they had acted too fast. Maybe she should have taken more time. Gotten to know him better first. Not fall head over heels into bed with him. Again. That had been a recipe for disaster the first time. And Moon Lake was a small town. Everyone would know about them in two seconds flat. And everyone in Moon Lake would have an opinion of their own—and would let them know about it. Complications and expectations, en mass.
It was good to have Claire around, because without her, she would churn and churn on this for weeks without ever getting anywhere.
“So? What now?” Claire, as ever, got straight to the point. Claire didn’t like to talk about her own feelings much, but she was prime at picking apart Lisa’s and she was a kick-ass pros-and-cons list maker.
Claire stood up for another cup of coffee for herself and took Lisa’s cup for a refill. “You like him, don’t you? So, you want to get together? There’s this whole marriage thing you have to sort out. See what’s the status on that. You trust him?”
Lisa jiggled her feet nervously. Could she? Trust him again? Maybe it was just muscle memory that made everything between them as good and…sexy.
“He’s divorced—we talked about that.” At least they had talked about it. But there was so much she didn’t know. They sure as hell acted too fast. Maybe she should think about this a little more. Take a step back and cool it off. He’d crushed her heart once and she would definitely not let that happen a second time.
A knock on the kitchen window and Claire putting the steaming cup in front of her, threw Lisa out of her musings.
Both women looked to the window.
“What the hell. How can it be that all the hot guys live down here, and nobody knows about it?” Claire’s offhand murmur brought a grin to Lisa’s face.
“This is Dr. Radley.” She waved at him through the window and pointed toward the back door. “He’s Dad’s doctor—we met at the hospital.”
“Hello.” He entered and after introductions, Lisa and Alan—as he urged them to call him—sat down at the table again while Claire brought another cup of coffee for Alan.
“Your dad came home yesterday; I’m just here to check on him.”
“You are always welcome, Alan.” And he was—he’d helped her a lot at the hospital. So she owed him.
“Are you working at the hospital?” Claire asked.
“No, I’m a primary care physician here in Moon Lake. But this isn’t big-city medicine. So, I help out at the hospital when needed,” he said.
“And, I, kind of, had a meltdown, right in front of him, and he picked me up again,” Lisa said, cringing when she thought about her panic attack outside the hospital.
“Normal human behavior—you were under a lot of stress. You look better now—well rested and beautiful.”
Claire’s eyebrows shot up and the look she gave Lisa made her squirm in her seat. “Thank you, I was pretty down, that day. You really helped me through.” She felt heat rising to her cheeks.
The silence became awkward fast. What was it with all the men being so easy with the compliments? It was new to her.
“Will you check on Dad regularly?”
“Yes, I will. There are also multiple options for respite care for your mother. But, yes. Your father told me you’re a diving instructor.” Alan took a sip of coffee then his caramel eyes focused on Claire. “Are you also?”
“No, I’m a chef, but I was working on the same cruise ship as Lisa; we became good friends there—”
“We’ve taken over the Inn together,” Lisa dropped in—maybe this was a potential man for her best friend.
Not that Claire needed her help, or that she wasn’t anything but hopeless in the love department herself. But, no harm in a little push.
Claire was always careful, practically timid in relationships to men. Which made it hard. Maybe she could help her out a little. Just to get things started. The picture of Claire and Blake kissing entered Lisa’s mind. Maybe she wasn’t so careful anymore, but Alan might be the better choice. He was a doctor, after all, and he was acquainted with her dad, which meant he was a good man.
Maybe Claire would find happiness here in Moon Lake.
Alan stood. “I should visit your father. Accompany me, Lisa?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied. Her matchmaking ambitions obviously had to wait for another opportunity.
Alan said goodbye to Claire and followed Lisa out the back door.
“So, would you go diving with me sometime?” he asked her when they were halfway to her parents’ cottage.
It took Lisa a few seconds to make the connection to their previous topic of conversation.
“I learned to dive on vacation in the Caribbean a few years back but didn’t further pursue it here. But I’d like to take it up again, especially with you as my teacher.”
Lisa’s ears got hot. Again? Was he trying to flirt with her? Maybe he was just a charmer and really only wanted to pick up diving again.
“Of course, it’d be a pleasure. My diving equipment should arrive sometime in the next few days with the rest of our stuff. I need to get reacquainted with the local environments. But after that, we can totally do it.”
Diving in the lake was so different from the warm sea, and she would have to reconnect with her old diving instructor again. She made a mental note to look him up as soon as her equipment arrived.
They entered the cottage and her mom was furiously swiping the floor in the kitchen.
“Mom, Dr. Radley is here to check on Dad.”
