Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2 (5 page)

“That's a relief. I should have gone with them this morning.”

“And what? From what they told me it happened fast, and there wasn't anything that could be done, except to get out. Besides, you wouldn't have fit through the window.”

“True. I never thought something like that would happen.”

“Neither did I or I would have been there.”

Gramps's wrinkled face cracked a big grin. “Do I need to say if you had, you wouldn't have gotten out? We have the same build. Most of the Nichols men are tall and have broad shoulders.”

Jake chuckled. “Touché.”

“It's good to hear some laughter after the day I've had,” Rachel said as she walked slowly into the living room.

Jake turned toward her, remembering how close he'd come to losing her. That thought left his gut roiling, and he was even more determined to find out what was going on in Port Aurora. “Are you all right?” He took in her pale face and tired eyes—a beautiful sight to see. It could have gone so wrong today.

“My side hurts, but it felt great to take a shower and get that smoke smell out of my hair. I think I washed it three times.”

When Rachel moved past him to the chair across from Gramps, Jake drew in a deep breath of the apple-scented shampoo. She still used the same one from when she was a child. He associated apples with Rachel because of that.

She eased down, wincing once. “When is the chief arriving?”

“I see his car coming down the road.” Linda crossed the room and opened the door to the arctic entry.

After shaking Randall's hand, Jake sat next to Rachel's aunt on the couch while the chief took the last chair. His grim expression fit Jake's mood. Every alarm bell was going off in his head. The fire only reinforced his belief that Betty's death wasn't due to a robbery gone bad. What had Betty gotten herself into?

“Are you two all right now?” the chief asked, withdrawing a pad and pen from his pocket.

“As well as could be expected.” Linda pressed her lips together.

Randall shifted his attention to Rachel. “I understand Doc had to see you.”

“I'll be okay. Do you have any idea what happened?”

“No, other than there were footprints leading to the house from the woods on the left side. I followed them to tire tracks—probably a truck. I'm treating this fire as arson at this time. Did either of you see anything?”

Linda shook her head while Rachel said, “We were in the back bedroom, looking for Aunt Betty's camera.”

“Why?”

“Although I don't think it is worth much except to her, someone could have taken it,” Linda answered Randall.

“Did you find it?”

“No, but I didn't check the darkroom thoroughly. It was trashed like the whole place was. The camera usually hangs on the peg by the door, but it wasn't there.”

The chief wrote on his pad. “So it's possible that a camera was stolen. Anything else you know of?”

“We found her few pieces of jewelry that were worth something, although not that much.” Rachel withdrew the ring and two sets of earrings still in the plastic bag. “And as you know, the television and small appliances like the food processor were still in the house, so truthfully I don't think anything else was missing, but we'll never know for sure.”

“I wonder if the camera might be the reason the cabin was torched.” Randall wrote something else on the paper, then glanced at Linda, then Rachel.

“It was a ten-year-old Kodak that was special to Betty, but I couldn't see it bringing much money for anyone who stole it. It wasn't even digital.” Linda combed her fingers through her wet, short blond hair.

“Anything else?” Randall asked.

Her gaze trained on Rachel, Linda furrowed her brow but remained quiet. Rachel shook her head slightly. Was there more that Rachel wasn't saying? Randall didn't seem to pick up the exchanged looks between them, but when he left, Jake would be asking them about it.

“If I think of anything, I'll call you,” Rachel finally said. “Please let us know the progress on the case. Aunt Betty never had any enemies in town. She was always one of the first to help others.”

Randall stood and pocketed his pad and pen. “It's most disturbing to me. She is the last person I would expect to be murdered.”

“So you're ruling her death a murder for sure?” Jake rose to escort the police chief to the door.

“Yes, we are. And we're taking the investigation very seriously.”

Jake opened the door for Randall. “I'd like to check the cabin site after it cools. Is that okay?”

“Sure, after the firefighters give the go-ahead.” Randall tipped his head toward the ladies. “I'm glad you're both okay. Good day.”

