Double Take (13 page)

Why had her sister run roughshod over everyone at Fox Hollow?

Her head hurt her now. Kait returned to the kitchen for a Motrin, then plopped down in the living room in the chair she had eyed her first day at Fox Hollow. It was as comfortable as it looked. She put her feet up on an ottoman and looked out the huge windows facing her. The view of the rolling fields and distant hills was spectacular. It was also vastly comforting. God seemed to be everywhere at Fox Hollow, so close she could almost feel Him. Hadn’t Lana felt any of this?

“I heard you took a spill! Are you all right?” a woman said, approaching from behind.

Kait’s feet came down and she turned and saw a very pretty, slightly plump redhead in tan slacks, a pin-striped shirt, and a red cardigan. Her diamond ring was large. A gold Cartier watch glinted on one wrist. A diamond hung on a gold thread in the vee of her crisp shirt. She was smiling, but anxiously, as she hurried into the room. Of course this was Alicia—Lana’s best friend. Trev had had dinner with her and her husband the first night Kait had been at Fox Hollow. “Hi.” Kait managed a smile, unsure of what to expect.

Alicia stopped, staring at Kait’s hair, her eyes wide with surprise. Kait smiled. “I got a chop job.”

Seeming stunned, the redhead now took in Kait’s paddock boots, which, while gleaming with polish, were, nevertheless, a distinct stable statement. Then she looked at the sandwich on the plate. “Are you all right?” she managed, her coral-stained lips barely moving. “I heard you
fell
off your horse over a fence, Lana.”

“I’m fine.” Kait smiled again. “I mean, we did have a bit of an accident, and I did hit my head, but I’m fine.”

Alicia sat down on the ottoman beside Kait’s chair, reaching for her hands. “No one told me until this morning! Why didn’t you call me yesterday when it happened? I would have come right over,” she cried.

Kait looked into her hazel eyes and thought that Lana seemed to have a friend here. “I’m fine. It was scary....” She stopped. Alicia was Lana’s best friend. Maybe she knew what the hell was going on.

Alicia still held her hands. “You’re a superb rider. I can’t imagine you having a fall! And whatever possessed you to cut your hair? I mean, it’s cute and all, but...it’s so not you!” She finally released Kait’s hands, seeming bewildered.

It wasn’t Lana at all. Temptresses did not have short, wispy hair. Temptresses had long sultry locks. “I was temporarily insane.” Kait was wry. Did she dare pump Alicia for information?

Alicia blinked, then smiled. “Well, I like it.” She grinned. “I like it a lot! But you didn’t clue me in!”

“It was spur of the moment,” Kait murmured.

Alicia touched her own, heavy, shoulder-length mane. “Should I cut mine?”

Kait started, regarding the redhead’s pretty face. Being as she was a bit overweight, and she had round, plump cheeks, she knew that her own hairstyle would never suit Alicia. Besides, the blunt cut was extremely conservative—Alicia, while probably thirty or so, was a bit matronly for her age. “Honey, you have gorgeous hair. Do not cut it.”

“I really don’t want to,” Alicia said, with relief. “But it looks so cute on you!” She hesitated. “Does Trev like it?”

Kait also hesitated. “I have no idea.”

Alicia reached for her hand. “Is everything okay?”

Here, at last, was a friend and confidante. “He’s handed me my walking papers,” Kait said.

“What?”

“He gave me divorce papers about one second after I walked through the door,” Kait explained.

Alicia stared, dismayed. She stood and paced, then said, “How can I help?”

“Can I win him back?” Kait asked.

She was startled. “I thought you wanted out! You said you were sick and tired of marriage. That you needed to move on.”

So that was how Lana felt.

Alicia lowered her voice. “I even got the feeling that you might not bother to come back from New York.”

Kait shot to her feet. “You did?”

“Well, it was just an idea. I mean, you never suggested anything. But I know how much the two of you have been fighting. I know how mad Trev is at you. I know you hate it when people are mad at you.” She shrugged. “It’s been awful in this house. I couldn’t blame you if you moved out.”

Kait stared at Lana’s friend. Lana was going to return at any moment. Of course she was. Alicia was a bit of a bimbo, Kait thought. She shouldn’t really trust her judgment. On the other hand, out of the mouths of babes often came the wisdom of the gods....

