Misty Lake: Book One in the Misty Lake Series (11 page)

“Jake,” Karen said softly and gave him a warning look as she laid a hand on his shoulder. She squeezed in next to Sam and took her hand. “Look at me, Sam. How are you feeling?” she began, and ran through a quick series of tests to rule out a concussion or broken bones.

Slowly, color seeped back into Sam’s cheeks and the trembling quieted. She looked at Joe. “What happened?”

Joe looked angrily out over the lake before answering. “A boatload of fools, that’s what happened. I’m sorry, Sam, I had to try to avoid their boat. I never would have done that to you if I could have helped it.” He looked miserable.

“I know, don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine. Really,” Sam added when he looked at her doubtfully. “Do you have any idea who it was?”

Both Jake and Joe shook their heads. “I just caught a glimpse of them, a bunch of teenagers I think, but I didn’t recognize any of them,” Jake answered, clearly frustrated.

“No, neither did I. Didn’t recognize the boat, either. Probably just here for the day,” he said with an odd look at his brother.

“If no one’s on the lake patrolling today I’m going to get someone out here right now,” Jake snarled, grabbing his cell phone from the glove box and punching in the numbers for his office.

While he barked instructions to whoever was unlucky enough to answer his call, Joe started up the boat again and headed for home taking care to stay close to shore and avoid what waves he could.

Sam sat wrapped in a towel feeling almost back to normal. She could detect some stiffness in her neck and shoulders and one wrist was giving her some trouble, probably due to her futile attempt to hold on to the tube but, all in all, she felt fortunate Joe had handled the boat so well and the outcome hadn’t been much worse.

Karen, noticing how gingerly Sam was moving her wrist, brought some ice from the cooler and wrapped it around Sam’s wrist.

“Thanks, didn’t mean to cause so much trouble,” Sam said to Karen but kept her eyes on Jake.

How long is it going to take for her to realize she’s in love with him? Karen wondered to herself. She could remember looking at Jake’s brother the same way years ago. She’d been a teenager at the time but love was love, she reasoned. She smiled at Sam. “No trouble, no trouble at all.”

When they got back to the dock Karen and Joe waved off the offer to help unload the boat. “Sit down and relax,” Karen said, indicating the chairs lined up on the beach. “Can you stay for dinner? I have some steaks in the fridge.”

Sam turned to Jake with what she hoped was a look indicating she really wanted to get going but he was already answering. “Thanks, Karen, but I think I should get Sam home. I’m just going to make one more quick call to the office and then we’ll head out.”

While Jake paced around the yard, well out of earshot of the rest, Sam thanked Joe and Karen and reassured Joe, again, that she was okay. They chatted for a few minutes while Jake finished his call then headed for the car. As Sam loaded her bag in the back seat and started to climb in the front, Joe called Jake aside.

“What’s with the calls to the office?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at his brother.

“Just making sure I have someone out on the lake today, I already told you that,” Jake snapped. “If someone is going to drive that carelessly, I want someone out here to put a stop to it.”

“I don’t disagree but it seems like there’s a little more to it. You’re thinking it wasn’t an accident,” Joe stated, reading his brother well.

Jake sighed. “I don’t know what to think. There have been too many things happening involving Sam to brush this aside as just another coincidence.”

Joe studied his brother. “There have always been jerks on the lake, always will be.”

Jake took a long time in answering, gazing out at the water before looking his brother in the eye. “If that’s all it is, then that’s all it is. But I’m going to be damn sure I do all I can to find out if it’s something more.” With that, he strode to his car and sped away.

9

After a ride home during which not much was said but Sam caught Jake glancing nervously at her again and again, they arrived at her place and Jake walked her to the door. “I’m glad you took my advice,” Jake said, indicating the heavy-duty dead bolt lock Sam was working to open.

She huffed and stabbed again at the lock with the key. “I just hope I don’t have to get in quickly,” she said, clearly frustrated, “it takes me ten minutes to get the damn thing open.”

At last, the door swung open and she turned to him. “Thanks for today, Jake, it was fun. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the lake.”

“I’m sorry it ended the way it did. Are you sure you’re all right? How’s your wrist?” He hadn’t missed the way she’d winced when she turned the doorknob.

“Fine, fine,” she waved his concern aside. She paused in the doorway and studied him, considering. “Would you like to come in?”

Very much, he thought to himself, but reigned in his pleasure at the invitation and settled for an easy nod as he stepped inside.

The house was blessedly cool, a relief from the day that had gotten warmer and muggier as the afternoon passed to evening. Clouds were gathering over the lake and it appeared as if a storm was on its way.

“I was going to spend the evening in the shop getting a little more repair work done but I think maybe I’ll leave it until tomorrow. I’ve actually accomplished more than I thought I would, most everything is cleaned up and I’ve made some progress with the kids’ projects…” She stopped herself, realizing she was rambling to cover her nerves.