At the window Jake watched Randall climb into his car before he swung around and asked, “What are you two keeping from the police chief?”

CHAPTER FIVE

R
achel sat forward. “How did you know?”

“I may have been gone for a while, but I know when you're holding something back.”

Rachel stared at her aunt. “We don't know who to trust. We don't believe Aunt Betty's murder was done by a person passing through town. It's not like Port Aurora is on the beaten path. If this had been summer, it might be different.”

Lawrence narrowed his gaze on Aunt Linda. “You think we have something to do with Betty's murder?”

“Of course not. That's why Rachel is telling you two. We also found three photos of the fishery in Betty's special cubbyhole. That was why I was looking in the darkroom, but there was no sign of other pictures being processed or the camera. If more photos were being developed, they were either ruined when the intruders trashed the house or taken by them.”

Rachel sat on the edge of her chair. “Why would she keep in her hidey-hole three pictures, one of the Tundra King and the Alaskan King next to each other, the Blue Runner and the shipping warehouse?”

“Where are they?” Jake asked in a no-nonsense tone.

“On my dresser.” Rachel pushed to her feet. “I'll get them. Maybe you can explain why these were special to her that she hid them with her valuables.”

“In the meantime, I'm starving. I'm going to make some sandwiches. Anyone else want one?” Aunt Linda strolled toward the kitchen.

“I do, and I'll help you.” Lawrence followed her aunt while Jake accepted the offer of food.

“Me, too, Aunt Linda. Escaping a fire wore me out.” Rachel retrieved the photos and returned to the living room to find Jake standing next to the decorated Christmas tree, staring out the window. She came up beside him. “It's starting to get dark. No wonder I'm hungry. I haven't eaten since seven this morning.” She held out the pictures.

Jake took them and studied each one. “I'm familiar with the Tundra King. Is the Alaskan King a new boat to Port Aurora?”

“Yes, it's a new addition from Seattle. When Brad acquired a silent partner, he purchased a couple of trawlers that belonged to the fishery as well as overhauling the Tundra King. That brings his fleet up to ten boats. The rest are independently owned but sell their catches to us.”

“Who captains the Blue Runner?”

“Still Tom Payne. He was sweet on Aunt Betty. She thought of him as a friend. After her abusive husband died, she didn't want to get serious with anyone else. Tom understood that. But that reminds me, I need to talk to him. Maybe Aunt Betty said something to him about what she wanted to talk to me about. His boat is due back Monday. He and his crew went out crabbing on Wednesday.”

“So they were good friends?”

“Yes.” Rachel took the picture of both the Tundra King and Alaskan King and the Blue Runner and studied them. “That might be when Aunt Betty took this photo. It looks like the Tundra King just arrived at the pier while the Blue Runner is getting ready to leave. That coincides with the date on the back of the pictures. It's daylight and Aunt Betty might have taken them on her lunch hour.”

“If she was worried about something, why didn't she say anything to Linda? Or you at that time? You all are family.”

“I don't know. Maybe it was something she didn't think Aunt Linda should know, or she was going to tell her sister and me when we finally talked. We may never know.”

“Hey, you two. Are you hungry? Dinner—or whatever you want to call a meal at three in the afternoon—is ready in the kitchen.”

After they were all seated and Lawrence blessed the food, silence fell over them for five minutes while they satisfied their hunger.

Eventually, Rachel broke the quiet. “Do you think I should give the police chief these photos? They really don't show anything but three boats and the shipping warehouse, and I think Tom would love to have the one of the Blue Runner.”

Jake's intense regard took her in for a long moment while her aunt and Lawrence discussed what the photos meant. Finally, Jake said, “I think you should give them to Randall. I know the man, and he was a good pick to run the department. I worked under him, and I never had a reason to question his integrity.”

“So you think I should tell him that Aunt Betty wanted to talk to you and me?” Rachel asked, still trapped by his penetrating gaze as though no one else was in the kitchen but them. Her heartbeat accelerated, and she wiped her sweaty palms on her pants.

