P.I. I Love You (Miss Demeanor Suspense Series Book 1) (5 page)

Chapter Seven

River felt euphoric as they glided along the tops of the fluffy white clouds. Gage expertly piloted the jet. The entire experience was intoxicating. Especially since she’d never flown on a small plane, let alone a private jet, and sitting in the co-pilot seat no less.

“What do you think?” Gage asked.

“This is simply amazing. I understand what draws you in. I feel like everything is right with the world and no one can touch me—invincible.”

“I’m glad I could introduce you to a whole new world. Once we go back down to earth, did you arrange for transportation?” he asked.

“Yes, there’ll be a rental waiting for me when we touchdown. What time should I meet you back at the airport?”

“How about seven? We can meet at the airport café; grab a bite to eat, and then head for home.”

River plugged the directions to Cellar Glen into the car’s GPS. According to the GPS, she should be there in about an hour. At this point all she really knew was, the town was small, a population of approximately 6,300 and most likely twenty-seven years ago, the population was even less. Cellar Glen finally joined the computer age, but they’d yet to put historical records online. River needed to do this the old-fashioned way; visit the county courthouse and search their files. Fortunately the courthouse was located in the town which would save time. She wanted to get a feel for the town, chat with some of the locals, and pay Mrs. Darnell a quick visit. The Darnells were a very well-to-do family, the first to move into Cellar Glen and commute to San Francisco for work. Mr. Darnell was the founder and owner of Darnell Enterprises, a leading import/export company. Seemed this business ran in the Darnell family. River wondered how much support, other than money, Trudy’s father had given to the start-up of Trudy and Wade’s company.

She walked into the courthouse and was instantly greeted by a friendly woman.

“Good morning, miss. You must be new to town. How may I help you?” the woman asked.

“Good morning. My name’s River Nightingale, and I’d like to do some research. I’m looking for the list of births and deaths in Cellar Glen for the past twenty-seven years.”

“I see. Looking for anyone in particular?”

“I’m here on my client’s behalf and I’m sorry that’s confidential.”

The woman studied her for a minute. She hoped the woman wouldn’t decide to shut her down.

“I’m not here to make any trouble, I promise.”

“Oh, all right. You look like a nice enough young woman. Follow me and I’ll show you to our microfiche room.”

Uggggh
. Her worst nightmare—microfiche. These people needed to join the current century.

After a couple hours of searching, River found what she was looking for, a copy of the town’s newspaper for the date which coincided with the birthdate of Blake’s and Garnet’s half-sister. However, it wasn’t a list of only the births in Cellar Glen; it included two towns nearby. Now she had a list of eleven births, four boys and seven girls. Her stomach growled. She’d eaten breakfast at the crack of dawn. She glanced at her phone and realized it was time to take a break and head to the local diner, get something to eat and maybe some information. She still needed to locate the Darnell residence. Somehow they’d managed to keep their physical address from cyberspace, so she’d contacted Blake to get it.

“What’ll you have, sweetheart?” asked an older woman.

“What do you recommend?” River asked.

“Anything on the menu is top-notch. I taught my girls well.”

“Oh, you’re the owner? It’s a very nice place.”

“Yep, been in the family since the day it opened. My daughter and granddaughter do all the cooking now. I get to order them around and chat with the diners.”

The woman took River’s order to the kitchen and returned with her iced tea.

“In town sightseeing?” the older woman asked.

“No, on business. But I would love to come back and spend some time here. What a quaint, picturesque town.”

“Sure is, and that’s what brought lots of the folks out here to live, even though they have to drive over an hour during rush-hour traffic to get into the city.”

“Like the Darnells?”

“You know them? They’re wonderful folks, and were the first to move here and commute. They’re well-off, but never flaunt it. Don’t get me wrong, they live in a grand house up on the hill. But anytime you needed help, the Darnells were there.”

“They sound wonderful. I don’t personally know them, but I do know their grandkids,” River said.

The bell in the kitchen dinged and the older woman walked away. She returned with River’s lunch and sat down across from her.

“Ahh,” she said. “I love the job, but my old body gets tired faster. It’s a real shame about their girl, Trudy. Poor Mrs. Darnell lost her husband a couple years back, and now her daughter. Losing Trudy really hit her hard. It’s like she aged ten years in one day. Poor woman.” The older woman shook her head.