“I’m not sure what to do,” Kait finally said softly. And why was she somewhat relieved that Lana was finished with her marriage? Kait knew she had to get a grip on her attraction for Trev Coleman. Otherwise, how could she help Lana salvage a life that she should never give up?

Alicia put her arm around her. “You’re so beautiful. In the end, it will all work out. And there’s always Farrell.”

“Farrell?” Kait echoed, with unease and before she could stop herself.

Alicia gave her a knowing look. “He’ll love you forever,” she said.

God, who was Farrell? Kait shuddered inwardly, because she wasn’t ready for another player, oh no. And especially one who might be in love with her sister. She tried to decide what tack to take with Alicia. “Why does Trev hate me? Does he hate me?”

Alicia started—and then she flushed. “Why are you asking me that?’

“Because you’re my friend—because if anyone will tell me what I don’t want to hear, it’s you.”

Alicia blinked. “You’re acting oddly. It’s frightening me.” Kait smiled quickly. “I’m under a lot of stress.” That was a terrible understatement!

“I mean, it’s not just your hair. Where’s your
lipstick?
”

“I switched to gloss,” Kait said patiently. “I also had a makeover at the salon.”

Alicia came over to her and put her arm around her. “At our age, we need a bit of help with what Mother Nature gave us.”

Kait looked at her heavily made-up eyes. “I guess you’re right. So? Does Trev hate me?”

Alicia let her arm fall away from Kait’s waist. She hesitated.

“You can tell me the truth.”

“I don’t know. No one can run him around like you. Oh! I didn’t mean that the way it sounded!” she cried.

“That’s all right,” Kait said solemnly, dismayed. When Lana returned, would she be able to turn Trev around, seduce him into falling for her all over again?

It was what Kait wanted. But now, suddenly, the whole concept felt horrible, unbearable.

“What I meant was, he’s no different from any other man, and you are so beautiful and they all flock to you without your hardly doing anything! I mean, all you have to do is smile to make a man fall in love with you,” Alicia said earnestly.

“That’s hardly true,” Kait said stiffly. She had a burning question, but how to ask, and did she dare? “Does he know about...my love affairs?”

“Uh... well, you sort of threw every one in his face,” Alicia muttered. “Why are you asking me these questions?’

Kait couldn’t answer. She just stood there, horrified.

Alicia smiled quickly. “Will you be going to Parker’s gala on Saturday?”

Kait knew that the answer was no—by Saturday, she would be Kait London again, and the entire family would be in a terrible showdown. “I’ll ask Trev what he wants to do,” she finally said.

“Ask Trev? He always goes to Parker’s gala. He told me he’s going. He told me the other night when we had dinner.” She hesitated. “John was disappointed that you didn’t join us. So was I.”

Kait couldn’t really tell her that she hadn’t been invited. “It didn’t seem right, not after he handed me those divorce papers.”

“What are you going to do?”

Kait froze. “Do?”

Alicia sat down and crossed her legs. “Well, you said you wanted a divorce. Now you sound like you’ve changed your mind.”

Kait responded in the only possible way, truthfully. “I have no idea what I’m going to do or what is going to happen next.”

Alicia stared. Then she said, “Please don’t jerk Trev around. You two were happy once, but...so much has happened since then. He’s a good man. He deserves some happiness, Lana.”

Kait stared. “How long have you known him?”

“What?!”

Kait wished she had thought before speaking. She stared at Alicia, aghast, not knowing how to get out of her terrible slip.

“We grew up together,” Alicia said. “But you know that. Trev is the brother I never had.”

“I know,” Kait said in a rush. “I meant, how long have you known he wants a divorce?”

“Oh.” Alicia’s expression lost its puzzled look. “A few months, I guess. The same as you.”

Kait went to the sofa and sat down beside her. “There’s something I haven’t told you,” she said.

“What’s that?”

“I had that fall yesterday because someone shot at me.”

Alicia turned white. “I beg your pardon?” “Someone shot at me. Alicia, I think someone is trying to kill me,” Kait said.

Alicia covered her heart with her hand and sat down, wide-eyed. Then she said, “Maybe you should have been more discreet, all of these years.”

