Sudden Second Chance (9 page)

Beth headed for the cart next to the fireplace, calling over her shoulder, “If I grabbed a spiked cider after that shot of whiskey at Scarlett’s, would you peg me as a lush?”

“Absolutely not as long as you don’t judge me.” Duke nodded at a couple sharing the sofa in front of the fire. “Mind if we join you?”

The man held up his cup. “The cider’s good and not too strong.”

Beth picked up two cups of cider from the tray and sank into the chair next to Duke’s. “Here you go.”

He took the cup from her and placed it on the table between them. “Good fishing today?”

The older man on the sofa glanced up. “How’d you know I was a fisherman?”

“You have the look.”

“You mean the look of a fanatic?” The man’s wife laughed.

“A dedicated sportsman. How about it? A good haul?”

“Decent.”

“Do you hunt, also?”

Beth sat up straighter and watched Duke over the rim of her cup. As Scarlett suspected, Sheriff Musgrove had brushed off the shot in the woods. Deputy Unger indicated that it was protocol to post a notice to all hunters to stay in the areas designated for hunting.

“I’ve done some hunting, but not this trip.” He half rose from the sofa and extended his hand to Duke. “Walt Carver, by the way, and this is my wife, Sue.”

“I’m Duke Harper and this is Beth St. Regis.”

Holding her breath, Beth waved, but neither Walt nor Sue showed a flicker of recognition. Must not be big reality TV fans.

“Why are you asking? Are you a hunter, Duke?”

“No, but my... Beth almost got hit by a stray bullet from a hunter.”

Sue covered her mouth. “That’s frightening. That’s why I’m glad Walt gave it up.”

“Some of these people don’t follow the rules and accidents happen.”

“How common are accidental shootings?” Duke blew on the surface of his cider before taking a sip.

“I don’t have any statistics, but it happens.” He patted his wife’s knee. “I was always very careful, Sue. No need to worry.”

Sue yawned. “For some reason, fishing all day makes me tired. I don’t even know if I can muster enough energy to go out to dinner.”

“We can order in.” Walt took Sue’s cup and placed them on the tray. “Nice to meet you folks. Will you be here long?”

“Not sure.” Beth smiled. That depended on one beautiful shaman with an attitude.

They said good-night to the other couple and Duke moved to the sofa and stared into the fire, now a crackling orange-and-red blaze.

“What are you thinking?” She settled next to him.

“Wondering if that shot was an accident or intended for you.”

“Scarlett seemed to think it had something to do with her.” She held one hand to the fire, soaking up its warmth. “The sheriff indicated she called a lot to complain about the hunters and has even started a petition to push their hunting grounds farther north. She doesn’t like the hunters and they don’t like her.”

Duke scratched his chin. “There have been other incidents at her place, but I don’t like this, Beth.”

“I don’t like it, either, but I’m so close.” She pinched her thumb and forefinger together. “With Scarlett’s help I might finally discover who I am, where I came from.”

“And like some fairy tale, you think your mother and father are going to be the good king and queen?”

“I’m prepared for anything, Duke.”

“Are you?” He tapped his cup. “If someone could tell you tomorrow whether or not you’re Heather Brice, would you leave Timberline?”

“If I
was
Heather, I’d contact the Brices immediately and arrange to see them in Connecticut—if they wanted to see me.”

“If you’re
not
Heather Brice?”

“I...I’d be back to the drawing board and I’d start following a different path.” She leaned back against the sofa cushion and propped her feet on the table in front of her. Duke really wanted her to ditch the story, and this time it was for her benefit, not his.

“A different path away from Timberline and this case?”

“My producer, Scott, isn’t all that excited about this case anyway. I could dump it and he wouldn’t blink an eye. In fact, he’d be happy since he tried to talk me out of the case to begin with. If I dropped the show, it would make him look good in his father’s eyes, since his dad owns the production company.”

“Seems we all want you to drop the story, don’t we?” He drained his cup of cider. “That was good. Do you want another or do you want to get something to eat?”

“I’m with Sue and Walt on this one. Maybe we can just order in. Pizza? Chinese?”