“I’m sorry to hear that. You think she’ll need to move into a home?”

“Never happen; she has no plans to leave. She might’ve aged physically, but her mind’s still sharp as a whip. She always had a housekeeper and a handyman. Until recently, she kept her own gardens. Unfortunately she needed to hire a gardener a couple months back. After Trudy’s death, she needed a full-time nurse. She turns eighty next month. The town is planning a special party. It’s a surprise.”

“What a wonderful thing to do.”

“Like I said, the Darnells give a great deal to this town.”

“I’m here on behalf of her grandkids. You mind giving me directions to her place?”

“It’d be my pleasure. Before you leave I want to box up a blueberry pie. Her housekeeper is a good cook; still Mrs. Darnell always says I make the best blueberry pie.”

River took a long drive to the top of the hill. The Darnells lived in a mansion, not a house. The gardens overflowed with all nature’s colors. They were expansive and well-kept, as was the beautiful house, from what she could see. River parked her car and walked up to ring the bell.

“Good afternoon,” said a handsome middle-aged woman.

“Good afternoon. My name’s River Nightingale, and I believe Mrs. Darnell is expecting me.”

“She is. Come in. Don’t tell me, a blueberry pie?”

“Yes, the owner of the diner wanted me to bring it to her.”

The housekeeper took the box.

“Well, this will be a special treat. Mrs. Darnell hasn’t felt much like going into town the past few weeks. Maybe this will lift her spirits. Please follow me; she’s in the solarium enjoying the afternoon sun.”

Mrs. Darnell sat in a white wrought iron chair with intricate patterns on the back. Soft pale green cushions were attached to the seat and back. She was dressed in cream-colored, well tailored, raw silk slacks, with a matching cream and beige silk top. Her silver hair was pulled loosely back and gathered in a swirl at the base of her skull. A few wisps left free framed her elegantly-aged face. Her head was tilted back, eyes closed, soaking in the rays of the early afternoon. Surrounded by ivies, ferns, ficus, hibiscus, passion flowers, and orchids, River could picture this on the cover of Traditional Home Magazine.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Darnell. I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Not at all,” Mrs. Darnell said as she leaned her head forward. “River Nightingale, please pardon my lack of good manners. I’m not as spry as I used to be. Please come over and have a seat. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

“Thank you, I too have been looking forward to meeting you,” River said, and took a seat directly across from the older woman.

“I received a phone call from my grandson. He informed me you were working for him, trying to find out who murdered my precious Trudy. Thank you, sincerely, for discovering Trudy and Wade were murdered. Please find out who did this. I will do anything to help you.” She reached for the fine lace handkerchief on the table beside her and dabbed her damp eyes. “I attended my daughter’s funeral, and yet I feel as though she could walk in at any time.” She dabbed again. “How is it I can help you? I didn’t know many of their business associates. If my husband were still alive, I’m sure he would be of more help.”

“Is that the only thing Blake told you I wanted to speak with you about?”

“Yes,” she said in an uncertain tone.

“I came here to speak with you regarding a different subject.” River quickly learned people found it extremely difficult to give their loved ones bad news, and would often leave the matter to the police—or private detective.

“I would like to get your take about the accident and anything you may know with regards to the days leading up to it. However, that’s not the main reason I’m here.”

Mrs. Darnell tilted her head to one side and pursed her lips. “I see.”

“I believe this would be easier coming from your daughter.” River reached into her oversized purse which she used as her traveling briefcase, and pulled out a copy of Trudy’s letter. River got up, walked over to her, and placed it in her slightly shaking hands. She sat back in the chair and waited for the woman to read the note, deal with the flood of emotions to follow, and finally reach resignation.

“Garnet and Blake know?” the older woman asked as her watery hazel eyes locked onto River’s. Tears trickled unchecked down her cheeks. “I begged her, God knows, I begged Trudy not to do this. I tried everything. Told her that her father and I would stand by her side every step of the way, and use everything in our power to make sure she kept
all
her children. She wouldn’t do it.” Her words came out almost a whisper. “She wouldn’t put us, or her children through the embarrassment. She didn’t want their lives destroyed by this as hers turned out to be…I told her she would regret her decision until the day she died. How could I say such a terrible thing to my only child?” She looked at River beseechingly.

