Or maybe Nora was only seeing what she wanted to see.
A faithful mom.
A devoted husband.
Maybe neither were who they seemed.
“What if you never find out why your mom was heading out of town?”
“How do you know she was?”
Rush stood and turned away from her. “Because we found two cases in the trunk. One had clothing in it.” He faced her. “She was going somewhere, Nora.”
Nora’s hands trembled, and she steadied her cup between her knees.
“I know that’s not what you want to hear. And you have to understand that no matter what turns up, you won’t get every single answer to your questions. And that’s not even the most frightening part of this.”
“No?” She peered into his eyes, firelight casting shadows on his face. “What is?”
“You won’t back down, and I don’t believe whoever did this to you is going to back down either. Which means you’re not safe as long as you’re snooping.”
Nora swallowed the fear clawing in her throat. “I can’t sit back and do nothing.”
He collapsed beside her again and groaned. “I had a feeling you’d say that. I think you should stay up at the main house. You’ll be safer there.”
Her first instinct was to say no, but Rush was right. However... “Hailey is staying with my dad. Which means Dalton is also. He’s only six. If someone comes after me again, he could be in harm’s way. Hailey too. While I agree that I should stay at the main house, it scares me not to stay here.” Scared her to stay here too.
“I heard she was living back home for a while.”
Nora shrugged. “I don’t suppose any marriage is perfect. Except maybe your mom and dad’s.”
Rush grunted. What did that mean? Bringing up Rush’s parents gave her an idea. “Hey, your dad was a part-time deputy back then. I remember him coming to talk to my dad. Maybe he knows something about that night or he overheard a conversation that would help. We should talk to him.”
Rush’s jaw flinched. “Yeah... I’ll talk to him.”
Nora wasn’t so sure she believed him. Something was up with his parents, but now wasn’t the time to pry. She had to stay somewhere safe. The main house wasn’t it. “I can’t stay at the main house. Just in case. Besides, Dad has security that patrols all night. Guests love added security measures.”
Wind howled and sleet started up again, pelting the windows. “I don’t like it, but I understand. Take my number. Call me if you need anything. Anytime of night.”
Rush rattled off his number.
Nora laughed. “Seriously? The last four digits of your number is four, five, six, seven?”
“Hard to memorize, huh?” he teased.
“It’s probably the only number in my phone I can.” She saved his contact information and closed her eyes. “Rush, you do think it’s only a threat, right? No one will actually try to kill me?”
Rush stopped at the front door, raised his coat’s wool collar. “Nora, you’re about to unleash an avalanche. What do you think?” He bent over and lifted his pant leg, retrieving a handgun from an ankle holster. “This is my personal piece. Lock the doors and keep it on your nightstand.”
Nora accepted the gun and prayed she wouldn’t have to use it. “Rush?”
He turned before leaving. “Yeah?”
“You said two cases. What was in the other one?”
“It was your mom’s camera case.” His mouth formed a grim line. “With two hundred and fifty thousand dollars inside.”
TWO
“How’d you sleep, honey?” Dad looked up from his desk with tired eyes.
“I’m guessing about like you. Harrison stopped in at first light.” Dad’s Chief of Security had scared her half to death. He ought to be thankful he’s alive. She almost shot him.
“I should have called and told you he’d be by to paint over the graffiti. I wanted it done before too many people saw it. I’m sorry that happened.” He scooted out from his mahogany leather chair and crossed the room. Dressy jeans. Dress shirt that brought out the lighter flecks of brown in his eyes. She’d always wished she’d been blessed with her father’s eyes. He opened his arms to her, as he always did.
She walked into them and let his comfort shield her and make her feel safe. A different safety than how she felt in Rush’s arms last night. She didn’t want to think too much on that. There was nothing left between her and Rush romantically.
“I had him put more security around the chalet for you.” He touched the tender area on her cheek. “Rush taking care of this?”