“Let’s ask Gregory what he recommends.”

Duke held out his hand and pulled her up from the sofa. She didn’t want to let go, but he dropped her hand and put their empty cider cups on the tray.

“Gregory, my man. We’re going to order in for dinner. Any recommendations?”

“There’s a good pizza place down the road. They have pastas and salads, too.” He pointed to the right of the reception desk. “There are a couple of menus there.”

Beth reached for a red, white and green menu and held it up. “Vincenzo’s?”

“That’s it.”

Duke joined her and hovered over her shoulder to look at the menu. “How come there’s no restaurant on the premises?”

“I’m pretty sure Mr. Young made a deal with some of the town’s restaurateurs to build the hotel only and not cut into their business.”

“Jordan Young?” Beth ran her finger across the extra pizza ingredients.

“Yep. He developed the Timberline Hotel years ago. Bought the old one and renovated and expanded.”

“He should update the security and get cameras in the hallways.” Duke tapped the menu. “Pizza and salad?”

“That’ll work.” Beth shoved the menu into his hands. “You pick the pizza toppings and I’ll grab a couple of twist-top bottles of wine.”

“I have a better idea. I’ll get the food and make a stop at a liquor store and pick up a decent bottle of cabernet.”

“Sounds perfect. Do you want me to come with you?”

“I can handle it.”

Beth tried to give him some cash, which he refused, and then went up to her room—the one right next to Duke’s.

Not that she expected to get lucky tonight with that gorgeous man. She had a few things to tell him before they could reach that same level of intimacy they’d had before, which Beth had discovered hadn’t been very deep.

Sleeping with a man didn’t guarantee instant intimacy. She’d never had that level of intimacy with anyone before, but she’d come close with Duke. So close, the feeling had terrified her and she’d taken the surest route to torpedo the relationship.

She’d lied to Duke, betrayed him. He’d reacted as she’d expected him to—he dumped her. If she wanted him back, there could be no secrets between them.

Maybe tonight was the night—pizza, red wine and confidences.

When Beth returned to the room, she stepped into the shower and put on a pair of soft, worn jeans and the FBI Academy T-shirt Duke had given her two years ago. The shirt gave her confidence.

As soon as she turned on the TV, Duke knocked on the door. “Pizza man.”

She peered through the peephole and opened the door. “I hope you got some paper plates and napkins.”

“They’re in the bag with the salad.” He held up a bottle of wine. “Washington vineyard.”

“This will be my third alcoholic beverage of the day. Really, this is unusual for me.”

He placed the food on the credenza and turned to face her, his hands on his hips. “You don’t have to excuse yourself just because my father was an alcoholic, Beth. Hell, you know I drink, too. I don’t think a few drinks make you an alcoholic.”

“I know that.” She pulled the plates and napkins from the bag. “I just don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me.”

“I think I did have the wrong idea about you.”

“I know.” She popped open the plastic lid on the salad. “You thought you could trust me and I betrayed that trust.”

“That’s not it.” He held up a corkscrew. “Bought a cheap one at the liquor store.”

“What’s not it?” She folded her arms across her stomach. Had he discovered something else about her?

“I’ve had plenty of time to think about what happened between us, and seeing you again and hearing your story has only confirmed what I’d begun to think about that time, about our relationship.”

“Maybe I need some wine to hear this.” Duke had uncorked the bottle, and Beth poured some of it into a plastic cup Duke had snagged from the cider setup in the lobby.

“It’s nothing bad. I just didn’t understand at the time that you took those files on purpose to push me away because we’d gotten too close, too fast.”

The wine went down her throat the wrong way and she choked. She covered her face with a napkin. “Have you now added psychology to your other talents?”

“Tell me it’s not true.” He tugged at the napkin.

“It wasn’t conscious at the time. I just really, really wanted those files.”

“You could’ve asked me.”

“You would’ve said no.”

“Probably.” He tore off a piece of pizza and dropped it onto a paper plate. “All this analysis is making me hungry.”

She peeked at him over the rim of her plastic cup. “Is that your way of telling me you forgive me for that incredibly stupid act?”