“You were her mother. You were trying to keep her from making the biggest mistake of her life. You have
nothing
to feel guilty about. You did everything you could, but the ultimate decision was hers.”

“It put a tremendous strain on our relationship with Wade. My husband refused to go visit. Trudy and the children always came here. I only went up when Wade was out of town. Please tell me, how are the children dealing with this?”

“That’s why I’m here, Mrs. Darnell. Blake and Garnet want their sister in their lives.”

River’s statement made the older woman cry once again.

“I wasn’t sure you would be willing or able to help in this matter; I’ve researched what I can up to this point. I know seven baby girls were born on the date of your granddaughter’s birthday. I can locate each of these women and attempt to narrow down which one it might be. I can direct Blake’s attorney to petition the court and open the adoption records. We both know if it was a private, closed adoption, the likelihood of them winning the case is weak, at best.”

Sorrow and grief swirled around the older woman. She shook her head slowly, sadly.

“It’s exactly like Trudy. She protected her family to bitter end.”

“I don’t understand,” River said.

“Trudy didn’t go through with the adoption, I did.”

Chapter Eight

“The nurse put the baby girl in Trudy’s arms and she fell apart. Emotionally destroyed, she couldn’t function. She handed the baby to me. Made me promise on my mother’s grave I would carry out her wishes, and put the baby up for adoption. She dressed and left the hospital the same day, but didn’t return home until ten days later. I was beside myself, thinking she’d done something terrible to herself. She went back to her life ten days later, and never spoke of that day again.”

The older woman shook the letter high in the air.

“Had I known…had I only known Wade talked about locating the girl, everyone’s life would’ve turned out so very, very much different.”

Mrs. Darnell broke down. Her nurse appeared at her side, the housekeeper close behind. Her soul-deep anguish flowed from the older woman, racking her entire body.

“I think you should go,” the nurse said to River.

Darn. She’d come so close and she felt the heartbreak. River nodded and rose. She walked over to Mrs. Darnell, squatted down in front of her, and placed her hands over the woman’s.

“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Darnell.” With that she rose and headed for the door.

River got into the rental car and dropped her head back against the headrest, emotionally drained. It would be her priority to locate this girl and bring her back to her grandmother. She was startled out of her thoughts by a rap on the window. The housekeeper stood there as River rolled down her window.

“Thank goodness you haven’t left,” the woman gasped, trying to catch her breath. “Mrs. Darnell is insistent you come back inside. She said her story isn’t finished and you need to know the rest.”

When River walked back into the house, the housekeeper showed her down the hall and into the library. Mrs. Darnell sat on one end of an antique, high-backed Victorian loveseat, sipping on a steaming cup of tea. When she saw River, she placed the cup and saucer on the coffee table in front of her.

“Thank goodness she caught you.” She looked over at the nurse hovering in the corner. “You may go.” The nurse hesitated for a moment and then headed for the door. She stopped beside River.

“Please don’t upset her again,” the nurse said.

“It wasn’t her fault. Please go,” Mrs. Darnell said firmly.

“I’m terribly sorry you saw me in such a state. Seems the sins of our past have come to be heard. Please sit.” She patted the spot beside her.

“There’s no need for you to disrupt those six girls’ lives. You see, I couldn’t bring myself to do what my daughter asked. Trudy’s baby girl was her daughter, and my granddaughter. The baby did get legally adopted. There were only four people who knew the truth—me, my husband, a dear friend who deeply wanted a child and was unable to carry her own to term, and her husband. Tami is a brilliant school teacher and she lives in Cellar Glen.”

River’s jaw dropped. She shook her head as if trying to clear away stars.

“You know where Tami lives?”

“I know where she lives, who she’s dating, what her favorite color is, and her deepest thoughts. Her father died over a year ago. Her mother, my friend, is dying of pancreatic cancer. Tami knows me as her mother’s best friend. I never told Trudy. In the beginning, I knew if I did, she’d take the baby away, and have an agency place her. As the years went by, I thought if I told Trudy, she would hate me, never trust me again.”

This time there were no tears. She appeared to have cried them all out and left behind was her stark heartbreak and regret.