Now they were getting somewhere,
Kait thought. “More discreet? How?”

Alicia regarded her closely. “You have been so open about your affairs. I don’t know, maybe one of your lovers or one of their wives has decided to pay you back.”

Kait had somehow sensed that it was coming to this. Her sister, clearly, had been terribly unfaithful to Trev Coleman, and hadn’t bothered to even try to hide her affairs. How could Lana have behaved in such a miserable and hurtful way?

Kait turned away from Alicia so she could not see her face. She was more than upset; she was angry. Now she understood why Trev was angry, and why, perhaps, he even hated his own wife.

Why would anyone cheat on Trev Coleman?

Kait believed in fidelity and commitment. Still, she knew that life could take unusual twists and turns, and while she wanted to blame Lana now for being an adultress and disloyal, she did not yet know her side of the story. She had to have one.

“Are you all right?” Alicia asked softly. “I’m not trying to pass judgment, Lana. You know I’d never do that. You know I’d hoped you and Trev would work things out, until you told me it wasn’t ever going to happen. Now I just want you both to be happy. I hate seeing you hurt each other this way.”

Kait turned. “Who do you think shot at me?”

Alicia was taken aback. “I don’t know. I really don’t have any idea who would be so crazy to do something like that.”

“Mrs. Coleman! Isn’t this a surprise!”

Kait smiled at a pretty, young woman with pulled-back blond hair, but she was looking past her at the kids crowding the lobby of the school. Some very young children were present, and clearly the school had programs for twos and threes as well as fours. Then she saw Marni, who saw her at the exact same time.

“Mommy!” she cried, her smile brilliant with surprise and happiness.

Kait smiled at the teacher, whose name she had not bothered to discover and hurried past her. She knelt and hugged her niece. “Hi, sweetie. How was school today?”

Marni beamed at her. “It was great,” she said, “I made a Halloween picture for you.”

“That’s wonderful,” Kait cried. “When can I see it?”

“It’s not finished.”

Kait stood, stroking Marni’s hair, which was pulled back into one big fat neat braid. “I’m sorry about yesterday, honey. I fell off my horse and hit my head. The medicine Dr. Mitch gave me put me right to sleep.”

“I know.” Marni smiled up at her, taking her hand. “Daddy told me.”

“Were you angry with me for not picking you up yesterday?’

“A little. But Daddy let me sleep with you for a while. I saw you were really sick,” Marni said very seriously.

As they started out of the lobby, Kait smiled at the blond teacher, who said, “I am so pleased to see you, Mrs. Coleman. I take it you have recovered from your riding accident?”

Kait started and paused. Was Three Falls such a small town that even Marni’s pre-K teacher knew about her fall? Then she realized what had happened. “Oh, I’m fine. I guess Marni told you about it?”

“No, actually, I heard about it at the deli this morning when I was picking up a coffee and a bagel.” The woman had hazel eyes and they settled on her. Her smile suddenly seemed fixed, her gaze quite curious.

Suddenly Kait realized just how small Three Falls was. She didn’t know the actual population, but she bet it was a mere few thousand. And that meant that everyone knew everyone else’s business. Kait managed a smile, and with a wave, she and Marni left. “You have a very nice teacher,” she said.

“Ms. Harding is very nice,” Marni agreed. “She asks about Daddy a lot. She smiles at him a lot too, when he comes to school. I think she loves him.” Marni smiled at her.

Kait would bet heavily that Ms. Harding had a crush on Trev Coleman. Was she waiting in the wings for Lana’s divorce so she could take her best shot at him?

Kait halted in midstep. Trev Coleman was handsome and wealthy; he was a catch. Undoubtedly the entire town—no, the entire county— knew he had a cheating wife and that a divorce was imminent. How many women were out there, eagerly awaiting the event, and hoping to eventually ensnare Trev for themselves?

It was a dismal thought.

Kait hoped one of them wasn’t insane enough to try to kill Lana to expedite matters. And how was she ever going to discover just who Lana’s old lovers were? Although Lana would be back at any moment, Kait was trying to put together a list of suspects. So far it was short and weak. Max Zara was on it, as was Elizabeth Dorentz. But, in truth, Kait didn’t think either person crazy enough to try to murder her sister—or herself. She didn’t think either of them had enough motivation.

