Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (14 page)

T
he sound of the Disney movie in the living room filtered into the kitchen where the adults gathered around the kitchen table. Kate felt like an animal at the zoo as all eyes fastened on her. She focused on her sister's face. If anyone would be on her side, it would be Claire. Jackson licked her foot as if he wanted to comfort her.

“I've got bear spray,” she began.

Luke folded his arms across his chest. “And what happens if he breaks in while you're sleeping?”

The realization that someone had been in the house had hit her hard, but she was getting her equilibrium back. “I can't live my life in fear. I did that when I had aplastic anemia, and I'm tired of it. We've changed the code on the security system. I'll lock my bedroom door too.”

Claire sat twirling a lock of hair around her finger and biting her lip. Her gaze met Kate's. “Come home with us, Kate, please. I won't get a wink of sleep with you there by yourself.”

So much for support from Claire.
Kate rolled the idea around in her head. “Where does it all end, Claire? I can't keep running to you when every little thing goes wrong.”

“A repeating intruder isn't every little thing.” Claire's voice rose. “This guy is so bold. It's as if he has total confidence in not being caught. He was in your house in the daylight.”

“But not while I was home. I came back and surprised him. And it could even be Uncle Paul. Has anyone thought of that?”

Luke's expression grew more alert, and he leaned forward at the end of the table. “What makes you think it could be Paul?”

Why did she have that initial sense of her uncle's presence? Then it came to her. “I smelled that same cologne, just a faint trace, in the kitchen before I went to the basement. I didn't consciously notice it, but that's why I called out his name when I heard the noise. We aren't sure he's left the area.”

Drake rose and turned to the coffeepot where he prepared decaf. “And that's not any kind of reassurance, Kate. Your uncle has already proven he's dangerous.”

Kate started to protest, then remembered how he'd terrified her. Every encounter seemed to indicate he held her in the same light as he did Claire—as an enemy. All her years of loving him had blinded her to his true nature, and she didn't know what it would take for her to get the old Uncle Paul out of her head.

She tipped up her chin. “If he'd wanted to hurt me, he would have grabbed me in the basement. I think he was looking for something.”

Claire gave an impatient huff. “What?”

“Mom lived in that house for a long time, and he was there a lot. Sometimes he slept in that tiny bedroom in the back. Maybe he hid something inside it.”

The scent of coffee filled the kitchen, and Drake took down some mugs. “He probably knows from your last contact with him that you wouldn't help him if he asked.”

She rose to help him and took the cream from the refrigerator. “No, I wouldn't. I want him caught and back in jail.”

Luke stood and went to peer out the back door window. “I thought I heard something.”

Kate turned as a crash sounded outside. Over Luke's shoulder she saw a shaggy black form rear up by the trash can. “It's a bear!”

They all crowded to the door and looked out. A small black bear, probably the same one she'd seen earlier, smacked around the trash can by the small shed. Jackson went into a paroxysm of barking and lunged at the door. The bear lifted its head, then went back to hitting the trash can.

Drake's hand went to the doorknob. “How'd it get the can out of the shed? I threw the crossbar on the door.”

“Bears are resourceful.” Luke stopped him when he started to unlock the door. “Not a good idea, buddy. It might look small, but it's way stronger than we are. Leave it be, and we'll clean up after it wanders off.”

Drake stepped back and frowned. “I don't like having a bear around. It's not safe for the girls to go out.”

“I'm always with them, just like I was the first time we saw it. They usually run off when they see you. And Jackson would chase them off with his barking.” Kate kept a strong, cheerful tone, but she didn't like it either. She could count on both hands the times she'd seen bears back here in her entire life. And this one looked scrawny and sick, not a good combination when in the presence of humans. When bears got desperate, they tended to be unpredictable.

A little like people, including her uncle Paul.

She left the door and went to pour coffee. “It's getting late, so you'd better drink your coffee and head for home.”

“Trying to get rid of us?” Claire had a teasing lilt to her voice, but there was a somber note under it. “We haven't come to a decision about what to do.”

“I have, but you aren't listening.” Kate laughed to take the sting out of her statement. “I'm going to be fine.”

Claire slipped her arm around Kate and hugged her. “Keep your phone by the bed, okay? And barricade your door with the dresser.”

