Rock Harbor Series - 03 - Into the Deep (33 page)

“Now put your foot on the step and push up. You’ve got to help me.”

The pain in her hair helped sharpen her senses. She couldn’t feel her foot, but when she tried to stand, she found herself going up, so she must have found the step somehow. Seconds later she was lying on the bottom of the boat with the warm sun beating down on her face. Cassie lay gasping beside her, her face white.

“Samson,” Bree muttered. But it wasn’t Samson, was it? Her dog was missing.

“I’ve got him.” Salome hauled the wet dog into the boat.

He shook himself, then whined. He licked her face. Bree wrapped her arms around Charley and pulled him on top of her. “You saved my life, boy.” He whined again and nuzzled her face.

“I’ll get blankets.” Salome stumbled past her to the storage compartments under the wheel. She pulled out a blanket. “There’s only one. Both of you curl up together. We’ve got to get you warm.”

Bree still couldn’t feel her body, but she managed to scoot over beside her sister. Cassie turned her head and looked at Bree.

“I thought I was dead,” she whispered.

“I thought you were too,” Bree admitted.

“I met God down there,” Cassie murmured. “You’re right. He goes into the deep with us. He saved me.”

Was she hallucinating? Bree smoothed her sister’s hair back from her face as Cassie’s lips turned in a beatific smile. “What are you saying, sweetie?”

“God was there. I felt him. And he answered my prayer. He saved me.”

“I’m sure he sent us,” Bree agreed.

“No, you don’t understand. He saved me. I wasn’t afraid to die anymore. You were right, Bree. About everything. He was what I was searching for all along.”

“He’d been searching for you,” Bree corrected. “You were finally ready to be found.”

Bree stood out under the stars and watched the lake. Inside, Anu hovered over Cassie with hot tea and cookies. There was still no sign of their father, though the folder had been retrieved. She needed to think about things, figure this out. Their father—no, her father—was depending on her. So was Samson.

She felt like wailing herself—just sitting down in this patch of moonlight and howling like a three-year-old. Samson had always been her comforter. She wanted to bury her face in his fur and smell his doggy scent. To hear the sound of his bark and run her fingers through his curly hair. She’d never complain about the dog hair on the furniture again.

If she could just get him back.

And her father wanted to leave his legacy with her, to share what was left of his life. How could she find him, and without Samson’s help?

She heard a sound and turned to see Kade coming across the yard. He pulled her against his chest, and she burrowed close.

“You need to get some rest,” he said.

“I’ll rest when my dad is home,” Bree said. “The rest of the team should be here, and we’ll search for him.”

“Wait until morning. I’m sure he’s inside and safe.”

“We don’t know that.”

The back door opened, and Mason stepped under the porch light. “You out here, Bree?”

“I’m here. Anything on Samson?”

“Nope. I just heard from Montgomery. His sector is clear. He’s been to every house he can find. Nothing. I’m sure you’ll understand—I had to pull him off Samson’s trail to help with Bernard’s case. No new leads there either, though.”

Bree nodded, squeezed her eyes shut, and pinched the bridge of her nose. “What’s next?”

“It’s hard to say,” Mason said staunchly. “It’s been several weeks, Bree. Samson may not even be in this area anymore.”

“What if they’ve killed him?” Bree could hardly bear to voice her anguish and fear.

“Stop it, Bree!” Kade took her by the arms and shook her. “Have some faith. God will help us here.”

“God doesn’t always stop bad things from happening,” she whispered. “I don’t think I can go through this again. Looking, always looking. First Samson, and now my dad.” She finally gave in to the tears, rubbing her eyes like Davy did when he cried.

Kade hugged her close. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “I think we’ll find them both, Bree. Don’t give up now.”

Bree pulled away. “I’ll never give up—never!” she cried.

“I know,” Kade soothed. “Let’s keep looking.”

Bree sat on a chair and rubbed her throbbing head. She had to think this through. Emotion wouldn’t find her dad or Samson. It was going to take some sleuthing. “I still think Dad’s disappearance—and maybe even Samson’s—is connected to the lab somehow.”

Kade sat beside her. “How could it be?”

