Hide'n Go Seek (11 page)

He walked downstairs, determined to erase the intimate picture of her bedroom from his mind. He cast a quick glance at the plain but comfortable living room with several arm chairs and couches arranged around the well-used fireplace before heading down the hall. He passed the laundry room and main bathroom. The next door was closed. Curious, he pushed it open.

A studio? She painted?

Her easel stood in the middle of the room, a sheet tossed over the top. Unable to resist, he walked over and lifted the sheet.

And jumped back.

He hissed his fury. Witch. Evil spawn.
Control, cold and clinical, returned his focus. He had to study her work - to know his enemy.
It also sealed her fate.

Kali enjoyed bookkeeping. Seeing the overall picture of the financial state of the center, stable and growing, gave her such a great feeling. She was part of something good, worthwhile. And she needed the distraction now. She couldn't get Brad out of her mind. She'd tried to call Susan several times, only she wasn't picking up. Kali had left messages. Susan hadn't returned her calls.

She thought about the teams she'd met in Sacramento. Her industry was relatively small and the dogs and handlers well known. Who could have stayed behind and worked with Brad? It took her a few moments, then it hit her. Jarl.

Pulling out her cell phone, she dialed his number. No answer. She left a message. She hoped he'd call her back. Their ten-year friendship had hit the rocks late last year when she realized he'd been pilfering little things from the center. He'd stopped after she'd confronted him about it. Their friendship had taken a hit for a while. Still, things were cordial now.

Kali picked up a receipt, read it and placed it down on a pile. She snatched it up again, reread it and placed it on a different pile. She needed to get a grip or she'd really make a worse mess of the accounting than Stan.

Her mind refused to let go. Someone was killing people. Could Brad have somehow run afoul of this killer? She closed her eyes. Please don’t let him have been a victim of this killer. She didn't even want to think about Jarl in the same light. That he hadn't returned her calls yet, surely didn't mean he'd been kidnapped, too. This nightmare was making her crazy.

No. Brad had to be drowning his sorrows. Like the last time and the time before. He'd check in soon.

Determined, she reached for another handful of paper. This load had phone bills mixed in with several crumpled restaurant receipts. One for take-out Chinese food. Burger King. Stamps and envelopes. Kali groaned. Damn, Stan had entered the last batch of figures. That usually meant she had to review all his postings. Another hour of trying to read his writing. Honestly, he shouldn't be allowed close to the bookkeeping.

"Kali, good to see you." Janet stood at the doorway a big cheery grin on her face.

"Janet." Kali threw her pencil down on the desk in relief. Any interruption was welcome at this point. "Hey, thanks for finishing the cleanup from the last trip. I appreciate it."

"No problem. You were exhausted and I was glad to help," Janet said, leaning her tall willowy frame against the wall. "Besides, Brenda was hanging around, so I put her to work, too."

Kali rolled her eyes at the thought of her cute bouncy friend being put to work by Janet. Brenda loved to help out - for a little while. She wasn't great on sticking around. Janet, on the other hand, was one of those rare individuals who could see what needed to be done and did it.

Janet's happiness seemed so genuine. If only Kali knew her secret. Janet's breath of fresh air and light-hearted laughter were just what Kali needed right now. "Still smiling I see."

"Of course. Life is too short for anything else."

Kali avoided that topic. It was easier to present a front of peaceful contentment than to open up about the unsettled emotions chewing up her insides. Life was too short. And she had too much death in hers, as it was.

"What are you doing today?"

"The new guy is helping me this afternoon. He worked at the Maine center years ago. He does have a magical tough with the dogs. If he works out and stays around, we should consider hiring him as an instructor."

Kali blinked. New instructor? Maine? Jesus, Janet was talking about Grant.

Janet glanced behind her to see if anyone was close enough to hear, before she stepped further into the office. "Did you see him? Oh, my God." Her eyes gleamed with humor, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He's stunning. That tall-dark-and-take-charge look always does it for me." The tall redhead fanned herself and rolled her eyes, a huge grin on her face.

Kali sat back and watched her as-good-as-married friend rhapsodize over Grant. Kali didn't dare voice her opinion. She'd give herself away, for sure. Besides, she didn't need to say anything. Janet was right. Grant was stunning. And a little unnerving. "That good, huh?"

