The Unrelenting Tide (Islands of Intrigue: San Juans - Christian Romantic Suspense) (15 page)

Carcen pulled his truck to a stop in Devynne’s driveway and climbed out, grabbing the movie he had rented with Marissa in mind.

“This is just great,” he mumbled to himself, “I get to stay here and watch Barbie dolls dance the nutcracker while Randy takes Devynne to dinner.” It was not how he’d imagined spending the evening as he’d looked forward to coming. He loved his niece, but she was not the one who had occupied his thoughts all week.

He stopped at the kitchen door and rang the bell.

Devynne called out the window from upstairs. “Honey, is that you? Give me just a second.”

His heart hammered in wonderful confusion. Had she just called him ‘Honey’?

“Okay, I’m coming down. Sorry you had to wait for that sugar. But hey, let’s have fun tonight. We only live once right?”

Carcen swallowed his disappointment as reality settled in. She thought he was Randy. Aggravation surged through him. She was already calling him,
Honey
? And giving him s
ugar
? “Just great,” he muttered, stomping back on the deck. “Fantastic.”

A moment later she yanked open the door. “Oh, it’s you.”

He pushed back his jacket and settled his hands on his hips, allowing himself the privilege of appreciating her attire. The black skirt swished attractively around her slender knee-high boots and the red scoop-neck blouse accentuated the golden highlights in her dark hair to perfection.

Could he really trust her safety to Randy and Donny and stay here tonight?

She smoothed a hand self-consciously across her skirt, blushing when he brought his gaze back to her face, and for a moment hope renewed in his heart.

“Carcen?” She peered past him. “I thought you were—.”

Someone darted around the side of the house from the side-yard. On instinct he pulled his gun and swung toward the movement.

A petite brunette gave a little squeak of surprise and jolted to a stop.

Carcen quickly lowered his Glock. “Sorry.”

The woman laughed nervously. “Yikes! I didn’t expect anyone to be out here. Much less…” Her eyes darted to Carcen’s hand holstering his weapon and then back to Devynne. “I’m sorry Devynne. I should have come down from the drive instead of cutting through our yards.”

“Don’t worry about it, Honey.” Devynne turned towards Carcen, a shimmer of worry in her eyes. “Carcen, I’d like you to meet my neighbor, Honey Smyth. Honey, this is Carcen.”

Honey stretched out her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Carcen.” She didn’t immediately release his hand and sidled a couple steps closer, lowering her voice. “Devynne failed to mention that her date for this evening was so good looking, and so protective.” She touched his chest with one finger.

Carcen blinked at the woman’s forwardness as he stepped back, but he was too relieved to think much about it. Of course he should have remembered her neighbor. A name like Honey was hard to forget and he tried to make it his business to know the people in his town. “Hello, Honey. Did you come to borrow sugar?” he asked, unable to disguise the hopeful note in his voice.

“Why, yes! How did you know that?” She giggled.

He gave Devynne a sheepish grin. “Just a little detective work.”

“Well, here’s that sugar, Honey.” Dev held out a Tupperware to the young woman.

Honey glanced back and forth between the two and Carcen knew she was probably wondering at the way Devynne eyed him.

When the woman had disappeared back to her own yard, Devynne turned on him. “What was that all about?”

He shrugged, not wanting to ruin her evening by telling her his suspicions yet. And certainly not wanting to admit how much it had affected him to think she’d been speaking endearments to Randy. There would be time for those conversations later. He had suddenly made his decision. He would never forgive himself if he didn’t put up a good fight. “Where’s Marissa?”

“Upstairs in her room, playing.”

“I’ll go let her know I’m here. You look amazing. Have fun with Randy tonight.”

He was satisfied to see a slight frown on her face. She hadn’t expected him to be quite so happy for her and he found his hopes rising just a little more.
If only you knew my heart, Dev
.

Randy knocked just as he reached the top floor. Devynne greeted him and called up the stairs, “See you later!” He sighed and moved down the hall to Marissa’s room, knowing it was going to be one of the longest evenings he’d ever endured.

Chapter 14

Dinner – the meal itself – was wonderful. Randy chose a quaint little seafood place – the kind that was her favorite, but she was sure he didn’t know that.

The room sported three-dimensional boats and fish on the walls. Huge saltwater tanks separated the large space into smaller sections. Fascinated by them, Devynne had been studying the variety of brightly colored fish she could see swimming amidst the coral since they’d been seated.

Over orange and turquoise tablecloths, each table was draped with a thin fishnet and exhibited seashell-shaped candles as centerpieces. The candles were lit, casting a golden ambiance about the room. In the far corner, a small band played soft Hawaiian-like tunes that floated gently across the patrons around the room. Waitresses, all wearing kaleidoscopic sundresses, and waiters donned in khaki shorts with tropical print shirts, hustled here and there carrying trays with all manner of delicious smelling food.

All in all, the atmosphere and food were phenomenal, but Devynne couldn’t seem to keep her mind off of her baby sitter for more than a few minutes at a time.

“Devynne?”

She pulled her gaze away from the fish tank and grimaced as she realized he must have asked her a question she hadn’t heard. Again.