Jake moved to the windows and looked out over the lake. Sam looked at him, unsure of what to do or say. Her idea had been to make it clear to Jake that today was just about friendship. She was pretty sure she had failed…miserably. As she remembered the look on his face when he’d seen her in her swimsuit and then his concern when he thought she was seriously hurt, she worried he had entirely different ideas.  Since she felt like she needed a little distance she said, “I think I’ll run upstairs and change.”

Jake turned and caught the brief look of panic that flitted across her face. “Let’s take a walk down to the lake first,” he said as he held out his hand for hers.

Sam debated with herself then took a step forward and took hold of his hand. That same little jolt she’d felt the first time she touched him was back and had her tensing. Determined not to make a fool out of herself yet again, she kept her hand in his and led him outside towards the lake.

Rigi followed them out the door and quickly found a tennis ball in the yard. She ran circles around them with the ball in her mouth until Sam relented, took the ball, and fired it—as best she could with her left hand—across the yard. The dog was off like a shot, running so fast she was unable to slow herself and had to double back to pick up the ball she overran. Sam gave the ball a couple more tosses before walking out onto the dock with Jake and sitting on the bench overlooking the lake.

Clouds continued to gather, swirling and darkening. Many of the day’s boaters had taken notice, as the lake was much less crowded than it had been earlier. The few that remained, Sam figured, would wait for the first raindrops or clap of thunder before heading for shore.

“Could be a bad storm tonight,” Jake said, looking up at the sky.

“I used to love storms when I was a kid. I remember hoping the power would go out so we could light candles and play with flashlights. I still kind of love them but now I think about things like damage to the house and what will happen if the power stays out for a long time. Sometimes it’s no fun to grow up.”

“But sometimes it is.” Jake leaned over and kissed her, something he’d been wanting to do all day.

The kiss took Sam by surprise. She started to resist then gave in, melting against Jake as he put his arms around her and took the kiss deeper. She wasn’t sure how much time passed before Jake slowly pulled away and positioned her so her head rested on his shoulder. They sat quietly, both lost in their own thoughts, until Rigi decided she’d had enough lying on the dock and it was time to play. She dropped the tennis ball in Jake’s lap and looked up expectantly.

“Oh, Rigi, knock it off,” Sam scolded. “I’m sorry, she’s rather selfish and quite convinced everyone loves her,” she said with an exasperated look at her dog. Rigi just panted and tilted her head, quivering with excitement when Jake took the ball in his hand. He threw it far into the yard and the dog dashed happily after it.

Jake and Sam slowly made their way back toward the house with Jake continuing to entertain the dog by throwing the ball in all different directions. “One more time,” he told her as they reached the door. He threw the ball into the trees and they watched Rigi wind her way into the wooded area.

“Can I take you out to dinner tonight, Sam?” Jake asked, not wanting the evening to end.

“I don’t feel much like going out.” The disappointment in his eyes didn’t surprise her but her own disappointment at the thought of him leaving did. “How about staying and helping me grill some hamburgers? Do you think we can beat the storm?”

“Sounds like a good idea. I’ll get the grill started and we’ll have burgers on the table before the first raindrop falls.” He smiled and threw an arm around her shoulders.

“Where’s Rigi?” Sam asked, realizing she hadn’t returned after Jake threw the ball into the trees. “Rigi!” she called then whistled loudly for the dog.

Soon she appeared, trotting happily out of the trees with something other than a tennis ball clamped tightly in her mouth. “What have you got there, girl?”

Sam was reaching for what looked like a dirty rag when Jake ordered, “Wait!” Sam stopped in her tracks and looked curiously at Jake who was heading for the dog, talking softly with his hand held out.

“What is it? What are you doing?”

“That’s a good girl,” Jake crooned, rubbing Rigi on the head and gently easing the rag from her mouth, taking care to hold it by the corner only.

“Jake, what’s up? What do you want with some dirty old rag? It’s covered in mud.”

“I don’t think it’s mud,” Jake said as he carefully held up what turned out to be a t-shirt. “I think it’s blood.”

“Oh, well, it’s probably been here for ages…” She couldn’t help it, she glanced around nervously.

“From the looks of it, the blood is relatively fresh, that’s probably why Rigi found it. It was twisted up pretty tightly like it was wrapped around something,” Jake continued, more to himself than to Sam.  “Hold on to the dog, I’m going to take a quick look around.”

Sam held tight to Rigi’s collar and waited less than patiently while Jake made his way to the tree line and disappeared from sight. Her anxiety increased as the minutes passed and Jake didn’t return. She was just ready to follow after him when he emerged, brow furrowed and clearly deep in thought.

“Jake…?”

“Let’s go inside.” He took her by the hand and led the way.

“What is it? What did you find?” She couldn’t keep the fear from bubbling up and knew he heard it in her voice.

“When we’re inside.”

She wanted to argue but sensed it would be futile.

“Stay put for just a minute, I’ll be right back. Please, Sam,” he added when he saw her eyes flare.

Annoyed, she cursed under her breath and paced the kitchen while Jake went out to his car. She saw him put the stained t-shirt in a plastic bag and make a call on his cell phone. The arguments she had ready died on her lips when he returned and she saw the look on his face.