No, it had to be a jilted lover, or a very angry wife.

“Mommy?”

“Sorry!” Kait cried, realizing she was standing in the middle of the sidewalk, while other mothers and nannies were on the curb with their children, chatting before getting into their SUVs and station wagons. She smiled at Marni, but now the biggest question of all loomed.
Where the hell was her sister?

She reminded herself that it was only one-thirty in the afternoon. Yes, Lana had said in her letter that she would be back in two days, and that was now. In fact, Kait had arrived at Fox Hollow exactly forty-eight hours ago. Lana was obviously running late, Kate decided.

Marni cut into her thoughts. “Mommy, are you and Daddy getting a divorce?”

Kait looked into Marni’s worried eyes and was horrified. “What do you mean, Marni?” Kait asked very quietly, but inside she was not calm at all. Inside, she was stunned and furious.

Marni was downcast. “Daddy told me. He said it was time for you and him to just be friends and to live in different houses. He said you would still love me. Mommy, I don’t want a divorce! I don’t want you to go away!”

Kait swept her up into her arms, hugging her hard. Tears filled her eyes. “Neither do I,” she said impulsively, and then she was aghast. Kait could not release Marni. She held her and thought about the fact that she didn’t want to give up her new life at Fox Hollow.

Kait was horrified with herself.

It wasn’t
her
new life. It was Lana’s life and Kait must never forget that—even if it was one she hadn’t seemed to care very much about.

But that wasn’t fair. Kait still didn’t know her sister’s side of the story, and Lana was in terrible trouble, and someone had taken a shot at Kait to prove it.

Kait closed her eyes, still embracing the child who felt like her own daughter.

Three hours later, Kait and Marni drove up to the house. Marni saw the black-and-white police car at the same time as Kait. Marni cried out in childish excitement, while Kait gasped, wondering why the Chevy Blazer was parked in front of their door. And then she knew.

Lana had returned and they were both going to jail for fraud.

“Mommy! Do you think bad people came to the house?” Marni cried, wide-eyed.

Kait parked the Porsche and turned off the ignition. She tried to calm down. It was simply impossible. It had never before occurred to her that what she was doing might be illegal as well as wrong.

What if it were worse than that? What if something had happened to Lana, what if whoever was after her had somehow gotten to her?

“I’m sure that nothing is wrong,” Kait managed as reassuringly as possible. But she did not believe her own words. Why else would the police be at the house? The windows in the SUV were rolled down, and she could hear the police radio crackling, with occasional outbursts of operator and officer dialogue. This had to have something to do with her sister and the danger she was in.

Kait tried not to panic. It was no longer early afternoon. It was after five p.m. Lana should have been back hours ago, and if she was running this late, she should have called. What had happened?

And something had happened.

Kait was afraid.

Marni was already pushing open her car door. “Uncle Rafe! Uncle Rafe!” She shouted happily.

Kait tensed as Marni bolted from the car. Lana had mentioned that Trev had a younger brother, Rafe Coleman, but hadn’t given any details. Why had he shown up now, of all times? Kait couldn’t handle another family member, another potential confrontation. Because clearly Trev’s brother would be on Trev’s side.

Marni was already racing up the front steps to the veranda. Kait stepped out of the Porsche, almost twisting her ankle on the uneven ground. She had stopped wearing Lana’s high heels the moment she had arrived at Fox Hollow, but today she had decided to remain completely in character. She was wearing one of Lana’s elegant pantsuits with a pair of ankle boots. In real frustration, she cursed.

She was perspiring now.

She prayed her sister was all right, and that her being hurt wasn’t the reason the police were there.

The moment she entered the house, Trev came blasting out of the living room, tightly clutching his daughter’s hand. “Where the hell have you been?” he shouted wildly at her.

And she saw his fear. “What?”

He gave her a look filled with rage—a look of murderous fury— and swept Marni up into his arms. Kait recoiled, although, in that moment, she understood. This had nothing to do with Lana at all. “Where have you been all afternoon?” he ground out, kissing Marni’s cheek.

