Cry in the Night (28 page)

“He’s the best,” Dave said, tracing the picture of the kittens on a piece of paper.

But would Kade even be allowed to raise the boy he loved?

Fighting tears, Lauri got behind the wheel of the car Kade had repaired and started the engine. She longed to go see Wes’s parents. Should she risk it? She’d just pulled out onto the main road when her cell phone rang. Dread congealed in her stomach when
unknown
flashed across the screen.

She didn’t dare not answer it. Holding her breath, she flipped it open and waited. On the other end of the line she heard noise like from a bar or a coffee shop. People laughing, ice in glasses tinkling.

“Little girl,” a man’s soft voice said. “No games.”

“I’m here.”

“I want the kid tomorrow night. Leave the back door unlocked. Keep the dog in your room. No one will ever know you helped me. And you’re home free. Nothing else ever said about the money. It’s all yours.”

“You can’t have him.”

“Would you rather see your brother shot? I could arrange that, just like I arranged for the boyfriend to die.”

“You said you just wanted to talk to Davy. Now you want to take him? That wasn’t the arrangement.”

“I’m going to talk to him, then bring him back. No one will even know he was away.”

The false note in the man’s voice told her differently. “I can’t do that,” she whispered.

“Then you can bury your brother.”

“No!” Lauri chewed on her lip. What could she do? Talk to Mason?

“If you’re thinking about calling in the cops, don’t. I’ll know if you do. The sheriff will come to the lighthouse to find you all dead.”

She believed him. He’d already killed Wes. If only she’d never overheard the conversation with Mrs. Saunders. She and Wes would still be planning a future.

She closed the phone without answering, then shut it off when it rang again almost immediately. Chewing on a ragged thumbnail, she drove on north. Maybe she could get Mrs. Saunders to tell her something. Kade said Mason hadn’t been able to get anything out of her.

She accelerated along the snow-covered road, slowing only when she fishtailed in the curves. The office was only twelve miles away. Pasting a neutral expression on her face, she went past the receptionist and down the hall.

Mrs. Saunders’s shut door presented a do-not-enter message, but Lauri knocked on it anyway. The woman didn’t answer at first. “Mrs. Saunders. It’s Lauri. I have to talk to you.”

“Come in.” The woman’s voice held no warmth.

When Lauri stepped into the office, she expected to see the woman still upset and red-eyed, but Mrs. Saunders sat composed behind her desk. “You never came in Friday. I buzzed you three times.”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Saunders, but I have a personal crisis happening right now. I thought maybe you could help me.”

The woman arched a brow. “I’ve been working through a personal crisis of my own, and I expect you to do the same.”

“I-I think our problems are connected,” Lauri stammered. “That man I saw at your house and here in your office—he’s trying to force me to give him access to my nephew. A-and he killed my fiancé.”

Mrs. Saunders frowned. “I don’t understand. The sheriff said a man named Wes Townsend had been shot. Was he your fiancé? What does all this have to do with me?”

Lauri sighed. She was going to have to tell her boss how she got involved. Lauri would almost certainly lose her job. Launching into the story, she watched Mrs. Saunders’s face.

The woman pressed together lips that had gone colorless. She rubbed the back of her neck. “You were incredibly stupid to have gotten involved in this.”

“I know. My fiancé is dead because of it. And now my brother’s family is in jeopardy. What is it all about? Why is he blackmailing your husband?”

“Like I said, I can’t help you.” She rose. “Take your things from your office and don’t come back.”

Lauri’s eyes filled with tears. “Please, Mrs. Saunders! Davy isn’t even eight yet. His life is in jeopardy. I have to help him.” She dug out a picture of Davy with his gap-toothed smile. “This is my nephew.”

Mrs. Saunders barely glanced at the picture. Her eyes flashed. “Don’t probe any more. Don’t you think you’ve already done enough? If your meddling causes them to harm her . . .”

“Harm who?”

“Get out of here. I don’t want to see you again in this office.”

“Please, Mrs. Saunders! Don’t you care at all about a little boy?”

Mrs. Saunders paused, and Lauri could have sworn there were tears in her eyes before the woman shook her head, went to the door, and held it open for Lauri to exit.

Lauri pressed the picture in Mrs. Saunders’s hand. “Think about it.”

22

HE WALKED A DANGEROUS TIGHTROPE. QUINN LET HIM-self into the cabin. The temperature couldn’t be more than fifty inside. He tossed kindling and logs in the woodstove and lit it, but it would be awhile before the fire pushed back the chill, so he kept his coat on.

He realized the window was open. No wonder it was so cold. When he went to close it, he heard Rosen outside talking to someone on the phone. Making arrangements to take Davy and the baby. And eliminate Quinn himself.

Anger tightened his neck. He’d suspected it would come to this.

He waited until Rosen ended the call, then rapped on the window. “What are you doing out there?”

“Waiting for you to get home.” Rosen’s smile was feral. He went around the side of the cabin and entered. “You get the baby?”

Quinn still mulled over what he’d discovered. Half a mil, and he hadn’t seen a penny of it. His best bet was to confront his partner. Rosen tended to be a pawn.

“I’ve made arrangements to pick her up tomorrow, now that our demands have been met. Jenna is on the inside. It will be a piece of cake.” He’d have to make sure he moved before Rosen did.

“What about the witness?” Rosen asked. “The Matthews boy.”

The Nicholls boy.
The adoption wasn’t final and, if Quinn had anything to do with it, never would be. So far he’d said nothing about his relationship to Davy, and he was unsure how much to reveal now. “I’ll handle that. It’s not your job.”