“Yes. He can't do his job if he doesn't have all the pieces.” Jake glanced at the photos in the center of the table, releasing her from the invisible tether connecting them.

Her stomach tightened. What was going on with her? Granted, she hadn't seen Jake in a few years, but she shouldn't be reacting to him like this. Their lives were on different paths.

“I'm not sure they have any significance to Betty's murder, but he needs to rule them out. The first one is of the Tundra King and Alaskan King unloading their catch at the loading dock. The second is Blue Runner in its slip. The third is boxes stacked in a room, which you said looked like part of the new shipping warehouse.” Jake picked it up and flipped it over to show the date. “Since these may have been the last photos Betty took, maybe they will help Randall.”

“Son, we haven't talked about someone slashing your tires earlier. If they hadn't, you'd have seen the fire much earlier or even come upon the persons who set it.” Gramps took another bite of his turkey and Swiss sandwich.

Jake frowned. “To tell you the truth, with all that has happened, I haven't had time to think about it, but you're right. I only went to the police to find out what progress had been made on the case, then to the general store for the supplies. I came out and my tires were slashed.”

“Did you say anything about what happened at Betty's cabin to anyone?” Rachel finished the last of her sandwich and relaxed back, trying to ease the tension gripping her, not just from nearly dying in the fire but from Jake, too.

“I mentioned it to Randall at the police station and told Sean that you and Linda were at the house cleaning it up. Anyone in earshot could have overheard that I was getting supplies and going to Betty's cabin to help you. When I couldn't get hold of you two at Betty's or your house, I left Max's Garage and headed that way.”

Lawrence slapped his hand on the table. “That's it. Someone heard and didn't want you to go. You need to make a list of who was at the store and station besides Randall.”

“Well, except for Randall, Officers Bates and Clark were at the station. It was just the people at the store and frankly, I can't remember all of them. There were some who I couldn't even tell you their names. Marge was behind the counter, and I saw Celeste and Brad.”

He saw Celeste? Why didn
'
t he say something to me?
Rachel balled her hands in her lap.
How did he feel? Is he still in love with her? I hate being shut out of that part of his life.

“Linda, I was going to stop at the church on the way back to Betty's, but forgot all about that after my tires were slashed.” He looked toward her aunt. “Sorry about that. But I did talk to Sean in the store about using a larger venue at the fishery for the memorial service. He reminded me how many people Betty had known and would want to pay their respects. The church won't be able to hold all of them.”

Aunt Linda began taking the empty dishes to the sink. “Thanks for letting me know about the church. I'll call our pastor this evening and get his take on where to hold the memorial service. Betty wanted to be cremated. We can sprinkle her remains in Bristol Bay. I think Tom would let us use the Blue Runner. In fact, I'm sure he would insist.”

“What did Celeste have to say?” Rachel finally asked, not wanting to talk about her but wanting to know how it went with Jake. At one time she and Celeste had been friends, but after Jake, that had all changed.

“Nothing. She and Brad were eating. I'm not even sure they saw me.”

Lawrence rose and headed for the sink. “I'll help you clean up, then you might offer me some of that pie left over from last night.”

“Anyone else want a piece?” Aunt Linda asked as she handed Lawrence a dish to dry.

Rachel groaned. “I think I'll pass.”

Her aunt gave her a puzzled look. “But it's your favorite. I was counting on your helping me finish it today.”

“I need to go on a diet after today, trying to squeeze out of that window.”

“I'll take an extra big piece,” Jake said.

Rachel leaned closer to him and whispered, “Are you okay with seeing Celeste?”

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I knew I would see her eventually. She doesn't mean anything to me.”

Rachel wasn't convinced by his casual tone. He'd walked away from Port Aurora, his grandfather—her—all because of Celeste. “I'm here if you need to talk to anyone about her.”

“She's my past. Let's leave her there.”