“Wait a minute. You mean to tell me Trudy never ran into your friend and her daughter?” River said. The puzzlement she felt must’ve shown on her face.

“I’m sorry. I’m usually much better at explaining. My girlfriend, Tami’s adopted mom, and I became friends while my husband and I lived in San Francisco. Tami and her parents lived on the other side of the city. Tami was the Dean of Business at one of the universities. Her Mom became weaker and weaker, and Tami drove back and forth every day, from the university to her Mom’s. She wanted to move her Mom away from the city. I suggested they move here and my girlfriend agreed. Tami knows she’s adopted. Her parents chose to tell her the truth early on.”

“This is more than I could’ve hoped. Now that I know where Tami lives, after her mom has a chance to explain her story, I can return and speak to her about meeting her sister and brother.

“Let me call Tami’s mom and see how she’s feeling. Would you mind stepping out for a few minutes?” Mrs. Darnell asked.

“How’s your friend feeling?” River asked, as she walked back into the library.

“She sounds weak and tired, but she doesn’t want to put this off any longer. I think she’s afraid she’ll die and not get the chance to explain everything to Tami. She told me she’d talk to Tami this weekend. Would you mind if I keep this letter?”

“It’s a copy I made for you. Did you tell her about the current situation?”

“Yes, I did. I also told her about the letter. She would like a copy when she broaches the subject with her daughter. I gave her your name and number and asked them to contact you or me.”

“A wise idea. I will be sure to keep you in the loop. Thank you for telling me this. When the time comes, I believe it would be easier on Blake and Garnet for you to be the one to tell them who their sister is. Tell them the same story you told me. It’s important for them to know every detail.”

Mrs. Darnell reached out and took one of River’s hands.

“Thank you so much for coming out today. I feel a great burden has lifted off me. It will be difficult to explain all this to my grandchildren, but I believe you are correct.”

Twilight fell by the time River left Mrs. Darnell’s home. She headed out of town, turned the music on, and absently hummed along as her brain clicked into overdrive. You never could tell how complicated or difficult a case would be to solve. She’d thought it would be months, maybe more until she discovered the identity of the Baxters’ half-sister. River had hoped Mrs. Darnell would at least have the ability to point her in the right direction. She never dreamed she would hear what she’d heard from the older women. She shook her head at the loss of it all.

For an instant, River was blinded as the headlights behind her filled her rearview mirror. She squinted and glanced into her side view mirror. The vehicle appeared to be approaching quickly.
Someone late for a hot date
, she thought. She decided her best course of action would be to move closer to the shoulder and slow down, the international sign for
come around me.
As she started her maneuver, the headlights grew brighter. Suddenly the rental was rammed from behind, the momentum snapping her upper body into the seatbelt. Her head missed the steering wheel by a scant inch.

“What the hell,” she said, and got rewarded with another slam from behind. “Damnit, this guy is serious.”

Obviously a date was not this driver’s agenda. She punched her foot down on the gas as her rear window shattered into a million tiny pieces. Another gunshot hit her car and she swerved and ducked. Head low to the steering wheel, she reached out and punched the speed dial button on her phone.

****

Gage’s phone vibrated on the table, and lit up with River’s picture he’d taken the other night at dinner.

“Don’t worry. The flight won’t leave without you; actually you’re not late for another fifteen minutes. I’m just hanging out sipping on lemonade. When we touchdown in Seattle, I could use something stronger,” he said.

“Gage, someone’s shooting at me,” River said.

He dropped his feet off of the seat across from him and sat up straight.

“Are you positive? Damn, scratch that, ex-cop.”

He heard glass breaking in the background.

“Get your gun out, the asshole means business.”

“I can’t. I left it in the trunk with all the rest of my stuff.”

“What the hell did you do that for?”

“Because I visited a little old lady, in a village, and didn’t expect to be assaulted on my way back.”

“Wonderful.” He threw a few dollars on the table, grabbed his gear and headed for his car. “Where are you?”

“By my estimation I’m about fifteen minutes from you. I’m hoping they’ll break off before we get to civilization.”

Gage headed out of the lot in River’s direction.

“Yeah, good luck with that. Keep playing offense. We should meet up in about six minutes. I’ll flash my lights as I approach. You keep coming; I’m gonna box him in. And stay on the line.”