“He is.” She pulled away, cleared her throat. “Dad, I’ve never asked because I never wanted to know. Or I didn’t believe. But after last night there has to be some truth to the gossip.” She peered into his eyes, waiting for the bomb to drop.
Dad didn’t speak for what seemed like an eternity. He touched her shoulder; his eyes held a mix of resolve and sadness. “Nora, why don’t you remember your mother in all the good ways like Friday manicures and pancakes on Sunday. Or even that silly song she sang to help you sleep that only made you giggle and stay up longer. I think she did that deliberately to have more time with you. Don’t try to pull up anything ugly. You’ll find no peace there.”
Nora held back the burning tears. Those were the memories fueling her search for truth. Mom had loved her, but did she ever love Dad? “You’re not denying it. Is that why you didn’t go on a mad hunt to find her after she disappeared? Were you relieved she was gone?”
Dad’s jaw ticked and he inhaled sharply. “I loved your mother, Nora. The only relief I have is that now I have some closure. Let Rush look into who assaulted you and vandalized my property, but as far as the past, you stay out of it.”
Nora had zero closure. Stay out of it?
Dad wasn’t going to give her any answers; no point in bringing up the fact Mom had a huge sum of money in the camera case. If he did know about it, he wouldn’t tell her. Nora had searching to do. Searching no one else seemed to want to do. Rush believed the past was an accident. He wouldn’t put the proper time into it. Someone needed to fight for the truth.
“Now, why are you really here?” he asked. “I’m thrilled to have you. I hate that you came home to this.”
“Can’t a girl come home longer than Christmas Day?” She didn’t have the courage to admit the truth. Besides, he was keeping secrets of his own.
He raised a dark eyebrow but didn’t push. “You can always come home, honey.”
“I know.” Outside the sky was painted gray. Trendy on walls. Gloomy in her heart. “We’ll have snow again soon. More rain and ice too.”
“Knock, knock.” Rush rapped on the side of the door frame. In uniform. He’d shaved and his fresh, soft cheeks held the dimples she’d always loved. “I see you got the spray paint covered up. You wanna report it officially?”
Joshua nodded. “Absolutely. I’ll go down to the station this afternoon. I put Harrison and the night security on more rounds, especially at the chalet.”
“Good.” Rush cleared his throat and glanced at Nora. “How’s the noggin?”
“Thinking about the next step.” In between the thumping. “Which is breakfast,” she added.
He chuckled. “I’ll walk you down to the dining area, if that’s okay.”
“See you tonight,” she said to her dad.
“Honey, remember our conversation.”
She would. But it wasn’t going to change her mind. As they walked down the hall to the elevator, she spoke. “Dad thinks I should back off. But why wouldn’t he want to know what happened that night?”
Rush hit the elevator button. “He might want to spare himself further pain. Or he could know more than he’s letting on to spare your feelings. Sometimes people keep secrets to protect loved ones.” They stepped in and he pus
hed the first floor to go up from the basement offices.
“Secrets don’t protect people. They hurt people.” She slid him a sideways glance. He’d kept the fact he was dating Ainsley from her, and it hadn’t spared her feelings. It had hurt more than anything. Her secrets of why she was back now would hurt and disappoint Dad.
They stepped off the elevator and took in the beautiful snowcapped view from the wall of windows that lined the hall and the dining area.
“I’m going to try to follow that money trail, Rush. It came from somewhere. If I can track it, I can get answers.”
Rush pulled a chair out for her and sat across from her. She didn’t miss his grimace. “I reviewed the initial police report from when she went missing, and the follow-up notes from Sheriff Parsons. Nothing about money. Nothing at all that would be a lead.”
“What did your dad say?”
Rush unrolled his silverware, a grim expression. “I haven’t had time to talk to him.”
“You haven’t had time?” She stared at him dumbfounded.
Rush balled his fist on the table. “Anything he would know would have been put in the report, Nora. And I was a little busy last night taking care of you.”