“Hey, that incredibly stupid act did solve the case, didn’t it?”

“Only because I didn’t reveal that other piece of info to you that I got from my source.”

“Are you trying to make yourself look bad?”

“I just want you to see me, warts and all...this time. I... If there is a this time.”

Duke took a big bite of pizza instead of answering her and she let it drop.

He had a better handle on discussing this kind of stuff than most men she knew because he’d been through court-mandated therapy as a teen when his father had beaten his mother to death after he’d accidentally killed his younger sister.

Such tragedy and he’d risen from the ashes a strong man, a good man—and she could’ve had him if she’d been able to recover from her own tragedies.

They watched TV together, she from the edge of the bed and he from a chair he’d pulled up, and ate their salad and pizza. A meal had never tasted better, but she stopped at two cups of wine. She needed the relaxation but also needed a clear head for her confession.

Duke collected her plate and cup and stuffed them into the white plastic bag. “More wine?”

“No, thanks. Save it. I may need it after my session with Scarlett tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” He checked his phone. “You set it up for tomorrow?”

“Expecting a text?”

“Work.” He tossed the phone on the bed. “What time are you seeing Scarlett and when did you arrange this?”

“When you’d gone outside her place to look around. I’m bringing my locket and heading out there at dusk.”

“At night? Really?”

“She works during the day and needs the natural light. She suggested it. At least it’s not the witching hour.”

“I don’t think you’d better call Scarlett a witch. She’d go off on you for sure.”

“I wasn’t calling her a witch.” She pointed to the pizza box. “Breakfast tomorrow morning?”

“Works for me.”

Beth licked a crumb from the corner of her mouth. Now, if only they could settle the sleeping arrangements for tonight as easily as that. She could always make a suggestion, but she didn’t want to push things.

Duke swiped his thumb across his phone again and placed it on the credenza. “I’ll take the trash outside. You don’t want to be smelling garlic all night.”

He grabbed the white bag and left the room.

Beth blew out a breath. He didn’t say “
we
don’t want to be smelling garlic all night,” so maybe he planned to go back to his own room.

She brushed some crumbs from the credenza into her palm just as Duke’s phone vibrated. Was this the text he was expecting?

She spun the phone around to face her, touching the screen in the process. The phone was still unlocked from Duke’s last usage.

The text message, from Mick Tedesco, sprang to life, and one word jumped out at Beth—
Brice
. Her eyes darted to the door and back to the phone.

She read the message aloud. “‘The request to the Brices was sent and approved.’”

Pressing one hand to her heart, she stepped back. What request? Duke hadn’t mentioned any request he’d made from the Brices. Did he plan to steal her thunder?

She heard the key at the door and retreated to the bathroom. How could she even ask him about it now without admitting she’d read his private text?

He stepped into the room. “That’s better.”

She poked her head out of the bathroom. “Would you mind taking the leftover pizza to your room when you leave?”

His step faltered for a second but he recovered quickly. “Sure. You want me to leave the wine here?”

“You can leave the wine.” She ducked back into the bathroom and called out, “Don’t forget your phone.”

“Got it.”

A few minutes later he stood at the bathroom door, his boots back on and holding the pizza box in front of him with the cell phone on top.

Holding her breath, her gaze darted to the phone. Had he checked his very important message about the Brices yet?

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Beth. And don’t even think about going to Scarlett’s without me.”

“Of course not.” She smiled as she unwound about a foot of dental floss. “We’re partners in crime, right?”

A small vertical line formed between his eyebrows. “Right. Good night.”

“Good night. Thanks for the pizza and wine.”

When the door closed behind him, she threw the second bolt into place and marched to the credenza. She uncorked the wine and poured herself another generous glass.

Then she sat cross-legged on the bed and took a big gulp. It was a good thing she hadn’t revealed her final secret to Duke...because the man was keeping one of his own.

Chapter Ten

Duke dropped the pizza box in his room and unlocked his phone to read Mick’s message. Releasing a breath, he stretched out on the bed and texted him back.
Rush order?