“That's a really good idea. I'll sleep better too.” Kate hugged her sister back.

At least they were all letting it go. For a while she'd been sure they'd pressure her so much she'd have to give in.

* * *

Life settled into an even keel for a few days, though Kate's house felt like a jail cell. Claire had the locks and the alarm password changed once again. Though Kate knew it was important to keep things locked up, it still took a conscious effort to remember to switch it on and off. The installer had set it up so Drake would be called if a window broke or someone breached the door when it was locked. Several times Jackson had awakened her with soft growls, but each time, his dismay had been over an outside animal.

She was ready to think about something else rather than her rampaging uncle. Now that the weekend was over, she would start making some calls to the hotels in Boston to see what she could find out about Melissa and Wang. Kate was a little sorry she'd volunteered because the calls felt intrusive to the dead
woman's privacy, but she settled on the sofa with Jackson beside her and began to make some calls. After five dead ends, she was ready to give up, but she had time for one more.

When the receptionist answered, Kate smiled so that good energy would go through the phone. “Good morning, this is Kate Mason, and I work for Mr. Chen Wang.”

“Of course, Ms. Mason. Mr. Wang is always an honored guest. How may I assist you?”

“I'm not sure if I should talk to you or someone else, but unfortunately we're having to navigate an IRS audit.”

The woman made a sound of sympathy. “That's the worst!”

“Tell me about it. Anyway, the IRS is questioning the charges sent through from your hotel on April 21st of this year. Do you happen to remember that visit? Mr. Wang was there for three days. He will be so grateful if you could corroborate this visit for me along with any details you might remember. He usually keeps a journal of all his business, but the one from that month is missing, and I need to re-create it.”

The woman said nothing for a moment, and Kate was afraid she had begun to be suspicious, but she must have been thinking because her voice was still light and helpful when she finally spoke. “I was on the check-in desk for eight hours every day then, and I spoke to Mr. Wang several times a day. What kind of corroboration would be useful?”

“Who he met with, how many people he bought lunch for any of those days, any guests who stayed with him and what their business might be. If we're lucky, it's something that is tax deductible.” Kate gave a hearty sigh she hoped would sway the woman.

“Hmm, let me think a moment.” Another pause came over the phone. “Oh yes, I remember now. My sister is a server in the
restaurant, and the second night he was here, he gave an engagement ring to a woman. My sister said she'd never seen a diamond that big. Oh wait, that probably won't help prove his trip here was business, will it?”

“It might. Maybe the woman is a business partner, and that was just part of the evening.” Kate's pulse blipped. Though she didn't know what to make of it, it would likely mean something to Drake. “Do you know the woman's name? Or maybe what she looked like?”

“He called her Melissa.”

Kate fought to keep her tone even. “Was this Melissa there all three days too?”

“I don't think so. I saw her arrive two different mornings.”

Heath would have noticed if she was gone for three days. “Thank you so much for your help.”

“If it was help. I'm not so sure. We all like Mr. Wang.”

She thanked the woman again and ended the call. Slinging her purse over her shoulder, she disarmed the alarm and let herself out, then armed it again. She started for the cottage with the dog on her heels. Thunderheads built in the sky, and she smelled rain and ozone in the air. A big storm was heading this way, so she'd better hurry.

She rushed through the fields toward Drake's cottage, brushing aside blueberry bushes with her feet. When she reached the edge of the road, Jackson stopped and barked. He dug under a plant, and she caught a glimpse of a bright spot of yellow. A moment later Jackson had it in his mouth and brought it to her.

“Good boy.” She patted him and relieved him of his find. The small yellow pouch appeared to be the kind of thing women would use to transport jewelry. The contents were still intact, but the
jumble of jewelry, watches, and hair ties didn't tell her anything new. It surely didn't belong to Uncle Paul. Who had dropped it?

She stared at the woods again. The sheriff and his deputies had been all over that area. There was no need for her to go there, too, but something compelled her to put one sneakered foot in front of the other and enter the shadows. Her heart beat fast in her throat, and she thrust her hand into her purse to close her fingers around the bear spray.

Jackson growled at her side, and she pulled out the can and held her finger on the nozzle. If Paul came out from behind a tree, she'd blast him right in the eyes with it. But she only heard the soughing of the wind in the trees and the chirping of the birds overhead.