"Oh yeah, that good." Janet looked furtively behind her again. "Not only that, he's going to be here full-time." Her face split in huge smirk. "I'm about to volunteer every day."

"So much for Dennis." Dennis was Janet's police officer boyfriend. They were perfect together. Both would do anything for a person in need.

"Maybe not. Dennis wouldn't mind if I played a little." Mischief lit within her deep brown eyes. "I won't ask him about it, though. I'll just go ahead and snag this guy. Maybe, we'll have a threesome."

There was no help for it. Kali laughed. The thought of Dennis letting anyone close to Janet was comical. He was loving, possessive and never let her out of his sight when he was off duty. Even on duty, he called her several times a day. "I can't imagine Dennis with another guy."

"Well, I'd be in the middle of course. So technically, it wouldn't be Dennis with another guy." She jutted out one hip in an exaggerated imitation of deep thinking. "This has possibilities. Hmmm."

"Jeez, woman. How am I going to get any work done with you putting those damn images in my mind?"

"You need to laugh more often. You're serious these days. As if the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You need some fun in your life." She grinned. "Jesus, I bet you haven't been laid in months."

Like she needed thoughts of Grant rolling around in bed mixed up with her bookkeeping. Kali narrowed her gaze. "Like I'd tell you. You'd just post it on the bulletin board."

"How about I post a job ad for someone to apply for the position." Janet raised and lowered her eyebrows in a rapid movement, sending Kali into fits of laughter.

"What ad are you looking to post, Janet?" Stan had arrived unnoticed behind her and stood in the doorway.

Janet half choked. "Nothing, Stan. I'm just hassling Kali."

"That you are," declared Kali. Energy hummed into the room. Grant. She didn't need to see him to know Grant stood behind Stan. A lightness she was starting to recognize and respond to filled her.

"I brought someone for Kali to meet." Stan looked expectantly at Janet.

Janet took the hint gracefully. "I'm heading out. I'll talk to you later, Kali." Smiling coyly at Grant, she sidled past the two men and left.

Stan moved inside the office, whispering, "I wanted you to know Grant's going to be-" He looked behind him and dropped his voice further, "you know...around."

Kali barely withheld her smile. If it weren't for the deep worry lines on Stan's face, she'd almost think he was enjoying the cloak and dagger event. As much as she hated the reason for it, it was good to see the normally frail man energized by something.

Studying Grant's casual jeans and a white Henley, she could see he'd fit in perfectly as their new instructor. He didn't need power suits like he'd had on this morning - power radiated off him. His persona came across as large and in charge. Comforting. And attractive.

Power had a seductiveness few women could ignore. "Hi, Grant, welcome."

He studied her face intently before nodding as if satisfied at something. "Thanks. By the way do you help out with the classes?"

Kali looked over at Stan. "Sometimes. If I'm needed. It's not what I've been doing lately, but I've taught in the past. Why?"

"Just wondered how many people know you well and how many might know of you?"

She groaned. "You're after another list of names, aren't you?"

He tilted his head in acknowledgement.

Kali reached for her bag and the list she'd started. "This list is those people I could remember seeing in Sacramento, I put an asterisk beside those that that aren't fans of mine and vice versa."

"Everyone loves you." Stan was nothing if not loyal.

A half laugh escaped. Kali shook her head. "If only that were true. You know perfectly well that some people resent me."

"They just don't understand."

It was Kali's turn to nod.

"Don't understand what?"

Both Stan and Kali looked at Grant, surprised at his question. Stan looked over at Kali. "Does he know?"

She wrinkled her nose at him. "I'd have thought so at this point."

Stan turned to face Grant. "Kali is financially independent. Some small minds would like to blame her success on her wealth. You know, she can afford better equipment, do more advanced training. Things like that." He straightened his back. "I, for one, would be lost without her help."
Grant studied her for a long moment.

Kali flushed and stared at the stacks of papers piled high in front of her.
"Has anyone ever said anything about it to you?"

Startled, Kali looked up at him. "Pardon?"

Pulling out his notebook, Grant asked, "Has there been anything more than usual grumbling. Like arguments? Threats?"