“I don’t know. It’s just all these strange things started happening when the lab came to town. I know it makes no sense, but let’s detail what we know.” Any action was better than sitting around waiting for results. Bree grabbed a pen and pad from her backpack. “Okay, someone killed Phil Taylor. Samson was taken. He was definitely a target, since it took more than one attempt to snag him. Cassie’s prescription was tampered with, and someone broke into her house. The intruder came back a second time when Cassie was home, and this time shot at
her and chased her into the woods. Now my dad is missing, and some file containing the scribbles of a half-delusional man is the only ransom the kidnapper has demanded.”

“Is it possible Samson was stolen to get you off of Phil’s case?” Mason put in. “Maybe that was a distraction.”

“Maybe,” Bree conceded. “I’d like to believe whoever has him isn’t mistreating him. But if that’s the case, then who took those other dogs? And why?”

Silence. It seemed impossible to try to connect Samson and the violence against the scientists together. “Let’s get back to searching,” she sighed, putting her pen and paper away. “This is getting us nowhere.”

“No more tonight, Bree. The deputies are exhausted and so are you. We’ll hit it first thing in the morning. Nothing makes sense when you’re tired.”

Have some tea,” Anu said, holding out a cup.

“Is everyone else asleep?” Bree asked. “You shouldn’t have waited up.” She’d stayed out under the stars with Kade for several hours. He’d prayed with her, and she felt enough peace to rest for a few hours.

“I couldn’t sleep. All day I have prayed for you, your father, and for our Samson. I’ve struggled to find peace in this,
kulta
. I have been filled with a sense of urgency. You must find Samson. Soon. My heart feels he is in grave danger.”

Bree’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m trying, Anu. Keep praying. What about my father?”

“I don’t feel the same sense of urgency. Your father will be fine, I believe this. But Samson is calling to my heart. I feel you must find him tomorrow. I know it’s likely emotion filling me with panic, but I cannot help this fear that wells in my heart.”

“Davy’s birthday is tomorrow.”

“I know. But the party is in the morning. Then you must find Samson.”

27

B
rightly colored streamers waved in the breeze from trees and the porch posts. Today her son turned five years old. It was a miracle he was even alive, and the whole town wanted to celebrate this day with her. What had begun to be a quiet celebration had quickly turned into something of a festival. Molly from the Suomi Café had brought her famous cinnamon rolls, Steve Asters was hanging a piñata filled with goodies for the children, and Naomi’s mom, Martha, had been cooking all week and had brought in all kinds of goodies. The tables out back were groaning under the weight of all the food their friends and neighbors had brought in.

Mason had assured Bree he had every resource under his power out looking for her father and there was nothing she could do, but after Anu’s sense of urgency, she felt especially eager to get out and look for Samson. He could find her father.

Samson was conspicuous in his absence. There was a forced gaiety to the laughter, and Bree realized she was straining her ears to hear her dog’s bark. She saw Davy’s long face and knew he felt the loss. They both wanted their dog. She told herself she wouldn’t think of it for a few hours. Just for the party, she’d throw herself into forgetting. Davy deserved a fun day today.

Bree stood by the food table and made sure everything was going smoothly. She caught snippets of conversation around her: Steve Asters was flirting with Cassie, Molly was telling Karen Siller about a new recipe she’d tried, Eino Kantola regaled Anu with a too-much
-information description of her bunions. Everything seemed so normal. But Samson’s absence left a huge hole in her heart.

Kade put his arms around her and rested his chin on her head. “You’re putting a good face on it, but I can see it’s a struggle. I’ve been praying for you today.”

Bree rested her cheek against his chest. “What would I do without you?”

“You never have to find out.”

He kissed her, a lingering touch that bolstered her courage. “I forgot the cookies. I’d better go get them.”

“Did they escape a fiery death this time?”

She punched him in the stomach, and he grunted, then grinned to show her he was teasing. “I’ll have you know these cookies are
perfect
. Lightly browned, exact ingredients. They will melt in your mouth.”

“I don’t doubt it a bit,” he said solemnly.

“You’ll see, oh ye of little faith.” She was quite proud of the way the cookies had turned out. After all this time of trying to be a better cook, she was finally getting the hang of it.

Inside the house, she heard voices in the living room. She went down the hall and peeked in. Hilary and Lauri were talking. “Hey, you two,” Bree said.