Her mother wiped furiously to remove the tears from her face, but she couldn’t fool Lisa.
“You need us for this, Alan?” Lisa asked, and when he shook his head, she took her mother by the shoulders and moved her out through the front door, gloves, cleaning rag, and all.
“What’re you doing, I have to be there, I need to know what Alan has to say. I have to care for your father. It all falls apart. That can’t happen. I have to fix it. Why did you pull me away? You always act on impulse, never think anything through. You’re still as irresponsible as you were as a teenager. Just avoid the challenges of life and leave, as soon as the going gets tough.”
It all came out in one fell swoop between sobs.
A sudden coldness hit her core. What the hell had she done now, to incur the wrath of her mother? She’d just tried to help, for God’s sake.
She had upped her whole life to take some burden off of her mother’s shoulders. And what did she get?
Another critical tearing down from her oh-so-loving mother.
Lisa breathed hard and ground her teeth.
She wouldn’t react.
This was just her mother, who had always criticized her for who she was. But there was more, something Lisa hadn’t realized before.
Her mother always needed to be in control of herself and her environment. Typical perfectionist, who had systems for everything. And when this didn’t work, she crumbled and lashed out.
Of course, the situation with her dad lying there, would be hard for anyone to cope with. But that outburst—it had nothing to do with Lisa’s behavior and everything to do with her mother’s inner turmoil.
Maybe all of her mother’s criticism had never been so much about Lisa’s inefficiencies but more about her own issues.
She ignored her mom’s outburst and just dragged her to the rose garden. “Tell me about Gabriel, Mom; I can’t remember the story.”
“Now?” Her mother asked, exasperated, but she turned to a stone, with a brass cross, set amongst the roses.
“He was your aunt’s child. She took over the Inn from their parents and lived here with her husband and her son Gabriel. When Gabriel was about five years old, he played on some logs of wood, which were stacked right here, waiting for someone to chop them down. The logs somehow got loose and rolled over him. Gabe was killed. They changed the name of the Inn after that, but she just couldn’t get over it. Their marriage collapsed and after her husband left, she killed herself. It’s a sad story.”
It was a sad story.
“Then you and Dad took over?” Lisa knew, but somehow the roses and memories calmed her mother.
“I didn’t want to, but your father was so happy to come back here. Even with all the misery that happened with his sister, he just wouldn’t let go of the Inn. And I-I would have followed him everywhere. Even here.”
The impact of that last sentence stayed with Lisa. She wasn’t that different from her mother. She would have done the same thing, had Peter not hurt her the way he did. If he had been kind, maybe they would have fallen in love. And quite possibly she would have followed him everywhere, even if it would have been his dream and not hers.
21
“Do you have the shopping list?” Lisa asked Claire, over their new reception desk right at the front entrance of the Inn. Lisa stroked the freshly oiled surface. The lemony scent that lingered in the air made her smile. To get the huge desk down from the attic was quite the achievement. Both of them were basking in all the old furniture they’d found in the attic, but when their eyes fell on the desk, they just knew. Every day was like stepping into an adventure. A little scary but a lot more exciting. This was their future, their business. So they were thrilled when they found the long-forgotten treasure sheltered by a thick dusk layer. They had looked at each other and said “reception” in unison and stubborn as they both were, didn’t relent until they had hauled it down by themselves.
Not without minor injuries like stubbed toes, scratches, and big bruises here and there. But also with a lot of easy banter and laughing sprees that sapped their energy.
The little green library lamp on top of the reception desk rounded out the picture—sophisticated, with old-time charm. They should put a small bookshelf in here too, with books and magazines for the guests to choose from.
“Yes, I have the list. I know the way. I know how to shop for groceries. It won’t take me long,” Claire answered. She opened the front door and Lisa heard a familiar car pull into their parking lot.
“You got a visitor. Remember you are working. No fooling around while on duty.” Claire winked and slipped out right before the paper clip she threw at her made contact with the doorframe.
“Very funny,” Lisa grumbled but instantly felt heat climbing up her neck, just like every single time she remembered having sex with Peter just days ago.
The door opened and when he stepped in, looking impeccable and incredible sexy in his uniform, the heat intensified.
“Hey there, beautiful. Has he arrived yet?” Peter propped his hands on the desk and kissed her lightly.
Lisa never thought men in uniform would turn her on, but Peter in uniform—phew.
Lisa shook herself out of her daydreaming and glanced around. “Who?” She hadn’t the first idea who he was talking about.
“The husband of Mrs. Ketley, Room 5? Is he already here?”
Lisa tried hard not to think of Grace Ketley. Days were easier; they had so much going on, that she hadn’t had much time to think of her, but nights were shit. That was when the pictures came back to haunt her.