She reached the waterfall and glanced around. The area didn't look nearly as scary in the daylight. The water pouring over the rocks was much lighter now, but with the storm moving in, it would regain its power. She was almost tempted to go into that cave again. A shudder passed over her and she took a step back. Nothing was there for her to see.

There were no answers here, only more questions.

The wind freshened, and a drop of cold rain hit her face. She retraced her steps and began to breathe easier when she and Jackson stepped clear of the shadowy forest. The wind tried to tear her hair from her head as lightning crackled overhead. An open field during a lightning storm was not the safest place to be. She broke into a run and raced for the cottage as the clouds broke open and rain lashed her. By the time she reached the porch, her hair hung in her face and her clothes were soaked.

Under the safety of the porch, she shook off along with her dog, then stepped to the door.

K
ate hadn't even set foot on the porch when she heard the commotion through the open door. Drake had said not to bother knocking, so she opened the screen door and dropped her purse on the entry table. Jackson raced past her to see the girls.

Emma was on the sofa with both arms crossed, and Phoebe had a pink stuffed bear in a choke hold in her right arm and a purple unicorn in the other. Both girls were red faced and staring sullenly at each other.

Dressed in denim shorts and a Celtics T-shirt, Drake stood with his back to the door. “I'll get another stuffed bear. We'll get some ice cream too.”

“But it's my bear.” Emma clenched her hands into fists. “I got a bear and she got a unicorn.”

“You put it down.” Phoebe hugged the bear tighter. “It was my turn.”

“Just to go to the bathroom! I came right back.” Tears rolled down Emma's cheeks. “Make her give Pinky back to me, Uncle Drake.”

“You need to share,” Drake said.

Kate wanted to roll her eyes, but she stepped closer so she
was in their line of vision. “Phoebe, if you want her bear for a while, give her your unicorn.”

Phoebe clutched both stuffed animals closer. “No! Plum is mine.”

“You don't get to have both. Give Emma her bear back.”

“Uncle Drake,” Phoebe whined. “She put it down.”

Drake started to open his mouth, but Kate narrowed her eyes at him and gave a slight shake of her head. He pressed his lips together but said nothing. “You heard me, Phoebe. Give Emma the bear. And don't throw it. Give it to her nicely, and tell her you're sorry.”

Her lips pressed in a mutinous line, Phoebe handed the bear to her sister. “Sorry.” The mutter sounded insincere, but at least she'd done it.

Emma snatched the bear and hugged it to her chest. “Thank you,” she muttered back at Kate's prompting.

Kate looked them over. At least they had on clean shorts and T-shirts. “We're not about to go outside with your hair looking like that. The bees will want to nest in there. Both of you go brush your hair now. Did you brush your teeth this morning?” When neither of them would look at her, she nodded. “Brush your teeth too.”

Emma heaved a sigh, and Phoebe stuck out her lip, but the girls got up and went to the stairs. Jackson went with them.

As soon as they were out of earshot, Drake frowned at Kate. “The girls need to share.”

“If you give in to Phoebe over every little thing, she's going to be even more of a terror. She knew Emma had just gone to the bathroom.”

“Emma is old enough to share.”

“So is Phoebe. She wasn't about to share her toy. She just
wanted Emma's.” The man was clueless about kids, and she suppressed a sigh. “And I would have made Emma share if it were that simple. Younger kids play the parents to annoy their siblings. I see it all the time. And if you're honest, you'll admit that's exactly what Phoebe was doing. Sharing is playing together with things. Not taking another child's possessions and leaving her with nothing.”

His frown darkened for a moment, then he nodded. “Okay, maybe you're right.”

“And trying to placate them with more stuff and ice cream isn't helping them either. They're both old enough to learn how to behave. You need to stop it.”

His eyebrows rose and his face reddened. Now she'd done it and had overstepped the bounds too far. He was trying his best, and she needed to remember that before she shot off her mouth. “Sorry. That was a little harsh.”

“A little?” He shrugged. “I'm getting used to your take-no-prisoners attitude, Kate, but you might learn to soften it some.”

“You're right. I've had to fight for everything all my life, and I sometimes forget we're on the same team.”

“You think I'm your adversary?”