Nora counted to ten. Rush had rescued and protected her. “Okay. But I still want you to talk to him. Or I can—”
“I’ll do it. I’ll do it.”
The server came and Rush ordered coffee and toast. Nora ordered pecan pancakes with vanilla syrup and a side of bacon. She ate when she was wound up. She shivered and scanned the room. No one looked suspicious, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
When the server left the table, Rush continued. “Right now, I need you to be objective. Think back. Do you remember your parents ever fighting? Especially within a day or two of the ball?”
Nora shook her head and sipped her Irish breakfast tea with honey. “My parents never fought. I mean, if they did, then they kept it from me and Hailey. Plenty of space around here to raise voices and no one but the mountains to hear.” She leaned forward. “Why? Do you think my dad had anything to do with this? I mean, I know he hasn’t searched hard, but to murder my mom?”
“Whoa!” Rush put his hands up. “Don’t jump to conclusions and certainly not out loud where diners can hear. I never said that.” He scowled across the table.
“Well, you certainly implied it.”
He shifted in his seat. “I didn’t mean to. I’m saying if you could remember them arguing, you might remember some of the dialogue, which might be helpful.”
She couldn’t drum up one heated conversation. “Maybe he didn’t know she was having affairs.”
Rush gave her the get-real face. “Rumors flew through town. There’s no way he hadn’t heard them. Possibly approached her. A man was in that car at some point that night or around the event. Could be he caught her with him that night.”
And did what? “For not meaning to imply, you’re doing it again.”
Rush’s neck reddened. “We need to find the man who owns the cuff link and mask. He might have answers. We can get photos from the party.”
“Silver cuff links aren’t rare. And what if the wearer isn’t in the pictures?”
Rush tented his hands on the table. “I’d like them anyway.”
Nora nodded as the food arrived. They waited for the server to leave before going back into their discussion. “They’d be in a storage room near the offices. I can get them for you later today.”
They made small talk, dancing around the past.
“How’s Hailey?” Rush asked.
“I think she’s keeping a brave front for Dalton since he’s already going through a lot.” She added more syrup to her pancakes. “How’s your family?”
Rush’s jaw ticked. “Fine. Everyone’s coming in for the Christmas celebration.”
“Greer and Hollister?”
Rush’s eyes held surprise. “You remember them?”
“How could I forget?” She remembered all those summers with Rush, including the ones with his cousins.
His phone rang and he answered; a few minutes later he hung up. “I have to go. With this weather, all hands are on deck with traffic accidents and we have one on Route 5. Turned into a brawl. Let me pay for my breakfast.”
“Toast is twenty-two fifty.” She held in a giggle.
Rush paused, then grinned. She’d had a weak spot for that killer smile. Guess she hadn’t done enough strength training lately. It was making its mark.
“Don’t worry about it. Daddy would be fit to be tied if he knew you were paying for meals here.” She bit into her bacon. “I’ll bring the photos by the station in a couple of hours.”
“Be careful. Clearly the roads are treacherous, not to mention other dangers.”
“Will do.” She saluted him with the bacon but lost her appetite. Someone wasn’t going to be pleased when they found out she wasn’t giving up the quest for truth. She rubbed her cheek and shivered, then made her way down to the offices and storage rooms where they kept the predigitalized masquerade photos for marketing purposes. She flipped the light switch. The fluorescent lights flickered and hummed, only two lighting the dim room.
Using her cell phone flashlight, she crept into the room, highlighting the dates on cardboard boxes. Like something out of a TV show evidence facility. Dust sent her into a wave of sneezes. Halfway down the fourth aisle, she found the box. “Bingo.”
A noise came from behind. Mouse? Please be a mouse.
Hairs rose on her arms and neck. She turned as a masked man snatched the box of photos and shoved her to the ground.
No! Nora jumped up, adrenaline pumping. With all her might, she pushed until the metal row in front of her toppled and crashed onto the masked man, boxes spilling open as papers and photos littered the concrete floor.