“Randy, I’m so sorry. I’m afraid I’m not very good company tonight.”

He smiled politely but there was a glint in his eyes that said he’d had just about enough of her wandering thoughts. “I was just asking if you would like some dessert? Chocolate is your favorite, right? That Boat-Sinker Pie sure looks delicious, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. I love chocolate. How did you know?”

He smiled, but didn’t meet her gaze. “You just look like a chocolate kind of girl, I suppose.”

She glanced at her watch. “Do we have time before the movie?”

“Certainly. I hope you don’t mind, but it’s such a gorgeous night that I rented one of my favorite movies from Netflix. I thought we could take out my boat, sit in the back, and watch on my laptop, just the two of us under the stars.”

Her smile suddenly felt painted on. The last thing she wanted was to go out on the water alone with a man she barely knew, even if she had met him at church. But how could she tell him that? She’d already been more than distracted all evening.

She took in the hopeful sincerity in his green eyes and couldn’t tell him the idea terrified her.
He’s harmless. Look at him.
Sometime during the dinner he’d managed to spill red sauce on the front of his white shirt. His glasses had slipped down his nose and now he pushed them up with a trembling finger. He must be nervous he wasn’t pleasing her. She couldn’t disappoint him. Not when he was trying so hard.

She smiled and leaned toward him. “That sounds like a very fun evening. And yes, the Boat-Sinker Pie sounds delicious.”
Everything chocolate you can imagine
, the menu caption read.
So rich and delicious it could have sunk the Titanic without the aid of an iceberg
.

Randy smiled and held up a hand to get the waiter’s attention.

Seated in the chair next to Marissa’s bed, Carcen glanced over the top of
Goodnight Moon
and noted she’d fallen asleep already. His phone vibrated against his hip and he stepped into the hall, softly pulling her door shut.

He glanced at the screen.
Niemeyer. Finally
. “Carcen here,” he said as he headed down the stairs toward the living room.

“Hi there,” she rejoined with just a touch too much friendliness in her tone.

He suppressed a sigh. He didn’t have time to deal with that right now. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt the woman. She was a good cop, but that was the extent of his feelings for her. He’d talked to her about it a couple months ago. Hadn’t he made himself clear enough on that point? The only thing he hadn’t done was outright tell her he wasn’t interested. Maybe it would come to that. For now, he’d just keep sticking to business. “What do you have for me?”

She chuckled. “Straight to the point, huh? Haven’t you missed me, even a little?”

Not bothering to turn on the lights, he stopped before the huge picture window and stared out over the Salish Sea, holding his silence. The sun had set, but not long ago, and the black outlines of Shaw and Orcas floated along the horizon of the gray, choppy water.

The sound of papers shuffling came over the line and she sighed. “I’m actually on my way home – about to land in Seattle. And I have good news about our boy, Stephan.”

Carcen felt some of the tension ease from his shoulders. “Tell me.”

“The day he got that speeding ticket ten blocks from the “bomb” incident?”

“Yeah?”

“He’d been up at Half Moon Bay in San Francisco watching the Mavericks Surf Contest. I found several of his friends who vouched for him. One was in the car with him when he got the ticket. He said Abernathy was hurrying home for an auction of
Genesis Expedition
paraphernalia that was taking place at an art studio that evening, but they were together all day and Stephan couldn’t have planted that box on her porch.”

Carcen rubbed a hand over the aching muscles in his neck. It was good to know his instincts about the kid had been on target. “Okay, anything else?”

More shuffling paper. “I went over the list of dates and times when gifts or notes were left for Hane, and for all but one of the incidents Abernathy has a pretty solid alibi. Plus I got that security footage from the times they caught the stalker on tape you asked for. I’ll upload it to you as soon as I hang up. If you want my opinion, Abernathy isn’t our guy.” She flipped a few more pages. “Oh, and I tapped a friend of mine who owes me a favor and he’s pulling together all he can find on that
Genesis Expedition
auction, for me.”

“That’s good to hear. Thanks for your work on this, Shannon.”

“Anytime, Lang.” Her voice softened in a feminine way that set him back on edge. “Any chance you could bring the police boat to Anacortes tonight and ferry me home?” An invitation lingered in what she hadn’t said.

He shook his head. What was she thinking she’d do with her car? “Your car’s compact, but it’s not
that
compact. Besides, I can’t. I’m babysitting Marissa. And Shannon we’ve talk—”

“I understand. Really. I’m sorry.”

He eased a breath through his lips. “One day you’re going to find a man who sweeps you off your feet, Shannon.”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“Grab a hotel. The county will pick up the tab.” He attempted to lighten the tension. “You gonna be here in time to play in the big game tomorrow?”

“Why else do you think I’m hurrying home?” He heard the hurt in her tone even though he could tell she was trying to disguise it.

“Right. See you then.”

She hung up without even a good-bye and Carcen sank onto the couch relieved that she finally seemed to have gotten his message.

He thought over what she’d said. So Abernathy was in the clear. He gave a grunt of satisfaction combined with frustration. That brought them back to Dawson… or some unknown entity.