A few minutes later Mick confirmed and Duke ate another piece of pizza to celebrate. He’d hoped to celebrate another way tonight, but Beth had made it clear that she’d expected him to spend the night in his own room. Maybe she hadn’t bought his forgiveness-and-understanding shtick, even though he’d been dead serious.

He didn’t blame her for not trusting him. As recently as two days ago he’d been railing against her for her actions two years ago. That was before he’d discovered her real purpose for being in Timberline.

He finished the pizza and got up to brush his teeth. He leaned forward and studied his face in the mirror.

Maybe Beth had it right. This time they should take things slow and easy and not jump to any conclusions about each other.

He could do that.

Could she?

* * *

D
UKE
SPENT
THE
next day in meetings with the local FBI office and on the phone with the Drug Enforcement Agency. He’d touched base with Beth a few times and she’d been busy conducting more interviews and visiting relevant sites like the house of Kayla Rush’s kidnapping.

He just wanted to make sure she didn’t go out to Scarlett Easton’s house by herself. He didn’t trust those hunters—or anyone else in this town.

He ended his day in the sheriff’s station, shooting the breeze with Unger. Musgrove had gone golfing with the mayor and Jordan Young.

“The local hunters don’t much care for Scarlett Easton?”

“She complains about them a lot. She just doesn’t like hunting.”

“They’ve done things like that before? Shoot close to her property?”

“Sure, but they’ve never come close to hitting someone, like they did with Ms. St. Regis.”

“Yeah.” Duke chewed the edge of his fingernail.

“Do you think it was on purpose?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe someone was trying to scare her off, like with the broken window and the frog head, but that’s extreme.”

“If the guy was a good shot, he wouldn’t see it as extreme since he never intended for the bullet to hit its mark.”

“Still, that could be attempted murder.”

“You and I know that, but someone willing to take that chance in the first place—” Unger shrugged “—that might not occur to him.”

“I told Beth I’d ask you about your mom, if she’d be willing to talk to her about the Brices and what happened twenty-five years ago.”

“I’d hate for my mom to wind up on TV.”

“I understand. What if I could guarantee that her interview wouldn’t leave Beth’s possession?”

“Then why would Beth want to interview my mother if she didn’t plan to use it for the segment?”

Toying with the edge of a folder, Duke said, “Information.”

“Is that why Beth was talking to Scarlett Easton? Information? Because I can’t imagine Scarlett wanting to get involved with a TV show. I don’t think she even watches TV.”

“Just a different perspective. These shows collect all kinds of footage and info they never use.”

Unger lifted his shoulders. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thanks, man.” Duke checked his phone. Did five o’clock qualify as dusk? “I’m outta here. Keep me posted on any new developments in the Gary Binder hit and run.”

“Will do.”

When Duke pulled into the parking lot of the Timberline Hotel, his shoulders relaxed when he spotted Beth’s rental car. He’d had a nagging feeling all day that she’d take off without him.

He waved to Gregory at the front desk, avoided Walt and Sue in the lobby and jogged up the two flights of stairs to Beth’s room. As he knocked on the door, he called, “Beth, it’s Duke.”

She opened the door. “I saw Scarlett in town. We’re meeting at seven.”

“Do you want to get something to eat on the way?”

“I had a bite to eat in town. I’ll knock when I’m ready to go. About thirty minutes?”

“I’ll be ready.”

She shut the door in his face.

Had she read his mind and his body language last night? He’d wanted to bed her and, up until last night, he’d thought she’d wanted the same thing.

Maybe he wouldn’t get a second chance with Beth, but he still planned to make sure nothing happened to her on this wild-goose chase.

He’d had a big lunch with the FBI boys and figured he could skip dinner, anyway. He showered instead and changed out of his suit. He didn’t know what to wear to a haunting, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t a suit.

At around six forty-five, Beth tapped on his door.

He greeted her by jingling his car keys. “Let’s take my SUV. It has four-wheel drive. Her place is remote, even by Timberline standards.”

“Okay.” She nervously toyed with a chain around her neck.

“Is that the locket?”

“This is it.” She held it out from her neck with her thumb, where a gold heart dangled from the delicate chain.