He heard more glass break and the squeal of her tires as she tried to keep from being an easy target. Then he heard a crash and a grunt from her.

“River?”

“I’m all right. He caught up to me. Shit, here he comes again.”

Another sound of crushing metal and her hiss came through his phone.

“You should be seeing my headlights any second, hang on.”
Damn, where the hell was she?
he thought. He broke the crest of a small hill and saw a set of headlights weaving, another pair directly behind her car.
Thank God.
He flashed his headlights.

“I see you,” River said, sounding a little out of breath.

“Keep coming dumbass, you’re mine now,” Gage said to the assailant, as he flattened the gas pedal to the floorboard.

As if reading his mind the attacking vehicle broke off to the right, and down a dirt road, leaving a wave of stones flying in every direction. River’s car flew by and Gage hit the brake.

“River, he broke off. River?”

“I hear you. I’m slowing down. Let’s keep going until we get to the airport.”

Gage shook his head. He’d been exceptionally impressed. Not only was this woman witty and attractive, but daayum, she could handle a vehicle.

She pulled into airport parking and he pulled up beside her. He jumped out of his car and ran over to her, yanking the driver’s door open. She sat there arms crossed over the wheel and head leaning against them. He knew the feeling, a queasy stomach as the flood of adrenaline tapered off.

“Let me help you out,” he said.

He heard her take in a deep breath and sit up. He could see a large bruise starting over one cheek where she’d probably hit the wheel.

“Unhook your belt,” he said.

He saw her grimace as she reached for the buckle.

“Ribs?”

“Yeah. I’m certain they’re bruised, I might’ve cracked one or two,” she hissed between clenched teeth.

Finally releasing the belt, she slowly turned in his direction. He saw the blood covering her upper arm and shoulder. It looked like she’d been hit with a bullet or flying glass.

“You’re bleeding.” He pointed to her shoulder.

“He nailed me on the first shot. It went straight through. I don’t think it hit the bone.”

She winced as she attempted to use her injured arm to get out of the vehicle. Gage leaned in, slipped an arm under her injured arm and around her body, and then lifted her from the car. She bit her bottom lip, but a stifled whimper escaped anyway.

“Can you stand?” he asked.

“I think so. My legs feel like jelly, but I don’t think they’re injured.”

He looked into the front seat to make sure she’d left nothing and quickly counted six gunshots which had torn through the seat. The nose of a bullet protruded from the seat; another inch and it would have pierced her spine.

“You said all your things are in the trunk?”

“Yes.”

He walked to the rear of the vehicle. The entire back end was smashed nearly to the now-missing back window.

“This doesn’t look promising,” he said. “They really nailed the back end of this car. Hope the clients you’re working for have a lot of money.”

“I’ve got insurance,” she said and attempted a smile.

“Ever read the fine print? I don’t think it’ll cover gunshots; maybe the other damage.”

“I’m not worried. Blake won’t care.”

“Blake? As in Baxter? I thought you were working another case?” he asked, as he pried the trunk open.

“That’s right, another case, I never said another client.”

He pulled her oversized bag from the trunk, placed it on the ground and gathered all the loose papers into a pile. As he did so, he noticed the names Darnell and Tami.

“You’re not reading my files are you?” She’d limped to the back side of the vehicle and stood, all fiery four and a half feet of her. He grinned at the sight.

“Sorry, tried not to, but I have to admit, I caught a couple words.”

“And you will tell no one what you’ve seen.”

He stuffed the papers into the large bag, looked into the trunk one last time and caught the shimmer of metal—her gun. He reached into the back of the trunk and picked up her Sig P238. He looked it over. It looked as if it had weathered the beating, but it would need to be taken apart and checked to make sure. He placed it into her bag.

“Geeze, you’ll do anything to get out of dinner with me,” he said.

She laughed, and then cringed as she drew her good arm around her ribs.

“Sorry about that. We need to get you to a doctor.”

“Can you triage me well enough to get us back to Seattle? I’d rather see one there. Besides, that way you don’t need to stick around, you can drop me off.

“You’re joking, right? There’s no way in hell I’m going to leave you at the Emergency door of a hospital like a drive-up coffee stop. Let’s get you into the jet and let me take a good look at you in the light.”