Kali and Stan exchanged looks. "No. At least none I know about." She looked over at Stan. "Has there?"

He shook his head vigorously, sending tuffs of hair flying in all directions. "No, I don't think so."

"Okay, but if you do remember anything let me know."

"Will do." She waved toward the stacks of paper on the desk. "Stan, this is the biggest mess yet."

"I'm sorry. I tried to stay on top of it, but...it ran away from me."

"Yeah." Kali groaned. "It always does. Take off you two. I've got work to do."

The men left.

The soft hum of warm energy hung in the air. Reminding her. Teasing her.

Did she really want to open her heart again?

And was it already too late?

K
ali worked on the accounts late into the evening with Shiloh sprawled at her feet. Stan had tried to send her home at one point. She told him she'd rather finish than come back tomorrow.

When she finally locked up, the sun had set and the intense summer heat had dissipated slightly, a welcome relief from the stuffiness of the office. Shiloh perked up in the fresh air. She explored the brush and pranced through the cool grass.

"It's past time to go home, isn't it?"

Kali yawned as she unlocked her Jeep, holding the door open for Shiloh to jump into the back seat. As she threw her purse to the passenger side, a rustling noise sounded by the trees to the left of the front stairs. She spun around. Jesus. Her heart pounded as she searched the deepening shadows. "Hello?"

The outside light from the center cast a yellow glow that barely reached the edge of the parking lot. A half whine, half growl slid from Shiloh's throat. With a last nervous glance, Kali scrambled into the front seat. "Let's go home, Shiloh."

Cranking the engine, Kali locked the doors and peered through the tinted window. Nothing. The eerie sensation of being watched would not turn her loose. Kali left the parking lot and drove toward home. She kept one eye trained on the rear-view mirror. She didn't think she was being followed...yet couldn't shake the sensation.

Uneasy enough to not want to go to an empty house, she drove to a late-night coffee shop at the mall and parked close to the patio seating. Kali clipped Shiloh's leash on and walked to the take-out window before choosing a seat close to her vehicle. Hating that she'd let a simple noise unnerve so badly, Kali hugged her latte and tried to unwind. Several tables were full. A couple of teenagers sat off to one side, heaps of whipping cream topping their concoctions. A man sat at another table with an open laptop, working diligently on something.

"Kali?" someone called, startling her. "Wow, I haven't seen you in a long time."

Squinting into the gloom beyond the cafe lights, she finally recognized the speaker. "Jim. How are you?" Kali was happy to see anyone she knew right now, even a stocky, fun-loving, very ex-boyfriend. She thought he'd gone north to work on the oil rigs. "I haven't seen you for a couple of years. How are you?" She motioned to the empty seat. "Join me."

"I've only been back in town a couple of months." He grinned down at her, spinning a chair around backwards and straddling it. Dressed in jeans and a lightweight plaid shirt, he looked like he had filled out some since she'd seen him last.

"That's great. I'm sure your mom is delighted to have you home." She watched as Shiloh greeted Jim like the old friend he was, before sprawling out again. Kali relaxed some herself. Jim was safe. He could never be the letter writer. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she questioned it. Did she know that for sure? How? Jim could have changed. For that matter, how well had she known him to begin with? They'd had a hell of a fight before they'd split. A fight that hadn't been easy to resolve. Kali had bolted from the fight, from the relationship, from him. Then again, it had been years ago. And their relationship hadn't been serious back then. They'd both known it. The breakup hadn't hurt either of them. They'd seen each other enough since to know they'd both moved to new relationships. It was actually nice to consider that they could visit on a friendly basis now without all that 'relationship' stuff to interfere.

Shiloh grunted and stretched on the cement, reminding Kali that if anything was wrong with the company, Shiloh wouldn't be so relaxed.

They spent a pleasant hour catching up on their years apart. Then the conversation lulled.

Slowly that same sense of unease returned. She sat nursing her empty coffee cup, stalling. She wanted to see Jim drive away before she headed home. Stupid, she knew, but that didn't change how she felt. Her cell phone rang. She frowned. Who'd be calling at this hour? Pulling it out of her pocket, she didn't recognize the number. "Hello."