As they hit the stairwell, Duke said, “I’ve worked with psychics a few times on cases. While they haven’t solved anything for us, there’s definitely something there.”

“I hope Scarlett can tell me something. Even if it’s some small connection to the Brices, it might be enough.”

“Enough for what?” Duke pushed open the door to the lobby.

“Enough to warrant some communication with them, but like I said before, I don’t want to give them any false hope.”

“False hope is never good, especially in cases like this.”

She tilted her head and shot him a quizzical look from beneath her lashes before she got into the car.

He started the car. “I’m guessing you didn’t get to interview Jordan Young today.”

“I didn’t. How’d you know that?”

“I dropped by the sheriff’s station to see Cody—Deputy Unger—and he told me Sheriff Musgrove was out playing golf with Young and the mayor.” He snapped his fingers. “Mayor Burton. Have you met him yet?”

“Not yet. I spent my day videotaping different locations...and replacing my frog.”

“You bought another?”

“I wanted to ask Linda, the shop owner, if anyone had come into the store after me or had asked about me later.”

“Any luck?”

“Nothing suspicious, anyway. A few people chatted with her about the show, but these were people she knew. She was happy to sell me another frog, though.”

“Are you going to keep this one under lock and key?” Duke made the turn off the main highway and the sky immediately darkened as the trees grew thicker.

“I’m going to guard him with my life.”

He glanced sideways at her, expecting a smile, but Beth’s jaw had a hard line that worried the hell out of him. How long had she been obsessed by this? He’d never seen this side to her two years ago.

As much time as they’d spent together, as many times as they’d made love, he’d never really known her.

The SUV bounced over the rough road and Beth clutched the locket against her throat.

“Are you having second thoughts? Because we can turn right around.”

“No. Scarlett said it would be tougher on her than me.”

“It’s probably not going to be any picnic for you, either, especially if you discover something you weren’t expecting.”

“I have to do this.”

“I know you do.” He squeezed her thigh beneath the soft denim of her jeans. “And I’m gonna be right there with you.”

She gave him a stiff nod.

He parked the car at the edge of the stand of trees circling Scarlett’s house. He poked Beth in the arm. “Any more bullets start flying, hit the ground—and I’m only half kidding.”

“Do you see me laughing?”

He kept an arm around Beth’s shoulders as they approached the house, even though she’d stiffened beneath his touch. This meeting with Scarlett had put her on edge and he feared she’d drop over into the abyss.

* * *

A
S
THEY
REACHED
the porch, Beth shrugged off Duke’s arm. She didn’t need a protector, especially one who kept important secrets from her. When was he going to tell her what he was doing with the Brices? Had he actually told them about her quest?

The heavy knocker that sported a bear’s head gleamed under the porch light. Duke lifted it and tapped it against the plate several times.

Scarlett answered the door in a pair of black yoga pants and an oversize sweater that hung almost to her knees. “Did you bring the locket?”

“Right here.” Beth held it out from her neck.

“Come in and have a seat by the fire.” Her gaze raked Duke up and down. “Did that worthless sheriff tell you anything about the shot fired on my property yesterday?”

“He had a couple of deputies searching for a shell casing this morning, but that’s about as efficient as searching for a needle in a haystack, and he sent a notice out to the hunters.”

She tossed her long braid over one shoulder. “That figures. Do you want something to drink before we get started?”

“You girls aren’t going to start tossing back whiskeys again, are you?” Duke raised one eyebrow and his mouth quirked into a smile as Scarlett gave a low chuckle.

Beth’s gaze darted between Duke and Scarlett and something tightened in her chest. He liked her. What wasn’t to like? The woman was gorgeous with her long, dark hair, mocha skin and sumptuous figure. Even the baggy sweater seemed to hug her curves.

The artist had an earth-mother figure, a body made for childbearing. Beth ran her hands down her own slim hips and a sob caught in her throat.

“I’m drinking a special tea tonight.” Scarlett put her hand on Beth’s arm. “Can I get you a cup? You look pale.”

“That would be nice, thanks.”