She shook her head. “That came out wrong too. I mean, training the girls is my responsibility, and I take it very seriously. I want so much for them.”

“So do I, so give me a little credit.”

Boy, had she botched the morning. “I'm sorry.”

“So you already said.”

“Could you forgive me if I tell you I found out something important from the last hotel I called? I might tell you if you ply me with fresh coffee.”

“I just made some.” He followed her into the kitchen and got down a cup for her. “What did you find out?”

“Wang gave Melissa an engagement ring. It was quite a rock.”

He handed her a mug. “But she was already married. Are you sure it was an engagement ring?”

Kate poured coffee into the mug. “That's what I was told. She must have been planning on leaving Heath. But the bigger question is, where is the ring? Until you saw the text transcript, you had no idea she was having an affair, so I assume that means there was no ring in her belongings.”

His brow creased as he poured himself some coffee. “I'm Heath's executor and I saw nothing. I'll talk to Mike.”

“Mike?”

“Melissa's business partner, Mike Toucet.”

“What did Melissa do? I assumed she was a stay-at-home mom.”

He took a sip of coffee and gestured to the table and the almond-flour cinnamon rolls she'd made earlier. “It was a source of contention between them. Heath wanted her to stay home with the girls, but she loved being an attorney and helping the underdog. She did a lot of pro bono work along with Mike.”

Kate reached for a roll and settled onto a chair. “I've always heard pro bono work can be dangerous.”

“She had a guy stalking her for a while, but nothing ever came of it. It was one of the reasons Heath wanted her to quit.”

The sweet, cinnamony flavor hit her tongue, and she savored it. “Maybe she stashed the ring at work. Or maybe it was stolen.”

“Mike will know. I'll give him a call right now.”

Drake was watching her with an intensity that made her stomach flutter, and she dropped her gaze. The spicy scent of
his cologne was much more enticing than this cinnamon roll. In spite of her objections to some of his decisions, she liked the way he cared for the girls and wanted them to be happy. He was smart and focused, and she found herself drawn to that too. His short-cropped curly hair just begged to have her fingers in it. He hadn't said anything about his personal life, but she couldn't believe he didn't have a dozen other women hanging around. Maybe he was even engaged.

She'd only be around him for a few more weeks. It would be much too dangerous to let herself fall for him.

* * *

Drake liked watching Kate. Her light, quick movements were graceful, and she was a bundle of energy. He admired the way she focused so completely on any task at hand. And she was just so darned cute, beautiful really. Her big blue eyes dominated her heart-shaped face, and her dimples came and went with every expression.

He dragged his attention away from the way she licked so delicately at her cinnamon roll and reached for his cell phone. He scrolled through the names and found Mike.

Mike answered on the second ring. “Mike Toucet.”

“Good morning, Mike, this is Drake Newham.”

“Drake, it's good to hear from you.” He sounded harried. “To say I keenly feel Melissa's loss is the biggest understatement of the year. I called Rod the other day, and he told me you'd gone to Maine. Are you having any luck figuring out what happened up there?”

“Not yet, but I'm working on it.” How did he tell Mike about the affair? The man had thought a lot of Melissa, and Drake hated to destroy her good image. “Some evidence has turned up, and I wanted to run it past you and see if you'd had any inkling about it.”

“I'm all ears.”

“Did you ever suspect Melissa might be having an affair?” The pause before Mike answered was so long, Drake thought he might have lost the connection. “Mike?”

“I'm here.” He heaved a sigh. “I never would have guessed that's what was going on. She seemed a little distracted in the couple of weeks before she died, and she left work early quite often. I thought maybe she had some personal issues she was working through, but I would have bet my life she was crazy in love with Heath. I'm shocked.”

“I was afraid of that. You saw no evidence of a big ring she was wearing or hiding maybe in her office?”

“I haven't had the heart to go through her desk yet. I planned to do it this weekend though.” The sound of footsteps echoed through the phone. “I'm heading to her office now. She had a locked file drawer where she kept sensitive documents. I don't know if I can get in it, but let me try.”

Drake listened to his breathing and something rattling as Mike tried the drawer. Where might she have put the key? Maybe in her purse on her key ring? He didn't have Melissa's possessions, only Heath's.