But are you over your past?
Rachel gritted her teeth to keep from replying. An uncomfortable silence fell between her and Jake. She took the last sip of her cold coffee and stood. “Do you want a refill?”

“Yes, thanks.”

She grabbed Jake's mug and headed for the stove when her aunt stepped back from the sink, put her hands on her hips and said to Lawrence, “Jake is going to do what?” Her voice rose.

Rachel's gaze flew to Jake.

He stood. “Gramps, what did you say to her?”

“I told her what you and I talked about. Somebody's got to protect these gals. What if the people who burned Betty's house come after them? Remember that conversation we had a couple of hours ago?”

Jake glanced between Aunt Linda and her. “I was going to bring it up and see what you thought.” He swiveled his attention back to his grandfather. “Nothing was settled between Gramps and me.”

Lawrence waved his hand in the air. “They are both sensible, practical women. They will see it's for their own good.”

Aunt Linda's eyes flared. “Our own good?” She tossed the wet dishcloth at Lawrence's chest. “I answer to no man. I've done just fine for fifteen years since my husband died.”

Rachel grabbed hold of Jake's hand and dragged him from the kitchen as her aunt became worked up. “What are you and your grandfather scheming?”

“It's possible that whoever killed Betty thinks you know something about her murder. If you're in danger, we need to protect you.”

“But I don't know anything.”

“You might not realize what you know. Something is going on in Port Aurora. I don't know what, but two people went to a lot of trouble to shut up Betty. I'd feel better if you let me stay here with Mitch. He's a great watchdog on top of everything else.”

“What if you're in danger? Your tires were slashed today. People know how close we once were. They might think you also know whatever it is that I'm supposed to know.”

“I was trained to take care of myself. I'd like to take you to and from work. You're too important to me to have anything happen to you. And in case you haven't noticed, my grandfather is as he says
sweet on
Linda.”

“But she only thinks of him as a friend.”

Jake stepped into her personal space and grasped her upper arms. “Do you know what would happen if you and your aunt were hurt? Gramps and I would be devastated. Being a friend to you means a lot to me. Gramps feels the same way about Linda.”

Over the loud conversation coming from the kitchen, Rachel asked what she'd wanted to for years. “Then why did you leave and not come back until now?”

“I needed to get out of the city. As soon as I was released from physical therapy, I came home, and I'm staying until the new year.”

“Eight years is a long time to be apart.”

“I saw you several times, and we talked on the phone.”

“Not the same thing. Remember when we were teenagers and something would go wrong with one of us at school? We would talk about it all the way home that very day.”

Jake released her arms and put some distance between them. “When Celeste called off our engagement, I'd felt like I'd been abandoned. It was my mother all over again. I didn't process it well.”

“That's what having a friend means. I could have helped you.”

“I couldn't stick around and be constantly reminded of what she did. See her all the time. This is a small town.”

“So you're still in love with her.” Acid burned in her stomach, threatening to send her meal back up. She'd always felt when Jake finally made a commitment it would be forever.

“No!” His face hardened into sharp angles. “When I saw them together, I didn't care. I felt nothing.”

She wanted to believe that was the case, but he'd stayed away for eight years. That didn't sound like a man who was over Celeste. She didn't want to be dragged back into his life, then have him leave in four weeks.

“Why are we wasting time talking about her? She's married. I don't love her, and she has nothing to do with someone trying to kill you.”

“We don't know someone's trying to kill me. Maybe the killers came back today to burn the house because they didn't find everything they wanted, and Aunt Linda and I just happened to be inside at that time.”

“Do you want to take the chance with your life and your aunt's?”

He was right. She had no problem with a man protecting her. Her aunt might, but she could talk her into it. And an added bonus would be having a watchdog. “Fine. You can stay and be my chauffeur, starting with tomorrow when I go to church.”

“I'll drop you off and—”

“Jake Nichols, you always went to church when you lived here. But then maybe it's best you don't.”

His forehead crunched. “Why?”

“Brad and Celeste usually attend every Sunday.”