Nora hurdled over the boxes and debris, hands shaking, and grabbed the box he’d dropped, then ran like the wind. With one hand, she dialed 911. The dispatcher answered. Menacing words and papers shuffled in the distance. Oh, no. “Tell Rush Buchanan to get to Pine Refuge Resort and Lodge.” The attacker was on her tail. “Basement. Storage room. Now! Right now! This is Nora...” The phone slipped from her shaking hands as she took a hard right. Could she make the elevator? No. Where? Where could she go?
Custodial closet. Down the next hall.
She gripped the box. The attacker gained on her. She ran hard enough her chin shook.
Five feet.
Four.
Two...
She flew into the room, closed the door and locked it. The attacker banged and pulled on the knob. Could he find a way in? Could she find a way out? A small rectangular window above was covered in snow. The box wouldn’t fit through it. She could escape and leave the photos, but if he got inside he’d have them, and obviously something in them incriminated someone or he wouldn’t want the box so badly.
Her phone was gone.
No way to communicate. She curled into a ball until the banging and twisting on the doorknob silenced. Was he gone? Was he waiting on her to open the door?
What could be in these photos? And how did the attacker know she’d be in the storage room?
Chills slithered across her spine.
She had been watched.
* * *
“Nora! Nora Beth!” Rush stormed down the hall. Millie at Dispatch had called him, and what should have been a ten-minute drive had taken him over twenty thanks to the road conditions that were worsening each hour. Rush’s heart pounded in his chest as he hunted for Nora. God, please keep her protected. He’d made his way to the storage room and taken in the disaster.
“Nora!”
He headed right, down another hall.
“Nora!”
“Rush. Rush!” The custodial closet door opened and Nora flew into his arms, gripping with all h
er might. “A man tried to steal the photos.” Her shoulders relaxed and she explained what happened.
Rush brushed a strand of blond hair from her face and tucked it safely behind her ear. His gaze locked on hers and he couldn’t quite make out what swam in her watery blue-greens—relief but something else.
“I was so scared I didn’t know what to do.”
“You did the right thing calling, then locking yourself in here.” More than ever they needed those photos. Rush needed to find all the Phantom of the Opera masked men. One of them had answers or could be the one trying to hurt Nora. “Let’s find your phone, get these and you somewhere safe.” He grabbed the box.
Troy wouldn’t want him exhausting his energy on this. As far as he was concerned, it was a closed case. He’d agreed with Rush that someone wasn’t happy about Nora turning over rocks and they should be looking into that. But after two attacks and being followed, Rush wasn’t so sure it was all about a possible scandal. People had killed for less, though.
The only place he knew the photos would be safe was under his care, at his house. He wasn’t sure he wanted Nora there permeating it with her sweet cherry blossom scent and intensifying his loneliness when she left.
Rush led Nora to his vehicle and opened the door for her, then put the photos in the backseat. He hurried inside, cranked the heat and sighed. “You okay with going to my place?”
“Sure.” Her cheeks turned pink and she gazed out the window. “I heard you built a house on the mountain.”
“About four years ago. Still needs some work, but I’m only one man.”
“Who’s saved me twice. Thank you.” She rubbed her palms together.
Rush pointed all the vents toward her. “You’d think tourists would stop pouring in. This keeps up and flights won’t only be delayed, they’ll be canceled.”
“People pay good money to be here on the holidays. They don’t care about the weather. Sometimes I feel like I’m talking to nothing but the camera.”
Rush switched his wipers on to knock away the ice pelting the windshield. The rest of the ride was fairly quiet. He turned onto a long drive that cut up through a thick forest of evergreens. His two-story A-frame log cabin with a deck wrapped around the entire second story came into view. He loved having coffee out there and seeing the mountains for miles. It was peaceful and quiet.
Cold Case Christmas Page 3