“It's locked up tight. Oh wait, I think she gave me a copy of that key once. It might be in my desk.” His steps sounded again, faster this time. Metal slides scraped. “Here it is. Hang on.”

Drake gave Kate a thumbs-up as he listened to Mike rush
down the hall again. Metal rails screeched, and Mike gave an exultant laugh. “Holy cow, you won't believe what's in this box. An engagement ring fit for a queen.” Rustling sounded before Mike spoke again. “And air tickets to China. Three sets. She's got them for the kids too. Flight date was for a week after she died.”

Something squeezed in Drake's chest. “Thanks, Mike. Let me know if you find anything else of interest.”

“Will do.”

Drake ended the call and put down his phone. His world had just been rocked, and he wasn't sure how to deal with the doubts rising like a storm.

Kate placed her small hand on his arm. “What's wrong?”

Her touch calmed him, and he put his hand over hers. “Melissa planned to take the girls with her to China.”

Kate's eyes widened. “Heath surely wouldn't have let her. With joint custody he would have to agree for them to leave the country.”

“She was going to take them and leave as soon as they got back from vacation.”

“Are you rethinking your belief that he'd never hurt her? That kind of betrayal might make any man do something unexpected.”

Was he? The sinking sensation in his gut began to subside, and he shook his head. “While it might have pushed him into shoving her off the cliff, why would he jump himself? He'd be abandoning his kids. That's not like Heath. He adored those girls.” His confidence returned and he squeezed her fingers before moving his hand.

She folded her fingers together in her lap. “Okay, so we keep digging.”

“We sure do.” He admired the way the sunlight coming through the window lit her head in a halo. “How was everything last night? Any noises?”

“Not a sound the past couple of nights. I've still been shoving my dresser against the bedroom door though, just in case. I should call the sheriff and see if he's heard anything about Uncle Paul.”

“I'll take care of it.” He pulled out his phone again. “I want to ask him about that autopsy report again. He promised to get it to me, and I still don't have it.” He called the sheriff's office and asked for the sheriff, but after two rings, Deputy Kissner answered. “Good morning, Deputy, this is Drake Newham. Listen, I still don't have that autopsy report on my brother and sister-in-law. I know it's been a crazy time for all of you, but could you get that e-mailed over to me?”

“I'll do it right now,” the deputy said.

“And Kate is here with me. She wondered if there's been any news of her uncle.”

“Not a hint of a clue, I'm sorry to say. But we're still looking.”

“Thanks. Keep me posted.” He ended the call and told Kate what he'd learned, which was nothing. “I'm beginning to wonder if the sheriff doesn't want me to see the autopsy. Maybe there's something in it that will strengthen my skepticism.”

“Danny isn't like that.”

“Maybe not.” He flipped his phone over. “I dug through Melissa's cell phone records and found Olivia Maunder's number. She's Melissa's best friend and was hosting that event, the one with the picture of Melissa and Wang. I'm going to call her.”

She scooted closer to him. “Good.”

He punched in the number and it rang a couple of times before Olivia picked up. “Hello?”

“Olivia, it's Drake Newham.”

“Drake, how good to hear from you. How are you doing?” Her voice held wells of sympathy, maybe even a hint of tears on her end.

“Surviving. I'm investigating what happened here in Maine, and I wondered if I could ask you a few questions.”

“Of course. I still miss her so much.” She broke off on a sob. “How can I help?”

“Did you know Melissa was leaving Heath for Wang? That she was going to China?” There was a long silence, and he thought he heard another shuddering sob escape her. “Olivia?”

“I'm here. Yes, of course I knew. Melissa told me everything since the day I first met her at a frat party when we were eighteen. I tried to talk her out of it, you know. She thought Chen was just misunderstood.” Olivia made an incredulous sound. “She said his father forced him into crime and he never ordered any of the terrible things he was accused of. She was so blind.”

“How did they meet?”

“It was all my fault! He'd given money to my women's shelter, and I held a dinner to thank the donors. Wang took one look at her and was smitten. He kept showing up where she was and bought her extravagant gifts. At first she wasn't interested, but she was starting to feel a little taken for granted. Heath was busy with his work, and he was extremely focused on Wang. I never understood why he took the case. He seemed to hate Wang. The next thing I knew Melissa was going to leave him for Wang.”

“Did Heath talk to you at all about it?”