“No, I don’t think so, and Claire didn’t say anything either. A little heads-up he’s coming today would have been nice, though.”
Peter put his fists into the front pockets of his trousers and shifted back on his heels. “Sorry, wasn’t my call. I shouldn’t even be here, but there’s been a car accident near Whitebrook, so here I am.”
Lisa shrugged her shoulders and then crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Do you know anything more about Grace’s death? Do you know what happened?”
Giving a name and giving back life to the pale, white hand that haunted her dreams somehow kept the horrifying dreams about Zombies in check.
“She was killed, I told you that.”
“And…”
“Nothing.”
“Oh come on. I found her—she lived here. I dream about her every damn night. You need to give me more than that.”
“No, I don’t. The investigation is still going on, but we have some promising leads. This time we’ll get him.”
He stepped back and looked around. As if Mr. Ketley would come out of the breakfast room any minute.
“Him? This time? WTF, Peter?” Lisa dropped down onto the chair behind the desk, her legs too weak to hold her up.
Peter scrambled around the desk, squatted down, and squeezed her upper arms. “Don’t freak out. Nothing’s concrete yet. Just some unsolved murder cases of young women in the county. Police have never been able to find a connection, but we think they somehow are.”
There was something he didn’t say, Lisa was sure of it. “How many? How long? Why didn’t I know anything about this?”
“You weren’t here. Maybe you should’ve talked to your parents or came home more often,” Peter replied matter-of-factly.
This was a low blow but maybe he was right. She would have been able to spend more time with her dad if she had come visit more often.
Sadness swamped her. “How long has this been going on?”
“It’s been years. The potential first victim was over fourteen years ago.”
Fourteen years ago? Serious? “But we were still back here in Moon Lake then.”
“Yes, we were.”
His tone made Lisa suspicious. What exactly wasn’t he saying? Lisa eyed Peter up and down. He looked exhausted, sad, deep lines around his down-turned mouth. Nowhere near his usual easy smile, or at least sexy half-smile.
“Sophie?”
“What about her?” He played dumb but the sharp pain was visible in his eyes.
“She was the first, wasn’t she?”
“Maybe.” A deep sigh followed this ‘maybe’ while Peter’s shoulders drew up and he tucked his elbows into his sides.
His sister’s death had hit him hard back then and it obviously still did. Lisa could see the pain in the light sheen of his eyes.
“There was nothing you could have done, Peter.”
This was the second time Lisa could feel his guilt as if it was a tangible black cloud hanging over him. She remembered the night. The party. He had urged Sophie to stay but she would have none of it. Sophie had been the life and center of a lot of parties back then. Running wild and enjoying her life before she would leave for college.
Her death had changed the whole town.
But it had destroyed Peter’s family.
And still haunted him.
“I need you to take care. No walks alon
e at night, no taking risks. Maybe we’ll start some self-defense classes for you and Claire.”
The intensity of his words made Lisa nod slowly. He was trying to protect her.
She thought about the papers in her father’s workshop. She didn’t want to think about what it all meant. She was certain her father had nothing to do with the deaths of these women. But she had to show Peter.
“I have to show you something.”
“What is it?” he asked but got up and turned around a second later. He reacted to movement by the front door before Lisa even realized what was happening.
A man entered. His hair was muddy brown and disheveled and his skin was waxy. His clothes were wrinkled like he had slept in them, but his face looked like he hadn’t slept in days, with deep lines scarring it.
“Hello, my Name is Ketley, Brian Ketley. I am here for—” he petered out, unable to voice the difficult task which he was forced to do.
Peter took a few steps toward the man and reached out to shake his hand. “I’m Deputy Sheriff Fisher.” Peter turned and pointed at Lisa. “This is Elisabeth Reynolds, the owner of the Inn. We can go straight up to the room, if you like.”
Peter walked back to Lisa with his hand reaching out. “Keys!”
Lisa scrambled for the keys to Room 5, nervous and happy to have something to do, besides staying there and staring at Mr. Ketley.
When she handed Peter the keys, he murmured, “We’ll talk later,” and headed toward the stairs.
Mr. Ketley hadn’t moved an inch since stepping through the door. As if there was an invisible wall he couldn’t pass. He hesitated and looked up at Peter, who was already halfway up the stairs.
“That would be okay, I guess,” he said and nodded at Lisa, who gave him an encouraging half-smile back.
She busied herself in her office, while they were up in the room. Nervousness, about what Peter would say when she showed him her father’s documents in the shed, and her thoughts about Grace Ketley and Sophie Fisher stifled her abilities to concentrate on anything useful.