“The boss says it is.”

“And I say it isn’t.” Quinn lowered his voice to a menacing growl. “I’ll handle it.”

Rosen shrugged. “Then take it up with the boss. Until he says differently, I’ll move ahead.”

He couldn’t let on that he knew of their plans, so he said nothing. He waited until Rosen left, then moved to the bedroom. He noticed through the window that Jenna’s car was parked by the Dumpster, so she had to be here. He found her curled in the bed with the covers practically over her head.

He shook her. “Jenna, how long have you been here?”

Her eyelids fluttered open. “Quinn? Are you finally here?” She sat up and yawned. “That baby has been keeping us all up at night. What time is it? You’re late.”

“Sorry. I hope you had a nice nap. Did you meet Rosen when he stopped by?”

“Someone was here? I didn’t hear them knock. You know how hard I sleep.”

He never knew when to believe her. She’d likely overheard, but it didn’t matter. “I got you some kiwi, sleepyhead. Want one to wake you up?”

“That sounds great.” She staggered a bit when she got out of bed to follow him. “What did Rosen want?”

“Just checking in.” He handed her a kiwi. “Got a new wrinkle in the situation and you could really help me, hon.” The unfamiliar endearment nearly gagged him.

She stopped cutting the kiwi. “I’ll do anything I can. You know that.”

“Tell me more about the Matthews family.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why the questions? You left them behind years ago. Do you still love Bree?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then stop with the questions. Once we get little Olivia, we’ll never have to see them again. I want to take Vic to civilization with us.”

“I might not be able to hang around until he’s out of jail.
If
he gets out of jail.”

Her lips tightened. “I’ve given up everything for you, Quinn. He’ll be out of jail soon and I’m not leaving him behind.”

He shrugged. “Whatever you say.” He would leave her behind if necessary.

She yawned and took a bite of kiwi. “I’m so ready to get out of here. There isn’t even a decent mall within ten miles.”

“What about Bree’s husband? Kade’s a park ranger, right? Is he gone a lot?” At her suspicious glance, he rushed to explain. “I’m trying to figure out some logistics.”

“Just normal hours, though he’s been working some overtime. He’s quiet. I think he’s worried about something. Really nice guy though. The kind you could trust with your life.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You sound like you admire him.”

“He’s a total hottie. He and Bree make a perfect pair. He’s the kind who’d lay down his life for his family.”

The perfect new husband. He wanted to make a face, but he kept his expression impassive. He got a beer from the fridge and faced her again. “Do you think you could ask about taking Davy out cross-country skiing? I could meet up with you.”

“What are you up to?”

He pulled her tight against his chest so she couldn’t see his expression. “I’m going to take my son with me.”

Her eyes narrowed to a hard slit. “I won’t do this for nothing, Quinn. I’m taking a risk here. I need to know it will pay off.” She wiggled her ring finger at him.

He wanted to refuse again, but from the inflexible line of her lips, he knew he had to cave or she wouldn’t cooperate. “I’ve got the ring all picked out. Two carats.”

Her smile came. “When do you want to do this?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay. Bree won’t mind, I’m sure.”

“Thank you, Jenna. You’re my lifeline in everything.” Lies, all lies. He’d figure out how to get rid of her when she brought him his son.

Breakfast was a silent affair. Bree had tried to call her attorney, Ursula Sawyer, yesterday, but she’d been in court all day. Until she knew the legal issues she and Kade faced, she didn’t want to talk to Davy about Rob. While her son was bound to be thrilled to learn his father was alive, he would soon enough wonder why Rob walked away and left him in the plane wreckage. Bree’s heart broke at the thought of the rejection Davy would feel.

Samson came down the stairs and plopped down at Bree’s feet. Bree looked up at Kade and broke the silence “I called Ursula and told her about the situation. We’re discussing it this afternoon.” She closed her eyes and grimaced at the thought of what lay ahead. “Can you pick Davy up after school?”

He winced. “I’ve got a meeting. I don’t think I can get out of it.”

“What’s happened?” Lauri asked, looking up from her cereal. Zorro lay at her feet. “You’re not getting a divorce, are you?”

“Of course not,” Kade said. He and Bree locked glances. He shrugged. “She’s got to hear it sooner or later.”

Lauri straightened. “What’s wrong?” Her gaze went wide. “Is someone else dead?”

Bree bit her lip. “Just the opposite,” she said. “Someone we thought was dead is alive.”

Lauri’s brow furrowed. “I don’t get it.”

“Bree’s first husband, Rob, isn’t dead. He’s back in town.” A muscle in Kade’s jaw twitched and he glanced down at his half-eaten omelet.

Lauri’s jaw dropped. “Holy cow,” she said softly. “So where does that leave you, big brother? Without a wife?”

Kade flinched. “Nice jab, Lauri. You know where to stick the knife.”

“Sorry,” she muttered. “But it looks like Bree has two husbands. Aren’t you worried about which one she’ll pick?”

Kade’s head stayed down. Bree hardly knew what to say either. They had no idea what the legalities of this situation were. While a part of her loved the man Rob had once been, the reality of what he’d done sank deeper every hour. And cut more painfully. Kade would never walk away like that. Never.

Kade cleared his throat when Bree said nothing. She realized she should have reassured him, but the moment had passed. And really, what was there to say? Finding their way through this maze was going to take time.

Lauri was biting her lip so hard it was a wonder she didn’t draw blood. “You okay?” Bree asked. Olivia began to fuss in the carrier on the table, and she lifted the baby into her arms and jiggled her.