“Jake, tell me what’s going on,” she said, half demanding, half pleading.

“Sit down.” Looking over her shoulder at him, she moved to the sofa. When she sat, he sat next to her and took her hands. “I called the office to get someone out here to take a look around the woods. Someone was out there recently, there’s an area with some blood on the ground and, in addition to the t-shirt, I found a knife.”

She gasped. “What kind of knife? Where is it?”

“For now, it’s where I found it. I didn’t want to disturb the area more than necessary. Marc’s on his way out here with evidence bags, a camera…we’ll take a closer look around when he gets here.”

Sam stood and began pacing again, her mind racing. “So, you’re thinking whoever vandalized my shop was in the woods and left behind a bloody t-shirt and a knife? That seems pretty stupid. What, he leaves clues full of his DNA so you can catch him? Wants to make it as easy as possible for you?” She was nearly shouting, her anger at being a target fueling her tirade.

Since he understood how quickly anger could, and often did, turn to fear and panic, Jake spoke calmly. “First of all, I don’t know for certain the shirt and the knife belong to the same person. Even if they do, I don’t know if that person is the one responsible for what’s been going on here. Second, using DNA to catch someone isn’t quite as easy as television would make it seem. If a person has no prior criminal history, their DNA isn’t part of the database so there’s no way a sample obtained at a crime scene will match any existing data.”

She studied him, trying to decipher the look on his face. “Then what do you hope to find out there?”

“It’s standard procedure. We’ll take a look around, see if there is any additional physical evidence, distinguishing footprints.” He looked out the window and frowned. “The rain won’t help.” Raindrops had begun pelting the windows and the sky seemed to darken as they watched.

“Who do you think is doing this?”

“I don’t have any suspects yet. Hopefully we find something in the woods that will help me get closer.”

Sam jumped at the knock on the door then berated herself for doing so. She simply refused to be frightened in her own home. She waved away Jake’s offer to answer the knock and, after a quick glance out the window at the young man in uniform, opened the door to Marc. Jake introduced the two, made a few notes in the incident book Marc had brought with him, then the two men donned rain gear and headed out leaving Sam to stew.

As much as she didn’t want to, she couldn’t keep her thoughts from drifting to the kids from Project Strong Start and wondering if one of them could be responsible. She would defend them with her last breath but knew she had to be reasonable and if Jake found evidence suggesting one of them, she’d have to accept it. She ran her students through her mind again and couldn’t find anything that worried her. Except Zach.

Oh, how she didn’t want to believe he could be responsible but his behavior had her second-guessing herself.  He was so secretive, so unwilling to talk to her—or to any of the other kids, for that matter. And there was the fact that it had looked an awful lot like a knife he had tried to hide from her in class. What she couldn’t come up with was a reason. Why target her? Did he think he could steal from her? Was it just to be hurtful?

Realizing she was coming close to assigning blame where she had no reason to, she decided she needed to busy herself so quickly showered and changed clothes then set about making sandwiches for Jake and Marc since the planned barbecue was obviously not happening. She had a plate of sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, a pitcher of iced tea, and a pot of coffee ready when the two returned from the woods. “So?” she demanded when they got inside and out of their rain jackets and boots.

“There wasn’t much to find, I’m afraid. We bagged up the knife and took some soil samples we’ll send to the lab along with the t-shirt but that’s about it. Between the dog and the rain, any footprints that may have been there were long gone.”

Sam ran her hand through her hair, clearly frustrated. “Do you think you’ll learn anything from what you did find?”

“It’s possible. I’d like to know if the blood on the shirt matches the blood on the ground. And, I’d like you to look at something.”

“What?” she asked slowly, eyes darting from Jake to Marc. Marc dropped his gaze to the floor and Sam’s stomach twisted.

“The knife. You said you thought maybe one of the kids had a knife with him during one of your sessions. Do you think you’d recognize it?”

“Jake!” she hissed and looked toward Marc who still had his head down, clearly wishing he were someplace else. She wanted to shout that he shouldn’t have said anything, that she had told him those things in confidence because she simply wasn’t sure of anything, then realized of course he’d tell his deputy. “Fine, I’ll look at it but I doubt I can tell you anything. I just saw something silver that I thought
could
be a knife.”

While Jake went for the bag he had left by the front door, Sam told Marc to help himself to the food spread out on the kitchen table. “Thank you, Ms. Taylor. Maybe just a cup of coffee.” He looked toward Jake before continuing. “I have a date tonight, taking Sarah out to dinner…soon, hopefully.”

Softening at the blush rising on Marc’s cheeks, Sam smiled. “Is Sarah your girlfriend?”

“Been together almost five years now. She’s amazing, just about finished with her degree in social work.”

“Good for you, that’s nice,” she replied sincerely. “Is she from Misty Lake?”

“No, she lives about fifteen miles away in Fox Grove. She has cousins here in town, that’s how I met her.”