An officer in a black standard-issue jacket, a big gun in his holster, a western-style hat on his head, stepped out behind Trev, as did Elizabeth and Max. Elizabeth was as white as a new sheet, and Max Zara was, well, speculative.

“We went to the movies,” Kait said quickly.
Trev was enraged. He was enraged with her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“You went to the movies?!” Trev choked, still furious.

“Daddy, we saw
Beauty and the Beast
. It was so much fun! And we had ice cream,” Marni cried. She looked extremely anxious now.

Instantly, Trev kissed her again. “I didn’t know,” he managed harshly. “Thank God you are all right.”

The officer wore a badge on his bomber-style jacket with sheriff engraved on it. He was dark-haired and far too handsome for an officer of the law. He was staring at Kait. The moment she realized it, their eyes met, and Kait saw Irish green eyes framed by thick sooty lashes and she knew who this man was.

Trev’s brother was the county sheriff

Rafe Coleman did not smile at her. He turned to his brother and slapped Trev’s shoulder. “Well, they are back safe and sound, and I’m taking off. We have a bit of an altercation on the other side of town.”

Trev set Marni down but gripped her hand. “I’m sorry, Rafe. I’m sorry for the false alarm.”

Rafe was hard to read. His expression was implacable. He shrugged. “False alarms happen all the time.” He glanced at Kait with a narrowed gaze. “She never took Marni for an afternoon before. You did the right thing, calling me. How would you know she was taking Marni to the movies?” His gaze remained on Kait. It slid over her features, slowly, coolly, one by one, lingering on her hair and eyes. Then he looked her up and down.

The look was
not
a sexual one.

And Kait knew a dangerous adversary when she saw one. She stepped back breathlessly, as if that might put a real barrier between them.

“Lana, I’d like to speak with you about that gunshot you think was fired. You care to come down to the office and make a statement?”

“I...of course.” Kait looked from the swarthy, dark-haired sheriff to Trev. “I’m sorry,” she said, certain she was ashen. “I had no idea I would frighten anyone this way.” She stared at Trev, wanting to beg him not to be this way. He hated her. This was the second time she had seen it and she had not a doubt as to his feelings now.

Then she regrouped. He did not hate her. He hated Lana, his wife.

“A deputy will take your statement if I’m not there,” Rafe said.

Kait started, suddenly realizing that Rafe Coleman—the county sheriff—didn’t find her having been shot at significant at all, or at least, not significant enough for him to involve himself. Their gazes met again and she recoiled. She was afraid of this man.

Then Rafe nodded, tipping his hat at Elizabeth and chucking Marni under the chin. “Later, sweetheart,” he said to the little girl. He glanced at Trev. “Walk me out.”

Trev nodded and the two brothers strode out. Kait stared after them, dismayed. She had no doubt they were discussing her. But what, exactly, were they saying?

She followed them into the foyer, and as they stepped outside onto the veranda, she went to the window, watching them. They were two handsome, masculine men, one dark, one tawny-haired, both obviously brothers. She could not hear a word they were saying, but Rafe was speaking, with controlled urgency. She did not like it at all.

Her head began to ache. She clutched her temples, no longer able to avoid the most worrisome thought of all.

Did Trev Coleman hate Lana enough to want her dead?

A few minutes later, Trev returned to the house. Kait had somehow known he would want to talk to her, and she was seated in the living room, her hands in her lap, grasping a brief moment’s respite. As he entered, she looked up and their eyes met. He was grim.

“We need to talk,” he said flatly.

“I said I’m sorry,” she began sincerely.

“Since when do you take my daughter to the movies?” he demanded. “Much less pick her up at school?
Since when, Lana?
”

Kait stared, her mind racing, more worried now about her sister than about the confrontation with Trev. Then she saw Marni peering around the corner into the room, a Breyer’s horse model in her hand. “Let’s go into the other room,” she said quietly.

Marni hurried forward. “Daddy?”

Instantly, he stooped to her height. “What, honey?” he asked gently. Somehow, watching him like that, seeing how much he loved his daughter, hurt too terribly for words.

This man was capable of kindness and compassion and deep, abiding love.

“Mommy’s not bad anymore,” Marni said plaintively.