Hilary’s eyes were bright. “Bree, did you realize Lauri’s coloring is almost exactly like mine?”

Bree looked at the two of them sitting next to each other and nodded. “I hadn’t considered it before, but you’re right.”

“I’m not making any promises yet, but I’m willing to talk about it,” Hilary said. “We’d have to work out all the details.”

“And Hilary has even invited me to live with her and Mason if we decide to go ahead with this,” Lauri said.

“Would you want to do that?”

Lauri shrugged. “Kade might decide to sell his cabin and move here when you guys get married. I wouldn’t want to be in the way.”

Bree’s face flamed with heat. She was engaged to be married. It still felt unreal. “You know you’d be welcome no matter where we are. You’re part of our family.”

“I know, but I don’t want to be a fifth wheel. We’ll see.” Lauri turned back to talk more with Hilary.

They barely noticed Bree tiptoe out as they resumed their conversation. Bree went to the kitchen and grabbed the Tupperware container of cookies. She put it on the food table outside, and Cassie motioned for her to join the group of researchers under the giant oak tree. Bree smiled and held up one finger as she checked first to make sure Davy was having a good time. He was playing horseshoes with Kade and some of the other children. His long face had brightened a bit.

Bree waved at Kade—Davy was too intent to notice—then went to join Cassie and her friends.

“Have a seat.” Yancy stood and pushed the yard chair toward her.

“Thanks.” Bree settled into it, glad to rest her aching feet. She’d been running around all morning.

“Any news about the murder?” Nora asked. Her no-nonsense voice was more intense than usual.

“Nothing that I’ve heard. I did talk to Denise about two weeks ago. Did you know Jackson Pharmaceuticals offered Phil half a million dollars to join them and bring the new drug protocol to them?”

“Half a million!” Yancy burst out. “They’d never—” he broke off.

“You think that’s too much? The process is worth billions,” Chito said.

“They must have been desperate for that formula.”

“Enough to murder for it?” Salome asked.

“I don’t know. I can’t tell you just why, but I think they didn’t have anything to do with Phil’s murder.” Bree watched Yancy excuse himself and jog to a little girl.

“You’re still thinking it’s NAWG?” Nora suggested.

“Maybe.” Bree was suddenly tired of it all. It was a gnarled mass of
thread she couldn’t seem to untangle. She nodded toward the children. “Who’s the little girl? I’ve never seen her before.”

“Yancy’s daughter,” Cassie said. “He doesn’t get to see her much. Her mom married our boss now, Marcus Simik, and Yancy has to toe the line pretty tightly to get to see her. He’s been pretty bitter about it all.”

“His wife had an affair with your boss?”

Cassie nodded. “It caused a huge ruckus in the company. For a while I thought Yancy was going to kill them both. But he’s settled down now and has accepted the situation. He didn’t have any choice.”

“Probably not.” Bree’s thoughts began to race, and she felt the blood drain from her face.

“You look funny, Bree. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Bree left the group and went to find Mason.

“I need to talk to you,” she whispered.

He put his punch down. “What’s wrong?”

“In private.” Her heart hammered as she led the way inside. Hilary and Lauri were outside now. They wouldn’t be overheard. She was right, she knew it. But how could she prove it?

She leaned against the kitchen counter. “I think I know who the murderer is.”

“Who? Marika?”

She shook her head. “Yancy Coppler.”

Mason grinned. “Our resident Santa Claus? Is this a joke?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Her thoughts racing, Bree flexed her jaw.

He stared at her. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“He has a personal grudge against the company. You remember you said you checked out all the researchers’ criminal records and all you found was one charge against Yancy for breaking a restraining order and threatening his wife and her boyfriend with a gun. The charges were dropped.”

“So? That’s a far cry from murdering Phil Taylor.”

“What if that boyfriend owned the company he’s working for now? And what if he now is married to Yancy’s ex-wife and makes it hard for him to see his daughter?”

Mason scratched his chin. “Okay, I see the picture developing. But you have no proof.”

“Not yet. But it’s him, Mason, I know it. Phil was offered half a million. Yancy started to say something. He said, ‘They’d never.’ What if he was going to say they’d never offer that much? And the reason he knew what they’d pay is because he had taken the offer.”