“You—” Scarlett leveled a finger at Duke “—don’t look like a hot-tea kind of guy. Would you like a shot of that whiskey?”

“I don’t touch the hard stuff, but I could use a beer.”

Scarlett called over her shoulder as she sauntered into the kitchen. “You might need another when this is all over.”

Beth sat in a chair near the huge natural-stone fireplace and curled out her fingers to the flame. “Is this okay here?”

“I’m going to sit in front of the fireplace on the floor.” She must’ve already brewed the tea because she came out of the kitchen carrying two steaming cups. “Do you want sugar or milk?”

“No, thanks.” She took the mug from Scarlett and sniffed the slightly bitter aroma of the pale brown tea.

Scarlett put her own cup on the broad base of the fireplace and returned to the kitchen for Duke’s beer. Then she settled on a rug in front of the fire and took a sip of tea.

“A... Are there some times that are better for you to do this than others?”

“Like a full moon or something?” Scarlett shrugged. “No. You have the gift or you don’t.”

Beth sucked some tea onto her tongue and wrinkled her nose. Maybe she should’ve gone with the sugar.

Scarlett studied her over the rim of her mug. “Doesn’t taste very good, does it? It’s an acquired taste. I make it myself from roots and berries—an old recipe handed down through the generations.”

With trembling fingers, Beth reached for the clasp on her locket. “I suppose you want this.”

Three tries and she still couldn’t unlatch the necklace.

“Let me.” Duke crouched beside her and brushed her hair from the back of her neck. His warm fingers against her nape caused a thrill of excitement to race through her body despite the occasion. His touch always caused an immediate reaction in her body.

“Got it.” He held out his hand where the chain pooled in his palm. He leaned forward and dumped the necklace into Scarlett’s outstretched hand.

“May I?” She paused, her thumbnail against the crease of the locket.

Beth nodded and Scarlett popped open the gold heart. She flattened it open between two fingers. “This could be your hair—this strawberry blond. The blond could even be your hair at another age.”

“That’ll help, though, won’t it? To have some hair as well as the locket?”

“It might.” Scarlett crossed her legs beneath her and stretched her arms toward the fire, her dark eyes glittering in the firelight. “There are a few rules we need to cover.”

“Rules?” Beth glanced at Duke.

“No matter what happens, do not bring me out of my trance.”

“You’re going into a trance?”

“What did you expect?” Scarlett’s dark eyebrows jumped to her hairline. “Did you think I was going to search for your locket on the internet?”

“But a trance? Is it dangerous?” Beth bit her lip.

“Draining, but not dangerous—unless you yank me out of it.” Scarlett tugged on her braid. “No matter what happens, no matter what I say or do, even if it looks like I’m having some kind of seizure.”

“Seizure? Oh, my God. I can’t let you do this, Scarlett.”

“I’ve already decided I’m doing it. Like I said, I have my own reasons.”

Duke sat on the floor next to Beth’s chair and curved his hand around her calf. “Let her continue, Beth. Scarlett knows what she’s doing.”

“Listen to your man.” Scarlett closed her eyes and cradled her mug. She took a long sip and placed it on the stone of the fireplace.

Her eyes opened to slits and she slipped her finger beneath the chain of the necklace and dangled it in front of the fire. The golden locket seemed infused with a flame as it swung from Scarlett’s finger.

She curled her hand around the locket and held it in her fist. She exhaled slowly and her lids fell over her eyes.

Scarlett whispered something under her breath, but Beth didn’t catch it. She raised her brows at Duke and he shook his head.

The whispers became a silent movement of the lips as Scarlett’s knuckles turned white. Her head lolled back, her long braid almost touching the rug beneath her.

Scarlett’s eyelids began flickering and her lips twitched.

Beth slid to the floor beside Duke, tucking her hand in the crook of his arm. She touched his ear with her lips. “I hope she’s okay.”

“I hope so, too.”

Scarlett’s chin dipped to her chest, her body still.

Beth whispered, “Did she fall asleep? Is this the trance she was talking about?”

Duke curled his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “Shh. I don’t know, Beth. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”